City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Six

Summary:

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion of the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

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 . . .

My Thoughts:

I actually really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I would, since most final books in most series end horribly or just end with you wanting more, but the end of this one was well written. I still wanted more, but that's just me lol. 

Sebastian turns Shadowhunters into his own army by forcing them to drink from the Infernal Cup, which makes them turn against fellow Shadowhunters who have not been turned.

Rafael, Magnus, Luke, and Jocelyn try to form an alliance with faeries, but they are betrayed and handed over to Sebastian as hostages to force Clary and Jace to come to him.

Clary then saves her friend's lives by pretending to go along with Sebastian's plan, but then kills him with her sword that has heavenly fire in it; the only thing that can kill him. To get home, they must make a deal with Magnus' father, and the price is Simon's immortality and knowledge of his friends' world. But later on Magnus goes against the rules to help him regain the memories Simon lost. And he gets back together with Alec, which I was so happy about.

My Rating: 5 stars

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Five

Summary:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought--Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell--a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She;s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

My Thoughts:

I liked this book, however it paled in comparison to the previous two books, which are still my favorites. Jace is alternating between himself and the self that Sebastian is controlling while Clary is trying to figure out Sebastian's plan and stop him. Simon, Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus are trying to find a way to kill Sebastian without harming Jace, and Camille is killed by Maureen, the child Simon unintentionally bit. And Alec and Magnus aren't a thing anymore (I figured it would happen since Magnus would have found out what Alec was trying to do, but I'm still kinda depressed on this. I probably ship them more than I should, lol).

Overall, the writing and story were very well done.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Heartless by Marissa Meyer REVIEW

Summary:

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King's marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I wasn't really sure what to expect, as I had never read anything similar to the plot.

Cath just wants to be a baker, and her parents won't let her. They want her to marry the King, although I'm not quite sure if they wanted her to have a safe future or increase their rank in society . . .She falls in love with Jest; however, later on in the book, a prophecy is told that he will die, she will be queen, the hatter will go mad, and Peter will die. She tries to stop it from happening, however she decides to save her maid from being fed to a monster, the maid who used to be her friend and betrayed her. Peter ends up killing Jest, she kills the monster (who used to be Peter's wife), the hatter goes mad, and she accepts the King's proposal then gives up her heart to see Peter dead with the Red Queen's famous line "Off with his head!"

This book was very well written and hard to put down.

My Rating: 5 stars

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Four

Summary:

The Mortal War is over, and 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 important of all--Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, 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 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. At the same time, he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls--neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she 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 her to losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Thoughts:

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I liked how it was interesting and hard to put down, I kinda feel like the author should have ended the series after the third book like it was originally planned. 

Jace is normal at first but then starts having nightmares, which leads to him apparently being bound to his not dead but not living "brother", Sebastian. And he almost kills Clary when he is possessed by the demon Lilith. And later unintentionally lets Sebastian's spirit share his body (a huge cliffhanger at the end).

Clary didn't realize that apparently getting Jace back from the dead has consequences? which she didn't know about at all.

Simon was being extremely stupid by dating two girls at once--especially since it's Maia and Isabelle. 

Overall, the book was pretty good, although I don't see the need for its existence.

My Rating: 4 stars