Mortal Instruments

Mortal Instruments series

City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass

This series is based on the main character Clary. She has been raised by her mother and shares her artistic abilities. Early in the book we discover that the main character’s best friend, Simon, has feelings for her. They go to a club together where Clary witnesses a murder which Simon is oblivious to. Clary observes a boy called Jace kill a teenage boy who he claims was a demon. Jace comes back into Clary’s life the next day and wishes to take her to his mentor/tutor Hodge. Clary seems quite confused about everything but also enticed.

Before she undertakes that adventure her mother calls her telling her not to come home. This causes Clary to do the opposite out of love for her mother. She then arrives home to discover the house absolutely
trashed and feels her world slipping away. Cassandra Clare does a fantastic job with these novels. They are structured fantastically and truely paint the colours of the characters. Clary continues to look through her house and discovers a demon in her house. Thanks to Jace she manages to save herself and kill the creature. Afterwhich, Jace takes her to his home. Clary is able to see the institute which is usually protected from human eyes. She meets Hodge and Jace’s siblings Isabelle and Alec (all of which are good looking).

The novels continue to delve into this fantasy world which is both to be feared and admired. Different characters are introduced such as the “Silent Brothers”, Magnus (the Warlock) and Valentine. Clary learns what Jace does and who she should fear in their world. Her part in the world is slowly unravelled (mainly in the City of Glass).

However, there is a ‘block’ on Clary’s mind which has been placed by Clary’s mother. Another interesting aspect of this series is the relationship that Jace and Clary share. Clary has a relationship with Simon and values this above all but cannot shake the undeniable attraction she has with Jace. As Clary begins to accept her feelings for Jace and understand his feelings for her (this is shared through Jace’s perspective which is very rewarding for the reader) she discovers they are actually brother and sister. This is a very interesting twist and adds a strange element to the novels. The love is most definantly forbidden but due to the first two novels we understand how much their feelings have grown. To be honest, this aspect of the book made me quite uncomfortable.

However, I really look forward to reading the next installment to find out what happens!