Best Secret Powers Audiobooks

The highest-rated secret powers audiobooks, ranked by listeners. Browse 44 titles with top narrators.

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Secret powers tap into a primal fantasy: the sudden realization that you're more than you thought, that everything you believed about yourself was incomplete. There's real tension here—not just excitement, but dread. These powers often come with a cost, a responsibility, or a dangerous truth about where they come from. The emotional core is transformation colliding with secrecy; the character must hide what they're becoming while learning to control it, all while keeping their old life intact.

You'll find this trope everywhere from paranormal YA to dark fantasy and horror. Expect origin stories layered with mystery, characters grappling with whether their powers make them special or monstrous, and worlds where hidden abilities fundamentally reshape what's possible. The 65 books here lean heavily on that moment of discovery and the character's scramble to understand what they've become.

These are the highest-rated secret powers audiobooks, ranked by listener ratings. A great narrator can elevate an already compelling trope — turning tension into an immersive experience.

  1. 1
    The Institute cover

    The Institute

    by Stephen King

    Narrated by Santino Fontana

    4.67 BLT Score (397.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (347.4K) ★ 4.63 Audible (50.4K)
  2. 2
    Carrie cover

    Carrie

    by Stephen King

    Narrated by Sissy Spacek, Margaret Atwood

    4.54 BLT Score (864.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.99 Goodreads (856.4K) ★ 4.57 Audible (8.4K)
  3. 3
    Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow cover

    Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

    Nevermoor • Book 3

    by Jessica Townsend, Jim Madsen

    Narrated by Gemma Whelan

    4.52 BLT Score (30.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.47 Goodreads (29.2K) ★ 4.84 Audible (1.4K)
  4. 4
    Age of Myth cover

    Age of Myth

    The Legends of the First Empire • Book 1

    by Michael J. Sullivan

    Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

    4.36 BLT Score (57.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (41.5K) ★ 4.61 Audible (16.4K)
    More about this pick

    Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this origin story into something genuinely mythic—his voice work across dozens of characters builds a world so immersive you forget you're listening rather than living it.

  5. 5
    Lair of Dreams cover

    Lair of Dreams

    The Diviners • Book 2

    by Libba Bray

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    4.29 BLT Score (35.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (34.0K) ★ 4.61 Audible (1.3K)
    More about this pick

    January LaVoy's performance transforms this 1920s paranormal mystery into something genuinely haunting—her ability to shift between Evie's showgirl charm and the quieter dread of the dream walkers makes you believe in the supernatural creeping through every scene.

  6. 6
    Spy, Spy Again cover

    Spy, Spy Again

    Valdemar: Family Spies • Book 3

    by Mercedes Lackey

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    4.27 BLT Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (2.7K) ★ 4.81 Audible (462)
    More about this pick

    Nick Podehl's narration transforms what could be a generational handoff into something genuinely thrilling—his voice work captures the nervous energy of teenagers discovering powers their parents never had.

  7. 7
    Gravesong cover

    Gravesong

    The Singer of Terandria • Book 1

    by Pirateaba

    Narrated by Andrea Parsneau

    4.24 BLT Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (1.3K) ★ 4.71 Audible (1.8K)
  8. 8
    Ascendant cover

    Ascendant

    Ascendant • Book 1

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

    4.24 BLT Score (14.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (4.0K) ★ 4.59 Audible (10.6K)
    More about this pick

    Tim Gerard Reynolds transforms this epic fantasy into something genuinely unputdownable, bringing such distinct life to Koren's journey from outcast to something far greater that you'll burn through all 17 hours without pause.

  9. 9
    Dark Fae cover

    Dark Fae

    Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac • Book 1

    by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti

    Narrated by Keira Stevens, Troy Duran

    4.24 BLT Score (116.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (113.0K) ★ 4.6 Audible (3.8K)
  10. 10
    To Serve and Protect cover

    To Serve and Protect

    ONSET • Book 1

    by Glynn Stewart

    Narrated by Ray Porter

    4.22 BLT Score (4.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (2.2K) ★ 4.63 Audible (2.1K)
    More about this pick

    Ray Porter's gravelly intensity transforms this supernatural cop thriller into something genuinely gripping—his voice makes David White's skepticism feel earned rather than whiny, anchoring the wild premise in real stakes.

  11. 11
    Red Sister cover

    Red Sister

    Book of the Ancestor • Book 1

    by Mark Lawrence

    Narrated by Heather O'Neill

    4.19 BLT Score (70.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (63.4K) ★ 4.47 Audible (6.8K)
  12. 12
    Enemy of the World: Main Character Hides His Strength cover

    Enemy of the World: Main Character Hides His Strength

    Main Character Hides His Strength • Book 1

    by Road Warrior, OppaTranslations

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    4.17 BLT Score (1.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Audible (1.7K)
    More about this pick

    Nick Podehl's narration captures the cool, weary intensity of a protagonist who's fought his way to godlike power only to discover it might not be enough—a performance that transforms what could be a standard power fantasy into something genuinely unsettling.

  13. 13
    The Change cover

    The Change

    by Kirsten Miller

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    4.16 BLT Score (66.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (63.7K) ★ 4.52 Audible (2.6K)
    More about this pick

    January LaVoy's performance transforms this into a darkly funny reckoning with invisibility—three women in their late forties discover that losing everything is exactly when they become dangerous.

  14. 14
    Ninth House cover

    Ninth House

    Alex Stern • Book 1

    by Leigh Bardugo

    Narrated by Lauren Fortgang, Michael David Axtell

    4.15 BLT Score (413.3K ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (407.3K) ★ 4.45 Audible (6.0K)
  15. 15
    The Awakening cover

    The Awakening

    The Dragon Heart Legacy • Book 1

    by Nora Roberts

    Narrated by Barrie Kreinik

    4.12 BLT Score (73.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.17 Goodreads (73.7K) ★ 4.68 Audible (68)
  16. 16
    Soul Eater cover

    Soul Eater

    Kat Dubois Chronicles • Book 4

    by Lindsey Sparks

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    4.12 BLT Score (1.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.72 Audible (224)
    More about this pick

    Julia Whelan's performance captures Kat's exhaustion and defiance perfectly—she makes you feel the weight of being humanity's reluctant savior while keeping the dark humor sharp.

  17. 17
    Cursed Witch (Creatures of the Otherworld) cover

    Cursed Witch (Creatures of the Otherworld)

    Creatures of the Otherworld • Book 4

    by Brogan Thomas

    Narrated by Poppy Royana

    4.10 BLT Score (2.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.51 Goodreads (2.8K) ★ 4.73 Audible (33)
    More about this pick

    Poppy Royana's performance transforms this paranormal romance into pure escapism, nailing both the quirky humor and the high-stakes danger with effortless charm.

  18. 18
    Glimmer of the Other cover

    Glimmer of the Other

    The Other Realm • Book 1

    by Heather G. Harris

    Narrated by Alyse Gibbs

    4.10 BLT Score (8.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (8.6K) ★ 4.54 Audible (149)
    More about this pick

    Alyse Gibbs brings such sharp wit and chemistry to Jinx's voice that you'll forget you're listening to fiction—the snark lands perfectly, and her range across the paranormal cast is genuinely stellar.

  19. 19
    Blood Moon cover

    Blood Moon

    Painting the Mists • Book 2

    by Patrick G. Laplante

    Narrated by Adam Verner

    4.10 BLT Score (2.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (1.2K) ★ 4.59 Audible (913)
  20. 20
    Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow cover

    Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow

    Nevermoor • Book 4

    by Jessica Townsend

    Narrated by Gemma Whelan

    4.08 BLT Score (7.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.45 Goodreads (7.9K) ★ 4.64 Audible (11)
  21. 21
    Lifeblood cover

    Lifeblood

    Everlife • Book 2

    by Gena Showalter

    Narrated by Emma Galvin, Zachary Webber, Barrie Kreinik

    4.07 BLT Score (10.3K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (9.9K) ★ 4.55 Audible (394)
  22. 22
    Forged in Blood cover

    Forged in Blood

    Broken Bloodlines • Book 1

    by Sadie Kincaid

    Narrated by June DeBorahae, Maxine Mitchell, Sean Masters, Joe Arden, J. F. Harding, Oscar Reyes

    4.06 BLT Score (70.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.88 Goodreads (68.5K) ★ 4.5 Audible (2.3K)
  23. 23
    A Girl from Nowhere cover

    A Girl from Nowhere

    The Firewall Trilogy • Book 1

    by James Maxwell

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    4.06 BLT Score (12.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (11.4K) ★ 4.5 Audible (848)
    More about this pick

    Simon Vance elevates this desert-survival epic with a narrator who distinguishes every character and builds genuine tension across twelve hours. A gripping fantasy foundation with high stakes and real emotional weight.

  24. 24
    The Final Life of Nathaniel Moon cover

    The Final Life of Nathaniel Moon

    Middle Falls Time Travel • Book 4

    by Shawn Inmon

    Narrated by Adam Verner

    4.02 BLT Score (2.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (1.6K) ★ 4.44 Audible (968)
  25. 25
    The Poppy War cover

    The Poppy War

    The Poppy War • Book 1

    by R. F. Kuang

    Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

    4.02 BLT Score (507.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (501.7K) ★ 4.21 Audible (5.4K)
    More about this pick

    Emily Woo Zeller's narration captures the rage and devastation of this brutal military fantasy with devastating precision. A 19-hour immersion into magic, war, and moral collapse that doesn't look away.

  26. 26
    Dungeons of the Gods - Book 5 of Main Character hides his Strength cover

    Dungeons of the Gods - Book 5 of Main Character hides his Strength

    Main Character Hides His Strength • Book 5

    by Road Warrior, Minsoo Kang, Oppa Translations

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    3.97 BLT Score (247 ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (90) ★ 4.82 Audible (157)
    More about this pick

    Nick Podehl's narration transforms this intricate web of political intrigue and divine mystery into something genuinely immersive—his distinct voices for each faction make the escalating tension feel immediate and personal.

  27. 27
    The Shattered Sword cover

    The Shattered Sword

    Eternal Online • Book 1

    by T.J. Reynolds

    Narrated by Andrea Parsneau

    3.96 BLT Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (788) ★ 4.48 Audible (789)
  28. 28
    Darkness of Light cover

    Darkness of Light

    Darkness • Book 1

    by Stacey Marie Brown

    Narrated by Michelle Sparks

    3.95 BLT Score (14.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.95 Goodreads (14.5K) ★ 4.82 Audible (22)
  29. 29
    Sightwitch cover

    Sightwitch

    The Witchlands #2.5

    by Susan Dennard, Rhys Davies

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin, Saskia Maarleveld, Cassandra Campbell, Lauren Fortgang, MacLeod Andrews

    3.94 BLT Score (8.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.98 Goodreads (7.9K) ★ 4.42 Audible (85)
    More about this pick

    The five-narrator cast brings Ryber's illustrated journal to life with genuine intimacy, turning a novella into something that feels handmade and deeply personal.

  30. 30
    Bayou Magic cover

    Bayou Magic

    The Louisiana Girls Trilogy • Book 3

    by Jewell Parker Rhodes

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    3.90 BLT Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.01 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.69 Audible (85)
    More about this pick

    Bahni Turpin's narration transforms this bayou mystery into pure magic—her voice captures both the wonder of a girl discovering her supernatural gift and the urgency of saving the land she's grown to love.

  31. 31
    The Werewolf's 15 Minutes cover

    The Werewolf's 15 Minutes

    Audible Original Stories

    by Jonathan Maberry

    Narrated by Ray Porter, Dina Pearlman

    3.90 BLT Score (4.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.69 Goodreads (937) ★ 4.45 Audible (3.2K)
    More about this pick

    Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman elevate a sharp satire about viral fame and desperation into something genuinely unsettling—the dual narration splits Gary's internal chaos from his public persona in a way that only audio pulls off perfectly.

  32. 32
    Ashes of Gold cover

    Ashes of Gold

    Wings of Ebony • Book 2

    by J. Elle

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    3.89 BLT Score (1.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4.68 Audible (107)
    More about this pick

    Bahni Turpin's narration elevates this finale into something transcendent—her voice carries Rue's rage and resilience so completely you feel the weight of reclaiming stolen magic alongside her.

  33. 33
    The Sun Dwellers cover

    The Sun Dwellers

    The Dwellers • Book 3

    by David Estes

    Narrated by Julia Whelan, Will Damron

    3.88 BLT Score (2.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (2.0K) ★ 4.58 Audible (38)
    More about this pick

    Julia Whelan and Will Damron bring genuine tension to this assassination thriller, where personal secrets detonate louder than any mission plot. The dual narration captures competing loyalties that'll wreck you.

  34. 34
    Dangerous Girls cover

    Dangerous Girls

    Dangerous Girls • Book 1

    by Eric Vall

    Narrated by JD Tanner, Kitty Perrelli

    3.87 BLT Score (485 ratings)
    ★ 4.39 Goodreads (478) ★ 4.29 Audible (7)
  35. 35
    The Gates of Evangeline cover

    The Gates of Evangeline

    Charlie Cates • Book 1

    by Hester Young

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    3.86 BLT Score (5.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.87 Goodreads (4.9K) ★ 4.35 Audible (251)
    More about this pick

    January LaVoy's narration transforms this psychological thriller into something genuinely unsettling—her voice shifts between Charlie's fractured present and haunting visions with such precision that you won't know which reality you're in.

  36. 36
    Storme Born (The Gemini Twins Legacy Book 1) cover

    Storme Born (The Gemini Twins Legacy Book 1)

    The Gemini Twins Legacy • Book 1

    by Auburn Tempest, Ruby Night

    Narrated by Maxine Mitchell

    3.85 BLT Score (301 ratings)
    ★ 4.62 Goodreads (298) ★ 4.33 Audible (3)
  37. 37
    Empyrean Witch: Demigoddess Chronicles cover

    Empyrean Witch: Demigoddess Chronicles

    Demigoddess Chronicles • Book 1

    by J. S. Malcolm

    Narrated by Angel Clark, Travis Baldree

    3.80 BLT Score (273 ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (260) ★ 4.38 Audible (13)
    More about this pick

    Angel Clark and Travis Baldree elevate this paranormal mystery into something genuinely addictive, their dual narration making the supernatural chaos feel immediate and lived-in rather than explain-heavy.

  38. 38
    PJ Norris and the Town with the Butterfly Problem cover

    PJ Norris and the Town with the Butterfly Problem

    Firewing Investigations • Book 1

    by S. Usher Evans

    Narrated by Caleb Summers

    3.74 BLT Score (121 ratings)
    ★ 4.08 Goodreads (118) ★ 4.67 Audible (3)
    More about this pick

    Caleb Summers brings genuine warmth to PJ's self-doubt and bumbling detective work, making this cozy fantasy mystery feel like a friend solving puzzles alongside you. Perfect entry point to Evans' world if you want low stakes and high charm.

  39. 39
    The Godmakers cover

    The Godmakers

    by Frank Herbert

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    3.72 BLT Score (4.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.61 Goodreads (3.5K) ★ 4.25 Audible (1.4K)
    More about this pick

    Scott Brick's measured, commanding delivery transforms this underrated Herbert into something genuinely unsettling: a slow-burn exploration of power and belief where godhood becomes a trap nobody sees coming.

  40. 40
    The Nightjar cover

    The Nightjar

    The Nightjar • Book 1

    by Deborah Hewitt

    Narrated by Tamaryn Payne

    3.66 BLT Score (2.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.45 Goodreads (2.2K) ★ 4.13 Audible (30)
  41. 41
    (S)Kin cover

    (S)Kin

    by Ibi Zoboi

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles

    3.66 BLT Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.84 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4 Audible (11)
    More about this pick

    Zoboi's verse novel crackles with Caribbean magic and generational rage, and Turpin and Miles elevate every inherited curse with narration that feels like a spell being cast.

  42. 42
    Elphie: A Wicked Childhood cover

    Elphie: A Wicked Childhood

    The Wicked Years

    by Gregory Maguire

    Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

    3.56 BLT Score (5.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.21 Goodreads (5.6K) ★ 4.21 Audible (135)
    More about this pick

    Ballerini's performance captures Elphie's prickly vulnerability so perfectly that you'll understand her bitterness before she ever becomes a witch—a genuinely moving origin story that deepens everything you thought you knew about Wicked.

  43. 43
    The Wonder of All Things cover

    The Wonder of All Things

    by Jason Mott

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    3.49 BLT Score (4.6K ratings)
    ★ 3.44 Goodreads (4.0K) ★ 3.88 Audible (586)
    More about this pick

    Julia Whelan brings devastating emotional clarity to a story about miracles and their cost, making the audio version the definitive way to experience this haunting exploration of faith and sacrifice.

  44. 44
    Seven Wonders (Angry Robot) cover

    Seven Wonders (Angry Robot)

    by Adam Christopher, Will Staehle

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    3.45 BLT Score (1.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.29 Goodreads (1.1K) ★ 3.48 Audible (54)
    More about this pick

    Nick Podehl's performance transforms this superhero noir into something grittier than the premise suggests—his voice work makes the moral ambiguity between hero and villain feel genuinely unsettling.

How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →