Dragons, vampires, and demons abound in this year's fantasy picks, but it was the human tales of adventure, intrigue, and even failure that won us over. Two beloved series concluded this year in epic fashion, while others proved they're just getting started. Whether the stakes were high or low, these performances shined particularly bright in a year awash with stellar fantasy listens.
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Felicia Day is the very definition of a multihyphenate talent—and she can now confidently add audio creator to her résumé. Her Audible Original turns the “chosen one” trope on its head. What if the person who was supposed to save the world failed, and pretty spectacularly at that? Felicia herself portrays our relatable non-hero, Laurel, and has brought together a fantastic cast to join her in this adventure, including LilyPichu, Sean Astin, London Hughes, Danny Pudi, Wil Wheaton, and Neil Gaiman. The end result of this labor of love is a witty, snort-too-loud-in-public adventure with a whole lot of heart. —Sam D.
Narrator-cum-Hugo-nominated-author Travis Baldree produced magic in 2022 with his debut novel, Legends & Lattes, leaving listeners to wonder—could he conjure it again? (Spoiler: The answer is a resounding yes). In this latest adventure, we get a glimpse into Viv's backstory and the colorful characters she meets, befriends, and loves during a pivotal period in her adventuring life. Baldree performs his charming characters with such heart and precision, it makes a listener jealous we can't conjure their voices at any moment like he can. We'll just have to re-listen and wait for more from this multitalented voice. —S.D.
There’s no denying that Fourth Wing was a phenomenal sensation this year. It’s an incredibly fun treat to listen to, and the always-on plot ushered along by Rebecca Soler’s narration makes it hard to pause. I found it to be an interesting mix of an underdog story (without our protagonist Violet being an underdog—she is the daughter of the general, after all) and a chosen-one story (without Violet being a chosen one—her two older siblings paved the path before her). Ultimately, it’s a furtive, rebellious romance amid the high-stakes, ride-or-die environment of the Riders Quadrant. —Melissa B.
Alexander C. Kane's irreverent brand of sci-fi and fantasy hits another home run in this take on the dragon uprising. Kane's unique talent is centering his outlandish stories around a down-and-out but loveable main character, and Birdie Binkowitz is no exception. Khristine Hvam is a brilliant voice in this genre, and her skills are all on display in this adventure loaded with memorable characters. —S.D.
I completely lost myself in Euan Morton's performance of this dark, profound, and winding tale that left me both completely satisfied and starving for more. Themes of rank, fate, power, revenge, and societal conformity will keep you on your toes, but it’s the rich character development and gradual emergence of a terrifying and magical world dictated by rules and restrictions that propel this exhilarating plot. —Esther B.
Impact Winter was our top fantasy of 2022, and I (and our listeners) have been not-so-patiently awaiting the continuation of the story. This season picks up six months after the events of the first and deepens the lore and stakes of this postapocalyptic world. The full cast returns, and the soundscape is even more immersive with Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Listen with headphones for an extra chilling experience. —S.D.
By now, narrator Lauren Fortgang is Galaxy "Alex" Stern in my mind, and I'm ready to follow her to Hell so she can save Darlington (voiced by Michael David Axtell). In this sequel, Alex has evolved, and, along with her ability to see ghosts, is now tasked with being the Virgil, who must keep all these dangerous powers in check. While Leigh Bardugo had to do a lot of world-building in Ninth House—such as explaining Yale's secret societies as well as academic politics and Alex's chaotic life choices—now there's more focus on magical rituals and demonic elements. Keep it coming! —Jerry P.
It's a bittersweet moment when a beloved series comes to a close, especially one as revered as this. Not only is Cradle considered the gold standard in modern progression fantasy, it effectively jump-started the career of narrator Travis Baldree. Few series have captivated fantasy fans as this, and Waybound deserves a spot on our list for its impact alone—let alone its riveting wrap-up of Lindon's tale. —S.D.
How many fantasy adventures feature a middle-aged mother and former pirate as the hero? Shannon Chakraborty (The City of Brass) has written a wonderfully fresh take on the swashbuckling at-sea adventure, and Lameece Issaq and Amin al Gamal deliver inspired performances. More stories like this, please. —S.D.
Powerhouse narrator pairing (and real-life spouses) Kate Reading and Michael Kramer are always a treat for the ears, and here they make a much-anticipated return to a beloved and familiar world, with the addition of a fresh voice—Marisa Calin. Here, V. E. Schwab proves that there's still many more shades of magic to explore in this stunning entry. —S.D.
Shelley Parker-Chan stunned listeners and readers with her 2021 epic alternate-history debut, She Who Became the Sun, and the conclusion to the duology delivers a grand, satisfying end. This is not the only performance from Natalie Naudus on our list, and for good reason; she's solidly established her reputation as the perfect guide through elaborate, sweeping tales like Parker-Chan's. —S.D.
As a huge Buffy fan, I started managing my expectations the second I heard about Slayers. An audio expansion of the Buffy-verse starring original cast members from the show? Too good to be true! But any reservations went right out the window along with my cool demeanor when I heard the opening sounds—the theme song morphing into a moody guitar. And then, James Marsters’s petulant snarl as Spike. It nearly brought me to tears. In another universe, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is the Slayer and Drusilla (Juliet Landau) is the Big Bad, bringing Spike, Giles (Anthony Head), Tara (Amber Benson, also a co-creator), and other pals together again for an epic adventure. Funny, twisty, and action-packed, with just the right amount of camp, Slayers was everything I didn’t dare hope for. Now I’m just trying to be casual about the possibility of a sequel! —Kat J.
I’m so glad Cassandra Clare thought to pair up two of my favorite narrators for Sword Catcher. This is her adult fantasy debut after writing uber-popular and long-running young adult series for many years, and I found it to be a mesmerizing tale. Told through the dulcet tones of narrators Fiona Hardingham and Christian Coulson, this is a story about two overlooked members of a magical society who are nevertheless integral to its functioning. —M.B.
Though it stands alone, Esrahaddon is also, as Michael J. Sullivan puts it, "the final panel of my epic tapestry of interwoven mysteries." Tim Gerard Reynolds delivers more than continuity across this 19-title collection—he brings his A-game each and every time, ensuring that no matter where fantasy fans choose to jump in, they'll be hooked. And as a conclusion to the Rise and Fall Trilogy, listeners will be satisfied with the ending for the cast of characters we’ve grown to love. —S.D.
Matt Dinniman's raucously funny, beloved Dungeon Crawler Carl series was already a listener favorite, thanks to the performance of narrator Jeff Hays. This sixth entry in the binge-worthy saga of monsters and mayhem ups the ante with new voices (including Patrick Warburton and Travis Baldree) and a deeper dive into Carl's past. —S.D.
