PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 5, 2011

ity of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare is the fourth book in her series The Mortal Instruments. The Shadowhunters have their hands full trying to determine who is causing the deaths of their people and one by one scattering their bodies in suspicious domains. Clary and Jace try to figure out why Jace’s dreams keep getting darker as they simultaneously try to figure out how to have a working relationship in such a dark world. Simon comes into his vampire status by becoming a love interest to two different young women. Though their pursuit of him is nothing compared to the evil that is also seeking him out.

It doesn’t take much to get me onboard with another Cassandra Clare book. I enjoy the teen fantasy fiction genre just as much as the next girl (perhaps too much for someone who has read The Iliad three times). That being said, Clare did not disappoint in this latest novel. There is mention of characters from her Infernal Devices prequel, avid fans will be happy to know. Simon has more gumption, which makes him a more interesting character to follow. Isabelle has more depth. Magnus is still Magnus, in all of his glorious and ridiculous colors. Jace is still every bit himself – for better or for worse. Clary doesn’t whine so much and go off on her own to accidentally muck everything up this time around, thank goodness. She finally… what’s the word? Matures. And we all breathe a sigh of relief.

The recapping and progression of the new story was expertly done, leaving no one behind while not boring the avid fans. The mixture of mythology and Biblical references were intermingled so much that some are bound to be impressed, some confused, and some irate. I’ll leave you to choose your side.

If you follow her series, you are probably wondering just what would necessitate having a fourth book when the third was wrapped up so nicely? What more could there possibly be to unravel? Turns out, quite a bit. I actually found myself wishing for more downtime and normalcy for the characters. It all felt like a whirlwind of plot and angst, which I was not expecting. To that end, Clary and Jace’s intense love was somewhat unbelievable. I did not feel that there had been enough actual relationship in this book to warrant such a mad passion between them. Much like Romeo and Juliet’s unrealistic love (they kill themselves because they can’t be together after, what? Three conversations?), if this is not remedied in the next book, Clare might risk losing some of the real love to mere teen infatuation, which is a shade shallower than she usually goes.