City of Fallen Angels

Demon-hunting New York City teenagers Clary, Jace, and Simon face down their personal demons in this installment of Clare's wildly popular series. Narrators Ed Westwick and Molly Quinn take turns recounting their activities. Westwick presents Simon's vampiric musings in a quietly sophisticated manner that perfectly portrays the cachÄ of belonging to an exclusive magical society. However, the tone makes Simon sound bored when he's fighting the source of all evil. Westwick's voice for Jace isn't ideal either. He sounds more like a gangbanger than a clever warrior. Quinn's narration lacks polish, as well. Her characters don't have unique voices, making dialogue confusing. She doesn't fully convey Clary's emotions. And her hesitant reading is in contrast to the strong female characters she portrays. Overall, ardent followers of the series may be disappointed. C.A. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine