Month in Review – June 2026 – The Audiobook Review

Read Time: 3 Minutes

Fantasy dominated my headphones this month, although it came in some unusual forms. Dragons worried about finance, a hero in the form of a plumber, vampire pirates, civil war era killers, and one that left me wondering whether I’d just listened to philosophy, satire, or an exceptionally vivid fever dream.

These Quick Takes slice each listen down to the essentials and whether I’d press play again, all in under 100 words. Read fast, judge faster, and pick the one that promises the exact level of chaos or calm you need right now.

Here are the quick takes.

Caput Mundi

A solid middle grade fantasy with a really interesting central idea of a magical metal – enarii. It starts a little gently, but once it settles into its world it becomes an easy, engaging listen. The pacing works well for younger readers, the mysteries are simple but effective, and there is just enough emotional weight underneath to keep it from feeling too light. The narration leans soft and calming, which fits the tone nicely, even if it occasionally risks sending you off to sleep a bit earlier than planned. Read the Review

The Son of Lubrerum

A strong continuation of the Firefax saga, blending historical fiction, family drama, and plenty of assassin-fuelled action. The historical detail remains impressive, and the Firefax family dynamics are every bit as engaging as the larger conflicts around them. The large cast can be a little challenging to track at times, but the excellent narration from Vas Eli helps keep everything moving smoothly. Read the Review

The Beach

Still a strong concept, a hidden beach in Thailand that slowly unravels into something less idyllic. It plays better now as a cautionary “paradise with strings attached” than pure escapism. Narration-wise, the Michael Page version works far better than the Alfie Allen one, which never quite fit the tone for me.
Read the Review

Cleave the Sparrow

Cleave the Sparrow is one of the strangest audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while. Political satire, philosophy, religion, quantum mechanics, and existential musings all collide in a story that often feels like a hallucinatory fever dream. I definitely didn’t understand all of it, but I never stopped being curious. Confusing, ambitious, occasionally absurd, and probably worth a second listen if you want to untangle what just happened. Read the Review

The Dragon’s Banker

Come for the dragon, stay for the accounting. An interesting fantasy built around economics, trade, and business strategy, though I found it drier than expected and would have loved a stronger narrator. The bonus novella, Forego Quest, was a fun extra. Read the Review

Last Save Dave

A really fun start to a LitRPG series with a likeable underdog hero, clever save-point mechanics, and an excellent narration from Garrett Michael Brown. The ending feels more like the end of an opening act than a complete story, but I enjoyed the characters enough that I’ll happily keep following Dave’s adventures through the remaining worlds. Read the Review

That Lesbian Vampire Pirate Story

Losing an ear in a bar fight is apparently the first step towards becoming a vampire pirate. A fun short story that expands the Blood & Ancient Scrolls world, with great historical flavour, plenty of personality, and a confident narration that suits Sadie perfectly. Read the Review