I was genuinely surprised just how much I liked the story in audiobook form. The narrator is excellent, the voice cast is stacked, and the background noises are absolutely on point for every situation. All of these things together created a depth that stirred up a similar feeling I had the first time I actually read Harry Potter cover to cover. It’s that feeling of being so fully immersed in a book that you feel like you’re actually there.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think reading the book is the best way to enjoy the story. But these audiobooks are a more theatrical experience, and one you can have while doing other things. The full-cast edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone took more than eight hours to listen to, but I could easily turn it on while doing the dishes or walking my dog (and totally did just that). The convenience of being able to listen to a movie-like version of the book while doing chores was pretty awesome.

I didn't fully realize what I loved about the audiobook until I got all the way through. It wasn't just that it drummed up that same nostalgia I felt when I was a kid, it's because it solved the main complaint I had when the first movie came out. If you haven't read the books in a while, you might have forgotten just how much is left out of the movies. It's impossible to fit all of the little in-between moments into a film, but I remember feeling slightly disappointed after watching The Sorcerer's Stone for the first time in theaters. Where were all of the little things I remembered from the book? The audiobook does a great job of bridging that gap, even if its only in the form of sound.

Is It Worth Getting an Audible Subscription For?

Audible launched the first full-cast Harry Potter audiobook at the beginning of November around the same time it launched its Black Friday Audible deal. This obviously isn't a coincidence, but if you are interested in listening to this I think it's absolutely worth it—especially if you've never subscribed to Audible before. While the deal lasts you can get three months of Audible for only $0.99 cents as well as a $20 bonus credit. You get one book credit per month you can use, so signing up will basically get you The Sorcerer's Stone for only $0.99 cents.

The only down side is that Amazon sets you up to auto-renew your subscription once those three months are up and will start charging you the full $14.95 per month. But as long as you cancel before then, you're fine.

As for whether or not an Audible subscription is worth it in the long run really just depends on how often you listen to audiobooks. I've had a subscription off and on over the years to listen to various things, but ultimately decided I just wasn't listening often enough to justify the cost. So deals like this one are a great way to try it out for cheap before you fully commit.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.