No Better Than Beasts, Z. R. Ellor
No Better Than Beasts, Z. R. Ellor
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No Better Than Beasts

Author: Z. R. Ellor

Narrator: Max Meyers

Unabridged: 10 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/15/2024


Synopsis

A dark and captivating new take on the beloved Nutcracker story, Z. R. Ellor's YA fantasy debut, No Better Than Beasts, is a perfect standalone novel for fans of folklore, cursed kingdoms, fraught romance, and fairy tales with sharp teeth.

Nabik, a soldier, owes his loyalty to his elder brother Fydir, who lifted him and their sister, Drakne, from poverty. But when Fydir orders him to quell unrest among the city’s beastfolk, the magic Nabik had long buried begins to stir. A wintery voice urges Nabik to desert his post—and his brother’s watchful eye —to journey north into Kolznechia, a frozen, enchanted kingdom ruled by the mercurial Rat King. His power may hold the key to breaking an ancient curse and ending the Rat King’s terrible reign.

Drakne will do whatever it takes to break free of Fydir. As Nabik follows all of their eldest brother’s commands, her best hope of escaping is to seek the protection of the Rat King. And the tyrant king has been looking for Drakne too. She has a gift that can help him find and kill the missing nutcracker prince, rightful heir to his stolen throne.

When the nutcracker prince emerges, Nabik and Drakne take opposite sides of a centuries-old conflict—him to save a kingdom, her to save herself. Then Fydir marches into the growing war, hungry to claim power of his own, and if Nabik and Drakne can’t fix their broken bond, Kolznechia may be torn apart by tooth and claw...

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

About Z. R. Ellor

Z. R. Ellor wrote their first novel when they were twelve years old and never put down their pen. They are the author of young adult and adult novels including May the Best Man Win, Acting the Part, and Silk Fire. Their non-literary interests include running, travel, and global cuisine. No Better Than Beasts is their YA fantasy debut. Z. R. lives in Long Beach, CA.

About Max Meyers

Max Meyers (AEA/SAG-AFTRA) is a multi-hyphenate storyteller with training in classical and musical theatre and a deep commitment to facilitating expansion of the artist inside each of us through their creative work. An Audie Award-Winning Narrator and recipient of several AudioFile Earphones Awards, they have recorded over 60 titles since beginning this work in 2021. Their narration style can be described as warm, engaging, and dynamic; flexible to fit stories across genres, genders, ages, languages, and dialects. They have a particular passion for the surreal, subversive, and countercultural, as well as an interest in natural science, history, and trauma informed healing practices. Outside of their narration work, Max’s music can be found on your favorite streaming platform. For more information, visit maxmeyersonline.com @heyitsmaxmeyers


Reviews

Goodreads review by Danielle on October 18, 2024

2⭐️-🌶 The FMC is whiny and the writing is prosy-ish. I did not make it far. Plus, there's overbearing controlling males, and the weak little female cannot do anything for herself. Not for me.......more

Goodreads review by Kristy on December 16, 2024

This fantasy follows two siblings, Drakne and Nabik, in third person as they navigate their older brother, Fydir’s abusive moods while trying to make lives for themselves away from his control. They currently live in the Spratzian empire but came from Kolznechia where the Rat King now rules and the......more

Goodreads review by Janalyn, the blind reviewer on October 16, 2024

No Better Than Beast by CR Ellor and narrated by Max Myers, Who I thought did a brilliant job. This is a retelling of the Nutcracker a story I am not that familiar with the from what I know I thought the author did a great job although sometimes the story was told almost in an abstract fashion I tho......more


Quotes

"Warm as spiced chocolate in the dark of winter, this retelling of The Nutcracker will charm you with magic and queer love. From soul machines to labor unions, Ellor crafts a world of myth and engaging conflict, where rat kings and pinewood princes are never quite what they seem." —Jes Battis, author of The Winter Knight

"
An atmospheric tale of the magic of wishes and dances—and the darkness of betrayal and pain." Kirkus Reviews