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  • Title: City of Ashes
  • Author: Cassandra Clare
  • Narrator: Natalie Moore
  • Length: 0.541666667
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 25-Mar
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
  • Genre: Teen, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Romance
  • ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Dear fellow travelers of imagination,

There’s something extraordinary about listening to a story unfold while the world around you transforms into its own narrative. When I queued up the audiobook of *City of Ashes*, narrated by Natalie Moore, I was on a flight to Iceland, gazing down at volcanic landscapes that seemed to echo the fiery, turbulent emotions of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter world. It’s moments like these that remind me why audiobooks are a treasure for wanderers like me. They take you on journeys within journeys.

The second installment in Clare’s *The Mortal Instruments* series plunges its listeners deeper into the murky realm of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, where love, loyalty, and the darkest corners of human ambition are explored. *City of Ashes* carries the weight of its predecessor, *City of Bones*, but elevates the stakes with its intricate character dynamics and urgent plotlines. At its heart, this is a story of identities in flux: Clary, grappling with her unexpected lineage as a Shadowhunter; Jace, tormented by his connection to the sinister Valentine; and Simon, navigating his own transformation, both emotionally and physically.

Listening to Natalie Moore narrate this tale was like hearing the tales shared by the grandmother of the family I stayed with in Oaxaca. Her voice carried the same intimate cadence, as if she were speaking to each listener individually. Moore’s ability to embody the characters’ emotional shifts—from Clary’s bewildered resolve to Jace’s simmering frustration—felt like an invitation to sit closer, lean in, and absorb every word. You can almost hear the tension in her voice when Valentine’s manipulative schemes are unveiled, and the vulnerability when Clary and Jace confront their tangled emotions.

What struck me most about *City of Ashes* was its exploration of love and betrayal, themes that reminded me of my own travels. I once stayed with a community in the Sahara Desert, where stories of lovers torn apart by tribal divides were shared under the starlit sky. Clare captures this timeless struggle with a modern sensibility, layering it with supernatural stakes. Is love worth betraying everything? The story unfolds like a storm brewing over Manhattan, with each revelation and confrontation crackling like lightning.

Thematically, Clare excels at weaving personal conflicts into larger battles. Valentine’s theft of the Soul-Sword and the murders of Downworlder children serve as dire reminders of how power, unchecked, can corrode even the purest ideals. It’s a theme I find particularly resonant as someone who’s seen the impact of leadership gone astray during my travels in politically unstable regions. Clare’s narrative forces its characters—and listeners—to ask hard questions about loyalty, morality, and the price of peace.

Moore’s narration amplifies these themes with precision. Her pacing mirrors the urgency of the story, quickening during action sequences and slowing to a heartbeat’s rhythm during moments of introspection. The audio quality is crisp, with just enough atmospheric depth to immerse you in Clare’s world without distracting from the text. You can almost hear the hum of New York City’s underbelly, the lilt of faerie voices, and the growl of werewolves in the background.

Of course, no work is without its imperfections. At times, the complexity of the plot can feel overwhelming, especially for listeners new to the series or the Shadowhunter universe. I found myself rewinding certain sections to piece together the motivations driving Valentine’s actions. But this is a minor quibble in a story that rewards close attention. For those seeking a richly layered narrative, *City of Ashes* delivers.

Compared to other young adult fantasy audiobooks I’ve enjoyed, such as Laini Taylor’s *Daughter of Smoke and Bone*, Clare’s world feels darker, more urban, and unapologetically gritty. Where Taylor’s prose lends itself to a dreamlike escape, Clare’s storytelling is like walking through the rain-soaked streets of a city haunted by its own history. It’s visceral, raw, and unrelenting.

I would recommend *City of Ashes* to listeners who crave a blend of action, romance, and moral complexity. If you’re drawn to stories where characters are forced to reckon with their past while fighting to shape their future, this audiobook is for you. And if you enjoy narrators who bring every ounce of emotional depth to their performance, Natalie Moore will not disappoint.

As I finished the audiobook, the plane descended over Reykjavik, its lava fields and glaciers bathed in an ethereal light. I couldn’t help but feel that Clare’s Shadowhunter world had seeped into my surroundings, the magic and danger lingering in the air. That’s the power of an audiobook like *City of Ashes*. It doesn’t just tell a story—it invites you to become part of it.

Happy listening, and may your journeys—both real and imagined—be full of wonder.

Warm regards,
Marcus Rivera