-
Wings of Ebony
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Series: Wings of Ebony, Book 1
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $16.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Legendborn
- By: Tracy Deonn
- Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After her mother dies in an accident, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC - Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.
-
-
A well done debut
- By LexiLikesLiterature on 01-27-21
By: Tracy Deonn
-
Raybearer
- By: Jordan Ifueko
- Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy? Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as the Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the crown prince’s Council of Eleven. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai. But the Lady has other ideas....
-
-
Not bad!
- By lisa on 01-28-21
By: Jordan Ifueko
-
This Poison Heart
- By: Kalynn Bayron
- Narrated by: Jordan Cobb
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch. When Briseis’ aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined - it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world.
-
-
Great book!
- By Miriam Bagniewski on 07-09-21
By: Kalynn Bayron
-
Amari and the Night Brothers
- By: B. B. Alston
- Narrated by: Imani Parks
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton - if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.
-
-
Thank you!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-29-21
By: B. B. Alston
-
The Gilded Ones
- Deathless, Book 1
- By: Namina Forna
- Narrated by: Shayna Small
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
-
-
Loved It!!!
- By MICHAEL G. on 02-11-21
By: Namina Forna
-
A Blade So Black
- A Blade So Black, Book 1
- By: L.L. McKinney
- Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now, she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deep into Wonderland.
-
-
This book has EVERYTHING!!!
- By Keri on 11-01-18
By: L.L. McKinney
-
Legendborn
- By: Tracy Deonn
- Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After her mother dies in an accident, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC - Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape - until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts - and fails - to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.
-
-
A well done debut
- By LexiLikesLiterature on 01-27-21
By: Tracy Deonn
-
Raybearer
- By: Jordan Ifueko
- Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy? Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as the Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the crown prince’s Council of Eleven. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai. But the Lady has other ideas....
-
-
Not bad!
- By lisa on 01-28-21
By: Jordan Ifueko
-
This Poison Heart
- By: Kalynn Bayron
- Narrated by: Jordan Cobb
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch. When Briseis’ aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined - it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world.
-
-
Great book!
- By Miriam Bagniewski on 07-09-21
By: Kalynn Bayron
-
Amari and the Night Brothers
- By: B. B. Alston
- Narrated by: Imani Parks
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton - if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.
-
-
Thank you!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-29-21
By: B. B. Alston
-
The Gilded Ones
- Deathless, Book 1
- By: Namina Forna
- Narrated by: Shayna Small
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
-
-
Loved It!!!
- By MICHAEL G. on 02-11-21
By: Namina Forna
-
A Blade So Black
- A Blade So Black, Book 1
- By: L.L. McKinney
- Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now, she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deep into Wonderland.
-
-
This book has EVERYTHING!!!
- By Keri on 11-01-18
By: L.L. McKinney
-
Witches Steeped in Gold
- By: Ciannon Smart
- Narrated by: Nicola Lambo, Tamika Katon-Donegal
- Length: 15 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance. Jazmyne is the queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power. Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game.
-
-
Cant wait for book two
- By Stuffing's Mommy on 04-22-21
By: Ciannon Smart
-
Children of Blood and Bone
- By: Tomi Adeyemi
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
-
-
Ok book
- By AP on 08-08-18
By: Tomi Adeyemi
-
Son of the Storm
- By: Suyi Davies Okungbowa
- Narrated by: Korey Jackson
- Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, Son of the Storm is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forgotten magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.
-
-
A story with so much potential
- By Steph on 08-09-21
-
The Mask of Mirrors
- By: M. A. Carrick
- Narrated by: Nikki Massoud
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ren is a liar and a thief, a pattern-reader and a daughter of no clan. Raised in the slums of Nadežra, she fled that world to save her sister. Now, she has returned with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister’s future. But in the city of dreams, her masquerade is just one of many. Enigmatic crime lord Derossi Vargo, stony captain of the guard Grey Serrado, dashing heir Leato Traementis, and the legendary vigilante known as the Rook all have secrets that could unravel her own.
-
-
exquisite
- By Linda Cooper on 01-25-21
By: M. A. Carrick
-
Unholy Ghosts
- Downside Ghosts, Book 1
- By: Stacia Kane
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a future world under attack from the undead, the powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Consequently, there are many false claims of hauntings from those hoping to profit. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully-tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for nailing human liars and banishing the wicked dead.
-
-
Not for the faint of heart
- By T. Hernandez on 04-21-11
By: Stacia Kane
-
Blood Like Magic
- By: Liselle Sambury
- Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
- Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love - she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.
-
-
GREAT BOOK!
- By Vette on 06-24-21
By: Liselle Sambury
-
The Hate U Give
- By: Angie Thomas
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name.
-
-
One dimensional characters, lazy story writing
- By Catherine Saenz on 02-21-20
By: Angie Thomas
-
Daughters of Nri
- By: Reni K. Amayo
- Narrated by: Weruche Opia
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A gruesome war results in the old gods' departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another. Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri.
-
-
The potential to be a good story but the pace is unbearable
- By Danay on 02-19-20
By: Reni K. Amayo
-
Ballad & Dagger
- By: Daniel José Older
- Narrated by: Lee Osorio
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Almost sixteen years ago, Mateo Matisse's island homeland disappeared into the sea. Weary and hopeless, the survivors of San Madrigal's sinking escaped to New York. While the rest of his tight-knit Brooklyn diaspora community dreams of someday finding a way back home, Mateo—now a high school junior and piano prodigy living with his two aunts (one who's alive, the other not so much)—is focused on one thing: getting the attention of locally-grown musical legend Gerval.
-
On the Come Up
- By: Angie Thomas
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri’s got massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral...for all the wrong reasons. Bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more menace than MC.
-
-
3.83 stars.....not as good as The Hate U Give
- By james on 05-13-19
By: Angie Thomas
-
Machinehood
- By: S.B. Divya
- Narrated by: Inés del Castillo, Deepti Gupta
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welga Ramirez, executive bodyguard and ex-special forces, is about to retire early when her client is killed in front of her. It’s, 2095 and people don’t usually die from violence. Humanity is entirely dependent on pills that not only help them stay alive but allow them to compete with artificial intelligence in an increasingly competitive gig economy. Daily doses protect against designer diseases, flow enhances focus, zips and buffs enhance physical strength and speed, and juvers speed the healing process.
-
-
Great
- By Lukasz on 07-06-21
By: S.B. Divya
-
Dread Nation
- By: Justina Ireland
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever. In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead.
-
-
The Dead Are Never Lonely
- By Cynthia on 05-15-18
By: Justina Ireland
Publisher's Summary
Instant New York Times best seller!
“A remarkable, breathtaking, earthshaking, poetic thrillride.” (Daniel José Older, New York Times best-selling author of Shadowshaper)
In this riveting, keenly emotional debut fantasy, a Black teen from Houston has her world upended when she learns about her godly ancestry and must save both the human and god worlds. Perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Tomi Adeyemi, and The Hunger Games!
“Make a way out of no way” is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizon - a hidden island of magic wielders.
Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue breaks Ghizon’s sacred Do Not Leave Law and returns to Houston, only to discover that Black kids are being forced into crime and violence. And her sister, Tasha, is in danger of falling sway to the very forces that claimed their mother’s life.
Worse still, evidence mounts that the evil plaguing East Row is the same one that lurks in Ghizon - an evil that will stop at nothing until it has stolen everything from her and everyone she loves. Rue must embrace her true identity and wield the full magnitude of her ancestors’ power to save her neighborhood before the gods burn it to the ground.
Critic Reviews
"Narrator Bahni Turpin nails her portrayal of Rue, a Black teenager who, upon her mother's tragic death, discovers that her long-absent father is a god, that she herself is a godling, and that she must leave her human half sister to travel to the magical island of Ghizon. Turpin brings a convincing emotional range to the story as she depicts Rue's parental resentment, grief and love toward her surviving half sister, suspicion toward her white Ghizonian peers, and rage toward the white gang members who are terrorizing what had been, until recently, her Black neighborhood. Throughout, Turpin also demonstrates a talent for making the great one-liners in this novel sing for the listener. Add this to your audiobook list!" (AudioFile Magazine)
More from the same
Author
What listeners say about Wings of Ebony
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brittney Threatt
- 01-28-21
Finally
THE Caveat: First, all the Black books we have are wins. From Toni Morrison to Tracy Deonn. It’s always a win. The things I say in this review are specifically in reference to 1) ya fantasy 2) a very particular story being called worthy, so it’s truly no shade to any other Black author or book. This is MY truth based on MY life so leave me be. I’m saying this here because I’m not about to put a bunch of qualifiers throughout this review. They’re here. I love a variety of Black stories. We need diversity in the TYPES of stories told. I’ve been waiting for this kind and I’m gonna celebrate it without restraint below.
RATING: 6/5. Yeah, 6, because J.Elle is exceeding the bar and critiquing it all at the same time and you’re just gonna have to stay mad.
Review!!!
So there’s a scene in Wings where Rue rushes back home for reasons I won’t say here to avoid spoilers but it’s tense. She’s scared; you’re scared. She opens The Door and Etta James’s “At Last” drifts out of the crack. That’s how I felt opening this book (well, pressing play on the audiobook ;). I have never read an Urban Contemporary Fantasy that takes up the real conditions of Black life in this country so unflinchingly. I haven’t. I mean not using retellings or stepping away to magical kingdoms but gazing at the harshness of home and making YOUR conflict the STORY’s conflict. This storytelling is elaborate in its simplicity: it’s Black life. Because J. Elle honors that, storying her experiences fantastic, Wings has so many departures and I don’t want this review to be unreasonably long so-- actually I’ve been waiting for this book for 9 years. This review will be as long as I want. Tap out when you need to.
The fact that Rue is offered a magical island-- offered magic itself-- and its like “nah, bruh. I want home” is already a major departure from the norm of what fantasy does. She’s not trying to escape. Her stakes are the stakes of Black people in real life. That is not in any way the norm. This book empowers a Black teen to worldmake in THIS world-- in the AMERICAN SOUTH. That’s. Not. The. Norm.
The focus on community in this book gave me such life. Rue’s so uncompromising with it. She’s loyal to fam and fam is the block. She risks it all for them because they’re WORTHY. This story elevates people who are so often erased. Black Americans ain’t popping. Anywhere-- just our culture and accomplishments. But us? Those of us who don’t know where in Africa or the Caribbean we were stolen from and only have our region, our state, our neighborhood to say that’s where we’re “from.” They don’t call us beautiful. But Wings is gorgeous. The people in it are gorgeous. The sisterhood between Rue and Tasha is gorgeous. Julian’s “You know I got you” is stunning. JULIAN is stunning because let me drop this too: we need more Black boys in fantasy. MORE. Their absence is erasure of frightening proportions. They’re here. ALL the love tensions/interests were with Black boys. BLACK LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN. I love it so. Oh! I love it so.
Pacing is wonderful. It’s very fast and I had to pace the reading myself because whooooo J. Elle tried to kill me. My heart almost stopped a couple of times and I was literally curled up in bed like “I need an out or a safe word or something.” She hits you. You’re not about to get comfortable or feel too settled or safe-- and the danger is familiar. Drugs, guns, beatings. Not light sabers or even swords. Most of us have never seen a real life sword. Oh, you have? Just me then, fine. Gun violence, though, is a familiar cross we bear in this country even if it didn’t riddle the communities we grew up in specifically. It’s all we hear about. It’s rocked this country from church shootings to school shootings to gang shootings to police shootings. You get triggered right along with Rue and tremble along with her.
Which leads me to trauma. Rue probably has PTSD from witnessing her mom’s murder but we don’t get a diagnosis, we get the reality of how she lives with it. The paralyzing fear, the random memories, the sudden onset muteness. It’s not spectacular. It’s quiet and easily overlooked from the outside but it’s everything for Rue (and that’s whose perspective we’re made to experience from). Which is another thing: the reader, whoever they are, HAS to get right up and personal with racism. Yeah.
The last thing I’ll talk about is just naming the themes that show up in this book because this review couldn’t possibly get it all. That’s what dissertations are for. Family, community, police brutality, state disinvestment, gun violence, drugs, antiblackness, devaluation of Black life, Black Lives Matter, white fragility, racial allyship, forgiveness, teamwork, fortitude, colonialism, historical deletions, ancestry. I’m sure I’m missing many things that will come to me as I continue to reflect but these are just some that popped out to me immediately. If you’ve gotten nothing else from this review, go read this book. We all need it.
75 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 06-15-21
Rue is NOT racist. (*NO SPOILERS*)
This is actually the first review I’ve ever written, but since this is a YA novel I decided to set the record straight because it is a good book for teens. I read another review that stated the main character is racist and that’s not the case at all.
The main character, Rue, is a young Black American girl born and raised in the inner city of Houston and the story is told from her perspective. For the majority of her life she’s been around people who look just like her, then she’s thrust into a situation where no one looks like her. Also, I’m guessing her so-called “racism” is based on her point of view based on poor inner city residents and their relationship with the justice system. She doesn’t rush to judgement and she’s not prejudiced toward anyone.
41 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JAVON NOBLIN
- 03-12-21
The Hood Has Never Sounded So Corny!
The verbiage/dialect is horrible! It honestly reads as though it’s someone who is almost mocking urban dialect rather than embracing it. I’m definitely from “the hood” and we NEVER spoke like this. It was hard to keep reading/listening because of it. It easily could’ve been the narration of it as well (which was not, at all, impressive).
It also could’ve been a bit “tighter” for lack of a better description. There are quite a few plot holes. Where was Tasha at the end? Ms. Leola? Wassup with Jamal? Is there a part two (can I even listen to a part two).
And, Rue was one of the absolute most “hard to like” main characters I’ve come across in a long time. Her personality left A LOT to be desired. I spent the majority of the book wanting to pop her in the mouth for her rudeness. I read this book because it was an option on a reading list for a teenage mentoring group I run...It no longer is an option. Manly because of Rue’s attitude.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alexandria
- 06-10-21
So good!
1) I was so mad at the amount of times I felt hopeless listening to this book! I’m mad at the author for putting my heart through that!! But she brought it back so well that I forgive her.
2) This story is so heartwarming in the best ways. It’s heartwarming because it really created a whole new world to explore, but still brought relevant issues into it. I loved the sister and family dynamics in this book.
3) I wish I had books like this when I was a kid, and I’ll give it to my kids. The way she talks about racism made me feel seen in a way that I didn’t as a kid. I was crying at points and so mad at others. But it also made me feel strong. Kudos!
4) I love the writing, her use of imagery and dialect was seamless!
5) The narrator put her foot into that performance! All the voices were perfect! Every single one
6) It was very well paced and easy to follow.
7) There’s a lot of cussing, so maybe it’s more for 17 y/o and up if you’re a kid, but young adults will love it! (I’m 24)
8) Bryan! His name was Bryan!
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Demery
- 03-18-21
Blah
struggled to finish, narration was terrible. I want my hours back.....sigh.
tell the truth on these reviews LOLOLOLOL
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Iniysa
- 03-26-21
Wish I'd DNFed
Reading Rues point of view was like nails on a chalkboard. Rues is just as racist as nearly every white person in this book seems to be. Your mother is shot on your porch and absolutely no one come to investigate? Even in the worst parts of town the police will investigate a murder. If this was really happening their would be riots. Finally, she makes a friend in magic school, who was born in the magical community, she does everything for Rue. Then Rue tells her friend that everything she ever knew was an absolute lie, then gets incredibly angry when her friend doesn't immediately start thinking about the wide spread implications of this. And just casts her out until Rue needs her again. When her friend has a solution but can't make what Rues needs appear out of thin air, Rue waves her aside as useless. I think it was here that my last shred of respect dissapeared and I really wished I had DNFed this book instead of pushing through.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jesus
- 03-02-21
Great story
I loved the story! Docked one star bc daaang is the main character stubborn. There were some parts where her demands were unrealistic but I understand that with what she’s been through Ofcourse she would be guarded. I just wish she was a little bit kinder to her friends. Like she calls the ones back home “fam” but her new friend is constantly being tested even though she has proven her loyalty time and time again. Other than that this book was refreshing and being a Houstonian 🤟🏼 myself I loved all the Easter eggs the author sneaked in the book. I recommend it and the narrator does a great job too
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mickey
- 02-16-21
Wow
This was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend this book especially to hesitant readers to help them fall in love with reading.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JW
- 01-27-21
Great story and a great new hero.
Really enjoyed this one. The story is unique and there has never been a hero quiet like Rue. Bahni really brought the energy and made the audio version of this highly entertaining book a fast paced joy ride.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jesse
- 09-02-21
Hard to get through
The main character is extremely unlikable. Rue is bull headed to the point of being a danger to herself and everyone around her for most of the book. there is a point in the book where she decides to change her entire personalty that had been displayed before and then is a master strategist.
another major point of inconsistency to me is she discovers magic is real, has one year of subpar education where she says she doesn't even go to the classes but when she needs it she is a magic expert keeping pace with people who have decades of experience more than her.
I get the metaphor that they are going for but the execution is poor. The plot holes make it hard to fully commit to the story because the reasoning behind so many of the issues don't make sense.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Carlie
- 03-16-22
For younger listeners
I really wanted to like this book and to be fair the story is mostly enjoyable, however Rue the main character is annoying. She’s quite arrogant and makes really stupid decisions throughout. I’m struggling to finish it…
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- paul nolan
- 01-30-21
Perfection
Loved this story so much. Cannot think of a single fault. Voice shines through amazingly