Audiobook For The Glass Castle Novels & Stories

The look of awe on Madelyn’s face is as perfect and priceless as I expected. “Now, we follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City,” I tell her. “We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore,” she says, catching my movie reference and looking around, practically pressing her nose to the car window. Since I know what it felt like my first time here, I open the windows so she can feel and taste the fresh air, hear the different sounds of Araphyra as we drive toward Aolis and Lily’s castle. There’s a bend in the road where, once you make the turn, the glass castle comes into view. I slow down, wanting to see her face when she sees it and once again, it’s perfect.

She was four months pregnant and glowing. Her phone was up before both feet hit the gravel. “Oh my God, look at this place. Hold on—I need the turret.” “We’re late, Alexis.” “Two seconds.” She angled the phone higher. “Got it. Baby, come stand with me, I want one—” The castle hit me square in the chest. Honey-colored stone, ivy crawling up walls older than money, a courtyard that said you don’t belong here. This was Atwood territory. Not the building—the world. The kind of wealth that didn’t shout. The kind that sat in the landscape and made every dollar I’d ever earned feel temporary.

The setting sun shone through the large windows of the library, its rays reflecting through the ancient glass. I sat at one of the tea tables, reading The Northern Lights, written by Jennifer Donnally. Below me sat Tan, all curled up under my feet on the rug. I smiled at the adorable creature, turning one page after another. Out of everything in this big castle like house, this was my favourite part- the library. Here, I could be on my own, I could read all the books I ever saw, I could feel human. And now with Tan beside me, it felt for than just comfortable.

“That’s exactly what your grandmother used to say at your age.” I wandered farther between the narrow shelves mostly to escape the public humiliation, while Harmony disappeared toward the romance section making loud, dramatic noises about enemies-to-lovers tropes. The bookstore glowed softly beneath the low hanging lights while the snow drifted in thick waves outside the front windows facing Main Street. I paused near the folklore section automatically, my fingers tracing the bindings. Appalachian legends, mountain myths, and local history books lined the dark wood. One specific title caught my eye immediately: The Founding Families of Black Hollow.

Rose raised her eyebrows at me, after taking a sip of her newly arrived coffee. “You think I’d be sitting here if he did?” I asked back. “Right.” She shrugged. “So…what now?” “There’s only one place that might have what we need right now.” I told her. “The Castle library. It has the oldest collection of books and the only place where all books had been stocked after being rescued from the debris after the Wipeout.”

Faith listens but she is very quiet, I guess we all have a lot to think about knowing tomorrow will be the deciding battle. Just when the sun starts to go down I can see Dandion emerge in the distance. I recognize the glass castle but the rest of the city has changed immensely. All around the walls, there are huge holes covered with spikes. The walls themselves have guards on them and machines to shoot all kinds of weapons. Everywhere I look people seem to be busy training or preparing. I see weapons made of light and dragons with armor everywhere. My friends certainly have been busy while I was gone.

It hit harder than anything else that day. “It’s too big,” he added, softer now. I glanced at the clock. Too late. Too early. Too much already waiting. And still— “Okay,” I said before I could stop myself. I slipped into the bed beside him, pulling him close. “I’m here.” He relaxed almost instantly. “Story?” he mumbled. I reached for the book, though I didn’t follow the words on the page. “Once upon a time,” I began softly, “there was a knight who lived in a glass fortress. And she had something precious—something the wolves wanted to take.”

His heart beats faster as warmth spreads through him. “What are you doing to me, my little mate?” Aero whispered. ~ Atticus sat on the bench, staring at the castle. The beautiful stained-glass windows were just as beautiful as he remembered them from his childhood. The sound of hammers and heavy machinery was loud but didn't distract him from his thoughts.

The windows of the castle all broke down , filling the floor with pieces of broken glass . " Let her go ! " said Eskyrlious glaring at him .

The present king, Dermot's father, built a much bigger and better castle to live in, while this one became a school. I should have followed the book, believed what was written but something was missing in the history. Something didn't quite click with me but I couldn't place my finger on it. I dropped the book and sighed, wondering what was missing. Again, the incessant ringing in my ears increased, making my head pound. I massaged my temples, trying to soothe the headache, but nothing was happening. In frustration, I pushed the book into the water, groaning in pain as the ringing persisted. That was when the ringing stopped abruptly and was replaced with a gush of wind, a gush that carried