The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare: A Review

Twilight Smilight...okay, not really. However, I have discovered a trilogy of young adult books that, to me, far surpasses the Twilight books. I loved those books. I own my hardback copies and bought some for several of my friends and family (to encourage and promote reading, of course)!

What... better than Twilight... legions of teenagers (and some adults) everywhere will take up in arms to defend such blasphemy... but hey, this is my opinion. And I want to share it.

Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy is engaging from page one in book one to the page 541 in book three.

Not once did I wonder why I started reading these books. I am one of those people that need to finish a book... any book or series that I have started... just to see if it will get better... how it will end... even if I do not like it much and only want for everyone to cease their whining and die in the end. I admit I only finished New Moon from the Twilight series to get to Eclipse. Not to mention I was not all that impressed with Breaking Dawn either, in hindsight... after the second time I read it.

However, with this trilogy, I was intrigued. Each book was better than its predecessor was as it kept the plot moving forward. I had checked out the first two from my library. I saw the covers and thought... hey, this could be interesting. Once again, it took me a couple of weeks before I actually began to read them. Once again, family and work suffered because these books were just that entertaining. Late nights prevailed.

With the second book read... and the library was not in possession yet of the third (it is now)... a trip to Borders was in order. Good thing for coupons and being a Border member. The third book, City of Glass was read that night.

What are these books about, you ask?

City of Bones- book one of the Mortal Instruments trilogy

Fifteen-year-old Clarissa (Clary) Fray is a typical teenager. She had a fight with her mom and still went out to a local club. There she witnesses a murder... that no one else witnesses... by three teenagers, their bodies covered with bizarre tattoos, whom, also, no one else can see. Clary then becomes embroiled in the Shadowhunter world. Her mom disappears and her best friend remains steadfastly loyal. She is taken into the Shadowhunter world to fight the good fight (good vs. evil). She is searching for answers...why can she see the Shadowhunters and no one else can? What happened to her mother? What does Jace, the angelic looking Shadowhunter who acts the fool at times towards her, think of her?

City of Ashes- book two of the Mortal Instruments trilogy

Clary becomes even more immersed in the Shadowhunter world. She discovers shocking family secrets as well as possible catastrophic ones (from her sixteen-year-old perspective). She meets werewolves, vampires, and faeries. All whilst trying to find her mother, find herself, and fight demons. Come on... werewolves, vampires, demons, faeries all mixed in with pubescent emotional anguish... how intriguing.

City of Glass- book three of the Mortal Instruments trilogy

Clary has become more secure with her Shadowhunter abilities. She is still fighting her feelings for Jace. Simon is still her best friend. And she needs to save her mother... by any means necessary. She will encounter her worst fears and find inner strength when she faces against the Shadowhunters common foe... her father. Answers are given and hope is renewed in this final installment.

I highly recommend these books. They are keepers. I went and bought the first two to go along with the third.

Supernatural, teenage angst, teenage rebellion and coming of age clarity...go pick up your copy today.