Monday, September 10, 2012

City of Fallen Angels by: Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderly Books
Pages: 434
Format: Kindle
Series: Mortal Instruments (#4)


The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My thoughts:

City of Fallen Angels is the 4th installment of the Mortal Instruments Series. So I must warn everyone that this review might contain spoilers for those who haven't yet read the previous books...

Mortal Instruments is my favorite series of YA novels so far. I really like Cassandra Clare's creativity and writing style. I'd read in one of her interviews that at first she meant for Mortal Instruments to be a trilogy, but then, with her publisher's support, it was extended. I unfortunately remembered this while reading City of Fallen Angels because it was obvious that she had to work some magic for the story to continue. Simon is pretty much in the center of the fourth book. But I was a little bit bored while reading even though I really like Simon.

When I say I got bored, I must say that this boredom happened during the middle parts of the book. Toward the end of the book, the excitement and curiosity I love so much about the story arises and surprises. Isabelle has always been a fun character, and she made me laugh out loud in this book as well. Simon is always the same Simon, and even though he's with two girls at the same time at the beginning of the book, there is NO such thing as 'vampire mojo,' guys, okay? I also liked the new character, Jordan, who made his first appearance in this book and looks like he's going to stay around. I am indeed curious about what will happen next in the story. Also, Magnus and Alec, as always, were swoon-worthy. I just love them as a couple.

Jace's sarcasm never fails to amuse me, and that was present in this book as well. i.e.

Jace: "You and your name-dropping. 'I knew Michael.' 'I knew Sammael.' 'The angel Gabriel did my hair.' It's like I'm with the band with Biblical figures."
However, I must also add that Jace and Clary are starting to annoy me. Clary's "he doesn't want me around him, he doesn't love me, why doesn't he tell me anything?" kind of whining is getting really old. At first I thought I must be getting annoyed because the main characters are 12 years younger than me. But then I remembered people around my age do the same thing, and I got even more mad. Anyway....

Just remember that someone's killing Shadowhunters, and you'll be very surprised when you find out who and why.



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1 shout outs:

Paula said...

great review I read the first three and I read this one as well but I had trouble with it as I felt alot of their story had been told in the first three books and that this one felt forced.