"You couldn't change the past. You could only go forward." (Simon Lewis)
City of Fallen Angels is Simon's book. His character arc deals with him trying and failing to be a vampire and a human at the same time. He doesn't know what to do and a bunch of people want to either recruit him or kill him because he's a Daylighter. However, I don't appreciate Simon two-timing Isabelle and Maia. He might not be exclusively dating both of them, but he didn't want Isabelle and Maia to know that he was dating the both of them and he led both of them on because he didn't tell them the truth.
Clary is naive, bland and forgettable in City of Fallen Angels. Her character arc involves a little bit of Shadowhunter training, but it mostly revolves around her feelings towards Jace.
Jace is struggling after the events that occurred in City of Glass and he's such a mess in City of Fallen Angels. As a way of punishing himself, he distances himself from the people that he loves. I could understand his actions because they suit his personality, but I just wanted him to stop avoiding people and situations, talk and deal with what is going on.
I really got a sense of Isabelle's personality in City of Fallen Angels and I love her so much. Isabelle and Maia are strong, tough characters and I love their friendship.
Jace and Simon's developing bromance, which is characterised largely by insults, is hilarious to read about. I also don't know how to feel about Kyle. Jordan Kyle is Maia's abusive ex-boyfriend who turned her into a werewolf. However, the reason for his aggression and anger is because it was his first werewolf transformation. I hate that he treated Maia horribly, but I also understand that he's trying to be better.
I love Malec, but I was uncomfortable with their relationship in City of Fallen Angels. Alec seems so immature. I get that he has some doubts about his relationship with Magnus, but did he really expect a warlock as old and flirty as Magnus not to have had a relationship or fallen in love with anyone besides him.
On the other hand, it was nice to see Jace and Clary being a couple. City of Fallen Angels also shows the love that Jace has for Clary. However, I find their romance to be extremely cheesy and over-the-top. I don't believe that love is the "be all and end all", but maybe that's just my jaded outlook on life.
I'm also really happy for Luke and Jocelyn!
City of Fallen Angels has a darker tone and lays down the foundation for future Mortal Instruments books. It's more character focused than previous books in The Mortal Instruments series and explores the characters and their relationships with each other. Though, I could have done without all the teen angst. Most of the plot progression happens in the last part of City of Fallen Angels and that cliffhanger makes me excited for things to come in City of Lost Souls.
"Love is a contradiction." (Jace)