Audiobook Review: Heir of Memory and Shadow by Rachanee Lumayno

Kaernan Asthore may be one of the most gifted Seekers in the kingdom of Orchwell, but he wants nothing more than to be rid of his gift: the ability to find lost loves, which often ends in heartbreak.

So when Lady Adallia Pahame hires him to find her own lost love, Kaernan assumes it will be an easy, routine commission.

But when the mystery surrounding his new traveling companion causes them to run afoul of an infamous gang of bounty hunters, Kaernan realizes this is one commission he might not return from. Will he be able to uncover the truth in time to save his friends — and himself?

CW: suicide, attempted rape, murder/accidental murder, kidnapping

GENRE: Y oung Adult Fantasy

PURCHASE LINKS: Books2Read

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachanee was born on a snowy day in Michigan. She was always playing let's pretend and creating things; at her 4th grade birthday party she wrote a play and made all her friends participate in it. (No performance = no cake.) She pursued a degree in photojournalism but took a detour into an independent music career. Four albums, over 1000 shows, lots of car miles and a few awards later, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in... acting.

She trained in comedy (sketch writing classes, and improv at Upright Citizens Brigade), honing her witty and whimsical style for her work in TV, film, and voiceovers. On-camera work includes Stevie TV (VH1), Buzzfeed, College Humor, and online sketches for Things Get Dicey and for ​dating coach Matthew Hussey. Voiceover clients include Google, HBO, TizZ Tutor, Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, and Embr Wave. Character VO work includes the voice of Yu Yan in Swan Princess 10: A Royal Wedding; video games; the scripted podcasts Ex Pat, Georgie Romero is Done For, and The Soft-Boiled Detective; and the webcomics The Glove and Criminal King. She's also narrated over 40 audiobooks in the Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Historical Fiction, and Romance genres. If you're a K-pop fan, you may have heard her on J-Hope (of BTS)'s album, Jack in the Box, on the first track.

And her journalism roots run deep - she stills write, mostly romantic comedies and sketches. Her scripted comedy podcast, Ex Pat, debuted in March 2020 on all major podcast platforms. Her first fantasy novel, Heir of Amber and Fire, was released in March 2021, followed by Heir of Memory and Shadow in May 2022.

Review & Recommended Listening

I listened to the audiobook and I have to start by saying that Rachanee is an amazing AMAZING narrator. She has a crisp and clear narrator's voice, and she does every other character so well! You can really tell she's an actress and voiceover artist since she's able to capture even the small nuances, bringing so much life to the scenes.

Plus I'm so proud because 🇵🇭 represent! 😍

Despite the warnings above, the book isn't really as dire as it sounds. The Kingdom Legacy novels have a "feel good" vibe to them which is quite refreshing. Not that I mind dark and gritty — in fact that's more of the sort I write — but Rachanee manages to balance things so well that the story still has real stakes and doesn't come off "cheesy."

I also love the interconnectedness of the world, its lore and the characters. Those who've read Heir of Amber and Fire will be happy to find familiar faces! 🥰

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended Listening: As I mentioned in my open call for books to review, I’ll now be adding a song to my reviews! It’ll be one that either sums up the book for me, what I’d imagine in a trailer were it a movie, something that I associate with the story or one of the characters for whatever reason… or maybe even an original inspired by it 😉

Memory, all alone in the moonlight

I can dream of the old days

Life was beautiful then

I remember the time I knew what happiness was

Let the memory live again