Clara’s Verdict
There is something pleasingly old-fashioned about J.W. Elliot’s Heirs of Anarwyn series – in the best possible sense. In a YA fantasy landscape that sometimes mistakes darkness for sophistication, Elliot builds a world that earns its shadows without indulging them. Undead is the second book in the series, and it picks up pace considerably from the first, placing its protagonist Cam in a genuinely difficult position: caught between two magical forces that each want a claim on him, with the fate of an entire realm balanced against his ability to make an impossible choice. This is confident, purposeful YA fantasy – the kind that respects its audience.
About the Audiobook
Following the rescue of Cam and Rebecca, Undead deepens the conflict that the first book established. The Bragamahr – the dark magic that has been pulling at Cam – grows more insistent, and the Anarwyn, who might be natural allies, extend their distrust rather than their welcome. At its core, this is a story about the seduction of power and the cost of using it: Cam must ask whether embracing something genuinely evil might be the only way to stop a greater evil, and Elliot doesn’t make that question easy or comfortable.
The world of Anwyn is richly conceived, drawing on the kind of deep mythological tradition that readers of Tolkien and Robert Jordan will recognise without feeling derivative. The ensemble cast – Cam’s allies, each carrying their own losses from the first book – provides the emotional grounding that the larger plot requires. Elliot is strong on consequence: actions taken in the first volume reverberate here in ways that feel earned rather than convenient. The series comparison to Shadow and Bone and Wheel of Time isn’t mere marketing; there is real structural ambition on display.
At 11 hours and 43 minutes, this is a full, satisfying listen for anyone who wants fantasy that isn’t in a hurry.
The Narration
Joseph Tweedale has a voice that suits epic fantasy – measured and clear, capable of handling the world-building exposition without making it feel like a lecture. His work with Cam’s internal conflict is particularly good; the character’s uncertainty about his own nature is conveyed through vocal choices that suggest genuine unease rather than melodrama. The ensemble scenes are handled cleanly, with distinct characterisation for the major players. This is a reliable, professional performance that serves the story without competing with it.
What Readers Say
Rated 4.6/5 from 62 listeners. The single review captured in this dataset – from a US listener who described the book as “intense” and awarded five stars – captures something genuine: the book’s ability to hold attention through to its final pages despite the increasingly high stakes. “Friends come back together but not without consequences” is a fair summary of an instalment that earns its emotional weight. Listeners consistently report that the series maintains momentum across books.
Who Should Listen?
Ideal for younger listeners aged roughly 14 and upward, and for adult fantasy readers who prefer cleaner, character-led storytelling over grimdark excess. If you enjoyed the first book in the Heirs of Anarwyn series, this is an essential continuation. For new listeners, start with book one – the investment will pay off here. Fans of Brandon Sanderson’s earlier YA work, or of Garth Nix’s Sabriel, will feel at home in Elliot’s world.
Find Undead on Audible UK via the link below – also available on Kobo, Scribd, and Storytel.
