Book Review - City of Fallen Angels

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments (Book 4)
Publisher: Walker
Release Date: 1 Sep 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1406330335

 Synopsis
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old 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 importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, 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 that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary 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 to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Review
I nearly didn't go on to this one, after struggling a bit with book 3, but that one ended quite well and I was intrigued so I decided to give it a go. 
Within a couple of hours I had read through to page 250 and was really enjoying it, I had to put it down for the night though but looked forward to picking it up the next day.
I found myself still liking it until the last 75 or so pages, then I felt like it just started to get silly. Just when things are resolved something else springs up and takes over. Jace now spends most of his time moping or feeling sorry for himself - he plays the martyr card very well and I want to tell him to get on with it and sort something out instead of moaning, 'I'm not good enough for you' - pull yourself together man, either resolve your issues or accept that she loves you anyway, flaws and all for goodness sake. 
Clary was a bit better in this book and started to fight more for what she wanted but she still irritated me a bit.
I got the whole Valentine plot and he was a good bad guy - you were never quite sure if he was all bad or just misguided, but in this book you had so many potential bad guys I just found myself not caring anymore and hoping that one of them would do something to get it all over with.
I loved the Simon plot again - he has definitely become my favourite character, I don't know why but I seem to connect with him, and although he has it hard and things really suck for him, he still puts his friends first - no matter what. That boy has a big heart and a pretty good wit.
This one was better, the plot was much more enjoyable and the pacing carried me along, but for me this is all just getting drawn out a bit too much. 
I've just had book 5 come in at the library and part of me thinks I've got this far so maybe I should finish the series, but then I'm clearly not really enjoying them that much, so maybe I should give up. I feel bad if I read it knowing I won't enjoy it and then giving a bad review. I would much rather be positive, but for me this series is clearly not clicking so I may throw in the towel now.
I am going to try the Infernal Devices spin of sequel series though as everyone tells me they are so much better.

My Rating

      This was almost a 'Really Enjoyed It' rating, as I sailed through the first half of the book, but I struggled at the end so it pulled it down.