The Beast Player

By: Nahoko Uehashi, Cathy Hirano - translator

Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly

Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

One of YALSA's 2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

Nahoko Uehashi's The Beast Player is an epic YA fantasy about a girl with a special power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom only she can save. 

©2009; 2018 Text copyright Nahoko Uehashi; Translation copyright Cathy Hirano (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

A lovely, calming world to get away in

If you enjoy Studio Ghibli movies (particularly Princess Mononoke), I have a hunch you will enjoy the Beast Player. The world that is built for us, inspired by ancient Japan, is enchanting. There is a lot of beautiful imagery, and you learn a great deal about caring for beasts both real and imagined (In fact, one character is a beekeeper, and I enjoyed learned about the bees in detail more than the fictional Royal Beasts that take the stage later in the story.)

While this story certainly has it’s share of dark themes and bloodshed, there are a handful of characters who are unwaveringly good and kind throughout, which made the story a feel-good read for me, though I know some are not as fond of that kind of characterization.

The ending was fairly abrupt in my opinion, so much that I had to double check that I hadn’t accidentally skipped a chapter on accident. A lot of relationships and the main conflict are then left outright unresolved, though a resolution is implied. Still, if you’re someone like me who enjoys their standalone novels concluded with every loose end tied up nicely, the end may frustrate you a bit, lol.

Caitlin Kelly did a lovely job in my opinion; with her voice calm and serene to match the main character, and her voices for the cast are distinct. There were a couple times however, that she pronounced things differently each time she said them, though as the narration is heavy with Japanese terminology, this is understandable.

All in all, a enjoyable read for someone who wants to be taken into a new world with a strong but emotionally honest main character.

This was an amazing to listen to.

I have watch the anime so I wanted to read the book. It was an excellent. And I would recommend it to everyone.

started off like ghibli then died

I liked how this started. I was even ok with the mystical vet school. I did NOT like the rest of it. particularly the entire chapter of the main character gaining the trust of the royal beast and then in the next chapter the teacher explaining the entire previous chapter nearly word for word except for the author merely writing "and then she explained how Elin did it". gg. It literally killed this book for me and it went down hill from there. beautiful cover art though

Fantastical Zoology for Younger Audience

I enjoyed the premise, but I found it’s overall execution to be lacking and the plot predictable.

I was thrown by the amount of time devoted to things like the analysis of beast scat, but not to major plot points. Somehow the book pulled off being both slow moving and rushed simultaneously.

I think this would be an easy and fun book to listen to with older children, but I won’t be continuing the saga.

So great

I was not expecting hir incredible this story was, it has me crying, yelling and cheering multiple times.

More than I had imagined

The story line is intelligent and unpredictable. The characters compelling and worth while. The narration was as fine as any I have listened to…and they have been many

Kept us on the edge of our seats!

My son and I really enjoyed this book. We have a long drive every morning and afternoon. Audible books help us pass the time while sitting in traffic. Amazing story. It was definitely hard to pause and wait to come back to the book the next time we were in the car.

Great story lame ending

I loved the story and performance. However, I do not like brief endings in stories. It felt like the author got tired of writing after the end climax and just stopped.

love ❤ 😍 💖 ❣

I was captivated with this book. I actually sat in my car to finish a chapter. it's got a great pace and I can't wait to read book 2 in the series.

Wonderfully inventive epic fantasy

This is a great tale by a wonderful storyteller. It is at times unsentimental but always human and Elin is a character for the ages. The theme is one of understanding and how difficult that can be. It is also a grand adventure. The narrator grew on me as the story unfolded and she did a fine rendition of Elin from age 10 until her 20s. Heartily recommended for all ages.