CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE

15/1/2015

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!

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
BOOK 1: City of Bones
BOOK 2: City of Ashes
BOOK 3: City of Glass
BOOK 4: City of Fallen Angels
BOOK 5: City of Lost Souls
BOOK 6: City of Heavenly Fire

WARNING

Spoilers are up ahead. If you haven't read this book or plan on reading it in the future I highly suggest you do not go ahead and click read more.

Please do be mindful that if you post a comment and didn't want to see any spoilers, you are most likely to accidentally catch a glimpse.

You have been warned!

When I first went to read City of Heavenly Fire I was terrified of this book because of the six character deaths. At least there was always the fact that there was to be two weddings at the end which was always a happy thought. I already knew that shadowhunters weren't going to cease to exist and that Sebastian Verlac wasn't going to win the war, since there was going to be The Dark Artifices and The Wicked Powers after The Mortal Instruments.

Cassandra Clare had already shown us shadowhunters quite a few snippets down the road before the book was released. One of the snippet had even hinted that Sebastian had a secret admirer whom never thought they would ever meet a shadowhunter they could stand for more than five minutes. Sebastian's secret admirer was obviously not a shadowhunter or a mundane, so I thought it would be either a warlock, vampire, werewolf or faerie. I was shock to find out his secret admirer was not just a faerie but the Seelie Queen! What!? Yep it's true. So basically the faeries were against the shadowhunters.

Brother Zachariah becomes a silent brother no more when he tries to stop the heavenly fire from killing Jace by drawing an ancient rune on his palm and pressing it onto Jace's chest. Brother Zachariah's body takes away some of the fire as it courses through his body. Since Brother Zachariah has taken some of the fire in himself, it burned away his brotherhood making him no longer a silent brother but an ordinary shadowhunter. Once you become a silent brother you cannot un become one, so it comes as a shock to everyone when he is just the shadowhunter he once was: Jem Carstairs. Though he calls himself Zachariah still for now.

Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Simon go into the demon realms to rescue Magnus, Raphael, Luke and Jocelyn, and to find Sebastian to kill him. PS. Sebastian still wants Clary to rule the throne with him to make her his queen and to love him. Slightly creepy cause he doesn't want the sister and botherly kind of love...

Okay so who died? Jordan Kyle, Meliorn, Raphael Santiago, Andrew Blackthorn, Sebastian Verlac, Amatis Graymark, and Johnathon Morgenstern (Johnathon is not Sebastian! So really it's sort of seven character deaths). Jordan was stabbed in the chest by Sebastian merciless in front of Maia and then he allowed her live so she could deliver a message to all shadowhunters. I was actually really pissed at Maia as before Jordan was dying in her arms, she was planning on breaking up with him! She didn't even cry when he died! Ugh! Meliorn was killed by Alec, as Alec was furious that Meliorn had kidnapped Magnus and had handed Magnus to Sebastian, and Meliorn was actually only half faerie so he could lie, hence why he was on the Concil (he lied about the faeries alliance with shadowhunters, when they were against shadowhunters and had teamed up with Sebastian). Raphael was killed by Sebastian as well, when Raphael refused to kill Magnus since Magnus had saved his life when he was a boy. Andrew Blackthorn, (the Blackthorn children's father) was surprisingly killed by his own son Julian when he was an endarken and had tried to get Tiberius to go to him. Sebastian was killed by Clary using her Morgenstern sword Heosphoros which contained the heavenly fire (that had once contained Jace). Go Clary!! Out of all the characters that died I would have to say I cried the most for Johnathon Morgenstern, as when Clary killed Sebastian with the heavenly fire, the fire burned away his demon blood and showed underneath what Sebastion would have been if Valentine had not injected him with demon blood. Johnathon was so sweet and kind. He apologised for everything the demon part of him had done. He told Clary how to destroy the endarkened as there was no way to save them. Oh and his eyes! They were no longer black, but green. When Jocelyn heard him speak she new instantly it wasn't Sebastian and ran to him and cried her heart out. Unfortunately Cassandra Clare decided to be the evil person she is and let Jonathan die as the heavenly fire burned him. How come Jace survived the heavenly fire? Well he survived as there was still goodness in him and there was no goodness in Sebastian, and Johnathon never truly got to live and decide whether he wanted to be good or not.

Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Alec, Simon, Magnus, Luke, and Jocelyn were trapped in the demon realms with no way back as Sebastian had sealed shut the way to get back home forever. Magnus unwillingly called upon his father who happened to be one of the Nine princes of hell (a very powerful demon). They had to spark a deal with the demon. In the end the deal was to take away Simon's mortality and erase all memories of the shadow world. Magnus was willing to trade his mortality, but since Magnus was so old it would kill his life in the process... But don't worry Simon actually becomes a shadowhunter after Magnus offers Simon the choice to become a shadowhunter and drink from the mortal cup. Simon fortunately accepts and starts to get some of his memories back!

Oh and who get's married in the end? Why Jocelyn and Luke of course! The comic in the back of the book is a comic for the second wedding of Tessa and Jem. The comic for it is so lovely and cute.

So that's probably the main things that happen in City of Heavenly fire. It's not really a review. It's more of me just telling you everything that happened in the novel.

37 Comments

Cristina

7/1/2015 08:42:48 am

This brings back happy memories :')

Clace

7/1/2015 09:01:25 am

I can't believe Maia wanted to break up with Jordan? Whats not to love about him <3

Abooktopia link

10/5/2015 06:27:51 am

I know right!

Adi

7/1/2015 12:40:03 pm

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! I had no idea about any of the whole Seelie queen stuff, Maia wanting to break up with Jordan, and about how some of the other characters died and just wow... Um... is it too late to go read the book since I now know everything that happen?? 😂😂 Ok Ive offically decided to read the last book now thanks to you because before I didnt think it was going to be that interesting and I read the books ages ago and just didnt feel like picking up the book again

Ashley

8/1/2015 02:33:04 am

NO IT ISN'T!!! Go read it and thats a command!

Adi

10/1/2015 03:42:51 am

Haha thank goodness😅 I borrowed the book from the local library. Just waiting on the waiting list. No. 7

Ashley

8/1/2015 02:31:38 am

OMG the Seelie Queen tho! 😱 I had not excepted that

Abooktopia link

10/5/2015 06:28:54 am

Nor had I...

Montanna

8/1/2015 03:20:54 pm

Can you post photos of the Comic in the back? I heard there two different versions. One of the wedding and one of Jules and Emma.

Debbi W

9/1/2015 02:15:25 am

They should! I love the comic and I haven't seen anyone with the TDA one so I dont think the chances of them posting it are very high but still the wedding *♡*

Abooktopia

9/1/2015 09:00:10 am

I've just posted both them in the "Extras" section of my website. Enjoy!

Debbi W

9/1/2015 02:13:35 am

Thanks for warning others about the spoilers up ahead and about catching a glimpse when commenting.

Abooktopia

10/5/2015 10:52:22 am

Of course! Nobody likes reading spoilers by accident.

BooksofWords&Wonder

13/1/2015 09:53:44 am

You should post a pic of your bookself

Abooktopia

22/1/2015 05:01:13 am

I will one day in the merchandise section.

BooksofWords&Wonder

10/5/2015 06:30:43 am

Can't wait until you do!

Cordelia

18/1/2015 12:58:59 pm

Johnathon's death was the worst thing ever
I balled my eyes out for days 😭😭

Ellie Fent

25/1/2015 10:06:14 am

Hahaha I agree it really isn't much of a review. More of a rant, but seriously this book was amazing and I just cannot wait to read The Dark Artifices and The Last Hours!

Sally

30/1/2015 09:04:04 am

This brings back the good old memory. I cried my heart out when Johnathon Morgenstern died (NOT SEBASTIAN VERLAC). It wasn't fair what Valentine turned him into and he didn't get the chance to redeem himself for what the demon part of him did. I wish he lived, but then I guess in a way it would have been as great... If you get what I mean... If that makes any sense whatsoever

Abooktopia link

21/2/2015 12:51:35 pm

I wish that Valentine never did what he did, but that would have ruined the plot. Another part of me wishes he had survived the Heavenly Fire, but his death was well written and cry worthy and I don't really want to change that as I am not much of a crier and loved that I finally found a book that really touched my heart and made me ball my eyes out.

Sally

24/2/2015 10:29:50 am

I totally agree. I wouldn't change it, but there is still a part of me that wishes he didn't have to die.

valerie winehouse

7/2/2015 04:57:39 pm

CC's writing just got better and better as the series continued. The plot was great and was by far my favorite in the TMI series

Skyler Fairchild

8/2/2015 07:53:36 am

It's great that you warn others that they are spoilers up ahead. Johnathons death was the saddest thing I have ever read. It's not fair that he didnt get the chance to live his life out because Valentine took that away from him. I like Clary, imagine what life would have been like if Valentine was not messed up. I would have liked to have gotten to know Valentina and basked in the joy of Johnathons sweet kind and aring personality. I think he Johnathon would have been a mix between Jem and Will. He'd have Jem's sweet personality and Will's trouble making sarcastic manner and protectiveness.

Abooktopia link

21/2/2015 12:39:48 pm

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm not a big crier but I have to admit Johnathon Morgenstern's death had me in tears all day. The single thought had me balling my eyes out. I finished the book (in one day) the same day I happened to be going to the Cinemas to watch The Fault in Our Stars (not a big crier like I said, so I did not cry whilst reading this book). I felt like the fifth wheel out of my friendship group when they were all crying and blowing their noses whilst I sat there emotionless with no tears to shed as I had already mourned a greater death in its own way a couple of hours before. I totally agree with you how it wasn't fair that he never truly got the chance to live, and that his life was snatched away from him. I sometimes think what if... What if Valentine never injected demon blood into his own son... Etc. I also like to think of Johnathon as a kind and caring brother who is protective of both his sisters (cause Valentina would have existed) yet would have been a mischievous rebel. I'm sure his character would've cracked me up, and I would've fallen in love with him. And he must have had a girlfriend? But who? Isabelle? But then again that would have meant that we would never have gotten to meet Simon, as there would have been no need for Jocelyn to run away with Clary and hide in the mundane world. I'm going to finish of there otherwise this will end but being pages long...

Skyler Fairchild

28/2/2015 08:30:27 am

It's totally fine! I get that you can't always get to everyone's comments. Thanks for replying and giving thought to it! I cried when Augustus died but Johnathon's was 10x worse cause of the whole not getting the chance to live. I would actually ship Johnathon and Isabelle together but it is kinda depressing that Clary would have never met Simon, and Jace would not have been born. Shit... Jace has to be born. No arguments. But if he wasn't (Cause his parents would never have been together. Instead Stephen would have stayed with Amatis) so they would have had a different child together. I doubt his name would also be Jace, but that child would then be like step cousins with Clary? I think... cause Valentine would die a hero's death and Luke would marry Jocelyn. etc... There are so many different possibilities and different scenarios of what life would have been like if Valentine wasn't so messed up. Clary's grandmother and Grandfather would have been alive. I'm going to stop here before I keep on ranting and come up with different scenarios!

Abooktopia.weebly link

2/3/2015 02:54:35 am

There are way too many possibilities. I believe that Isabelle and Johnathon would be together and someone else would replace Jace (Female/Male) so Clary wouldn't have a boyfriend unless she dated her 'step-brother' (which I doubt) or manged to fall in love with someone else (most likely). Life would have been completely different and Clary wouldn't be the person we know her as. Alec's wouldn't have a parabatai unless he was with Johnathon or Stephen and Amatis child but their child could easily be female. Clary also wouldn't have her rune drawing skills, so the fearless wouldn't have existed and that would mean we wouldn't get to read about Alec almost declaring his love for Magnus to his parents. (I loved that scene I re-read it twice) End of rant before I also come up with new possibilities.

Jessica

29/3/2015 06:42:05 am

Gosh I cannot believe I forgot all that happened! I should probably reread it since it was the best ending to a series

Audrey Willis

5/4/2015 03:52:14 pm

I read City of Heavenly Fire last year and reading your review just bring the good memories back to me :) The book was super huge but surprisingly I finished it in a quiet short time. It was really a page turner. I had the same feeling as you did for the characters' deaths. I was so sad when Jordan died. I really like his character and would love to see his happy ending with Maia. But then Cassandra Clare had given him a different fate :( It was the same feeling I had when Raphael died. Well, he wasn't my favourite character at the beginning of the series but I think he has one of the best character developments in the series and I was starting to like him when Cassandra Clare "killed" him. Well, at least he died doing a very noble thing. And at last... Jonathan Morgenstern's death. Wow. That was very emotional of me. I was imagining what his life would have been hadn't he turned into an evil by Valentine. And those green eyes.... It was such a heart-breaker. But I was glad that he had been given the opportunity to become his true self just right before he die.

Abooktopia link

5/4/2015 04:17:15 pm

I managed to finish the novel in a days time which is extremely surprising for me. I loved Jordan and felt his death was much too quick. I was upset knowing that Maia wanted to break up with him but I understand why and am still glad she gave him a chance. As for Raphael I didn't really connect with his character until I read the short story "Saving Raphael Santiago". I love his strong will and persistence.

Johnathon's death was just wow... At first I was like yes! When 'Sebastian' died, but then afterwards... just. no. And the mention of his green eyes. *shakes head* That just hit the nail in the heart.

Elisa Tuck

20/4/2015 03:48:44 am

I wish I had found this blog earlier so I could have blabbed on about CoHF on here at the time.

Delilah

1/5/2015 03:25:02 pm

Same here. It was hard not to talk about it the first few weeks

BooksareLife

2/5/2015 02:59:57 pm

Love how at the beginning it was completely spoilers free than when you clicked read more, it was you just fangirling and spewing out your emotions. I love it how you warn others not to click read more or comment if they have not read the book.

Abooktopia link

5/5/2015 12:33:30 pm

Hahaha what better way to spew out your emotional fangirl feelings?

Camilla Livic

7/5/2015 04:14:14 pm

Have you seen all the new casts for ShadowhuntersTV? If so what do you think of them? There's been so many negative comments about how they won't live up to the old actors which is really sad because they won't give them a chance to prove themselves.

Abooktopia link

10/5/2015 06:38:14 am

I have indeed! I really love the casts for Clary, Simon, Jace and Isabelle. I know some people are still holding onto the old casts, and many loved Lily Collins as Clary, as did I. But I am sure the new cast of Clary will be lovely and this time she will have actual red hair that is orange, and not well... red. There have been some racial comments about the new Isabelle casting being Latin, but she is absolutely gorgeous, just as Isabelle should be. I personally believe Isabelle looks beautiful with tanned skin. I think the cast that most people are unhappy with is Luke... and that's became the new cast is Black... Which I find racial that people do not like him because he is black. In the novel it didn't exactly say that Luke was white, and I think it's fine that Luke can be any race, even black. Plus Maia is also black (I hope she does not become white...) and she and Luke are part of a pack together. They sorta look good together as a pack if that makes sense... Plus there's a reason why they chose that specific actor to play Luke. Obviously his acting skills were good and he played the role Luke really well.

Camilla Livic

10/5/2015 10:50:50 am

I especially love the casts for Isabelle, Clary and Simon. Oh and have you seen the new cast of Alec? I'm glad Alec and Isabelle look like they could actually be brother and sister just like the old casts. (I seriously need to learn all the new casts names) I get why people don't really like the choice for Luke, but it's just racist because they don't want him as Luke cause he's black. I mean it might be okay if they said they didn't like him due to his acting skills, I might be fine with that. But because it's based on his skin color? That is just not on!! I know there are a lot of people who do not like Cassie's novels due to the biodiversity and there being homosexuals, which is really sad because her series is truly amazing. I'm also curious as to see who will be cast for Magnus Bane (I like Godfrey last time, I mean he looked the part, but then again he wasn't really a good actor, but that is explanatory since he's a model not an actor.) I'm also curious as whether they will include TID and TDA and TLH into the tv show, or if they will make a separate show. That would be amazing if they made a ton of sperate tv shows for each book series.

Abooktopia link

24/5/2015 06:18:37 am

The casts are terrific so far! It's always really good when the actors actually look like they could pass as siblings in the movies. I don't think Luke's skins colour matters, as long as he portrays his character well. I seriously hate it how people refuse to read her novels because of the homosexuals, biodiversity, people with disabilities, etc. I love how each character has a bit of reality to them, like I love how Julian smokes (but I don't cause smoking bad *scolds child* but you get the point...) and how Tiberius is autistic. I kinda like the new cast for Magnus and think he will play his character a lot better than Godfrey Goal (but we can forgive Godfrey for his lack of acting skills due to him being a model not an actor). I hope they do flashbacks for TID and TLH and that the TV show continues onto TDA. Separate shows would be great though I doubt they would do that unless it was the biggest hit in a millennia.

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