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375 reviews for:
The Mortal Instruments Boxed Set: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass
Cassandra Clare
4.07 AVERAGE
375 reviews for:
The Mortal Instruments Boxed Set: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass
Cassandra Clare
4.07 AVERAGE
it only got a second star because of the nostalgia chokehold this series had me in. like babes please there is implied *incest*
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
I read these books in 2013 and for every good thing there was a bad thing. I liked the humour/sarcasm and also the relationship between Alec and Magnus; I disliked Clary's character and her fights with Isabelle. Now I reread it in order to determine whether or not to unhaul it. Made it halfway into the first novel and the answer is yes. The main reason for it remained to be the characters, especially Clary who is 15 but throws tantrums like an 8 year old. The tropes are just the icing on what is more an accident than a cake.
I have read all five of these books and can't wait to find out what happens next. Each book is never really what I expect and better than the last :)
City of Ashes - the Clary/Jace storyline still weirded me out, but I do love these characters.
I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars. The books in and of themselves were probably a 4-star read, but everything about them screams 5 stars.
5 stars: Well-written, Clare. Truly well-written. I actually really enjoyed the writing style; I found it endearing and witty...
4 stars: ...except for the bazillions of similes. EVERYthing was a simile. Despite the fact that Clare is so good at pinpointing the way something feels or tastes or is, the abundance of similes got old fast.
5 stars: Originality. HELLO demon-fighters! What a fresh take in a saturated genre. The premise is AMAZING, the plot is gripping, the details are flawless, the twists are surprising and clever, the world Clare creates is visionary. Very imaginative and realistic within its own setting.
5 stars: The characters. Whether you love them or hate them, they are well done. Personally, I find them quite likable and even the ones that drive me nuts have endearing qualities. Regardless, they are incredibly developed and I find myself rooting for them.
5 stars: The pace of the book. It draws you in immediately. The action begins right from the start, yet it doesn't spill all the secrets from the beginning. In fact, it is such a rich, multi-faceted story that secrets and twists are unfolding throughout the entire book, but somehow you don't feel like you have figured out the entire story until the author gives you the last of it. Well mostly, anyway...
3 stars: The brother-sister sexual tension. The love triangle was well developed, but I couldn't wrap my head around the brother-sister thing. Obviously, the reader can surmise that Jace and Clary are going to work things out in a non-incestuous way, but in the meantime, I felt very creeped out by the sexual tension and even more disturbed by the fact that I was enjoying it and still wanting them to be together (only, of course, if the author found a way to make them NOT be siblings in the end...).
5 stars: I read all three books in about a week (and did little else except pour over them during that space of time) so obviously it was a fun read.
Although there is nothing explicit in them, there is some mild profanity, along with innuendos and suggestive dialogue throughout, that I wouldn't recommend for younger kids.
5 stars: Well-written, Clare. Truly well-written. I actually really enjoyed the writing style; I found it endearing and witty...
4 stars: ...except for the bazillions of similes. EVERYthing was a simile. Despite the fact that Clare is so good at pinpointing the way something feels or tastes or is, the abundance of similes got old fast.
5 stars: Originality. HELLO demon-fighters! What a fresh take in a saturated genre. The premise is AMAZING, the plot is gripping, the details are flawless, the twists are surprising and clever, the world Clare creates is visionary. Very imaginative and realistic within its own setting.
5 stars: The characters. Whether you love them or hate them, they are well done. Personally, I find them quite likable and even the ones that drive me nuts have endearing qualities. Regardless, they are incredibly developed and I find myself rooting for them.
5 stars: The pace of the book. It draws you in immediately. The action begins right from the start, yet it doesn't spill all the secrets from the beginning. In fact, it is such a rich, multi-faceted story that secrets and twists are unfolding throughout the entire book, but somehow you don't feel like you have figured out the entire story until the author gives you the last of it. Well mostly, anyway...
3 stars: The brother-sister sexual tension. The love triangle was well developed, but I couldn't wrap my head around the brother-sister thing. Obviously, the reader can surmise that Jace and Clary are going to work things out in a non-incestuous way, but in the meantime, I felt very creeped out by the sexual tension and even more disturbed by the fact that I was enjoying it and still wanting them to be together (only, of course, if the author found a way to make them NOT be siblings in the end...).
5 stars: I read all three books in about a week (and did little else except pour over them during that space of time) so obviously it was a fun read.
Although there is nothing explicit in them, there is some mild profanity, along with innuendos and suggestive dialogue throughout, that I wouldn't recommend for younger kids.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
*Average: 3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Bones: 3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Ashes: 3 out of 5 stars
City of Glass: 4 out of 5 stars
City of Bones: 3.5 out of 5 stars
City of Ashes: 3 out of 5 stars
City of Glass: 4 out of 5 stars