AudioGo
Published on audio 2013
Narrator: Chelsea Mixon and Cast
Length: 6hrs 30 mins
My daughter and I decided to
simultaneously read the book and listen to the full cast audiobook
version and it was an awesome experience! We don't usually read
fantasy fiction but decided to give this book a try and discovered
why everyone raves about Shannon Hale. This is an author who knows
how to fully immerse her readers into the worlds she builds where her
strong female characters are good, loyal, intelligent and brave.
Dashti is a mucker maid, who, along
with her mistress Lady Saren, is shut in a tower for seven years
because of Saren's refusal to marry the despicable Lord Khasar, a
brute of a man. Dashti is a happy person who takes delight in even
the small things in life and tries to make the most of their
situation, but Lady Saren is depressed, despondent and miserable.
Khan Tegus, one of Lady Saren's suitors arrives outside the castle
and wants to talk with Lady Saren, but she refuses, asking Dashti to
pretend to be her. Khan Tegus and Dashti exchange pleasant and
intimate talk until the day he leaves never to return.
As the days trickle into years, Dashti
does all she can to minister to Lady Saren, singing her the healing
songs she learned as part of her mucker culture. When food starts to
run out, Dashti knows it's up to her to do something or they will
both starve to death. Through her resourcefulness and courage, Dashti
makes decisions that will save both herself, her mistress and the
villagers of the Eight Realms, the fantasy Mongolian setting of this
story.
The story is told from Dashti's
point-of-view through journals that contain some sketched
illustrations. We loved Dashti's voice both written and spoken. She
is charming, witty, and full of life and spunk. She has lost her
mother but speaks of her lovingly when she refers to their past life
together. She is honest and pours out her feelings in her journal
book. She is a wonderful heroine!
This story is based on the Brothers
Grimm story of Maid Maleen, but of course, Hale has infused this one
with an exotic fairy tale setting, memorable characters, romance and
a plot that had me and my daughter guessing how it would all end. The
full cast audiobook version is fantastic, with the beautiful and
passionate voice of Chelsea Mixon that was perfect for Dashti. We
also loved Khan Tegus' voice, which had us imagining a handsome and
kind young man. Lord Khasar's deep voice exuded the right amount of
growling disdain that suited his character. My daughter thought that
Lady Saren's voice sounded too old for her. Besides this, listening
to a full cast was just great, with exotic music in the background
that got us right in the mood of this exciting tale.
This is a clean novel with an
unforgettable strong female heroine that is a good role model for
young girls. The full cast audiobook brings out Shannon Hale's
beautiful writing and wonderful storytelling. Truly captivating and
memorable!
Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
Reviewed by Laura and Daughter
Disclosure: Thanks to AudioGo and Audiobook Jukebox for sending us this audiobook for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
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