Talon

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘dragons in high school’ premise—until Caitlin Davies’ Ember hissed her first line. There’s something electric about her performance, like she’s constantly fighting to keep her voice human when her instincts scream *predator*. The real surprise? MacLeod Andrews’ Garrett, who steals every scene he’s in. His delivery walks the line between cocky and vulnerable, especially in the diner confrontation where his voice drops to a growl: *“You’re not the only one with secrets, dragon girl.”* It’s the kind of line that could feel cheesy in print but lands like a challenge here, thanks to his timing. The story’s pacing is its biggest strength and occasional weakness. The first act hums with tension—Ember’s training montages under Patton’s icy mentor voice are *chef’s kiss*—but the middle sags when the plot pivots to Garrett’s backstory. (We get it, his dad was a monster. Move on.) The dragon politics, though, are *fascinating*. Kagawa treats *Talon* like a cult-meets-corporation, with Patton’s elders dripping condescension in boardroom tones. The audiobook’s production is flawless, with seamless transitions between narrators, though I docked half a star for the occasional overuse of breathy pauses during romantic scenes—Ember and Riley’s flirtation sounds more like an asthma attack than chemistry. Still, the final act’s betrayal (you’ll know it when Davies’ voice *shatters*) is worth the price of admission alone. If you love morally gray protagonists, enemies-to-lovers with actual bite, and worldbuilding that rewards close listening, this is your next obsession.