City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.(courtesy of Amazon)

OMG I’m sorry – I LOVE JACE and Clary – I don’t know if I can be unbias anymore.  The story Cassandra Clare laid out in this series (The Mortal Instruments) has just left me completely and utterly captivated by the two of them.  Book 4 in the series, City of Fallen Angels gives us a fix of Jace and Clary but doesn’t paint the happy ever after we all want for them.  They will have to fight if they want to be together which makes it all the better. Ok, I know I can be unbias - but this series is riveting!

So many say, Clare took a HUGE chance with the story lines she incorporates in this series.  OOH hush hush there is a gay teen character – seriously people – this is reality – accept it.  There are hopes for this series to be a movie – if you haven’t read the series yet – close your eyes/skip ahead – they  were unsure if they would leave the ‘incest’ in the story – these books are so much more than that.  That just adds to the intensity of the series. 

Ok, back to the book.  Clare again delivers action, plot, romance – I must say this now – I wish they were not interrupted and this wasn’t YA!LOL  Twist it all up in a struggle to balance the world and you have a successful book.  As this book comes off City of Glass where Clare could have ‘ended it’ she really did well bringing Simon’s story line in and keeping it going.  I’m thrilled that this series is still alive.  I think Clare writes fresh and really dives into her characters passionately.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.  (back cover comments via Amazon)

Since the back cover does this book much justice I will try not to summarize the story. 

After extremely enjoying the Mortal Instruments Series –TMI – (featured at the bottom, well done YA, draw to the characters, action-packed) by Cassandra Clare, I was desperately awaiting the release of Clockwork Angel.  This is the first book in the new series, Infernal Devices; which is a Victorian Era Steampuck spin off from the TMI series.  Set a little less than 150 years prior, we have cross over of heritages of some of our characters in the TMI series.  

I had a slow start to this book for me, since it’s not a continuation of TMI, I understood that Clare had to set up the book, which is a recap to what we learned previously.  As soon as the action started it picked right up for me.  I was thoroughly back in the Shadowhunter/Downworld realm that Clare designed for us. 

She has an unusual knack for twisting the story and I can’t wait to follow along, try to figure it out, and reach the end as I read her stories.(all a good thing)  I was immersed in suspense from about midway through.  Who will the Magister be, Who will find Tessa’s heart, all questions I wanted to know. 

As you can see, Clare kept me involved in the book.  Tessa, our main character, is era specific, yet we can still relate to her.  Of course, she is an avid reader, so she won my vote.  Our new friends, James and Will, will be exciting to watch as the series develops. 

Ultimately – I liked it, I gave it 3 slices and I’m waiting for her next in this and the TMI series.  

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City of Ashes, City of Bones, City of Glass