City of Fallen Angels

The Mortal Instruments, Book #4

By Cassandra Clare

ISBN# 9781442403543

Author’s Website:  cassandraclare.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

Jocelyn and Luke’s wedding is fast approaching.  Clary is wrapped up in helping her mom with the final preparations.  However, she isn’t too wrapped up to notice that Jace is being stand-offish and not his usual self.  She has tried to talk to him, but he continues to push her away.  And, Clary must face the only logical conclusion, that he doesn’t want to be with her anymore.

Meanwhile, Simon is living a double-life dating two girls at the same time, neither knowing he’s dating the other.  Clary is insistent he gets his love life straightened out before the wedding as both girls are expected to attend.

And, when Simon’s mom discovers his secret and thinks him to be a monster, he knows it’s time for him to find new lodgings.  He quickly finds himself living with his new bandmate, Kyle.  However, Kyle has secrets of his own, including that he used to date one of Simon’s girlfriends and made her what she is today.

There is someone out to get Simon.  There have been a couple of attempts on his life.  Luckily the curse that Clary bestowed on him is doing its job and keeping him safe … so far.

Jace really hasn’t been himself.  He’s been having horrible dreams where he hurts or kills Clary.  He can’t trust himself to be near her.  And, he also can’t trust himself to sleep.  He’s looking rough from lack of sleep and not eating.  He’s made himself one of Simon’s bodyguards since he can’t be near Clary.  He figures she would appreciate him keeping Simon safe.

However, there is a big power loose in the city that is pulling all the strings.  And, it could make the gift that Clary bestowed on Jace be a true curse.  Can the good guys figure out what is going on before it’s too late?

This was a decent read.  All the puzzle pieces were revealed to us readers bit-by-bit until we could put them all together to reveal the big picture.  And, I’m curious how it will all play out in the next book, City of Lost Souls.

This book was very Simon heavy, and I wasn’t super crazy about that.  I would have preferred it to have focused more on Jace.  However, I don’t think Clare could have told the story the same if she had focused more on Jace. 

I liked the addition of Jordan Kyle.  He was previously painted as a villain so it was good to see him get a little redemption.  Now we know that what happened was not intentional and it appears that he could rectify things with Maia.  And, it was nice to see Simon make a new friend.

“I guess you’re coming as my date now.” Simon shoved the phone into his pocket.

“I’m secure enough in my masculinity to accept that,” said Jordan. “We better get you something nice to wear, though,” he called as Simon headed back into his room. “I want you to look pretty.”

I really disliked the sudden ending of this book.  Evil unlocked and then nothing.  I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to leave Jace by himself after all he had gone through, but talk about your epic backfires.  Now I’ll have to read City of Lost Souls to see the true ramifications of it all, which I assume was the author’s intent.   You must save Jace from himself and all evil damnit!