Young Adult Fantasy Audiobook Recommendations

Let’s Get Listening with Haylee

Hi everyone! I’m Haylee! I’m a houseplant enthusiast, baseball lover, and LEGO builder from Kansas City! Audiobooks are my favorite way to read. You can always find me consuming an audiobook; whether I’m going on a walk, doing chores, building LEGOs, or just lounging around! I am able to listen on 2.4-2.5x speed and love doing a tandem read where I listen while following along with my physical copy! In the first installment of Let’s Get Listening!, I’ll be going over four of my absolute favorite young adult fantasy audiobooks. Whether you have chores to do, a long drive ahead of you, or want to cozy up with your favorite game, I hope there’s a recommendation here that you enjoy!

RAYBEARER  by Jordan Ifueko 

LENGTH: 13 hours, 48 minutes

READ BY: Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko was such an easy five-star read for me! The world building and magic system were so incredibly unique, lush, and vibrant. The second the story started, I felt completely transported to Aritsar. The character work, for main and side characters alike, was so well done. They were all so distinct from one another, and watching them grow throughout the book, individually and together, was so fun to witness.

Tarisai’s narrative voice was an absolute delight, and I am so glad we got to hear the story from her point of view. It also features my favorite trope of all time: found family! Raybearer is rich in detail regarding the mythology and history of Aristar, and the prose is masterful. Joniece Abbott-Pratt brought so much emotion to this story, and truly did an outstanding job with the narration.

If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @beasleys.books also loved Raybearer! 

“Raybearer contains a lush magical world with engaging characters and a fast paced plot. But beyond that, Raybearer is a story of resilience and of finding your own way when those who are supposed to guide you aren’t up for the task. It’s about forging a path and finding your own family. I loved the places this story took me and what it taught me about the world.”

THE SUNBEARER TRIALS  by Aiden Thomas 

LENGTH: 13 hours, 28 minutes

READ BY: Andre Santana

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas is such an animated story, with some of the most loveable characters I have ever read. Teo, Xio, Niya, and Aurelio’s growth has truly nestled their way into my heart, and will stay with me for a very long time. The world building was so lush and vibrant, making it easy for me to picture everything so perfectly in my mind. I loved all of the Mexican mythology and lore that was woven so seamlessly into this story. I know trials can be very hit or miss in books, but these trials HIT.

I sometimes struggle with trials when they are so short or only last a few paragraphs, but Thomas knocked it out of the park with these ones. They were detailed and action packed; every time there was a trial I was on the edge of my seat. The representation and inclusivity in this book are so important, making it that much easier to claim The Sunbearer Trials one of my all-time favorites. Andre Santana did such a wonderful job with the narration and brought this story to life!

If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @readwithrhys also loved The Sunbearer Trials! 

“I loved the audiobook of The Sunbearer Trails by Aiden Thomas, narrated by Andre Santana, simply because Santana encapsulated these characters so incredibly well, it almost feels like it’s a movie. As someone who has hyperphantasia, this audiobook (and book itself) translates so well for folks like me. IT’s an absolutely beautiful world, full of descriptions, and it feels so magical. The trans representation in this is also one of my favorites, and even just the character growth that Teo goes through is phenomenal (not relating to him being trans).”

BEASTS OF PREY by Ayana Gray 

LENGTH: 15 horus, 42 minutes

READ BY: Ronald Peet, Keylor Leigh, Tovah Ott

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray is another book that had me hooked from the start. If you can’t tell, I am a sucker for solid world building, and this book was no exception. From the Night Zoo to the Greater Jungle, I felt completely swept away by how thoroughly Gray set up her universe. The magic system and mythology were so detailed and interesting.

While I want to gush about the magic system, I can’t go into too much detail without giving away any spoilers! Koffi and Ekon were the perfect main characters for this book, and getting to read their growth, both individually and together, made this story unforgettable. The pacing was so quick, and I was definitely caught by surprise at a few of the twists and turns. I also love when an audiobook has more than one narrator. I think having multiple narrators adds such a distinct voice to each character and really brings the story to life. Ronald Peet, Keylor Leigh, and Tovah Ott were the perfect narrators for this story.

If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @kaseyandthebooks also loved Beasts of Prey!

“The amount of times I audibly gasped while reading [Beasts of Prey] may be reason enough for you to pick it up. The story-telling was so vivid, the world building was thorough and immersive, and the characters are constantly developing and growing. Every time I thought I had something figured out, there would be a twist that I didn’t see coming. The ending literally had me betting for more, and lucky for you, it’s a finished series now!”

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir 

LENGTH: 15 hours, 22 minutes

READ BY: Fiona Hardingham, Steve West

An Ember in the Ashes is a rollercoaster ride that starts right on the first page, and it does not stop until you reach the very end. The twists and turns throughout this book had my jaw on the floor multiple times. It is gritty, unforgiving, intense, and somehow still a bit hopeful. Just when I think things might go right for Laia, Elias, or Helene, Tahir rips that satisfaction out from under you.

This is a book that truly has everything: world building, a fast paced plot, characters you can’t help but love, characters you can’t help but root against, extremely well done trials, and a smidge of romance. Fiona Hardingham and Steve West absolutely knocked it out of the park with the narration, and as the story goes on more narrators and POVs come into play! 

If you need another opinion, fellow book lover @claireisbookish also loved An Ember in the Ashes!

“An Ember in the Ashes is a fast paced and brutal story that is brought to life by the narrators. IT’s equal parts stressful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. I felt totally immersed in the world because of the narration by Fiona Hardingham and Steve West.”

Next Steps to Get Listening!

These four books have such a special place in my heart and whether you’re a seasoned audiobook lover or just getting started, I think there is a recommendation in here for everyone! I always get my audiobooks through Libby or Libro.FM! With Libby you can utilize your local library and search through their catalog for audiobooks! Libro.FM is a subscription service where a portion of your subscription price goes towards a local indie bookstore of your choice!

You can find me on Instagram @haylee.reads where you can find me talking about all the audiobooks I am reading and loving!!