QRB Staff Picks

Slipstream

By: Madge Maril
Narrated by: Anna Caputo
Length: 11 hours 2 minutes

“Lilah Graywood takes on the role of a lifetime when she and her boyfriend get the opportunity to film a documentary for the hottest F1 team- Ignition Energy, only for him to breakup with her immediately upon the projects start. At the same time, she finds out her filming assignment, Arthur, is attempting to pull a fast one to get out of his race... Read more

I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

A Novel

By: Jason Pargin
Narrated by: Ari Fliakos
Length: 12 hours 43 minutes

“With the backdrop of a mystery/adventure, the characters confront all aspects of our digital world, social media, and virtual communities. The complexity of each character added to the richness of the story. Read more

The Book of Love

A Novel

By: Kelly Link
Narrated by: January LaVoy
Length: 23 hours 30 minutes

“What can’t Kelly Link do? Seriously, this novel blew me away. It is brimming with magic and surrealism and weirdness (in true Kelly Link fashion), as well as the most heartfelt warmth and intimacy and sincerity. 10s across the board. Read more

The Lilac People

By: Milo Todd
Narrated by: Max Meyers
Length: 11 hours 19 minutes

“The Lilac People by Milo Todd paints a vivid picture of queer joy and resilience in a brutal time, and it highlights the very real history of trans and queer people who lived through, and resisted, the horrors of the Nazi regime. Todd weaves in real historical figures like Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, bringing extra depth to this moving and urgent... Read more

The Raven Scholar

By: Antonia Hodgson
Narrated by: Daphne Kouma
Length: 24 hours 11 minutes

“This novel delivers a lively, intelligent romp through a world teeming with ambition, invention, and intrigue. At its heart is a formidable female protagonist whose audacity and brilliance lead her to create an invention far more dangerous—and far more influential—than she ever anticipated. Her journey is as much about resilience and... Read more

Tilt

A Novel

By: Emma Pattee
Narrated by: Ariel Blake
Length: 6 hours 53 minutes

“This book hit hard! Pattee did a fantastic job at immersing the readers/listeners in the story. I found myself completely absorbed in what Annie was feeling. The anger, restlessness, fear, all of it. Great read! Read more

Dreadful

By: Caitlin Rozakis
Narrated by: Keval Shah
Length: 11 hours 28 minutes

“This book has all the vibes of a RPG/DnD party going off the rails and the DM sighing in the background while tearing up their carefully crafted plans and quests. This is a masterfully written adventure story which reminds me of many Terry Pratchett stories. Read more

The River Has Roots

By: Amal El-Mohtar
Narrated by: Gem Carmella
Length: 3 hours 53 minutes

“Sisters, faeries, an evil villain, and plenty of gentle magic. A beautiful tale for all ages, with gorgeous music and singing in the audio book. The narrator added extra magic. The short story fairy tale bonus was wonderful. Cheers! Read more

Bonesmith

House of the Dead Duology

By: Nicki Pau Preto
Narrated by: Molly Hanson
Length: 14 hours 42 minutes

“This is the undead/necromancy fantasy I have been waiting for! It is *chef kiss* perfect! The world-building is incredible, dark, and tantalizingly dangerous. The characters are snarky, strong, flawed, and work well together - I seriously love the chemistry between Wren, Julian, and Leo. They are outcasts and a bit chaotic, and it's wonderful!... Read more

Blood Over Bright Haven

A Novel

By: M. L. Wang
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
Length: 15 hours 20 minutes

“Sciona is the very first woman to become a highmage in Tiran, which comes with its challenges. The only lab assistant she's given is an immigrant janitor, Thomil, who knows nothing of magic. Together, the two of them will discover secrets about the world they live in that will turn it upside down. A fascinating take on the Dark Academia... Read more

I Who Have Never Known Men

By: Jacqueline Harpman
Narrated by: Nikki Massoud
Length: 6 hours 10 minutes

“39 women and one girl imprisoned underground. None of them knows why or how they got there. This is the story of the girl, who has no memories of before, now trapped in this dystopia. It is about the relentless pursuit of answers in a world that makes no sense. This short novel left me sitting in silence after I finished it. Read more

Long Live Evil

Time of Iron: Book #1

By: Sarah Rees Brennan
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
Length: 17 hours 3 minutes

“This is honestly one of the best books I have read in years. It has ruined me in ALL the best ways. A young woman who is dying of cancer gets the chance to enter into the world of her favourite book, with the possibility of being miraculously cured if she can finish a specific quest. She wakes up in the body of one of the story’s villains - just... Read more

Song of the Six Realms

By: Judy I. Lin
Narrated by: Jen Zhao
Length: 12 hours 2 minutes

“Xue is taken to be musician in residence for the Duke of Dreams in the Celestial Realm. Steeped in Chinese mythology, beautifully written, with the power of music and (of course) love at the forefront of this tale. Read more

Sky Daddy

A Novel

By: Kate Folk
Narrated by: Kristen Sieh
Length: 9 hours 23 minutes

“Lovers of weird girl fiction, rejoice! This book was SO fun, SO weird, and SO well-written. I loved every awkward minute of it. Perfect for fans of Motherthing, The Crane Husband, Mona Awad, and Melissa Broder. Read more

Faithbreaker

A Novel

Fallen Gods: Book #3

By: Hannah Kaner
Narrated by: Kit Griffiths
Length: 17 hours 13 minutes

“A great new fantasy world to explore! I love book 1 & 2! Read more

Stop Me If You've Heard This One

A Novel

By: Kristen Arnett
Narrated by: Cameron Esposito
Length: 8 hours 19 minutes

“Cherry is a twenty-something lesbian whose job at an aquarium supply store is just a temporary arrangement while she pursues her REAL dream... professional clowning. This raunchy, Florida-based black comedy is pitch perfect Kristen Arnett: bizarre and a ton of fun, with a sense of doom never far beyond the horizon. Read more

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards

Magic and Romance

By: Sara Raasch
Length: TBA

“Sara Raasch has done it again–writing an absolutely delightful, spirited, spicy novel that nearly brought me to tears. A silly premise with substance is my favorite thing, and this book absolutely nails that sweet spot. I fell in love with Sebastian and Elethior: their banter, wit, and deep passion for everything they do felt as grounded as any... Read more

The Jasmine Throne

The Burning Kingdoms: Book #1

By: Tasha Suri
Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio
Length: 19 hours 42 minutes

“Tasha Suri is one of my favorite authors writing today, and The Jasmine Throne is a large reason why! It is a sprawling, enthralling fantasy epic inspired by Indian mythology that features an unforgettable cast of characters, rich and evocative world-building, a uniquely-crafted magic system, and a delicious adventure that will leave you... Read more

The Dream Hotel: A Read with Jenna Pick

A Novel

By: Laila Lalami
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo & Barton Caplan
Length: 11 hours 41 minutes

“I was blown away by this book! It's a cross between EE Cummings' The Enormous Room, Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward, and Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. It's a strange combo, but it works! In the near future, the Risk Assessment Administration assigns all citizens a risk assessment score. If your score exceeds 500, you are subject to... Read more

Fi

A Memoir

By: Alexandra Fuller
Narrated by: Alexandra Fuller
Length: 6 hours 24 minutes

“When Alexandra Fuller’s son dies suddenly, she and her daughters and ex-husband are thrust into the abyss of grief. As Fuller adapts to her new reality, she practices both solitary retreat and the inclusion of her daughters and their grief in the process. This is a resource for those who have lost children and a lesson in empathy for those who... Read more