Book Review: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4) by Cassandra Clare
The moment I cracked open "City of Fallen Angels," I was gripped by a mixture of nostalgia and trepidation. Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series has a special place in my reading journey, having introduced me to the urban fantasy genre during my quest for something akin to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With that backdrop, I dove in, only to have one of my infamous accidents occur post-read: while running (yes, with lightsabers), I tripped and nearly dismembered my copy. Perhaps it’s a sign that running with lightsabers—or reading this particular installment—should come with a warning label.
On to the book itself: Clare’s return to the world of Shadowhunters brings us to “City of Fallen Angels,” which, I must admit, felt both familiar and strangely unnecessary. The story resumes with Jace and Clary’s tumultuous romance leading the narrative, and it’s hard not to roll my eyes at the repetitive cycle of their relationship dramas. Jace’s brooding sentimentality and Clary’s unwavering loyalty create the usual tension, but after three books of build-up, is more of the same what we really needed?
While a few gems sparkle through the pages—like Simon’s character development and his hilarious exchanges with other characters—the plot drags with what can only be described as endless conversation. The dialogue often reads like reruns of a sitcom that ran its course long ago. It’s a shame, really, because the first three books had an addictive energy that I found captivating; here, I often found myself longing for the excitement of a good car ride to recenter my attention.
I appreciate dialogue-heavy books, but here, it felt like a missed opportunity for action and character evolution. The overabundance of chat left me feeling like Jace’s emo phase had taken control of the entire narrative. And trust me, there’s definitely a line where angst turns into monotony. Would it have killed Clare to give us a few more thrilling moments instead of the "Jace and Clary make out" mantra?
Amidst my examination of the story, I couldn’t help but chuckle at Clare’s knack for making her characters shine despite their flaws. Jace remains a complex enigma that melds fantasy with brooding charm, and though I shouldn’t, I still find myself trapped in that magnetic pull toward the bad boy trope. But alas, it doesn’t save the book for me. The humor and wit that characterized the earlier entries are sorely lacking here, leaving me wondering if I’ve simply outgrown the franchise or if the magic has faded like a quickly diminished spark.
In conclusion, “City of Fallen Angels” might still find favor with devoted fans who crave more about their beloved characters. If you’re in desperate need of some Shadowhunter lore and can overlook a slower plot, it might be worth your time. However, if you’re like me, craving that addictive storytelling punch, you might find more joy revisiting the earlier books rather than pouring over this one. It’s a bittersweet reminder that not every continuation can live up to the highs of its predecessors—a lesson I’m still grappling with as I pick up my severed copy, trying to piece together just what went wrong.
Happy reading! And as a final note—if you find yourself torn between saving Jace or Clary in a hypothetical situation, maybe just save yourself some time and read a different book instead!
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