3.5 stars 
 I've sat on this review for almost a month now and I'm still not quite sure what to say... 
 I guess I should start by saying: I devoured this book, absolutely devoured. I'm not sure why--no wait, that's a lie, I do know why: Jace (Wayland, Morgenstern, Herondale, Lightwood). I love him. No. I more than love him. I have since the very first second he threatened a demon in City of Bones. I read this series primarily for him. Which is part of the reason I feel so torn about this book--the whole second cycle, really. 
 I guess I'm just a little bit (read: a lot) tired of everything having to happen to Jace. I mean, wasn't it enough that he was physically, emotionally, and mentally abused by his "father", then he fell in love with his "sister", then was stabbed through the heart and DIED in cycle one? No? Now we have to possess him and make him try to stab his girlfriend in COFA, and now have his free will completely stripped from him (and I won't even mention the crap that happens to him at the end due to spoilers) in cycle 2. I mean, can't we pick on someone ELSE for a change? 
 It makes me angry, I guess. I just...hoped for a little bit of happiness for him (for Jace and Clary both) this time around. Don't get me wrong, I completely appreciate getting to live new adventures with my favorite character, but I really just wanted him to be able to enjoy his life a little. 
 Cassandra Clare argues that Jace had "two happy months" with Clary from the end of COG to COFA. Oh, really? Because I seem to recall him grieving over the loss of his little brother, dealing with massive identity issues, and losing the only father he'd ever known. Not to mention the horrifying dreams... Oh, and his girlfriend's mother thinks he's the devil incarnate. Yeah!! Good times! 
 Now, I get to wonder whether Clare will finally do him in for good in the upcoming installation. I mean, she may as well have already since his character was completely obliterated by possession and the freaky control Jonathan/Sebastian has over him. It's like the real Jace is already dead (not that I want that!! I will boycott Ms Clare, I swear I will!). I'm just...tired. Very, very tired. Can we just leave my boy alone? Please? 
 Okay, now that I've gotten that out, can I also just say: I'm not loving this plot. It feels like it doesn't know where it's going. And it feels so strange of me to whine about this when I've given it 3.5 stars, but as much as I liked reading it, I still had issues with parts of it. 
 There's a lot more (overwritten descriptive passages, useless side plots that had nothing to do with the main plot, repetitive words and descriptive terms, etc, etc...) but I really don't feel like getting into all of it. 
 I will finish the series, because I have to, but I can't deny that I'm disappointed. I had just hoped for something different, something that would allow me to continue on learning and living with the characters I'd fallen in love with in cycle one. But who knows, maybe Clare will surprise me with COHF. *fingers crossed but not holding my breath*