The Lost Witch

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first—*another* teen discovers they’re a witch? But *The Lost Witch* disarmed me within chapters. This isn’t a story about learning to control magic; it’s about what happens when the people who *should* teach you are more interested in controlling *you*. The protagonist’s voice is a masterclass in unreliable-but-relatable narration: she’s messy, impulsive, and occasionally insufferable, but that’s the point. Her magic isn’t a neat metaphor for puberty or self-discovery; it’s a chaotic force that mirrors her rage, and LaVaun writes it with a visceral edge that’s rare in YA fantasy. Vanessa Moyen’s narration is *electric*—she nails the protagonist’s mix of swagger and vulnerability, especially in scenes where the magic slips its leash. The production is flawless, with no distracting edits, but I’ll dock half a point for the occasional over-performance in dialogue-heavy scenes (some side characters veer into cartoonish territory). The pacing, though, is where this audiobook shines. At under six hours, it’s a bingeable rush, but the short runtime means some worldbuilding gets shortchanged. The coven’s politics, in particular, could use more depth—they’re deliciously villainous, but their motives feel thin at times. Still, the raw energy of the story and Moyen’s performance make this a standout. If you’re tired of YA fantasy that tidies up its magic with bows and lessons, this one’s for you—just don’t expect a neat resolution.