Jyc
Written on Mar 12, 2012
Fourth in Cassandra Clare’s internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series about the Shadowhunters.
Discover more secrets about the Shadowhunters as they fight to protect the world from demons in the fourth book in the internationally bestselling series. To love is to destroy... The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and – most importantly of all – she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But her happiness has come at a price... This edition contains a map and a new foreword by Cassandra Clare. Read all the sensational books in The Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, The Bane Chronicles, The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours and The Shadowhunter’s Codex.
- ISBN10 140633538X
- ISBN13 9781406335385
- Publish Date 5 April 2011
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Walker Books Ltd
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 448
- Language English
Reviews
Hixxup
Written on Apr 13, 2011
Amber
Written on Apr 6, 2011
*Warning – this review contains spoilers from the previous books in the series. I don’t suggest reading this review unless you’ve read the other books. Of course, if you enjoy spoilers then go right ahead! This review is also kind of a rant. I apologise in advance.*
Like what seems like everyone else in the YA blogoverse, I was so frikkin’ excited to read this book. I thought the TMI series was over with City of Glass, and yet I was craving more Jace and Clary, and Magnus Bane!
City of Fallen Angels picks up a short six weeks after City of Glass ended. The first chapter – which you may well have read online – is told from Simon’s point of view. That’s right, a whole chapter dedicated to one POV! Unheard of in this series, right? Until now at least.
During the first few chapters, the reader really gets a feel for how much the world – and the characters - has changed. First off, Simon is now dating both Isabelle and Maia. Yeah, I felt the same way. What the hell, Simon? I lost a bit of respect for him there, to be honest.
The main plot is that a series of Shadowhunters have been killed, and this in itself sounded very similar to the plot of City of Ashes. I did enjoy the storyline, but it wasn’t until the last few chapters of the book that it picked up and I started loving it.
SLIGHT SPOILER
One plot point, however, was one that I hated and that I wish had never been included. I won’t say when or why, but Isabelle and Alec end up killing humans. This is so out of character for them, and for all Shadowhunters, because they’re meant to protect humans. And worst of all, Isabelle and Alec DIDN’T CARE?! It didn’t affect them at all.
SPOILERS OVER
Also, I must point out something about Izzy and Alec. As you know, their brother was killed in City of Glass – a mere six weeks ago – and yet the only person who seems to be showing any emotion about this is Maryse. I can’t remember one instance in which Izzy or Alec think about Max, let alone grieve him. This part almost killed me, because I know for a fact that if my brother or sister had died, I would NOT have dealt their death in six weeks. Probably not even in six months.
Jace is also having a few problems that I will not go into, but I’ll just say that it was very frustrating to say the least. His relationship with Clary is still as complicated as ever, and that got on my nerves. Why can’t they just be happy? Must the woes of their relationship be dragged through another three books? It’s not necessary. I’d rather see them as a happy couple – which you don’t see very often in YA!
Clary, who was once a brilliant protagonist, didn’t have much to do in this book. And it wasn’t until the ending that she actually reminded me of the old Clary from the first half of the series.
I loved that there were some references and mentions from Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices series)! I got so excited, I almost jumped around and happy danced whenever Will was mentioned!
Like I said, the ending is probably one of the only parts of this book that reminded me of the first half of the series. And yet, even this was lacking somewhat. There is a HUGE cliffhanger ending, so if you don’t like cliffhangers then I don’t suggest reading this book until the next book is out. But then again, you’d have to wait a whole year.
Overall, whilst I did enjoy City of Fallen Angels, it didn’t feel like The Mortal Instruments to me. So many things had changed, and the characters seemed to have completely lost their personality traits. Even the writing seemed very rushed, with lots of commas thrown in everywhere. I did enjoy this book, but nowhere near as much as the others. I kind of wish that Cassandra Clare had just left the trilogy as it was – a trilogy.
Linda
Written on Apr 5, 2011
OK, I loved, loved, loved the story, all the way to the final few chapters. Jace's dreams being invaded with images of killing Clary, and how he dealt with it was heartbreaking. Kyle / Jordan being there to look out for Simon, but also to try to re-connect with Maia was awesome.
Clary and Iz going alone to the church (and Clary actually going inside alone) was, as usual, a little stupid, but at least they ended up getting the devil, and some information about what was going on.
However, the fact that nobody was sharing all of the information made things a lot more complicated than they needed to be.
I loved how Clary took charge when Jace finally came clean with her about his dreams, and that she figured out that it truly wasn't Jace dreaming. However, I don't understand how it is that he wasn't better protected while with the silent brothers. And being re-born (or risen from the death) having the implication that he wasn't protected anymore, should have told them that this was really urgent, couldn't they have made a portal to the iron sisters and just gotten the things that needed to be done done straight away?
It really got to me that Jace was blaming himself for being under Lilith's influence (and really, Lilith??) and what really got to me was that everybody left Jace alone on the roof, with half a ritual having been done already. I can understand that Clary felt the need to go downstairs, to check on her mom, and make sure she didn't come upstairs to see Jonathan. However, the other shadowhunters should have immediately gone upstairs to see if there was something more to be done. I don't get why they needed all those explanations down in the lobby, and that's where the one star off comes from. It really is contrived, and a forced plot imo. Jace and Jonathan are now blood bonded, and if one dies, the other will die. It is really stupid and I hate what will probably come in the next books.
However, I really shouldn't be surprised, the main couple not being together is apparantly what is cool to read about, but I don't agree. I want Jace and Clary to be able to work through their problems, but now, Jace will likely only feel more guilty that he wasn't able to come out of the spell, even if he tried.
So, although I really loved most of the book, that last part just made me angry, and not feel good about what I read before that.