Siege and Sacrifice

I started listening to Siege and Sacrifice with skepticism—another YA fantasy with “ancient evil” tropes? But Holmberg’s writing is so sharp, so unflinching in its emotional stakes, that I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. Sandis isn’t a reluctant hero; she’s a survivor with a temper, and her voice crackles through the narration with Lauren Ezzo’s performance. Ezzo nails the balance between Sandis’s weary resilience and the simmering fury of someone who’s spent years being treated as expendable. Scott Merriman’s work as the ensemble cast—especially as the grotesque, ever-present presence of Kolosos—adds a layer of dread that’s genuinely unsettling. The production quality is stellar, with sound design that makes the world feel tactile; you can almost hear the gears of the magical engines and the wet, clicking sounds of Kolosos’s influence spreading through the city. My only critique? The pacing drags slightly in the middle act, where the political maneuvering slows the momentum just enough to feel like a stumble. Still, the payoff is worth it—a finale so brutal and hopeful that it left me breathless. This isn’t just another fantasy audiobook; it’s a masterclass in blending personal stakes with world-ending horror. If you’re into books where the magic system feels like a living, breathing nightmare and the characters make you ache, add this to your queue immediately.