City of Glass

Previously published on my blog: http://fictionfervor.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/review-city-of-glass-by-cassandra-clare/ This book was one thrill of a ride. There was the action, and the romance, and the loss, and the puzzles solved, and the tying things up together. (For those of you who don't know, Cassandra Clare originally intended The Mortal Instruments to be a trilogy, but after publishing City of Glass, she decided to extend it to add three more books.) Everything that I love in a book. But there just seems to be one key element missing. That feeling of exhilaration, that feeling of contentment that seeps into my bones. Where was it? Cassandra Clare's world is undoubtedly unique. I love the idea of Shadowhunters. I love the angels and demons and vampires and werewolves and faeries and warlocks. The plot in these books was mind-gripping, nerve-wracking. The characters were adorable and caught the attention of thousands of readers. But Cassandra's writing is not enchanting. The world she has created is too simple. There were few plot twists. The problems that Valentine imposes are too easily fixed. Where is the ingenuity of a bestselling author? Where are the little details that escape the reader who later realizes that those were essential to the plotline? Where is that captivating feeling that only the best have mastered? I'm being harsh, I know. But I had incredibly high expectations for this last book in the trilogy (before it was extended). I had hoped-no, expected-that Cassie Clare would have made this last book epic and unforgettable. But alas, no. All the same, City of Glass was still a good book-but only good. The characters had developed even further, I'll give her that. The action had increased. The plot was slightly more complex. But all I can think about is how this fell way below my expectations. And I feel just incredibly disappointed.show more

I really have to stop reading books out by the pool. When I do this, especially with the good books, I forget about the thing called the "sun" and I end up getting roasted. I should've known better yesterday when I sat down to read Cassandra Clare's CITY OF GLASS. I should've known that I was not going to be able to put down the book, and now, unlike Simon who is not affected by the sun, I am a little bit burned. It has been one really long - as well as crazy, heartbreaking, exhilarating, and anxiety-filled - month for Clary. She has been one busy girl - mixing it up with vampires, werewolves, and fairies, fighting demons, and falling in love completely and totally. Like I said, it has been one helluva month for Clary. When we last saw her, both Clary and Jace were reeling from the fact that they were brother and sister. I think you were able to hear a collective moan of "oh no" across the country when everyone reading the book got to that part. On top of that, her mother was in a coma and Simon, her BFF, was turned into a vampire. Seriously, can anything else go wrong? Welcome to the final chapter in THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS trilogy. The trip has been planned. Everyone is going to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters. Clary was going to save her mother, learn more about her past. Life was going to be good once again. However, keep in mind the saying "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry".... So what goes wrong? For starters, Jace doesn't want her to go, claiming that it is too dangerous, especially if people, the wrong people, find out what she can do with runes. Then the Forsaken attack before Clary arrives, wrecking havoc and forcing everyone left alive (including Simon) to escape through the portal to Idris. It is not easy getting into Idris. You have to get permission from the ruling body, and if you enter without permission, you run the risk of death. Uh oh.... now how in the world is Clary going to save her mother? Clave be damned is how, and she draws her own portal rune to transport her. Luke latches on at the last second in hopes of saving her, but it is too late - and they both wind up in Idris. Good news is they made it; bad news is that Downworlders like Luke aren't exactly welcome. The action in this installment starts early and doesn't let up until the very last page, but now with Clary, Luke, and Simon (who really shouldn't be there) in Idris, the twists and turns really begin. If you thought what happened on the ship in the last book was intense, you haven't read anything yet. Valentine, who has yet to show all of his cards, is planning something huge. He is just itching to use the mortal cup and he already has the sword. Everybody is on full alert, ready to battle for his or her lives. I don't want to reveal that many spoilers, so lets just say Ms. Clare wrote a satisfying conclusion that will please her legions of fans. There is a lot going on in this book, that much I will say. This one was probably my favorite out of the three. The story moved at a very good pace and delved more into the relationships that have entwined all of the characters together. Familial issues take center stage, and romantic issues also abound. There is also one really big surprise. Does that mean Jace and Clary are together in the end? I'm not telling....show more