Synopsis
These first three books introduce the reader to the world of the Shadowhunters. When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? .
Review
When I found my love of fantasy fiction a couple of years ago I asked in a Facebook group for recommendations of the best series to read and The Shadowhunters series by Cassandra Clare were top of the list. At this time there are sixteen novels, some set in the present, others are historical, with another book due for release next year and two short ory books as well as a Shadowhunters Codex that is an encyclopaedia of all things shadowhuters. There are several different ways of reading this series, but I have chosen the order recomended by author Cassandra Clare. With there being so many books I am going to review them in sets, so am starting with City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass the first three books in the Mortal Instruments part of the series.
City of Bones is the first book in the series and where we first meet Clary, Simon, Jace and the rest of the Shadowhunters. Clary seems to have the sight, meaning she can see the Shadow world, the world of magic, werewolves, vampires and faeries. When her mother is attacked and left for dead by some terrifying demons, Clary learns that her mother had another life, a life she ran away from, the life of a Shdowhunter. Clary is taken to the Shadowhunter’s Institute, where she learns who she really is, and who her mother was. This is the start of Clary’s jourmey as she learns more about who she is and is set on a path of the ultimate good versus evil war that finishes in City of Glass.
City of Bones was first published in 2007, so nearly fifteen years ago, but it’s story is one of those that is timeless. Aimed a a Young Adult audience, a genre I haven’t really read before except in the fantasy genre, it’s themes will still resonate with teenagers today. Classandra Clare includes themes of difference, inclusivity, sexuality, romance and the many problems that teenagers face. The main romantic plot line is between Clary and Jace, one of the Shadowhunters, as we see the will they won’t they storyline play out, however there are complications along the way that bring the subject of incest into the books. There are no graphic sex scenes but plenty of fighting demons and vampires, in these action packed books.
Cassandra Clare characters are wonderful and relatable even if they are fighting for the human race. Clary is the innocent who finds herself in a world where demons, vampires, faeries and werewolves exist, and a world where she is one of the good guys. Jace is the good looking and cocky shadowhunter, always putting himself in harms way, playing the hero, but Clary is the chink in his armour, the first girl he has fallen in love with. I loved Jace, his confidence, his exuberant character, his dry humour and the emergence of his softer side to Clary. Alec is Jace’s parabatai, his fighting partner, but has less self confidence than Jace. Alec is fighting his own personal demons as her tries to come to terms with his sexuality, and has a crush on Jace. Isabelle is my favourite female character. She is Alec’s sister, tall, feisty and a powerful shadowhunter, someone you definitely want in your corner. The interacton between these, and the other characters is natural, they face the same self doubt that normal teenagers will face about love, frienships and life in general, disobeying the orders of their parents, even though the are warriors and save the world from some horrible deamons.
I have been totally captivated by these books, the writing, story line and characters. Young adult is never a genre I have read previously, thinking it wasn’t for me until I started reading fantasy books as so many are geared to that audience. However, I have since been enlightened and now love this fantasy/YA genre, the stories are brilliant and really work for adult readers as well. I have looked for escapist reads this last year or so, like many others, and this series is definitely escapist; they are like adult fairytales of magic and good versus evil. I loved these books so much that I read these first three back to back, something I have never done with a series before, and I can’t wait to find time in my busy blogger schedule to read the next books, set in London in 1878. To suppliment my reading, an be a slight nerd, I also purchased The Shadowhunter’s Codex which is full of fascinating facts on Shadowhunters, Warlocks, Vampires, Werewolves and Faeries and also helps my terrble memory when I forget things, and i a fascinating read on its own.
I really can’t reccommend these first three books, City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, highly enough, they are utterly compelling, captivating and entertaining. From the City of New York to the Shadowhunters home of Idris, hidden from the human eye, to a hotel housing vampires, and an old police sation inhabited by werewolves, there are so many wonderful places that Cassandra Clare brings to life in the same masterful way she does her characters. I really can’t believe how these books have captured my imagination, Cassandra Clare’s writing and world building is simply stunning and I can’t wait to find the time to read the next three in the series.
As mentioned above, there are several different ways to read these books, from publication date to Cassanda Clare’s recommended order. Here is the website I used to help me decide. https://rivetedlit.com/2020/03/04/cassandra-clare-books-in-order/
