Review: The Mortal Instruments Series (1-6)

 The Mortal Instruments Series
 Books 1-6
 Cassandra Clare

*Small spoilers as you go along; very basic book descriptions because of this*

City of Bones

This is a story about a girl. She has an ordinary life, with an ordinary upbringing and ordinary friends and family.
Until one day, she goes out with her best friend, Simon, to a bar and sees something she shouldn't.

This opens up a world of Shadowhunters, demons, Fae, warlocks and the meaning of 'extraordinary'.

Jace Wayland, along with Alec and Isabelle Lightwood have been friends forever. They consider themselves siblings, since the Lightwoods took Jace in when he was younger. Throughout their life, they have trained together in what is called "The Institute" with their teacher Hodge. They have fought many a battle together, but none of them are prepared when this ordinary girl comes into their life after trying to chase them down (thinking they were the bad guys) and the battle that they are about to come to face with.

When Clary learns the truth about her mother, her childhood and her father, she begins to wonder what it all means. With the threat of her mothers life, and a world that is on the brink of war, she knows she must accept her destiny and do what she can to save her mother.
Even if that means getting into a lot of trouble along the way.

City of Ashes

When Jace is accused of stealing one of the Mortal Instruments, and being in cahoots with his father, Valentine, it is up to Clary to help prove his innocence.
Even if she'd rather be hanging out with Simon.

Simon, on the other hand, is unsure how to handle his new found ... Powers, if you will. Most kids think puberty is hard; this ain't nothing compared to that.

When Jace is free of the Clave (the Shadowhunter police/government, for lack of better wording), he and the gang know they must go after Valentine to get the Mortal Instrument back. Off to save the world again, they all rely on each other, runes, quick thinking and their stele of choice to help thwart Valentine once again. Even if he is Jace's father.

City of Glass

Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn (and Alec's love interest) tells Clary that he knows how to save her mother, Clary blindly agrees to do whatever she can.
However, Jace hates when she puts herself in danger and will do anything to protect her.

There is only one being who has the answers to saving her mother, and he happens to live in the City of Glass. When everyone but Clary heads to this city, which is the home to all Shadowhunters, she breaks Shadowhunter law and gets there anywhere. She also brings along Luke, her mothers best friend... and who's a werewolf.

When Jace, Alec and Isabelle arrive in the city (legally), they meet two other Shadowhunters who's parents are in the Clave with the Lightwoods; Sebastian and Aline.
Sebastian takes an interest in Cary, which drives Jace crazy but he must accept it. Even if it shatters his world in the process.

City of Fallen Angels

When Shadowhunters start being killed off, no one can figure out who's behind it. Everyone begins to go on their own private investigation, and it starts a chain of events that lead to their destiny.

Simon is coming to terms with his new lifestyle. With the two Heads of the city in a power struggle with each other, Simon needs to figure out where his loyalty lies.

Jace has been acting off for a while now. Clary can't seem to put her finger on it, but he is pushing her away. When he is taken to the Silent City, she will still do anything she can to save him. She always will.

When a powerful Being comes into play, Simon knows he is up against something fierce. Especially when she reveals the weapon she wants to unleash on the world: Sebastian.

 

City of Lost Souls

Now that Jace and Sebastian have teamed up, all they need is the missing piece of their plan; Clary.
Once she is with them, they can continue on with their plan.
Of course, no one knows exactly what the plan is except Sebastian. "Trust no one" that's what he was taught growing up, and it is hard to let that go.
With secret tasks that Jace blindly walks into, Clary knows that she must save him before she loses him completely.

When the three of them are together, they are travelling in a way that the Institute cannot track.
The gang decides to do the only logical thing and ask for help. They need answers on how to sever the bond between Jace and Sebastian without hurting Jace. However, summoning an Angel or a Demon is
never a good thing on the best of days, even if you carry the mark of Cain, like Simon does.


 

City of Heavenly Fire

With the Heavenly Fire inside Jace, and it being the only way to sever the bond between him and Sebastian, the gang is at a standstill on what to do.

So they venture into Hell.

Sebastian has teamed up with his 'real' mother and all he wants in this life is to have his sister at his side, and to rid the world of everything else.

With everyone at war with each other, plus as One against Sebastian and his army of the undead (is that an insult to the Vampires?) the war nobody wanted, but everyone has something to lose in, has finally come a'knocking; the only question left is: who will be left standing when this is all over?

We also meet the Carstairs and Blackthorn family throughout this book. Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn children are the lead in the next series that Clare has written.

 

Cassandra Clare has built a world like no other, and the ironic thing is is that it's right under our mundane noses. Fae, vampires, werewolves, Demons and Demon hunters are everywhere and yet nowhere at the same time.

The characters she has developed are unique, intricate and down-to-earth which help the story be that much more believable.

In a few short books, she gave us a rich history, a fast paced present, and left us with the potential with so much more. (I have yet to read her The Infernal Devices which deals with an older generation of Shadowhunters but I am about to start The Dark Artifacts which is Emma's story) You cannot help but fall into this story and never want to leave; no matter who you connect with in the story, it's easy to find a small part of yourself in almost everyone.

Also, the sarcasm is everywhere and it's on point.

Clare writes a story filled with all types of underlying issues to the main plot line, which allows any reader to draw a parallel to their own life. Whether it's best-friend/boyfriend triangles, dealing with new families, identity, self esteem .. the list continues.

Overall, there are not enough words to describe how fantastic this series is. Once you see the Shadowhunter world, you will not want to turn back.


Bonus, hello sexy covers!