Review: City of Glass - Cassandra Clare

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #3
Genre: YA, fantasy
Published on March 24, 2009
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 541
Read From: 3.12.15 - 3.18.15












SYNOPSIS

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 how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Review

Dear City of Glass,

I dreaded reading you most of all. So many people told me that this is where the series started going downhill; that I would be lucky if I survived you. And like a newbie reader, I picked you up right after reading Twilight. So, City of Glass, you had a lot going against you. I didn't think I would survive.

You pick up right where City of Ashes left off: Clary knows that the only way to wake up her mother is to seek out a warlock in the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters. But Jace has his own reasons for trying to keep her from going there. Meanwhile, the Clave has taken undesired interest in Simon - a vampire who can walk in the daylight. And Valentine is amassing his demon army on the city's borders, waiting for the perfect moment to invade and crush them for good.

Here's what you had going for you, City of Glass: despite everything, your plot and your world building is very intriguing. I've enjoyed both of those aspects from the very start of this series. And several of the side characters have grown on me. Now that Simon has said goodbye to his feelings for Clary, and he can defend himself against the perils of the Shadowhunter world, he's become downright awesome. He will be the only vampire character in literary history (minus Dracula) who I will ever genuinely like. Luke and Isabelle and Alec are all pretty cool, and Sebastian is downright. . . .well, I can't say, because I might give things away to people who have not read you yet. Let's just say that I approve. ;) Now that Clary is accepting and growing in her powers, she's even pretty cool, too! Valentine remains a relatively good villain. What makes him terrifying is his absolutely unwavering belief that what he's doing is necessary. He doesn't once doubt the nobility in his quest to cleanse the Shadowhunters and destroy the Downworlders.

But. But, City of Glass, you have one huge irritation that I could not ignore. Jace. I liked Jace in the first book, but now I hate him. He is whiny and pouty and moody and reckless and a complete ass. I want to sympathize with him because of his crappy upbringing, but his attitude is so bad that I just plain can't. Someone just needs to put him out of his misery. If Jace were not present, I would have liked you a whole lot more, City of Glass. The romance would not have been creepy and disturbing, Clary would not have been brash and stupid, no one would have been worrying their minds out over what new idiotic thing Jace was doing - everything, in short, just would have been better.

But I will give you this: the romance actually wasn't focused on a ton, all things considered. I was, in fact, surprised at how backseat it was. Still there, still annoying and weird and creepy as all hell, but not in my face like I thought it would be.

Everyone says the series goes downhill after that. But, City of Glass, you could have been worse, and I'm willing to stick with the rest of your series. I really am.

Feeling satisfied,

Mara A.

Others in The Mortal Instruments Series:
1)City of Bones
2)City of Ashes
3)City of Glass
4)City of Lost Souls
5)City of Fallen Angels
6)City of Heavenly Fire