The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare whole series review

So, as promised, I shall start my reviews (or just my opinion with no evidence). I'm not too keen on the 1000 word + idea, but I'll try.

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS
Cassandra Clare

When Clary Fray heads out to Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder.  Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons – and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It’s also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. 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 an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings - and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

 To save her mother’s life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters – never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family’s past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he’s willing to risk for Clary, can
she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City – whatever the cost?

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

This one doesn't really have a blurb, it just says 'follow them on their adventure' or something like that so there's not much point putting it here.










*cough* sorry about that, I got a bit carried away.

REVIEW
*spoilers*

Cassie Clare says she got the idea for the Shadowhunters because she went with a friend to a tattoo parlour and saw these ancient runes. Now there's a good idea.

The book starts out quite slow, I have to admit. I did get to about a quarter of the way through and I thought about giving up reading. But no. I never give up reading books. I make myself finish them. So I read a bit more... and got freaking addicted. Good thing I'm on school holidays otherwise I'd be staying up all night reading and then getting up at 7 am like a zombie.

PLOT
The plot is very well woven. I adore how everything foreshadowed in the first book actually happens in the rest of the series. The idea is incredibly original and enthralling. The way it's worked out did kind of annoy me at some times because it's just so perfect. As you probably know (if you don't I'm not sure you actually understand these letters I'm writing) I'm a writer. And an incredibly jealous person. I got so irritated and peeved off reading this books in some places because it's so brilliant and I wanted to go into Cassie's brain and pluck out all the awesome talent she has and place it into mine. Damn this plot is mouth-watering.

CHARACTERS
Ooh, my favourite part. Characters for the win!

Clary: and we meet our beautiful, strong, intelligent MC. Clary Fray starts out as being forward but timid at the same time, and blissfully unaware of the stuff going on around her. But already, part way through the first freaking scene in City of Bones, she's turned into this action-hero heroine who can see demon killers and demons. At times, she does annoy me, such as the Abbadon scene near the end of City of Bones and the ship scene in City of Ashes and the whole apartment crap in City of Lost Souls. I mean, Alec, Isabelle and Jace are fighting these awesome demons, and Clary (supposedly should be one of the greatest Shadowhunters in history) just stands there being a bit of a lemon. However, her damsel in distress-ness over to another side, she is a brilliant MC.

Jace: oh gosh, Jace Wayland/Herondale/Morgenstern/Lightwood (*cough*). This cocky, arrogant, hilarious, sarcastic bastard. I have to admit, at the end of this series I freaking hated him. And all that stuff with Sebastian? How dare he be Clary's sister? *Okay stop getting distracted you're going on about Jace not Sebastian* But he makes me laugh so much. A small conversation between Clary and Simon can turn into a wetting-self hysterical scene just because Jace turns up. I love him. No, wait, I hate him. Ugh. I can't decide. And it's brilliant how Cassie can do that. I wish I could write a totally drop-dead gorgeous, hilarious, arrogant character like she can.

Simon: oh, and here we are on my joint-favourite character. This idiot had me in floods in City of Ashes and City of Lost Souls. You mundie (bloodsucker, Daylighter, vamp, man-whore, WHATEVER), Simon. So Simon's a sensitive, loving, funny best friend. I wish he was my best friend. But he's witty, cute and totally lovable. (Plus in the movie Robert Sheehan (who plays him) is adorable.) Sometimes, Clary does take advantage of him, and he does overreact a little too much (I mean Clary's birthday and the whole Jace kissing thing in City of Bones? Simon, they're destined to be together. Shush) but apart from those, I just want him.

Isabelle: the heart of stone, whip-cracking heroine. Heartless, perfectly trained and merciless, oh yeah, it's Isabelle. From the discussions about Alec and the glitter powder puff, Isabelle is by far my favourite female character. I've always wanted to read a strong female heroine who doesn't need help from any guy. Oh, and her freaking adorable feelings for the equally adorable Simon.

Alec: and here's another joint-favourite character. I don't know what it is with me, but *spoilers* every gay character in anything I watch/read, I automatically love. Maybe it's the overwhelming cuteness. But you know. Even when he's being horrible to Clary (when he slams her against a wall in City of Bones) he still makes me want to hug him. Him and Simon should be BFFs because they're both in love with someone they can never have. (Jace and Clary *cough what cough*). OH, AND MALEC FOREVER.

Magnus: I want a pet warlock, Magnus! You can be mine! (oh, wait, he said "I'm tired of being your pet warlock," oops, sorry then). This spiky-haired, glitter-faced, camp-as-rainbows Asian beauty will make you cry (namely City of Lost Souls) and I will admit that to anyone. In at least three of these five books so far, I have cried because of Magnus. Oh, and Chairman Meow is amazing.

Luke: you made me cry in City of Lost Souls. I thought we'd lost you. You pathetic excuse for a werewolf *growls*. *ahem*. He's incredibly sweet and an amazing stepdad to Clary. I hope something happens in City of Heavenly Fire and it's revealed Luke's actually Clary's dad, not Valentine. Hmm. His chapter in City of Bones is one of my favourite pieces of text in the whole world. His story is heartbreaking. (oh, and buying the same truck after the first one was destroyed? You and I have a lot in common, werewolf.)

Jocelyn: I don't really have much to say about Jocelyn. I never really liked her. I mean, she's a bitch in City of Glass and City of Lost Souls. It's only when she's a) unconscious or b) in City of Fallen Angels where I actually like her. But her and Luke are adorable. Just saying.

Maia and Jordan: still, with 3 or so books involving these guys, I still don't really feel like I connect with either of them. I mean, they're a brilliant couple and I ship them to death, but I don't really feel anything for either of them.

Valentine: ugh. Arse. But that's the angle Cassie Clare was going for, so it's a very positive thing, right? Yes. He's an amazing villain, always coming up with new ideas of how to pine Jace and Clary against each other even though they're destined to be together with the blood that binds them, how to kill Downworlders, how to create part-Greater Demon part-Shadowhunter sons. I can't ever forgive him for what went on in that cellar but he was a brilliant villain. Sure, he did get a bit samey, as all villains do eventually, but for what it's worth, I think he's a great character.

Sebastian: three words. Kill that arse.

I'd laugh if I forgot someone.

So now for my actual review of the portrayal of the characters. As I've just given about 10 examples of how well crafted these guys are, I don't think I really need to go into detail. The only characters I don't feel I connect with are Maia and Jordan. More Maia than Jordan. I honestly can't say why but I just feel like this, okay? I just need to say if I could do characters like Cassie can, I'd be a freaking happy bunny.

WRITING
The description in this book can weigh down the fast pace of it in some places. It's always good to have a perfect balance of description, action and dialogue, but I just felt there was a tad too much description in all these books. For example, if this was written in first person present tense (which, in personal experience, is the hardest to do good action in) I would be a bit confused. It totally works as third person, though, so no need to worry about that.

So, I think that's all! Should I wrap things up with a *trying not to ramble* good + bad points and a rating? Oh-kayyy.

Good:
Amazing characters and ideas. Not to mention plotline and the simple beauty of how everything fits together.

Bad:
A tad too much description in places.

Rating:
9.9/10
Overall, I think these books have rapidly replaced the House of Night saga as my favourite books and I will love them forever more.

PS. How do you pronounce Jace? Like Jase or Jase-ee?