City of Glass By Cassandra Clare
Pub. Date: March 2009 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 560 pages Age Range: Young Adult Source: Library
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 new found powers to help save the Glass City—whatever the cost?
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 new found powers to help save the Glass City—whatever the cost?
Warning - Contains spoilers from both previous books!
Valentine is back and seeking revenge with undercover minions all over. He will practically do anything to get what he wants even if it means hurting his own, although not many will like him but most likely hate him he has always been an interesting character for me, the fact that he is so mysterious is one factor linked to it i would think, we never really know much of his past apart from the time he was with Jocelyn we know of no parents or siblings we never really see his good side or much of the one i expect he must have once had. Throughout the book you see brief glimpses of his past life through Jocelyn and when it is mentioned how much Clary looks like her mother and the way she talks and describes Valentine doesn't make it hard to imagine that Jocelyn and Valentine's love may have been more parallel to Jace and Clary than we might like to think. I also believe that in his own way Valentine loved Jace it's hard to say what petuated it but maybe it was through all the torture and suffering Jace faced or his refusal to let go of his humanity as he continued to feel for others even if it did make him more blocked of and distant.
I have said many times throughout give Jace a chance, i know some do not like him which at times can make me quite protective of him since he has been a favorite ever since the series first came out. I have always said at least finish the series and then if you decide the same well then fair game to you however i am always unsure about peoples dislike for Jace they always seem to have the same reason " oh hes arrogant and mean" etc so are many YA loved characters you love them though right? it almost feels as if people enjoy rambling about their dislike for him, at least he has reasons for the way he is but lets not forget the only thing that might annoy people are his snide or harsh remarks but even Simon has his fair share of those in fact a lot of the characters in the series in my opinion can get snide and arrogant at times but hey they are young beautiful and badass so a little bit of arrogance naturally comes into it, because the story is so focused on Jace the readers pretty much bring everything on him and in a way i have felt his defense mechanism is his humour as it's a big part of his personality, he hardly expresses feelings of hurt and emotion and is very proud, his humour call it arrogance if you may is his way of protecting himself, He was raised by Valentine so if you ask me he turned out just great! Have anything mean to say about him fine whatever just don't say it in fount of me because you'll just infuriate me *just throwing that out there*
In this installment you get a clearer picture of Jace's past and let me tell you it's far from pretty. Through these flashbacks you get a hint of why he is the way he is and it might even surprise you as to how did this boy not become evil like is father? It lead me to the conclusion that maybe that is why Valentine give him a second chance to start anew because perhaps in his own way he admired this boy who refused to be broken, Valentine tried to mold him but he respected Jace in his own way for fighting it.
The stakes are higher this time, A war is brewing up and tensions are high, many of Valentines followers are undercover and even part of the Clave to put it simple - you can not trust anyone, also a new triangle is a foot which made me especially giddy with Joy even though Simon may not be a favorite of mine i have always held a fondness and wished the best for him . From being this geeky selfconcious boy he has turned into a confident man and it's a uplifting transition to see also it seems that two others in particular have also noticed *insert grin* Maia and Isabelle, at this point its hard to say who i would prefer him with because we haven't been inside of the head of both girls so we don't know if they are true in their feelings as well as the reasons behind those feelings. Until i have more of a idea about the intention behind both girls ill be counting on Simon to be a man of good judgment. Also the spark between Magnus and Alec has ignited and through this hard time it will either break the two or bring them closer together.
On top of it all Clary is struggling to cope with the fact that Jace is her brother, it's almost like they are tip toeing around each other and can't bear to look each other in the eye, i feel for them because it's a predicament i wouldn't even like to imagine, some people have told me that they don't plan on reading any more after reading the brother sister thing and i tell them to read on, everything happens for a reason and it works in your favour to have faith in the author. One thing you will also look forward to is the secrets which are finally revealed!!, the things that you have been yearning to know from the previous books will finally be revealed and i am confident when i tell you, you will never see it coming the author truly knows how to keep you guessing!! Like the previous books the glamour which surrounds the Downworlders and Shadowhunters is still there, their world enthralls and excites me still, every time i find it pictured and embedded in my mind i see vividly a world filled with blood lust and glorious battle scenes and plenty of action as well as romance this is a series both males and females can enjoy.
Relationships are taking a new turn and alliances are building and crumbling. Jace and Clary are fighting a little something called love when others spend a lifetime finding theirs, to make things even more difficult a war is heading their way with Valentine right at the very top of it all who refuses to be hindered in his quest. A girl who was underestimated from the very beginning and kept on the sidelines and protected will be the one to take the step forward and be the very first to bring together the very thing that Valentine scarificed everything to destroy.
"I know it's wrong - God, it's all kinds of wrong - but I just want to lie down with you and wake up with you, just once, just once ever in my life."
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