bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

The fourth book in Clare's Mortal Instrument series, City of Fallen Angels picks up with familar characters and a new storyline. Although the third book wrapped up neatly with a seemingly 'happy ending' for Jace and Clary we soon learn their relationship is still as tenous as ever. Jace is the ultimate martyr it seems; he doesn't want to 'hurt' Clary, but by withdrawing to 'protect' her does so anyways. While I love a tortured romance as much as the next person, this was starting to weary but thankfully a tight and exciting cliff hanger ending brought me back. Simon (my new favorite literary vampire) featured prominently in this book, much to my delight. By far my favorite character, Clare did an excellent job providing him with snappy and amusing dialouge and giving him some edge with a few romances of his own.

Much like the others in this series, City of Fallen Angels had many creepy and disturbing scenes. Can't wait to see how this world translates to the big screen!

Well there better be a sixth book! The ending definitely left the door wide open, and I can only pray Miss Clare will provide some better closure in the near future.

Overall, I thought City of Lost Souls had a better plot then the previous installment; We see Jace and Clary reunited but not quite the way Clary would have hoped for. I found the bond between Jace and Sebastian interesting, although did not find it was well explained, and the plot device used to wrap this story point up was a bit convenient (although still very exciting).

Alec and Magnus's storyline started to grow on my nerves, as I found Alec a bit whiny about Magnus's immorotality and all of his past lovers. Please child. However, kudos to Clare for portraying how annoying an 18 year old can still be, especially when it comes to their first love.

Again the action was quite thrilling, and disturbingly graphic. I love how YA novels these days are not holding the punches. I wish this genre had been around for my teen years; perhaps I could have held off on the Stephen King warping my mind at such an imppressionable age. Ha :)

An edge of your seat drama filled with twists and turns that you would not expect from a book designated as YA. Code Name Verity also had a refreshing lack of romance and instead focused on the true friendship of two young British girls caught up in the effort to defeat Germany in WWII. One girl becomes a pilot and joins the ranks of women and others who could not fly in the Army; the other is entangled in the British secret service, where here strength of character is often tested.

The results of the girls' paths is riveting tale, and not to be ruined here. While the text is often a bit stream of concious, it is a fitting mode of communication as the book is supposed to be the written confession of a captured British POW.

Don't miss this book - I can only hope to someday see a movie adapatation!

Simply delicious...in details, setting, and plot. Doesn't hurt my cousin-in-law is great friends with the authoer, so we get our hands on these books fairly quick!