The Silent Songbird

Evangeline, young cousin and ward of King Richard, is the Silent Songbird. Blessed with a heavenly singing voice, she silenced it when she escaped a creepy, unwelcome political betrothal by running away and passing herself off as a mute servant. Jude Mason's narration fails to transport listeners to medieval England. Her storytelling cannot overcome the clich�s, repetitions, and slow pace that destroy any chance to build interest or suspense. There is no nuance to her English accent, making the dialogue unrealistic in a culture in which aristocrats and peasants should be identifiable by their speech. Overall, this hybrid of history and romance is disappointing. N.E.M. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine