City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Good Reads Description:

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.

Thoughts...

OMG. I just finished City of Fallen Angels about 35 seconds ago.  It was fantastic! I mentioned in my review of the last book in the series, City of Glass, that I was a bit skeptical about continuing the series after the first trilogy.  My worries were NOT warranted.  Wonderful!

At first, I wasn't too sure if I was going to enjoy this book. Simon has a much bigger role in the book than in the previous three. And I like Simon and all, but I didn't have a huge attachment to him and wasn't interested...AT FIRST.  After probably the first chapter, I was hooked again. Oh Simon, the trouble that you find.... I couldn't have expected any of it. Very entertaining.  Come on, Maia and Isabelle? Lillith and Camille? The list goes on....

This book did take a different turn that was expected though. I think I was naive enough to think it would hearts and roses for Clary and Jace. Hah, WRONG!  Easy must be boring...and this book is NEVER boring.  Their drama kept me on the edge of my seat.  I wanted to SLAP Jace several times.  Has he never heard of the word communication? Some things would be resolved so much easier if he would just talk to Clary and let her in on what he is dealing with. And then when it finally does come, ah, sweet relief...except NO...chaos ensues.

Oh, the ending, WTF! I didn't see that coming (this is becoming a trend in these books!). "We are one now." ????  Please tell me that it isn't true. PLEASE! This could be bad or this could be horrible! I need to know which like now, but I have to wait until we are gifted with the fifth book to the series, City of Lost Souls. Which by the way, has a somewhat foreboding title considering the ending of this book. Oh No, I can't wait until May 2012!

So, what do you think? Have you read it yet? If not, definitely add this to you to-read shelf over at Good Reads.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Good Reads Description:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments

Thoughts...

So, I just finished City of Glass…this one only took me a little longer than the others because of real life. I do have a normal full time job (booo). However, this one was just as good as the first two books were.  LOVE IT. 

All of the loose ends were tied up and I feel like we got our happily ever after in this book. This book kept me on my toes!  I had an idea of what would happen, but I had NO idea on how it was going to happen. There were some great plot twists (Sebastian!!!). I found myself crying, laughing, and gasping in several parts of the books. It honestly made me laugh at myself when I realized I had a huge tear running down my check.  I was totally immersed in this book.  I can’t say enough wonderful things about it.  Just go out and pick up this series, it is definitely worth it!

Now, I am a little bit concerned with the fact that there is a fourth book (and soon to be fifth and sixth). Don’t get me wrong, I am starting the fourth book, City of Fallen Angels, this afternoon. But, the ending to this trilogy was perfect. Just perfect! I can’t think of anything that I would have liked to happen any differently. So now we are continuing the story and I just don’t want to ruin a good thing.  But, I must have faith in the author, Cassandra Clare. She wrote a wonderful series so far so I will keep on going. Can’t wait to read the next one….

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Good Reads Description

As readers of series starter City of Bones already know, teenager Clary Fray is a Shadowhunter, a demon slayer who has the gift (?) of spotting Downworlder werewolves, vampires, and faeries. She is also an adolescent in an abnormally dysfunctional family: Her mom is in a magically induced coma and her father is probably insane and undoubtedly evil. All of which places Clary in situations that would challenge even the most talented average American girl.

Thoughts...

Well. I am writing this review less than 12 hours after I finished the first book in the series. SO...that should tell you something. No headaches after this one. For some reason, this one was easier for me to follow. I didn't feel like there was just too much being thrown at me as much; maybe I am just used to the writing style now. Whatever the case, I loved this book as well. 

As with the last, this book is packed with suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next. Many times, I was gasping because I never imagined that what happened, actually happened!  Another thing that adds to the suspense is the points of view. You are constantly bounced around. It actually pissed me off several times (lol). We get to an angsty part with Clary and dot dot dot. We are now following Jace and then dot dot dot. You get the picture.. We were left hanging constantly.

This is so hard for me to review without giving any spoilers because the second book is just building off of the first. There is still a love story present even if it isn't the love story that you wish it could be.  There is tons of action and suspense. I definitely recommend this book as well. I do dare say that I liked this one better than the first. Like I said, it seemed SO much EASIER for me to get into this one because the foundation was already provided.  I am definitley hooked...I can't write any more now. I am starting the 3rd book NOW! :o)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Good Reads Description:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Thoughts?

OK, I have not planned this review out or even really had time to let everything sink in as I have literally finished this book 4 minutes ago. I just felt that I needed to review this book RIGHT NOW because I have so many things swirling around in my head.

This book honestly gave me a headache! No kidding, as I sit hear typing I have a massive headache! I really did like this book though. It felt like it took a bit for me to really get it to it, but once I did, I didn't put it down. The beginning was a bit slow for me and at times, I thought "this it it, this is where it is going to get good", but then the plot would slow down again. It definitely kept me guessing, but it did finally pick up, hence the headache.

So much happens that when I look back on the book it seems like ages ago that the beginning events even occurred to Clary. Sometimes, things felt a little too rushed. We were introduced to SO many creatures that I still can't wrap my head around it.  This book is filled with angst.  Towards the end of the book, I couldn't put the book down and could NOT believe what I was reading. I won't go into detail on that because it is a major spoiler, but I still don't want to believe it.  I am hoping that it will be proven otherwise in the next book because it is just plain wrong! (If you have read this book, you know exactly what I am referring to right now. And if that is the case, let's talk because I have all sorts of feelings on this subject! It's just wrong, I say!)

All in all, I recommend this book. It has a fresh plot, great characters, and an interesting love story (?). Put it this way, I just finished it and I already have the 2nd book in the series loading onto my reader!

Enjoy!

**To those who have read, seriously, what did you think about the CRAZY plot twist she through in at the end?**