Ugh. What a ride! 4 stars! 
 Man, I really loved it. Although I have some minor issues with it, this one is so good! 
 I am so sad over that ending!! 
 Okay, but a general overview: the whole story takes place years after the end of City of Heavenly Fire. (I really recommend reading that book before starting this one, since it's in CoHF that we first meet this gang!) the Blackthorns are in charge of the LA institute, Emma is their ward, Cristina Rosales has come to stay with them, and there are new characters introduced. There's been murders happening, things get heated when the faeries come seeking their help, (the Fae are horribly shun after the Dark War from CoHF, another reason why you should read it!) so basically they end up having to investigate the murders, which Emma thinks may be related to the death of her parents. 
 Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was VERY emotional, like most of Clare's books and I did cry :( As an older sister of four girls 12 and under, I felt so much for Julian! I could completely relate to him. Emma was slightly bland for me, I didn't really feel like the story was so much about her rather than about the Blackthorns! I freaking loved them SO MUCH! Every. Single. One. So I think Emma paled in comparison to them :( 
 The things that bothered me were the "revelations" they all fell short. Cristina's back story, there was so much anticipation for that and meh. Then the whole parabatai, okay it was interesting and I didn't see it coming but idk I guess because it's theoretical I don't really have the notion of it down. As for the ending, that was literally the same ending from another Clare book. Granted much more terrible but it was LITERALLY influence by another book! 
 Obviously I'm a hardcore shipper of Emma & Jules but gosh darn it! That's sooo messed up! To come to THAT conclusion ugh. Julian is gonna be torn apart :(