novelheartbeat's review against another edition
4.0
From my blog Auntie Spinelli Reads
This review is a lot harder to write than the previous three. I will always love the world of the Shadowhunters, but in a way, I felt like this series would have been perfect if it could have just been left as a trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoyed CoFA. Although, I think I enjoyed it more the first time I read it. The second time through, it was much more obvious that there wasn't much of a plot going on. There was a lot more focus on teen angst and relationship drama than danger and action.
This is the one where Jace really starts to piss me off. If you read my review for City of Glass, you know that I wasn't too thrilled with him already, but he got even worse. Once you know what his problem is, it's easier to understand, but that still doesn't excuse his asshat tendencies. He acted so bipolar that I felt sorry for poor Clary. One minute he was kissing her like there's no tomorrow, the next he was running away from her - literally. Sigh. Make up your mind, will you?!
Even Simon ticked me off a bit because he acted like a player. What's wrong with you, Simon?! You were supposed to be the sweet gentleman!! Jerk. Being around Jace has rubbed off on you. And no, Jace, that's not a compliment.
I think there should have been a lot more focus on the murdered Clave members. It was kinda swept under the rug in the face of Clary and Jace's problems. It never really went into detail about it, and made it seem like it wasn't really that big of a deal. That should have been a much broader issue than it turned out to be.
The best part of this one was by far the ending. While the story was well written, there wasn't much happening. The end is where it all came together and you got to see the dark and evil plan. I thought throwing Lillith into the mix made for much more excitement! If there had been more building up to that part, it would have made for a much more gripping read.
And talk about a cliffhanger! Again, I already knew it was going to happen, so I felt a little loss of emotion there...but I remember the first time through staring with open mouth shock, mentally screaming, "NO, Jace!! Noooooooo!!!" The whole Mark thing and the protection ritual for new Shadowhunters was pretty awesome. Would have loved to see more of that!
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3/5
Writing style: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World-building: 5/5
Pace: 4/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Read in 2011, June 2012
This review is a lot harder to write than the previous three. I will always love the world of the Shadowhunters, but in a way, I felt like this series would have been perfect if it could have just been left as a trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I still thoroughly enjoyed CoFA. Although, I think I enjoyed it more the first time I read it. The second time through, it was much more obvious that there wasn't much of a plot going on. There was a lot more focus on teen angst and relationship drama than danger and action.
This is the one where Jace really starts to piss me off. If you read my review for City of Glass, you know that I wasn't too thrilled with him already, but he got even worse. Once you know what his problem is, it's easier to understand, but that still doesn't excuse his asshat tendencies. He acted so bipolar that I felt sorry for poor Clary. One minute he was kissing her like there's no tomorrow, the next he was running away from her - literally. Sigh. Make up your mind, will you?!
Even Simon ticked me off a bit because he acted like a player. What's wrong with you, Simon?! You were supposed to be the sweet gentleman!! Jerk. Being around Jace has rubbed off on you. And no, Jace, that's not a compliment.
I think there should have been a lot more focus on the murdered Clave members. It was kinda swept under the rug in the face of Clary and Jace's problems. It never really went into detail about it, and made it seem like it wasn't really that big of a deal. That should have been a much broader issue than it turned out to be.
The best part of this one was by far the ending. While the story was well written, there wasn't much happening. The end is where it all came together and you got to see the dark and evil plan. I thought throwing Lillith into the mix made for much more excitement! If there had been more building up to that part, it would have made for a much more gripping read.
And talk about a cliffhanger! Again, I already knew it was going to happen, so I felt a little loss of emotion there...but I remember the first time through staring with open mouth shock, mentally screaming, "NO, Jace!! Noooooooo!!!" The whole Mark thing and the protection ritual for new Shadowhunters was pretty awesome. Would have loved to see more of that!
ASSESSMENT
Plot: 3/5
Writing style: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World-building: 5/5
Pace: 4/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Read in 2011, June 2012
dkdahl's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
dorisxdw's review against another edition
5.0
I re-read this book to prepare myself for CoHF next month and I still love it as much as I did the first time. It was crazy to see how many details I forgot.
I've read TID after I finished TMI last year and didn't know the characters so I really loved it that Brother Zacharia was there and that Will and Tessa were mentioned :')
I've read TID after I finished TMI last year and didn't know the characters so I really loved it that Brother Zacharia was there and that Will and Tessa were mentioned :')
zombi's review against another edition
3.0
I get that like, Clary and Jace are awesome or whatever, but honestly I don't read these books for them at all. I read these for Alec and Magnus, because I love Alec and Magnus, and I wish there had been more Alec and Magnus in this book! That said, I enjoyed it.
lyrrael's review against another edition
4.0
Looks like while Valentine is dead, someone is plotting to continue his legacy. Clary and Jace are caught right in the cross-fire. I’m actually writing this review from the vantage point of mid-way through book 5, but this series is frustrating. I’m enjoying it -- a lot -- and the tension is high -- but it feels like the actual plot is subsumed by the romance sub-plot more often than not. And I mean, I’ve barely done *anything* but read this series since starting it last week. I don’t think I’m going to write separate reviews. But seriously -- Clary and Jace need to be cut a break at SOME point. Gah.
linbee83's review against another edition
3.0
Eh, I agree with those that say the series should have been left at a trilogy. It could have stayed that way and on its own been fine. This 4th book just seems to drag out the things we already pretty much assumed from the ending of the last book. I got bored quite a few times, and almost stopped listening, but the male narrator of this book...SO YUMMY. Take out the female, and all would be fine. She just couldn't keep up. I loved the original trilogy, and read this because I love the characters. But, I'm hoping the next one will be better. If not, I might just pretend books 4 - 6 don't exist.
goaskalix's review against another edition
5.0
Ugh. Where to start? Can I give this book seven stars? Becuase goodness...
I LOVED it. I was really apprehensive awaiting it's release because City of Glass was (and still is) one of my all-time favourite books and I didn't think anything following up to it would be able to do it justice and at the very least not ruin the entire series.
City of Fallen Angels definitely managed to live up to its predecessors. Wow. NOT as good as City of Glass (but I say this having a special attachment to the Jace-Clary relationship in City of Glass that clouds my judgment on anything else). I just plain adore CoFA though. Holy cow. I think I spent the majority of the last two-thirds of the book alternately venting out loud, gesticulating wildly and pulling on my hair. I'm sure it was dramatic to watch.
This book definitely, DEFINITELY ends on a cliff-hanger as huge in magnitude as the revelation in the first book of the "brother-sister" relationship between Clary and Jace. I am definitely NOT looking forward to a years wait to see what's going to happen to my favourite (yes, you read that right) male literary character ever. When the last sentence ended I think I growled in frustration. I need to know RIGHT NOW DAMMIT.
All that aside, this is a brilliant book. Cassandra Clare definitely didn't let me - at least - down with the latest in the Mortal Instruments series. I can't express enough how much I adore this book. Read it. Everyone.
Now.
Reread: May 2014 (it's almost oooover, waaaaah)
I LOVED it. I was really apprehensive awaiting it's release because City of Glass was (and still is) one of my all-time favourite books and I didn't think anything following up to it would be able to do it justice and at the very least not ruin the entire series.
City of Fallen Angels definitely managed to live up to its predecessors. Wow. NOT as good as City of Glass (but I say this having a special attachment to the Jace-Clary relationship in City of Glass that clouds my judgment on anything else). I just plain adore CoFA though. Holy cow. I think I spent the majority of the last two-thirds of the book alternately venting out loud, gesticulating wildly and pulling on my hair. I'm sure it was dramatic to watch.
This book definitely, DEFINITELY ends on a cliff-hanger as huge in magnitude as the revelation in the first book of the "brother-sister" relationship between Clary and Jace. I am definitely NOT looking forward to a years wait to see what's going to happen to my favourite (yes, you read that right) male literary character ever. When the last sentence ended I think I growled in frustration. I need to know RIGHT NOW DAMMIT.
All that aside, this is a brilliant book. Cassandra Clare definitely didn't let me - at least - down with the latest in the Mortal Instruments series. I can't express enough how much I adore this book. Read it. Everyone.
Now.
Reread: May 2014 (it's almost oooover, waaaaah)
looseeaah's review against another edition
LOVE THIS BOOK!! Can't wait for the next one!
pirateyoho's review against another edition
3.0
I am now officially over halfway through The Mortal Instruments. Hallelujah.