Tuesday Review Day and Author Signing!

Yes. I am aware that it is Wednesday, however, yesterday I was too busy standing on line to see Cassandra Clare, Holly Black and Lauren DeStefano!!


Check the pics:

It was hard to snap a pic of DeStefano - she was way in the corner and there were lots of people. If you don't know who Lauren DeStefano is, she is the debuting author of Wither! After hearing her discuss her book, I wished I had a copy because it sounded so original and amazing, I put it near the top of my Wish List!

 

Meet Leona. She was sweet enough to let me take her picture, with a copy of CoFA, of course! She was there for the signing as well, but she stood out from the rest of the crowd with runes drawn all over her! I LOVE it! Why didn't I think of that? During the signing, each author read a little from their books and answered questions. Leona asked a great question to Cassandra Clare but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was, argh! So Leona, if you are reading this - please comment below with your question and its answer :)

Now for my review of City of Fallen Angels!

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4)

Written by: Cassandra Clare

Publication date: April 5, 2011

Released in Hardcover

424 pages

5 stars

Synopsis: City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My Review: Having read City of Glass so long ago, my memory of things past were a little rusty but thankfully it was a smooth transition into City of Fallen Angels! We start with Simon, living his new life as a vampire...who lives like he's still human. He has no idea how to be a vampire; he is completely naive about his own kind, which would usually irk me because I love a vampire who embraces his dark side and gives in to his instincts but in this case, Simon is learning more and more about himself and we get to witness him slow acceptance of Downworlders in his life and vice versa. He doesn't know who to trust outside of his Shadowhunter circle where he is slowly starting to feel like he doesn't fit in anymore. An upside? Well, he now has "sexy vampire mojo"!

I was happy to see Clary wasn't still helpless and clueless. She seemed to have taken a crash course in Shadowhunter 101 and learning to understand her powers. Was there enough Clary and Jace in the story? No, not for me, anyway. I wanted every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence to revolve around them! In fact, a whole book on the mystery that is Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Morgenstern or whatever...would be nice! *hint-hint* Something like a "Midnight Sun" - if we could ever get the rest of that! I did not care for "brooding" Jace. He was absolutely no fun. No fun at all. All that "woe is me" drama was a little repetitive and a lot unnecessary. As if Clary and/or Jace could deny how much they love each other.

What I appreciated most in this sequel was finally getting to see Isabelle vulnerable. She didn't reveal everything, it was just like peeling back a layer. I hope there is more to come. That reminds me, I learned on Twitter (as a follower of @cassieclare, of course) that in the sequels to follow, we will finally be introduced to...wait for it...the Iron Sisters! The female equivalent to the Silent Brothers, which  creep me out and are still quite the mystery, but I can't wait to find out what the Iron Sisters can do!

City of Fallen Angels was so much like the first three in The Mortal Instruments series, full of suspense and mystery, you have no idea who is behind everything until Cassandra Clare wants you to know!  Throughout the book there are small moments of impact (action scenes) which are kind of like battles but they are just warning signs that the big one is coming! A war is about to begin.

Overall:  I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Cliffhanger of the year - I can't believe it!