City of Fallen Angels

By: Cassandra Clare

Narrated by: Ed Westwick, Molly C. Quinn

Simon Lewis is having some trouble adjusting to his new life as a vampire, especially now that he hardly sees his best friend Clary, who is caught up in training to be a Shadowhunter - and spending time with her new boyfriend, Jace. Simon decides he needs a break and heads out of the city - only to discover that sinister events are following him. Realising that the war they thought they’d won might not yet be over, Simon has to call on his Shadowhunter friends to save the day - if they can put their own splintering relationships on hold long enough to rise to the challenge….

©2011 Cassandra Clare (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

multiple readers

didn't like the fact that there was more than reader for this audio book. it took away from the experience. I preferred how the other books in the series were done

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What didn’t you like about Ed Westwick and Molly C. Quinn ’s performance?

The narrators... why did they change them?

All the accents and characters sound like different people. And they’re different again, depending on whether Ed or Molly is doing the voice.

I hate the way the men sound in his voice, especially Luke. It puts a completely different picture in my mind of what he looks like.

She speaks almost in a monotone. You can’t tell who’s talking half the time. The Fairy Queen has lost her lovely accent completely. The males speak in the same high pitched voice as the females. She even read parts with only male characters for some reason.

Sigh. Narration really let down the story.

Does good always win?

Another angst ridden instalment of the on again off again world of Jace and Clarissa as they battle the demon world. I love the way other characters are enlarged and embroidered as the story unfolds and can't wait to see what Cassandra has in store for us as she awakens the evil Sebastian.
The story is read well although sometimes I crave for some more emotion. At times the readers are a little flat.

Like Nails On A Chalk Board

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes and no. I love this series, I really do. However, I feel that City of Glass would've been a fine way to finish the series if the ending had been more final. The loose threads at the end of City of Glass felt a little forced. But all that aside, I was glad to have the opportunity to further the Mortal Instruments journey. Though the connection really wasn't there for me. I'll finish the series because I feel like I should, not necessarily because I want to. I definitely don't feel the enthralling engrossment I felt with the first three books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Simon. As the story is predominantly about him I guess that it's only natural to feel the connection with his character grow this time round.
At the risk of sounding cliche', his character really comes into his own in this book, meaning he is no longer a sub-character just playing the role of Clary's faithful sidekick, following her through her life and her story. Simon has developed his own story, his own life outside of Clary. I kind of feel that he was owed this and I was glad that this is the route Clare took with his character. We'd seen this change in his character start to unfold in City of Glass so I found the follow through of this new Simon in City of Fallen Angels very satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable. Plus, he's a great comic relief amongst all of the Clary/Jace relationship angst. Really. Enough.
Kyle was a nice addition to the cast as well.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Fail.
I could listen to Ed Westwick for hours. What a voice! And I thought he did a great job. And I liked the novelty of switching up narrators. Though, I would have been just as content if Natalie Moore had remained the narrator.
Molly C. Quinn though, different story altogether. I got to the point where I was actually tempted to skip the parts she narrated. The heading says it all, like nails on a black board. I'm probably nit-picking because I've been spoilt with audiobooks read by a variety of truly brilliant narrators, but her poorly inflected and almost bored delivery was painful for me. The stiff, over-pronounced narrative was distraction and disappointing. And honestly, the "soft-voice" she adopted when completing a sentence or, for example, reading a conversation between Clary and Jace made my eye twitch. Again, I'm probably being pedantic, but it really, REALLY annoyed me and significantly lessened my enjoyment of this audiobook and did not do justice to the story.

Do you think City of Fallen Angels needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

We've come this far! Let's finish the series with a bang! It deserves it.
Thus far, the Mortal Instruments series has delivered a wonderful and innovative world to escape to that is thoroughly entertaining. Sure, you can't throw a stone in a book store these days without hitting a supernatural/para-romance young adult novel, but the Mortal Instruments offers enough refreshing contrast to other series within it's genre to make it a stand out, must read story. No easy feat in a flooded market and a true credit to Cassandra Clare.
I'm looking forward to the final chapter of this enchanting story as, I'm sure, are the many other readers who have invested in the world of Shadowhunters, Downworlders and Demons.

The next story in the Mortal Instruments

What did you love best about City of Fallen Angels?

The development of the present day Shadowhunters universe seems to be moving toward a juxtaposition with The Infernal Instruments books. Cassandra Clare is brilliant.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

That last scene with Jace had me on tenterhooks until the City of Lost Souls came out. I can't wait for it to come out in Audiobook.

Any additional comments?

Excellent series, I recommend it to everyone who like a little action with their romance in a supernatural 'verse.

Okay storyline but the narration is off.

I didn’t really like the change in narration, the previous books were much better!
In this one the narrators pronounce some of the nouns differently, for example “stele” is pronounced “steely”?? “Idris”- “eedris”, and “Armatis”-“Amartis”.
It’s hard because you get into the book and then are pulled out when they mispronounce it.

I’m a bit disappointed that the Seelie Queen has completely lost her accent, but I do like how Simon is read.

The Mortal Instruments just keeps getting better.

Where does City of Fallen Angels rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

City of Fallen Angels is the best listen in the Mortal Instruments series so far.

What was one of the most memorable moments of City of Fallen Angels?

Simon coming to terms with his vampirism.

Which character – as performed by Ed Westwick and Molly C. Quinn – was your favorite?

Simon was my favourite character in this book, as he struggles to come to terms with his condition and the Mark of Cain.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I would not attempt to make this into a film, considering how bad City of Bones was when made into a movie.

Enjoy

I have read and listened to all of Cassandra Clare's books and though I liked Natalie Moore's readings I have to say that I have enjoyed this one the most mainly due to Ed Westwick. He adds a different dynamic to the story and his interpretation of Simon is wonderful. I think I also like Molly Quinn more than I liked Natalie's Moore or maybe she it was just her in tandom with Ed that makes this audiobook so easy to listen too and hard to press pause buttom.

Another great read from clare

What did you love best about City of Fallen Angels?

C.C keeps the teen angst coming and left us with a gripping cliffhanger

Who was your favorite character and why?

Clary, the bumbling yet powerful newbie

Have you listened to any of Ed Westwick and Molly C. Quinn ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

It was a little off putting to swap to a two person read after being accustomed to the previous solo readings, not that Ed and Molly don't give a winning reading i have to admit i preferred the other works.

Any additional comments?

Found it slightly odd at the shifting prospectives between clary and simon

Awesome story starter, great cliffhanger

What about Ed Westwick and Molly C. Quinn ’s performance did you like?

I found Ed a great contrast to Molly, though I wish they would settle on one kind of narrator. In book 5 we only get Molly and the previous 3 have all been read by different people. The discontinuity does the story a disservice. I particularly like these 2.

Any additional comments?

What a great way to kick off a new trilogy (/ continuation from the first trilogy) and all we took for granted goes out the window! Quick paced, witty, and dark, it is a delight from beginning to end and its a quick roll from 4 to 5 and then join in the anticipation for book 6!