City of Fallen Angels

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 become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

*May Contain Spoilers*

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Newton taught us that and the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders is not to be omitted. Cassandra Clare shares the consequences of upsetting the balance between light and dark in her fourth novel of the Mortal Instruments series, City of Fallen Angels.

Though Clary and Jace are the main characters of the series, this book focuses heavily on Simon Lewis, the vampire and Daylighter who bears the Mark of Cain. Simon is a troubled vampire who struggles to give up the life he knew as a human. He's protective, wonderfully sarcastic, and increasingly reliable. Coupled with the fact that no one can harm him without it returning on the attacker sevenfold, vampires and demons want him on their side, willing to use force if necessary. Simon has been a strong character, an even stronger influence on Clary, throughout the entire series. Readers will definitely enjoy the deeper look into this character that Clare offers. 

The novel begins with several story lines, all seemingly unconnected. Jace is having dreams in which he kills Clary. Clary and her mother, Jocelyn, are caught up in a mystery of dying newborn humans while she and Luke are planning their wedding. Meanwhile Alec is off traveling the world with Magnus and Simon is having trouble dating both Isabelle and Maia. To make things even more difficult, someone is, repeatedly, trying to kill Simon. Cleverly, Clare manages to connect all of the plot lines into one meticulously planned web which involves one of the oldest and Greatest Demons. If only Clary hadn't upset the balance by bringing Jace back from death in City of Glass...

All bets are off in City of Fallen Angels, as the lives of the shadowhunting crew are put on the line facing down a demon more powerful than Valentine ever was. Though even at the end, the story isn't over, setting up the next installment perfectly. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups