Dead Voices
by Katherine Arden (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019); audiobook read by Renee Dorian (Listening Library, 2019)
Arden pitches the fright level just about right for MG dark fiction. This sequel to Small Spaces is told mainly from Coco’s perspective, though with enough from Ollie’s that it seems a bit too omniscient. Brian’s side-lining also feels a tad unnatural.
Small Spaces
by Katherine Arden (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018); audiobook read by Renee Dorian (Listening Library, 2018)
Arden’s characters shine. There’s a good mix of everyday and supernatural elements, but the story devolves somewhat into a standard horror run-around (self-contained but with surprisingly little emotional closure). Dorian’s audiobook reading has just the right dash of middle-grade enthusiasm to it.