City of Fallen Angels

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old 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 importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, 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. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.
When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary 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 bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars…

When I heard this series was over after City of Glass I was sad, but thought the series had come to a nice close. However, as soon as I knew about this book I became both excited and confused. I couldn’t see where the story would go because it seemed to be so nicely wrapped up. Leave it to Cassandra Claire to prove me wrong and bring fresh life where I thought none could exist. The plot at the beginning had a few expected moments, then went off in different directions than I predicted. The ending definitely had be shaking my head and yearning for more. Like the rest of the books in this series I started it and couldn’t put it down. Every time I pick up a novel of Cassandra Claire’s I end up enraptured by her words and devour the book in one sitting. I love how vivid the world of the Shadowhunters is, with its mythology developed so deeply and fascinatingly. Instead of just resting on the already created, Claire added more details and intricacies to the lore.

The characters still delighted me with their combination of sarcasm and heart. Not many new characters came into the fold, but I didn’t particularly care. I love every new thing, small or large, revealed about the characters and plenty of things came to light. Clary still has her delightful mixture of strength and helplessness, but she’s learning more about her new world. I like her transition from complete novice in the first book to a partially trained force to be reckoned with now. Jace maintained his presence and personality, but this book delved into his mind a bit more. He’s generally so inscrutable that the glimpse this book gave enriched his character development so much. I still adore Simon and how adorkably sarcastic he always manages to be. I will say that there are a few little goodies for those who’ve read Claire’s other series, but my lips are sealed beyond that. The relationships between everyone constantly evolve to become more and more complicated. I love how the characters constantly grow and that their growth touches how they interact with one another.

This is a fantastic continuation of a series I though was finished, and something that I welcome. I can’t wait for the next book because I’m not okay with where this one ended. As soon as it comes out I’m picking it up because I’m fairly certain it will be as good as this one. If you enjoyed the rest of the series this is a must read, but it won’t make any sense if you haven’t looked at them. If you haven’t read the series but enjoy authors like Melissa Marr and Holly Black these are books for you.
Book Bought

Clockwork Angel

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

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, 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 who 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 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, whose 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 helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
from amazon.com

Beth says 5 Stars...

I can't even pretend not to love Cassandra Claire. Her books are delightful, with a fabulous grit and sheen at the same time. If you, like me, fell in love with her Mortal Instruments series, then the wait for Clockwork Angel was a grueling one. I had extremely high expectations when I laid hands on this novel. Needless to say, Claire did not disappoint. Instead of modern-day New York City, the action takes place in Victorian London, but not quite what Jane Austen would have seen. The steampunk elements of the book were simply delightful. They weren't overdone, but seemed to be a natural part of the book. The mystery element of the plot was well done, and I didn't see the ending until right before it happened. I was absolutely sucked into the story and couldn't put the book down.

The characters were delightful, just as I had hoped. Tessa is just vulnerable enough; she pulls at your heart without being weak. Her confusion elicits sympathy, but she has an undercurrent of strength that makes you want to identify with her. Of course, the Shadowhunters are beyond fantastic and deadly. The new crop has some familiar names, but they are all different and their own characters, although there are a few traits that are apparently genetic (have fun figuring them out!). Will and Jem work so well together, but are both intriguing. It appears as if all of them have their own secrets that will hopefully come out in the next book or two. It's also so much fun to get to see a bit of Magnus Bane's past, and, honestly, he's just plain awesome.

This is a must-read for those who loved Claire's other books and those who've never picked them up. The blend of the Victorian era, Shadowhunters, and Claire's writing create a magical novel that runs like clockwork (groan if you want to... totally warranted). For a great blend of fantasy and adventure, with a dose of sarcasm for good measure, grab this one now, and by now I mean yesterday.

City of Glass

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing 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 who can withstand sunlight.As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters 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 mortal 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.

from Amazon.com

Beth says 5 stars...
This book was fantastic! It kept me reading past 1 o'clock in the morning while I knew all along that I should have been sleeping. This book was worth the lost sleep, though. Clare has an incredible and unique way of writing, fusing sarcastic humor with striking descriptions. City of Glass lost none of that, and it feels like Clare's writing is just getting better. It is the backbone and driving force of the stories, and what makes them so wonderful. All of the characters became more complex, and none more so than Jace. His development was so fascinating and one of the most engaging portions of the book. The existing relationships also deepened and some new ones were introduced. It was interesting to finally get a real look at the Shadowhunters' homeland. That in itself gave insight into why some of the characters behave the way they do. Some of the "plot twists" I was able to figure out fairly easily, however I was blindsided on more than one occasion. I love (most) of the characters and the stories, so it's very sad for me to have to part ways with them. I must admit that this book had the most satisfying epilogue that I've ever read. This was a fitting end to an amazing series and I can't wait to read more books from Cassandra Clare.


Nathan says 5 stars...
I'm entirely convinced that Cassandra Clare could write about the rate at which paint dries and I would read every word. Her writing is amazing. I would put her in the top three YA prose writers today. I loved every sentence. The crew is back again and they are remedying (and creating) more havoc, but this time in Idris, the capital of the Shadowhunters. The dialogue is as amazing as always with a lot of quirk and biting sarcasm. I have one issue with the book-predictability. Most of the plot points were easily guessed, though a few were unexpected. It's so well-written that I really didn't mind. Denouement is one of my favorite parts of a novel and this book had plenty of it. There is a truly massive epilogue; this thing is awe-inspiring. Every minor plot was addressed and we find all of our characters reach a conclusion. I love all of the couplings in this book. It helps that Clare makes her characters realistic, which is hard to do when dealing with demon-slaying Nephilim, warlocks, vampires, and other breeds of mystical beings. This book is truly well done. I love Clare's writing and all I can say I can't wait for her next series*.

*Her next series is about the Shadowhunters and is set in Victorian England-I love Victorian England.

Inagural Post-City of Bones

In celebration of the upcoming release City of Glass, we are doing our first review on Cassandra Clare's debut novel City of Bones.

Summary:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

From bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
This is one of the most exciting debut novels I have ever read. Claire creates a new hidden world wrapped within the New York City we all love. Clary is a fantastic new heroine, both vulnerable and strong. The Shadowhunters and other creatures lend an air of darkness and fantasy that meshes perfectly with the realism of Clary and the city. The plot is full of twists and turns. This book had me hooked from the first page; it's one of the rare books that is impossible to put down. I've given this as a gift to someone I liked, because it really is that good.

Nathan says 5 Stars...
Cassandra Clare is truly one of the most innovative and talented writers to reach the young adult section in many years. If this book (and its sequel) are any indication, then Clare has a long career ahead of her. The story centers around Clary, the fiery redhead who gets sucked into a rabbit hole that Lewis Carrol would be proud of. The Shadowhunters are incredibly well-conceived and the detail given to each of the characters lets the reader truly connect. This book is best described as fantasy with a layer of grit. I mean, Holly Black is quoted on the cover- it has to be good. A perfect novel for our generation.