Review City of Heavenly Fire

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare Goodreads|Amazon

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books May 27, 2014

752 Pages

#6 in The Mortal Instruments

Source: Library, read the rest of the series

Bookologist's Analysis: This book brought it all together. This wove together the story of the Shadowhunters of Idris, New York, and Los Angeles. I found myself recommitted to the story of Shadowhunters after feeling left out for a long time.

Shadowhunters and demons square off for the final showdown in the spellbinding, seductive conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to 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 of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…

Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final installment of the Mortal Instruments series?

Note: I was having technical problems over the last week and was so busy that I couldn't get around fixing them. My computer kept on crashing while I was trying to type up my review, so this took forever. I apologize for not getting this up sooner. On the happier side Cassandra Clare revealed at the end of the book that there will be a new Shadowhunter series (I know another…) called The Dark Artifices with the first book being called Lady Midnight. I ship Emma and Mark. It will somehow involve the Faerie Court and the Los Angeles Institute. 

What an end I must say. Pieces of everything are falling into place with all our friends and enemies.  The world of Jace and Clary is finally making sense and still continuing to mesmerize us. I found the end a suitable one if not a fantastic one. Over the last couple days I have been analyzing my relationship with the characters and the world of Shadowhunters. I have deduced the science of the City of Heavenly Angels to the plot and characters not the writing. Cassandra Clare isn’t the most eloquent writer or lyrical poet, but she has wonderful raw realness in a world that is often very delusional.

To deconstruct the characters- I have seen a bit of all of us in them. Simon is this scared person who is thrown into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders head on with becoming a vampire and is often unsure if he can handle the situation. Simon in this book matures as he learns to cope with Jace dating Clary and his growing relationship with Isabelle. Magnus after leading a near 400 year life is becoming closed off and warded off from emotion especially after being traumatized by the depth of love Alec has for him. Jace is the star of this book, after winning the YA Crush Tourney. He is a prideful leader wanting to do everything himself and wanting to change the world anyway he can. Clary, I believe was purposely made a red head to stand against the crowd; despite being a delicate doll like girl wanting peace, however she still is one of the fiercest women in The Mortal Instruments. Isabelle was brought up to be a badass and that definitely is evident in her approach to life. She enjoys shrugging it off and living in the present. It wasn't until this book that I saw the depth of Isabelle's emotions as she finally starts really putting herself out there with her friends. Alec stands out against the book.  To be blunt he is gay and wants to save everyone he loves. Alec is the best friend who is behind the scenes and never noticed for what he does for everyone else. The characters in this book went on a journey. The journey wasn't something I really felt like was realistic for them,  but it happened.

Back from piano break trying to get into a Jace mood- I played Heinrich Lichner’s Sonatina Op.49, No.1, Movement 1  (currently playing), Avalanche by Stephen Heller (an old one but loved it),and Puck by Edvard Grieg (old one).

“'Sure, he likes you,’ said Alec. ‘You’re heterosexual and have low expectations of father figures.’”

We all strive for confirmation of our success. We want people to recognize us for our accomplishments and what we have done for them. This is Alec being bitter about his father and how his father likes Jace more than him. I find that City of Heavenly Fire is something that makes our relationship grows with a new found respect for the Shadowhunter Council for banding together in moments of crisis against an evil. The Downworlders that recognizing all supernatural life is important even if they are your enemy. This book grew to a different level and I respect Cassandra Clare for finally finishing the series. Rating: ««««

Book Covers And Consequences

We all know that we are drawn to books for different reasons: synopsis, character, recommendation, book covers, etc. We as, humans have this unearthly draw to illustrations and art.That is why book covers have so much put into them and are marketed so extensively.  Let's talk about what happens when book covers decide to be embarrassing or creepy (in no particular order):

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Problem: There is a half naked guy on the cover with strange tattoos and light pouring out of him. Besides the fact that there also happens to be the New York skyline just resting at the bottom.
What It Does: You are too embarrassed to read the book in front of other people who will comment on the "mature" cover of the book.

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Problem: The cover has a picture of person with very elaborate eye shadow and a black and white picture of a girl on the front. (Out of all the American covers of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy this cover was my favorite)
What It Does: People comment that you read creepy books which can lead to them thinking you're a creepy stalker (even if you are).

Misss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Problem: There is a levitating girl who looks quite unhappy on a barren and stark background. The cover often marks this book down as horror, but the opposite is more often true.
What It Does: People think you are reading a twentieth century horror book and comment on how their mother won't let them read it because it is too scary for them and how they agree with their mother.

All of the "What It Does" have happened to me or one of my close friends. I love all of the books above and personally think (besides City of Bones) that the covers are beautifully done. If you feel that you can't read the book because of the cover I recommend you get a Book Sox and cover up the cover. You can claim that you are trying to protect the book from harm. What books give you problems because of the cover?

Review The Shadowhunters' Codex

The Shadowhunter’s Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

Available Now

Companion to Mortal Instruments

Bookologist Analysis: Textbooks of fantasy with writing are always entertaining.

Delve into the details of all things Shadowhunter with this illustrated guide to the knowledge and lore of the Shadowhunter world.

Since the thirteenth century, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been the one and only manual for Shadowhunters looking to brush up on their demon languages, learn proper stele use, and discover just what exactly a pyxis is. Featured in both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this guide is a necessity for any young Nephilim on their journey to becoming a Shadowhunter. Beautifully illustrated, the Codex contains images of the famous Shadowhunter homeland of Idris, as well as depictions of demons and other Downworlders.

But this isn’t just any copy of The Shadowhunter’s Codex. It’s Clary’s copy, and as an artist herself, she’s sketched pictures of her friends and family in the book, and scrawled helpful advice in the margins. Of course, she couldn’t exactly stop Jace or Simon from adding their thoughts either. Part encyclopedia, part history, part training manual—complete with commentary from Shadowhunters who have seen it all—this beautiful guide is a perfect supplement to the #1 New York Times bestselling series

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Obviously reviewing a textbook is kind of impossible because there is no plot (it’s in the Mortal Instruments). The characters are already established and the information is new. So this review with be shorter. As usual comment and share. Email me at Bookologists@gmail.com.

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I remember sitting in History class as when I was in fifth grade loving to read the textbook and always being disappointed because we never finished it. There would be all sorts of infographics, pictures, and sidebars. I’ve always had a love affair with textbooks and all the information you can get out of references from specific subject books. Some of the sidebars however are pretty boring and redundant as Jace kindly points out (life experience means you have an extra 30 seconds). The Codex is a wonderful wealth of information for the series and companion novels.

The Codex is also filled with all these great drawings from Clary and the regular Codex drawings. Clary’s drawing include a lot of Jace (they need a fan attached to the book) and of a Silent Brother which is by far my favorite. The banter between Clary and Jace is so serious that you want to crack up, though Simon does mention getting a room a bit too much for my taste, but his sarcasm covers it all nicely. The codex is original with all of its nice individualized pieces.

The Codex is a nice companion book to the Mortal Instruments, but is not a necessary read. I can’t wait however for the last book in the Mortal Instruments that is due out soon. Jace and Clary forever and magical textbook for the win