Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir

Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower

A Fairy Tale That Bites Back—With Wit and Teeth

Written byTamsyn Muir
Narrated byMoira Quirk
Length4h09m
Release dateNovember 30, 2020
LanguageEnglish
★★★★☆ 4.6 (4 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorTamsyn Muir
NarratorMoira Quirk
Runtime4h09m
PublishedNovember 30, 2020
Rating★★★★☆ 4.6 / 5 (4 ratings)
CategoriesScience Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Fairy Tales
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

Tamsyn Muir doesn’t just retell fairy tales—she dismantles them with a chainsaw and a wink. *Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower* is a razor-sharp, subversive romp that takes the classic ‘princess in a tower’ trope and twists it into something gleefully grotesque and darkly funny. This isn’t a story about waiting for rescue; it’s about what happens when the princess *refuses* to play by the rules of the game. The tower’s 40 flights aren’t just obstacles—they’re a gauntlet of absurd, nightmarish challenges that feel like a cross between *Monty Python* and a Grimm brothers fever dream.

Moira Quirk’s narration is a masterclass in tonal acrobatics, swinging from arch, fairy-tale cadence to snarling, modern snark without missing a beat. Her delivery makes the story’s humor land like a gut punch and its darker moments slither under your skin. At just over four hours, this audiobook is a tight, bingeable experience—no meandering, no filler, just a relentless escalation of weirdness and wit. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at passive princesses or predictable quests, this is the audiobook that will make you cackle in vindication.

Tags: dark fairy tale retellingssubversive fantasy humorfemale-led anti-questsaudiobooks with standout narrationbizarre horror-comedyshort & bingeable fantasy

Why Listen to Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower?

  • Expert narration by Moira Quirk brings every character and scene to life across 4h09m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.6 stars by 4 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
  • Perfect for commutes, workouts, and relaxation. Listen anywhere, anytime.
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Editor's Review ★★★★☆

AudioBook Atlas

I’ll admit, I went into *Princess Floralinda* expecting something clever but safe—a fairy tale with a feminist twist, maybe a few meta jokes. What I got instead was a full-throated, unapologetic middle finger to the entire genre, wrapped in prose so vivid it feels like Muir is daring you to look away. The tower’s flights aren’t just filled with monsters; they’re packed with *ideas*—each one a grotesque parody of fairy-tale logic, from a room that forces you to listen to a never-ending story (relatable) to a sentient cake that judges your life choices (iconic). The pacing is relentless, but not in a breathless way; it’s more like being dragged up a staircase by a manic, brilliant friend who won’t let you stop to question the sanity of it all. Moira Quirk’s narration is the secret weapon here. She nails the story’s shifting tones—one minute she’s purring like a villainous fairy godmother, the next she’s growling like a monster mid-transformation. Her timing is impeccable, especially in the book’s funniest (and most disturbing) moments, like when Floralinda delivers a monologue about the absurdity of her situation while covered in someone else’s blood. My only critique? The ending, while satisfying, feels slightly rushed compared to the meticulous buildup of the tower’s earlier flights. And Quirk’s voice for one of the minor characters veers a little too close to cartoonish, which briefly undercuts the story’s otherwise razor-edged tone. But these are quibbles. This audiobook is a wild, bloody, hilarious ride—like if *The Princess Bride* and *House of Leaves* had a lovechild who grew up on a diet of black coffee and schadenfreude. If you’ve ever wanted a fairy tale that feels like it was written for *you*, not for some hypothetical child, this is it.

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Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir is an immersive listening experience. Performed by Moira Quirk with a runtime of 4h09m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.