Book Review: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments #3
First Published: 2009
Paperback
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

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?

So, when I read City of Ashes and wrote my original review of it, I boasted at how I was certain I would start City of Glass the following week and finish the first trilogy of the series. I made a huge liar out of myself, because I ended up reading it a full year later.

Which is really one of the main problem I have with this series and Cassandra Clare's books in general. I just don't feel compelled to read them. At all. And even when I do, I end up reading them in triple the time it usually takes me.

I do somewhat enjoy them (not half as much as most of you out there seem to, though...), but that's just kind of my general feeling about them.

In this installment of the series, the tables turned. Where in the last book I loved Jace and was a bit disappointed by Simon, in this one I found Jace's pov to be extremely tiring, and Simon's rather delightful.

Which is too bad, because the whole romance part of the book is centered around Jace and Clary, who spend most of it dancing around--or with--each other, until they finally discover what we all knew (or at the very least I knew) from book one. Hooray and good riddance. But does that mean the angst can finally stop? According to the synopses of the next books, not even close. *sigh*

This makes me glad I'm never going to read them. #ThereISaidIt.

This book is filled with death, but most of it in the big sense of the word, an Avengers type of massive destruction that doesn't really touch you much because you are not too attached to any of those people. Except in one case.

You probably know which Death I'm talking about, and if you don't I'm not going to be the one to spoil it for you (though I did spoil myself for it), but let's just say it's one of my big No-Nos and I want Clare to somehow take it back *sniff*

But it's not the death and destruction that's truly frightening here. It's the fact that Valentine believes he is doing the right thing, the hard thing that no one else but him will do. He is not pure evil. And this type of villain is much scarier to me, because pure evil never stood a chance, that is what it is. But Valentine could've turned out a whole different. He could've done the world a ton of good.

The other villain we're introduced to here? He's pure evil. And I hate him. But not enough to pick up the next books and force myself once again through bazillion pages. #ThereISaidItAgain

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare | Book Review

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments #2
First Published: 2008
Paperback
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

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? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't 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. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

City of Ashes and I started off rocky. If you read my review of City of Bones you know that I read that book twice (because I couldn't remember anything). What you don't know is that the first time I read it, I proceeded to open City of Ashes immediately. I read the prologue. I closed the book. It stayed closed for about... oh, I dunno... two years, maybe?..

I can't even explain what went wrong and why this happened. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it. But whatever it was, I kept recalling that I did in fact do that every time I considered reading the book, and so I became too afraid to actually read it.

So afraid, that I had to limit myself on a vacation by taking City of Ashes only to make myself read it. If you're like me, who take 3 physical books and a full kindle everywhere, you must understand how dire the situation truly was.

I ended up being completely baffled by my initial reaction. City of Ashes, for me, was a much superior book to City of Bones.

Firstly, I got to like Clary better in this book. I never hated her, but I was never sure I liked her, either. Does that make any sense? Anyways, in this book Clary discovers a power that finally makes her useful. She is no longer helpless. And that makes her much more interesting, to me.

Though, I will say - I was gritting my teeth so bad at how she behaved with Simon! That is NOT okay.

As for Jace, the first book I was surprised to like this character, who is named a jerk (though usually affectionately) by many people. In this book I was once again surprised that I liked him - this time, because I strangely enjoyed his mopey and sullen attitude. It added a much needed vulnerability to his character, making him that much more relate-able.

A character that I lost some respect towards (thought I still love him) is actually Simon. Why would you go into a lair of vampires? That is such a stupid thing to do. The end of the book with him was interesting, for sure, though I don't quite understand how it was possible. Hopefully, Clare explains this in the next book (side note: did Clare explain? I can't seem to remember o-o)

My possibly favorite part of the book was listening to Simon recite Sh'ma Israel. It was very accurate, because that is the prayer a Jewish person would use (I should know lol), and I wasn't actually expecting it.

Simon also gets a possible future love interest in this book, called Maia. I hated her. She is just such a useless character, so unnecessary to the plot. Hopefully, Clare won't negate Simon to an actual relationship with her.

Two side characters I feel deserve the extra mention are Luke and fan favorite (and my favorite) Magnus Bane.

I love Luke for the fatherly feeling he gives off, and Magnus for the sparkly feeling he gives off. Both of them create a large contrast between how you (and the Shadowhunters) expect a character like themselves to be and how they really are, Luke because he is the farthest thing away from the cruel, vicious werewolf and Magnus because he is not the typical wise, bearded Mage but a colorful collection of traits that create this persona that is so much fun to be around!

I hope to see more of both these characters in the following books (with emphasis on Magnus's relationship with Alec).

"Every time you almost die, I almost die myself".

As for the romance - I was kind of on the middle with it. Sometimes I loved it, like when Jace said the quote above. At that moment? I shipped it hard. 

But then sometimes I hated it. Like when Jace started blowing up over things Clary hadn't even said, based on his wrapped interpretation on them-- and Clary wouldn't even contradict his weird assumptions, instead continuing on with the conversation as if he is right. Like, major wtf.

I think this reading experience was so much better than in City of Bones because, above all else, I got used to the writing. But I'll be honest, I still don't like it.

Bonus: Harry Potter vs. The Mortal Instruments

Yesterday, I shared with you guys the revamped review of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, where I mentioned feeling like it wasn't anything I haven't read before.

What I didn't tell you guys is that in the original review of the book, I included a table of comparison between my all time favorite Harry Potter and the book, because even back then - before I knew Clare used to be an active fanfic writer for HP - there were some similarities that were glaringly obvious, and skirted (to me) on the line between simple inspiration and... err, more. 

So today I'm sharing with you that table, this time graphically enhanced and easier on the eyes ;)

And those are just a few of the similarities between these two franchises. I don't really have to tell you which one I find better.

PS - how do you like the graphic? I worked really hard on cutting those faces you know xD

Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments #1
First Published: 2007
Paperback
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

When Clary 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 in odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons--and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden haired Jace. 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 an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Okay, believe or not City of Bones was the first ever review I've published on a blog, so you've got to admit, it's long over-do for a makeover!

My initial reaction to City of Bones was "it's alright". Yes, not the most enthusiastic response, but not the worst one, either. As far as books go, I didn't have too much to complain about, but at the same time... It was nothing unheard of, and that says something considering that at the time, I have read a very limited amount of books. So I didn't have too much to compare to, and still it felt oh-so-familiar.

And it wasn't memorable, either. I had to force myself through a second reading of the book because, despite owning all the books in the first trilogy at that point, I just didn't read them. And when I finally decided enough was enough, I couldn't remember almost a single thing of all that had happened. It just didn't stick to me in any way, shape or form.

Our main character is Clary, and as far as main characters go - she's okay. I wasn't in love with her or anything, and she pissed me off many times (I mean, she would say mean things to people just so they'd be as miserable as she is..) but I didn't hate her. And yes, that seems like a pretty low standard to reach, but it's the best way I can put it.

Then there's Jace, the love interest. I was surprised to like this character, because I expected a huge douche, and he... wasn't. I mean, yes, he's a bad-boy ladies man, but he wasn't the kind that made me think Clary was an inconceivable idiot to like him (and I think that more often than you'd imagine in YA).

The supporting cast surrounding these characters was colorful, relatively interesting, and likable... most of the time. You may recognize the names Izzy, Alec, Simon and Luke among those. In fact, I liked Alec and his story arc so much that it was the only reason I considered giving the second trilogy a go (but I decided against that, at the end).

Now comes the romance. Clare did wisely by spreading the plot in such a way that makes it appear as if more time has passed than actually does, because otherwise, we might notice that this is pretty insta love. But we don't, so go Clare.

And, I'll be honest, I thought Clary and Jace were good together. 

But then came the twist at the end. To put it mildly, I hated it. It was just so unnecessary in my opinion (though well done)

SPOILER FOR THE FIRST THREE BOOKS Not to mention, it was painfully obvious this twist was a lie. I didn't need to read books two and three to know it was bogus, even though Clare did her best to build a misdirection with little "clues" designed to make us think they really were related. END SPOILER

The final thing that has made my reading experience kind of meh, and continued on with all the Cassandra Clare books I've read is the writing style. I don't like it. #ThereISaidIt.