Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Review: City of Fallen Angels

Title: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Cover Designer: Russell Gordon
Age Audience: YA
Genre: Paranormal
Summary: A mysterious someone is killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can—training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon—the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side—can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My Review:

City of Fallen Angels
is one of those books that are difficult to write a spoiler-free review of. But I’ll do my best.

So I’ll admit it: when City of Fallen Angels was announced, I was a little wary since the story was wrapped up so nicely in City of Glass. It’s not that I didn’t want more books, but quantity is not quality. However, once I started reading I wanted to slap myself for doubting.

Since the story was set a few weeks after City of Glass, there are a few recaps here and there, but it isn’t overdone. Actually, the recaps helped because it’s been months since I read City of Glass. Part of the book is told from Simon’s POV, so you get to see more of his character, as well as Isabelle’s and Maia’s. Clary has started training to become a Shadowhunter, but just because she and Jace can be together now, doesn’t mean it’s all happily-ever-after for them…and I’ll leave it at that since this review is spoiler-free.

Oh, and major kudos to Cassie Clare for the new villain. I almost expected something unoriginal like Valentine coming back, but the new villain was someone I really was not expecting (hint: they were mentioned in one of the three previous books).

Though, there was one thing that made me wonder. When Clary and Jace went to the Silent City, one of the Silent Brothers said that when a Shadowhunter is born, they are cast with protections from demon influence. But Clary wasn’t born in the Shadowhunter world, so is she protected…or not? I hope we’ll find out in the later books.

I know I’m one in a million here, but the ending upset me! I mean, I’m not especially attached to Jace, but that was such a cliffhanger! And we need to wait until May 2012 for City of Lost Souls…..ahhh!

But overall, City of Fallen Angels was satisfying and it's a must-read if you enjoyed the previous three books.

2 comments:

  1. Perfect review! I might have an idea of who the new villain will be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shelia: They don't actually make an appearance in any of the previous books, but they are mentioned.

    ReplyDelete

I read and appreciate every comment, so thank you in advance!

**This blog is an award-free zone.**