CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (YA)  by Cassandra Clare

May 2012 Cassandra Clare will release CITY OF LOST SOULS (the 5th book in The Mortal Instruments Young Adult series). We offer a review of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS (book #4).  

City of Fallen Angels is the 4th instalment in Cassandra Clare’s –The Mortal Instruments YA series. Continuing the adventures of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec, Cassandra begins this story a few weeks after the demise of Clary’s father and brother, Valentine and Sebastian, and the 3rd book -The City of Glass.

Clary Fray and Jace Herondale/Lightwood/Wayland are in love-fated to be together forever, but something continues to hold Jace back. Throughout this series, Jace has been plagued with self-doubt in regards to his ability to protect and defend those he loves, especially Clary. As Nephilium (children descended from the mating of humans and angels) the Shadowhunters seek out evil and protect the humans, but Jace has doubts. He is forever exposing Clary to a world of demons, vampires and fey-all of whom, want to know-the daughter of Valentine, one of the strongest ex-Shadowhunters known and a monster without equal. Clary is not without her own powers as she is capable of designing protective runes-one’s that seem to hold much power over those who would otherwise try to injure or kill the Shadowhunters.

If you are a fan of the Mortal Instrument series, you are well aware of the continuing struggle between good and evil, love and hate, Clary and Jace. This novel begins with the disappearance of several one-time members of Valentine’s ‘Circle’ and their bodies are turning up in different territories of New York. Werewolves, vampires, fey and Nephilium are all being blamed by each other for the ritual murders, but when the bodies of new-born babies, possessing demon-like features are discovered, the investigation is turned towards Valentine. These babies are eerily reminiscent of the experiments that Clary’s father had performed on his own children-resulting in Clary’s demonic-like brother Sebastian.

Clary’s mother Jocelyn is about to marry Luke, the alpha-male for the local werewolf pack, but something isn’t right. A visit from the Queen of the Fey warns Clary about her choices in love and life, and she is concerned when her beloved Jace begins to withdraw his affections and seems trapped in a world of angst and self-recrimination. When Clary’s best friend Simon (a reluctant day-walking vampire) disappears from the pre-wedding party, she goes looking for her life-long pal. But Simon has a few problems of his own-he has been dating 2 supernatural beings-Isabelle Lightwood and Maia, the young female werewolf, from Luke’s pack. Clary, presuming Simon has fallen victim to his dual life with the two women, goes hunting but finds herself trapped and threatened by love of her life, Jace. Waking up, Clary discovers she has been brought to a rooftop garden, in a building under construction and she is soon to be the pawn in a game of life and death.

An ancient vampiress and ‘old’ girlfriend of the Warlock-Magnus Bane has surfaced, and is looking to regain control of the vampires in New York. But when Camille is fingered in the deaths of the Shadowhunters and the babies, she is taken into custody, but not before, she tries to enlist Simon, in her plans to fight Raphael, the interim leader of the vampires. Camille’s disappearance and the subsequent re-appearance of a more deadly, ancient threat, have the Shadowhunters on guard. But when the Demon-Lillith gains control over Jace, Clary becomes a weapon with which Lillith uses to manipulate both Simon and Jace in her game to resurrect Clary’s brother, Sebastian. Simon’s power as a day-walking vampire and Jace’s connection to Sebastian through his resurrection in City of Glass, are the catalysts used to bring the former demon –child, back to life.

Cassandra Clare’s YA writing styles are similar to most YA authors. The teen angst between the major characters, as well as the negligent parental guidance, is always a factor in writing these storylines. I like The Mortal Instrument series, but as many of you know, I am not a big fan of the ‘whoa is me’ –young adult stylings. It is enough that I lived through it in my teen years, as well as with my own children, but my anxiety level seems to skyrocket, when ever I read about the crushes and love-lives of these fantasy characters. I want to take every one of these young adults and put them in a room together for counseling. Sadly, if that were the case, there would be no need to continue any of these series. I am enjoying this series. I want to see these characters happy, but at the present, everyone is heading for depression. I look forward to Cassandra’s next instalment in this series….”City of Lost Souls” in May 2012 and “City of Heavenly Fire” in September 2014….if –I can hold out that long.

Reviewed by Sandy