A tale that marries magic and emotion

THIS month, The Fortress of Lost Memories by William Yamaguchi Dobson hit the audiobook shelves. Running just under six hours, it’s a tale that mixes heart, imagination, and a touch of magic.

- THINA BOTHA

What we get is a story that dances between fantasy and the familiar pain of losing someone we love.

At the center of it all is twelve-year-old Jonty, a boy whose world is shaken when his beloved grandfather begins slipping away into the haze of dementia. That moment - watching someone you love start to forget - becomes the spark for Jonty’s daring journey through the mysterious Gate of Memory.

It’s not just a fantastical adventure, though. It’s a heartfelt quest to bring back his grandfather's fading stories and, in a way, to preserve the man himself. The audiobook captures this balance beautifully - equal parts whimsy and emotional honesty. You can't help but feel for Jonty as he steps into this dreamlike world where lost memories take shape and come alive.

What makes the story powerful is how it contrasts Jonty’s youth with his grandfather's fragility.