City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Oct 11, 2009 Heather rated it it was ok

Shelves: didn-t-finish

Sadly, I think I've lost my appetite for the MI series. They seem to have turned more goth and less magical. This book had a lot of similarities to Melissa De la Cruz. The Jace of COFA is not the Jace I remember, nor does the plot strike me as unique or fresh. Something is lacking from this series I once loved. ...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Sharon rated it liked it

Shelves: vamps, young-adult, fantasy-paranormal, shifters-weres, demons

3.5 stars

The 1st half of the book was a bit boring, and a little too "high-schooly" for my taste. But half way through, it stepped up and became a sick and twisted addition to the MI series! Jace, as always, is very noteworthy! ...more

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Feb 22, 2010 Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: must-read

Okay, brace yourself because this is going to be a long review...

I am a huge, and I mean HUGE Cassandra Clare fan and love every single thing about The Mortal Instruments. You can only imagine my excitement when City of Fallen Angels was finally released. In fact, I drove around all the local stores and local bookstores the day before, hoping that someone made a mistake and put it out early. No such luck.

Now on to my review...

Cassandra Clare has done it again. I was pulled right into the book an Okay, brace yourself because this is going to be a long review...

I am a huge, and I mean HUGE Cassandra Clare fan and love every single thing about The Mortal Instruments. You can only imagine my excitement when City of Fallen Angels was finally released. In fact, I drove around all the local stores and local bookstores the day before, hoping that someone made a mistake and put it out early. No such luck.

Now on to my review...

Cassandra Clare has done it again. I was pulled right into the book and it was almost like I was watching everything from the sidelines. Her way of writing is just wonderful. She had me at the edge of my seat holding my breath turning pages. In the first three books the story is told pretty much from Clary's point of view. In City of Fallen Angels, Cassandra switched it up a bit and let me tell you, I wish she would have done this with the first couple of books. It was so nice finally getting inside the heads of the other characters. I am a big fan of Magnus and Alec, so getting to read about their emotions and struggles was just a plus for me. I love them as a couple and wish they would get their own series. Or at least a novella lol.

Anyway, Jace and Clary are finally together and every time they kissed or held each other I got tons of butterflies. They are more in love with each other than ever. I was a little upset with the ending of City of Glass because I felt that after everything that happened between Jace and Clary, the ending just didn't feel complete. So finally getting exactly what I envisioned for Jace and Clary made me very excited and fall in love with them all over again. It's pretty sad how in love I am with a fictional character LOL.

Now on to Simon...

Simon to me was the annoying little brother who no matter how many fights, or how many times you hurt each other, would always be there for you. I was very big on Simon, but I loved all the bickering back and forth between him and Jace. In City of Fallen Angels Simon's character definitely grows and he just isn't the same. He has matured a lot more and it sort of made me sad everything he went through all because of what he is and his mark. Feeling alone because of it and that he really can't trust anyone. He's a Vampire with a heart, that's what I say.

The relationship between Simon, Isabelle and Maia was hilarious. Simon was a little player without even trying to be. I really liked the way things worked out for all three of them though. In the end, everyone fell right into place where they were suppose to be.

City of Fallen Angels is yet another masterpiece by Cassandra Clare. You meet new characters and even get a taste of some of the characters from her Inferno Devices series. It does not lack action, suspense or mystery. And I don't think anyone can top Cassandra when it comes to twist and surprises. The last couple of chapters were a huge shock for me and I did not see the story heading in that direction at all. This has to be one of my all time favorite YA series! I cannot wait for the movie!

5 out of 5 Stars! ...more

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Jul 28, 2010 Pixie/PageTurners Blog(Amber) C. rated it really liked it

Review to come...

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Aug 28, 2009 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, mundie-moms-review, 2011-100-book-challenge

*SPOILER FREE*

There is something about Cassie's writing that lures me into each of her books and leaves me wanting more. I can't get enough of her fascinating, intriguing world building and her addicting characters. You know the characters whom you just can't seem to read enough about? City of Fallen Angels is full of pleasant and shocking twists and turns with some of my beloved characters, and with other previously mentioned TMI series characters. Cassie has a talent for making me invest so mu *SPOILER FREE*

There is something about Cassie's writing that lures me into each of her books and leaves me wanting more. I can't get enough of her fascinating, intriguing world building and her addicting characters. You know the characters whom you just can't seem to read enough about? City of Fallen Angels is full of pleasant and shocking twists and turns with some of my beloved characters, and with other previously mentioned TMI series characters. Cassie has a talent for making me invest so much of myself emotional with her characters. One moment I'm sighing over a scene between Jace and Clary or Magnus and Alec and the next I'm either fuming over something a character did or on the verge of tears at one of her gut wrenching scenes, and then laughing out loud at the next scene from Jace or Simon's snarky lines.

What I love about Cassie's writing is she isn't afraid to make her characters suffer and in the process she leaves me feeling emotional vulnerable as I feel a connection to her characters. I've not read a series that has a such a large cast of characters were each one adds something unique to the story and each one is a character I've come to enjoy and care about, well for the most part as there's a few I'd like to go all shadowhunter on. Like the other books in the TMI series, City of Fallen Angels picks up not long after City of Glass ends. Cassie is able to refresh our memories of what happened at the end of City of Glass in a manner that doesn't feel like it's a huge summary of what happened, but just enough to see through the eyes of Jace, Clary and Simon how they were effected and why they're feeling the way they are. I loved that the story has a lot of Simon's point of view. Simon to me is a character who's grown a lot since the start of the series. Some of my favorite scenes of his are the fabulous snarky lines he and Jace say to one another.

I really can't get enough of her characters and her stories. She adds just the right amount of romance (oh yes there's a few sizzling scenes with Jace and Clary), action, anguish, settle humor, character growth and plot twists that keep me completely engaged with her book, but at the same time leaving me wanting so much more at the end. Cassie blurs the lines of paranormal and reality perfectly. Her words come alive and make me feel like I'm here, apart of her world. Cassie is a phenomenal writer and is someone who makes me think as she takes me along for an enjoyable ride and always leaves me wanting more.... one more kiss between Jace and Clary, one more page of her story, one more scene so the book doesn't have to end.

City of Fallen Angels is a fabulous edition to the TMI series. It's an exciting, enticing read that will suck you right back into her dark, twisted, dangerous shadowhunter world. City of Fallen Angels is definitely the darkest of the series so far, and now I am anxiously waiting to find out what happens next in COLS. That ending.... UGH! It's brilliant. I definitely recommend picking up this book today! It's a must have to for all TMI fans. ...more

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Nov 15, 2009 Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, ya, paranormal, urban-fantasy

This review will likely contain some spoilers so don't read it if you don't want to know about it.

First I want to say that I loved the first three books, and they truly ended in a good place for me. I didn't feel the need for more books. With the coming of the prequel series, life would be good. I know that in order to keep a series going you must have conflict or you won't be able to keep the books interesting. I knew from what I had read from Clare that she would not be shy about having confl This review will likely contain some spoilers so don't read it if you don't want to know about it.

First I want to say that I loved the first three books, and they truly ended in a good place for me. I didn't feel the need for more books. With the coming of the prequel series, life would be good. I know that in order to keep a series going you must have conflict or you won't be able to keep the books interesting. I knew from what I had read from Clare that she would not be shy about having conflict and she recognizes that there will be consequences to the actions created in City of Glass. That had me worried. I prefer to think that my favorite characters are all off fine and doing whatever they do when not on a book page.

*sigh* but no Clare decided to move forward with a few more books and I felt compelled to read it. I did start it on audiobook initially in April when it was released. It wasn't working for me. I got to about chapter 5 and just stopped. I think I didn't really want to know what happened. I put it aside knowing that I would be returning to it at some point when I was in the right place. The right space came after reading Clockwork Prince. I guess being back in the world of Shadowhunters got me in a place to start the book again.

I was doing fine with the story from chapters 1-17. For such a long book - I have to keep reminding myself that the book took place in a week time-frame. And though I expected some kind of showdown toward the end - I didn't want it to happen on some level. I hate when characters I liked have to go through hard things. At this point, I had to put the book down for a couple of days (And for those who felt the triangle thing with Simon/Maia/Isabelle went on too long - seriously - the book takes place in about a span of a week - the triangle was on for 4 or 5 days if that?) And that ending...I got to the last page and I was like "seriously?"

So general thoughts -
Loved the snark between Simon & Jace
I actually like Kyle
Too little of Magnus (I will take a book on just Magnus and Alec)
Jace does conflicted way better than Alec
Like the background info on Isabelle
I want more information on the other Shadowhunters in NY - where do they live, etc.
I feel like we get this build up with the Seelie Court Queen and I thought there would be something with her towards the end - guess in the next book?!
So many questions popped up - I need answers...glad I only have to wait till May (benefit of waiting nearly a year to read the book (next one is almost out)

And I have gone on too long. If you are a fan of the series...just read it. ...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Megan (magan bagan) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal

In this fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, we get a lot more background and insight to our beloved characters while following them on an even more dangerous journey. Cassandra Clare's world of Shadowhunters and Downworlder's is in for a bumpy ride.

We first follow Simon, who not only is a vampire that can walk in the daylight, but also can't be harmed by anyone. He finds himself dating two different girls and being pursued by other vampires and downworlders alike. But all he wan In this fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, we get a lot more background and insight to our beloved characters while following them on an even more dangerous journey. Cassandra Clare's world of Shadowhunters and Downworlder's is in for a bumpy ride.

We first follow Simon, who not only is a vampire that can walk in the daylight, but also can't be harmed by anyone. He finds himself dating two different girls and being pursued by other vampires and downworlders alike. But all he wants is to have a normal life.

Clary begins her training to become a shadowhunter and helps her mom with her wedding to Luke. The only strange thing is that Jace pulls away from her and she doesn't know why. He battles his own inner demons while struggling with his love for Clary.

CoFA wasn't as action packed as the previous books in the series, but that didn't make it any less enthralling. Especially since we got to learn more about Simon and the struggles he has to deal with. I loved him as a secondary character in the beginning of the series, but Cassandra made him an even more likable character now. He has to face a new world as a vampire and figure out how to balance it.

And Jace and Clary, though they love each other, aren't out of the woods either. I've always loved his snarky attitude and quick comebacks, but we get to see a different side of him this time around. Sure he's still cocky when it comes to dealing with demons and the shadow world, but he's also more vulnerable this time around as he battles with his fears. Clary's confidence with facing demons and her power are also great to see.

We also get introduced to some new characters and a few that we met in Clockwork Angel, Cassandra's prequel series to The Mortal Instruments. So much takes place and yet there's even more that's still left to come. And one thing that you can be sure of is that there's never a shortage of twists and turns. The cliffhanger Cassandra ends this book with is brutal and has definitely ensured that I will be coming back for the remaining books in The Mortal Instruments series. ...more

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Sep 09, 2009 Brandi rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 06, 2009 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2011

Loved having more Simon in the installment of the series. Clary and Jace began to annoy me after a little while, so it was nice to have someone else to focus on and I enjoyed the development of his relationships with Maia, Izzy, and Jordan. I never realized how much he looked toward Luke as a father figure, so it was very touching to read their scenes together. And, what a cliffhanger!!! I also wonder if we will see Maureen again?

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