Where to Start with Fantasy Audiobooks Over 30 Hours
- Best place to start → The Way of Kings
- Closest to 40 hours → Sorcerer (39h 56m)
- Standalone — no series commitment → Alchemised
- Most popular → A Game of Thrones
- Hidden gem → Rains of Liscor (The Wandering Inn #7)
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Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
★ 4.96 ABR Score (587.5K ratings)★ 4.76 Goodreads (498.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (89.5K)48h 15m listening time • Released 2014The second Stormlight Archive book surpasses the first — the magic system, the characters, and the worldbuilding all deepen into one of epic fantasy's greatest achievements.
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Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass • Book 7
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.91 ABR Score (1.2M ratings)★ 4.71 Goodreads (1.1M) ★ 4.88 Audible (38.7K)33h 11m listening time • Released 2018Elizabeth Evans transforms the emotional gutting of this finale into something you'll want to hear in one sitting. Her performance captures both the raw anguish and defiant rage that makes this sprawling series ending actually land.
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The Way of Kings
The Cosmere • Book 1
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.89 ABR Score (796.4K ratings)★ 4.66 Goodreads (683.1K) ★ 4.84 Audible (113.2K)45h 30m listening time • Released 2010Sanderson's most ambitious work — a 45-hour epic with one of the most intricately designed magic systems in fantasy, and characters whose growth pays off magnificently.
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Oathbringer
The Stormlight Archive • Book 3
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.83 ABR Score (432.0K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (365.0K) ★ 4.84 Audible (67.0K)55h 5m listening time • Released 2017Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this sprawling epic into something transcendent—their dual narration captures three interconnected characters with such distinct emotional depth that 55 hours vanishes. Oathbringer is where Sanderson's intricate magic system and moral complexity finally match the scope of his ambition.
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A Storm of Swords
A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 3
Narrated by Roy Dotrice
★ 4.81 ABR Score (930.3K ratings)★ 4.55 Goodreads (851.9K) ★ 4.82 Audible (78.4K)47h 34m listening time • Released 2004Roy Dotrice's masterful performance across 47 hours transforms Martin's most devastating novel into an unforgettable experience, with each character's voice so distinct you forget you're listening to one narrator bringing an entire war to life.
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The Wise Man's Fear
The Kingkiller Chronicle • Book 2
by Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.79 ABR Score (711.5K ratings)★ 4.55 Goodreads (626.1K) ★ 4.8 Audible (85.5K)42h 55m listening time • Released 2011Nick Podehl's performance captures every layer of Kvothe's unreliable storytelling with such precision that you forget you're listening to a single voice carrying 43 hours of epic fantasy. The narrative games Rothfuss plays demand an narrator this skilled, and Podehl delivers.
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A Game of Thrones
A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 1
Narrated by Roy Dotrice
★ 4.79 ABR Score (2.9M ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (2.8M) ★ 4.77 Audible (148.5K)33h 46m listening time • Released 2004Martin reinvented epic fantasy by killing his darlings — a brutal, politically intricate world where nobility gets you killed and moral ambiguity reigns.
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The Land: Predators: A LitRPG Saga
Chaos Seeds • Book 7
by Aleron Kong
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.79 ABR Score (23.9K ratings)★ 4.83 Audible (23.9K)46h 56m listening time • Released 2018 -
The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time • Book 12
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
★ 4.77 ABR Score (224.4K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (178.7K) ★ 4.9 Audible (45.7K)41h 47m listening time • Released 2013Kramer and Reading's dual narration finally gives the Wheel of Time the vocal landscape it deserves, turning a sprawling epic into something genuinely intimate and propulsive.
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Towers of Midnight
The Wheel of Time • Book 13
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.77 ABR Score (211.0K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (176.1K) ★ 4.89 Audible (34.9K)38h 21m listening time • Released 2010Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate the emotional weight of Jordan's endgame—their dual narration makes the converging POVs feel like separate threads tightening toward catastrophe, and they nail the quieter character breakthroughs that matter most before the final battle.
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Rhythm of War
The Stormlight Archive • Book 4
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.76 ABR Score (287.4K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (245.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (41.8K)57h 26m listening time • Released 2020Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this epic's sprawling POVs into something genuinely cinematic—their dual narration makes Sanderson's intricate character work land harder than it has any right to at 57 hours.
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A Clash of Kings
A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 2
Narrated by Roy Dotrice
★ 4.75 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)★ 4.42 Goodreads (1.0M) ★ 4.79 Audible (91.4K)37h 12m listening time • Released 2004Roy Dotrice's performance transforms this sprawling political nightmare into something genuinely addictive—his voice work across dozens of characters makes the competing factions feel like separate worlds colliding.
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The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time • Book 12
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
★ 4.72 ABR Score (205.0K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (178.7K) ★ 4.87 Audible (26.3K)32h 58m listening time • Released 2009Kramer and Reading's dual narration captures the emotional weight of Jordan's world ending, and Sanderson's completion finally delivers the payoff fans waited decades for.
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Heir of Novron
The Riyria Revelations #5-6 • Book 3
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.69 ABR Score (83.6K ratings)★ 4.51 Goodreads (55.5K) ★ 4.83 Audible (28.1K)31h 48m listening time • Released 2012Tim Gerard Reynolds brings devastating emotional weight to the final Riyria chapters—his performance transforms what could've been a standard fantasy conclusion into something genuinely heartbreaking.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: Complete Audio Collection
The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronological Order) #1–7 • Book 1
by C.S. Lewis, Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, Lynn Redgrave, Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Northam, Patrick Stewart
Narrated by Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, Lynn Redgrave, Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Northam, Patrick Stewart
★ 4.65 ABR Score (731.2K ratings)★ 4.28 Goodreads (712.6K) ★ 4.84 Audible (18.6K)33h 45m listening time • Released 2019 -
Rains of Liscor
The Wandering Inn • Book 7
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.61 ABR Score (8.0K ratings)★ 4.62 Goodreads (3.6K) ★ 4.9 Audible (4.4K)33h 52m listening time • Released 2022 -
The Shadow Rising
The Wheel of Time • Book 4
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.61 ABR Score (298.5K ratings)★ 4.29 Goodreads (263.6K) ★ 4.78 Audible (34.9K)41h 13m listening time • Released 2004Kate Reading and Michael Kramer split the massive narrative duties perfectly, making this 41-hour epic feel intimate despite its scope. The Shadow Rising is where the Wheel of Time explodes outward—multiple storylines, higher stakes, and genuine character transformation that justifies the length.
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Fool's Fate
The Tawny Man • Book 3
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by James Langton
★ 4.59 ABR Score (97.5K ratings)★ 4.5 Goodreads (91.5K) ★ 4.78 Audible (5.9K)32h 46m listening time • Released 2014 -
Lord of Chaos
The Wheel of Time • Book 6
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.59 ABR Score (238.8K ratings)★ 4.2 Goodreads (198.2K) ★ 4.8 Audible (40.6K)41h 32m listening time • Released 2005Kate Reading and Michael Kramer's dual narration transforms this sprawling epic into something genuinely immersive—their chemistry grounds the escalating chaos and makes 41 hours feel essential rather than exhausting.
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Tears of Liscor
The Wandering Inn • Book 9
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.59 ABR Score (5.8K ratings)★ 4.69 Goodreads (3.2K) ★ 4.89 Audible (2.6K)45h 21m listening time • Released 2023 -
A Dance with Dragons
A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 5
Narrated by Roy Dotrice
★ 4.59 ABR Score (803.0K ratings)★ 4.34 Goodreads (743.1K) ★ 4.67 Audible (59.9K)48h 55m listening time • Released 2011 -
The Last Light
The Wandering Inn • Book 5
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.58 ABR Score (9.6K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (4.4K) ★ 4.85 Audible (5.2K)52h 17m listening time • Released 2021 -
The General of Izril
The Wandering Inn • Book 6
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.57 ABR Score (8.4K ratings)★ 4.59 Goodreads (3.9K) ★ 4.85 Audible (4.5K)34h 1m listening time • Released 2022 -
Winter Solstice
The Wandering Inn • Book 4
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.56 ABR Score (10.3K ratings)★ 4.53 Goodreads (4.7K) ★ 4.84 Audible (5.6K)34h 14m listening time • Released 2021 -
Flowers of Esthelm
The Wandering Inn • Book 3
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.55 ABR Score (14.6K ratings)★ 4.49 Goodreads (8.3K) ★ 4.81 Audible (6.3K)37h 37m listening time • Released 2021 -
The Fires of Heaven
The Wheel of Time • Book 5
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.54 ABR Score (243.3K ratings)★ 4.2 Goodreads (213.4K) ★ 4.76 Audible (29.9K)36h 27m listening time • Released 2005Reading and Kramer's dual narration elevates the series' most pivotal turning point, giving every faction and character their own voice as the world fractures around the Dragon Reborn.
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The Burning White
Lightbringer • Book 5
by Brent Weeks
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.54 ABR Score (48.7K ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (38.1K) ★ 4.83 Audible (10.6K)39h 4m listening time • Released 2019Simon Vance transforms the epic conclusion into a masterclass of vocal control—wielding distinct voices across dozens of characters while maintaining the emotional gut-punch of Weeks's finale across 39 hours without a stumble.
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The Titan of Baleros
The Wandering Inn • Book 11
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.54 ABR Score (5.2K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (2.6K) ★ 4.89 Audible (2.6K)40h 55m listening time • Released 2023 -
The Light of All That Falls
The Licanius Trilogy • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
★ 4.53 ABR Score (53.4K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (41.6K) ★ 4.74 Audible (11.8K)30h 39m listening time • Released 2019Michael Kramer's masterful performance anchors this epic finale, making the intricate magic system and devastating character reckoning feel earned rather than overwrought.
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Fae and Fare
The Wandering Inn • Book 2
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.52 ABR Score (17.0K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (9.1K) ★ 4.77 Audible (7.9K)61h 4m listening time • Released 2020 -
Knife of Dreams
The Wheel of Time • Book 11
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.51 ABR Score (172.5K ratings)★ 4.2 Goodreads (149.6K) ★ 4.75 Audible (22.9K)32h 19m listening time • Released 2005Kate Reading and Michael Kramer's dual narration transforms this turning point into something genuinely epic—their voices anchor you through 32 hours of intricate plotting as the series finally accelerates toward its endgame.
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Kingdom Blades
A Pattern of Shadow & Light • Book 4
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.51 ABR Score (7.7K ratings)★ 4.59 Goodreads (1.9K) ★ 4.8 Audible (5.8K)42h 12m listening time • Released 2017Nick Podehl's performance elevates this already intricate fantasy epic, bringing crystalline clarity to McPhail's layered plot and multiple POVs across 42 hours—he makes you care deeply about characters trapped in impossible moral positions.
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Garden of Sanctuary
The Wandering Inn • Book 15
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.49 ABR Score (3.8K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (1.6K) ★ 4.89 Audible (2.2K)31h 13m listening time • Released 2025 -
A Crown of Swords
The Wheel of Time • Book 7
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.48 ABR Score (224.7K ratings)★ 4.07 Goodreads (187.9K) ★ 4.74 Audible (36.8K)30h 24m listening time • Released 2006Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this sprawling seventh book into something genuinely immersive, their dual narration making the fractured POV structure feel like eavesdropping on a world coming apart at the seams.
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Alchemised
by SenLinYu
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
★ 4.46 ABR Score (237.6K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (227.8K) ★ 4.64 Audible (9.8K)36h 14m listening time • Released 2025Saskia Maarleveld's performance transforms this dark fantasy debut into something genuinely unsettling—her voice work for the necromantic elements is so immersive you'll forget you're listening.
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Paths of Alir
A Pattern of Shadow & Light • Book 3
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.46 ABR Score (8.6K ratings)★ 4.49 Goodreads (2.5K) ★ 4.76 Audible (6.1K)34h 44m listening time • Released 2016Nick Podehl's performance transforms this intricate epic into something genuinely immersive—his character work across dozens of voices keeps you anchored through 35 hours of layered magic and political intrigue.
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Wind and Truth
The Stormlight Archive • Book 5
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.45 ABR Score (160.9K ratings)★ 4.37 Goodreads (139.0K) ★ 4.6 Audible (21.9K)62h 48m listening time • Released 2024Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate an already massive climax with perfectly calibrated performances that make 62 hours feel essential, not exhausting. Sanderson's payoff demands narrators who can handle intimate character moments and apocalyptic stakes equally, and they nail both.
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The Four-Part Key
The Aldoran Chronicles • Book 3
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.45 ABR Score (4.5K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (2.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (2.0K)35h 36m listening time • Released 2021Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely unputdownable, with a performance so precise it elevates Wisehart's intricate worldbuilding and multiple storylines into something close to immersive theater.
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The Strength of the Few
Hierarchy • Book 2
Narrated by Euan Morton
★ 4.44 ABR Score (85.7K ratings)★ 4.35 Goodreads (80.6K) ★ 4.69 Audible (5.0K)31h 10m listening time • Released 2025 -
The Keeper Chronicles
The Keeper Chronicles #1-3 • Book 1
by J.A. Andrews
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.44 ABR Score (10.6K ratings)★ 4.5 Goodreads (4.3K) ★ 4.7 Audible (6.4K)46h 32m listening time • Released 2020 -
A Feast for Crows
A Song of Ice and Fire • Book 4
Narrated by Roy Dotrice
★ 4.44 ABR Score (855.2K ratings)★ 4.17 Goodreads (797.4K) ★ 4.58 Audible (57.8K)33h 51m listening time • Released 2011Roy Dotrice's performance transforms this sprawling political nightmare into something hypnotic—his voice work across dozens of characters makes the intrigue feel intimate even at 34 hours.
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The Sixth Strand
A Pattern of Shadow & Light • Book 5
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.42 ABR Score (3.6K ratings)★ 4.63 Goodreads (1.2K) ★ 4.79 Audible (2.5K)36h 34m listening time • Released 2019Nick Podehl's performance anchors this sprawling epic with such command that the intricate magic system and high-stakes mythology feel inevitable rather than overwhelming—a masterclass in bringing dense fantasy to life.
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Kushiel's Avatar
Phèdre's Trilogy • Book 3
by Jacqueline Carey
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
★ 4.42 ABR Score (39.5K ratings)★ 4.38 Goodreads (38.0K) ★ 4.74 Audible (1.5K)31h 21m listening time • Released 2009 -
The Witch of Webs
The Wandering Inn • Book 12
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.41 ABR Score (4.8K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (2.3K) ★ 4.78 Audible (2.5K)45h 53m listening time • Released 2024 -
The Tunnels Beneath
The Aldoran Chronicles • Book 4
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.40 ABR Score (3.0K ratings)★ 4.64 Goodreads (2.1K) ★ 4.81 Audible (857)31h 10m listening time • Released 2023Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely immersive, layering distinct voices across multiple POVs so seamlessly that you forget you're listening to one narrator. At 31 hours, it's the kind of commitment that actually pays off.
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Ship of Destiny
The Liveship Traders • Book 3
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
★ 4.39 ABR Score (94.2K ratings)★ 4.34 Goodreads (90.8K) ★ 4.65 Audible (3.5K)33h 39m listening time • Released 2010 -
Bastion
The Immortal Great Souls • Book 1
by Phil Tucker
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.38 ABR Score (10.5K ratings)★ 4.39 Goodreads (7.0K) ★ 4.69 Audible (3.5K)38h 23m listening time • Released 2022Nick Podehl's performance transforms this sprawling dark fantasy into something visceral and unstoppable—his command of Scorio's rage-fueled journey from oblivion to vengeance makes the 38-hour runtime feel essential, not indulgent.
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The Mad Ship
The Liveship Traders • Book 2
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
★ 4.36 ABR Score (89.5K ratings)★ 4.34 Goodreads (86.0K) ★ 4.61 Audible (3.5K)33h 57m listening time • Released 2010 -
Magefall
The Kingfall Histories • Book 3
by David Estes
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.35 ABR Score (3.3K ratings)★ 4.5 Goodreads (2.0K) ★ 4.77 Audible (1.4K)33h 28m listening time • Released 2021Tim Gerard Reynolds elevates this dark prison fantasy with vocal precision that makes the magic system's moral complexity feel tangible. At 33+ hours, it's a commitment that pays off with genuine worldbuilding depth.
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Glory to the Brave
Ascend Online • Book 3
Narrated by Luke Daniels
★ 4.35 ABR Score (6.7K ratings)★ 4.28 Goodreads (2.1K) ★ 4.75 Audible (4.6K)31h 17m listening time • Released 2020Luke Daniels transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely immersive—his performance pulls you through 31 hours of escalating stakes and betrayal with the kind of pacing that makes you resent your commute ending.
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The Wind Runner
The Wandering Inn • Book 10
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.32 ABR Score (4.9K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (2.8K) ★ 4.71 Audible (2.2K)36h 30m listening time • Released 2023 -
Assassin's Quest
The Farseer Trilogy • Book 3
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by Paul Boehmer
★ 4.30 ABR Score (210.2K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (199.3K) ★ 4.52 Audible (10.9K)37h 35m listening time • Released 2010 -
Wizard's First Rule
Sword of Truth • Book 1
by Terry Goodkind
Narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas
★ 4.29 ABR Score (275.9K ratings)★ 4.12 Goodreads (254.1K) ★ 4.51 Audible (21.8K)34h 6m listening time • Released 2008Goodkind's sprawling debut launched the Sword of Truth series — big, operatic fantasy with a hero who learns that the most dangerous weapon is the truth.
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Speaking Bones
The Dandelion Dynasty • Book 4
by Ken Liu
Narrated by Michael Kramer
★ 4.25 ABR Score (4.5K ratings)★ 4.53 Goodreads (4.2K) ★ 4.69 Audible (263)41h 5m listening time • Released 2022Michael Kramer's narration transforms Liu's sprawling epic into something genuinely immersive—his vocal control across dozens of characters and cultures makes a 41-hour journey feel essential rather than exhausting.
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The Mists of Avalon
Avalon • Book 1
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Narrated by Davina Porter
★ 4.20 ABR Score (221.0K ratings)★ 4.13 Goodreads (213.5K) ★ 4.46 Audible (7.5K)50h 53m listening time • Released 2012Bradley's Arthurian legend retold through the women — Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, Viviane — a feminist reinterpretation that remains one of the genre's most powerful reimaginings.
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Endfall
The Kingfall Histories • Book 5
by David Estes
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.18 ABR Score (1.7K ratings)★ 4.51 Goodreads (1.3K) ★ 4.65 Audible (493)46h 19m listening time • Released 2024Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this epic finale into a masterclass in tension and restraint, making every whispered revelation feel like it could topple kingdoms. If you've invested in Kingfall, this payoff is worth every hour.
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The Wolf of the North Trilogy
The Wolf of the North • Book 1
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.18 ABR Score (2.5K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (226) ★ 4.67 Audible (2.3K)32h 22m listening time • Released 2022Simon Vance transforms an underdog revenge saga into something unforgettable—his range captures Wulfric's journey from pathetic to legendary with genuine emotional weight across 32 hours.
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The Wandering Inn
The Wandering Inn • Book 1
by Pirateaba
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 4.16 ABR Score (28.6K ratings)★ 4.22 Goodreads (15.0K) ★ 4.41 Audible (13.6K)48h 7m listening time • Released 2019 -
Awaken Online: Crucible
Awaken Online • Book 8
by Travis Bagwell
Narrated by David Stifel
★ 4.15 ABR Score (534 ratings)★ 4.71 Goodreads (349) ★ 4.88 Audible (185)31h 23m listening time • Released 2026 -
Moon Witch, Spider King
The Dark Star Trilogy • Book 2
by Marlon James
Narrated by Bahni Turpin
★ 4.13 ABR Score (5.7K ratings)★ 4.16 Goodreads (5.3K) ★ 4.67 Audible (358)30h 47m listening time • Released 2022Bahni Turpin's performance transforms Sogolon from antagonist to unreliable narrator extraordinaire—her voice shifts between seductive and menacing as a 177-year-old witch rewrites history. This is the rare sequel that obliterates the first book's perspective and becomes unmissable.
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Bubba the Monster Hunter: Books 1-3
Bubba the Monster Hunter • Book 1
Narrated by John Solo
★ 4.12 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)★ 4.52 Audible (1.6K)37h 55m listening time • Released 2019 -
Ship of Magic
Liveship Traders • Book 1
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
★ 4.11 ABR Score (111.2K ratings)★ 4.24 Goodreads (106.9K) ★ 4.34 Audible (4.3K)35h 20m listening time • Released 2010Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders trilogy opens with this sea-faring epic about ships made from the bones of wizards — sprawling, morally complex, and devastating.
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The Cycle of Arawn
The Cycle of Arawn #1-3
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.10 ABR Score (24.9K ratings)★ 4.01 Goodreads (5.7K) ★ 4.45 Audible (19.2K)65h 54m listening time • Released 2015Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling dark fantasy trilogy into something genuinely immersive—his voice work across Dante's decades-long journey hits harder than reading ever could, making the magic system's brutal costs feel visceral and earned.
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The Last Ballad of Hope
A Time of Dragons • Book 3
by Philip C. Quaintrell
Narrated by Steven Brand
★ 4.09 ABR Score (796 ratings)★ 4.74 Goodreads (762) ★ 4.94 Audible (34)30h 43m listening time • Released 2026 -
The Blackest Heart
The Five Warrior Angels • Book 2
by Brian Lee Durfee
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.08 ABR Score (2.8K ratings)★ 4.25 Goodreads (2.0K) ★ 4.53 Audible (808)36h 24m listening time • Released 2019Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling dark fantasy sequel into something genuinely unputdownable, his voice work pulling you deeper into a world where nothing—not prophecy, not history itself—can be trusted.
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The Dragonbone Chair
Memory, Sorrow & Thorn • Book 1
by Tad Williams
Narrated by Andrew Wincott
★ 4.07 ABR Score (82.3K ratings)★ 3.97 Goodreads (78.3K) ★ 4.44 Audible (4.0K)33h 12m listening time • Released 2016Williams's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series opener is the foundation for Game of Thrones — Martin cited it as a direct influence on his own darker, more realistic fantasy.
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Bloodstorm: Painting the Mists
Painting the Mists • Book 17
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 4.04 ABR Score (89 ratings)★ 4.84 Audible (89)30h 25m listening time • Released 2023 -
Cephrael's Hand
A Pattern of Shadow & Light • Book 1
Narrated by Nick Podehl
★ 4.04 ABR Score (9.9K ratings)★ 4.16 Goodreads (4.0K) ★ 4.37 Audible (6.0K)32h 6m listening time • Released 2016Nick Podehl's performance elevates this sprawling epic fantasy into something immersive and propulsive—32 hours that feel necessary, not indulgent, as multiple timelines and POVs snap into focus.
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King Raven
King Raven #1-3 • Book 1
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 4.04 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)★ 4.25 Goodreads (1.1K) ★ 4.54 Audible (540)35h 29m listening time • Released 2019 -
The Veiled Throne
The Dandelion Dynasty • Book 3
by Ken Liu
Narrated by Michael Kramer
★ 4.03 ABR Score (5.3K ratings)★ 4.13 Goodreads (5.1K) ★ 4.52 Audible (265)38h 37m listening time • Released 2021Michael Kramer's narration transforms this sprawling, philosophically dense epic into something genuinely gripping—his ability to shift between competing ideologies and intimate character moments makes the 38-hour journey feel essential rather than exhausting.
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Imajica Il
by Clive Barker
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 4.01 ABR Score (26.8K ratings)★ 4.17 Goodreads (24.5K) ★ 4.32 Audible (2.3K)37h 20m listening time • Released 2015Simon Vance makes Barker's sprawling dark fantasy breathable—37 hours that somehow fly by as five interconnected worlds collide toward apocalypse. This is immersive, sensual worldbuilding that demands the perfect narrator, and you've got him.
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Heartsworn
The Forsworn Oath • Book 2
by David Estes
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 4.00 ABR Score (509 ratings)★ 4.59 Goodreads (449) ★ 4.65 Audible (60)35h 14m listening time • Released 2025Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely gripping—his range across multiple POVs and fractured timelines keeps the momentum relentless across 35 hours.
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The Last Dark
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant • Book 4
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 3.99 ABR Score (4.3K ratings)★ 4.09 Goodreads (3.9K) ★ 4.47 Audible (441)33h 16m listening time • Released 2013Scott Brick's measured intensity carries you through 33 hours of apocalyptic reckoning—his voice becomes the emotional anchor as Covenant and Avery confront a threat that fundamentally breaks the rules of everything they've fought for.
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Fatal Revenant
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant • Book 2
Narrated by Scott Brick
★ 3.98 ABR Score (6.3K ratings)★ 3.88 Goodreads (6.2K) ★ 4.73 Audible (113)32h 41m listening time • Released 2021Scott Brick's measured intensity captures the creeping dread as Donaldson unravels a 32-hour mystery about whether Covenant's return is salvation or catastrophe. Epic fantasy at its most psychologically unsettling.
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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell with Author Susanna Clarke
Strange & Norrell • Book 1
by Susanna Clarke
Narrated by Simon Prebble
★ 3.97 ABR Score (268.4K ratings)★ 3.87 Goodreads (257.0K) ★ 4.29 Audible (11.4K)32h 29m listening time • Released 2005Simon Prebble's narration transforms this 830-page epic into pure immersion—his crisp precision for footnotes and gift for distinct voices make Clarke's intricate Regency fantasy feel like the most engrossing conversation you'll ever overhear.
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Stormsworn
The Forsworn Oath • Book 3
by David Estes
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 3.96 ABR Score (398 ratings)★ 4.57 Goodreads (366) ★ 4.72 Audible (32)43h 17m listening time • Released 2026Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this sprawling epic into something genuinely immersive—his vocal range makes the vast cast feel like distinct people, and his pacing never lets a 43-hour story drag.
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The Once and Future King
Once and Future King • Book 1
by T. H. White
Narrated by Neville Jason
★ 3.95 ABR Score (125.1K ratings)★ 4.07 Goodreads (119.4K) ★ 4.21 Audible (5.6K)33h listening time • Released 2010White's Arthurian masterpiece is the definitive retelling — moving, darkly funny, and profoundly humanist, it's the book that made Camelot what it is in the popular imagination.
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Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Legacy Universe • Book 1
by Jacqueline Carey
Narrated by Anne Flosnik
★ 3.93 ABR Score (88.6K ratings)★ 4.02 Goodreads (84.8K) ★ 4.24 Audible (3.8K)31h 5m listening time • Released 2009Carey's epic is lush, erotic, and politically intricate — a courtesan trained as a spy in an alternate Renaissance France, in one of adult fantasy's most unique voices.
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Forsworn
The Forsworn Oath • Book 1
by David Estes
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 3.93 ABR Score (800 ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (616) ★ 4.39 Audible (184)32h 33m listening time • Released 2025Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this revenge epic into something genuinely haunting—his narration captures both the simmering rage and fractured psyche of a man defined by loss, making the 32-hour journey feel essential rather than indulgent.
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Ranger's Oath
Arc of Radiance/Fall of Radiance • Book 1
by Blake Arthur Peel
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
★ 3.93 ABR Score (4.2K ratings)★ 3.84 Goodreads (972) ★ 4.43 Audible (3.3K)50h 59m listening time • Released 2021Michael Kramer and Kate Reading anchor a sprawling epic with such distinct character voices that you'll forget you're listening to two narrators—their chemistry pulls you through a 51-hour world-ending conspiracy.
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Shadowheart
Shadowmarch • Book 4
by Tad Williams
Narrated by Dick Hill
★ 3.92 ABR Score (6.7K ratings)★ 4.04 Goodreads (6.3K) ★ 4.34 Audible (447)32h 58m listening time • Released 2010Dick Hill's masterful narration transforms this epic conclusion into something genuinely immersive—his ability to voice dozens of characters with distinct conviction makes the massive 33-hour runtime feel essential rather than exhausting.
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Divine Apostasy Boxed Set Volume 1 (Books 1-3)
Divine Apostasy • Book 1
by A.F. Kay
Narrated by Travis Baldree
★ 3.90 ABR Score (228 ratings)★ 4.66 Goodreads (117) ★ 4.5 Audible (111)37h 38m listening time • Released 2025Travis Baldree's narration elevates this divine-conflict epic into something genuinely immersive—his performance captures both the high-stakes magic system and the protagonist's grinding desperation as he's pulled into a war he never asked for.
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A Prince's Errand
Tales of the Amulet • Book 1
by Dan Zangari, Robert Zangari
Narrated by Michael Kramer
★ 3.88 ABR Score (484 ratings)★ 4.04 Goodreads (207) ★ 4.47 Audible (277)40h 12m listening time • Released 2020Michael Kramer's narration transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely immersive—his voice work across multiple characters anchors a complex world of ancient magic and political intrigue that demands your full attention.
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The Preternatural Chronicles: Books 0.5-3.5: Preternatural Chronicles Boxsets
The Preternatural Chronicles
by Hunter Blain
Narrated by Luke Daniels
★ 3.88 ABR Score (316 ratings)★ 4.5 Goodreads (68) ★ 4.47 Audible (248)39h 17m listening time • Released 2023Luke Daniels transforms this vampire saga into something genuinely funny and darkly compulsive—five centuries of snark, trauma, and pop culture references wrapped in a voice that makes you forget you're listening to 39 hours of audio.
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Night Angel Nemesis
The Kylar Chronicles • Book 1
by Brent Weeks
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 3.86 ABR Score (7.5K ratings)★ 4.03 Goodreads (6.5K) ★ 4.25 Audible (982)32h 11m listening time • Released 2023Simon Vance's performance elevates this return to the Night Angel world into something genuinely immersive—his range across Kylar's fractured psyche and the sprawling cast keeps a 32-hour epic moving like a taut thriller.
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The King's Ranger Boxset: Books 1-3
The King's Ranger #1-3 • Book 1
by A.C. Cobble
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 3.86 ABR Score (281 ratings)★ 4.53 Goodreads (40) ★ 4.46 Audible (241)32h 25m listening time • Released 2022Simon Vance's narration transforms this sprawling fantasy trilogy into a masterclass in voice work—each character distinct, the pacing relentless, and the emotional weight of a ranger's impossible choices hitting harder in audio. If you want epic fantasy that feels intimate and character-driven, this box set is the rare 32-hour investment that pays off.
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Shadowplay
Shadowmarch • Book 2
by Tad Williams
Narrated by Dick Hill
★ 3.82 ABR Score (8.8K ratings)★ 3.93 Goodreads (8.3K) ★ 4.24 Audible (501)30h 23m listening time • Released 2010Dick Hill's voice work transforms this sprawling dark fantasy sequel into something genuinely immersive—his range across dozens of characters keeps the political intrigue sharp and the supernatural dread palpable across 30+ hours.
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The Complete Poppy War Trilogy
The Poppy War • Book 1
by R. F. Kuang
Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
★ 3.82 ABR Score (4.6K ratings)★ 4.38 Goodreads (2.6K) ★ 4.06 Audible (2.0K)66h 29m listening time • Released 2023Emily Woo Zeller's performance elevates this brutal, shamanic military epic into something transcendent—her voice carries the weight of Rin's descent from soldier to god-touched weapon with devastating precision.
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Painting the Mists: Volume 4: Painting the Mists, Books 10-12
Painting the Mists • Book 10
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 3.81 ABR Score (14 ratings)★ 4.79 Audible (14)63h 44m listening time • Released 2024 -
Tower of Somnus Omnibus: Books 1-3 in A LitRPG Adventure Series
Tower of Somnus • Book 1
by Cale Plamann
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 3.80 ABR Score (95 ratings)★ 4.8 Goodreads (15) ★ 4.5 Audible (80)41h 35m listening time • Released 2024 -
The Lonesome Crown
The Five Warrior Angels • Book 3
by Brian Lee Durfee
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 3.80 ABR Score (1.5K ratings)★ 4.07 Goodreads (1.3K) ★ 4.13 Audible (173)43h 19m listening time • Released 2024Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this epic conclusion into something transcendent—his layered vocal performances across dozens of characters make the political intrigue and magic feel genuinely lived rather than merely narrated.
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Sorcerer
Dear Spellbook • Book 1
by Peter J. Lee, TK523
Narrated by Travis Baldree
★ 3.79 ABR Score (642 ratings)★ 3.93 Goodreads (636) ★ 4.83 Audible (6)39h 56m listening time • Released 2026Travis Baldree nails the voice of a sarcastic sorcerer trapped in a time loop, turning what could be a gimmick into genuine tension and humor across nearly 40 hours.
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Painting the Mists: Volume 5: Painting the Mists, Books 13-15
Painting the Mists • Book 13
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 3.75 ABR Score (9 ratings)★ 4.56 Audible (9)60h 57m listening time • Released 2024 -
Death's Mantle
Death's Mantle #1-3 • Book 1
by Harmon Cooper
Narrated by Andrea Parsneau
★ 3.75 ABR Score (90 ratings)★ 3.94 Goodreads (16) ★ 4.31 Audible (74)30h 55m listening time • Released 2024 -
Wizard's Tower: Books 1-3: A LitRPG Series Bundle
Wizard's Tower • Book 1
Narrated by Jeff Hays, Justin Thomas James, Andrea Parsneau
★ 3.71 ABR Score (335 ratings)★ 3.72 Goodreads (25) ★ 4.2 Audible (310)38h 22m listening time • Released 2024 -
Against All Things Ending
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant • Book 3
Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds
★ 3.71 ABR Score (5.1K ratings)★ 3.92 Goodreads (4.7K) ★ 4.06 Audible (379)33h 11m listening time • Released 2011 -
Painting the Mists: Volume 1: Painting the Mists, Books 1-3
Painting the Mists • Book 1
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 3.71 ABR Score (33 ratings)★ 4 Goodreads (1) ★ 4.53 Audible (32)32h 7m listening time • Released 2024 -
Painting the Mists: Volume 2: Painting the Mists, Books 4-6
Painting the Mists • Book 4
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 3.70 ABR Score (23 ratings)★ 4 Goodreads (1) ★ 4.73 Audible (22)42h 32m listening time • Released 2024 -
The Dark Necromancer (Tales of the Amulet Book 2)
Tales of the Amulet • Book 2
by Dan Zangari, Robert Zangari
Narrated by Michael Kramer
★ 3.69 ABR Score (14 ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (5) ★ 4.89 Audible (9)48h 39m listening time • Released 2025Michael Kramer's narration transforms this sprawling dark fantasy sequel into something genuinely immersive—his vocal range makes the competing conspiracies and magic systems feel urgent rather than overwhelming.
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Painting the Mists: Volume 3: Painting the Mists, Books 7-9
Painting the Mists • Book 7
by Patrick G. Laplante, Adam Verner
Narrated by Adam Verner
★ 3.66 ABR Score (13 ratings)★ 3 Goodreads (1) ★ 4.5 Audible (12)47h 57m listening time • Released 2024 -
Forest Mage
Soldier Son • Book 2
by Robin Hobb
Narrated by John Keating
★ 3.62 ABR Score (20.6K ratings)★ 3.47 Goodreads (19.7K) ★ 4.2 Audible (923)31h 3m listening time • Released 2009 -
The Complete Iconoclasts Saga
Iconoclasts • Book 1
by Mike Shel
Narrated by Simon Vance
★ 3.61 ABR Score (7 ratings)★ 4 Goodreads (2) ★ 3.8 Audible (5)49h 18m listening time • Released 2025Simon Vance transforms this sprawling dark fantasy trilogy into something genuinely unsettling—his control of tone and pacing makes the horror creep under your skin rather than jump at you.
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Dangerous Women
The Dresden Files #13.1 - Bombshells
by George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, Carrie Vaughn, Lev Gossman, Joe R. Lansdale, Megan Lindholm, Lawrence Block, Brandon Sanderson, Sharon Kay Penman, Lev Grossman, Nancy Kress, Diana Rowland, Diana Gabaldon, S.M. Stirling, Sam Sykes, Pat Cadigan, Caroline Spector, Joe Abercrombie, Megan Abbott, Cecelia Holland, Jim Butcher, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Melinda M. Snodgrass
Narrated by Scott Brick, Jonathan Frakes, Stana Katic, Inna Korobkina, Lee Meriwether, Claudia Black, Sophie Turner, Janis Ian, Iain Glen, Karen Dotrice, Various
★ 3.56 ABR Score (14.9K ratings)★ 3.67 Goodreads (13.2K) ★ 4.02 Audible (1.7K)32h 47m listening time • Released 2013A stacked anthology where Abercrombie, Sanderson, Butcher, and Gabaldon deliver knockout stories, anchored by an all-star narrator cast that elevates every twist—32 hours that justify the hype.
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The Dryad Storm
The Black Witch Chronicles • Book 5
by Laurie Forest
Narrated by Julia Whelan
★ 3.34 ABR Score (5.5K ratings)★ 3.18 Goodreads (5.2K) ★ 3.85 Audible (294)31h 45m listening time • Released 2025Julia Whelan's narration carries you through this sprawling finale with such emotional precision that you'll feel every loss alongside Elloren—a perfect match for Forest's high-stakes, character-driven epic fantasy.
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How We Rank Audiobooks
Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.
Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.
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