The novella, was previously published in 2025. It was re-released as the beginning of Echos of the Cursed Kingdom series. The author acknowledges that because of its length, the world building that is usually present in the first book of a series is sparse.

Having acknowledged all of that I thoroughly enjoyed the novella. The FMC, Faelynn, is a healer and she has gumption! She is not one to sit back or play a supporting role. She is right there and I love her for it.

The MMC, Dreythis, has a problem and he knows it. Now he also has a fae healer with him. What is going to happen next?

This is a fun, short (under an hour long) fantasy audiobook that will peak your interest and leave you wanting more. I personally can’t wait to read the second book.

I would like to thank Momentum Media and Publishing and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

A short, quick listen that gives you a good teaser into the story and makes you want to read on!

Magical vibes, with a splash of adventure and suspense that will have you wanting more.

This was such a strong introduction to a new series set in an already established fae world. Even with its super short length, it still delivered emotional stakes, sprinkles of comedy, romantic tension, and a central mystery that feels so much bigger than the page count allowed.

I finished it truly excited for what’s coming next and will definitely be picking up the full-length books when they release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this novella!

This is a short Novella (58 mins), originally part of a joint author project, and leads into a series which are all full length books moving forward. Its important to know this going in as its more of a taste of two characters and a world. Our FMC is Faelynn, a healer who has chosen helping the sick over finding love. She is connected to a God that guides her healing practices. I immediately liked her, she comes across as mature, strong and has a sense of humour. Currently a disease is sweeping the land, no cure has been found and shes determined to find one.
Then our MMC, a Fae warrior named Dreythis, meets Faelynn (oh I need to know so much more about him 😂😂). He is looking for the Eclipse Petal that could heal the sickness but in the wrong hands curse.
So the two end up on a quest to find the cure, save someone important to our FMC and stop it being used for evil.
The banter, the humour, and two characters to love! The bedroll, teeth chattering scene, LOVED!
This is like a tease, giving you a taste of what's to come and it most definitely worked!!! I will absolutely be reading this series.
The audio is narrated by Jacci Prior and Anthony Palmini. Oh my gosh did I love them, YES!!! Both did an incredible job, Anthony's voice is 🔥 and I really hope they are both doing the full length audiobooks.
Thank you Momentum Media and Netgalley for the ALC. Available now!

🧚🏽‍♀️🔥 A Whisper of Secrets and Ashes 🔥🧚🏽‍♀️
Honestly, for how short this novella was, it managed to give a surprising amount of story setup. I obviously wanted more world building and I definitely had a billion questions, but I genuinely enjoyed this quick audiobook.

Our FMC Faelynn has some serious sass and I am here for it! A little concerning how blindly devoted she is to her "GOD" but I have a feeling that won't be forever.

Overall, it felt like a strong introduction to the world, and I’m curious enough to see where this series goes next.

💫What to Expect
• Fae healer FMC
• Fae warrior MMC
• Mysterious plague
_ _ _

🎧 Audio Score: 4.25 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Duet
📅 Pub Date: February 19, 2026
📝 Thank you to Momentum Media and Publishing LLC and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Audiobook ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook ARC of A Whisper of Secrets and Ashes by Jada McCrary in exchange for an honest review.

This novella serves as the introduction to the Echoes of the Cursed Kingdom series and was an engaging start to the story. We meet Faelynn, a healer determined to find a cure for a mysterious plague devastating her kingdom. During her search she encounters Dreythis, a fae warrior who offers to help guide her on a quest that may lead to the answers she’s seeking.

Faelynn has sworn off fae men so she can focus on her healing work, but the tension between her and Dreythis is clear from the start. Their dynamic hints at what feels like the beginning of a delicious slow-burn romance, and it definitely left me curious to see how their relationship develops in future books.

As a novella, the story moves quickly, but it works well as a setup for the series and introduces the world and characters in an intriguing way. I’m particularly interested to see how the larger plot and world building unfolds in the next instalment, which will be a full-length novel.

The audiobook narration was excellent. Anthony Palmini continues to be one of my favourite narrators and once again does a fantastic job bringing the story to life. This was my first audiobook narrated by Jacci Prior, and I thought she did a wonderful job as well. The pacing, voice acting, and clear chapter transitions made this a very enjoyable listening experience overall.

Fantasy
Novella
1st person

Duet narration - Jacci Prior & Anthony Palmini

Fast paced and short easy listen. This leaves you wanting more. My second book by this author and I think I have found a new fantasy author that I like. The short story is captivating and intriguing.