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 Background: Clary Fray having just recently found out that she is a Shadowhunter, a race of Nephilim who protect Mundane humans from demons and Downworlders. That coupled with the fact that she learned Jace, the boy she thought of only as an arrogant Shadowhunter and began having feelings for, and Valentine, the evil mastermind who tried to tear down the Shadowhunter organization, are her long thought dead brother and father respectively, it's safe to say that she's not having the best year. Now she's brought back into the world because Downworlder children are dying and her father may be the cause. 
 Protagonist: I've grown to like Clary's character more in this installment, it may be because I've gotten used to her name, or because the book seems to follow her less than the previous one did either way she's slowly growing on me and I was more engrossed in her character than I though I'd be. She also grows a bit herself in this one as well, she's growing into her role as a Shadowhunter well and begins to sort out her personal life, however confusing it is, and does so with more confidence than I would have if I was in that situation. 
 Romance: Due to the complications we learn in the end of City of Bones, Clary and Jace have been forced to end their romance, however their feelings only seem to get more and more tangled as what is rationalized at affection between a brother and sister seems to be much more passionate than that. Clary, in efforts to keep her feelings in check has begun seeing her best friend Simon a mundane who knows about the Invisible world. Though his feelings for her a intense and real, hers seem to be muddled and confusing as she wants to love him the way he does her. 
 World-Building: There is a lot we learn as we see new and returning characters interact and reveal things both secret and unknown to the reader. We learn more about the Clave and their inner-workings, we see another Mortal Instrument and learn of his power. We also learn more about the Instruments as a whole and how their affects work. We learn about the Circle some more and watch as Valentine's plan begins to take off. 
 Predictability: This book has about as many predictable moments as unpredictable ones. I was able to guess a fair bit of things happening but was blown away at the amount of unforseen moments. The things that weren't easy to predict were game changing and breathtaking. There were also moments where I knew something was going to happen but couldn't really form specifics which was fun to read as I got to see the pieces being put together and my mind clicking with excitement. 
 Ending: The ending was great, one of those full of hope and promise and fill the heart full of joy and excitement at seeing how far these characters have come and what they can do is amazing. The very end is a cliffhanger that will leave the reader wondering what will happen next as there is a bombshell dropped that came quite literally out of no where, no foreshadowing what so ever but still seemed to hold up. 
 Overall, I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars, I'm not sure whether I like it more than the previous installment or not, if so it's only slightly. This series is standing strong and this installment left me waiting to dig in for more.