The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass [Hardcover]

Cassandra Clare (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mortal Instruments | Publication Date: October 27, 2009

In City of Bones, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is introduced to the world of the Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to driving demons out of our world. And she's introduced with a vengeance, when Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque monster sent by the evil and powerful Shadowhunter, Valentine. How could a mere human survive such an attack.

In the second novel, City of Ashes, Clary just wants her life to go back to normal--but that turns out to be impossible. For one thing, her mother is still in the hospital, in a mysterious coma. For another, she and her newfound brother Jace have fallen under a cloud of suspicion now that the Shadowhunter world knows that Valentine is still alive--and that Jace and Clary are his son and daughter. Then Clary's best friend Simon is turned into a vampire and kidnapped by Valentine, who intends to sacrifice him as part of a bloody ritual that will make the Mortal Instruments Valentine's forever.

In book three, City of Glass, Clary has to use all her ingenuity and newfound magical skills to get herself to the Glass City in Idris, the secretive Shadowhunters' home country, where she is forbidden to go--for it is only there that she can find the cure to the enchanted sleeping sickness to which her mother has succumbed. When Valentine attacks the city and destroys the demon towers, Clary and her allies are all that stand between him and the total annihilation of all Shadowhunters. Love is a mortal sin and the past tangles inextricably with the present as Clary and Jace face down their father in the final installment of the Mortal Instruments series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Mortal Instruments series is a story world I love to live in. Beautiful". (Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight)" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Cassandra Clare made her fiction debut with The Mortal Instruments series, which has been on many bestseller lists. Cassandra lives in an old Victorian house in western Massachusetts with her husband, their cats, and lots and lots of books. Visit her website at cassandraclare.com. Learn more about The Mortal Instruments series at mortalinstruments.com. Learn more about The Infernal Devices at theinfernaldevices.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1520 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416997857
• ISBN-13: 978-1416997856
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 4.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten Reasons I Loved The Mortal Instruments, August 19, 2010

By 

MM (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass (Hardcover)

1. Amazing Heroes. I don't think there are enough words in the English language to express my love for Jace. And Simon. But specifically Jace. As a matter of fact, a speechless stance is probably the best to take anyway. If I'm not talking I can concentrate more fully on wiping away the drool.

2. Strong Heroines. Isabelle is definitely a strong female character, and so is Clary, but Clary makes some mistakes. We get to watch her grow over the course of the books, make her way, come into her own. She makes good choices - she makes poor choices. She's relatable. She's feisty. I want her for a friend.

3. Secondary Characters. There's not one token character anywhere in this entire series. All are multi-dimensional, richly drawn, vital, and each one serves at least a dual purpose. Even the Church the Cat.

4. Setting/imagery/worldbuiling/kick ass writing. You can see the lights of the Manhattan skyline and smell the scent of crisp apples and night blooming flowers. You can feel the weight of the weapon in your hand, the bass thumping against the walls of the club, the pressure of the stele as it draws the rune on your skin, and the crack in your heart as it begins to break. Whether New York City or Idris, you are THERE.

5. The covers. Do you SEE THEM? Aren't they PRETTY?

6. The fans. Best fans ever. Because we LOVE IT.

7. Cassie. She's a doll. She is vigilant about interacting with fans. She answers questions frequently on Twitter, has a Google group that she's very actively involved in, and she blogs on Live Journal as well. You can get more information about how to connect with her on her website.

8. The graphic novels! TH3RD WORLD will be publishing The Mortal Instruments as comic books in monthly installments first, then bind them together as graphic novels - one for each book. Savvy fans were treated to a sampler on Free Comic Book Day.

9. The Prequel. The Infernal Devices kicks off with CLOCKWORK ANGEL on August 31, 2010.

10. THERE ARE MORE ON THE WAY! In addition to the already anticipated THE CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS, due out spring 2011, there will be two more books in The Mortal Instruments series, making the total six in all.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 times better than Twilight., April 19, 2010

By 

Cynthia M. Stock "CyndyStock" (NM) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass (Hardcover)

I've seen this book lying around and the sequels. finally picked it up and couldn't stop until after the third one. action packed, angels and demons, magic, and a reluctant love triangle. This makes Twilight just raw dough to this series, which is the icing on the cake. I'm 40+ something, and a reader of anything worthy. Wow! There is to be a forth book next year. I'm so looking forward to it. Bring it on...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, September 11, 2010

By 

Doe Eyed Doll (Seattle, Wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass (Hardcover)

I must give Clare some credit for the build through out the three books. The third book of course was my favorite of the series but they all kept me entertained. For those of you who enjoyed "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (the series not the movie) I believe that you will enjoy the witty dialogue between the characters. I love the characters and the chances that Clare took with the plot. The story will definitely keep you guessing until the epic ending in the last book!