Spirited

About This Audiobook

*Spirited* isn’t just another paranormal romance—it’s a sharp, atmospheric dive into a world where the dead are louder than the living, and love is the most dangerous magic of all. C.M. Stunich crafts a heroine in Brynn of Haversey who’s as prickly as she is powerful, a spirit whisperer whose cynicism feels earned in a society that both fears and exploits her gift. The magic system here isn’t just window dressing; it’s visceral, with ghosts that *sound* like they’re scraping against your eardrums (thanks to Kylie Stewart’s hauntingly layered narration) and a political undercurrent that gives the romance real stakes. Eric Rolon’s performance as the love interest, a brooding noble with secrets, avoids the usual alpha-male monotone—his voice carries the weight of a man who’s used to command but not to *feeling*.

What sets this audiobook apart is its *texture*: the way Stunich balances Brynn’s dry wit with moments of genuine horror (a séance gone wrong in Chapter 7 will make you check your locks), and the dual narration that turns internal monologues into electric exchanges. The world of Amerin feels lived-in, from the class divide between whisperers and the elite to the way spirits cling to objects like static to wool. This isn’t a slow-burn—it’s a *controlled detonation*, with banter that snaps and a central mystery that unfolds like a bloodstained map. Ideal for listeners who want their fantasy romance with teeth, not just tulle."

"review": "I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first when I heard ‘spirit whisperer’—another chosen-one trope? But *Spirited* disarmed me within chapters. Brynn’s voice (both Stunich’s writing and Stewart’s delivery) is the hook: she’s sarcastic without being cartoonish, weary but not whiny, and her chemistry with the love interest, Caden, feels like a match struck in the dark. Rolon’s narration for Caden is a masterclass in restraint; he doesn’t growl or purr, but there’s a gravelly edge to his tone that makes every ‘Brynn’ sound like a warning *and* an invitation. Their back-and-forth in the market scene (around the 2:15 mark) had me rewinding just to hear the timing again—it’s that good.

The plot’s pacing is where things get interesting. The first act hums along with Brynn’s investigations and snarky asides, but the middle sags slightly under the weight of world-building exposition (a 20-minute infodump about Amerin’s history could’ve been tighter). That said, the payoff—a twist involving a possessed mirror in the final third—is worth the wait, especially with Stewart’s narration ratcheting up the dread. My only real critique? The sound design is *almost* perfect, but the ghostly whispers sometimes get lost under the music cues. Still, this is a standout in the paranormal romance audiobook crowd—smart, sexy, and unafraid to let its heroine be flawed. If you’re tired of fated-mate tropes but love enemies-to-lovers with actual friction, this is your next listen."

"tags": [
"dark paranormal romance audiobooks