Quick Take
- Narration: Carlyss Peer leads a full cast including Bella Ramsey as Hilda; the multi-voice 3D audio production is genuinely immersive and crafted for the format rather than adapted from it.
- Themes: belonging, friendship, courage in unfamiliar places, the unseen world alongside the ordinary one
- Mood: Bright, adventurous, and gently spooky, with the specific warmth of great children's storytelling
- Verdict: A beautifully produced full-cast audio adventure that works best for young listeners already connected to Hilda from the Netflix show or graphic novels.
I listened to Hilda and the Nowhere Space on a Sunday afternoon with my neighbor's eight-year-old daughter, who has seen the Netflix show and recognizes Hilda's voice the moment Bella Ramsey starts speaking. That context matters. At one hour and forty-seven minutes, this is a compact, purposeful listen designed for children in the middle-grade window, and it does what it sets out to do with evident production care and a genuine understanding of what this particular audience needs from audio.
This is the third in the series of audio adventures tied to the Netflix adaptation of Luke Pearson's graphic novels, published by Audible Studios in May 2022. Hilda has been newly initiated into the Sparrow Scouts and wants to earn badges and make human friends, which for Hilda, who has spent most of her life in the wilderness with trolls and elves and wood spirits as companions, is its own kind of adventure. Then a dark, menacing creature begins threatening Trolberg, and badge earning gives way to something considerably more urgent.
Our Take on Hilda and the Nowhere Space
What separates this from a simple novelization of show content is the production design. Audible Studios describes it as an immersive multi-voice 3D audio adventure, and the description is accurate. The voice cast includes Rasmus Hardiker as both Alfur and Tontu, Rachel Atkins handling Miss Hallgrim, Lindworm, and Raven Leader, and a full ensemble that gives every creature in Trolberg a distinct sonic presence. Bella Ramsey, who voiced Hilda in the Netflix show, brings the character's characteristic open-hearted curiosity to the audio with complete confidence. Carlyss Peer as narrator provides the connective tissue that keeps the story moving between the scene-work, and the two voices complement rather than compete with each other.
Why Listen to Hilda and the Nowhere Space
Reviewers who listened with children reported genuine engagement. One parent described their seven-year-old daughter enjoying it as an excellent adaptation of an excellent show. Another noted that both a son and daughter love the books and the show together, finding the audio a consistent extension of what makes the property appealing. A more considered reviewer noted that these stories are not designed to entertain adults independently, framing them as perfect for kids getting comfortable with chapter books rather than crossover content that works for both age groups simultaneously. That is an honest assessment, and it is not a criticism of the production. It is the production succeeding at exactly what it set out to accomplish.
What to Watch For in Hilda and the Nowhere Space
At just under two hours, this is a brief listen by audiobook standards, which affects the value proposition if you are purchasing rather than accessing through an Audible membership. The story is designed for its audience, and the threat posed by the dark creature resolves at a pace and in a manner appropriate for middle-grade listeners rather than building toward extended suspense. Adults listening independently rather than with children will likely find the material pleasant but slight. The show and graphic novel connections also mean that the richest experience comes with some prior familiarity with the Hilda universe and its particular logic of creatures, territories, and rules.
Who Should Listen to Hilda and the Nowhere Space
This is a strong choice for children in the seven-to-ten age range who already know and love the Netflix show or Luke Pearson's graphic novels. It also works well as a shared listening experience for parents who want to engage with something their children are already invested in. The short runtime makes it manageable for younger listeners with limited attention spans, and the full-cast production gives it an energy that single-narrator children's audiobooks cannot match. Adults looking for children's audio that works independently without a young audience will want to look elsewhere, but families who love Hilda will find this a worthwhile addition to their listening. The production quality sets a standard for children's audio that makes it easy to understand why this series has found such a devoted audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have watched the Netflix Hilda show before listening to this audiobook?
Prior familiarity with Hilda, whether through the Netflix show or Luke Pearson's graphic novels, significantly enriches the experience. The story is designed to sit alongside that existing connection rather than introduce the characters and world from scratch.
Is Bella Ramsey's voice performance comparable to her work on the Netflix show?
Yes. Ramsey voices Hilda in the Netflix series and brings the same open-hearted, curious energy to this audio production. For children who know the show, hearing Ramsey as Hilda in a new story provides genuine continuity.
What age group is Hilda and the Nowhere Space aimed at?
The content and complexity are calibrated for middle-grade listeners roughly in the seven-to-ten range, though younger children who know the show may also enjoy it with an adult present. Reviewers describe it as perfect for kids getting comfortable with chapter books.
What does the 3D audio format mean for this production, and does it require special equipment?
The 3D audio is a spatial audio mix designed to create a sense of environmental immersion, with sounds positioned in three-dimensional space around the listener. Headphones enhance the effect considerably. Standard speakers will deliver the story effectively but without the full spatial dimension.
