It’s been seven months since I posted my review of City of Lost Souls, more than seven months since I last read a book within the Shadowhunter Chronicles. When I picked City of Heavenly Fire up to reread and finish my reviews for The Mortal Instruments series it was like falling into bed after a long day – easy, comforting and so satisfying.

Returning to this story world was simple – effortless, in fact – and I am so glad I finally got this book read because I had so much fun reliving everything. It’s been over a decade since I read it last, courtesy of my dear friend’s ebook copy back in high school. There was a bittersweetness to reading it but seeing as this is the first time I was reading this final book with a writer’s eye, I could see all the brilliant elements of the storytelling, themes, character interactions and loose threads that would lead to later books. To say it has been a lesson in writing techniques and creating endings well learnt would be an understatement.

As the final book, City of Heavenly Fire has a lot it needs to accomplish. There are relationships that need to reach their end goal, external conflicts with stakes sky-high and anticipation just as high, both of which need to be met for a satisfying conclusion. There are plot points and foundations that need to be set up for future books that are not only integral to characters we meet down the road but also the societal attitudes and perceptions of other beings. These all must be adequately dealt with while giving the main cast of characters in this series the attention they deserve, the character arcs appropriate for where they’re at now and not where they will be in future books, and the issues our cast is currently facing. Cassandra Clare handles it all brilliantly, weaving these threads together to make a perfect tapestry worthy of being appreciated.

I’m trying to look at this book objectively without the knowledge of the latter books clouding my critiques. Are the characters given better odds than they perhaps should have? Maybe, but other characters with close ties to our main cast suffer fates tragic enough for YA readers, I am sure. Cassandra Clare learns a trick or two in later books that I greatly approve of, though I know not everyone wants to get from YA Fantasy, but to her credit, it wouldn’t be realistic if it didn’t happen. I’m trying to be as spoiler-free as possible, but IYKYK. My critiques for this first series lie at the beginning of the series and there isn’t a lot I can point out about City of Heavenly Fire. I’m sure subjectively there are some character decisions and behaviours I could unpick, but overall City of Heavenly Fire is an incredible book.

I will be doing a series review soon to voice my thoughts on all six books with critiques and praises included alongside the notable writing techniques and the narrative style throughout the series. There is a lot to say so I hope that those interested in this iconic YA Fantasy series will give it a read once it’s up. Until then, I highly recommend reading – or rereading, in some cases – this series to all YA Fantasy fans. I admit, the first two books are a poor representation of the series – of the chronicles – but once you hit City of Glass everything gets so much better.