| Title | : | City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1416914307 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781416914303 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 541 |
| Publication | : | First published March 24, 2009 |
| Awards | : | Children's Choice Book Award Teen Choice Book of the Year (2010), Goodreads Choice Award Favorite Book & Young Adult Series (2009), LovelyBooks Leserpreis Fantasy (2009) |
ACE #1
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the third installment of the New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments.
City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3) Reviews
-
So, I'm just going to save you from having to read this book:
Everyone, except Clary: WOHOO, we're going to Alicante!!!!
Clary: *moping* ohnoes, they left me behind! But with my super special unicorn powers I can get there myself, although it was said that that's impossible!
Aldertree: YOU GOING TO JAIL!!
Simon: Crap, but I guess someone will get me out of jail soon...
*300 pages later*
...hello?
Sebastian/Jonathan: Hello, I'm a new character introduced only to make sense of this mess. Want to make out?
Clary: SURE!
*2 seconds later*
Ew, lets stop, I want to make out with the guy I still think of as my brother.
Jace: Hey Clary I think I'm a demon so it's okay for us to be together!
Clary: YAY!
ME: ...What?
Isabelle: OHNOEZ, demon attack! Also, Max is dead.
Alec: Whatever. Who cares.
Jocelyn: Hi honey, I'm back!
Clary: Whatever. Who cares, I've just invented the MOST PERFECTEST RUNE EVER. With it, you can combine the powers of Shadowhunters and Downworlders. YOU GET THEIR POWERS AND THEY GET NOTHING!!!!
Everyone: YAY!!!
Alec&Magnus: WE WUV EACH OTHER NOW!
*Exposition time! We learn that Sebastian/Jonathan is actually Valentins son and Jace is the son of that Stephen guy. He's been cut out of the womb of his dying mother and Valentin then raised him because HE COULDN'T STAND HIS OWN SON. Also, Clary and Jace got the blood of the same angel in them, which sort of still makes them related, but WHO CARES?!?!? They WUV each other!*
Sebastian/Jonathan: I KEEL YOU!!!
Jace: I KEEL YOU FIRST!!!
*later*
Jace: I KEEL YOU!!!
Valentine: I KEEL YOU FIRST!!!
Angelguy: Valentin, with my awesome powers of gold and sparkle, I hereby sentence you to death through spitting a lightning bold. Also, Clary, make a wish.
Clary: I realize I can wish for world peace or safety for my friends or rainbow ponies, but I want to get the guy I'm hot for back from the dead.
ME: ...God.
EVERYONE: YAY!
Simon: GREAT, now I've got two hot chicks going after me! One is a werewolf and the other one unbelievably beautiful! What does this remind us off???
ME: Oh please, no.
Maia: WTF, I thought I'd get a lead role in this shit! Where's my lawyer????
THE END.
Inspired by Madelines abridged Shakespeare reviews.
P.S.: YOU DON'T PLAY MARIO KART WITH THE TOUCHPEN!
P.P.S.: Believe it or not, but that's what Simon does on the first page. ISN'T HE COOL?
P.P.S.:
Here's my review for COFA and
here's the one for COLS. -
This was the best of the 3 books I have read so far. Action packed from the beginning to the end. The pages just seem to fly by. Despite the book being just a hair under 500 pages I kept looking at he page numbers and 10 to 20 pages had gone by at a time.
After Clary's display of power the Clave is interested to talk to her, Jace after his experience with the Inquisitor does not trust the Claves motives, and is determined to stop her from visiting the City of Glass. This book Valentine launches the offensive that has been threatened in the last couple of book. All hell litilery breaks loose. This book is full of revelations, returns and deaths. The only problem I had with this book, the big reveal was pretty obvious by about page 200 but she still tried to keep it a mystery.
A great book, and a seemingly a definitive ending to the moral instruments, so I am curious as to what the next book will be about. Maybe the start of a second trilogy. However if you read the first two book you must read this one. Everything that was missing from the second book is in this one. -
5/5 stars.
Best book so far in the series.
Although I didn’t find time to read (I hate you, university), I did it pretty quickly. I couldn't put the book out of my hands (even tho I had to), it was excellent. I had bits of suspense, curiosity, even nerves.
Finally the characters I love have received the attention they deserve. But come on, why was Cassandra Clare waiting for the third book? Izzy, Alec and Simon were amazing. Although there wasn’t much of Magnus, I enjoyed the parts he participated in. I really enjoyed Luke, as always. I’m very proud of him, he’s a born leader, truly. I even enjoyed Valentine (even though inside me, I always enjoyed him lol). But in this book especially. He’s not a great villain, there are better than him in other books I’ve read, but he’s indeed a laudable villain, mainly because of his charisma and his persuasive abilities.
I want to point out Izzy’s loyalty, how amazing she is! I love her so much. And also want to point out the way Simon grew up. He has been through so much, and it makes you mature, right, but not always in the good way. And Simon coped with it incredibly and God Almighty I LOVE HIM so much.
P.S - How sweet he is on the cover, right? -
I had begun reading this laying down and drinking the words in steadily but before I knew it I was sitting on the edge of the sofa and forcing to keep up my eyes focused enough not to move too far ahead. I promised myself I wasn't going to write a spoiler review though I really wanted to. Without giving spoilers I can't stress how much a certain line did this or what took me by surprise but y'all are just going to have to read it to feel and see what I felt.
EVERYTHING is finally explained. Thank goodness! It was fun to guess along the way to see if you were right. Sometimes I was off and not entirely sure but part of the excitement is having the dawning realization of "Oh yeah!!! I can see that now!" Definitely is the best of the series and not only because of the plot and resolution, but because of the development of the characters. As far as I could see Clary grows the least but she does. She always was a little more "emotionally" in tune than the others were. The character that makes HUGE strides is Jace. He started to grow on me in the second book but I absolutely get him now. There is this one line that he says (it's cheesy but who cares) that made me totally melt. *WARNING* if you don't like moments bordering on the cheesy side you may want to read something depressing instead. All the characters we have grown attached to have grown up to be a better version of themselves. One of the most impressive ones I'd say (other than Jace) is Isabelle, which is displayed well in the conversation she has with Clary in the kitchen.
This book is charged with all the elements we are used to but make them ten fold because this is the end. Emotions, battles, loss, betrayal, surprises, and even the jokes carry that much more meaning to them. Out of all the books this one would have to be the most serious. I know that there was always the element of sudden danger, but this one is more so and we don't get to see as many sarcastic comments (which is understandable) but there are still there to ease the tension.
I want to gush and gush over everything but I had to say Valentine seemed to fit into the series finally. I always felt he wasn't a villain material but he is, and I can't say why because again a spoiler. Best way to wrap up the series and say goodbye to the Shadowhunter world.
Later note: Find out there is a fourth one!
City of Fallen Angels -
reasons i have continued this series:
- gotta do it before i can read 'the infernal devices,' which i have been told is life affirming.
- gotta do it before i can meet will herondale.
- gotta do it because im a perfectionist who hates quitting things.
NOT reasons i have continued this series:
- because i am head over heels in love with it.
i sighed so hard after finishing this book that, i swear, it was heard across the world. why am i not loving this like everyone else?! there has to be something wrong with me. thats the only thing i can think of.
although, i will say, this is definitely the best book out of the first three. i FINALLY got some answers and the closure i needed. but i still feel like clares writing is missing something. it just feels much longer than it should be. i mean, theres so much going on, so the story shouldnt feel so drawn out and boring, right?
oh, well. doesnt matter. i can finally move on. will herondale, here i come!!
↠ 3.5 stars -
At this point I'm most likely not going to continue with the Mortal Instruments series. Sometime in the future I might, but for now I'm leaving it here.
-
***LAST AND FINAL EDIT (JANUARY 19, 2014): I'm no longer replying to the people commenting on this review. People still don't seem to understand my warning stating "if you loved this series, don't read this." If you're going ignore THAT then I'm simply going to ignore your comment. It will not be read by me.***
___________________________________________________
Also, you may want to read through the comments before commenting. Chances are, what you're about to write may have already been stated.
EDIT #3 (September 3, 2013): So this is the actor (sorry I don't know his name) who plays Jace in the City of Bones film. He's telling people to see this putrid film and this is what he says
Notice how he says "take whatever you're dating" and not whoever you're dating. He approves of beastiality like Cassandra Clare approves of incest. Damn the casting is perfect for her shit books.
EDIT #2 (July 15, 2013): These die-hard fans can't read and heed my warning that they're commenting on my damn opinion with such nonsense. Once again, to the people who loved this series so much: STAY. OFF. MY. REVIEW. BECAUSE. YOUR. FEELINGS. WILL. MOST. LIKELY. GET. HURT.
EDIT! So, apparently I have a lot of errors in this rant -- a lot. I'm just too darn lazy to fix them, though. Sooo.... yeah.
This review is going to contain swear words, spoilers, rants, and complaints. If you can't handle my bluntness and curse words, don't even read it. Well, to be honest, this isn't a real review, this is a huge rant -- the longest I've ever written in my entire life, and the last.
I really want to do this to myself after reading up to page 314:
I know how this is going to end so I'm giving this 1 star (though I wish a '0 star' was an option). I don't know how to start and I don't know if this is going to make any sense but I'm going to write and God help me if any one of these fans [or other fellow reviewers] tries to tell me I'm being a cruel; heartless person.
Yes, I know this is just a book. I know, but this woman is getting paid for copying and that is so fucked up to J.K. Rowling.
Fans: Oh bloody hell, not another hater saying she copied Harry Potter. As if. If anything, Clare was inspired.
Nope, fuck that. There's a difference between being inspired and being unoriginal. I'm going to tell you the difference later on in this review.
*Sighs.* I don't know, I don't know why I keep coming back to this series if I know I'm going to be disappointed and angry. Oh, wait, I know why. I wanted to give this series a chance, I didn't want to be those ignorant haters talking about the books that they left unfinished: like the haters of the twilight saga. 'Sparkly vampires' is their reason of hating twilight because other people said it. There's so many holes in that book that's easy to point out and rant about if you read the saga. Only watching the first film of twilight will leave you blind and clueless.
I'm rambling off here, but that's my reason of coming back to this crap, I wanted to know what I was going against; I didn't want to be left being ignorant. Anyway, back to my review.
The characters:
Clary: My God. There is something wrong with Clary. This girl. I can't even with this fictional character right now. I keep saying she's fictional so it can calm me down, but I think it's making things worse. Not a page goes by where I don't wish I can punch Clary in the face. The name Clary annoys me, her being in the book annoys me. Why can't she go away already? She's so stupid. She's constantly thinking about her brother Jace. Constantly.... constantly. Situations happen and there she goes, 'oh my god jace. i just want to hug him and comfort him and make sure he knows i'm there.' 'i wonder what jace will think of me when i tell him?' 'no one knows jace's secret. i desperately want to tell simon, but it's not my secret to tell.' 'is jace with that one girl? did he kiss her?' 'jesus why can't i be with jace already. can i please be happy?' 'why was jace so mad at me?'
Y'all not annoyed of reading that already? 'cos I'm annoyed writing it, but I swear that's all she ever talks and thinks about. Like, come on. Oh and don't even get me started with the death of Max -- Isabelle and Alec's little brother. They were all in extreme pain at seeing max lying there and here comes stupid fucking clary, 'looking at jace brings daggers to my heart. i so desprately wanted to run to him and hug him, but the look simon gave told me it wasn't a good idea, so i thought about when he hugged the first time.'
are. you. kidding. the. crap. out of. me. right. now? Everyone else is just as much hurt as Jace is and you're worrying about him? I just erfklgbjsbkljaol;km
Jace: What happened to you, man? In the first book you used to be a total bad ass and now since you found out Valentine was your dad and you realised you can't have Clary because you guys are related, you've gotten so sensitive and stupid. Let me get this straight: You were being a total asshole to Clary when you guys never knew you were related -- despite the fact that you 'love' her, but oh no, Valentine says, 'HEY KIDS, I'M YOUR FATHER!' You're like, 'Clary, I want you and, gotdamnit I'm going to have you. Kiss me.'
HOW.
Alec: I don't really have snide comments for him. There's only this one problem that annoyed me: When demons entered Idris or where ever the heck they were, he sees Magnus fighting off about 5 demons and Alec saves the day. Magnus is all like, 'Did you ... did you just save me, Alec?' And Alec was like, 'Why didn't you answer/return any of my phone calls?' Like, are you kidding me? Demons just entered a place that was supposed to have block them out and you're worried about not getting a phone call back from a warlock? Alec... babe.... do you not value your life?
Isabelle: Slut. Stupid.
Simon: Whatever.
Now I get to the part where I talk about her unoriginality.
This whole book is like a stupid, crappy version of Deathly Hallows.
Half Blood Prince vs City of Glass
Half Blood Prince: Okay so I took this bit from harrypotter.wikia.com credit to themDumbledore and Harry travel to a cave in which Voldemort had tortured two children in his youth. They proceed through the cave, coming to an island in the middle of a lake. On the island, they find a basin of emerald green potion, with the locket at the bottom. On Dumbledore's orders, Harry reluctantly force-feeds him the potion, which badly weakens him and causes extreme thirst.
Mkay. So not only does it weakens him, but it driven Dumbledore to madness -- bringing up his worst memories.
City of Glass: Clary draws this rune which creates a portal leading to Idris (or Alicante?), she ends up in Lake Lyn; by then, Lupin -- oh, er, I mean Luke pulls her out and starts pumping her chest so she can cough up all the water. Luke tells her (and I quote), '...to drink the water is very dangerous. It causes hallucinations, fever -- it can drive a person to madness.'
Think about that for a second.
Deathly Hallows vs City of Glass
Ohh I'm going to have fun writing this.
Deathly Hallows: Hogwarts has this spell/charm that has been cast by the professors and by the headmaster so no death eater -- or Voldemort -- can enter. Voldemort searches for a particular Hallow - the Elder Wand. Long story short: after finding this, Voldemort breaks this charm and death eaters enter and the battle of Hogwarts begins. Voldemort calls them back and says, 'You have fought valiantly, but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilt is a terrible waste. I, therefore, command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your debt with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonour. Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me.' This was quoted from the film, but in the book Voldemort also gives them until midnight (or was it an hour, correct me if I'm wrong please).
The Deathly Hallows consists of three objects: The Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility.
City of Glass: The Clave puts these wards up over Alicante so no demon can enter, but here comes Valentine and, like Voldemort searching for the DH, he searches for the Mortal Instruments. Valentines fines the sword and he broke through the ward, causing all the demons to break through and start fighting and attacking people. Long story short: Like Voldemort, Valentine calls the demons back and besides going up to the place (like what Voldemort didn't do), he goes in the projector form and says, 'If you will not listen to reason, you will have to listen to force. I have already showed you I can take down the wards around your city. I see that you’ve put them back up, but that’s of no consequence; I can easily do it again. You will either accede to my requirements or face every demon the Mortal Sword can summon. I will tell them not to spare a single one of you, not a man, woman, or child. Its your choice.' (page 311)
He continues one page 313, 'I will give you until tomorrow at midnight to consider my terms, at that time I will bring my army, in all its force, to Brocelind Plain. If I have not yet received a message of surrender from the Clave, I will march with my army to Alicante, and this time we will leave nothing living.'
The Mortal Instruments consists of three objects: The Sword, the Mortal Cup, and the Mirror.
With that being said:
All right. Let me just add something here: I thought this book would change my mind about the MI, I really did because it started off kind of good (that was because Jace and Clary weren't together). It's like whenever they're together it brings out my worst qualities... and whenever I read about Clary.
My rant is done.... for now.
18/06/12
--------------------------
Pages 314 - 380
I have come to the conclusion... that I give up on the series. I really hate this, I do. I hate being constantly angry and I'm not one to get angry -- it takes a lot. I'm... I'm just done. Idgaf about how this series supposedly gets better because it doesn't. it doesn't -- it's only getting worse. It's also making me lose my religion. I'm not kidding: I find myself swearing a lot, saying God's name in vain and wanting to break Clary's face in for being an idiot an just being there in the book.
Okay before I start my rant I'd like to give props to the impostor/spy named Sebastian for taking the words right out of my mouth when he said, "Because I finally can. You’ve no idea what it’s been like, being around the lot of you these past few days, having to pretend I could stand you. That the sight of you didn’t make me sick. You,' he said to Jace, 'every second you’re not panting after your own sister, you’re whining on and on about how your daddy didn’t love you. Well, who could blame him? And you, you stupid bitch' —he turned to Clary— 'giving that priceless book away to a half-breed warlock; have you got a single brain cell in that tiny head of yours?'"
The moment I read that I was - literally - like,
I have this feeling that that spy 'Sebastian' is really Valentine's son and not Jace. I mean it's obvious that Jace and Clary really aren't related, but the reason I'm saying it's still incest because: 1) Most of us thought they were actually related and 2) Clare had this nerve to even write about it. I can imagine her now saying, 'I really want to write a book that's like Harry Potter. But let's add that the two main characters are irrevocably in love with each other, but they find out they're brother and sister, and though they still can't get over fact they want to be something more than brother and sister, they'll sneak a few kisses when no one's looking. Oh! Oh! Oh! and let's add Jace and Clary saying even though they know it's wrong, they can't help it! That'll leave my fans thirsty for more incest romance! And then I'm going to write how, it turns out, they're really not related.'
Clare you nasty devil you.
Anyway, some of you can't get over the fact that Max died. I know I can't - he was only nine years old. Smh. It sucks to read. But here's what pisses me off: Isabelle. This... ewiogkljsrklgjserl. ok. She's in mourning which is understandable considering that's her little brother, so she's constantly blaming herself for not listening to him, not being there, etc. Simon comes, tries to make her not blame herself for 'Sebastian' killing her brother and Isabelle throws Simon on the bed and tries to have sex with him. She's all like, 'Oh I'm feeling better already.'
Isabelle... your brother died less than a day ago... and you.... whatever. I've never liked her anyway.
Clary is really... I've had about enough of her already. How can readers look up to Clary, how can anyone stand Jace/Clary's relationship? Clary chooses him over her own mother, and him over everyone else's life. No really. Jace leaves to find Sebastian and Clary runs off to tell Isabelle, Isabelle says she knew he was going to do something like that and Clary's just like, 'do you even want to find him? do even care that he's gone off on what's practically a suicide mission?' Isabelle is trying to tell her Jace can handle himself and there are things more serious than Jace going after Valentine; that innocent lives are at stake. Clary's just like, 'All I see is that Jace is your brother just like Max was and you cared what happened to him.'
First of all Max and Jace's situation are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Jace knew what he was getting himself into, Max did not. Jace will be of age - meaning he's old enough to handle himself and make his own decisions just like you did - while Max was 9 years old and had no idea that Sebastian would turn around and kill him. Isabelle basically says this, too, but Clary doesn't listen and doesn't care. Ugh. Why hadn't Isabelle punched her?
Let me hurry and finish this book so I can be completely done with this rant because I know I'm getting annoying.
*4 hours later*
I KNEW Sebastian was Johnathan and not Jace.
someone needs to give me an award.
19/06/2012
----------------------------
Stopped on page 413
I'm done. I can't finished this book. I'm trying not to smash my keyboard with my fists. I am so effing shocked and just can't even fathom why people think this is the best series. There's obviously something wrong with this book.
I don't how to say this: So after Clary found out Jace wasn't her brother she get's all happy like, 'yay we can finally be together in public!' but wait simon says, 'so you kissed your real brother - sebastian?' and clary's like, 'oh god, simon please stop saying that. i already want to pass out and throw up as it is. i can't believe i kissed my brother! i feel disgusted.'
screw this series.
let me guess, this is how the story ends:
clary stops valentine
jace comes back -- they make out passionately
isabelle confesses her love for simon; boom they go out now
alec and magnus finally gets together
the end.
am i right? i'm right am i? -
This is my favourite book in this series so far! I already want to delve straight back into the shadowhunter world and feel lost saying goodbye to it for a period.
City of Glass returns to the lives of Clary, Jace, their friends and family. Clary has to get to Idris so she can save her mothers life, but Jace does not want her to come. As Valentine ramps up his demon plans can Shadowhunters work with Downworlders to save everyone?
There were parts of this book where I had tears in my eyes, Cassandra knows just how to break my heart! I also found myself shaking, desperate to know what would happen next. Often I would skip ahead a sentence or two because my eyes were just so desperate to find out what would happen! This definitely felt like a step up from the first two books for me. Although there are still characteristics in Jace and Clary that I struggle with. But their immaturity just seems to reflect their age. I loved the growth of Simon in this one as he gets used to being a vampire.
I also loved some of the messages in this one such as: being yourself, love can make us stronger and working with people who are different to us can make us more powerful and united in ways we couldn’t imagine. I still have a deep love for Magnus Bane and was really excited to see him cropping up again. We were also introduced to some new characters, I am looking forward to seeing what happens with them in the future. Cassandra has created a wonderful fantasy world through her books that I just get completely lost in. I cannot wait to read more!
I recommend this series to fans of young adult fantasy. -
City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3), Cassandra Clare
City of Glass is the third book in the urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. In 2009, Walker Books published the third book of the series worldwide.
Clary is at Luke's house with Simon packing for her trip to Idris, in which both of them have conversations based on Clary's goal to save her mother and the struggle she will face when she reaches Idris. Jace persuades Simon to lie and say that Clary decided not to go to Idris, in order to protect her from the Clave, who he feels will try to turn her into a weapon. When Clary visits the Institute, Magnus tells her that the Lightwoods had to travel through the portal, due to an attack by Forsaken.
During the battle, Simon is injured and Jace takes him to Idris to save his life. With her power to create runes, Clary is able to create a portal and she travels with Luke through the portal. As Simon wakes up to realize that he was pulled through the portal and now is in Alicante, he realizes the truth behind Jace's motivation to not make Clary come to Idris. Later at the Lightwood house, he meets Sebastian Verlac and Aline Penhallow. Over time, Alec comes back from the Clave meeting to tell Simon that he will be sent back to New York by Aldertree, the new Inquisitor. When Simon arrives to leave for home, it is revealed as a trap to bring people back to the Clave's trust and he is imprisoned and is questioned on his new ability to walk in daylight as a vampire. After the questioning, he befriends a fellow mate named Samuel Blackburn. ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز چهاردهم ماه دسامبر سال2018میلادی
عنوان: شهر شیشه ای؛ نویسنده: کاساندرا کلر؛ مترجم نرگس شفاف؛ تهران، اردیبهشت، سال1396؛ در348ص؛ فروست مجموعه ابزار دوزخی، کتاب سوم؛ شابک9789641713067؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده21م
عنوان: شهر شیشه ای؛ نویسنده: کاساندرا کلر؛ مترجم سعیده کاظمیان؛ تصویرگر سعید فرهنگیان؛ تهران، ویدا، سال1398؛ در دو جلد؛ شابک دوره ی دوجلدی9786002912114؛
کتاب سوم با عنوان:«شهر شیشه ای» از سری داستانهای «ابزارهای فانی (ابزارهای دوزخی)» درباره ی ماجراجویی «کلاری» به همراه «سایمون» در شهر «شکارچیان سایه»، و جستجوی «کلاری»، برای نجات مادر خویش است؛ «کلاری» برای نجات مادرش، باید به «شهر شیشه ای»، خانه ی اجدادی «شکارچیان سایه» برود؛ هرگونه ورود غیرمجاز به شهر، خلاف قانون، و سرپیچی از ��انون مرگ را بنبال دارد؛ بدتر از همه «جیس»، اصلا دلش نمیخواهد «کلاری» به آنجا برود، و «سایمون» نیز، توسط «شکارچیان سایه»، زندانی شده است؛ همانگونه که «کلاری»، درباره ی بگذشته ی خانواده ی خود، بیشتر اطلاعات کسب میکند، به یک حقیقت باورنکرنی نیز دست میباید؛ «کلاری» متوجه میشود، که یک برادر شیطانی، به نام «سباستین» دارد؛ اکنون که «ولنتاین» و «سباستین»، میخواهند «شکارچیان سایه» را برای همیشه نابود کنند، تنها یکراه برای رودررویی با آنان وجود دارد، این راه اتحاد بین «زیر زمینیها» و «شکارچیان سایه» است؛ در این میان، «جیس» نیز به تازگی توانییهای تازه ای یافته است، اما باید دید تا چه اندازه حاضر است، به خاطر «کلاری» خطر کند، و به یاری شهر بشتابد...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 29/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 04/11/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی -
"It's my cologne. Eau de Recent Injury."
It wasn't until I picked up City of Bones I had really experienced how damaging the hype could be for one's reading experience. Sure, there had been disappointments before, but not like this. Given how well received Cassandra Clare is, I had saved her for last (with the exception of Sanderson, which I'm hoping to jump in to next) but didn't expect something shockingly bland like this...
In my preview review, one of the GR friends said that this series is 'such a cliché' and I think that comment sums it up perfectly: unless this is one of your first fantasy series, the story is going to look as it lacks any originality. Take away the repetitive descriptions of the same characters' facial features, body language etc., and you have a quite short story. Speaking of characters, with the exception of Magnus Bane perhaps, were underwhelming, and it was only the fast pace and sheer entertainment that kept me going till the end.
As I'm now done with the first three books of MI, seeing there's not much improvement in second or third books, I'm doing a single review for all three at once. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but when it comes to fantasy, I like when romance is only a small part of the overall experience. Though the author had sorted things out by the end of book three, I wasn't much entertained by the way she handled any of Clary's relationships. To me, introducing 'obvious' love triangles is a way to lengthen a book unnecessarily, unless of course the author is a master in using it to better the fantasy elements themselves (which is clearly not the case here).
Though somewhat corny, the humor was somewhat acceptable, but the storytelling was not as great as I had imagined it would be based on the high rating. For me, it lacked that harmony which is essential in keeping the world building, plot, and characters in sync. At times, the narrative's viewpoint was all over the place, breaking the emotional flow.
On the plus side though, the author did manage to see me sailing through all three books of this first half of MI, and then steering towards Infernal Devices to see what's all the fuss is about there. So she's doing something right.
"Power doesn't have to be unlimited to be deadly." -
1.)
City of Bones ★★★
2.)
City of Ashes ★★
Friends, I did it! I read the whole trilogy! Over a decade late, but aren’t you proud? And more importantly, I can finally move on to TID with
Clockwork Angel! And I am so hyped, because I know this is the start of the series that you all really love! And I hope I do, too! And I got really excited seeing some names that I’ve vaguely seen you all scream about!“Each tomb looked like a little house; some even had metal or wire gates, and the names of Shadowhunter families were carved over the doors. CARTWRIGHT. MERRYWEATHER. HIGHTOWER. BLACKWELL. MIDWINTER. She stopped at one: HERONDALE.”
City of Glass has the cast whisked away (some easily, some not so easily) to the City of Glass, AKA: Idris, which is the Shadowhunter’s home country! Valentine may or may not have started to build a demon army, and the gang hopes that they can get the council to listen to them. Oh, and Clary is desperate to save her mom, and is willing to do anything to wake her up. Because while her mother sleeps, she is also locking away many secrets.“My mom got the spell that put her in this state from a warlock—Ragnor Fell. Madeleine says we need to track him down if we want to know how to reverse the spell.”
Okay, so going into this series, I knew very few spoilers. And I was very surprised when the Jace and Clary “dilemma” came up, just because I had never heard anyone mention in. Therefore, I also thought it would be a quick fix. Okay, so the “reveal” is at the very end of
City of Bones, but the mentality and thought lasts until 80% into this third book! I couldn’t believe it! And even though I knew (and hoped and prayed) that you all wouldn’t lead me astray and that the “twist” wouldn’t be true, it still took a lot of enjoyment out of this book for me, because for the most part, Jace and Clary thought it was real. Also, Jace and Clary both do and say a lot of problematic shit, that has nothing to do with the way they feel about each other. Jace especially.“Jace knew he was being cruel, and he barely cared. Hurting people he loved was almost as good as hurting himself when he was in this kind of mood.”
Okay, so I’ve broken down the characters in the other two reviews I’ve done for this series, so I figured I’d just keep doing it. (Especially because these reviews are probably boring because everyone but me read them ten-years-ago!) And like always, I have a lot of feelings.
➽ Clary - Clary is just a bland main character. I don’t love her as much as others. I don’t hate her as much as others. I honestly just feel neutral towards her, but I still say that she is rather forgettable. Which is sad, since I suppose she is the star. But I think the shining light of all three books has been the side characters.
➽ Jace - Jace legit is the worst part of this book, too. Which, he is the second leading character, so, also probably a bad sign. But he’s just miserable to read about because he doesn’t care about “the situation” where Clary at least tries to not be… gross about it. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, he legit screams at Clary in this book and says some pretty abusive and hurtful things. Like, I just honestly don’t like Jace. I’m sorry. But it’s the truth. Probably my least favorite character, including the villains.
➽ Simon - Okay, so Simon completely won me over and captured my heart and soul during this book. I honestly loved everything about it. And I think that’s mostly because…
➽ Isabelle - …I am about to go down on the ship of Isabelle and Simon. Like, you all, I love their chemistry and their entire dynamic. And Isabelle is my favorite character of any of these books so far, so I just am going to put her happiness first always and forever. Thanks.
➽ Magnus - Magnus is also my favorite. And I don’t want to give Cassandra Clare too much credit (I seriously can’t get over the incest, I’m sorry), but I think she did a really amazing job with creating Magnus Bane. All my friends are obsessed with him, I’m obsessed with him, and I think he’s such a bright shining light in 2000’s literature.
➽ Alec - I feel like I like Alec more and more each book. Probably because of Magnus, but still! And the end of this book? Not that anyone should ever feel any pressure to come out, but the end of this book just made me really happy.
➽ Max - Like, I’m still shook.
➽ Luke - I was living for Luke in this entire book. Like, I instantly loved his character, and I just grow to like him more and more each book. Also, he deserves all the love and happiness in the world.
➽ Jocelyn - I actually do like Clary’s mom. I wish she would have been awake and present for more of this trilogy. And I do think it was a little deus ex machina how she shows up, bearing all the information that we needed so long ago. But I still enjoyed her and her character.
➽ Amatis - Luke’s sister is honestly my new favorite, too! Like, maybe I’m too old to be reading these for the first time, and I’m just connecting with all the (way older than me) adults, because I can’t connect with these teenagers? But regardless, Amatis has been through so much, but I love her already. Amazing new addition to the cast!
➽ Maia - Maia wasn’t in this book that much, but I still really like what I did see of her. And I’m saying this while knowing she is going to be a point of a triangle that I’m not ready to think about.
➽ Samuel - IS THIS DUDE… PURPLE?
➽ Person in the cell next to Simon - Like, I actually loved this twist and was so here for it. Until, someone ruined it. But still, I was living for it. Big fan.
➽ Seelie Queen - Like, Clary is going to regret that power move of an epilogue.
➽ Aline - Um… is this new character Asian and queer? Because, I think she is, and I think I’m head over heels in love with her already.
➽ Sebastian - A little obvious, but still a fun twist and character I honestly really enjoyed following.
➽ Valentine - Like, I enjoyed Valentine a lot in this one. I think he was way less “mustache twirling” villain in this book. And I loved the portrayal on how people can be awful humans, but they are still capable of doing good things. We all have good and bad inside us, and Valentine is a good example of what happens when you do more bad than good. I don’t know, maybe I’m getting soft, but I liked him as the villain of this book.“People aren’t born good or bad. Maybe they’re born with tendencies either way, but it’s the way you live your life that matters.”
Trigger and content warnings for murder, death, incestuous thoughts and resulting actions, torture, medical experimentations, captivity, abandonment, talk of thoughts of suicide, suicide, and war themes.
Overall, I am happy I read this trilogy, instead of just skipping it. I’m not sure if it was completely needed, but I hope that it will feel worth it. I also think this series holds up better than a lot of others that were published during the same time, Naruto references and all. I’ll be honest, this really is more of 2.5 star read for me, and I should probably bump it down to two stars, but I just enjoyed it so much more than
City of Ashes that I’m going to bump it up to three. Also, Izzy and Simon deserve that star on their own, let’s be real. Okay, friends, I can’t wait to finally dive into
Clockwork Angel!
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The further I get into this series, the more I enjoy it! I'm enthralled with the stories of these young characters in this paranormal world. With every book, the plot thickens and another layer of the mystery unfolds.
This third book had many tests, turns and revelations. Some, I expected and some were completely surprising to me. All of them pulled me deeper into this story and left me craving more.
Action was also plentiful in this book. An epic battle ensues that will keep you wondering what will happen next. The dynamics are constantly changing as new characters and relationships are revealed.
I am hesitant to say much about this book, because I don't want to spoil the secrets that come to light. There is a lot going on in this book. If you're a fan of paranormal/fantasy, this is a great book.
Of course, this book leaves just as many questions unanswered as you had going into it. Some mysteries are solved, while others surface. One truth revealed seems only to lead to another question. This was no big surprise, since this book is in the middle of the series with plenty more to follow.
Overall, I thought it was a great continuation of this series. I enjoyed every minute of this rapidly changing story. I'm so glad that I listened to all of my Goodreads friends that told me the series got better as the story progressed. They were so right! I can't wait to see where the next book will take me. -
After all that's been going on with Cassie Clare lately I can't have this on my page anymore. Sorry peeps!
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5 If loving you is wrong I don't wanna be right Stars
* Major Spoilers ahead*
“I told you he’d freak out,” she said. “Didn’t I?” “Ah, the ‘I told you so,’” Jace said. “Always a classy move.”-Izzy and Jace
OMG this book was so awesome. So many things happened in this book. It was like an explosion of events. Jace and Clary my God they suffer so much. I felt so bad for their struggles. Loving each other, thinking they're brother and sister and their love is wrong. But the part where they sleep laying next to each other holding hands all night. Swoon!
“I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there’s a life after that, I’ll love you then.”-Jace
Although I will say it was kind gross how they made out while still thinking they were siblings. Gave me Joe Dirt flashbacks.
I'm glad we readers finally got to see who Clary's real brother was. Sebastian was as evil as his father. The things he did in this book made me sick. The way he came onto Clary and kissed her knowing he was really her brother sick! Trying to kill Jace and beating Izzy with a whip. Killing sweet little Max. I mean who kills a child a pos that's who!
Poor Clary couldn't catch a break. Walking around thinking you're in love with your brother then finding out that your real brother did kiss you eww. I was so glad that when Jocelyn woke up and I was glad that Clary gave it to her good for all the lies she told Clary. It was nice to hear Jocelyn explain things and set the record straight. I also loved that her and Luke finally get to be together too. My heart was so happy when Alec stepped up and claimed Magnus by kissing him in front of everyone including his parents. That kiss was so hot!
“I’m not going to do that.” “Of course you’re not,” said Jace, “because you live to torture me, don’t you?” “Not everything, Jace, is about you,” Clary said furiously. “Possibly,” Jace said, “but you have to admit that the majority of things are.”-Clary and Jace
Twice this book had me flipping out over Jace. That last time knowing Valentine killed him right in front of Clary. OMG flipped out! Thank God the angel brought him back. And haha Paranormal Hitler aka Vatlentine got his! Simon was cute in this book. All his vampire yumminess getting him two girls that want him. I love how Simon has really grown since the first book. The end OMG the end was so sweet. Love this book can't wait to start the next one!
“Anyway, it’s yummy. Jace?” She offered him the glass. “I am a man,” he told her, “and men do not consume pink beverages. Get thee gone, woman, and bring me something brown.” “Brown?” Isabelle made a face. “Brown is a manly color,”-Izzy and Jace -
City of Glass, the 3rd-book in Cassie Clare's beloved Mortal Instruments series, brought all the addictive teen drama I was looking for.
Please note, this is the third installment in the series, therefore some mild spoilers may be found within this review. I do not plan to hide them.
You have been warned!
Clary still needs to save her Mother, who is currently in a magically-induced coma. She thinks the answer lies somewhere within the City of Glass, Alicante, the capital of Idris and the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters.
Unfortunately, it's against the law to travel there without permission and Clary definitely doesn't have that. Regardless, she's not letting frightening magical laws come between her and her Mom's potential cure.
The rest of the crew travel to Idris as well, including Simon, although he isn't received as well as the others.
The bulk of the action in this novel, therefore, takes place in the land of the Shadowhunters. I personally loved the change of scenery.
I feel like I learned so much more about their world, their history, the different powers and relationships amongst the various beings that inhabit it.
This is what I had been waiting for. Things are finally beginning to come together and as a whole, make a lot more sense.
The relationship dynamics between all of our main characters continued to be built out as well. I enjoyed watching the evolution of friendships, as well as romantic relationships.
There were some huge reveals; one in particular that entirely changed how I viewed a certain character. I really enjoyed that, although some of the build-up to that reveal still makes me a little uncomfortable.
At the end of the day, that entire storyline certainly brought the angst that kept me turning pages. Luckily for the story, it wasn't just that though.
There is a lot of compelling content in here. Valentine is an incredibly well-imagined villain. The stakes are high and the action flows along at a nice, steady pace.
I'm so stoked to carry on with my journey through the Shadowhunter Chronicles. If this book is any indication, it's just going to continue to get better and better.
Up next, Clockwork Angel!!!
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I really enjoyed the wrap up of this "phase" of The Mortal Instruments. I had heard varied opinions on the ending, how some people felt the pay off didn't hold a candle to the amount of detailing and set up required to get there, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, probably because I was expecting but instead we get
Picking these books up a decade after they were originally published means I wasn't able to avoid all spoilers completely, but I gotta say I was still shocked by a few of the twists and amazed that I didn't see them coming. It's also nice to see how The Infernal Devices will tie in, because for the first two books I kept wondering "who are these random families and why should I care about them?" Also, Magnus + Alec = <3 My absolute favs for sure.
These books aren't for everyone, and I respect that, but I also see why they have such a large fan base. Cassie Clare can manage to fit multiple types of writing into a single storyline without it feeling jumbled or confusing. We have serious moments, romantic moments, but we also have moments where these teens are able to be teens. It's so important for authors to remind us that these characters in YA fiction aren't in fact middle aged men and women. Just the simple, ordinary moments, like the banter about their regular clothes and how to get girls or guys to like them is essential. On to the nest one soon! -
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This is a re-read from a long time ago with this beautiful new edition of the book!
It has been so long since I read this book I forgot a lot of things that happened. I only remembered bits and pieces. The sad parts and really happy parts. . . .
Clary did get on my nerves a wee bit, I wonder if she did the first time I read it. But, I still like her for who she is and her love of her family and stuff.
OMG, and the revelations at the end! I can't even. Okay, so I read the first three books in this series then I stopped. Then this year, maybe last year too, anyway, I read The Clockwork Angels trilogy. I know you shouldn't read out of order but still. I'm going to finish this series → soon! But, some of the revelations in this book pertain to The Clockwork Angels trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I haven't read the last three book so I don't know if it will go into more detail BUT someone found out their birth right so to speak and it has to do with Herondale!!! You feeling me? Those that have read all of these will know what I mean. I hope they mention more at the end of this series.
Overall, I obviously loved it as much as the first time around. I mean you CAN still love a book and want to drop kick someone off a roof.
I love all of the characters regardless of their stupidity at times. ♥
MY BLOG:
Melissa Martin's Reading List -
This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found
@The Book Prescription
Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
“People aren’t born good or bad. Maybe they’re born with tendencies either way, but it’s the way you live your life that matters.”
🌟 I finished my first CC trilogy, I am proud of myself and I am not disappointed. If she keeps getting better then I am pretty sure she will have a spot among my fav authors soon.
🌟 There is something strange about Cassie’s writing, it is not so poetic and flowery and unique. But it is realistic, sarcastic and addicting in an unusual way!
🌟 Don’t judge me but I stan most of the characters in this series, I am writing this review long after I have finished the book and by this point for most books I would have forgotten most of the characters. I am not the biggest fan of Jace and Clary but Isabelle, Simon, Alec, Magnus and others are just my babies that I want to protect forever! I do not deny the fact that they are precocious but that’s just YA in general! I also live for their sass and constant roasting for each other. I have said this in other reviews and I will say it again, teenagers do not say deep and wise things, we do bullshit, we learn and we improve! I think Cassie’s characters are so fleshed out and that’s the major reason she is this successful!
I hate it when the characters are so perfect and smart and out of this world!!
“You said you were going for a walk!? What kind of walk takes six hours?”
“A long one?”
🌟 This book expanded the Shadowhunters world even more and judging from the books I have left in this world. I think we still have a lot to learn :O
🌟 The pacing is good, it may be slow at some points but the addicting factor I mentioned before makes it easy to go through these large books without feeling so. I felt that the end is a little bit rushed and that I may have wanted more because the build up for it took so much time!
🌟 The plot twists were kind of predictable for me! I have two reactions for this: I either predict the twists easily because they are clichéd and full of tropes and I roll my eyes when my predictions are right. The second choice is certainly better, I predict the best outcome and consider many outcomes and I am like “What if she did this and that… that would be great!!”. Cassie did this and that and fell into the second category for me which was cool!
🌟 Summary: Overall, I had lower expectations for this trilogy because I kept hearing mixed reviews about it but I am happy that it ended up being a good experience for me. I certainly can’t wait to read other trilogies by this author!! -
FINALLY! It's over! I'm done with the original Mortal Instruments trilogy, and it feels so good.
Now, before I begin, I will be courteous enough to inform you all that the following review is filled with whining, griping, and spoilers. If you love anything about this series, read at your own peril. I am not responsible for any strong feelings that my ravaging of these books trigger.
Before you read this, please read my reviews of
City of Bones and
City of Ashes because I will be most likely reference past jokes. You could say I'm consistent, unlike Clare.
Last time on the Mortal Instruments: Jace gets thrown in jail for being a smart ass. Daddy V steals the Super Special Sword of Truth and then gives it after-market blood mods so he can raise Hell, literally. Simon gets turned into a sun-proof vampire. Clary goes Super Mary Sue and blows up a ship. Other than that, those 500 pages were worthless.
Sigh. If I wasn't shaking my head during this book, I was screaming at it. You would have thought I was watching a horror film. The last couple chapters I read on auto-pilot, not even caring to scribble down some notes. I'm done this series, and anything else Clare writes.
Before I chase people off with my dour attitude, it's time for the Character Breakdown!
Clary: I get that she's a 16 year old girl, but after thousands of words, she's still clueless, rash, and bitchy. When Jace and the rest of them leave her behind for Idris, she throws a temper tantrum like a toddler. Then she makes her own Portal to Idris, ignoring the rule that she needs permission to do so, and drags Luke with her. After splashing down in the Mortal Mirror (because Clare couldn't be more obvious that was what Lake Lyn was), Luke's poor sister Amatis saves her life from the freaky water. And then Clary proceeds to treat Amatis terribly. She eats her food, wears her clothes, sneaks out, and destroys her property without so much as a thank you. That poor woman gets no respect from Special Snowflake Clary.
Then there is the treatment of her mother. She spends books worried about her, and then freaks out when Jocelyn walks in the door like the woman abandoned her. Clare tries to use the excuse that Clary just didn't know how angry she was. As a young woman who loves her mother, I would have given her the biggest hug because she's all right. Then proceed to grill her on what was going on. But my point is, I wanted to slap that pubescent red-head and scream, "Bitch! Don't talk to your mother like that."
The one thing that really bugged me is when Clary reveals her special rune making skills to the Shadow-hunters and Down-worlders. (Yes, I grammatically corrected those.) Clare specifies that Clary gets her Super Scribbles from the angels because daddy experimented on her by accident. (I just realized how lame that sounds.) Clary tells the crowd gathered that she creates the runes. Yes, creates the runes even though we, the audience, knows that she does not create them. She's just "remembering," for lack of a better term, runes that have been forgotten to time. I didn't think I could get more depressed until everyone gave her credit for finally uniting the SH and DW after a thousand years. Um, no. Just, no.
The truth is, the Shadow-hunters were just too afraid and jealous to form a real bond with the Down-worlders. A real relationship. It felt like they jumped on the opportunity as an excuse because they got super-powers out of it. That does not repair the damage caused by hunting these people for hundreds of years. And they give Clary the credit. Fecking Shadow-hunters.
And then there is her one wish. What does she wish for? Jace, because daddy ran him through a sword. I know Clary isn't that bright, but as an artist, couldn't get creative. Clare kept shouting at us that Clary is an anime and manga fan. So why not rip off one of the mass resurrection wishes from Dragon Ball Z? All you need is a little modification: "I wish for all those killed in the last week by Valentine and his agents to be returned to life. Except the evil ones." Okay, there might be problems with that, but it would be worth a shot. It's better than just Jace because the Lightwoods are missing a certain little boy. What was his name again?
Moving on.
Jace: He's come a long way from being one Ed Hardy shirt away of being the douche in the corner of the night club you roll your eyes at. Sadly, instead of developing into a better person, he just grew more dramatic and boring. I don't know how that's even possible. It's almost like his personality was sucked out of him by all the similes Clare used. (I know. I almost lost my sanity to them.)
There's this scene where Clary catches Jace making out with another girl, and then they have a fight. Clary leaves, leaving him with Alec and Izzy to have a nice talk. At the end of their conversation, Jace gets angrier and punches a picture window. Do you know how expensive those are to replace? He's was being such a Drama Queen, feathered boa and all. It was painful to read, and not in the good way.
After that it was all down hill. By the end of the book, Jace feels like a generic tragic hero. He tries to show his girl how much he wuves her. He goes it alone, tracking down the bad guy. He kills his evil twin, and then gets killed by daddy. Oh, boo-hoo. Poor, [Insert Hero Name]. It was just... meh. I actually missed Jackass Jace. There was substance I could make fun of.
And Former-Shadow-of-Himself Jace finally hooks up with Clary, for good. Don't care.
Oh, and Daddy V isn't his father. He was cut out of his suicidal mother's womb after she killed herself. And he's got angel in his genetic code. Like I didn't see that one coming...
Simon: He is my favorite of the three, hands down. Despite the issues he has coming to terms with being a vampire, which is understandable, he's still the smartest and most mature. He's also the only one who sacrifices anything.
When Raphael wants to kill him in exchange for the help of the vampires, Simon goes but tells Clary to put the Mark of Cain on his forehead. While this may curse him to wander for eternity, he doesn't care. He wanted to live - well, as much as a vampire can live - and unite the vampires with everyone else. Despite the deception, Simon gets two thumbs up for courage. He really is too good for this book, especially since he was in jail for 200 pages of it.
Isabelle: By this point she's just Jace's mouth piece. Jace never tells any one any thing, so Izzy does it for him in skirts and hooker heels. I feel bad for her. By the end she's Jace's knight in shining armor. Not Clary. His adopted sister protects him and saves his ass more than anyone notices. Clary is totally the wrong MC for this story. I'm sorry how your writer treats you, Izzy.
Alec: Gains a spine a little too late. I wish Clare had given him substance two books ago. I do get why Magnus likes him, though. He's boring. I would want boring too if the rest of my life was glitter and chaos.
Magnus: There wasn't enough of him to save my sanity. I often missed him. Good to know he's capable of somber behavior.
Jocelyn: Finally wakes up, thanks to Magnus. Acts as giant info dump. Wasn't really given a personality for a woman who escaped her abusive husband, lived in hiding, and raised one of the most self-centered people in the book.
Luke: Mostly in the background even though he does all the political heavy lifting. They give Clary the credit. Feh. It's this guy who deserves it.
Amatis Herondale: Luke's sister. Puts up with Clary's abhorrent behavior. Of all the people in this book, she deserved to give that brat a beat down. First wife of Jace's father. She's nice and supportive. Too bad her writer doesn't pat people on the back who deserve it.
Sebastian: Will the real Jonathan Morganstern please stand up? This psycho is the demon child of Jocelyn and Daddy V, which makes him Clary's real older brother. He was a better baddie than his father because he was scary. When a teenager beats a nine year old to death with a hammer, I admit I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. That's horror flick shit right there.
Of course, Clare wouldn't know how to describe a creepy smile if she tried. She can't keep the damn similes off the end of the sentence to make it effective. And then there's the dark prince metaphor that Clare keeps using every time she writes about him from Clary's perspective. Here is the funny thing about dark princes, they are always bad, bad news. Very bad news. I'll list a few off the top of my head that quite a few people might know about:Prince Joffrey from Martin's Song of Fire and Ice books: I don't think I have to explain this one to anyone who's seen the HBO series or read the books. Joffrey is horrendous. This pretty little blonde pre-teen puts Sebastian to shame in the violent-acts-that-make-people-squirm department. He beheads people left and right, has Sansa smacked around by his cronies, and likes it. He's just... pure evil. That's all I can say.
Prince Jorg Ancrath from Lawrence's
Prince of Thorns: Another young psycho, except he has goals. There is nothing like someone who will do whatever they want to get what they want, and that includes raping women and blowing up whole freaking castles. He also stabs his own men. There is really nothing like young Prince Jorg, except maybe Alec from
A Clockwork Orange.
And because Clary likes anime, and I've been using Dragon Ball references pretty consistently, I give you Prince Vegeta: This walking Death Star gets off eradicating entire civilizations. Beating on people excites him. He killed his childhood nanny - I mean body guard - because he suddenly became useless. Even after becoming the world's wealthiest trophy husband, he nuked half of a sold out stadium to get his rival to fight him after juicing up on black magic.
So you can see why Clary's romanticized version of her "dark prince" immediately made me think, "He's evil! Evil! Run, stupid!" Seriously, Clare's logic when it comes to writing has shorted out my brain more than I want to count. No mental acrobatics will compensate for whatever goes on in that woman's head.
Daddy V: Sigh. Clare gave him a personality a little too late. It's book three, and we're just now finding out he's the well meaning, mad scientist type. Too bad the path to Hell is paved with good intentions, because that is where V is going to end up. When an angel looks at you and basically says, "You are not God, you cannot judge," then you know you're screwed.
That's what happens to V, and I must say that I pitied him. It was almost sad, if a bit pathetic. I wanted to reach through the pages and say, "Dude, you messed up. Time to face the consequences." I think I felt more for him than I did for any of the other characters in the book. If Clare was capable of good character development, then he wouldn't have been made of cardboard for two books before finally being fleshed out.
How do reader's connect with these characters? Hold on, I have to reboot my brain. I thought too hard again.
Now, according the the little word-count limit in the corner, I don't have time for my little list of awful metaphors and a critique of Clare's writing in general. If you care about those, you'll have to visit
my blog. Or you can visit
this review where they attempt to figure out the percentage of word count that the bad similes, just the similes, take up. It's a pretty hefty 27%. Wow. And the review is funny.
With the little time that I have, I'll just list some weak world building points that made me scratch my head:If the towers keep out demons, and Down-worlders have demon energies, then how come Down-worlders can get into Alicante? I'm probably thinking too hard about this one. It just keeps bothering me, especially since Sebastian was only part demon as well.
Guns, cars, or any electronics don't work because of runes. All of these things require a spark. So, do runes prevent the creation of a spark? If so, then that would make combustion impossible, or any standard heat source that uses fire or electricity. Clare writes it off saying no one knows why, but that's pretty lazy writing. I mean, they wouldn't be able to heat food. Even in Harry Potter there was a flying car.
Then there was Clare's weapon knowledge. It's obvious she has no idea how they're even kept on the body. Every time she describes a Shadow-hunter, she says they have a belt with a bunch of weapons thrust through it. The position of the weapon on the body matters because that person has to draw it out in a battle. It needs to be easily accessible depending on the fighting style. No boot knives. How about bandoliers? I guess no one uses a claymore. And if Izzy's whip is razor sharp, why does she loop it around her arm? It would cut her. Clare throws out fancy weapon names, but then fails to describe them. For a bunch of fighters, these Shadow-hunters come across as pretty inept when it comes to weapons.
And as for the ending, it works. I just feel like it too long to get there. If you think that every book is roughly 150k a piece, with about 25% of the word count being similes alone, then these books could have been shorter with a good edit and still retain their pacing and most of the story line.
Anyway, I give this book 1.5 stars. I thought about two, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. If everything sucked but the characters, than I would probably give it three. But the characters is the series' biggest problem. The two main ones are just... frustrating.
I'm going to find something better to do. If time is kind, maybe I'll forget I ever read this.
The Original Mortal Instruments Trilogy
City of Bones
City of Ashes
The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince -
The Mortal Instruments, book three. The City of Glass is essentially the capital of the Shadowhunter reality, and our cast all end up there, but mostly separately, so without knowledge of who else is there. Clary seeks a cure for her mother, Simon wishes he wasn’t there, Alex broods over Magnus, and Jace broods about his new sister. In the background, or should I say foreground Valentine is intent on his mission to remake the Shadowhunters in his own image even if that means wiping most of them out!
Asides fom the painfully boring multiple romances across the cast the world building is wonderful and the plotting (although a few major plot holes) is interesting and exciting enough to let me endure the numerous romantic interludes. Also this series has such great interpretations of faeries, and now angels :). A surprisingly firm Three Star, 7.5 out of 12.
2022 read; 2017 read -
STOP, THAT WAS SO GOOD
I'M ADDICTED🛑
Review to come... -
Reread: January, 2016
1st Read : July, 2014
This installment could be the best ending if Cassandra Clare didn't do the City of Fallen Angels. Everything I am looking for in a sequel (and finale) is already here. Extraordinary plotline and pacing, engaging characters that continue to get better as the series go by, and the vividly captivating description of Idris. This book is too powerful and well-packed with action and each chapter gets edgier. There were also more revelations here and new characters being introduced, and let me tell you that Clary also became a better heroine. If there's a certain thing that makes this installment even more beautiful, it's also the romance. I totally love the romantic development between Jace and Clary here. That ending! *sigh Cassandra Clare sure knows how to draw me to her beautiful world!
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It goes without saying that I am a lover of books. Stories, characters, and delicious prose...well...these are things that I throw myself into. My shelves are filled with countless books that i have read and loved, stories that I have enjoyed reading.
I have never enjoyed reading a book as much as I enjoyed this one. Never.
It's a scary thing when you get to the final book in a series or trilogy that you particularly care about. There's a certain amount of apprehension involved,correlating directly to your emotional involvement to the story and characters. Its tricky for the author to wrap things up in a way that is true to the characters, consistent with the themes of the previous books, ties up the major and minor story arcs, and is still enjoyable to read. I've never read the final book in any series that managed to seamlessly do all of those things. City of Glass did.
The characters in a story like this should be expected to change, to be affected by the events around them, and to react to them in some way. This was handled fantastically!
Clary was very Clary-ish. Particularly early on in the book she was just as rash and independent and headstrong as ever. Watching her character progression over the span of the book (as well as the series), I must say that she usurps Gemma Doyle for the crown of female protagonists in the category that I refer to as "Girls Who Do Things." And she does "Do Things." Regardless of the fact that Jace disabled her truck tried to keep her from Idris, despite the fact that she lacks the training or even the in depth knowledge of their society, Clary refuses to sit on the sidelines. She refuses to be relegated to the role of bystander or victim. She was very true to the character that we got to know in City of Bones and City of Ashes.
Jace, well, what can I say. Jace's journey here is epic. As he has in every book before, he broke my heart. Watching him struggle with himself, with his past, with things he cannot control...it is beautiful.
The 'minor' characters (though I am loathe to call them that, seeing how real and well developed they are) really shine here, too. I can't really elaborate without giving anything away, but WOW. They all grow to meet the challenges before them, and we see a different side of *everyone* in Idris, though they stay true to the characters we knew. To say that I am ecstatic about the character development here is a gross understatement.
All of the story arcs--both for the individual characters as well as the main conflicts--are tied up nicely. The foundations for everything that happens have been building since COB. The resolutions are not gratuitous or indulgent. They feel as if--rather than the writer giving the series the ending she wanted it to have, regardless of whether or not it fit the themes of the other books--the author allowed these characters to tell their stories through her. It was the way endings should be...but so rarely ever are. Nothing in this book (or the epilogue) will taint your love for the series...it will grow it.
Ashley said that reading City of Glass was like riding a roller coaster in the dark, and she was not wrong. I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I shouted at the characters, I yelled "Yes!" and "No!" Oftentimes I did all of those things within the span of a single chapter. It's an emotional whirlwind reading experience. I was physically unable to put the book down from the moment I picked it up. And the ending? Well, the ending left me breathless.
I don't say this lightly: there are probably two dozen books that I easily list as "one of my favorite books of all time."
City of Glass is not on that list.
City of Glass *IS* my favorite book of all time.
For sheer emotional connect, suspense, excitement, character WIN, romance, frighteningly believable villainy goodness, and moments that made me flail around like a toddler in the candy closet, it is unparalleled. Amazing. Wonderful. Fantastic. Words fail me.
So for those of you eagerly counting down the days between now and March 24, take heart. City of Glass is well worth the wait. I had really high expectations for it, really high hopes, and it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It was better.
First Read ARC on January 15, 2009
Reread 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 -
Seriously one of the best books in the series, there's no doubt.
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hi i've obviously read this book a million times i'm just adding it to my "read" for this year
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I'm glad this book had a lot more going than just Clary behaving like Jace himself hung the moon and stars every night.
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I wrote another song based review because...it's really fun (and I had no idea what to write but just ignore this). The song is
This Feeling by The Chainsmokers
🚫SPOILERS AHEAD🚫
I'll tell you a story before it tells itself
There was this girl named Clary, who really needed help
She had some crazy ideas, and mostly they were wrong
No one listened to her, so she tried to go to Idris alone
They told her think with your head, the thing she never had
She made decisions which were bad like every time
Jace is the one that she wants, but that's really so wrong
She don't know what having a brother feels like
And I say ewww-eww
Ewww-eww-eww-eww
Ewww-eww
Ewww-eww-eww-eww
And I say ewww-eww
Ewww-eww-eww-eww
Ewww-eww
Ewww-eww-eww-eww
I'll tell you a story, you just sit and nod your head
I tell you a secret, don't tell all your friends
Sebastian's really her brother, he kissed her and that's bad(that is really bad)
In the end, she rejected him, so it's not my fault she deserves some respect (I still don't like her)
They told me don't think with your head, if you don't want to stab your own chest
They said open your eyes only when their scene ends
Clary's the one that Jace want, and he knows that really so wrong
Therefore he showed her what jealousy is like (Aline remember?)
And I say yeah-eah
Yeah-eah-eah-eah
Yeah-eah
Yeah-eah-eah-eah
And I say yeah-eah
Yeah-eah-eah-eah
Yeah-eah
Yeah-eah-eah-eah
I'll tell you a story before it tells itself
Alec and Magnus are the couple who really need no help
We all had expectations, and I melted seeing their relationship get strong
I wanted to roast this book, so I put it in this song
They tell me think with my head, not that thing in my chest
This book wasn't bad this time
But it's not the one that I loved, cause things were yet so wrong
You don't know what reading this book felt like
My friends said no-o, no-o-o
Cause they know-o-o
No-o, no-o-o
Yeah, no-o, no-o-o
Cause they know
No-o, no-o-o
No, no
And I say no, oh, oh
And I say, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
They really know, oh
Okay so like I said this book wasn't that bad. The only things I hated were- yes Clary, Sebastian and Jace.
City of Bones
City of Fallen Angels -
3.5/5 ⭐
Okay, okay. Hear me out - this wasn't bad at all, but it became better towards the end.
Still not excruciatingly impressed with this series.
Not bad, but not wow either.
I did appreciate the fact that we got some important revealings in this book because some aspects were starting to weird me out already. So the answers were much appreciated :)
I don't even know where this series is supposed to go anymore - it just becomes darker and darker. It's kind of intriguing, ya know?
My still-standing complaint about this series though is the way the characters act.
I can't get into any of them. There is something off about them, something that makes them annoying (at least for me). There is this too much stubbornness, drama and rushed decisions thrown into the mix that does not let them grow beautifully.
And also, why are these chapters so damn long??
(
Book-styled) -
I'm going to review this properly.
