Once again, I'm late to the party. I always seem to be the last one to read the popular books, and I can't decide if this is a good thing or not. On one hand, I have to tiptoe around spoilers until I can finally get around to reading it (which could be months, or even years...). On the other, I feel like it takes a lot of the pressure off. I'm so late that everybody else has already made up their own mind about it, and my opinion no longer matters (as if it did in the first place). 
 The conclusion to this series was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be, and I can guarantee that Clare fans won't be disappointed. Not everyone is a fan though. I find that The Mortal Instruments books, or even Cassandra Clare in general, are love or hate. I fall clearly into the love category, and I think the main reason for that is her ability to make everyone happy. So many books have a clear split between their fans. One love interest over another, or which characters need to live/die. This is the second series of hers that I have wrapped up, nine books in all, and she has this way of settling every argument. Jace vs Simon. Will vs. Jem. Somehow, everyone walks away happy. It's astounding! 
 Book 6 introduces a few new characters, which I suspect will have an important role in the future. Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn are two young teenagers still growing into their Shadowhunter abilities. At the end of this series, they have been laid out perfectly for another spinoff series, and I, for one, am completely behind that idea. It really is a perfect plan. There are an infinite number of stories to be told in the MI world, but by starting off a new series, it keeps the story fresh. The only thing that bugs me about the whole thing is that the characters all feel essentially the same. They were unique the first time around, but now I feel like they're all a little cookie-cutter. Strong heroine, loyal friends, a rocky romance, self sacrifice... you get the idea. It's a good thing that I happen to like all of those things! I'll keep reading, as long as Clare keeps writing.