BOOK REVIEW: City of Heavenly Fire

"Forever doesn't make it loss forgettable, only bearable."

SECTION I. DETAILS

Title: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)

By: Cassandra Clare

Read my previous reviews on the first five (5) books of the series!

Description: Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

SECTION II. RATING

2.5/5

SECTION III. RAW

Before I begin my initial thoughts, I thought I'd let you in first on the great hunt. How long did I have to wait for COHF? When did I get my copy? And how? Well, I did document it here.





Initial thought?

Is this it?

Frankly, I was slightly disappointed. Cassandra Clare is one of my all time favorite author because her books become better and better. I remember reading City of Bones compared to Clockwork Princess. Every book she releases just wows me, more than the previous. Well, not this time. City of Heavenly Fire didn't measure to Clockwork Princess (The third book of The Mortal Instruments' prequel trilogy, The Infernal Devices). Here's a side note: I also made a review on The Infernal Devices here. Be careful of spoilers, though.

I suppose my expectations were too high. However, there are some angles that I did love on COHF, including the journey Clare provides in her books. It's unlike so many out there - too rushed for the audience to connect with the story and the characters. Cassandra Clare always bring out the best story telling. The scenes weren't abruptly written. And that built up the tension, like pulling the trigger while the enemy is not looking - direct and unanticipated.

Overall, I don't hate COHF, I was just disappointed the most because I thought COHF will be better than Clockwork Princess, like Clockwork Princess was better than City of Lost Souls, and so on.

SECTION IV. CHARACTERS/PLOT



MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Alec Lightwood stood out most in this book. And I mean that literally. During the first five books, we see Alec only on the background, as our protagonists take the center stage. But he totally redeemed himself on COHF. I am also glad he ended up with Magnus Bane. For a while, I was really worried on Magnus's character all together, and I was more worried during the end when he was about to sacrifice his immortality for the group to escape Hell/Edom. I'm glad we finally get to know who his Father was, taking note that I haven't read the Bane Chronicles so I don't know much from his background. But holy crap has anyone guessed that Simon Lewis is perhaps the greatest hero on The Mortal Instruments? His sacrifice is so heartbreaking, although I didn't get exactly how he can remember anything at all in the far end. I mean, I understand that Magnus has great magic, but isn't the magic on Simon's memory far too greater? I mean, it was casted by Magnus's Father anyway, and we just learned that his Father is a demon prince. Even with encouragement, the circumstances will be too weird for Simon to believe in (as a mundane with no memory of Clary as her bestfriend). I guess that part doesn't make sense.

I also think the humor died down just a little bit in this book, and I actually miss the Jace Herondale we first met on City of Bones. I mean, yes, we get snippets of his jokes and clever interactions with other characters, but I feel like it's still lacking. Even Magnus's. I guess I just plainly miss the old days.

I also feel like Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn were given too much emphasis on this book. (By the way if you still don't know, Emma and Julian will be the two leads on The Dark Artifices Trilogy) Don't get me wrong, I like them, really, I do. But TMI is about Jace and Clary. Emma and Julian will have their time. The prologue was acceptable and maybe a few snippets here and there, but though they actually play a huge part in COHF, I feel like Cassandra Clare just gave away their spark. At least for me. The whole mystery of Emma and Julian is gone. It's like Cassandra Clare focused more on COHF as a preparation for TDA rather than a conclusion to TMI. Because frankly, I did not like how it ended.

I mean it's satisfying, yes. But I expected so much more. Everything just went sideways. I felt like the opportunity to a great ending turned into a good one instead. I mean, here's one reason: Sebastian/Jonathan is the most careless villain in the entire planet. We get that he's obsessed with his sister, which is in part already weird, but trusting her all together and asking for a kiss? That is just plain stupid. How can a mind who thought of all his plans to destroy Idris can't even see his death coming?

All along, I thought Jace's Heavenly Fire will be the great solution to everything, but it turns out, it's just a solution to one: Brother Zachariah's cure. I would have believed it more if Brother Zachariah absorbed all of Jace's Heavenly Fire, that in return cured him, rather than a demon doing whatever shit it did for Jace to drain all the Heavenly Fire out.

The rest just sounded really cheesy, like when Jace took the skeptron (sword) from the statue in Edom and did not believe Simon when he said it's a trap, and also the matching red costumes of the Endarkened, plus the matching Morgenstorn swords. Like what? Those were like the most recycled plots ever. What happened Cassandra?

And lastly, what happened to Maia? Her character went from barely average (for me) down to zero. All along she's just playing off Jordan? Why the hell didn't she tell him? Why the hell did she put up with it? It's like Cassandra Clare made her circumstances easier to save time from writing too much on grief. Like a shortcut. Think about it. If Maia loved Jordan, and he died, she would probably just disappear in the story and hide while she grieves her loved one. Everything we believed in Jordan and Maia just collapsed. How disappointing. It would make sense more if Maia felt a little off ever since they started hanging out again. But no, it was too abrupt. Too sudden to be believable.

SECTION V. RECOMMENDATIONS



Well, of course if you've started the series, you should probably read until the end of it, especially if you liked the first 5 books. However, if all along you're just convincing yourself to love The Mortal Instruments, I don't think you should push harder. It's not worth it, well, at least the ending. But of course if you're planning to read The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare, then you should all read Clare's books. Preferably this order:

City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass

City of Fallen Angels

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Prince

City of Lost Souls

Clockwork Princess

City of Heavenly Fire

Yes, and that would mean reading TID first before reading COHF.

Cheers,

Lilah Gran