Mountains Made of Glass

Scarlett St. Clair

June 2023 · Fairy Tale Retelling Book 1 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Javi Wilder and Lulu Russell

About this audiobook

"Could you love me?" he whispered. The question stole my breath and burned my lungs in the silence that followed. I wanted to answer, to whisper yes into the space between us, but I was afraid. All Gesela's life, her home village of Elk has been cursed. And it isn't a single curse-it is one after another, each to be broken by a villager, each with devastating consequences. When Elk's well goes dry, it is Gesela's turn to save her town by killing the toad that lives at the bottom. Except . . . the toad is not a toad at all. He is an Elven prince under a curse of his own, and upon his death, his brothers come for Gesela, seeking retribution. As punishment, the princes banish Gesela to live with their seventh brother, the one they call the beast. Gesela expects to be the prisoner of a hideous monster, but the beast turns out to be exquisitely beautiful, and rather than lock her in a cell, he offers Gesela a deal. If she can guess his true name in seven days, she can go free. Gesela agrees, but there is a hidden catch-she must speak his name with love in order to free him, too. But can either of them learn to love in time? Contains mature themes.

Ratings and reviews

I initially struggled with the story but eventually it became an enjoyable listen. I enjoyed many aspects of this story, especially since it's a fast paced fairytale retelling, however I did struggle a bit with the narrators, Javi Wilder and Lulu Russell. I increased speed to 2.2x and it got better, so it may vary for you. There is some world building and I found the story compelling to see the rebellious nature of Gesela. I cannot wait to read the next story!

Update: I started listening to this a second time and I hate the beginning. The whole "I'm totes gonna kill you" feels hollow and unnecessary, especially knowing how the story unfolds. So I'm taking a star off. Original 4 star review: Besides my usual complaints about spicey scenes (why does everyone feel heavy??) and ignoring the typical 'lets live forever completely obsessed with one another', I really enjoyed this story. At first I was bummed the book was so short, but by the end I was grateful for it. Nothing felt drawn out or over fluffed to fill pages. Looking foward to listening to it again in the future.

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the author of the Hades X Persephone series, the Hades Saga, the Adrian X Isolde series, fairytale retellings, and When Stars Come Out. For more information, please visit scarlettstclair.com.

Javi Wilder is a sex-positive narrator based in Atlanta, Georgia. With an instrument that can range from gravelly to smooth, his baritone voice gets pulses quickening. When Javi's not in the booth, he enjoys powerlifting, hiking, and getting into good trouble.

Lulu Russell is an award-winning actress and audiobook narrator. A hopeless romantic, she simply can't resist a good romp in the Highlands, hijinks at the London Season, mistaken identities, and a happily ever after. She has a talent for accents and has narrated over 200 books across a wide range of genres.