Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting entry in bestselling series has creepy cult stuff.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 26 kid reviews
Kids say the book is a mixed bag, with many finding it interesting and compelling, but some feel it lacks the excitement of its predecessors, exhibiting more violence and mature themes. While the character development and emotional depth are praised, the increased intensity and sexual content have led some to recommend it for older teens rather than younger readers.
- mixed opinions
- interesting themes
- increased intensity
- age recommendations
- strong characters
- emotional depth
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
At the end of book three, characters were in the Glass City of Idris after a big battle with demons and the evil Valentine. Back in New York City, characters try to re-imagine their lives. Clary is training at the institute for the first time, Simon is trying to live a semi-normal life (while hiding his stash of blood from his mom), and Jace is working on his relationship skills with Clary while trying to remind himself that he isn't like the psychopath who raised him. But evil forces are at work, with Jace invaded by strange and violent dreams where he's afraid for Clary's life, Simon visited by a very old and very powerful vampire who nearly compels his alliance with her, and Clary using her ruin-creating abilities to uncover a cult that tampers with the unborn like they did with her own brother.
Is It Any Good?
After the nail-biting, demon-demolishing, evil-vanquishing conclusion to the first cycle, book four had a lot to live up to, and it builds pretty slowly but steadily. It surfaces new evil forces to fight and draws on quite a bit of relationship angst to propel the characters -- maybe a bit too much when it comes to Jace and Clary. While the cult activity and dead claw-handed babies will definitely give readers the creeps, CITY OF ANGELS keeps the series full of light moments and humor for contrast. And the new villains are just as complex as Valentine, but female this time, a fun twist and a reminder of the series' appeal to both boys and girls.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all cult imagery in this book. For those practicing a religion, is it hard to read about? Is it more jarring than the straight-out demon fighting?
Families can also talk about the popularity of this series. If you've read the first cycle of three -- that ended like a complete trilogy -- were you wondering/worrying/excited with what the next cycle would hold? Were you happy or disappointed with the direction the author took with the series?
Families can also talk about Clary and Jace's very intense relationship. Is all that self-doubt and worry typical of teen relationships, or over the top?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry
- Publication date : April 5, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 424
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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