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destiny � howling libraries's Reviews > City of Glass
City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)
by
A lot of people told me that the series picked up with book three, and I have to say that those people were absolutely right—this was an easy 4.5-star read and I almost rounded up to 5, even. The pacing was better than the first two books, the character development was delightful, and all of the delicious angst and romance and fighting that Cassie writes so well was present and accounted for.
First, we gotta talk about Jace and Clary. I won’t spoil in this review, but if you’ve read the book, you know about the big twist, and I was so freaking ready for it! I knew it was coming because I’d been spoiled for it back in Bones, but I think knowing it was coming was even better than if I hadn’t, because it was just this fantastic buildup that constantly left me tearing through the next chapter, waiting to get to the big reveal.
There are so many fantastic moments between the two of them, and even though I know they’re not a tremendously popular one as far as Cassie’s ships go, I’m a sucker for the bad-boy-gone-good, so Jace totally has my heart in this series. He made me cry, like, three times—and okay, yeah, I cry at books a lot anyways, BUT THAT’S BESIDE THE POINT. He’s precious.
The real MVP of this series, though, hands down, is Magnus Bane. My god, I know I rambled about him forever in my review for Ashes, too, but I just love this weird little fabulous warlock so much. He’s so damn funny—like, literally makes me laugh out loud in almost every scene he’s in—and he works his witchy little ass off to keep the Shadowhunters safe, even when the Nephilim treat him like garbage half the time. Plus, the development in his romance with a certain Shadowhunter? RIP me, because the cuteness is TOO MUCH.
Probably the most unexpected thing for me, though, was how much I grew to tolerate (okay, maybe even like, just a little�) Simon. I couldn’t stand him in either of the first two books, but he grows so much and really comes into his own in this one, and I respected his character development a lot. Something that fascinates me about reading this series is watching just how quickly Cassandra Clare’s writing evolved, between Simon’s shift from lovesick/kicked puppy to actually-not-totally-useless-dude-friend, and Clary/Isabelle’s growing understanding of one another and the way they move away from the trope-y girl-hate that happens a little in Bones.
Overall, I know this series gets picked at a bit nowadays, because it does fall into some of the standard mid- to late-2000s paranormal fantasy tropes, but honestly, I encourage anyone who hasn’t ever read these books to give them a try. The writing is flawed (though, like I said, quickly improving as I continue reading), and the characters make some pretty idiotic choices every now and again (more like all the time, but it’s part of the charm, I swear), but this series has just been such a fun ride for me. The books are so fun and action-packed, full of angst and drama, and honestly, for the time in which they were published, they’re pretty remarkably well-stocked with diverse characters and representation. They’re not perfect, but they’re certainly worth your time.
(I don’t have anything else to say, I just really liked this quote.)
by
#1 City of Bones ★★★★�
#2 City of Ashes ★★★☆�
#3 City of Glass ★★★★�
#4 City of Fallen Angels ★★★★�
#5 City of Lost Souls ★★★★�
#6 City of Heavenly Fire
A lot of people told me that the series picked up with book three, and I have to say that those people were absolutely right—this was an easy 4.5-star read and I almost rounded up to 5, even. The pacing was better than the first two books, the character development was delightful, and all of the delicious angst and romance and fighting that Cassie writes so well was present and accounted for.
“And now I’m looking at you,� he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has.�
First, we gotta talk about Jace and Clary. I won’t spoil in this review, but if you’ve read the book, you know about the big twist, and I was so freaking ready for it! I knew it was coming because I’d been spoiled for it back in Bones, but I think knowing it was coming was even better than if I hadn’t, because it was just this fantastic buildup that constantly left me tearing through the next chapter, waiting to get to the big reveal.
“I know it’s wrong—God, it’s all kinds of wrong—but I just want to lie down with you and wake up with you, just once, just once ever in my life.�
There are so many fantastic moments between the two of them, and even though I know they’re not a tremendously popular one as far as Cassie’s ships go, I’m a sucker for the bad-boy-gone-good, so Jace totally has my heart in this series. He made me cry, like, three times—and okay, yeah, I cry at books a lot anyways, BUT THAT’S BESIDE THE POINT. He’s precious.
“They didn’t,� Magnus said. “Your wards are down.�
“Really?� The Consul’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I hadn’t noticed.�
Magnus looked concerned. “That’s terrible. Someone should have told you.� He glanced at Luke. “Tell him the wards are down.�
The real MVP of this series, though, hands down, is Magnus Bane. My god, I know I rambled about him forever in my review for Ashes, too, but I just love this weird little fabulous warlock so much. He’s so damn funny—like, literally makes me laugh out loud in almost every scene he’s in—and he works his witchy little ass off to keep the Shadowhunters safe, even when the Nephilim treat him like garbage half the time. Plus, the development in his romance with a certain Shadowhunter? RIP me, because the cuteness is TOO MUCH.
“No,� Simon said. “If you hurt Clary, she’s quite capable of killing you herself. Possibly with a variety of weapons.�
Probably the most unexpected thing for me, though, was how much I grew to tolerate (okay, maybe even like, just a little�) Simon. I couldn’t stand him in either of the first two books, but he grows so much and really comes into his own in this one, and I respected his character development a lot. Something that fascinates me about reading this series is watching just how quickly Cassandra Clare’s writing evolved, between Simon’s shift from lovesick/kicked puppy to actually-not-totally-useless-dude-friend, and Clary/Isabelle’s growing understanding of one another and the way they move away from the trope-y girl-hate that happens a little in Bones.
Magnus looked at Alec as if he’d lost his mind. “Your city is under attack,� he said. “The wards have been broken, and the streets are full of demons. And you want to know why I haven’t called you?�
Overall, I know this series gets picked at a bit nowadays, because it does fall into some of the standard mid- to late-2000s paranormal fantasy tropes, but honestly, I encourage anyone who hasn’t ever read these books to give them a try. The writing is flawed (though, like I said, quickly improving as I continue reading), and the characters make some pretty idiotic choices every now and again (more like all the time, but it’s part of the charm, I swear), but this series has just been such a fun ride for me. The books are so fun and action-packed, full of angst and drama, and honestly, for the time in which they were published, they’re pretty remarkably well-stocked with diverse characters and representation. They’re not perfect, but they’re certainly worth your time.
“Good things come to those who wait.�
“I always thought that was ‘good things come to those who do the wave�,� said Simon. “No wonder I’ve been so confused all my life.�
(I don’t have anything else to say, I just really liked this quote.)
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