Clare returns to her Shadowhunters world with this enjoyable tale set in present-day Los Angeles. Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs must join forces with the faeries to solve a gruesome series of murders of humans and faeries. The murders have similarities to the murders of Emma's own parents many years ago, and Emma and her partner, Julian, set out on a supernatural journey to discover secrets of her past, avenge her parents' deaths, and dispatch the killers before anyone else turns up dead. Voice actress Baccarin chooses a simple, straightforward reading for the audio edition. Her voice is very clear and articulate, and she reads with some expression, but she does little to differentiate the characters' voices, and she reads the text in a neutral tone, never getting overly emotional. This is a perfectly serviceable narration style for the plot, which moves along speedily, but Baccarin does not really add anything of depth to the story. Ages 14–up. A S&S/McElderry hardcover. (Apr.)

Gr 9 Up—Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs is pulled back to a time that was full of pain and rage—the time her parents were murdered—when bodies with similar markings start turning up in Los Angeles. She and her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, must navigate cryptic clues, their tangled relationship, and the sudden reappearance of his brother Mark, who was kidnapped several years earlier by faerie. In addition, Emma and Julian must deal with the frequently confusing rules and politics of the nonmortal world and undercurrents created by secret agendas and conflicted relationships. This is a lengthy story with many characters and nearly as many entanglements and plot elements. Morena Baccarin does a good job of pacing and inflection as the narrator. However, the length and complexity will make listening a challenge for some teens. VERDICT Suggest this to ardent fans of the "Mortal Instruments" series as well as urban fantasy lovers who have time to focus exclusively on listening to the story with minimal distractions. ["A must-have for libraries with devoted Shadowhunter fans, who will undoubtedly be waiting for this emotionally intense beginning to her new series": SLJ 4/16 review of the Margaret K. McElderry book.]—John R. Clark, Hartland Public Library, ME