Mortal Instruments (4) - City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Now we come to part four of the thrilling Mortal Instrument Series: City of Fallen Angels (in German City of Fallen Angels, in French La cité des Anges Déchus) I read it in German where it contained 568 pages. Originally published 2011.
Saving the world is like being a caretaker – you’re never finished. Clary’s life was next to perfect: Luke and Jocelyn are about to marry, she’s finally training, and happily with Jace… if there weren’t his nightmares and his distance. And his secrets… While Clary’s BF makes a mess of his relationships in plural and both a powerful vampire and a werewolf show up, the Sebastian phenomenon rises again… and Nephilim are murdered.
I must admit that I feared disappointment. The story was told, there was nothing to add – the ending was perfect, why change it, what reason would be to write more books other than to make money?
I underestimated Cassandra Clare.
The book is very well done, and there actually is a story worth telling. Definitely worth telling. And even though the focus of this series is slightly different, City of Fallen Angels fits to the rest of TMI.
You have even more views than in the prequels, but that makes the story more fascinating. You get to know the characters and their backgrounds way better – and they are pretty scattered right now.
Simon’s being way over his head with two girls like Maia and Izzy really left me emotionally torn. I wanted to smack him over his head, laugh at him, and pity him. What he does makes sense in a twisted kind of way. He tries to do the right thing.
Unfortunately, it’s way against my moral compass, but… well. His loss, isn’t it?
But Simon doesn’t only act like a jerk. He can be pitied, because he doesn’t fit in anywhere. He’s too human to be vampire, too Downworlder to be really accepted by the Shadowhunters and too vampire to be accepted by his mom.
I’m sorry for his issues with his mother, that’s so sad.
Well. That’s no excuse for his dishonesty with Izzy and Maia. Izzy has such issues with opening up to others, and Maia has her past as well. No one deserves something like that, but… well, I’ve grown attached to them and hate Simon the more for this.
I feel with Jocelyn as well. It makes sense how guilty she feels, even though this was beyond her control. But it makes sense, either way. And how this throws a shadow on her wedding…
As for Luke… I like this guy. I really do. He’s like the father for all of them. He’s so cool!
And I felt with Clary and Jace.
Clary lost Jace again… and Jace, his issues? They suck as well.
Apart from that, the books are funny and the characters great, as always! The only sad thing about this book are two tiny mistakes, nothing dramatic, but it's a little sad. Simon has two siblings, not just one and he has the wrong job in his band.
And it was so obvious the thing with Jordan wasn't over. Seriously. But he's an interesting character – and it's kind of cute he chose this job for Maia. Even though it was probably very creepy for her in the first moment.
As for Lilith... yeah, interesting idea. And it fits to her legends. I like the ending, how they go against her. Nice.
In brief:
I give this book a star for the characters, a star for the style, one for the ideas and one for content. A half for the good beginning after the "ending", when you know what I mean, minus a half for the mistakes.
Prequel:
Sequel: