City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
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!(from GoodReads)

Review:
I finally finished this book! It's been sitting on my nightstand since the beginning of summer, with only about a hundred pages left. Oops. I guess that's sort of an indication of how I felt about City of Heavenly Fire: I could take it or leave it.

Honestly, and I hate to say this because I really do love the Shadowhunter world, this series should have just been a trilogy. Looking back on all six books, the first three are really good and the last three are just so-so. I liked them and enjoyed them, but were they really necessary? I think Clare would have been better spent putting time into the upcoming Dark Artifices series, which I am actually excited about. I should have Shadowhunter fatigue, especially after the Infernal Devices too, but something about forbidden love just gets me.

Anyway, City of Heavenly Fire just isn't that exciting, quite unlike what you expect from a conclusion. If you do venture into this world, you would be fine to just stick to the first three. Or go straight to Clockwork Angel, because I think the Infernal Devices are a hundred times better.

Rating: 6 out of 10.
FTC: bought

2014/Margaret K. McElderry/725 pages.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?

Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I have been anxiously waiting for the release of Clockwork Princess for over a year now, which was when I finished Clockwork Prince. I haven't been this excited about a book for a long time - especially because all our questions would be answered: who is Tessa going to end up with? What exactly is Tessa? How will Mortmain be defeated? So it's no surprise to say that my expectation were extremely high. I'm delighted to say that Clockwork Princess surpassed my expectations! It was seriously one of most satisfying conclusions I ever read and I adored it!

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Cassandra Clare and her two series: The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. I actually think I like The Infernal Devices better because of the historical fiction and the love triangle is actually good. So when I say Clockwork Princess is amazing, I'm taking into account all the other books I've read by Cassie. I can't believe that Cassandra Clare is still able to come up with great novels, but I'm so glad she does.

I know most people are interested in the romance (me included) so we'll start there. Most of the time love triangles are so overdone, but the tension between Will, Jem and Tessa was actually believable and made for a good story. Since they all love each other a lot (Will and Jem are parabatai), it was difficult to envision an ending where everyone was happy. Let me tell you, no matter what "team" you're on, the ending is so satisfying. I couldn't be more pleased with the way Cassie resolved everything. Some might say it's a "cop-out" but I was totally okay with it!

Speaking of other endings that are satisfying, the arc with Mortmain was resolved nicely and just fit in so well. Everything ties together and you won't expect how the day is saved, but I loved it! There were a few new characters and characters that had a lot more page time, like Cecily, Gabriel and Gideon. I actually enjoyed reading about all of them and getting some of their POVs. The brotherly relationship between Gabriel and Gideon was a lot more interesting than I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised.

So, pretty much, if you haven't read Clockwork Princess yet, you need to do that ASAP because you won't be disappointed! I whole-heartedly recommend this entire trilogy. I laughed, I cried (multiple times) and just fell in love with this world and all the characters. I'm so glad there are more Shadowhunter books coming because I don't know what I'd do otherwise.

Rating: 10 out of 10.
FTC: bought!

2013/Margaret K. McElderry/568 pages.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series. (from GoodReads)

Review:
So when I first heard that Cassandra Clare was adding more books to The Mortal Instruments series, I was both excited and afraid. I wanted to revisit the characters but City of Glass ended so beautifully that I was afraid that it would be ruined with more books. However, I think my fears were unfounded because I'm really enjoying the continuation of this story.

It's probably bad, but I didn't really remember much of City of Fallen Angels. Luckily, there is some recap in the beginning of City of Lost Souls, so I was able to figure out what was going on pretty quickly. That being said, I like the direction these books are going. Sebastian was a loose end before but now we're tying that up, which is great. Even though he's evil, Sebastian is such a interesting character. I think you could write an essay analyzing him, there's that much there.

I also loved seeing more of the secondary characters, such as Alec, Magnus, Isabelle, Jordan and Maia. They really shined in this installment and it was nice to see their point-of-views. The only thing that confused me was how involved Jordan and Maia are in the Shadowhunter world. Maybe this was addressed in the last book and I don't remember, but suddenly they are part of the gang and in the thick of things. I didn't mind at all, I was just a little confused.

The only thing I don't like about these last three books is that Clary and Jace are always having problems! I feel so bad for them and their relationship; they have been through so much. Most of the problems aren't even their fault, it just comes with being a Shadowhunter. I really hope the series ends happily for them! They deserve it.

Overall, I liked City of Lost Souls better than City of Fallen Angels, but it still wasn't as good as the first three. I can't believe there's only one book left though! There's so much to be wrapped up. I can't wait to see how it ends!

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: personal copy

2012/Margaret K. McElderry/534 pages.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart. (from GoodReads)

Review:
After reading Clockwork Prince, I've come to the conclusion that I might like The Infernal Devices better than The Mortal Instruments. I'm not sure if it's because it's newer and therefore novel or if it's because I just read it recently, but the fact that it's historical fiction gives it a few extra points in my book. I also think I like Tessa better than Clary and some of the secondary characters are more likable than those in The Mortal Instruments. I still love The Mortal Instruments with all my heart, but the fact that Cassandra Clare can make me like something else even more shows how good of a writer she is.

Clockwork Prince picks up pretty much right where it left off. The Clave is still on the search for Mortmain and it's obvious that this is the middle book of the trilogy because there is a lot of build-up for the big clash that will eventually happen. Tessa, Will and Jem do some investigating and there are some secrets that are uncovered and new information is brought to life, which keeps the suspense going. There are still things the readers don't know, like how Tessa was created, and I can't wait to find out in the next installment.

I've noticed that I really like Cassandra Clare's writing style and specifically her use of third person narration that switches points-of-view. The novel is mainly told through Tessa's eyes, but occasionally the reader will follow around another character and get a look into their heads. Since the book is third-person, we're not actually switching POVs so the story is more seamless and not choppy.

A big, huge part of Clockwork Prince is the romance, which I know everyone loves. The romance in this story will break your heart, especially in regards to Will. I don't want to give anything away, but my heart was melting for Will. The ending was so upsetting and even fans of Jem will get a little teary-eyed. Even though I am Team Will, I still liked getting to know Jem better because he is a great character. He has a lot more page time than in Clockwork Angel, which is nice.

Overall, I absolutely loved Clockwork Prince. It was very well-written and a wonderful addition to the Shadowhunter world. I don't know how I'm going to wait for Clockwork Princess, especially since I've seen two release dates for it: Dec 2012 and Sept 2013. I better not have to wait longer than a year!!!!

Rating: 10 out 0f 10.
FTC: Christmas gift.

2011/Margaret K. McElderry Books/502 pages.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
The Mortal War is over, and 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 important of all - Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, 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. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she 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.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. (from book jacket)

Review:
Whew, that was one long synopsis! But I think the detailed explanation is good, because there's a lot going on in City of Fallen Angels, but this summary doesn't give that much away. When I heard that Cassandra Clare was writing a fourth Mortal Instruments book, I was beyond excited. And then when I heard that she was actually going to add three more, I was ecstatic. While I thought that City of Glass had a great ending, I was ready to read more about Simon, Clary, and Jace.

I liked that in City of Fallen Angels the readers got a lot of different points-of-view. The whole book is written in third person, but we still get to follow around Jace, Clary, Simon, and Isabelle individually and see what happens to them. It makes for a real dynamic story because all these different things are happening at once and you get to witness all of them because you're not stuck with one character. Cassandra Clare, like always, did a great job with storytelling and plot development. Everything moves quickly and before you know it you are neck deep in a pretty compelling mystery.

When I started this, I honestly didn't know what to expect. It seemed that all the villains had been defeated at the end of City of Glass, but fortunately for the readers there was still some evildoing going on. I was surprised by what was happening and I'm really glad that Cassandra Clare brought back a semi-loose end from City of Glass. She used that small detail to make a plot development that I'm sure will last through the next two books and will be interesting to read to boot.

I love Simon and his witty humor, so I'm glad that he played a more central role in City of Fallen Angels. The book is essentially about him and he's a good character to focus on. I did enjoy seeing Clary and Jace again, because I was really rooting for them in the beginning of this series. Jace was starting to annoy me a bit with his moodiness and brooding, but it's later discovered that it's not his fault so I gave him a pass. Other favorites made an appearance like Alec, Magnus and Maia, and it was good to see them again.

All in all, I really enjoyed City of Fallen Angels and cannot wait to see what Cassandra Clare has in store for us in the next two books of the Mortal Instruments series.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: bought.

2011/Margaret K. McElderry Books/424 pages.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Summary:
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure that runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to help her find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, who caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length... everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and saving the world... and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. (from inside flap)

Review:
I absolutely adored The Mortal Instruments trilogy, and it's probably one of my top favorite series of all time. When I heard that Cassandra Clare was going to keep writing about the Shadowhunter world, but this time set it in Victorian England, I was ecstatic. I love historical fiction, and the thought of this world brought to life in the past got me so excited.

I was a little worried that Clockwork Angel would be too much like City of Bones - and it was similiar. We have the protagonist who knows nothing of this secret world, a love interest who uses an unhealthy amount of sarcasm, the search for a family member, the list goes on. But I didn't mind too much because even though certain elements of the plot and characterizations were similar, the setting and time make the book a lot different. And even with these similarities, by the end I could see that Tessa was not Clary, Will was not Jace, Jem was definitely not Alec and so on, even if their characters play similar roles.

Regardless, I loved Clockwork Angel so much. I was so glad to be back in the Shadowhunter world, but this time with a new mystery, that of the creepy Magister. There were a lot of twists and turns, and by the end, everything I thought I knew was wrong. Cassandra Clare continues to amaze me with her flawless world-building, witty dialogue, interesting narration, and a healthy dose of action and suspense. The fact that all this was happening in Victorian London gave everything a gothic feel and I imagined all the characters fighting demons in tophats and fancy suits - which was pretty awesome.

As for the characters, Tessa was really interesting because she is not a Shadowhunter, but a Downworlder, even though technically the Clave has yet to discover exactly what she is. Throughout the novel, she struggles with the fact that she might not be human, but remains a strong and bright heroine regardless of her birth. I loved the fact that Tessa enjoyed reading, and would often quote famous literature or poetry. I also found myself drawn to Will, who gets more face time in the novel than Jem. Like Jace, he is the sarcastic and funny character, but he definitely seems to be hiding something very dark. And that cliffhanger! How will I be able to wait until September to find out what happens to everyone?

Clockwork Angel was an excellent debut to a hopeful new trilogy - one that combines fantasy with history in a splendid novel. I cannot wait to read more about Tessa and will be wistfully counting the days until Clockwork Prince is released.

Rating: 10 out of 10!
FTC: Christmas gift.

2010/Margaret K. McElderberry/479 pages.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire than can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a moral sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments. (taken from inside flap)

Wow! City of Glass was the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy! The book continued right from where City of Ashes left off, and the excitement and action did not stop until the final pages of the epilogue. You rarely find a book that ties up all the loose ends in a series, while also leaving teeny tiny things open so there is still some mystery as to how things turn out. But that is exactly what City of Glass did. I actually predicted part of the ending, and everything turned out how I wanted it to, which is another thing that rarely happens. Cassandra Clare continues to do a lovely job of writing; there were just enough details and descriptions, but not too much, the characters developed even further, Jace's sarcasm was spot on (another reason why I love these books). I really liked reading about the City of Glass, which is the magical home of the Shadowhunters. It's the first time the reader has been there, so it was really cool to visit a place that the characters have been talking about for two books. I would call The Mortal Instruments trilogy books for those who don't like fantasy, because I myself am not a big fan of fantasy, but I loved these books. I thought that City of Glass was perfect in every way, and that's why it gets a perfect score (and the first 10 out of 10 on Simply Books!).

10 out of 10.

Cassandra Clare Signing

On Tuesday, me and my friend Molly drove a half-hour away to a Borders Express to see Cassandra Clare for the release of City of Glass! I had found out about the signing when I randomly decided to look at Cassandra's blog and there it was! I believe it was fate.

At 6 PM, Cassandra came out and everyone was so excited. There were over a hundred people there getting their books signed, which is a pretty good turnout. Cassandra first read two passages from City of Glass - one about Magnus and Alec, the other about Jace and Clary. After that people were allowed to ask questions. Some of the questions were spoiler-y for those who haven't read any of the books, but she was asked if she was Team Edward or Team Jacob.

Obviously, she said Team Edward. I don't know if you can see it, but her boyfriend is wearing a Team Edward shirt. It has a picture of a baby vampire on it, which was...different haha.

This is where Cassandra started signing the books. You could get all three signed, but I only had City of Bones and City of Glass. Since there weren't that many people, Cassandra got to talk to everyone for a few minutes which was really cool. I was number 49 in line and my friend Molly was number 50 and we only had to wait about an hour or so.

Here's me with Cassandra Clare! It was so cool to meet her and get a picture. When we went to a Stephenie Meyer signging after the release of Eclipse, there were six hundred people getting their books signed and we weren't allowed to get pictures with Stephenie or even talk to her for than a few seconds. So this was a lot more personal. Below is a picture of City of Glass (!!!) and the inside cover where Cassandra signed it.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes dives right in where City of Bones left off. Evil Shadowhunter Valentine has escaped, but when murdered Downworlder children turn up unexpectantly, everyone wonders if he is behind the attacks. Through this, Clary has to confront her changing relationship with Simon, while Jace is still a jerk and her mother is still in a coma. It seems like Clary's life will never be back to normal, especially when the Inquistitor comes to investigate and targets Jace. When the time comes, Clary must use her Shadowhunter blood and look inside herself for hidden powers to help save the day.

I still can't believe how amazing this trilogy is! As soon as I finished City of Bones, I went and got City of Ashes from the library. I definitely liked City of Bones better, but City of Ashes really delivered, especially the major cliffhanger at the end. The one thing I really like about the Mortal Instrument trilogy are the characters. Like I said before, every character is so complex. Especially Jace, who seems like a jerk on the outside, but has a gentler side, too. He uses sarcasm a lot, but you know that he would do anything for the people he cares about. Sometimes characters would do things I didn't agree with, but I understood every action because Cassandra Clare writes her characters so magnificently. Overall, a wonderful book.

City of Glass will be released on March 29, 2008.

8 out of 10.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray had no idea that her life would drastically change when she went to the Pandemonium Club in Manhattan with her best friend Simon. While dancing among fog and strobe lights, Clary witnesses a murder by three teenagers with crazy tattoos, wielding strange weapons. If that wasn't weird enough, she is the only one that can see them. When the teens discover that Clary can see them, they reveal themselves to be Shadowhunters, members of an alternate world that hunt demons. Suddenly Clary is thrust into the Downworld when she herself is attacked by a demon and her mother mysteriously disappears. To unlock the secrets of her past and find her mother, Clary must assist the Shadowhunters Jace, Alec, and Isabelle to locate an important magical tool, the Mortal Cup, and keep it from the clutches of an evil Shadowhunter.

Oh. My. God. That is only way to describe this book. It was amazing! I'm generally not a big fan of fantasy, but I absolutely loved City of Bones. Cassandra Clare does an excellent job of creating this alternate universe that co-exists with ours, one that humans are not aware of. The book had thrills, drama, humor, romance, and twists and turns that kept you flipping the pages until the end. I practically had to pry myself away from it so I could finish my homework. Everything is told in great detail, and I felt like I was experiencing everything along with the characters. The characters, by the way, were awesome. Everyone had a unique personality and a real in-depth-ness to them. Even the shallow characters weren't that shallow. Clary is the ultimate heroine, plus she has red hair like me, which makes me love her even more. I claim Jace, the hot and sexy demon hunter, as my new boyfriend and Simon made me laugh almost every other page. The only thing stopping this book from being a 10 is the big twist at the end. Those who've read this book know what I mean. I wasn't too happy about it, but I have to admit, it made the book more interesting. I can't wait to see what Cassandra Clare has in store for us in City of Ashes.

9.5 out of 10.