Reviews

It took me 11 days to read this dang book. Usually I can get through a decent sized book in a day or two so ELEVEN days should be telling.

There are some good things about City of Heavenly Fire, but DANG where was Cassandra Clare’s editor???

COHF is soooooo long and frequently boring. Multiple different storylines are randomly introduced with characters we’re never heard of before. This really caused the novel to drag. I personally love Jem and Tessa so that wasn’t necessarily an issue but I feel like it was wrong to include the Los Angeles institute kids—clearly they’re only included to help set up another book.

Additionally, the pace of the book felt off. There was almost no momentum and the ending was lackluster. Simon losing his memory felt so cheap and soap opera-ish. Also, the final “battle” and ELEVEN DAYS OF BUILD UP was beyond disappointing. I hate how Sebastian is finally this good dude—even if it was JUST the demon blood that made him evil, he has spent seventeen years being an asshat. There’s no way in hell he is suddenly Mr. Selfless. It just felt so hollow.

I’m glad that everyone basically got their happily ever afters but I was so dang bored getting there.

Also, Jace and Clary’s relationship felt tedious, which is devastating considering all the sexual tension in previous books. There were parts that were good and interesting but they were few and far between.

TBH, I don’t really see how the plot of COHF lines up with the previous two books. It genuinely feels like each book was written as a stand-alone with random cliff hanger endings. For instance, the 4th book Sebastian isn’t even a key player UNTIL THE VERY END? And then in the 5th book it’s all weird threesome with Jace and Clary and Sebastian traveling the world together. How did either of these books plots REALLY bring us to the finale. In my opinion, they didn’t.

So, we’re back to the million dollar question: WHERE WAS CASSANDRA CLARE’S EDITOR?!

I’m disappointed but so freaking glad it’s over. I mean, praise be I don’t have to read more of this convoluted plot.

Cassandra Clare is an outstanding author but she really did us dirty with this book. Although, I still love and adore Jace and Clary and Simon and Isabel and Alec and Magnus. But geez.

diana_garni's review against another edition

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5.0

OMG IT WAS THE SECOND BEST THING CASSANDRA HAS EVER WRITEN (the first one was Clockwork Princess, of course)! I totally enjoyed it, cried with it, laughed with it, felt so many things because of it...It was such an amazing trip that's worthy all the good things I and anyone could say about it.

[Full and super complete Spanish review on my blog http://silenciosentrepaginas-libros.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/resena-ciudad-del-fuego-celestial.html?m=0]

kimmyk_57's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

dphillips's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

kendra_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

My family fr!!! 🥹❤️✨

baley's review against another edition

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4.0

Okay, so I thought I was going to LOVE this book, I mean really LOVE it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I only liked it. Don't get me wrong, I love the series. It's one of my favorite, but the last three books have been just kind of missing something. I'm going to really miss the characters--Jace specifically--and all of their crazy adventures. The Mortal Instruments has really shaped my reading experience so it's really depressing to know it's over...
Anyway. City of Heavenly Fire was action packed, witty, romantic, surprising, and lacking...something that the first three had. I don't want to say Clare should have ended the series after City of Glass because I loved continuing the characters' adventures, but there was just something..........I'm rambling.
4 stars because of the series as a whole. 3.5 stars for City of Heavenly Fire.
At least I'll see them again in Lady Midnight or whatever it's going to be called.

erubrich's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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