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A review by scarlettereads
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
4.0
This was so, so, so much better after reading The Dark Artifices. And, of course, vastly more soul crushing. Add to that knowing what happens in the first two instalments of The Last Hours and the entire epilogue made me a teary mess. In saying that, I cried for the majority of this book.
When I first read it years ago, I was not a fan. The last three books of the TMI series just didn’t live up to the original ‘trilogy’, but knowing what I know now, it was far more enjoyable. And, again, capable of wreaking absolute havoc on my very fragile heart. Rude, to be completely honest.
I remember that I cried when I first read COHF, because I am ultimately nothing if not an incredibly soft bean. Especially when it came to the baby Blackstairs kids—my sweet summer children. But any mention of Livvy, Mark, or any of the Londoners, and I completely lost the plot. It was totally bittersweet, and I’m thankful for it.
I honestly never thought I’d read this book again after my initial sitting, but I’m beyond glad that I did. I don’t think I’ll read it again any time soon, because it was emotionally draining. Yet, I reread Clockwork Princess, Queen of Air and Darkness, and The Lost Hours regularly. So who’s to say when I clearly don’t value my emotional well-being enough to say no. In saying that, when the LitJoy box set of annotated books arrives, I’ll be reading through those notes and, with that, probably half of the series anyway. So I really can’t be trusted to weigh in on that judgement call at all. Who knows what will happen! Not me. Not yet.
All in all, this was just so much better now that we have two more additional series in The Shadowhunter Chronicles, and it made me really appreciate the original New York gang in a new light. I thought I’d mostly outgrown those characters, since I started reading these books well over a decade ago, but there’s just something about the characters that got you through your formative years. They never truly leave you.
When two simple words—‘begin again’—are enough to absolutely break you, you really can’t deny the impact of a story like this one. Cassandra Clare is a literary cornerstone of my heart. Whether she builds it or breaks it, it’s a lifetime commitment. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
4 out of 5 stars because the series is, sadly and also happily, outdone by the London and Los Angeles instalments. My apologies to Jace Herondale—you’re just not the most iconic member of the family anymore!
When I first read it years ago, I was not a fan. The last three books of the TMI series just didn’t live up to the original ‘trilogy’, but knowing what I know now, it was far more enjoyable. And, again, capable of wreaking absolute havoc on my very fragile heart. Rude, to be completely honest.
I remember that I cried when I first read COHF, because I am ultimately nothing if not an incredibly soft bean. Especially when it came to the baby Blackstairs kids—my sweet summer children. But any mention of Livvy, Mark, or any of the Londoners, and I completely lost the plot. It was totally bittersweet, and I’m thankful for it.
I honestly never thought I’d read this book again after my initial sitting, but I’m beyond glad that I did. I don’t think I’ll read it again any time soon, because it was emotionally draining. Yet, I reread Clockwork Princess, Queen of Air and Darkness, and The Lost Hours regularly. So who’s to say when I clearly don’t value my emotional well-being enough to say no. In saying that, when the LitJoy box set of annotated books arrives, I’ll be reading through those notes and, with that, probably half of the series anyway. So I really can’t be trusted to weigh in on that judgement call at all. Who knows what will happen! Not me. Not yet.
All in all, this was just so much better now that we have two more additional series in The Shadowhunter Chronicles, and it made me really appreciate the original New York gang in a new light. I thought I’d mostly outgrown those characters, since I started reading these books well over a decade ago, but there’s just something about the characters that got you through your formative years. They never truly leave you.
When two simple words—‘begin again’—are enough to absolutely break you, you really can’t deny the impact of a story like this one. Cassandra Clare is a literary cornerstone of my heart. Whether she builds it or breaks it, it’s a lifetime commitment. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
4 out of 5 stars because the series is, sadly and also happily, outdone by the London and Los Angeles instalments. My apologies to Jace Herondale—you’re just not the most iconic member of the family anymore!