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Recent Titles and a Selection of Audiofile Reviews

For a complete list, visit my Audible page. Pseudonym titles on request.

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From the mythic past to the heat death of the universe, the various lives of Annelid and Leveret flow through time together in Chandrasekera’s (The Saint of Bright Doors) layered slipstream story. Whether they meet as friends, as halves of the same self, as godlike enemies, or as hunter and hunted, their eternal return causes ripples through time and deeply affects the fate of the earth. Chandrasekera weaves the profane, the poetic, and the playful into a masterpiece. Audiences can let the precise yet dizzying prose wash over them until the narratively satisfying conclusion. Deeper attention, however, is infinitely rewarding. Close listening reveals profound thoughts on topics ranging from cycles of violence, selfhood, and historiography to body-hacking, digital afterlives, and uncloseable doors. Familiarity with Hindu cosmology offers even more throughlines, from the deep time scale of the narrative to interrogations of foundational mythology. Narrator Shiromi Arserio handles this complicated work with aplomb, keeping the rhythm and poetry of the text flowing smoothly with distinct yet understated voices.VERDICT Utterly disorienting yet still emotionally and thematically resonant, Chandrasekera delivers a narrative that will satisfy every fan of the weird.

LIBRARY JOURNAL SEPT. 2024

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Shiromi Arserio is the ideal choice for this touching novel about two 14-year-old girls who attend a boarding school in York, England, in 1805. Arserio vividly conveys the emotional complexities of Eliza Raine, a lonely, wealthy orphan from India, and Anne Lister, an audacious, highly intelligent tomboy. The social outcasts quickly become inseparable, and their friendship blossoms into desire. As they experience the beauty of first love, Arserio poignantly expresses the intensity of their forbidden passion and their feelings of vulnerability. When Anne flees the school, her world expands, and Raine is left behind. Arserio's compassionate portrayal of these unforgettable characters is extraordinary. M.M.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]

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The inviting performances of Marisa Calin, Shiromi Arserio, Katherine Littrell, Danielle Cohen, and Siobhan Waring add to the immersive pleasure of this engaging historical novel by bestselling author Julia Kelly. Set alternately in 1907, 1944, and the present day, the plot centers on the women of England's Highbury House. Venetia, the estate's 1907 garden designer, struggles to balance social expectations with her career desires. When WWII turns the estate into a convalescent hospital, estate owner Diana, cook Stella, and land girl Beth fight to preserve the gardens while building fulfilling lives. Modern-day garden restorer Emma uncovers the past's hidden secrets while navigating challenges that echo Venetia's. They are all compellingly written characters with affecting lives and interesting personal challenges, making this a listening experience to savor. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2021]

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Narrator Shiromi Arserio presents Astra, the quintessential "bright young thing." Posh, pampered, and pretty, she relishes the ritual gatherings of high society. But Astra's life changes when her parents die in a car crash, leaving her with debts, dark family secrets, and the need to make desperate decisions. Listeners will enjoy watching a new Astra emerge. She must counter malicious gossip and confront her money problems. Arserio portrays Astra as a clever woman with self-control and drive. The secondary characters also sound authentic, including the almost-too-perfect suitor, the Earl of Dunreaven. The story is set in the 1930s, and listeners will savor the charm of the bygone era. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]

 

Shiromi Arserio's voice conveys sadness and grief as she relates the author's experience with the vigil for a dying humpback whale on an Australian beach. The sadness returns elsewhere in Giggs's meditation on whales, especially when her thoughts turn to the plastic and other human objects found inside the massive sea animals. When Giggs tells of the one time she tasted whale flesh, a note of shock comes into her voice, reflecting her reluctance. Giggs's reflections on how to stay constructively engaged in helping whales survive have a gentle grace, whether she's recounting the joy of seeing a whale swimming at sea or expressing her nostalgia for a childhood museum trip. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]

Narrator Shiromi Arserio skillfully balances multiple perspectives in an epic fantasy world ruled by women. When no new girls are born for several years, the five queendoms are thrown into upheaval. Arserio's narration captures a variety of distinct characters who find themselves in emotional situations: warrior women desperately fighting for their lives, other women fiercely protecting their loved ones, and a resentful sorceress scheming behind the scenes. This wholly engrossing audiobook will absorb listeners in the politics and traditions of a world on the verge of war. Arserio's careful pacing allows the story to unfold slowly and lets listeners focus on the world-building and the unfolding mystery. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]

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This enchanting audiobook, narrated by Shiromi Arserio, transports listeners to a magical world of jinn. Young Nura mines mica to earn extra money for her impoverished family. She's excited to bring home treats for her siblings to celebrate Eid. But when the mine collapses and her best friend's life is on the line, she desperately shovels through the rubble and finds a portal to a luxurious jinn hotel on the other side. Arserio's skillful performance introduces listeners to headstrong and confident Nura, cautious and stuttering Faisal, and a variety of sinister jinn who are scheming to trick the humans that fall into their clutches. Arserio's youthful tone, distinct voices, and intensifying pace will keep young listeners hooked. A.K.R. ©

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Shiromi Arserio, Julia Whelan, and Kimberly Wetherell are the perfect trio to narrate this thriller about an Italian villa with a haunted past. Emily and Chess book a writing vacation at the villa and reignite their friendship in the process, but their competitive sides soon surface. The villa was the site of a grisly murder decades prior, which inspired a bestselling horror book. Is the luxurious residence fated to see more conflict? The narrators complement each other with Whelan representing the present day and Arserio voicing British Mari and her villa companions in 1974. Wetherell lends her steady voice to the articles about the mysterious setting. Whelan gives Chess a folksy Southern drawl. Arserio builds a sense of unease with longing sighs and intense shouts. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]

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Outcast American Grayson Hale follows in his father's footsteps to Scotland, where he allegedly kills in the name of Satan. An ensemble of narrators lends credibility to the illusion that this is a true story, along with the introduction and comments throughout by Toni Frutin-- but it is fiction. The first-person story is masterfully delivered by Graham Halstead as Hale recounts his life as a confused young man. He is ignored by unloving parents and a fear of the devil, who sends horrible creatures to attack him, creatures only he can see. After his arrest for murder, he becomes infamous by insisting the devil forced him to kill. The narrators effectively instill an undertone of horror and helplessness, making listeners pity Hale. Are his visions real--or the product of a deranged mind? They keep us guessing. M.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]

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Narrator Shiromi Arserio plunges listeners into an underwater London in this post apocalyptic YA debut. Sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen is forced to join the London Submersible Marathon in order to free her captured father. But then she discovers that the government is hiding secrets about the world they live in. Soon, she's on a mad dash to leave London onboard a submarine to save her life and uncover a sunken truth. The author's descriptive writing is helped by Arserio's fine pacing and English accent as she vividly brings to life a high-tech underwater civilization. With strong vocal characterizations, Arserio fluidly switches between male and female characters. This is immersive storytelling of an ambitious debut. A.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]

Narrator Shiromi Arserio delivers an enchanting performance of this unique fantasy with an expansive setting and a large cast of characters. Tsira, the half-troll daughter of her clan's leader, has a gravelly, harsh timbre and a deadpan tone. After striking out on her own, she stumbles upon Jeckran, a human soldier left for dead whom she nurses back to health. The story is peppered with sensuous romantic moments between the two that are made more engrossing by Arserio's soothing and breathy narration. Arserio voices Onna, a mathematical genius who is able to memorize spell parameters and construct complicated illusions, with shy youthfulness and crisp sophistication. As all three characters commit themselves to discovering who is murdering trolls and why, Arserio captivates listeners. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]

Narrator Shiromi Arserio whisks listeners into a world in which ghosts make pleasant companions, gardens hold treacherous secrets, and kingdoms can be found inside wallpaper remains. Elizabeth and Zenobia are inseparable friends who are determined to uncover the secrets of Withering House, their new home. Arserio characterizes Elizabeth, a child dealing with the loss of her mother, with calm tones and quiet inquiries as she seeks her father's love and approval. Zenobia, whose most recent fascination is the study of clairvoyance, commands Elizabeth's attention with her confident air and direct accusations. As more characters are introduced, Arserio skillfully gives each his or her own distinct sound. Her captivating narration brings to life a fantastical tale with an unexpected ending. V.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]

Narrators Shiromi Arserio and Jason Carpenter are perfectly matched in this modern-day fairy tale in which a forbidden romance blooms between aristocratic teens from rival families. Arserio portrays Princess Jaya in a controlled tone and a posh British accent that is well suited to the reserved and traditional teen. Jaya unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the quiet, brooding Grey Emerson, whose melancholy personality is enhanced by Carpenter's deep, solemn voice--complete with an American accent that is fitting for this British teen, who is living in exile due to a family curse. The budding romance takes place at an international boarding school rife with drama. Listeners will be captivated by how easily the narrators flip between the accents of the diverse student body. Together, Arserio and Carpenter bring this cursed romance to life. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2020]

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