Art And Audio

When it came time to produce the audiobook of Darkened Demigod: Weapon of War, Shawn Phillips knew the story needed more than someone who could simply read the words. It required a performer capable of carrying the emotional weight of the characters and making each personality immediately recognizable to the listener.

The greatest challenge was finding the voice of Lohannes. His performance needed to communicate a guttural, wounded quality while still conveying the strength and intensity of a powerful protagonist. At the same time, the narrator had to shift naturally into the sharper, more intellectual inflections of Lohannes’ sidekick, Bookworm.

Shawn listened to dozens of audition samples, with many more still waiting to be reviewed. Each performer brought something valuable, but none had fully captured the contrast between the two characters. Shawn began to wonder whether he would have to compromise on some part of his original vision.

Then he opened an audition submitted by voice actor and audiobook producer Slade Hovick.

Within seconds, Shawn knew he had found the right person. Slade’s voice carried the pain, force, intelligence, and emotional depth the story demanded. Shawn continued listening, not because he needed further convincing, but because he had become absorbed in his own story in a way he had never experienced before.

Slade brought more than a compelling voice to the production. His professional voice-over career includes commercial work for major brands such as Nike and Petco, along with audiobook narration, animation, educational content, video games, and other voice-over projects. His range, acting experience, and ability to distinguish characters made him an ideal creative partner for the series.

Instead of tightly directing every pause, tone, and character choice, Shawn gave Slade room to interpret the material. He provided the foundation, emotional context, and boundaries of the story, then trusted Slade to build upon them.

The result gave Darkened Demigod: Weapon of War an entirely new dimension. Slade did not simply narrate the book. He translated its characters, conflicts, and emotional shifts into a performance that enabled listeners to experience the story in new ways.

That partnership continued with the second audiobook in the trilogy. With an even wider range of characters to portray, Slade expanded the series’ vocal world through distinct voices and carefully developed performances.

Learn more about the narrator and audiobook producer at Slade Hovick Voice Over.