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Blurb:

(note: you should probably read the other three books before reading this one, and the blurb/review will contain SPOILERS)

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 not only use her unique power, but also to be a Shadowhunter, her mother is getting married, Downworlders and Shadowhunters are finally at peace, and - most importantly - she can finally say Jace is her boyfriend.

However, in Clary's world, this all simply must come at a price.

Someone is out there murdering Shadowhunters, intentionally creating tension between the Shadowhunters and Downworlders once again. They are so divided, that there is fear that this could lead to a second war. It seems that it is up to Clary once again. Her best friend Simon can't help - his mother just found out he's a vampire...and now he's homeless. On top of this, Jace is beginning to pull away without explaining why. Now, Clary must alone, delve into the heart of the mystery, and the solution is her worst nightmare. She herself has set off a chain of events that inevitably will lead to her losing everything she wants. Including Jace.

Review:

Every one of Cassandra Clare's books have always been enthralling, and reading this was no exception. Cassandra has this brilliant way of writing where she describes every aspect of every situation, helping to paint an image in your head. She has intricately developed the main characters over time, and in this novel, you can't help but realise that you have almost 'grown up' with them, as they have begun to mature as people. 

I sometimes get annoyed when characters seem two-dimensional, as I believe they deserve to be brought to life, instead of just being ink on a page. Cassandra's writing style really does satisfy me because she has made these people seem so real. Yes, they are Shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and fairies, but they have such contrastingly human characteristics, so at times I forgot that they were supernatural, because I could connect with them so easily. As geeky as it sounds, I feel like Clary and the gang are my friends, since I know them so well. I just cannot get enough of them.

The way she builds not only characters but the setting in which they are in, constantly leaves me wanting more. Her fascinating way of building tension is so thrilling, I sometimes feel like throwing my book across the room. City of Fallen Angels is full of exciting twists and turns and brings together some of the main protagonists, as well as other beloved characters. 

What I love most, is the fact that Cassandra doesn't have a problem with making her characters suffer, in order to attract the reader. However, I end up feeling their pain, and it while reading this book, I felt so emotionally vulnerable (in the best way possible!). This book has such a large cast, yet each member adds something unique to the overall flow of the novel. 

Luckily, this book picks up not long after City of Glass (book #3) ends. This means that Clary rejogged my memory, without actually having to give a long-winded summary. In this book, I was also able to see how The Mortal War affected the other main characters, especially Jace and Simon. I can never really choose a favourite, but I definitely think I have a special place in my heart for Simon, and it has been amazing to see this quirky character grow even more in City of Fallen Angels. Some of my favourite scenes were between Simon and Jace where there snarky remarks left me with tears of laughter!

In this book, Cassandra added just the right amount of romance (some of those sizzling moments between Clary and Jace left me breathless), humour, anguish, conflict, character growth, tension and plot twists, so I was completely hooked, since there was always something happening. I never felt bored. Cassandra so effortlessly blurred the lines between reality and the paranormal world, and I have been left wanting more. If you liked the other TMI books, you should definitely pick this one up!

Rating: 5/5

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-Tyra xx