Our Crooked Hearts

I approached *Our Crooked Hearts* expecting another run-of-the-mill YA fantasy, but Melissa Albert’s razor-sharp writing and the audiobook’s stellar narration turned it into something far more unsettling. Chloe Cannon’s performance as Iris is a masterclass in teenage disillusionment—her voice drips with sarcasm and simmering rage, but beneath it all, you hear the crack of someone who’s been broken one too many times. Emma Galvin’s side characters are equally magnetic, especially her portrayal of a magnetic, manipulative witch who oozes menace with every syllable. The pacing is relentless, with the audiobook’s production enhancing the story’s claustrophobic tension—creaking doors, distant whispers, and the occasional burst of static make it feel like you’re trapped in a séance gone wrong. That said, the story’s central mystery occasionally stumbles into convoluted territory, and the ending, while satisfying, feels a hair too abrupt for a 10-hour listen. Still, the flaws are minor compared to the sheer addictiveness of Albert’s world-building. If you love YA fantasy that doesn’t shy away from darkness, this audiobook will haunt you in the best way.