L. Austen Johnson

True Loaf by L. Austen Johnson was a quaint, absorbing story with a mysterious atmosphere and a mostly light tone. The plot took an exciting, unexpected turn toward the end. I did find it odd that Riley didn’t question her instructions more, and I felt the characters were a bit flat and static. However, given the genre, the engaging storyline, and the excellent narration, those points didn’t ruin my experience.

That said, I don’t think I would have enjoyed this tale nearly as much had I not listened to the audiobook version of it. Everything else fell away while I listened to Penny Scott-Andrews's enchanting, articulate narration. She changed her voice to suit each character, making the dialogue easy to follow, and I loved how she captured the characters' emotions. She truly breathed life into the work.

In conclusion, listening to True Loaf was an enjoyable, immersive experience. Those interested in a brief but well-structured fairytale will likely be pleased with this work, but I recommend the audiobook version, as it elevated the work as a whole. With a brief mention of blood and a debatable instance of profanity, this story is suitable for those thirteen and older.

(Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of the audiobook version of this work through NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)… (mais)