The Listeners
by Maggie Stiefvater (Viking, 2025)
audiobook read by Erin Bennett (Penguin Audio, 2025)
A case of biggest strength, biggest weakness. Stiefvater’s historical setting is superbly realised and yet limits the story’s speculative potential. (Not that the story needs its fantasy element. The characters already shine, but one cannot help anticipating more from the much-talked-of sweetwater.)