City of Fallen Angels [Paperback]

 

 

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Written without spoilers.
With the Mortal Instruments trilogy all wrapped up Clare decides to expand the series and bring back all our favourite characters. I was originally hesitant, I enjoyed all of the first books but wasn't sure what else she could possibly to bring to the table. Was I disappointed? No, but I do have a bone to pick with Clare.

Clare's books are books I enjoy to read and this installment was no different, however my main problem with it is there isn't a lot of pay off. There's no satisfaction when you reach the end. In a book that is part of a series I expect it to accomplish two things, it needs to have wide story arcs that expand across the whole series, but it also needs mini-episodes, arcs that are resolved in the book itself. Otherwise an installment doesn't feel like a book in its own right, but just a fragment of a larger work. That's what Fallen Angels felt like to me, it doesn't stand on its own.

Understandable maybe, after finishing City of Glass everything was wrapped up so neatly that Clare is now forced to open some more doors. And does she ever! There are a ton of loose ends and question marks all over almost every young characters life.

A final qualm, the main conflict which we find towards the end of the book, which really sets up the rest of the series felt recycled. I still think it will work, just I felt a little disappointment when I realized "Oh, this is how she's going with it".

An enjoyable read overall, I just wish we'd had at least a couple minor resolutions.

J'ai adoré ce 4e livre de la série. Je suis prise par l'histoire de Jace et Clary, j'ai hâte de lire la suite!

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels is the 4th instalment in Cassandra Clare's 'The Mortal Instruments YA series. Continuing the adventures of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec, Cassandra begins this story a few weeks after the demise of Clary's father and brother, Valentine and Sebastian, and the 3rd book -The City of Glass.

Clary Fray and Jace Herondale/Lightwood/Wayland are in love-fated to be together forever, but something continues to hold Jace back. Throughout this series, Jace has been plagued with self-doubt in regards to his ability to protect and defend those he loves, especially Clary. As Nephilium (children descended from the mating of humans and angels) the Shadowhunters seek out evil and protect the humans, but Jace has doubts. He is forever exposing Clary to a world of demons, vampires and fey-all of whom, want to know-the daughter of Valentine, one of the strongest ex-Shadowhunters known and a monster without equal. Clary is not without her own powers as she is capable of designing protective runes-one's that seem to hold much power over those who would otherwise try to injure or kill the Shadowhunters.

If you are a fan of the Mortal Instrument series, you are well aware of the continuing struggle between good and evil, love and hate, Clary and Jace. This novel begins with the disappearance of several one-time members of Valentine's 'Circle' and their bodies are turning up in different territories of New York. Werewolves, vampires, fey and Nephilium are all being blamed by each other for the ritual murders, but when the bodies of new-born babies, possessing demon-like features are discovered, the investigation is turned towards Valentine. These babies are eerily reminiscent of the experiments that Clary's father had performed on his own children-resulting in Clary's demonic-like brother Sebastian.

Clary's mother Jocelyn is about to marry Luke, the alpha-male for the local werewolf pack, but something isn't right. A visit from the Queen of the Fey warns Clary about her choices in love and life, and she is concerned when her beloved Jace begins to withdraw his affections and seems trapped in a world of angst and self-recrimination. When Clary's best friend Simon (a reluctant day-walking vampire) disappears from the pre-wedding party, she goes looking for her life-long pal. But Simon has a few problems of his own-he has been dating 2 supernatural beings-Isabelle Lightwood and Maia, the young female werewolf, from Luke's pack. Clary, presuming Simon has fallen victim to his dual life with the two women, goes hunting but finds herself trapped and threatened by love of her life, Jace. Waking up, Clary discovers she has been brought to a rooftop garden, in a building under construction and she is soon to be the pawn in a game of life and death.

An ancient vampiress and 'old' girlfriend of the Warlock-Magnus Bane has surfaced, and is looking to regain control of the vampires in New York. But when Camille is fingered in the deaths of the Shadowhunters and the babies, she is taken into custody, but not before, she tries to enlist Simon, in her plans to fight Raphael, the interim leader of the vampires. Camille's disappearance and the subsequent re-appearance of a more deadly, ancient threat, have the Shadowhunters on guard. But when the Demon-Lillith gains control over Jace, Clary becomes a weapon with which Lillith uses to manipulate both Simon and Jace in her game to resurrect Clary's brother, Sebastian. Simon's power as a day-walking vampire and Jace's connection to Sebastian through his resurrection in City of Glass, are the catalysts used to bring the former demon 'child, back to life.

Cassandra Clare's YA writing styles are similar to most YA authors. The teen angst between the major characters, as well as the, negligent parental guidance, is always a factor in writing these storylines. I like The Mortal Instrument series, but as many of you know, I am not a big fan of the 'whoa is me' --young adult stylings. It is enough that I lived through it in my teen years, as well as with my own children, but my anxiety level seems to skyrocket, when ever I read about the crushes and love-lives of these fantasy characters. I want to take every one of these young adults and put them in a room together for counseling. Sadly, if that were the case, there would be no need to continue any of these series. I am enjoying this series. I want to see these characters happy, but at the present, everyone is heading for depression. I look forward to Cassandra's next instalment in this series'.'City of Lost Souls' in May 2012 and 'City of Heavenly Fire' in September 2014'.if --I can hold out that long.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps it needs a new editor..
It didn't grab me as much as the others...though I still love the "story" and want to read the next two in line, I had a harder time reading this one because of how badly it was... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Jacquie Fraser

4.0 out of 5 stars well paced, great set up
I love this series. I love the fascinating world Clare creates, the characters, the story, the inner struggles. Read more

Published 8 months ago by danielle0516

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't go wrong with this series
** Contains Spoilers**

Before reading City of Fallen Angels I pretty much kept away from any spoilers, reviews and tweets (or at least tried to) so going into I didn't... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Jenny "Dreaming of Books"

4.0 out of 5 stars A fix for us Mortal Instruments addicts...
I really enjoyed this book and how it emphasized other characters besides Jace and Clary.

However, I found the constant drama in Jace and Clary's relationship tiring at... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Brenna

5.0 out of 5 stars I fall in love all over again!
I made sure I got my hands on this book the first day it came out. I of course had to re-read the 3-books before it again so when I dove into this one, it would be like I never... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Michelle

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!
Our merry gang of teenagers is now back in New York city after the crazy Idris events and are trying to go on with their lives. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Tynga's Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Ummmmm.... Speechless.
***Spoiler Free!***

When I first opened my package this afternoon and held the book in my hands my first thought was "It's so small! Read more

Published 13 months ago by Avery Greaves

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