Hey there, fellow book nerds! Are you ready to dive into the thrilling world of City of Fallen Angels by the one and only Cassandra Clare? This book is the fourth installment in The Mortal Instruments series, and let us tell you, the adventure is far from over!

If you’ve been eagerly following Clary Fray’s journey through the shadowy realms of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, then you won’t want to miss what’s in store in City of Fallen Angels. This book picks up right where we left off, with Clary and her friends facing new challenges and dangers that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

For once, things seem calm and normal. Clary Fray is back in New York City, feeling like the world is her oyster. She’s training to become a full-fledged Shadowhunter, her mom is getting hitched to the love of her life, and she’s finally official with her swoon-worthy boyfriend, Jace. Sounds like everything’s coming up roses, right? Wrong.

Because, as we all know, life in the Shadowhunter world is never a walk in the park. Just when you think you’ve caught a break, BAM! Trouble comes knocking, and it’s usually wearing demon horns.

As they say, peace is fragile, and danger is always lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, Shadowhunters start dropping like flies, their deaths sending shockwaves through the already fragile peace. Tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters skyrocket, threatening to plunge the entire supernatural world into chaos once again.

Who’s stuck right in the middle of this powder keg of trouble? You guessed it—Clary. Our girl just can’t catch a break! With every step she takes to unravel the mystery behind the Shadowhunter murders, she finds herself deeper and deeper in the thick of it, grappling with enemies on all sides and secrets that could tear her world apart.

But wait, there’s more to add to Clary’s plate of woes! As if dealing with the escalating tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters wasn’t enough, her bestie, Simon, finds himself in a real bind. Simon’s vampire secret gets out, and let’s just say it’s not exactly greeted with open arms. Suddenly, he’s left without a place to call home, vulnerable and exposed in a world that’s becoming increasingly hostile towards him.

If that’s not enough to send Clary’s stress levels through the roof, there’s also the matter of her relationship with Jace. Clary and Jace are supposed to be in the honeymoon phase of their romance, reveling in the joy of finally being together. Instead, Jace starts acting all distant and aloof, leaving Clary scratching her head in confusion. What gives, Jace?

The worst part? Jace doesn’t offer a single word of explanation for his sudden change in behavior, leaving Clary feeling like she’s been sucker-punched in the gut. She’s left reeling, desperately searching for answers in a sea of uncertainty. Did she do something wrong? Is there something Jace isn’t telling her? The questions swirl around in her mind, tormenting her with their unanswered weight.

As Clary delves deeper into everything going on around her, she uncovers a chilling truth: she’s unwittingly set in motion a chain of events that could cost her everything she holds dear. Including Jace. Talk about a gut punch.

With stakes higher than ever before, City of Fallen Angels is a heart-stopping rollercoaster ride of action, romance, and betrayal that will leave you breathless until the very last page. So, grab your gear and get ready to join Clary on her most dangerous adventure yet. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it!

Does City of Fallen Angels get our stamp of approval?

Engaging Plot: Does the book have a compelling storyline that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end? Just like the book prior in the series, we couldn’t stop reading once we started. The series is getting closer to an end, and there is still so much to be discovered. 

Well-Developed Characters: Are the characters multidimensional, with realistic motivations, flaws, and growth throughout the story? If you don’t think about how old the characters are, it’s easy to be swayed by how strong they are. With emotional depth beyond that of most people we know, the characters that Cassandra Clare created strike a different chord. 

Strong Writing: Is the prose well-crafted, with vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and a consistent narrative voice? The writing just keeps getting better as we get sucked into the story more.  

Emotional Impact: Does the book evoke a range of emotions in readers, from laughter and joy to sadness and empathy? The emotions are rich and multi-faceted. Sometimes it feels as though we might explode if we don’t keep reading because we need to know more to get our own emotions under control (which sometimes takes reading over 50 pages). Other times, however, we had to take short breaks to cry it out. 

Originality: Does the book bring something fresh and unique to its genre or subject matter, avoiding clichés and predictable plot twists? This book, and subsequently this series, is set up to be extremely unique. There isn’t much else out there quite like this. Cassandra Clare did a great job executing her vision. 

Pacing: Is the pacing of the story appropriate, with a good balance of action, exposition, and character development? We can’t think of a single flaw regarding the pacing – we were hooked the entire time.

World-Building: Does the book create a richly imagined world that feels immersive and believable? If we could move to the world this took place in, we would. Well, with a growing list of conditions. 

Theme and Message: Does the book explore meaningful themes and deliver a message that resonates with readers? The same themes and messages are present, but they keep becoming increasingly complex. Who ever would have thought how complicated teenagers could be?

Resolution: Does the book provide a satisfying resolution to its central conflicts and story arcs? 

It’s a good thing the fifth book is already released. We would have gone crazy waiting otherwise. 

Overall Enjoyment: Most importantly, did we enjoy the book? Absolutely. We will be reading it again, and bet it’s one you’ll read several times too. 

Have you read City of Fallen Angels yet? 

If you’ve read City of Fallen Angels, what did you think of it? If you haven’t read it yet, are you going to?