Review: City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Glass

Series: The Mortal Instruments #3

Previous books in this series: City of Bones (#1) | City of Ashes (#2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2009

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis:

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?

My rating: ★★★★★
City of Glass takes place mostly in Idris, the Shadowhunters very own country, which I actually really liked because it was a really cool setting. The Shadowhunters go there for some Clave meeting, but Clary heads over there to save Jocelyn’s life. At the end of City of Ashes Clary was given a possible way she may be able to wake up her mother. But boy do things go down once they get there!

Let’s talk about the Clary and Jace sibling thing because it just so complicated and heartbreaking.

“You’re my sister,” [Jace] said finally. “My sister, my blood, my family. I should want to protect you”—he laughed soundlessly and without humor—“to protect you from the sort of boys who want to do with you exactly what I want to do.”

Ooof! This just hurts so much 😭

And I think it hurts even more when you know that they're NOT fluffing related! 😩

“Fine,” [Clary] said. “Tell me now that you’re not a monster. Tell me there’s nothing wrong with you. And tell me you would want me even if you didn't have demon blood.” Because I don't have demon blood. And I still want you.

And not only does it hurt because they think they’re related, but also because my poor Jace thinks he has demon blood in him! Which is also NOT true! It just hurts me! 😭

“And maybe I am a monster. I don’t know the answer to that. But what I do know is that even if there's demon blood inside me, there is human blood inside me as well. And I couldn't love you like I do if I wasn't at least a little bit human. Because demons want. But they don't love.”

Ugh. I love Jace 💔 I love this so much and it just breaks my heart! I really loved all these sweet moments between Clary and Jace. Jace having those rare moments of tenderness are some of my favorite things!

“I never dared give much of myself to anyone before—bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it—but, Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.”

So yeah, all these sweet moments? So much yes! That scene at the manor after all the action went down and Jace and Clary are outside... and they make out? Yes, thank you. Give me more! Did I care that they were siblings? No!

Lol. What does that say about me? It says that I’ve read this series too many times and I know it forwards and backwards and the sibling thing is just like 🤷‍♀️ Lol.

And just like in City of Ashes, as I went back and looked through this book to write this review, I found myself pausing to re-read entire passages. Did I re-read the one I just mentioned when they were making out?

Did I read the one were they slept together (and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word... it was really sweet 🥰)? Also yes. I first read this series YEARS ago, probably 10 or so years ago, so I don’t really remember what my very first thoughts were on their relationship... you know, the whole sibling thing.

But re-reading this and knowing that they’re actually not related... well, I don’t feel bad at all 😉 Lol. But Clary DID kiss her actual, real brother at one point. As Simon so delicately put it:

“So, technically,” Simon said, “even though Jace isn't actually related to you, you have kissed your brother.”
“Simon!” Clary was appalled. “Shut UP.”

That was GROSS! On this recent re-read I obviously knew that Sebastian was Jonathan and that Jonathan was Clary’s brother, so I was super grossed out when he kissed her fully knowing that she was his sister! Ick! And it was just the strangest thing because when Sebastian was introduced he seemed like a genuinely nice person. He was a gentleman and he was kind, but it was all an act because he soon shows his true colors. He becomes verbally vicious and just plain ruthless. He killed poor Max!! Ugh! That was so sad! He was only a kid 😭

But let’s talk about Simon now, because by the end of this book, I was actually not hating him anymore. Toward the end of the book when he is having a heart to heart with Clary, I actually started liking Simon. Simon romancing Clary? Um, no fluffing thanks! But best friend Simon? Oh yes! I like. He is also really funny, which I refused to acknowledge previously just because I disliked him so much 😅 Lol. Oh and then that weird relationship between Jace and Simon... for a guy who doesn’t like Simon, Jace seems to save him quite a lot 😂 And I kinda love it! I mean, yeah, it’s mostly for Clary, but still!

First Jace saves him from the Forsaken by taking him to Idiris through the portal, then bringing him blood to the cell when he was locked up. Then he just full on broke him out of the prison! And then there towards the end when Simon protected Jace by telling Raphael that it was Valentine the one who turned him into a Daylighter via experiments.... Yeah, not hating this Simon. Lol.

As I’ve mentioned many times before in previous Shadowhunter reviews, the banter and interaction between the characters is one of my favorite things about these books. Even unlikely interactions, like the ones between Simon and Alec!

“Maybe you should call him,” Simon suggested, trying not to think too hard about how weird it was to be giving a demon hunter advice about possibly dating a warlock.

How weird is that? But I love it! Lol. I also love Alec, of course. A lot of the time he’s quite serious, but sometimes he is just... I don’t know. There’s this almost innocent quality to him, and things just go over his head...

“I’ll walk [Clary] back,” Jace said. “As for Simon, he can manage his own way back in the dark—can't you Simon?”
“Of course he can,” Alec said indignantly, as if eager to make up for his earlier slighting of Simon. “He’s a vampire—and,” he added, “I just now realized you were probably joking. Never mind me.”

It’s just really funny and very endearing. It reminds of back in City of Bones when Clary called shotgun and Alec freaked out saying, “Where?” while reaching for his bow and arrow 😂 That was hilarious!

And one of my all time favorite characters, who just so happens to be Alec’s love interest, is Magnus Bane! He is so sassy and I love him!

Malachi scowled. “I don’t remember the Clave inviting you into the Glass City, Magnus Bane.”
“They didn't,” Magnus said. “Your wards are down.”
“Really?” The Consul’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Magnus looked concerned. “That’s terrible. Someone should have told you.” He glanced at Luke. “Tell him the wards are down.”

😂 But then you put Alec and Magnus together and just so much yes! They are just so cute! One of my favorite scenes of this entire book is this one:

Alec had his arms around Magnus and was kissing him, full on the mouth. Magnus, who appeared to be in a state of shock, stood frozen. Several groups of people—Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike—were staring and whispering. Glancing to the side, Simon saw the Lightwoods their eyes wide, gaping at the display. Maryse had her hand over her mouth.
Maia looked perplexed. “Wait a second,” she said. “Do we all have to do that too?”

It just stuck with me throughout all of these years and when I think of City of Glass, this scenes is one of the first things that comes to mind.

Here are some last, quick thoughts before I wrap things up because I feel like this review has gone on for 5 million years 😅: They named one of their Seraph blades after the angel Cassiel, which I just HAD to mention because Castiel (from my other love, Supernatural) was also named after the same angel!

The fight between Jace and ahem, that one guy, and then Izzy comes in with her whip? YES girl! That was amazing! I love her! 🥰

The final face off between Valentine and the heroes... that was intense. I seriously cried 😭

I just can’t believe Valentine would kill his own son! My poor Jace! 😭

And while we're in this spoiler tag, Tessa from The Infernal Devices makes a cameo! She isn’t named... at this point Clockwork Angel hadn't even been released yet, but it has been confirmed by Cassie that the girl in the white dress that Magnus goes to talk to at the end of the book during the celebration is definitely Tessa! I just thought that was really cool!

Do I even have to say how much I loved this book? Lol.

I just adore this series! I love the action, the story, the characters and their fun banter, the crazy scheme Valentine had going with you know who, and even though this was my third or fourth re-read, some things still surprised me. It’s just an amazing world I love to live in and City of Glass had such a perfect ending!

And they all lived happily ever after.

The end.

Just kidding 😉 This is just the end of the first arc. Back in the day, this was originally a trilogy, but as we all know, this is a six book series now. I had only ever read (and re-read) these first three books, just because I was nervous about what was gonna happen in the latter books. Now having read all six books, I had a good reason to worry 😅 But did I love it anyway?

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊