City of Glass (The Mortal instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

I forgot to take a picture with the book, so here is a picture of my cat "reading" instead

Why I read this book?

This is the Third book in the Mortal Instruments series. The main reason to continue with this series, albeit it is entertaining, is because I started it with my best friend.

What's the book about?

In this book we follow the Shadownters into Alicante where a whole gathering is taking place to decide what to do with the Valentine situation. To get there Clarissa has to go against the Law and in doing so puts her life in danger as well as the lives of people who love her.

First impressions

Clarissa starts this book getting on my nerves so much!, Every single time she does what she was told not to do. While I think that a character going against the current AND getting results usually turns to be an interesting plot, the way she is always whining just bothers me. Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix? I really disliked Harry for the whole beginning of this book,: "nobody loves me, I am all alone so I'm going to put myself under unnecessary danger just to call for attention". That's what I got from Clarissa this time.

Final thoughts

If you are looking to be surprised with the book...I wouldn't count on it. Most of the things that happened, regarding Valentine and his family were meant to be surprises I gather, but it was quite predictable, at least for me. However I did enjoy the whole world building. Alicante seems like a gorgeous charming ancient city that I would love to visit. I loved the evolution of Alec's relationship, and I think the way the author built it was very nice. I don't know what else can be there after this book, but I know there are 2more books out. We will see what happens I guess. 

 

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

Why I read this book?

This is the second book in the Mortal Instrument Series. After reading the first one, I decided to give it a try to the whole series. Also it makes part of my Sequel Challenge. I would suggest if you haven’t read City of Bones, you stop reading right now.

What's the book about?

From the first book we learned that Clary is not a “mundane” and that she is actually the sibling of our charming Jace and they are the progeny of Valentine. In this book, Not only is Valentine back, stealing yet another one of the mortal instruments, but also Jace is considered suspicious and believed to be helping his father. On the not-other-world related stuff Clary is beginning to see Simon as more than her best friend.

What about the main character?

Has Clary gotten a bit deeper as a character since last time? Maybe a bit, however what I did of her was her dynamics with other characters around her. Since last review I commented mostly on her, let’s talk a bit about Jace. He is still a bit full of himself, but with so much pain coming from within (Valentine related, Clary related) we begin to see glimpses of a, if not sentimental, more emotional Jace.

Final thoughts

Although I cannot say that anything shown in this book came as a surprise, I have to admit it was an entertaining reading. I don’t like the fact that every teen female character is portrayed as easily swayed by a guy, but at least Isabelle can kick some ass once in a while. 

In paper it took me longer to read this book than it actually did. I started it and then I got 3 books from the library and off course this took precedent. When I actually sat down to only read this book it was an easy read. 

I am still expecting to Clary to become a bit more of a heavy character; even though the series is supposed to be about her it feels like she just goes with the motions and that annoys me a bit.

 

This is book makes part of my Sequel Challenge :)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Why I read this book?

My best friend is head over heels about this series and continuing (by now) tradition we plan to go and see the movie for our girl's night. So you see, I pretty much had to read the book, didn't I? ;)

What's the book about?

If you are not into YA fantasy I think is best if you don't go for this book. So, there is this girl, she thinks she is very normal, but she is not, she is actually a Shadowhunter (the name explains it, she has to hunt shadowy creatures a.k.a: demons) and at the same time she discovers this, she will also learn about another side of this world and realize the role she has in it.

What about the main character?

Clary (Clarissa, man that name takes me back some decades) was portrayed as a very simple character to me in this first book. Mind you, not Bella helpless, but still. She is the artsy type and as many teenage girls, feels she is not pretty at all. She is a bit oblivious of the fact that her best friend Simon is in love with her. She is not yet in my "female characters I don't mind my non-existent daughter would follow as example" but she didn't make the "oh hell no" list either, so that's that.

Final thoughts

Being a fanfiction author at first, I guess it was not surprise that she throw almost everything supernatural in the first installment. I was surprised to learn that even though this book has been around for almost 6 years now, they are just now using it for a movie. In general I liked it, it is exactly what it is being sold to be, a YA supernatural story. Is it great? No, it could have a better main character, but it has an interesting premise none the less. Is it horrible? No, the dialogues flow nicely enough, they don't seem as "fake teen" as this type of books often do, and the main character is not completely a damsel in distress that is nothing without a man next to her. Hopefully Clary will grow some presence in the next installment.