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cellular_cosmogony 's review for:
City of Glass
by Cassandra Clare
So I finally read a TMI book that I actually liked...
TW: incest, violence, death
Rep: queer and bipoc side characters
This review contains spoilers
I have to admit I read this book only because that cursed "you're my sister" line became a meme on book twitter. I was not disappointed.
The book is actually good compared to the previous two - the first book had too much melodrama, and the second was just boring. This one had some action, some drama, and spent enough time with characters who aren't Clary and Jace to prevent me from suffering a full-blown mental breakdown.
The incestuous subplot was so prevalent here I'd say it was more of a main plotline, but at the very least I could enjoy it for its unintended comedic value. There is reason eveyone on twitter is spamming that quote - it's just hillariously bad. I'd compare reading this parts of the book to reading My Immortal, only that City of Glass actually has decent writing.
All the character being in love after only a few weeks of knowing each-other was a huge wtf moment for me. Like, I get Jace and Clary being drawn to one-another because of their angel blood or whatever but Magnus and Alec? Like, don't get me wrong - they are a cute ship, pretty much why I carried on with the series despite the intial two books. But I doubt them being in love in about a month is realistic.
I got spoiled for the angel/demon blood and jace being the Herondale heir twist, but even if I knew it the twist was well-ploted. I think I wouldn't have noticed all the clues for it without knowing. The only thing that bugged me was that the character felt the need to explain all the clues afterward. Imo the best thing about a good plot twists is noticing the signs on a second reading.
The Mortal Glass being the lake was too obvious, though. I wasn't spoiled about that but I figured it pretty much as the lake was introduced. Like, you can't tell me that no shadohunter other than Hodge has ever thought:
"That magic lake that the angel came from... the same magic lake that makes Shadowhunters delirious... the same magic lake that is called The Mirror of dream... maybe it is the Mortal Mirror"
The art of the angel exiting Lake Lyn is literally painted on every flat surface in Shadowhunter homes and Institutes. Unless all Shadowhunters have the collected intelligence of Clary and Jace, then someone should have figured it out by now.
This thing aside, I believe City of Glass is a definite improvement on the previous books and it is a fun read. I will probably carry on with TSC after it and I hope for the quality to improve a bit more.
TW: incest, violence, death
Rep: queer and bipoc side characters
This review contains spoilers
I have to admit I read this book only because that cursed "you're my sister" line became a meme on book twitter. I was not disappointed.
The book is actually good compared to the previous two - the first book had too much melodrama, and the second was just boring. This one had some action, some drama, and spent enough time with characters who aren't Clary and Jace to prevent me from suffering a full-blown mental breakdown.
The incestuous subplot was so prevalent here I'd say it was more of a main plotline, but at the very least I could enjoy it for its unintended comedic value. There is reason eveyone on twitter is spamming that quote - it's just hillariously bad. I'd compare reading this parts of the book to reading My Immortal, only that City of Glass actually has decent writing.
All the character being in love after only a few weeks of knowing each-other was a huge wtf moment for me. Like, I get Jace and Clary being drawn to one-another because of their angel blood or whatever but Magnus and Alec? Like, don't get me wrong - they are a cute ship, pretty much why I carried on with the series despite the intial two books. But I doubt them being in love in about a month is realistic.
I got spoiled for the angel/demon blood and jace being the Herondale heir twist, but even if I knew it the twist was well-ploted. I think I wouldn't have noticed all the clues for it without knowing. The only thing that bugged me was that the character felt the need to explain all the clues afterward. Imo the best thing about a good plot twists is noticing the signs on a second reading.
The Mortal Glass being the lake was too obvious, though. I wasn't spoiled about that but I figured it pretty much as the lake was introduced. Like, you can't tell me that no shadohunter other than Hodge has ever thought:
"That magic lake that the angel came from... the same magic lake that makes Shadowhunters delirious... the same magic lake that is called The Mirror of dream... maybe it is the Mortal Mirror"
The art of the angel exiting Lake Lyn is literally painted on every flat surface in Shadowhunter homes and Institutes. Unless all Shadowhunters have the collected intelligence of Clary and Jace, then someone should have figured it out by now.
This thing aside, I believe City of Glass is a definite improvement on the previous books and it is a fun read. I will probably carry on with TSC after it and I hope for the quality to improve a bit more.