American Fantasy/Scifi/Mystery Audiobook

[Margaret Note Spelling]

Okay, so I'm on the hunt for several good examples of American female audiobook narrators. Mostly I'm interested in the quality of the narration, but exactly what book I'm listening to is also important. Does anybody have any recommendations for a non-inappropriate, mystery/scifi/fantasy kind of audiobook--the sort of thing that isn't necessarily light, but can also be listened to with, say, kids in the car?

I've looked into Brandon Sanderson, Terry, Brooks, various Star Wars and Star Trek novels, and a few others, but only a few of those are actually narrated by women. And it's hard to find safe, clean fiction just by picking something at random. Can anybody suggest any such audiobooks which they liked?

Thanks.

 

[tachyon]

I don't read with kid-appropriateness in mind so can rule out some books based on memory but can't totally be sure that any adult literature I've read would be appropriate for little ones.

That being said, I took a look at my audiobook app and here are some suggestions. Perhaps you can search for other books these narrators have worked on.

Maybe others who have read these can weigh in on how kid friendly the titles are.

Adult & YA (in no particular order):

Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys, narrated by Gabra Zackman. This is an adult book with some allusion to violence and sex but no explicit sex scenes as far as I can recall. Definitely adult themes, and it's in the Lovecraft mythos so may not be to your taste. The narrator is very good. Swear words, not sure.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, narrated by January LaVoy. This is a YA so should be OK for kids, there's definitely tension, conflict, and violence, but if they've seen the Star Wars movies they've seen same or worse. The narration is wonderful, as is the story. Swear words should be minimal or absent.

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, narrated by Ali Ahn. Adult Science Fiction, KSR is one of the greats, and the narration is wonderful.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, narrated by Celeste Ciulla. Adult Science Fiction. Not sure about this one, definitely sex and violence, and themes of genocide, but I don't remember how explicit it gets. The narrator is excellent and it's a great series. Check other sources about age appropriateness.

Hunter by Mercedes Lackey, narrated by Amy Landon. YA fantasy/urban fantasy. Violence and romance, limited explicit language.

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders, narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan. SF/Fantasy coming of age.


Children's books, (so I'm more confident they'll be appropriate...) :

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George, narrated by Suzy Jackson. The author is American but the (excellent) narrator is English, if that still works for your criteria. A fun fantasy, the start of a series.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill narrated by Christina Moore. I haven't read this one but my daughter enjoyed it. The narrator is very good.

 

[Margaret Note Spelling]

Thanks so much! I'll definitely look into these.