Raelia

I could hear the smirk in Carly Robins’ voice before Alexandra Jennings even opened her mouth. That dry, exhausted wit comes through in every syllable, making Robins the perfect narrator for a protagonist who’s perpetually out of her depth but too stubborn to quit. The audiobook’s 14-hour runtime flies by because Robins never lets the energy sag, even during the sprawling exposition dumps about Medora’s history. Her vocal range is impressive—she nails the clipped tones of Alexandra’s sarcasm, the breathless panic of near-death escapes, and the rare, fragile warmth of genuine friendship. The production is pristine, with subtle sound design enhancing the magic without ever overpowering the story. That said, *Raelia* isn’t without flaws. The sheer volume of new characters and lore can feel overwhelming, especially in audio where you can’t flip back to check a name or relationship chart. And while Noni’s worldbuilding is inventive, some of the plot threads (like the time-bending subplot) get tangled in their own cleverness, requiring real mental gymnastics to untangle. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise addictive listen. If you loved the first book, you’ll devour this—just maybe keep a notebook handy for the Medoran mythology. The payoff is worth the effort, and Robins makes even the clunkiest exposition sound like a thriller.