Title: The Mortal Instruments: City of GlassAuthor: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books
Year of Release: 2009
ISBN: 9781406322873
Source: Purchased (Myer, $14.95)*
Number of Pages: 541 (this edition)
Summary: Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downwolders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? Funny, quirky, colourful, vibrant, expressive and emotional, City of Glass is an amazing read. I haven't been so completely immersed in a book for a long time, even while I was reading the first two instalments of this riveting series. I finished this book close to a week ago and have been sitting on the early drafts of this review ever since, questioning what I could possibly say that would portray this book in the light it deserves. I can tell you to start reading this series and I can tell you again and again how enjoyable it is, but at the end of the day, I don't think there is anything I can say that would convince you of how truly genius and superb this book series is, City of Glass in particular.
One of the things I love most about this book is the protagonist, Clary Fray. She displays excellent qualities throughout the book; determination, perseverance, courage, kindness, and strength being a few.
Jace is just gorgeous, even when he's being a smart-ass. He's so incredibly endearing and his love-hate friendship with Simon is just so funny and their verbal fights are so entertaining.
The summary I regurgitated from the back of my copy of this book doesn't really provide much of an insight into what the book is about, so I'm going to recap it from memory. (CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD!)
To find a cure for her mother's coma, Clary travels by portal to Idris, Alicante, otherwise known as the City of Glass. She aims to find a warlock called Ragnor Fell who may know something about about the cure and where to find it. While working through her complicated feelings about Jace, the boy she fell in love with before finding out about their sibling status, a minor courtship begins between herself and a new character called Sebastian. He's pleasant, intelligent and friendly, and everyone is satisfied with his charms. Everyone except Jace. Meanwhile, vampire Simon has been thrown in prison by the shadowhunters of Idris who are perplexed and somewhat suspicious about his ability to walk in sunlight. Somewhere, Valentine is plotting a scheme so big it could mean the extinction of all shadowhunters and life as the shadow-hunting world knows it. To thwart his evil plans, Clary is called upon to harness her dangerous, newfound powers, unlikely alliances are formed, and Jace and Clary must make their own individual heartbreaking decisions as the secrets of the past are revealed and Valentine's threat of war looms above them.
City of Glass was jam-packed with suspense, action and adventure, beautifully written and perfectly structured. One of my favourites of the whole series! Possibly the best fantasy series since Harry Potter.
Cassandra Clare is an amazing writer and I highly recommend this series.
*Prices relevant to Australian stores.
