Best Secret Powers Audiobooks

The highest-rated audiobooks featuring the Secret Powers trope, ranked by listeners and readers. Browse 36 titles across Fantasy, Literature & Fiction, Sci-Fi.

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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.

  1. 1
    Carrie cover

    Carrie

    by Stephen King

    Narrated by Sissy Spacek, Margaret Atwood

    4.53 ABR Score (864.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.99 Goodreads (856.4K) ★ 4.57 Audible (8.4K)
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    King's first published novel follows telekinetic Carrie White from prom humiliation to supernatural revenge against her tormentors. The dual narration captures both the intimate horror and broader social commentary.

  2. 2
    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 ABR Score (57.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (41.5K) ★ 4.61 Audible (16.4K)
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    Humans discover their gods can bleed when Raithe kills a Fhrey warrior, shattering millennia of religious belief. Tim Gerard Reynolds brings his signature energy to Sullivan's fresh take on fantasy mythology.

  3. 3
    Lair of Dreams cover

    Lair of Dreams

    The Diviners • Book 2

    by Libba Bray

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    4.29 ABR Score (35.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.11 Goodreads (34.0K) ★ 4.61 Audible (1.3K)
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    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.

  4. 4
    Spy, Spy Again cover

    Spy, Spy Again

    Valdemar: Family Spies • Book 3

    by Mercedes Lackey

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    4.27 ABR Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (2.7K) ★ 4.81 Audible (462)
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    Thirteen-year-old Prince Kyril and Tory share the rare Gift of Farsight despite not being Chosen, making them valuable assets in protecting Valdemar. Podehl guides listeners through another family adventure in Lackey's beloved world.

  5. 5
    Gravesong cover

    Gravesong

    The Singer of Terandria • Book 1

    by Pirateaba

    Narrated by Andrea Parsneau

    4.24 ABR Score (3.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (1.3K) ★ 4.71 Audible (1.8K)
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    Struggling actress Cara discovers her songs cast necromantic spells after being teleported to an ancient tomb, with Andrea Parsneau's performance capturing both theatrical flair and magical wonder.

  6. 6
    Ascendant cover

    Ascendant

    Ascendant • Book 1

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

    4.24 ABR Score (14.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (4.0K) ★ 4.59 Audible (10.6K)
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    Young Koren is feared as a jinx by his village, unaware he's an untrained wizard causing chaos with uncontrolled power. Tim Gerard Reynolds captures both the boy's confusion and the magical world's larger conflicts with his signature energy.

  7. 7
    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 ABR Score (116.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.04 Goodreads (113.0K) ★ 4.6 Audible (3.8K)
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    Keira Stevens and Troy Duran capture the tension as vampire Elise infiltrates a supernatural academy to identify which of four powerful shifters murdered her brother.

  8. 8
    To Serve and Protect cover

    To Serve and Protect

    ONSET • Book 1

    by Glynn Stewart

    Narrated by Ray Porter

    4.22 ABR Score (4.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (2.2K) ★ 4.63 Audible (2.1K)
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    Small-town cop David White discovers government agencies that regulate supernatural threats after vampires attack his community. Ray Porter handles this urban fantasy's blend of police procedural and magical conspiracy with steady authority.

  9. 9
    Red Sister cover

    Red Sister

    Book of the Ancestor • Book 1

    by Mark Lawrence

    Narrated by Heather O'Neill

    4.19 ABR Score (70.2K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (63.4K) ★ 4.47 Audible (6.8K)
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    Young Nona Grey enters a convent where girls train as holy assassins, wielding rare blood talents in a dying world orbiting a red sun. Heather O'Neill captures both the brutal training and mystical elements with fierce precision.

  10. 10
    The Change cover

    The Change

    by Kirsten Miller

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    4.16 ABR Score (66.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (63.7K) ★ 4.52 Audible (2.6K)
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    Three midlife women in Mattauk discover that menopause awakens supernatural powers just as teenage girls start disappearing from their oceanfront town. January LaVoy navigates each woman's transformation with nuanced intensity.

  11. 11
    Ninth House cover

    Ninth House

    Alex Stern • Book 1

    by Leigh Bardugo

    Narrated by Lauren Fortgang, Michael David Axtell

    4.15 ABR Score (413.3K ratings)
    ★ 4 Goodreads (407.3K) ★ 4.45 Audible (6.0K)
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    Yale's secret societies practice actual occult rituals, and Alex Stern monitors them after surviving a multiple homicide. Lauren Fortgang captures Alex's gritty voice perfectly while Michael David Axtell handles the male perspectives with menacing precision.

  12. 12
    Soul Eater cover

    Soul Eater

    Kat Dubois Chronicles • Book 4

    by Lindsey Sparks

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    4.12 ABR Score (1.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.72 Audible (224)
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    Kat's fame as humanity's savior becomes her prison until an ancient evil forces her back into action. Julia Whelan captures both the hero's reluctant power and her burning need for freedom.

  13. 13
    Glimmer of the Other cover

    Glimmer of the Other

    The Other Realm • Book 1

    by Heather G. Harris

    Narrated by Alyse Gibbs

    4.10 ABR Score (8.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (8.6K) ★ 4.54 Audible (149)
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    Private investigator Jinx can detect every lie, which should make solving cases easy—except she still can't find her parents' killers. Alyse Gibbs captures Jinx's frustration and growing supernatural awareness as a missing student case reveals hidden magical worlds.

  14. 14
    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 ABR Score (2.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.51 Goodreads (2.8K) ★ 4.73 Audible (33)
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    Tuesday's suppressed magical abilities explode back to life when mercenaries attack her home, making her both powerful and hunted. The story examines what happens when you can't run from your supernatural heritage anymore.

  15. 15
    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 ABR Score (7.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.45 Goodreads (7.9K) ★ 4.64 Audible (11)
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    Gemma Whelan's narration so perfectly captures the menace beneath the Silver District's glamour that the family mysteries become genuinely unsettling.

  16. 16
    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 ABR Score (70.7K ratings)
    ★ 3.88 Goodreads (68.5K) ★ 4.5 Audible (2.3K)
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    Six-narrator ensemble cast creates distinct voices for this paranormal romance about Ophelia Hart, an orphan who discovers she's tied to ancient powers.

  17. 17
    Lifeblood cover

    Lifeblood

    Everlife • Book 2

    by Gena Showalter

    Narrated by Emma Galvin, Zachary Webber, Barrie Kreinik

    4.06 ABR Score (10.3K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (9.9K) ★ 4.55 Audible (394)
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    Three narrators capture Ten and Killian's paranormal war with stunning vocal chemistry that makes their romance feel genuinely dangerous.

  18. 18
    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 ABR Score (2.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.22 Goodreads (1.6K) ★ 4.44 Audible (968)
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    Nathaniel Moon must abandon his quiet anonymity when evil threatens Middle Falls, forcing the reluctant messiah to use his miraculous powers openly once again.

  19. 19
    The Poppy War cover

    The Poppy War

    The Poppy War • Book 1

    by R. F. Kuang

    Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

    4.02 ABR Score (507.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (501.7K) ★ 4.21 Audible (5.4K)
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    War orphan Rin discovers shamanic powers while her country faces brutal invasion. Emily Woo Zeller handles the progression from military academy story to genocidal warfare with unflinching commitment.

  20. 20
    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 ABR Score (247 ratings)
    ★ 4.06 Goodreads (90) ★ 4.82 Audible (157)
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    Sungchul seeks ancient dungeons created by Lesser Gods while a prophesied civil war looms over fractured kingdoms.

  21. 21
    The Shattered Sword cover

    The Shattered Sword

    Eternal Online • Book 1

    by T.J. Reynolds

    Narrated by Andrea Parsneau

    3.96 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.09 Goodreads (788) ★ 4.48 Audible (789)
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    Broke gamer Dhalia dives into her dead father's obsession—a virtual world where she can pay off his debts or risk the lithium mines. Parsneau captures her desperate determination perfectly.

  22. 22
    Darkness of Light cover

    Darkness of Light

    Darkness • Book 1

    by Stacey Marie Brown

    Narrated by Michelle Sparks

    3.94 ABR Score (14.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.95 Goodreads (14.5K) ★ 4.82 Audible (22)
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    Paranormal romance where Ember's fractured mind and dangerously magnetic connection with Eli are the real story. Character complexity over supernatural mechanics.

  23. 23
    Sightwitch cover

    Sightwitch

    The Witchlands #2.5

    by Susan Dennard, Rhys Davies

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

    3.93 ABR Score (8.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.98 Goodreads (7.9K) ★ 4.42 Audible (85)
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    Told through journal entries and sketches, this Witchlands prequel follows Ryber's time as a Sightwitch Sister before the main series events. The full cast brings different voices to the epistolary format.

  24. 24
    Bayou Magic cover

    Bayou Magic

    The Louisiana Girls Trilogy • Book 3

    by Jewell Parker Rhodes

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    3.90 ABR Score (1.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.01 Goodreads (1.5K) ★ 4.69 Audible (85)
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    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.

  25. 25
    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 ABR Score (4.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.69 Goodreads (937) ★ 4.45 Audible (3.2K)
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    Gary Bruce transforms from epic loser to social media sensation when he outs himself as a werewolf on YouTube, and Porter captures his desperate grab for relevance perfectly.

  26. 26
    Ashes of Gold cover

    Ashes of Gold

    Wings of Ebony • Book 2

    by J. Elle

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    3.89 ABR Score (1.2K ratings)
    ★ 3.94 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4.68 Audible (107)
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    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.

  27. 27
    The Sun Dwellers cover

    The Sun Dwellers

    The Dwellers • Book 3

    by David Estes

    Narrated by Julia Whelan, Will Damron

    3.88 ABR Score (2.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.16 Goodreads (2.0K) ★ 4.58 Audible (38)
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    While those closest to her die, Adele embarks on a secret assassination mission to the Sun Realm, uncovering truths about her relationship with Tristan she might not be ready to face. Julia Whelan and Will Damron share the emotional weight effectively.

  28. 28
    The Gates of Evangeline cover

    The Gates of Evangeline

    Charlie Cates • Book 1

    by Hester Young

    Narrated by January LaVoy

    3.87 ABR Score (5.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.87 Goodreads (4.9K) ★ 4.35 Audible (251)
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    Grieving journalist Charlie Cates starts dreaming about children she's never met, leading to disturbing revelations. January LaVoy captures the protagonist's fragile mental state as supernatural visions blur with maternal trauma.

  29. 29
    Dangerous Girls cover

    Dangerous Girls

    Dangerous Girls • Book 1

    by Eric Vall

    Narrated by JD Tanner, Kitty Perrelli

    3.86 ABR Score (485 ratings)
    ★ 4.39 Goodreads (478) ★ 4.29 Audible (7)
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    Running a gaming shop becomes complicated when bizarre basement breathing sounds coincide with memory blackouts and an influx of attractive but unstable women. JD Tanner and Kitty Perrelli capture the escalating strangeness disrupting simple small-town life.

  30. 30
    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

    3.84 ABR Score (301 ratings)
    ★ 4.62 Goodreads (298) ★ 4.33 Audible (3)
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    Jesse Storme was left behind when the magi took her twin because women supposedly hold no power—Maxine Mitchell captures her fury perfectly.

  31. 31
    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 ABR Score (273 ratings)
    ★ 4.05 Goodreads (260) ★ 4.38 Audible (13)
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    A psychic "mutant" discovers her witch powers and gets recruited by supernatural law enforcement. Angel Clark and Travis Baldree's dual narration enhances this urban fantasy's magical world-building.

  32. 32
    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 ABR Score (121 ratings)
    ★ 4.08 Goodreads (118) ★ 4.67 Audible (3)
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    Dragon shifter PJ investigates magical butterfly swarms in a post-evil-queen world with only his senses and friendship to guide him through mystery.

  33. 33
    The Godmakers cover

    The Godmakers

    by Frank Herbert

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    3.72 ABR Score (4.8K ratings)
    ★ 3.61 Goodreads (3.5K) ★ 4.25 Audible (1.4K)
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    Lewis Orne arrives on Hamal to assess the planet's aggression levels, only to discover his own latent psychic powers awakening. Scott Brick captures Herbert's philosophical complexity with clear authority.

  34. 34
    (S)Kin cover

    (S)Kin

    by Ibi Zoboi

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles

    3.66 ABR Score (1.0K ratings)
    ★ 3.84 Goodreads (1.0K) ★ 4 Audible (11)
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    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.

  35. 35
    The Wonder of All Things cover

    The Wonder of All Things

    by Jason Mott

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    3.49 ABR Score (4.6K ratings)
    ★ 3.44 Goodreads (4.0K) ★ 3.88 Audible (586)
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    Thirteen-year-old Ava emerges from a deadly air show crash with mysterious healing powers. Julia Whelan captures the weight of unwanted miracles and their terrible cost in this small-town tragedy.

  36. 36
    Seven Wonders (Angry Robot) cover

    Seven Wonders (Angry Robot)

    by Adam Christopher, Will Staehle

    Narrated by Nick Podehl

    3.45 ABR Score (1.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.29 Goodreads (1.1K) ★ 3.48 Audible (54)
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    What happens when the superhero team you're trying to help treats you like the villain? Nick Podehl navigates Tony's bewilderment and growing rage with perfect comic book energy.

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 →