City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

If you want the truth, I was afraid to read City of Fallen Angels, book four in Cassandra Clare's Immortal Instruments Series. Why, you may ask? Well, it's basically because I thought everything was pretty well wrapped up in City of Glass with its satisfying conclusion. Therefore, I wondered how Clare would right another book in the series and still keep it fresh and enjoyable to read. My conclusion? She pulled it off. However, she may have pulled it off a little too well. While this may sound strange, it's true. I tore through the pages of this novel in about two days because I couldn't stand the thought of putting the book down. I had to know what was going to happen--which I feel is rare after a second or third book.

I feel the main reason I kept reading was, of course, Clary and Jace. However, Clare actually did something a little different with the plot than most novels in a series. Yes, there was a pretty big obstacle, but refreshingly, it didn't involve the old "other woman" plot line. In many series--Alyson Noel's Immortals series and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush to name a couple--there is tension in the relationship due to "another woman" coming into the picture to threaten the relationship. In a roundabout way, I suppose Clare's novel did something similar, though not in anyway that resembles most novels. Also, Clare delves deeper into Simon's character, which is great. Simon has always been one of my favorite characters, and I enjoyed getting to know him better in this new installment. The one thing that I loved and hated at the same time is that there was no resolution to this book. It ended just after the climax on a cliffhanger--cleverly designed to make me desperate to read the novel that is sure to follow (there had better be another novel, or else!); but at the same time, I was a little dissatisfied that it ended there, and to be honest it made me angry that just when I was starting to feel better, Clare wrecked it for me. But overall, I enjoyed the read.

Have any of you read this yet? What did you think? Try not to have any spoilers in your response.