_lleni_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katya_s's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caitlintaylorford's review
3.0
"City of Dreadful, Unlikable Characters"
Because that's the problem here, isn't it? The plot isn't too shabby, the world has been developed, the writing has improved - but we're still stuck with these awful characters. And they are absolutely, 100% ruining the series for me.
I mean, think about. Whose points of view do we read from for the majority of the book? Clary's and Jace's. These two characters are our main protagonists. Clary, might I say, is so god-damn annoying, for a few different reasons.
1) She never listens to what other people tell her, she just kind of does whatever the hell she wants regardless of the consequences
2) Related to my first point, a lot of these decisions are HELLA stupid, what an idiot
3) She intentionally hurts other people all the time: Jace, Simon, Isabelle, her own mother....
4) Her catch phrase is "I'm coming with you." Clary, you don't have to go everywhere all the time, you're basically a mundane and have no idea about anything in the Shadowhunter world, oh my God
But that's just Clary. Our main female protagonist. Then we have Jace, who is just Will Herondale 100 years later. He's arrogant, discriminatory, rude for absolutely no reason (especially to Simon, like back away from my cinnamon roll please), and so grossly protective of Clary it makes me sick.
Speaking of being discriminatory, can someone please tell me why I'm supposed to like the Shadowhunters? Where in this book (or even the last three books) is the evidence that Shadowhunters are great people? Because in my opinion, they're awful, and I think this book does a really great job of making you hate the Shadowhunters. All of them are cocky because they have angel blood, they think they're the "closest things to gods" walking on Earth, they actively discriminate against Downworlders who LITERALLY HAD NO CHOICE IN HOW THEY WERE BORN, and also, mundanes. Honestly, look at basically every adult Shadowhunter in this series so far and tell me they're not awful (with the exception of Robert Lightwood cause he was irrelevant): Malachi, Madeline (sp?), Aldertree, Maryse, and I guess Alec counts too. I can tolerate Isabelle.
Who are my favorite characters, you ask? Why, of course, Simon, Luke, and Magnus. What do they all have in common? Oh, right! They're all Downworlders! What a shock! Because I cannot stand Shadowhunters.
I just have to mention one more thing about the characters - why the hell are there so many love triangles/squares/pentagons in this series. Why, in a group of like 8 people, are there so many people in love with each other? Is that really necessary? Like, obviously you got Jace and Clary, but why do three people need to love Clary and two need to love Jace and three girls like Simon and Simon likes two different people and then there's Alec who's conflicted between two people? Ugh, why?!?!?!
At this point, I honestly don't know if I want to read the next three books. This one wrapped up nicely and I don't see why I would force myself to deal with these same awful people for three more books. I definitely know I'm going to take a break and read something else (because I just read 6 of these mediocre books in a row and I need some light in my life) but will I revisit this series? Maybe.
Because that's the problem here, isn't it? The plot isn't too shabby, the world has been developed, the writing has improved - but we're still stuck with these awful characters. And they are absolutely, 100% ruining the series for me.
I mean, think about. Whose points of view do we read from for the majority of the book? Clary's and Jace's. These two characters are our main protagonists. Clary, might I say, is so god-damn annoying, for a few different reasons.
1) She never listens to what other people tell her, she just kind of does whatever the hell she wants regardless of the consequences
2) Related to my first point, a lot of these decisions are HELLA stupid, what an idiot
3) She intentionally hurts other people all the time: Jace, Simon, Isabelle, her own mother....
4) Her catch phrase is "I'm coming with you." Clary, you don't have to go everywhere all the time, you're basically a mundane and have no idea about anything in the Shadowhunter world, oh my God
But that's just Clary. Our main female protagonist. Then we have Jace, who is just Will Herondale 100 years later. He's arrogant, discriminatory, rude for absolutely no reason (especially to Simon, like back away from my cinnamon roll please), and so grossly protective of Clary it makes me sick.
Spoiler
And don't even get me started on the whole brother sister thing. I don't really give a shit if they're not actually related - the fact that they were making out while they still thought they were brother and sister is gross and made me want to vomit.Speaking of being discriminatory, can someone please tell me why I'm supposed to like the Shadowhunters? Where in this book (or even the last three books) is the evidence that Shadowhunters are great people? Because in my opinion, they're awful, and I think this book does a really great job of making you hate the Shadowhunters. All of them are cocky because they have angel blood, they think they're the "closest things to gods" walking on Earth, they actively discriminate against Downworlders who LITERALLY HAD NO CHOICE IN HOW THEY WERE BORN, and also, mundanes. Honestly, look at basically every adult Shadowhunter in this series so far and tell me they're not awful (with the exception of Robert Lightwood cause he was irrelevant): Malachi, Madeline (sp?), Aldertree, Maryse, and I guess Alec counts too. I can tolerate Isabelle.
Who are my favorite characters, you ask? Why, of course, Simon, Luke, and Magnus. What do they all have in common? Oh, right! They're all Downworlders! What a shock! Because I cannot stand Shadowhunters.
I just have to mention one more thing about the characters - why the hell are there so many love triangles/squares/pentagons in this series. Why, in a group of like 8 people, are there so many people in love with each other? Is that really necessary? Like, obviously you got Jace and Clary, but why do three people need to love Clary and two need to love Jace and three girls like Simon and Simon likes two different people and then there's Alec who's conflicted between two people? Ugh, why?!?!?!
At this point, I honestly don't know if I want to read the next three books. This one wrapped up nicely and I don't see why I would force myself to deal with these same awful people for three more books. I definitely know I'm going to take a break and read something else (because I just read 6 of these mediocre books in a row and I need some light in my life) but will I revisit this series? Maybe.
leenmachine's review against another edition
2.0
Lord have mercy, this series is terrible. I made the mistake of reading The Infernal Devices series first and the ending of that is tied to The Mortal Instruments. I adored TID and am slogging my way through TMI just for that. 3 books in and I’m ready to google what happens instead of reading further. I do not understand the hype. I also do not understand why, out of all the characters in this book, not one single person says “Gross, she’s your sister, stop making out with her!” or “incest is not ok, no matter how how he is.” No. The characters avert their eyes, pretend it’s not happening, sorta understand why they’d still be into each other despite being related. That part is more unbelievable to me than the idea of demons running around Manhattan
kfactorreads's review
5.0
City of Glass
The Mortal Instruments Book 3
By Cassandra Clare
City of Glass was great! It kept me reading and wanting to know more. There are a lot of details in this book and you have a lot of Aha! Moments when reading. This book is definitly as good as the first two, maybe even better! I loved that you finally got to discover Idris and what it is like. It was nice having a change from New York City. Also, there are some great new characters! You meet Sebastian who is very interesting! Alec also steps up to the plate and really comes to embrace who he is. I like Simon a lot in this book! He really has become a very supportive best friend of Clary! There are many secrets revealed and everything starts to fit together. You learn a lot more about Clary's mother, Jocelyn.
The only problem that I had with the Mortal Instrmemts series in general was Valentine. He never seemed to be a really scary villain, at least to me. Valentine never had that presence of bone chilling fear like, for example, Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.
I definitely think that City of Glass could have been the last book in the series. It has a satisfying ending, but I am excited to read City of Fallen Angels.
Overall
9.5/ 10
kfactorreads.blogspot.com
The Mortal Instruments Book 3
By Cassandra Clare
City of Glass was great! It kept me reading and wanting to know more. There are a lot of details in this book and you have a lot of Aha! Moments when reading. This book is definitly as good as the first two, maybe even better! I loved that you finally got to discover Idris and what it is like. It was nice having a change from New York City. Also, there are some great new characters! You meet Sebastian who is very interesting! Alec also steps up to the plate and really comes to embrace who he is. I like Simon a lot in this book! He really has become a very supportive best friend of Clary! There are many secrets revealed and everything starts to fit together. You learn a lot more about Clary's mother, Jocelyn.
The only problem that I had with the Mortal Instrmemts series in general was Valentine. He never seemed to be a really scary villain, at least to me. Valentine never had that presence of bone chilling fear like, for example, Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.
I definitely think that City of Glass could have been the last book in the series. It has a satisfying ending, but I am excited to read City of Fallen Angels.
Overall
9.5/ 10
kfactorreads.blogspot.com
dianatache's review against another edition
5.0
there's something about this series... no, about this whole world that cassandra clare created that has always called to me. i loved it from the moment i first read clockwork angel, and now with the mortal instruments saga i'm falling even more in love. i just love its darkness, the terrible things and the good lessons you take from them. it's more than your typical YA novel because it defies your morals from the very first book. (who the fuck wouldn't suffer with clary and jace's relationship in the first two books, for fuck's sake).
but this one is probably my favourite, and i haven't read the rest of them yet but i know this will have a special place im my heart forever. it even has a perfect ending, and if i ever decided not to read the rest of them i'd still be happy, because the ending is good. it's cathartic, it gives us everything we ever wanted, it feels complete. i said it before but i liked how the action in this book started right away and things were set in motion immediately rather than having a long introductory section. now that i finished it i can say that i like it even more because it has maintained the action throughout the whole thing (and i've read books that felt empty in the middle and like the action was distributed only at the beginning and ending). this book really has it all.
but this one is probably my favourite, and i haven't read the rest of them yet but i know this will have a special place im my heart forever. it even has a perfect ending, and if i ever decided not to read the rest of them i'd still be happy, because the ending is good. it's cathartic, it gives us everything we ever wanted, it feels complete. i said it before but i liked how the action in this book started right away and things were set in motion immediately rather than having a long introductory section. now that i finished it i can say that i like it even more because it has maintained the action throughout the whole thing (and i've read books that felt empty in the middle and like the action was distributed only at the beginning and ending). this book really has it all.