In the City of Time

Rachel Leblang delivers a narration that’s as intricate as the plot itself. Her voice bristles with the kind of intelligence you’d expect from a story where characters solve equations mid-catastrophe, but she avoids the trap of making them sound like walking textbooks. The real magic happens in the quiet moments—when Leblang’s tone drops into something quieter, almost exhausted, as if the weight of the universe is pressing down on her. She nails the frenetic energy of the trio’s escape sequences, but it’s her handling of the quieter scenes—the arguments, the doubts, the flashes of panic—that sells the emotional core. That said, the pacing occasionally stumbles in the middle act, where the story lingers a beat too long on the mechanics of the time jumps. It’s a minor gripe, but when your entire plot hinges on the tension of each second, a handful of over-explained sequences can feel like a hiccup in an otherwise relentless sprint. The production quality is top-tier, with subtle sound design that underscores the high stakes without ever feeling gimmicky. Clare’s writing shines brightest in the dialogues, where the teens’ banter crackles with the kind of rapid-fire wit that makes you forget you’re listening to a story about catastrophe. If you’re looking for an audiobook where the science is as compelling as the characters, this one’s a lock.