The Fire

March 26, 2012
Narrators Elijah Wood and Spencer Locke turn in captivating performances in this audio edition of the final book in Patterson and Dembowski’s dystopian fantasy trilogy. The two readers have previously portrayed the eponymous characters, siblings Whit and Wisty Allgood, and once again they enhance the authors’ prose with their assured portrayals of teenagers who discover they have magical powers. The grim mood and sense of despair in this imagined world are conveyed from the very start, as Wood’s slow, deliberate narration emphasizes how bleak the setup is: all music, art, and books have been banned by a dictatorial and murderous regime headed by the One Who Is the One. Locke is especially convincing and believable in her portrayal of a teenage witch girding herself for the ultimate showdown with Evil, making this an entertaining audiobook that will likely inspire listeners to read the trilogy. Ages 10–up. A Little, Brown hardcover.