Rational Creatures: Stirrings of Feminism in the Hearts of Jane Austen's Fine Ladies
The Quill Collective, Book 3
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Narrated by:
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Victoria Riley
About this listen
“But I hate to hear you talking so, like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.” (Persuasion, Jane Austen)
Jane Austen: True romantic or rational creature? Her novels transport us back to the Regency, a time when well-mannered gentlemen and finely-bred ladies fell in love as they danced at balls and rode in carriages. Yet her heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Elinor Dashwood, were no swooning, fainthearted damsels in distress. Austen’s novels are timeless classics because of their biting wit, honest social commentary - because she wrote of strong women who were ahead of their day. True to their principles and beliefs, they fought through hypocrisy and broke social boundaries to find their happily-ever-after.
In the third romance anthology of The Quill Collective series, 16 celebrated Austenesque authors write the untold histories of Austen’s heroines, brave adventuresses, shy maidens, talkative spinsters, and naughty matrons. Peek around the curtain and discover what made Lady Susan so wicked, Mary Crawford so capricious, and Hettie Bates so in need of Emma Woodhouse’s pity.
Rational Creatures is a collection of humorous, poignant, and engaging short stories set in Georgian England that complement and pay homage to Austen’s great works and great ladies who were, perhaps, the first feminists in an era that was not quite ready for feminism.
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.” (Mary Wollstonecraft)
Stories by: Elizabeth Adams, Nicole Clarkston, Karen M Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James, Jessie Lewis, KaraLynne Mackrory, Lona Manning, Christina Morland, Beau North, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schroeder, Joana Starnes, Brooke West, and Caitlin Williams
Edited by Christina Boyd
Foreword by Devoney Looser
Full list of authors includes Brooke West.
©2018 Christina Boyd (P)2019 Christina BoydListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Victoria Riley effortlessly transports listeners to England and brings to life all these amazing characters. Each story and character within has its own voice so there is no confusion on who is speaking which creates an enjoyable listening experience. The pacing, the emotion, the articulation are done well for an almost flawless performance.” (InD'Tale Magazine)
"I would recommend this book to fans of Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft, and lovers of Regency romance everywhere who have - on occasion - wanted to shake one of the women in the stories, or take them gently by the hand and promise them there's a better way." (Miss Lawrence Is Hearing Things)
"...short stories mirror the feminist ideas discussed in Mary Wollstonecraft's 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women'.... I was blown away by Ms. Riley's narration and she made the characters shine as bright as the PBS's adaptations!" (History from a Woman's Perspective)
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- Narrated by: Alyssa Rogge
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Only the night before, she rejected him. Today, she is his intended wife. Elizabeth Bennet proved he was no gentleman when she rejected his proposal. Darcy is now determined to flee Kent and hopefully not act like a lovelorn schoolboy the next he meets the lively Elizabeth. But when she loses her memory of his disastrous proposal and a bumbling relative believes them engaged, Darcy continues the charade with the plan to tell Elizabeth as soon as he can resolve on how to do so. And yet, she may be falling in love with him....
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The narrator 😍
- By Anonymous User on 11-18-19
By: Campbell Davies
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Refining the Debutante
- By: Anneka R. Walker
- Narrated by: Noah Wall
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Miss Miranda Bartley is in love with the Honorable Ethan Roderick, their engagement all but official. But as she basks in the success of her London Season, her joy is cut short when Ethan ends their courtship, claiming she is too insensitive. In the wake of her heartbreak, Miranda is dealt yet another blow, one that changes everything. In a harsh twist of fate, she quickly falls from Society darling to servant in her uncle’s home.
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A near miss
- By Kindle Customer on 09-09-23
By: Anneka R. Walker
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For the Deepest Love
- A Pride & Prejudice Variation
- By: Mary Anne Mushatt
- Narrated by: Sarah Groarke
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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After thinking long and hard, I have come to the conclusion that - although it may not be the kind of love my sister and I once had in mind - marrying Mr Darcy would be marrying for a love of the deepest kind. Recovering from their parents' deaths, Elizabeth and Jane Bennet have held their family together, leaning on the support of their uncle, Edward Gardiner, to help them survive. Thus, when Mr. Gardiner is threatened with scandal and ruin, Elizabeth vows to help him.
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Narration needs to be re-recorded!
- By That's so fetch on 10-15-21
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Earning Darcy's Trust
- A Pride & Prejudice Variation
- By: Jennifer Joy
- Narrated by: Nano Nagle
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Fitzwilliam Darcy’s troubles only began the day he witnessed his father’s murder. Betrayed by a trusted friend, he soon finds himself caught in a web of deceit and blackmail…and his little sister is in the center of it all. Will Darcy’s search for answers save what’s left of his family…or destroy it?
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Good story
- By Fabulous Mrs B on 06-26-23
By: Jennifer Joy
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Pride, Prejudice & Secrets
- By: C. P. Odom
- Narrated by: Katherine Anderson
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the turning points in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is Miss Elizabeth Bennet's passionate refusal and denunciation of the equally passionate but infinitely more repressed Fitzwilliam Darcy. However, unforeseen events can lead to the most unexpected consequences. During a visit with her friend, Charlotte Collins, at Hunsford, Elizabeth falls prey to illness for almost the first time in her life just as Mr. Darcy comes to call. Befuddled by her illness, she misinterprets his proposal of marriage, and a simple nod of acknowledgment is mistaken for acceptance.
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Enjoyable Plot Twists
- By Patti on 08-16-19
By: C. P. Odom
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Falling for Mr Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
- By: KaraLynne Mackrory
- Narrated by: David Pickering
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The simple truth is proven that sometimes a gentleman never knows his heart until a lady comes along to introduce it to him. When Mr. Darcy encounters Elizabeth Bennet injured after a fall, his concern for her welfare cracks the shell of his carefully guarded heart, and a charming man emerges. Elizabeth sees an appealing side of him she never believed possible from the stoic, proud master of Pemberley.
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to be avoided
- By Tabby Pawlitzki on 05-07-21
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Kit and Elizabeth
- By: Karen Tuft
- Narrated by: Luone Ingram
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Elizabeth Spaulding’s world has fallen apart. Despite living her entire life to please her demanding parents, the Duke and Duchess of Marwood, she has little to show for it. After Elizabeth’s second failed betrothal, her father’s debts and appalling acts of retaliation force him to flee the country, consigning Elizabeth and her bitter mother to a life of poverty and exile. But Elizabeth’s fortunes change one day when an elderly acquaintance makes her an offer she can’t refuse.
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don’t waist a credit
- By katlehmann on 05-27-21
By: Karen Tuft
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An Excellent Walker
- A Pride and Prejudice Variation
- By: Lyndsay Constable
- Narrated by: Eric Priessman
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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An unexpected meeting between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet becomes suddenly and shockingly dangerous. Mr. Darcy is determined to protect Elizabeth, but his exertions leave him grievously wounded. Sheltering with him in a shepherd’s hut, Elizabeth tends to Darcy’s injuries while trying to suppress her concern about the impropriety of her circumstances, as well as the fever-induced proposal that results.
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Blah
- By bebe on 05-25-23
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Darcy and Elizabeth: Fair Trade
- A Pride and Prejudice Variation
- By: Kate Bedlow
- Narrated by: Jannie Meisberger
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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The morning after the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth Bennet refuses an offer of marriage, setting off a row in the Bennet household that ends tragically. Faced with homelessness and untenable poverty, Elizabeth receives a different sort of offer - from quite an unexpected quarter - and finds herself considering the once-inconceivable prospect of going into trade.
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Light and fun P&P Variation
- By 🌸DARA on 11-15-16
By: Kate Bedlow
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Coming Home to Bellingham
- By: Katie Stewart Stone
- Narrated by: Noah Wall
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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What begins as a pleasant holiday with a new friend in Brighton quickly turns to devastation for Anabelle Milton when she receives the tragic news: her parents are dead. Turned out of the only home she’s ever known, Anabelle is sent to live with an aunt and uncle who are strangers to her. Heartbroken, she arrives at Bellingham Cottage, a cozy home on the sprawling grounds of the Bellingham estate, to find an unexpectedly warm welcome - not only from her own family but also from the family of their aristocratic neighbors, Lord and Lady Bellingham.
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Sweet clean regency romance.
- By Kindle Customer on 06-18-21
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Lady Susan
- By: Jane Austen
- Narrated by: Linda Barrans, Denis Daly, Catherine Bilson
- Length: 2 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Susan Vernon, middle-aged and recently widowed, has retained her looks and appealing vivacity. She makes use of her bereavement and her loss of wealth by imposing herself on the hospitality of relatives, and by amusing herself in flirtation with the various men who fall under her spell. Lady Susan has a daughter, Frederica, who is bashful and innocent—in stark contrast to her unfeeling and manipulative mother. Her mother is anxious to marry Frederica off to a spouse of appropriate wealth and social standing, and also, perhaps, to capture a new mate for herself.
By: Jane Austen
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Sensibly Wed
- Bradwell Brothers, Book 1
- By: Kasey Stockton
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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When Felicity Thurston is caught alone with a man at a ball, she must marry him to avoid a ruined reputation. But what she doesn't know is that he's the brother of the man she loves.
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The Narrator is Lacking
- By Montana Mama on 11-11-23
By: Kasey Stockton
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What listeners say about Rational Creatures: Stirrings of Feminism in the Hearts of Jane Austen's Fine Ladies
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- The Book Junkie Reads . . .
- 09-22-19
loved the different voices, perspectives
Each story had its own unique appeal. Each one made a connection to you in a different way and allowed you to connect to each set(s) of characters with a different kind of charm, wit, and beauty from a time where romance was not the norm but almost a duty. Each of the stories gives you a taste of the something deeper in the world(s) of Jane Austen.
Victoria Riley did a fantastic job narrating each for the era and each story. She had the type of voice that could carry off the time period. VR gave a sense of authentic Georgian England with the pitch, tone, and diction. Of course this would have been no good if she didn't pull off the English accent both refined and not so refined. It was a pleasure getting to know more of the various characters from various setting of Austen's worlds.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 10-12-22
very good
Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall
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- love2dazzle
- 09-11-19
The audiobook kept me listening for hours.
Rational Creatures: Stirring of Feminism in the Hearts of Jane Austen's Fine Ladies, the Quill Collective, Book 3 by Joana Starnes, Amy D'Orazio, Caitlin Williams, Karen Cox, Jenetta James, Beau North, Chistina Morland, Nicole Clarkston, Elizabeth Adams, J. Marie Croft, Jessie Lewis, Kara Lynne Mackrory, Lona Manning, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schoreder, and Brooke West. Now that is a lot of names. Each of these writers brought you a story about a different Austen character.
1. Self-Composed by Christina Morland. (Elinor Dashwood.)
2. Every Past Affliction by Nicole Clarkston. (Marianne Dashwood.)
3. Happiness in Marriage by Amy D'Orazio. (Elizabeth Bennett.)
4. Charlotte's Comfort by Joana Starnes. (Charlotte Lucas.)
5. Knightly Discourse by Anngela Schroeder. (Emma Woodhouse.)
6. The Simple Things by J. Marie Croft. (Hetty Bates.)
7. In Good Hands by Caitlin Williams. (Harriet Smith.)
8. The Meaning of Wife by Brooke West. (Fanny Price.)
9. What Strange Creatures by Jenetta James. (Mary Crawford.)
10. An Unnatural Beginning by Elizabeth Adams. (Anne Elliot.)
11. Where the Sky Touches the Sea by KaraLynne Mackrory. (Sophia Croft.)
12. The Art of Pleasing by Lona Manning. (Penelope Clay.)
13. Louisa by the Sea by Beau North. (Louisa Musgrove.)
14. The Strength of Their Attachment by Sophia Rose. (Catherine Morland.)
15. A Nominal Mistress by Karen M. Cox. (Eleanor Tilney.)
16. The Edification of Lady Susan by Jessie Lewis. (Lady Susan.)
This collection of stories is taking a deeper dive into Austen’s greatest female characters. I thought it was definitely interesting to see someone else’s take on these characters. We had a variety of characters from the heroines to the minors. A lot of the ideas behind these short stories come the feminist ideas that are discussed in Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women.
The narrator was such a perfect match for this book. I loved how she performed all the different characters. She was so easy to listen too. I thought that her British accent fit so well. She put so much life into these stores that I felt I was really able to get to know these characters.
I thought the writers and narrator did a fantastic job with the story collection mash up. I thought the stories were fun and engaging. The audiobook kept me listening for hours. Over 18 hours. I thought this was a fantastic edition. I found that I really enjoyed this collection.
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5 people found this helpful
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- C. Hawkins
- 09-19-19
Brilliant! Loved these Jane Austen side stories
This is my favorite Jane Austen fan fiction and the narratuon was impressive.
Each chapter is the back story or parallel story of a character in Jane Austen novels.
Even including a prequel for lady Susan.
I was sad each time the chapter ended and I had to leave the character behind but looked forward to the next one.
Please Please assemble another - I can't get enough
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2 people found this helpful
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- Travelin' Fool
- 07-17-20
Best Austen fan fiction I have read yet!
What is most impressive is the quality of the writers/writing. These authors get the characters right where other (lesser) authors distort them and really make them into different people. These Quill writers seem to be sensitive to the reading of the Austen originals in another way too: they imagine stories that fill in gaps of interest to Austen readers, and they show the parts of characters' minds and experience that make the originals even more enjoyable. The focus on rational female characters is pleasing and plausible--not forced.
Overall, it is impressive that these writers create something original that fits with Austen's works and don't just rehash Austen's plots and throw in some few new or extra-ordinary twists. Two thumbs up!
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1 person found this helpful
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- HeatherY
- 08-19-19
What's Not to Love?
This is collection of 16 short stories told by some of the best writers of Jane Austen fan fiction. The stories are meant to take a deeper look into some of Austen's great female characters. Some of these characters were fully fleshed out by Austen herself, and others have backstories merely hinted at. The characters range from main characters like Lizzy Bennet or Emma Woodhouse, to lesser players like Miss Bates, Mrs. Croft, and Penelope Clay.
The stories themselves stay within the boundaries of Austen's writing, meaning that they fill in moments in Austen canon, like Anne Elliot's refusal of Capt. Wentworth, or Harriet Smith's meeting and courtship of Robert Martin. The stories are so well written, as I've come to expect from these authors. The stories stayed faithful to the language of the period and the personality of the original characters, which I always appreciate. I could never pick a favorite, each one had something to love. If I had to pick a single moment I'd say I loved watching Emma get just a little taste of how she made Mr. Knightley feel! It took me longer than usual to finish this book because I had to go back and revisit my favorite passages from the original works, it was that good.
The narrator was perfectly matched to the stories, she was able to perform different characters and was a pleasure to listen to. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. After listening to the previous two anthologies, I would highly recommend all three to Austen fans!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Rachele L
- 10-04-19
Great Choice for Any Jane Austen Fan
Rational Creatures is a collection of stories based on the lives of women from various Jane Austen novels. The audiobook was well done, with a clear and pleasant-sounding narrator. The stories are all engaging and I loved every minute of this audiobook BUT this is a long (18hr) audiobook so be prepared to settle in and enjoy 🙂 #AudiobookObsessionReviewer
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lauralee
- 09-09-19
Fun for Jane Austens Fans!
Jane Austen remains one of the world’s most beloved authors. To this day, many of her fans adore her heroines and discuss whether Elizabeth Bennet or Emma Woodhouse is their favorite. Fans also like to pick apart Fanny’s timid nature and often wonder why Mary Crawford was not the heroine in Mansfield Park. In this anthology, the authors explore Jane Austen’s female characters and their traits. By giving a thorough examination of a particular female character, the reader will notice how the short stories mirror the feminist ideas discussed in Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time. My favorite heroines are Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, and Anna Elliot. Thus, reading these short stories that focus on these characters were a real delight to me. However, there were a few pleasant surprises throughout this audiobook. The stories also focused on secondary characters like Mary Crawford, Harriet Smith, and Hetty Bates. I absolutely loved the short story on Charlotte Lucas, which is a short Pride and Prejudice sequel. I also liked the story of how Lady Susan became wicked because she was a loathsome character. Thus, each of these stories gave me an extra insight into the characters.
While each of the stories were enjoyable, they were all brought to life by a fantastic narrator. The narrator had a British accent that made the performance very believable. Each character she narrated remained true to their original characteristics. Ms. Riley also portrayed the characters with a hint of vulnerability, so that it seemed as if each character was your best friend. Thus, I was blown away by Ms. Riley’s narration and she made the characters shine as bright as the PBS’s adaptations!
Overall, these stories are about marriage, first love, inner strength and heroism. The stories were very engaging, witty, and thoughtful. I like how they were very reminiscent of Jane Austen’s writing. I also like how the stories did an excellent job in exploring women’s roles in the Regency era. While there were at least two stories that did not enhance Jane Austen’s original novels, this is still a great listen for Austenites! Rational Creatures is perfect for fans of Austenland, Dancing with Mr. Darcy, and Lost in Austen.
(Note: I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Christina Boyd. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.)
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kaye
- 02-05-20
A must for any Austen fans
This is a great collection of stories that take Jane Austen’s Fine Ladies further into their lives and showcase how they are both clever and much more feminist than you might have previously thought. The stories are charming, clever and well written, and the performers are excellently chosen for the various characters. Even if you have never cracked an Austen novel in your life, you will enjoy these stand alone stories on their own merit. Highly recommended to anyone who loves the drama and grace of early 19th century style.
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- Christina Boyd
- 02-24-20
Voice actress Victoria Riley delivers!
Victoria Riley's clear voice and perfect pacing, coupled with her range in accents makes her a standout narrator for this multi-story anthology. A project like "Rational Creatures"--with sixteen authors and numerous characters was surely a challenge but Riley’s performance was excellent from the first. This voice actor delivers an outstanding performance.
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