Product Description

This title is the third and final instalment in the bestselling urban gothic fantasy sequence, "The Mortal Instruments". With two of the Mortal Instruments now in Valentine's hands, the world of the Shadowhunters teeters on the brink of civil war. Jace and the Lightwoods are recalled to Idris, the Shadowhunters' remote and hidden home country, where a search has begun for the last of the Instruments, the Mortal Glass. Clary finds herself caught up in the chaos as the delicate social order of the Nephilim begins to shatter, pitting Downworlder against Downworlder and Shadowhunters against each other. When the City of Glass falls under attack, can Downworlders and Nephilim fight together to defeat Valentine, or will their longstanding hatred destroy them all? And when Clary discovers the unbelievable truth about her own past, can she find Jace before it's too late?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2542 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
"The Mortal Instruments series is a story world I love to live in. Beautiful!" --Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight

"Dear Edward and Jacob, I adore you both, but I'm spending the weekend with Jace. Sorry! Love, Stephenie" --Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight

"Funny, dark, and sexy... Cassie's writing makes my toes curl with envy." --Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles"

From the Back Cover
Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is forbidden?

About the Author
Cassandra Clare lives in Brooklyn. She has worked as an entertainment journalist for The Hollywood Reporter, has published several short stories and is the author of the popular internet parody The Very Secret Diaries.

Customer Reviews

One for the fans
Whether you like this book turns on whether you're interested in the relationship between Jace and Clary because it's instrumental to the story. Previously portrayed in a shallow way, Clare does try to go deeper into the emotional consequences of incest, but this doesn't go much further than Jace repeating that he's a monster and Clary telling him that he's not. Much of the problem is that the resolution of this storyline isn't really in doubt, meaning that the stakes are unnecessarily artificial and it goes on for too long.

Clare handles her set pieces well and the action scenes are pacy and authentic. Descriptions are vivid (notably a flashback in Valentine's lab) and although the prose still strays into purple at times, it's more restrained than in the earlier books. Unfortunately there is a certain drift to the plot at times. Clary's search for a cure for her mother is too readily sidelined by other events (notably her relationship with Jace) and the resolution takes place off-page, robbing it of any resonance. Similarly a character death should give those affected by it an emotional kick and making for a moving reading, but again is handled superficially. Unforgiveable is the fact that Clare recycles a plot twist from CITY OF BONES - the idea that Shadowhunters don't have up-to-date photographs of each other. Just as it didn't work there, it doesn't work here. I also had issues understanding why a Shadowhunter would disguise their appearance through hair dye rather than the use of magic.

With such a large cast, it's difficult for Clare to wrap up each of their storylines in a satisfying way. Simon and Alex fare better than Luke and Isabelle, although Clare does weave in characters referred to or seen in the earlier books. Clary continues to be bland and somewhat irritating, for all her Mary-Sue superpowers and Jace is arrogant, smug and sold as a hottie. At times the dialogue doesn't quite seem to fit the characters (particularly jarring is when a US-raised character uses the British expression `knobhead') and the repartee is more suited to 30-somethings than teens.

Fans will be delighted with the conclusion and Clare leaves open the potential for more books set in this world, which will no doubt be popular.

Please don't let this be the end!
I read the other two books in the series and enjoyed them that much that I couldn't wait for the July UK release date for City of Glass so ordered it from a US seller. It was well worth the extra expense! If you enjoy fantasy fiction with a hint of romance you will love this. The writing is descriptive yet engaging, the central characters distinct and beleiveable. It is also incredibly humerous. I hope this is not the end of the series.

Amazing
This was an amazing end to a fantastic series, get ready to be sat on the end of your seat jittering in excitement! action packed fun, has knocked my favourite book off my bookshelf!