Tempest by Victoria Aveyard: audiobook vs book, which should you choose?
The first book in Victoria Aveyard’s new Lyrian Sea series: a seafaring fantasy told in two timelines of one woman’s life, Before and After.
Short answer: for the Tempest audiobook vs book choice, we say read it on Kindle (73% confidence, leaning). Named sources confirm the chapters alternate between two timelines, which favours print. The book is long, which counts towards audio. How the two narrators split the reading is not confirmed; if they turn out to read separate parts, the listening case would grow.
Read it on Kindle
The Bookseller describes “two timelines told in alternating chapters”, Before and After. On the page you can see where each switch starts, which is easy to miss over audio.
Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes a verdict.
Confidence 73%, which puts it in the leaning band. Bands run from close call at 50 to 64, through leaning at 65 to 79 and clear at 80 to 94, up to clear cut at 95 and above. Is listening the same as reading? See what the research says.
The audiobook at a glance
| Recording | UK edition, our verdict | US edition |
|---|---|---|
| Narrators | Fiona Hardingham and Shane East | Fiona Hardingham and Shane East |
| Length | 17 hours 52 minutes (17h 52m), unabridged | 17 hours 53 minutes (17h 53m), unabridged |
| At 1.5x | about 11h 55m | about 11h 55m |
| At 2x | about 8h 56m | about 8h 57m |
| Audio publisher and date | Gollancz, 8 September 2026 | Harper Voyager, 8 September 2026 |
| Audiobook price | £18.89 on Audible UK | $35.99 on Audible US |
| Kindle price | £9.99 on Amazon UK | Not confirmed |
| Gollancz hardback, 464 pages, 8 September 2026 | Harper Voyager hardback, 464 pages | |
| Listener rating | Performance 4.5 from 8 ratings | Performance 4.51 from 57 ratings |
What each narrator reads is not confirmed. Whether the UK and US listings are one recording is not confirmed. No PDF companion was found.
Ratings and prices checked 2 November 2026. They change often. Amazon US does not show Kindle prices outside the US, so US Kindle prices are not given.
Lengths checked 2 November 2026. Speed times are calculated.
Tempest
Victoria Aveyard
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Series
- Lyrian Sea, book 1
- UK edition
- 8 September 2026 (Gollancz)
- Length
- 464 pages
- On audio
- 17 hrs 52 mins, Fiona Hardingham and Shane East
- Next
- Tyrant, due spring 2027
On this page
Why we reached this verdict
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions. They are based on research into what most people find easier to follow in each format, not on whether the book is any good.
Listening: long book (3), 3 points. Reading: jumping timelines (8), 8 points. 73% of the confirmed points favour reading, so the verdict is read it on Kindle at 73% confidence (leaning).
The recording in detail
- Scored
- Fiona Hardingham, Shane East, Gollancz, 2026, 17h 52m, unabridged
- Critic review
- None found
- Alternatives
- None
- What you miss
- Seeing at a glance whether a chapter is Before or After
What this book actually is
Tempest is Victoria Aveyard’s adult fantasy debut and the first book in her new Lyrian Sea series. It is not part of Realm Breaker. The story follows Cat across two periods of her life, Before and After, in alternating chapters, against a backdrop of pirates and imperial power.
The sequel, Tyrant, is due in spring 2027. A TV adaptation with Chernin Entertainment was reported to be in its early days in July 2026. The book includes a cruel, unwanted marriage, naval war violence and the threat of execution. Cat’s choices are not covered here.
The case for reading it
The Bookseller and FanFiAddict both confirm the chapters alternate between two timelines, Before and After. In print you can see the switch and flick back to where each thread left off.
The standard edition has 464 pages, and a limited edition adds map endpapers, though maps in the standard edition are not confirmed.
The case for listening to it
Two narrators share the recording, Fiona Hardingham and Shane East. Listeners rate it 4.51 from 57 ratings on Audible US.
At 17 hours 52 minutes it comes down to about 11 hours 55 minutes at 1.5x.
The audiobook in detail
Gollancz publishes the UK recording at 17 hours 52 minutes and Harper Voyager the US one at 17 hours 53 minutes, both read by Fiona Hardingham and Shane East.
The book is told from Cat’s point of view, and no source says what Shane East reads. No PDF companion was found.
Who should ignore this verdict
Lean towards audio if you enjoy duet narration and long fantasy listens. Lean towards print if you want to keep the two timelines straight by the chapter openings.
Audiobook
- Read by Fiona Hardingham and Shane East
- 17h 52m, or about 11h 55m at 1.5x
- Unabridged
Read differently from most people? The app, coming soon, will let you switch off any of the thirteen checks. Get notified →
Related verdicts
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros wrote a quote for Tempest.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
One viewpoint, one narrator and a 432-page book, against a map that only print has.
Throne of Glass
Several viewpoints read by one narrator, against a print edition over 400 pages.
Circe
One first-person narrator pulls towards listening; roughly fifty Greek names, some near-identical, and literary prose pull towards reading.
Start hereHow we decide
The thirteen questions behind every verdict on this site.
Questions people ask
Who narrates the Tempest audiobook?
Fiona Hardingham and Shane East.
How long is the Tempest audiobook?
17 hours 52 minutes on Audible UK, or about 11 hours 55 minutes at 1.5x.
Is it abridged?
No, it is unabridged.
How many pages is Tempest by Victoria Aveyard?
464 pages in the UK and US hardbacks.
Is Tempest part of Realm Breaker?
No. It is book one of the new Lyrian Sea series. The sequel, Tyrant, is due in spring 2027.
Is there a Tempest TV show?
It is in early development with Chernin Entertainment, as reported in July 2026.
Should I read or listen?
Read, at 73%, leaning. The alternating Before and After timelines point to print, against the long running time on audio.
Do you agree with this verdict?
We said read it on Kindle. One tap, no sign-up.
Spotted a mistake on this page? Tell us and we will fix it. Or tell us how the site could be better.
How this verdict was reached
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions, set in advance and applied identically to every title. They are based on research into what readers and listeners generally find easier to follow in each format, not on personal preference, and they are published in full so you can check the reasoning yourself. Verdicts are never paid for, sponsored or influenced by affiliate partners.
- The criteria: read the thirteen questions in full.
- What we checked for this book: Audible UK and US, The Bookseller, FanFiAddict, Bookreporter, Hachette UK, Foyles, victoriaaveyard.com, Reactor and Once Upon a Book Club.
- Verdict last reviewed: 2 November 2026. Editions and narrators change, so verdicts are rechecked annually.
- Prefer different criteria? The app, coming soon, will let you change which of the thirteen questions matter to you.
Deciding about a different book?
Search for it. If we've written it up, we'll take you to the verdict. If not, we'll add it to our list of books to check.