We have dug into the source code of Audible’s “Best of 2025” Science Fiction and Fantasy collection to uncover the full list of 10 titles defining the year. By crunching the metadata (release dates, runtimes, and listener engagement), we can see distinct patterns in how the genre is evolving.
From the sheer dominance of franchise power to the surprising brevity of modern novellas, here is what the data tells us about the state of audio fiction in 2025.
The “Blockbuster Effect”: A Speed Comparison
The most striking data point in this collection is the rate of listener engagement. By comparing the release dates against the review counts (correct as of November 2025), we see a massive disparity in how quickly titles gather momentum.
- The Velocity King: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Full-Cast Edition) was released on 04 November 2025. In just two weeks, it has amassed 1,837 ratings. This incredible “velocity” proves that high-production full-cast adaptations are currently the most potent format in the medium, capable of generating engagement hundreds of times faster than standard releases.
- The Slow Burn: In contrast, Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill was released back in February 2025 but currently sits at 23 ratings. Despite being a “Best of” pick, it remains a true hidden gem, suggesting the algorithm has not pushed it as hard as the heavy hitters.
Runtime Economics: The Rise of the “Short” Listen
For years, the “credit economy” (one credit = one book) favoured long books. However, the 2025 data suggests a shift toward shorter, punchier content.
- The Average: The average length of a “Best of 2025” title is roughly 11 hours.
- The Outliers:
- Shortest: The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar clocks in at just 3 hours and 53 minutes.
- Longest: The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is the heavyweight champion at 25 hours and 7 minutes.
- The Insight: With titles like The River Has Roots (4h) and Harry Potter (8h) making the list, Audible is signalling that “quality per minute” is becoming as valuable as “hours per credit”.
The Full List: Audible’s Top 10 for 2025
Here is the complete dataset for the curated collection, ranked by listener engagement (rating count).
1. The Heavy Hitters (1,000+ Ratings) These are the commercial anchors of the year—the “safe bets” that dominated the charts.
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
- Narrator: Steven Pacey
- Stats: 25 hrs 7 mins | 4.5 Stars (2,561 ratings)
- The Draw: The longest book on the list and the highest rated by volume.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Full-Cast Edition) by J.K. Rowling
- Narrator: Full Cast
- Stats: 8 hrs 41 mins | 4.5 Stars (1,837 ratings)
- The Draw: A massive production that exploded in popularity immediately upon its November release.
- Flybot by Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrator: Ray Porter
- Stats: 9 hrs 37 mins | 4.5 Stars (620 ratings)
- The Draw: A mid-length sci-fi adventure from a Bobiverse favourite, performing well with a dedicated fanbase.
2. The Critical Darlings (50–500 Ratings) These titles have found a solid audience and critical acclaim without reaching blockbuster status.
- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab
- Narrator: Marisa Calin, Katie Leung, Julia Whelan
- Stats: 18 hrs 24 mins | 4.5 Stars (278 ratings)
- The Draw: A multi-narrator performance backing a Sunday Times Bestseller.
- The Shape of Monsters by C L Hellisen
- Narrator: Omari Douglas
- Stats: 16 hrs 50 mins | 4 Stars (229 ratings)
- The Draw: A substantial fantasy listen that requires commitment but rewards with depth.
- What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
- Narrator: David Rintoul, Rachel Bavidge
- Stats: 11 hrs 38 mins | 4.5 Stars (89 ratings)
- The Draw: Literary sci-fi that uses dual narrators to split the timeline.
- The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
- Narrator: Zara Ramm
- Stats: 12 hrs 24 mins | 4.5 Stars (58 ratings)
- The Draw: A standard-length fantasy novel sitting right in the “sweet spot” for duration.
- The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
- Narrator: Gem Carmella
- Stats: 3 hrs 53 mins | 4.5 Stars (50 ratings)
- The Draw: The shortest listen on the list; perfect for a single afternoon.
3. The Hidden Gems (<50 Ratings) The “cult classics” or very recent releases that the data suggests are being overlooked.
- Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
- Narrator: Catrin Walker-Booth
- Stats: 11 hrs 2 mins | 4.5 Stars (23 ratings)
- The Draw: Despite a February release, this has the lowest engagement, making it the rarest find in the collection.
- There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
- Narrator: Rebecca Calder
- Stats: 8 hrs 49 mins | 5 Stars (8 ratings)
- The Draw: Released just last week (Nov 11, 2025), this is the highest-rated book on the list (a perfect 5 stars), though the sample size is currently tiny.
Quick Links
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.
- Audible’s Best of 2025: Sci-Fi and Fantasy
