Review of "City of Fallen Angels"

"City of Fallen Angels"
Cassandra Clare


4


Pub. Date: April 5, 2011
Pages: 424
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Synopsis:  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, 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. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary 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.

I'm assuming I was like everyone and pretty shocked that there was another book in the "Mortal Instruments" series... especially since it was marketed as a trilogy.  I loved the other books in the series and "Clockwork Angel", but I didn't feel that with "City of Fallen Angels".  I thought everything was wrapped up nicely in "City of Glass" so I was curious to see where this series would go next.  I have to say that I am a bit disappointed.  I thought we were over the questioning of worthiness between both Clary and Jace, but apparently not.  After all they have been through I assumed they would have learned to communicate, but that was false hope too.  Luckily the book focus on multiple plots taking away from some of the annoyance of their issues.

Simon had a major role in this book, but he wasn't very Simonesque.  He was two-timing some fantastic females... this just isn't the Simon we know and love.  I thought this aspect of the story was pretty useless.  It didn't create enough conflict for it to really be relevant.  The lack of Alec and Magnus also left the book a bit flat.  They are such great characters I was disappointed not to see more of them.  Even Isabelle seemed to fall a little flat.

If the characters annoyed me so much, why did I give such a good review?  I had trouble putting the book down.  The mysteries behind the death of the Shadowhunters is much more twisted and gripping than the synopsis makes it sound.  I have to say that this conflict is really what kept me going through this book.  There was a lot of interesting things happening in Simon's life... and yes Jace was being all tormented and emo (he had a pretty good reason though so I'll let it slide).  There were some new interesting characters who came into the book that really sparked my interest.

Overall, I wish this book had focused on new characters.  We could have been introduced to a different group of Shadowhunters or Cassandra Clare could have left Jace and Clary out of it.  I guess that wouldn't have solved the problems with the rest of the characters, but if there had been more focus on them they would have stayed truer to the original three books.  I am still looking forward to "Clockwork Prince", but I don't think I will be in a rush to read "City of Lost Souls".

Review of "Clockwork Angel"

"Clockwork Angel"
by Cassandra Clare


6

Pub. Date: August 31st, 2010
Pages: 479

Synopsis: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Another hit for Cassandra Clare! I could not wait until this book came out; I LOVED "The Mortal Instruments Series". I was not disappointed and am glad I spent long nights reading this book. If not for the fact that I apparently need at least 7 hours of sleep every night, I would have read this book in 1 day if I could have! I had serious problems putting this book down and I hated going to work because I couldn't read it. Okay... that is probably enough gushing.

I really loved that this book was set in the past because I for some reason find it interesting reading about women struggling to find their role in a society where they are thought to be lesser beings. Women during this time period were just supposed to look pretty, be good wives, and bare children, but of course the women in "Clockwork Angel" did not follow society’s strict structure. I love how Charlotte was in charge of the institute and her husband Henry spent his time coming up with inventions. Even Tessa strayed from society's expectations by spending time in the company of men and risking her life to save her brother. How can you not fall for these strong female characters?

Oh yeah... the whole demon fighting and romance was pretty fantastic as well. This book had a lot of action and danger seemed everywhere. It was really interesting to see demon fighting back in the Victorian Age. This book fits nicely into the Steampunk genre through the robots that terrorize the characters (if you haven't read any Steampunk and you like historical and sci-fi then you MUST get into the Steampunk genre). There is also the whole mystery of what Tessa really is: human, demon, or warlock?! The end had a great twist that I did not see coming, in multiple layers too!

One thing that was killing me throughout "Clockwork Angel" was Will's attitude. Even after finishing the book I am on pins and needles for the next book because I want to know what his story is. I guess I am just a sucker for mysterious guys, but I can't help it and Clare does a fantastic job at creating these mysterious characters. At the same time, I think Jem is absolutely adorable and am curious about him as well. I like how he is a bit bashful and has honorable intentions. He and Will seem like such polar opposites, but they are able to be best friends. I can't help but wonder if they're friendship will stay as strong throughout the rest of the book.

I don't think I can say it enough; "Clockwork Angel" was amazing! I can't wait to see what the rest of the books in "The Infernal Devices" series have in store. Sorry if this review was a little all over the place and maybe a bit fan girlish, but the book was really that wonderful. Fans of paranormal, fantasy, action, and romance will love this series. I know the books are long, but they really worth it.

"City of Glass" is a Fantastic Conclusion

"City of Glass"
By Cassandra Clare


6

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters — never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and her best friend, Simon, has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City — whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling The Mortal Instruments.

After reading "City of Ashes" I didn't think the series could get any better, but I honestly loved "City of Glass" even more. Even though I was able to predict a lot of the outcomes in the book overall, I still enjoyed every second of reading. I loved the addition of Sebastian to the story and thought Clare pulled off the characters perfectly (this may sound weird if you haven't read the books, but if I say anymore it will give too much away). I really enjoyed how we got a better understanding of the Clave in this final book. I could see why Valentine had such hatred for them, even though I did not agree with his ideals. All the details that Clare added to this final book wrapped up all the details in the first two books in a seamless manner. I got the sense that Clare took her time when developing this series and took the time to connect all the dots.

"The Mortal Instruments" books are a must read for anyone who enjoys the supernatural, adventures, vampires, werewolves, or is just looking for a new series. I have seen adults who enjoy these books just as much as teens, which I think this is a true compliment. If it crosses a generation gap then it is something that can be relatable and appreciated by a wide variety of people. The hardcover box set of the series is coming out October 27 and is definitely worth the price. I saved up to buy all three in hardcover and I am glad I spent the money!

Consumed by "City of Ashes"

"City of Ashes"
By Cassandra Clare


6

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

Even though I thought the first book in this series was great, I enjoyed this book even more. I'm not sure if I found the first book a little slow, but I could not stop reading "City of Ashes". By the end of the book I was so invested in the Clary and Jace relationship that I had to take a break between the third book because I was so frustrated at them. This only happens with me when I am completely in love with the characters (if this happens to anyone else, please let me know because I feel pretty silly about it). I don't think there was a single character in the book that I could have done without, they were all so richly developed. I wasn't a huge fan of Simon in "City of Bones", I thought he was a bit obnoxious, but he even won me over. There was a lot of internal struggle in many of the characters in this book and Clare was able to bring them to the front of the story without slowing down the plot at all.

This is a book that should go in your must read pile. Check out the series at the website here. You can find an excerpt from "City of Ashes" here and more about upcoming books by the author. A prequel series is in the works!

Stunned by "City of Bones"

"The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"
by Cassandra Clare


5

Synopsis: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

"City of Bones" is a wonderful book that delves into the depth of the supernatural world. The first installment of this series opened up a gateway for a world with demons and supernatural beings that I would have never imagined. Cassandra Clare did a wonderful job creating an alternative reality behind the one we see everyday. This book may have been violent, but it was not excessive and fit well with the content of the book. Clare managed to create an action packed book that still took the time to develop characters without detracting from the pace.

"City of Bones" is a very dense book with a lot of description, which makes it a book that I will want to reread in the future to see if there were hints to the plot that I missed on my first time through. I loved the book so much that I couldn't help but immediately start the next book in the series. "The Mortal Instruments" book series has a wonderful website that you can to by clicking here. There excerpts from the books you can read as well as information about Clare's upcoming projects. My favorite part of the website is the "deleted scenes" where you can find the original prologue for "City of Bones".