City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments #6)

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

*May Contain Spoilers*

Let me begin by saying, that I am saddened that this is the final book in The Mortal Instruments series. However, there are more Shadowhunter novels being penned and printed for future enjoyment. So that makes it better. Now, I waited quite a while to get to this point and I must say that I thoroughly loved this final book. Cassandra Clare gives readers hope for their favorite Shadowhunters as they attempt to defeat Sebastian in the Dark War, with no idea how to stop him, in City of Heavenly Fire.

The novel opens with Sebastian turning Shadowhunters into members of his Endarkened Army with the Infernal Cup. Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn (along with siblings) escape and warn the Clave. This introduces the future main characters of The Dark Artifices series. 

Sebastian wants Clary to rule by his side and he'll burn down the entire world with his stolen army to make it happen. As the Clave tries to determine how they can defeat an enemy that cannot die by the hand of any weapon forged under heaven, Sebastian murders his was to Alicante. And then his allies kidnap all of the Downworlder representatives: Magnus, Luke, Jocelyn, Raphael, and Meliorn. However, Sebastian offers a misshapen form of mercy to the Clave. If they turn over Clary and Jace, then everything ends. And of course, with a little insider information, the gang decides to take matters into their own hands and travel to the demon world where they believe Sebastian is hiding. 

The relationships between readers and these characters have been tested and built over the years of the series. Clary has only become braver and more courageous as the books continue. Jace has become more loving, more open, and much more stubborn. Alec and Isabelle both blossomed into likeable characters. And Simon, my favorite character, turned into a hero. When the fate of the world is hanging in the balance, these rowdy yet reliable Shadowhunters are the only ones clever and gutsy enough to attempt to win. With consequences of course. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

             
     

City of Lost Souls

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

*May Contain Spoilers*

The world isn't safe from Valentine's legacy as his son, Jonathan, carries on the evil instilled within him from infancy in The City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. As Jonathan begins carrying out his own plan to destroy Shadowhunters, Clary must figure out how to stop him. Though it isn't easy when Jonathan and Jace are connected. When the fourth book ended, Lilith had just perfomed a ceremony to link the two boys. Now, one cannot be cut without the other bleeding. 

With Jace in trouble, Clary, Simon, Alec, Magnus, and Isabelle are determined to find a way to sever the link between him and Jonathan. Clare does a fantastic job balancing all of the characters, giving readers an in-depth look at each of them. Clary is more reckless than ever, sacrificing her safety by pretending to align with her evil brother, defining her loyalty and love for Jace. Simon, once again, stands out by demonstrating his courage and bravery when he calls upon the Angel Raziel to ask for help in saving Jace. 

Alec, the play-by-the-book boy, surprises readers with his dark intentions where Magnus is concerned. Readers get to see a new side of Alec, a side where all options are considered when it comes to love and immortality. Though, his uncertainty and unsure nature are still the foundation for his connection with readers. More about Magnus is revealed in this Mortal Instruments installment but it seems with answers, more questions appear. Wondering if the parental history of Magnus will play a part in the final book. 

Isabelle has always been a favorite character of mine in this series. She's a tough, no nonsense Shadowhunter who never backs down from a demon fight. Throughout the entire series, Isabelle has slowly opened up and shown her friendly side. This book is no exception. Readers get an even deeper look into Isabelle as she finally fesses up to her feelings for Simon, letting her hopes and fears be known. 

The plot of The City of Lost Souls begins with the search for Jace and Jonathan (aka Sebastian). When the possessed Jace comes back for Clary, she sees that this is her chance to uncover Jonathan's plans and save Jace in the process. While she's doing the undercover work, Simon, Alec, Isabelle, and Magnus search for a way to separate Jace and Jonathan so that they can kill Jonathan for good and save the Shadowhunting world. Though the story line is very similar to the fourth book (Jace possessed and the group trying to save him) and the first three books (evil Valentine family member trying to destroy the earth), I wasn't disappointed. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (96)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)
   - Cassandra Clare

"I, for one," Simon went on, "am enjoying myself immensely."
This seemed unlikely.