Review: City of Glass | Cassandra Clare

This review is spoiler free.

“There is no pretending,” Jace said with absolute clarity. “I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I’ll love you then.” 

Series: The Mortal Instruments
Published: 2015, by Walker Books, Ltd.
Pages: 496
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Contains: Death, Violence, Anger, Strong Language, Suicide, Blood/Gore, Imprisonment, Torture

‘City of Glass’ is the third instalment in The Mortal Instruments series, following Clary as she fights to save her mother’s life. To do so, she must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters, without lawful permission. However, Jace doesn’t want her there, and she’s determined to find out why.

This series has gradually become an obsession for me, managing to finish a book every two days, and I just keep wanting more. Everything about this series grabs me, from the characters to the premise, and needless to say, this instalment was not an exception.

Clary develops more within this novel, highlighting her character flaws as we gradually see her reactions towards certain situations. However, that wasn’t a negative, it began to shape her more as three dimensional in our minds. She was human(-ish) and I loved that. She could be thoughtless and self-centred, but that was all part of what made Clary, well, Clary. She was believable as a character and regardless of her faults I still found myself siding with her.
This series, however, is Jace’s story rather than Clary’s. We understand more about this character in this novel, finally having answers to the questions looming over our heads whilst reading. Although, there were heartbreaking moments with Jace in this instalment, he still brought the comic relief on occasion. Jace remained Jace and you couldn’t help but respect him for that.
Alec’s character has remained one of my favourites to the end though, highlighting his maturity as he fights alongside the Shadowhunters for his beliefs. The romantic development with Magnus was also well appreciated; it’s refreshing to have an LGBT relationship end on a positive note.
The other supporting characters were all equally as entertaining, there hardly being an unlikable character since starting the series. They’ve all etched their own special place in my heart.

Clare’s writing style is simplistic but enticing, continuing to lead you across page after page and before you know it, you’ve completed yet another book. The plot developed steadily, yet the characters and world keep you entertained enough not to need it to move any faster.

Overall, I adored this read. The Mortal Instruments is gradually becoming one of my favourite series, and I can’t wait to delve into the next instalment of the Shadowhunters lives.

5/5