City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book:  City of Fallen Angels

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Publication date:  April 5, 2011

My grade:  A+

 

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s 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. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

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. (picture and summary from goodreads.com)

MY REVIEW

Sublime.  That is exactly what this book was for me.  You know those books whose plot is so riveting that you can’t put it down?  The books where the characters feel like your own friends?  The books where the world has been so carefully crafted by the author that everything, I mean everything, falls into place and feels real?

That is City of Fallen Angels.

I am enthralled with the Shadowhunter world that Cassandra Clare has created.  I loved the first 3 books of this series and then fell in love with Clockwork Angel as well.  I wasn’t sure how she was going to continue this series, but wow!  Is it ever going to be good!

One thing that Cassandra is getting really good at doing is foreshadowing.  JK Rowling is the queen of that sort of thing, as far as I am concerned.  She would mention something in passing that would later become key to the story.  Well, it seems that Cassandra Clare is next in line for the throne on that one!  I also loved how the characters from the two different series are mixing together in this book.  That was just cool!

The story was action-packed.  There were mysteries and bad guys everywhere and lots of intrigue and plot twists and turns.  I have to say though, I could have used a little more Shadowhunter leather fighting gear.  No, scratch that.  Just Jace in leather fighting gear.

And Jace……::sighs dreamily::.  I think Jace just took Edward Cullen’s place as my fictional boyfriend.  I have two questions:  1)  How does she make Jace so swoon-worthy and 2) Who is he based on from real life and where can I find him?  But seriously, Jace is as dreamy as ever.  I think his appeal (and Edward’s) is that he is the ultimate bad boy who isn’t really a bad boy at all.

It was nice to see more of Simon in this book.  I have never really been a huge fan of Simon’s, but now I like him a lot more, especially since he’s not trying to get between Clary and Jace.  Another character that I really, really like after reading this book is Isabelle.  She rocked this book!

Just be forewarned:  this is one of those books that is going to grab you after the first few chapters and not let you go.  I found myself getting really aggravated that my 3 year old wanted to eat when I was trying to read about Jace and Clary visiting the Silent City and Simon killing bad guys with the Mark of Cain.  How dare toddlers want to eat!  (ok, I’m just kidding about that.  It is possible to read while making macaroni and cheese.  I should know.)

This book has everything you could ever want in a book:  a great plot, lots of action, fantastic characters, sword fights, romance, sexy leading men, strong women and tons of mystery and intrigue.  If you haven’t read the first 3 books, you need to read those first, but if you have read them, do yourself a favor and rush out to get this book.

And as a bonus, my Barnes and Noble copy had an extra letter included from Jace to Clary.  That was fun!  Not sure if that is still available, but it’s worth checking out.

This book is definitely an A+.  Of course, Cassandra Clare is sort of like the teacher’s pet.  I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.