Rose H. (kiorabree) reviewed City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments, Bk 6) on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I will admit that I started this series hot expecting much: a rehash of Twilight - teen angst romance wrapped in shiny black pleather. And the first two did only little to contradict my suspicions. However, it improved almost exponentially with each book.
It's rare that I am pleased with the wrap-up when a series comes to an end, but this was near perfect. I say near because it's never fun to say goodbye to characters (mainly the side characters) that you've grown to care for, yet this one is a nice blend of bittersweet. It wasn't a fairytale ending with losses, sacrifices, and pieces left unresolved, an appreciative tip to real life and a promise of what's to come in the next series.
It's rare that I am pleased with the wrap-up when a series comes to an end, but this was near perfect. I say near because it's never fun to say goodbye to characters (mainly the side characters) that you've grown to care for, yet this one is a nice blend of bittersweet. It wasn't a fairytale ending with losses, sacrifices, and pieces left unresolved, an appreciative tip to real life and a promise of what's to come in the next series.
Lenna W. (bratz54) -
What cant I say that wont spoil this book, Clary, Jace and the gang has to find the evil her brother brought into the world by taking him out in his. There is a new p.o.v. from Emma Carstairs, the second last Carstairs alive, she suffered her Los Angels Institute battle where she lost her parents and also he best friend Julian Blackthorn father was turned against his will by Sabastion. Brother Zachariah is back to being Jem and has to deal with his emotions after over 130 years of being a Silent Brother and relearning his human life before he finds his true love again and helps save his distant relative Emma. There is so much to tell but I said enough but over 700 pages there is A LOT of action, drama, love, and sadness.
Much rambling and possible spoilers ahead:
Okay, I don't know what all the hubbub was about, but I enjoyed this book.
Of course I could have done without Clary/Jace whiny angst. And I still cannot get over the fact that while packing for a trip to [literal] hell, Jace thought that weapons, food and water weren't enough; he had to throw condoms into his duffel bag 'just in case'. Seriously?! I get why they would do it, because they may not have gotten another chance and when you're in love, you want to be intimate in every way possible with your beloved. But they were in hell and Jace had condoms. Just blown away by that.
I find their relationship both beautiful and ugly. I get it. Everyone wants to be loved someone that would be willing to destroy the world just to save them, just to be with them. Everyone wants to love someone that deeply. It's passionate, and pure, and absolutely beautiful. And at the same time, it's selfish, and toxic, and ugly. You'd let the whole world burn for that person. You'd let the whole world burn for that person!
Alec...I was a little perturbed with Alec in this book. I just don't understand how he could turn the whole thing around on Magnus. Magnus had EVERY right to be upset with him and to break-up with him. Alec went behind his back with someone he had been warned was manipulative and untrustworthy. Not to mention the fact that she was his boyfriend's ex. I would take the words of an ex-lover with a grain of salt, especially a vampire who was on the run for killing a bunch of people. He was trying to take away Magnus' immortality, which would essentially be killing Magnus. It was because of his insecurities, not because he was doing what was best for Magnus. That was pretty crappy, and I don't know that I would have forgiven him. He's lucky Magnus wasn't blatantly cruel to him. All he did was ignore him, I would have done worse.
Also, I still don't get why he was mad that Magnus won't talk about everything in his past. Clearly there was a good reason; some things are best left in the past. Not to mention the fact that Magnus has hundreds of years of 'past'. Magnus' past might have made him who he was, but that doesn't mean anyone has a right to it. It's like the whole past lovers argument. No one needs to know about past lovers unless there is a child(ren) involved. I feel like Magnus did share some things with Alec, but they were only together a short time. Alec's youth and inexperience comes into play again, because in time, Magnus would have likely opened up more and more. But he didn't get the chance. They were together for a few months, I don't know what Alec honestly expected. For a portion of their time together, he treated Magnus like a dirty, dirty secret that was buried in the back of his closet. I thought it was very big of Magnus to decide to tell Alec about his past in order make him happy, and I know he did it because that's what you do for someone you love. And you know what else you do? You respect their wishes! I don't think you always have to know who someone was in order to love who they are. Alec fell for Magnus without knowing any of his past, so what changed? This actually really bothered me and I'm not sure if I feel the same way about the pairing anymore. Who the heck am I trying to kid?! Malec all the way... I'll just be a little miffed with Alec on Magnus' behalf.
And Simon, my little muffin! He is all that is adorable and awesome and I love him so, so much better than Jace. He was loyal and loving and so very brave! He literally saved them all and for the longest time, they had all (except for Clary) treated him so terribly. Isabelle and Alec were borderline cruel toward him (Alec more so) and Jace...well we know it started off as raging jealousy...and then, no, I think it was always jealousy. First because he thought that Simon was with Clary, and later because of how close they were--Clary would never abandon Simon for Jace. (Even though she would let the world be destroyed if it meant saving Jace, go figure.)
The one good thing I will say about Clary is that I love they way she loves Simon. This is the one relationship that I think was portrayed realistically. She would do anything for Simon and when she thought she would lose him, it broke her. I would be like that if I lost my bestie. I would kill and die for her, and I know she would do the same for me. I think their relationship made me smile the most throughout the series. There is nothing that compares to best friend love.
I am so very happy that Simon got a second chance at not just life, but life with the family he had built. And now he's going to become a badass shadowhunter! But I'm not sure how many more of these books I can read.
Okay, I don't know what all the hubbub was about, but I enjoyed this book.
Of course I could have done without Clary/Jace whiny angst. And I still cannot get over the fact that while packing for a trip to [literal] hell, Jace thought that weapons, food and water weren't enough; he had to throw condoms into his duffel bag 'just in case'. Seriously?! I get why they would do it, because they may not have gotten another chance and when you're in love, you want to be intimate in every way possible with your beloved. But they were in hell and Jace had condoms. Just blown away by that.
I find their relationship both beautiful and ugly. I get it. Everyone wants to be loved someone that would be willing to destroy the world just to save them, just to be with them. Everyone wants to love someone that deeply. It's passionate, and pure, and absolutely beautiful. And at the same time, it's selfish, and toxic, and ugly. You'd let the whole world burn for that person. You'd let the whole world burn for that person!
Alec...I was a little perturbed with Alec in this book. I just don't understand how he could turn the whole thing around on Magnus. Magnus had EVERY right to be upset with him and to break-up with him. Alec went behind his back with someone he had been warned was manipulative and untrustworthy. Not to mention the fact that she was his boyfriend's ex. I would take the words of an ex-lover with a grain of salt, especially a vampire who was on the run for killing a bunch of people. He was trying to take away Magnus' immortality, which would essentially be killing Magnus. It was because of his insecurities, not because he was doing what was best for Magnus. That was pretty crappy, and I don't know that I would have forgiven him. He's lucky Magnus wasn't blatantly cruel to him. All he did was ignore him, I would have done worse.
Also, I still don't get why he was mad that Magnus won't talk about everything in his past. Clearly there was a good reason; some things are best left in the past. Not to mention the fact that Magnus has hundreds of years of 'past'. Magnus' past might have made him who he was, but that doesn't mean anyone has a right to it. It's like the whole past lovers argument. No one needs to know about past lovers unless there is a child(ren) involved. I feel like Magnus did share some things with Alec, but they were only together a short time. Alec's youth and inexperience comes into play again, because in time, Magnus would have likely opened up more and more. But he didn't get the chance. They were together for a few months, I don't know what Alec honestly expected. For a portion of their time together, he treated Magnus like a dirty, dirty secret that was buried in the back of his closet. I thought it was very big of Magnus to decide to tell Alec about his past in order make him happy, and I know he did it because that's what you do for someone you love. And you know what else you do? You respect their wishes! I don't think you always have to know who someone was in order to love who they are. Alec fell for Magnus without knowing any of his past, so what changed? This actually really bothered me and I'm not sure if I feel the same way about the pairing anymore. Who the heck am I trying to kid?! Malec all the way... I'll just be a little miffed with Alec on Magnus' behalf.
And Simon, my little muffin! He is all that is adorable and awesome and I love him so, so much better than Jace. He was loyal and loving and so very brave! He literally saved them all and for the longest time, they had all (except for Clary) treated him so terribly. Isabelle and Alec were borderline cruel toward him (Alec more so) and Jace...well we know it started off as raging jealousy...and then, no, I think it was always jealousy. First because he thought that Simon was with Clary, and later because of how close they were--Clary would never abandon Simon for Jace. (Even though she would let the world be destroyed if it meant saving Jace, go figure.)
The one good thing I will say about Clary is that I love they way she loves Simon. This is the one relationship that I think was portrayed realistically. She would do anything for Simon and when she thought she would lose him, it broke her. I would be like that if I lost my bestie. I would kill and die for her, and I know she would do the same for me. I think their relationship made me smile the most throughout the series. There is nothing that compares to best friend love.
I am so very happy that Simon got a second chance at not just life, but life with the family he had built. And now he's going to become a badass shadowhunter! But I'm not sure how many more of these books I can read.
