The Faraway Inn

I approached *The Faraway Inn* expecting a light YA fantasy, but Durst’s worldbuilding is sneakily intricate, packed with magical rules that feel half-forgotten and half-dangerous—like a family heirloom left in the attic for too long. Calisa’s curse, which forces her to live as a boy, adds depth to the story without feeling like a gimmick; her internal wrestling over identity and secrecy grounds the supernatural shenanigans in something real. Soneela Nankani’s performance elevates this further. She nails Calisa’s gruff, impatient tone while also giving the inn’s ghosts and quirky guests distinct, memorable voices. The way she stretches words in moments of revelation—like when the tea turns to shadow—sent literal chills down my spine. That said, the middle act drags slightly as Calisa navigates the inn’s rules, and the resolution wraps up a bit too neatly after the eerie buildup. Still, by the final chapter, I was fully invested in the inn’s fate and Calisa’s journey, even if I’ll never look at a cup of Earl Grey the same way again. The production quality is top-notch, with subtle sound design that makes the audiobook feel like an immersive experience—just don’t listen alone in the dark unless you’re ready to believe the walls are listening back.