{Book Review} The Mortal Instruments Series & The Infernal Devices Series

First 3 books of the series:

City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass

By Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instrument Series is one of my favorite series! The forth book (City of Fallen Angels-below) is coming out in a month or so, and then there will be 2 more books after that.

Synopsis of the first book City of Bones:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.

But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

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This series has all the adventure you need, some mystery, some great laughs, and a lot of intrigue! Once you start you will want to keep going. After the third I had no idea she was going to write more, and I am excited to read the fourth coming out soon.


Everyone I have had read this series loves it, so I hope I can get a few more of you addicted. Cassandra has a great way of writing. Although at first I was so used to reading first person books that when I read the first book City of Bones I was like "what, who, huh?" but soon I was able to get into a nice rhythm, and I really enjoyed them.

There are a few things in the books that will have you going "No! Really?" and you might want to stop, but don't! Follow through because I promise it all works out in the end. I will stop now because I do not want to ruin them for you.

4 to 5 stars
YA, Adult

Some adult themes and violence. Nothing major to report though. 13+

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The Infernal Devices Series

The Clockwork Angel
By Cassandra Clare

First book of this series, and may I say I almost loved this book more than her first 3! I believe Cassandra is getting better as she goes, but I think you should definitely read the other books first even if this is a pre-sequel meaning this book takes place in a time before the other ones. Kind of like watching Star Wars in the 70's with the last 3 books being made into movies, then the first 3 being made into movies many years later.

The characters are different, except for a couple of immortals, but overall it's a seperate book and should be read after the ones above- imo.


Synopsis:
Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

4.75 stars
Adult, YA
Violence
Some language
Some risqueness
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Enjoy these books, at least I believe you will.



~V