Full of gothic Southern occult vibes, and partnered with a simmering plot that drew me in almost immediately, Karen Marie Moaning's latest novel was very much worth the wait. The story follows Zo Grey, a 24-year-old struggling with debt and the recent death of her mother. When Zo receives the news that she has inherited a grand estate in a hidden town called Divinity, she can't resist the offer. As she gets settled, Zo begins to uncover dark secrets, the strange conditions of her inheritance, and a handsome Scottish groundskeeper who adds a slow burn (with all its accompanying tension) that is almost dangerous. Amanda Leigh Cobb and Tim Campbell's performances were steamy, eerie, and addicting—drawing listeners into a world of magic, mystery, and romance that ends with a cliffhanger that has left me counting the moments until the sequel. —Patty K.R.

Phantasma is one of those novels that gets me excited every time I get to talk about it because I have a chance to remember how much I loved it. This story grabs you from the first chapter and never lets go. After the death of her mother, necromancer Ophelia enters a deadly game to save her sister, set in a haunted mansion. The rules are clear: Survive, and whatever you do, don't fall in love. With each deadly level of the competition inspired by a circle of hell, the stakes are as high as they can get for Ophelia, who decides to team up with the mysterious Blackwell—who may be playing a game of his own. The gothic setting, spot-on OCD representation, and intense twists were perfectly executed by performer Laura Horowitz, who captured the tension and emotion of the story. —PKR

I'd like to personally thank author Jasmine Mas for the wild ride that Blood of Hercules took me on. When Alexis discovers her Spartan blood, she is taken away to the Spartan War Academy, where survival is the daily challenge. She finds herself forced to obey her professors and mentors, who soon make it known that she is both not welcome but also very well protected from any harm. Integrating history and Greek Myth with a dash of enemies-to-lovers tension, Blood of Hercules sets the background for what is going to be an amazing series. With a cast that includes Teddy Hamilton, Meg Sylvan, Aiden Snow, and Tristan Morris, I went into this listen confident that I would be left satisfied, and I was right. —PKR

A Tribute of Fire is romance author Sariah Wilson’s debut into romantasy, and I seriously hope it’s not her last. Every year, Ilion sends two maidens to compete in a life-or-death ritual, and no maiden ever makes it out alive. In an attempt to protect her kingdom, Princess Lia arranges to be selected. When she and her untrained sister, Quynh, are forced into the deadly race, Lia must navigate a maze-like city while protecting her sister and resisting her undeniable attraction to Jason, a dangerously handsome enemy sailor. The sizzling chemistry between Lia and Jason, nonstop action, and found-family dynamics, combined with Therese Plummer’s narration—and that cliffhanger (which I am still recovering from)—made A Tribute of Fire a fantastic start to a series. —PKR

As if the beautiful cover of Bull Moon Rising wasn’t enough to enchant me, the first chapter most certainly did the job. Aspeth Honori, a noblewoman facing a disaster due to her father’s gambling, runs away to join the Royal Artifactual Guild with her best friend (and her adorable orange cat). Her plans quickly go awry when she marries her minotaur teacher. Ruby Dixon masterfully builds a vibrant world and a captivating magic system, delivering a perfect blend of humor and spice. I fell in love with Aspeth, who is a lovable, messy character, and the spicy scenes caught me by surprise. The story is the first in a series, and I can’t wait to listen to more stories in this universe, and to catch up with the delightful supporting characters. Felicity Munroe and Hiro Diaz deliver steamy performances, bringing the characters to life with their stellar duet narration. —PKR