What is the ruling on listening to an audiobook in which the reciter imitates the voice of a woman, or vice versa? And is softening the voice considered imitation, or does it differ from imitation?

The story of a male reciter imitating a woman's voice and softening it to distinguish her role in the narration does not appear to fall under the forbidden imitation, though it is preferable to avoid it. There is no harm in listening to it. The forbidden imitation is breaking the voice and effeminacy done artificially and habitually, like the manner of effeminate men, which is one who deliberately adopts the morals, movements, speech, and attire of women. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. The majority of scholars agree on the prohibition of men imitating women and vice versa.