Title: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 2009
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 541 Pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves, Magic
Plot: 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 final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments. (Goodreads.com)
Personal Thoughts: Book three was fantastic... and the end of the book was amazing and surprising all at once! I was very glad that this isn't the end of the series though. (:
By the time I got to this book I was extremely emotionally invested in these characters - especially Clary and Jace, and Simon. I didn't want to see this book end... but I wanted to see the end of Valentine! The books have kept me engaged and entertained, but all along it's been the awesome cast of characters that has truly kept me reading these books!
Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:
Goodreads Nominee for YA and Favorite Book 2009
ALA Teens' Top Ten 2010
Children's Choice Book Award Nominee 2010
Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, March 2008
Number of Pages: Hardcover, 453 Pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves
Plot: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation. (Goodreads.com)
Personal Thoughts: The sequel to City of Bones was another fantastic read... after realizing the huge plot that covers more than one book; I was glad to have already bought the second book so that I could start it right away. Book one set off some answers and secrets that surprised me pretty quickly, but book two got a lot more in depth with Valentine and his plans for Jace and Clary... also Simon becomes a downworlder who tries to live like a mundane... it's a very interesting story! I love the world that Clare has created in this books.
Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:
ALA Teens' Top Ten 2009
Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee for Best Novel 2009
Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, April 2009
Number of Pages: Kindle Edition, 512 Pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Teen, Paranormal Romance, Demons, Angels, Vampires, Werewolves,
Plot: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . (Goodreads.com)
Personal Thoughts: This one was on my 'to read' list for a long time... mostly by recommendation from my cousin Kim. I only decided to pick it up recently because of the movie coming out next month. I was actually surprised how much I liked the book - it's going to be yet another series I read over and over again because it's just that good. I have really enjoyed learning my way around Clare's world of Shadowhunting. It took me a while to get used to some of her terminology but the characters are so lovable, I latched onto them quickly.
I'd actually read a lot of negative reviews on Goodreads about this book before picking it up, trying to give myself a chance to see how I liked it on my own. I went into it with an open mind and feel in love with the world that author has created and Jace is now very close to my heart... he's emotional and broody but tries to remain strong in his feelings for Clary. For some reason I was drawn to him!
Recommended Age Level: 13+
Rating: 4.5
Reviews/Awards:
South Caroline Book Award Nominee for YA Book Award 2010
ALA Teens' Top Ten 2008
Georgia Peach Honor Book Award 2009
Abraham Lincoln Award 2010
Title: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3)
