Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Legend
- Author: Marie Lu
- Narrator: Mariel Stern, Steven Kaplan
- Length: 07:48:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 29/11/2011
- Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)
- Genre: Teen, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Tough Topics, Teen, Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Tough Topics
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
As I wound through the Andes last summer, the stark contrasts of that landscape – jagged peaks against endless sky – reminded me of the divided world Marie Lu creates in “Legend”. The audiobook version, narrated by Mariel Stern and Steven Kaplan, became my constant companion during those long mountain drives, its dystopian drama unfolding against a backdrop of breathtaking Andean vistas that oddly mirrored the novel’s own geographic tensions between wealth and poverty.
The dual narration proves inspired casting. Stern captures June’s military precision with a voice that’s all crisp consonants and calculated pauses – you can practically hear her character’s mind working through tactical equations. Then Kaplan’s Day bursts onto the audio canvas with the rough-and-tumble energy of street smarts, his delivery carrying the rhythmic cadence of someone who’s learned to think on his feet. Their alternating chapters create a compelling aural mosaic that reminded me of those Oaxacan storytelling nights where different voices carried distinct emotional truths.
Lu’s worldbuilding shines particularly bright in audio format. The soundscape of the Republic emerges through the narrators’ careful attention to ambient details – the hum of hovercrafts, the clatter of the poor sector’s makeshift markets. Stern makes you “feel” the sterile chill of June’s privileged world through vocal tone alone, while Kaplan’s warmer timbre wraps you in Day’s slum neighborhood like a well-worn jacket. This sensory richness transforms the listening experience into something approaching my favorite travel memoirs – you don’t just understand this world, you inhabit it.
The central cat-and-mouse game gains delicious tension from the audio medium. There’s genuine electricity in hearing June’s analytical internal monologue (delivered with Stern’s perfect deadpan) contrast with Day’s more emotionally raw asides. A particular standout occurs during the rooftop chase sequence in Chapter 7 – the narrators’ pacing turns the scene into an audio thriller that had me white-knuckling my steering wheel on a particularly treacherous mountain curve.
What surprised me most was how the audiobook highlights Lu’s quieter character moments. June’s gradual awakening to her society’s injustices plays out in subtle vocal shifts from Stern, while Kaplan finds surprising tenderness in Day’s interactions with his brother. These nuances might slip past in print but become heartbreakingly clear when voiced by such skilled performers. It reminded me of how my Oaxacan host grandmother could break your heart with just a pause or a change in tone.
The production isn’t flawless – some action sequences suffer slightly from the lack of sound effects that other audiobooks employ, leaving the narrators to carry all the kinetic energy. And while the dual perspective generally works beautifully, there are moments when the voice actors’ interpretations of shared characters create minor dissonance. But these are quibbles in an otherwise outstanding production.
For listeners who enjoyed “The Hunger Games” or “Divergent”, this audiobook offers a fresh take on dystopian fiction with exceptional vocal performances that elevate the material. The narrators don’t just read Lu’s words – they “live” them, creating an immersive experience that transforms your commute or travels into a journey through the Republic’s treacherous streets. As someone who’s logged thousands of miles with audiobooks as companions, I can confidently say this is one that makes the journey as memorable as the destination.
Until our next literary adventure, keep listening to the stories the world whispers to you.
Marcus Rivera
