City of Gods and Monsters - Audio Book Review

Audio Book Review

Rating: 4.0

City of Gods and Monsters

House of Devils, Book 1

By Kayla Edwards

Narrated by Wen Ross, Zura Johnson

Series: House of Devils

Release date: 12-11-24

Language: English

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 25 hrs and 36 mins

Audio Sample - Listen Now

Audio Book Review Technical Scores

What?	Details	Score	My thoughts
Vocal Quality & Tone	• Clarity and pleasantness • Consistent tone throughout • Voice suits genre/characters	4	A breathy soft voice, that feels a little too old for our YA protangonist and audience
Characterisation & Performance	• Distinct voices • Genuine emotion • Avoids exaggeration or stereotype	4	Difficult to avoid exaggeration when you are telling a tale of witches and werewolves, but the narrator makes this wonderful fantasy sounds like the everyday
Pacing, Rhythm & Flow	• Natural pacing • Smooth phrasing • Effective pauses	4	Lovely lyrical storytelling, which feels uncomfortable relating the sometimes coarse dialogue, and risky misadventures
Technical Production Quality	• Clean audio • Stable volume • Professional editing	5	Excellent
Engagement & Listener Experience	• Holds attention • Enhances story • Re-listen appeal	4	If you like redhead witches and bulky werewolves, I guess you will be rivetted

Audio Book Review

Wen Ross and Zura Johnson bring City of Gods and Monsters to life with a soft, breathy vocal quality that’s pleasant enough—but occasionally at odds with the book’s YA edge. There’s a faint sense that the voice is a touch older than our heroine, Loren, which creates an odd but not unpleasant tension between tone and character. Still, the clarity and consistency are undeniable, and once you settle into the rhythm, the narration becomes a velvety backdrop to Angelthene’s supernatural chaos.

Character work is where the duo truly shine. Despite navigating a cast full of vampires, witches, werewolves, and other fantasy staples that practically beg for overacting, the performers keep the delivery grounded. They make the magical sound almost mundane—in the best possible way—allowing the emotional beats to land with sincerity rather than melodrama. The pacing is lyrical, smooth, and atmospheric, though it occasionally feels too refined when paired with the story’s grittier dialogue and reckless escapades. Imagine a harp trying to narrate a bar fight: lovely, but slightly bewildered.

Technically, the production is flawless, and engagement stays high—even if your enthusiasm may hinge on your fondness for redheaded witches, hulking werewolves, and the occasional morally grey heartthrob with a lethal jawline.

The world of Angelthene unfolds in all its dark, seductive charm, drawing you into the mystery and menace as easily as Darien draws mortal girls into trouble. And by the end, one thing becomes clear: in this city of monsters, the real danger isn’t the Darkslayers—it’s how quickly you’ll want the next book. Audio Book Review Nov 2025