Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book Description via Goodreads:

Hardcover, 424 pages

April 5, 2011, Margaret K. McElderry

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.

Source: Gifted by mom (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

I’ve read this for almost two weeks now but this is the only time that I was able to write a review. For the days after I read CoFA, the only thing that I could think of when I try to review this is one word: WOW. This is a more enthusiastic review, so please bear with me. So…now for my review:

I am in love with Cassandra Clare’s writing. It was simply beautiful, funny and breathtaking. I know some people were disappointed with this book but I was not. I think it was because I had no specific expectations. I just read for the sake of reading and continuing the story.

The relationships of the characters were given ample attention. Jace and Clary were having a bit of a ‘gap’ between but they had steamy, passionate moments together. Magnus and Alec’s relationship was great. I felt happy that Alec’s parents were able to accept his relationship with a warlock. I liked how I got to see into Maia’s past from another perspective. The characters had their own piece that fits into the whole story.

Simon finally plays a more important role. It was good to know about his daily experience and his feelings as a Daylighter. He was safe from everyone but at the same time, he was somewhat alienated from the vampire society because of his mark. The changes in his love life were amazing. Seeing their world through Simon’s eyes was a bit saddening. As someone who was once human, he missed the mundane things he used to be able to do such as eating and being able to enjoy it. The simple pleasures in his life were gone. I was glad to see Simon as an invincible character who had issues as both a Daylighter and a teenager. What was a bit unfair was that no matter how much Simon helped Shadowhunters, he would always be Other, an unwanted, a Downworlder among the defenders of humanity and of the Law. But as always, Simon’s sense of humour was one of the things that I love in TMI.

Clare’s writing still pulled me in as deep as the first three books of the series. The drama, the suspense and the action were enjoyable. Some of the things that happened were predictable but most of them were unexpected. There were moments when I was screaming ‘Noooooooooo!!’ at the characters, mostly at Clary, but of course, they couldn’t hear me and they got in trouble. There were mighty disturbing images in this novel, things that I would flinch at in real life, things that I would never ever want to see. It was so hideous that I found myself shocked, repulsed and worried for the characters. The fight scenes were well written. It was as if I was watching a movie in slow motion then it would speed up, I could see all the details. The ending was a killer! Be prepared, if you haven’t read it yet. Be prepared, that’s all I’m saying.

City of Fallen Angels excels in the action, romance and suspense department. Darker, sadder and more dangerous, this will leave readers begging for more. I recommend this to Clare’s fans and to urban fantasy readers!

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