The Top 14 Fantasy Audiobooks of 2022 To Listen To
October 7, 2022
The fantasy genre is always rich with an unending list of new titles. From the latest best fantasy books released in a book series to a groundbreaking standalone story, it can be hard to know what fantasy audiobook to prioritize next. That’s why Audible has compiled this list of 2022’s best audiobooks. Our picks span the fantasy and science fiction gamut. They include ghostly looks into the paranormal, forays into mind-bending magic and fascinating quests into the unknown. Plus, the list features fantasy authors from every corner of the globe and celebrates the rich diversity of writers within the fantasy genre.
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Dreadgod
- Cradle, Book 11
- Written by: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The battle in the heavens has left a target on Lindon’s back. His most reliable ally is gone, the Monarchs see him as a threat, and he has inherited one of the most valuable facilities in the world. At any moment, his enemies could band together to kill him....
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Big Willy does it again
- By xavier on 2022-07-06
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Dreadgod
- Cradle, Book 11
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Series: Cradle, Book 11
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Release date: 2022-07-05
- Language: English
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Released in July 2022, Dreadgod is the highly anticipated 11th installment in Will Wight’s Cradle fantasy series. Wight, a New York Times best-selling author, has been celebrated for his ability to build fascinating worlds in his self-published novels. And Dreadgod is no exception.
In this pause-resistant fantasy audiobook, listeners are hurled through action-packed battle scenes, exploring a fascinating new world. Audiences have applauded Dreadgod for its epic twists and turns, humour-filled scenes, and full-tilt plunge into unforgettable fights between good and evil. No wonder this captivating title has ranked in the Top 100 Amazon Kindle Best Sellers.
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The Atlas Six
- Written by: Olivie Blake
- Narrated by: Andy Ingalls, Caitlin Kelly, Damian Lynch, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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The Alexandrian Society, caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity, are the foremost secret society of magical academicians in the world....
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Multiple narrators confusing
- By Paul Van Alstyne on 2022-04-04
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The Atlas Six
- Narrated by: Andy Ingalls, Caitlin Kelly, Damian Lynch, David Monteith, James Patrick Cronin, Munirih Grace, Siho Ellsmore
- Series: Atlas Series, Book 1
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Release date: 2022-03-01
- Language: English
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As the first release in what listeners expected to be a thrilling trilogy, The Atlas Six has taken BookTok by storm. Written by New York Times best-selling fantasy author Olivie Blake, this exciting audiobook takes listeners deep into the extraordinary world of the Alexandrian Society. Six characters get invited to compete for a permanent spot in the secret society, an honour that promises a lifetime of unimaginable power and wealth. But only five will make it through initiation.
This unique fantasy audiobook makes it impossible for anyone to put their headphones down. Listeners go deep into the world of each candidate, their special magical powers, and their complicated relationships with one another. It’s a not-to-be-missed novel full of authentic characters, powerful magic, and scenes of heart-pounding romance.
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The Discord of Gods
- A Chorus of Dragons
- Written by: Jenn Lyons
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin, Lauren Fortgang, Vikas Adam
- Length: 24 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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The Discord of Gods marks the epic conclusion to Jenn Lyons's Chorus of Dragon series, closing out the saga that began with The Ruin of Kings, for fans of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss....
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The Discord of Gods
- A Chorus of Dragons
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin, Lauren Fortgang, Vikas Adam
- Series: A Chorus of Dragons, Book 5
- Length: 24 hrs and 23 mins
- Release date: 2022-04-26
- Language: English
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The Discord of Gods easily fits into this list of great fantasy stories. It’s the fantastic finale of A Chorus of Dragons, a five-part epic fantasy book series about brave young hero Kihrin and his effort to save an entire empire. But Kihrin is up against Relos Var, a dragon plotting to take over the universe, and Xaltorath, a demon determined to do the same. No pressure, right?
In this unforgettable audiobook, fantasy author Jenn Lyons builds a painstakingly detailed world and a rich cast of characters voiced by Feodor Chin, Lauren Fortgang, and Vikas Adam. It's no exaggeration to say that this fantasy audiobook takes listeners on the ride of their lives as Lyons wraps up her epic fantasy series.
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Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments
- Edinburgh Nights, Book 2
- Written by: T. L. Huchu
- Narrated by: Kimberly Mandindo
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Ropa Moyo’s ghost-talking practice has tanked. Desperate for money to pay bills and look after her family, she reluctantly accepts a job to look into the history of a coma patient receiving treatment at the magical private hospital Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments....
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Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments
- Edinburgh Nights, Book 2
- Narrated by: Kimberly Mandindo
- Series: Edinburgh Nights, Book 2
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Release date: 2022-04-05
- Language: English
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It’s no surprise that most fantasy fans love horror, sci-fi, and the occult. What’s not to appreciate about peering into life's darker side? Well, Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments—the second installment in author T.L. Huchu’s Edinburgh Nights series—is the perfect fantasy story for diving into all of the above.
Many listeners will relate to Ropa Moyo’s plight. She’s working toward a life of full-time magic making, but right now, she’s stuck in an unpaid internship and needs a side hustle. Her friend Priya suggests a gig that will tap into Ropa’s biggest skill: her ability to talk to ghosts. But when Ropa’s new job brings her to the bedside of a young coma patient with a mysterious illness, she’s hurled into a world of lost fortunes and well-kept secrets.
Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments is a must-listen for anyone with a curious fascination with the paranormal. Fans of this audiobook applaud its first-person narration (through the voice talent of Kimberly Mandindo), deeply developed characters, and well-thought-out ties to Scottish history.
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The Thousand Eyes
- The Serpent Gates, Book 2
- Written by: A. K. Larkwood
- Narrated by: Aysha Kala
- Length: 16 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Two years after defying the wizard Belthandros Sethennai and escaping into the great unknown, Csorwe and Shuthmili have made a new life for themselves, hunting for secrets among the ruins of an ancient snake empire....
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A solid sequel
- By Lindsay B. on 2022-08-31
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The Thousand Eyes
- The Serpent Gates, Book 2
- Narrated by: Aysha Kala
- Series: The Serpent Gates Series, Book 2
- Length: 16 hrs and 59 mins
- Release date: 2022-02-15
- Language: English
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Listeners who press play on The Thousand Eyes are in store for a captivating story that refuses to uphold the fantasy genre’s typical boundaries. In this follow-up to her debut novel, The Unspoken Name, author A. K. Larkwood pulls her favourite aspects of science fiction and mythology to tell a story that is uniquely her own.
Larkwood takes her audience from the get-go into a world filled with ancient relics, unexpected twists, and attention-grabbing adventures. With narration by Aysha Kala, The Thousand Eyes is a rush that lasts until the last chapter ends. Fans of this audiobook praise it for its focus on LGBTQIA+ romance, brilliant humour, creative use of tasteful curse words, and an all-consuming plot line.
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Gallant
- Written by: V.E. Schwab
- Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness....
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Fascinating story
- By Belzebuth on 2024-04-04
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Gallant
- Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
- Release date: 2022-03-01
- Language: English
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Have you ever heard of a Schwablin? It’s the title adoringly given to author V.E. Schwab’s biggest fans, for whom loving fantasy novels aren’t just a pastime—it’s their lifestyle. And Gallant is the perfect listen for longtime Schwablins and brand new fans.
Inspired by the TV series Stranger Things, Gallant takes listeners into two parallel environments: one seemingly ordinary, the other sinister and scary. Navigating it all is the story’s nonverbal protagonist, Olivia. After a childhood spent believing she didn’t have any family and relying on her mother’s journal as the only key to her past, Olivia receives an anonymous invitation to return to a home she never knew existed.
The audiobook’s haunting descriptions, masterfully narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, take listeners through both sides of the secret-filled Gallant manor, one Olivia intended to discover and the other she fatefully stumbles upon. You’ll enjoy stumbling along with her, too.
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Dungeon
- Alpha Physics, Book 5
- Written by: Alex Kozlowski
- Narrated by: Grant Cartwright
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The team has done everything right. They have killed off all of Adhava’s kids and in doing so denied her reinforcements, but now she has fled into a dungeon. Adrian and his team need to hunt her down; track her, find her and then destroy her in an environment she knows and controls....
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Dungeon
- Alpha Physics, Book 5
- Narrated by: Grant Cartwright
- Series: Alpha Physics, Book 5
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Release date: 2022-08-23
- Language: English
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This one is for the Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG) fans! Written by Alex Kozlowski and narrated by Grant Cartwright, Dungeon is the fifth entry in the Alpha Physics fantasy series.
As a gamer himself, author Kozlowski has built an intricate world within his novels, and Dungeon is no exception. Listeners get immersed in an environment unlike anything they’ve ever heard or imagined. They’ll follow along closely as the characters attempt to do the impossible. To save Albury, they must find and defeat Adhava.
It’s a dangerous and heart-pounding mission to keep listeners on edge until the end.
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Only a Monster
- Only a Monster, Book 1
- Written by: Vanessa Len
- Narrated by: Vera Chok
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin....
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Only a Monster
- Only a Monster, Book 1
- Narrated by: Vera Chok
- Series: Only a Monster, Book 1
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Release date: 2022-02-22
- Language: English
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Forbidden romance, family secrets, and monsters hidden in plain sight— Only a Monster has it all. This audiobook is the debut novel by author Vanessa Len and the first installment in her forthcoming fantasy trilogy, Monsters.
The story follows Joan, a 16-year-old sent to live with extended family after her mother’s passing. And while many listeners expect Joan to be the hero, Only a Monster flips the expected fantasy plot structure on its head. Audiences quickly learn that Joan is the monster promised in the book’s title. She must battle Nick, her co-worker and crush, and accept the help of another monster whose family has a longstanding feud with her own.
This title is perfect for audiences craving a fast-paced novel full of unexpected twists and turns. Its exciting plot, interesting characters, and narration from Vera Chok make for an audiobook that no listener will want to pause.
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Age of Ash
- Written by: Daniel Abraham
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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When her brother is murdered, a petty thief from the slums of Longhill sets out to discover who killed him and why. But the more she discovers about him, the more she learns about herself, and the truths she finds are more dangerous than knives....
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Not what I expected from this Author.
- By Kristina on 2022-09-25
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Age of Ash
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Series: The Kithamar Trilogy, Book 1
- Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins
- Release date: 2022-02-15
- Language: English
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Fans of fantasy audiobooks are no strangers to series that stretch over an expansive physical landscape and follow characters for decades. But Age of Ash challenges the idea that this is the only way to build an intricate and engaging world.
Instead, New York Times best-selling author Daniel Abraham uses the promising first installment of The Kithamar Trilogy to demonstrate that listeners can get equally invested in stories within one city in one year.
This audiobook is set in a robust city/state full of feuding sects and well-kept secrets. It follows Alys, a petty thief whose brother gets tragically murdered. As she sets out to find his killer, she follows an unexpected path of self-discovery peppered with secrets, romance, and conspiracy. Listeners will love Age of Ash for its focus on character development and its well-written prose.
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A Magic Steeped in Poison
- The Book of Tea, Book 1
- Written by: Judy I. Lin
- Narrated by: Carolyn Kang
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her - the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu....
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Fantastic Quick Paced Story
- By Anonymous User on 2024-10-13
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A Magic Steeped in Poison
- The Book of Tea, Book 1
- Narrated by: Carolyn Kang
- Series: The Book of Tea, Book 1
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Release date: 2022-03-29
- Language: English
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Some things make sense together, and a great novel paired with a delicious cup of tea is the perfect duo. In A Magic Steeped in Poison, author Judy I. Lin has taken this classic pair to the next level by building an entire magic system based on tea and its careful preparation.
As the first title in Lin’s The Book of Tea series, A Magic Steeped in Poison has given fantasy fans a lot to look forward to. Its dreamlike prose, unexpected plot twists, and flair for romance will occupy the listener’s mind long after the final chapter has ended.
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Nightfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 4
- Written by: David Estes
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Length: 42 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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As heroes and villains seek to secure the seven godblades, the greatest evil to threaten Kingfall draws ever closer....
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Exceeded expectations
- By Tanya on 2023-09-11
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Nightfall
- The Kingfall Histories, Book 4
- Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
- Series: The Kingfall Histories, Book 4
- Length: 42 hrs and 41 mins
- Release date: 2022-07-21
- Language: English
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Listeners following David Estes’s The Kingfall Histories for a while won’t be surprised to see the series’ fourth and penultimate title, Nightfall, on this list of 2022’s best fantasy audiobooks.
When the audiobook opens, the fate of Kingfall hangs in the balance as both forces of good and evil do everything in their power to secure the seventh and final godblade.
The novel is nothing short of a wild ride. It’s full of death, betrayal, and masterfully written battle scenes. It has excitement and adventure at every turn, setting up for what is sure to be an epic fifth and final installment of The Kingfall Histories.
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The Stardust Thief
- Written by: Chelsea Abdullah
- Narrated by: Nikki Massoud, Sean Rohani, Rasha Zamamiri
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp....
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Good Start to an Interesting Series
- By Library of Selin on 2024-11-18
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The Stardust Thief
- Narrated by: Nikki Massoud, Sean Rohani, Rasha Zamamiri
- Series: The Sandsea Trilogy, Book 1
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Release date: 2022-05-17
- Language: English
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Brought to listeners by debut author Chelsea Abdullah, The Stardust Thief is an exhilarating tale of awe-inspiring magic and unforgettable quests. As the first entry in Abdullah’s highly anticipated The Sandsea Trilogy, this adventure draws on Abdullah’s Arab heritage and her nostalgic appreciation for the 1001 Nights stories.
The Stardust Thief plunges audiences into the life of Loulie al-Nazari, a smuggler who seeks out and illegally sells magic. Accompanied by her jinn bodyguard, Loulie’s questionable occupation ends up putting her life, and the lives of all jinn, in extreme danger.
Listeners will love The Stardust Thief’s enchanting scenes, powerful characters (voiced by narrators Nikki Massoud, Sean Rohani, and Rasha Zamamiri), and action-packed plot.
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Book of Night
- Written by: Holly Black
- Narrated by: Sara Amini
- Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make. She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse....
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Interesting story, but annoying narrator
- By A on 2022-05-13
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Book of Night
- Narrated by: Sara Amini
- Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
- Release date: 2022-05-03
- Language: English
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There are plenty of people out there who wish it was spooky season all year round. And everyone should listen to Holly Black’s debut adult fantasy, Book of Night. This dark, urban fantasy piece carries a gritty tone and keeps listeners in suspense the whole way through.
Charlie Hall is a bartender at a local dive who is fighting to outrun the consequences of a contentious past spent on the dark side of magic. And when a ghastly character from her disturbing past reemerges, Charlie is pulled back into a chaotic web of deceit, murder, and greed. Will she make it through? Listeners will be hanging on at every step to find out.
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The Final Strife
- A Novel
- Written by: Saara El-Arifi
- Narrated by: Nicole Lewis, Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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In the first book of a visionary fantasy trilogy with its roots in the mythology of Africa and Arabia, three women band together against a cruel empire that divides people by blood....
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Came for the wlw stayed for the story
- By Anonymous User on 2023-08-27
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The Final Strife
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Nicole Lewis, Dominic Hoffman
- Series: The Ending Fire Trilogy, Book 1
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Release date: 2022-06-21
- Language: English
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The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi earns its well-deserved place among 2022’s best fantasy audiobooks. This magical novel takes a meaningful look at themes of race, oppression, subversion, and resistance, all through the eyes of its protagonist, Sylah.
Raised in an empire that determines a person’s worth by the colour of their blood—red, blue, or clear—Sylah longs to lead a revolution and bring an end to the oppressive system. But because she's the daughter of the most powerful leader of the land, Sylah doesn’t have the strength or courage to do so. That is until she meets Anoor.
Fans continue to rave about El-Arifi’s imaginative world-building, intricate magic system, gripping plot, and fiery romance. This audiobook combines all the elements that make a fantasy so fantastic.
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