Book Review: City of Heavenly Fire

City of Heavenly Fire
(The Mortal Instruments #6)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Published By:  Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date:  May 27th, 2014

Page Count:  725 pages

Buy it at:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound

Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer

Audience:  Young Adult Fantasy

Check out our reviews for

City of Bones #1 (here)

City of Ashes #2 (here)

City of Glass #3 (here)
City of Fallen Angels #4 (here)
City of Lost Souls #5 (here)


My initial reaction upon completing this book…I GOT MY ENDING!!!  THIS was the ending I was hoping for…the finale that I didn't feel we got at the end of the original trilogy.  And as much as I loved the first three books, I have to admit that I still wanted more at the end of City of Glass.  I felt it sort of ended unfinished…unresolved with Jace and Clary and our other Shadowhunter friends and Downworlders.  Of course, the journey to get to this epic conclusion to The Mortal Instruments books was full of intensity, and tragedies, and triumphs…with tons of feels in between. 

Since the book hasn’t been out for very long, I’ll refrain from any spoilers aside from letting you know how very satisfied I am with how City of Heavenly Fire wrapped up this EPIC series—you can’t even imagine!

So Cassie answered my dreams when she announced the continuation of The Mortal Instruments saga with three more books.  And as much as I loved the last two instalments, I will admit to feeling a teensy bit frustrated with what one of my favourite characters had to endure…Jace.  That poor boy has been through so much, I longed for him to shed some of that vulnerability he had throughout this series.  Of course, one cannot just SHED it, you have to endure the journey to get to that point.  His life story was really so full of anguish and turmoil, but it was also full of happiness and joy…especially where his family, and Clary, were concerned.  But in the last two books, Jace was possessed in one and magically connected to Sebastian via a diabolical link in the other. In both instalments, these outside evil influences made him not himself—literally; I hated seeing him like that, but again, it was part of the journey he had to endure.

But!  In City of Heavenly Fire, I got my Jace too!  We got to witness Jace in all his glory and fierceness as the exceptional Shadowhunter that his reputation has always held.  However, Jace had—and would always have—a bit of that vulnerability that endears him to us above his always present cocky attitude.  And, of course, some of his vulnerabilities lie with Clary.  As a real couple, and team, they sizzled in this book.  Their love story is forever etched in stone as one of my favourites.

And Clary.  Where do I start with her?  She evolved out of that little girl we met in City of Bones—totally unaware of the magical world she was blinded to—and became a confident and fierce warrior in her own right.  Her evolution wasn’t too far fetched though…she did stay true to herself and those she loved.  Her unwavering loyalty was what will (and in some respects already has) earned her a place among the legendary Shadowhunters…along with Jace.

Simon, Isabelle, Alec and Magnus.  They literally blew me away in this instalment—especially Simon.  There was a time in the earlier books where I was all about Jace and Clary.  But Simon inevitably carved a little special niche in my heart and I was equally, if not more, invested in his outcome.

Sebastian also had an evolution, however one that was very sinister.  His demented thoughts and ways were almost unbelievable.  But at the same time, there was always this teensy bit of empathy I had towards him because he was born into this.  None of this was his choice and I often wondered what he would have been like had he not been infused with demon blood prior to his birth and not raised by Valentine.  Obviously, I was not the only one who wondered such things.

The ties between the prequel trilogy, The Infernal Devices, and the new trilogy set to release next year, The Dark Artifices, were expertly woven into this originating story.  I cannot fathom how Cassandra Clare maps this all out in her head.  She has one brilliant mind.

And after encountering Emma and Julian, I have to say that I’m very anxious to read all about their story too…and the continuing epic storyline of this amazing world that Ms. Clare has created.

There was a part in the book where I was SO not happy and was ready to throw the book against the wall and forever hold Cassie responsible for ruining one of my favourite stories ever.  But I temporarily forgot that she was the queen of twists…and twist she did! There were sacrifices that hurt but there were triumphs that had me grinning from ear to ear, and had me hugging this book!   As I said…LOTS of feels…lots of feels!

With this amazing concluding book, Cassandra Clare remains one of my all-time favourite authors.  She writes such complex and rich characters, and her imagination is off the charts!  I can’t imagine how she sorts all this out in her head.  She maps things out that intertwine and untwine and reweave back together throughout her stories with such finesse and easy flow.  Once I start turning the pages of one of her books, I’m totally engrossed in her story and can’t seem to turn the pages fast enough, yet I want to savour them too.  Every time I had to put the book down, it was with huge reluctance.

The two year wait and the last two books of this series were TOTALLY worth it!   However, like many readers, I had mixed feelings upon turning that last page.  Happy for so many reasons, including the ending I wished for, and sad for other reasons including the sacrifices and the fact that this part of this amazing world Cassie has created is over.  I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about these amazing—AH-MAZE-ING—characters and the world with which they are in.  Cassandra Clare is brilliant.  Period.

Summary from Goodreads:

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to 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...

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!