Name: The Mortal Instruments 03. City of Glass
Rating: 3.712328767123288 (73 reviews)
ISBN: 9781406362183

 Cassandra Clare

With two of the Mortal Instruments now in Valentine's hands, the world of the Shadowhunters teeters on the brink of civil war. Jace and the Lightwoods are recalled to Idris, the Shadowhunters' remote and hidden home country, where a search has begun for the last of the Instruments, the Mortal Glass.

The Mortal Instruments 03. City of Glass

Okay... so I have let my thoughts marinate and I think I'm ready to review this book. It does contain spoilers.

I had great expectations for this book. For the entire series and, moreover, I still have for the entire Shadowhunters universe. 

However, this book was not good. I spent 11 months trying to get through it and I put it down after a week reading it in 2021 because I was dreading it too much, but this year I finally pushed through and finished it. 

For starters, the dialogue throughout most of the book is just cringe worthy. I started annotating all the times the characters had intensively pointless dialogues along the lines of "you're stupid and reckless" "nah huh, you are stupid and reckless", just constant back and forth annoying bickering between the characters af if they hadn't been interacting with each other for three books already. I didn't find the same problem with the previous two books so I have to note a huge backwards step in character development because Clary became insufferable. 

Then, there were a million plot holes that I got seriously mad about, especially having watched the show twice and remembering how well those plot holes were filled in it. For example, the entire Jocelyn being in a coma and reappearing out of the blue like nothing happened. ESPECIALLY when the entire life goal of Clary in this book was to save her mother and she did absolutely NOTHING to that end other than finding a spellbook and then had zero contribution to her mom's recovery. The series, from what I can remember, dealt with that beautifully and made it a meaningful moment between mother and daughter. This is just one of the examples.

I have to say the narration is good. Cassandra Clare wrote some beautiful portions of prose in this book that actually made it entertaining and enjoyable, hence the three-star rating, and that beautifully long epilogue that just wrapped the three books with a nice little bow.

I also have to make an honourable mention to side characters Simon, Maia and Sebastian. Your clueless remarks and snarky retorts have made this book better for it.

I do have to add that although some might say think that me being 10 years older than the targeted age group of this book might have influenced my thoughts on it, I understand and thought so too at some point, but this book gave me the same feeling Allegiant by Veronica Roth and that yellow book by the Harry Potter author (her who shall not be named) gave me back when I was 16, two of the few DNF's of my entire life, so I imagine I wouldn't have liked it very much back then either.

Silvia

Okay... so I have let my thoughts marinate and I think I'm ready to review this book. It does contain spoilers.

I had great expectations for this book. For the entire series and, moreover, I still have for the entire Shadowhunters universe. 

However, this book was not good. I spent 11 months trying to get through it and I put it down after a week reading it in 2021 because I was dreading it too much, but this year I finally pushed through and finished it. 

Why is it not good? 

For starters, the dialogue throughout most of the book is just cringe worthy. I started annotating all the times the characters had intensively pointless dialogues along the lines of "you're stupid and reckless" "nah huh, you are stupid and reckless", just constant back and forth annoying bickering between the characters af if they hadn't been interacting with each other for three books already. I didn't find the same problem with the previous two books so I have to note a huge backwards step in character development because Clary became insufferable. 

Then, there were a million plot holes that I got seriously mad about, especially having watched the show twice and remembering how well those plot holes were filled in it. For example, the entire Jocelyn being in a coma and reappearing out of the blue like nothing happened. ESPECIALLY when the entire life goal of Clary in this book was to save her mother and she did absolutely NOTHING to that end other than finding a spellbook and then had zero contribution to her mom's recovery. The series, from what I can remember, dealt with that beautifully and made it a meaningful moment between mother and daughter. This is just one of the examples.

I have to say the narration is good. Cassandra Clare wrote some beautiful portions of prose in this book that actually made it entertaining and enjoyable, hence the three-star rating, and that beautifully long epilogue that just wrapped the three books with a nice little bow.

I also have to make an honourable mention to side characters Simon, Maia and Sebastian. Your clueless remarks and snarky retorts have made this book better for it.

I do have to add that although some might say think that me being 10 years older than the targeted age group of this book might have influenced my thoughts on it, I understand and thought so too at some point, but this book gave me the same feeling Allegiant by Veronica Roth and that yellow book by the Harry Potter author (her who shall not be named) gave me back when I was 16, two of the few DNF's of my entire life, so I imagine I wouldn't have liked it very much back then either.

16-year-old Clary Fray is an ordinary teenager, who likes hanging out in Brooklyn with her friends. But everything changes the night she witnesses a murder, committed by a group of teens armed with medieval weaponry.

The Mortal Instruments 01. City of Bones

Francesca G

Original rating (2014): 4 stars
2019 rating: 4 stars

Nothing new, nothing changed. I am still a shadowhunter wh*re through and through. (I loved this so much, but a 5 star rating for Shadowhunters is reserved only to Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Princess, and that's the T)

With her mother in a coma and her father hell-bent on destroying the world, Clary is dragged deeper into New York's terrifying underworld of werewolves, demons and the mysterious Shadowhunters.

The Mortal Instruments 02. City of Ashes

2014 rating: 3 stars
2019 rating: 3.5 stars

OH BOY. I forgot literally everything about City of Ashes so it genuinely felt like I was reading it for the first time and... it wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. 

I will still say that the writing style is probably my favourite out of most of the YA books I've read, the story is so, so rich, and damn Cassandra Clare knows how to create suspance.

2014 rating: 5 stars
2019 rating: 4 stars (raised from 3.5 because I refuse to give City of Glass the same rating I gave City of Ashes because, well, this one is better #sorrynotsorry) 

The first time I read it, I remember it being amazing for the atmosphere it created and for the development that all the characters had. 

Well, still loved the atmosphere but there was very little to no showing of development in any characters that weren't Jace or Clary (who I hate a lot because she's such a whiny b*tch I'm sorry but NOPE). All the other characters just went from 1 to 100, and we were given very little insight as to how they got there, and I understand there's a lot of them and the book would've been massive if Cassandra Clare focused on every single one of them, but a bit more sections in different perspectives from Jace's or Clary's would have been very nice. 
(Also I am biased, I love Alec with all my soul so it hurt me massively when he was not given the chance to shine that I wanted him to have. ) 

That being said, I am still glad this was the book to complete my 2019 Reading Challenge, and I am ready for the other 3 in the saga now!

Sophie Elaina 

This was so much better than the first book! Yay!

This is without a doubt the best book so far in the series. I can see how it was once supposed to be the ending and I think it was so well done. After reading the first two books I would not have thought I would enjoy this so much, at one point I thought I was going to give this five stars, but I think four is more accurate for my feelings. I really enjoyed it, it’s like the more you read the more entranced and obsessed you get with the different characters. As a whole I think I would’ve loved this more had I not watched both the movie and tv show adaptations first. Anyway it was almost a five star read for me I just feel as though there’s something missing that’s stopping me from loving these characters. However I’m really excited to finally read the first book in The Infernal Devices next!

Lena

why did this take me t w o m o n t h s to read?? I hate uni

I first read this in like 2012 or something and I'm now rereading the whole world because I can't remember what happens from book 2 onwards and really just want to finally read city of heavenly fire. 

anyway, this was so hard to reread!? I took so long to read this and every time I tried to read it I had to bargain with myself to read a certain amount of pages before I gave up. I'm not sure if it's just because I know all of the big plot points already from reading it and also seeing both the movie and the show. ooor it could just be because my reading tastes have changed so much that this just isn't compelling to me anymore. maybe it's both put together, who knows?

there are so many little sentences that I read and had to just cringe at or pause for a second and question because some of the writing in this is just?? bad? and the amount of times a word choice sat wrong with me and pulled me out of the story was astonishing. 

I like that we don't get any more information about the shadowhunters and the shadow world than Clary does but because we are learning as she does it results in sooo many info dumps and because I already know this it was tedious to read through it all. 

from memory the writing improves as the series goes on so here's hoping I remember how to love this series after I make some more progress

Emma Murphy

A decent book overall all but I was disappointed with the ending

Jessica 

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Originally, I had read this novel while I was a teenager and hadn't had the best impression of it due to reasons that weren't at all part of the novel itself; moreso do to my mindset at the time. That being said, I picked it up again recently in hopes of getting to know the story better now that I am, once again, more focused. 

I have to admit -- I was a skeptic. And at times the way characters were developed and the novel itself was written, I wasn't so certain that I'd grow attached to the plot. At first, it wasn't my cup of tea but gradually it did, indeed, grow on me. 

There's something vivid throughout the story that grips you as Clary fights a whole new world to find her mother. Her strength, for me, was the definite selling point when it came down to it. At the start of her journey you come face to face with her and the realization that her life is beautifully normal. You almost don't expect the growth she had shown throughout this first novel and admittedly I wasn't prepared to grow attached to her character. 

And the snark. Definitely appreciated the banter between characters. 

Overall, the images painted in my mind throughout the story were brightly coloured. While the novel may not be the golden novel of ones dreams, its flaws well known, I do appreciate the story. Bravery. Family. Love. Friendship. And due to many spoilers, I am absolutely willing to "forgive" that nifty little plot twist towards the end of the novel.

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  “There's no need to clarify my finger snap," said Magnus. "The implication was clear in the snap itself.” 


Cassandra Clare’s brilliantly fun and dashing The Mortal Instruments series continues with its first sequel City of Ashes; immediately following the events of its sarcastic and dark predecessor. After being introduced to this world, these characters, and watching a world of mystery unfold, readers were left grappling for the next installment.

So many things left us questioning what could possibly happen next; what each previous revelation means for the overall plot flow. It is just as vivid, thrilling, mysterious and twisty as City of Bones–there’s a whole world of magic out there just beyond our reach and we’ve only dipped our toes into it.

We left off with quite a bit on our plates. Joceyln’s lies, and her reasoning, Clary’s unusual gift, family connections as well as romance, demons, Downworlders, history, the mortal cup and so much more.

With Jocelyn seemingly asleep, Valentine growing stronger and building an army of his own, the world seems just a bit more dangerous than it was before. 

Continued @ BOOKEDJ.

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  “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.” 


City of Glass was the original end to the then-planned-trilogy The Mortal Instruments. As action packed, mysterious and sexy as the previous two books, we find our favorite Shadowhunters and Downworlders battling it out with Valentine one last time in an effort to end his terror. But as always, things aren’t always what they seem; surprising plot twists, revelations and characters come about in unexpected ways. And tears will be shed at the loss of a character.

Clary has big plans at the start of City of Glass but she isn’t the only one with a thing or two up her sleeves. Strong, witty and intelligent as always Clary is on point and undeniably a teenager. Her actions all reflect that from the start. At the beginning of the novel, we see our favorite feisty redhead explore the options to save her mother as she prepares to go to the Shadowhunters home country, Idris, with the Lightwoods.

The first bump of the series? Her supposed brother and secret crush Jace is attempting to leave without her, to keep her safe. In these moments he calls the only person who would want to protect Clary as he would: Simon. In spite of the two teen boys’ differences, they both love Clary and want to keep her from harms way as much as they can. 

Continued @ BOOKEDJ.

The Mortal Instruments 03. City of Glass

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