The Perks of 3rd Book : City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments)

July 17, 2020



For some and other reason i always (mostly) love the third book of the series better than the other two before them. Probably because it's the last book of the series which mean it's the finale of the whole series? Or is it because of three is my favorite number? Through this whole series that i called as "The Perks of Third Book" i will review all of the third book in series i've read and compare it to the other first two book before it just to see how it goes, weather i like it because it's the finale or is it just because i like it as the book number three, OR... probably i don't like it at all.

Actually The Mortal Instruments consist of 6 books, but this first three i think included in first season (in my opinion) when their enemy is Valentine, the book number 4-6 is the second season of it which the enemy is another Villain, Valentine's descendant. But, i'm not going to do the second chapter of this "The Perks of Third Book" series for the book six because i think i'll do it in other series (yes, a lot of series in this blog already!)

So why i said that  it suppose to be called season 1 (book 1-3) and season 2 (book 4-6)?

Well chronologically, Cassandra Clare finished the first 3 book of this series (where it was rumored as the end of the series) than move on to The Infernal Devices (which include 3 books), then continuing the TMI series book 4-6 back and fort from TID to TMI. I know, a bit confusing, but yeah. I'll talk more about it in other series i intent do post in this blog, so keep an eye of it!

Synopsis

I'm not gonna do another synopsis about the first book because i've review it before, click the picture below just in case you missed it.
 

To sum up the whole series, Valentine (the villain here) want to "purify" the world which full of demons, also half demons like Vampire, Werewolf, Faeries and Warlock. In order to do that, he need the Mortal instruments which consist of the Mortal Cup, Mortal Sword, and Mortal Mirror.

Valentine was obsessed with the idea that in every generation there were fewer and fewer Shadowhunters—that we were a dying breed. He was sure that if only the Clave would more freely use Raziel's Cup, more Shadowhunters could be made

In book one Valentine try to search for The Mortal Cup which he believes was stolen by Clary's mom. He intended make more shadowhunter because as he believe  by making the mundane (or human) drink from it, the more shadowhunter can be, and the more of them the more they can fight the downworlders. But the bad thing about that is not every human capable of become shadowhunter so it kills the drinker.

In Book two, Valentine try to steal the mortal sword, that usually used for questioning shadowhunter (by holding it, they can't tell lies) but turns out also can turn into sword that made demons and downworlder (all the half demons i've mentioned before) become slave of the owner by bleeding it with vampire, werewolf, faeries and warlock's blood.

In Book three, by gathering all three mortal instruments, Valentine intent to raise the Raziel (the angel who gave that three mortal instrumet to human, or in that case shadowhunters, who also made the first shadowhunter) and asked Raziel to "purify" world as he dreamed of.

So, that's probably sum up all the whole 3 books.

Origin of the Title

City of Bone is titled by the silent city, where the silent brothers are. It also called as the Bone City, which is where Clary have to go to search the answer of her blocked mind. She got to go there where all the Silent brothers there, where they can search trough her mind for what's blocking it that made Clary can't see any magical beings before.
They call it as bone city because it's sort of shadowhunter cemetery in the lower level of it, where they went after dead, their body there, their bone still can be used to repels demon.

Those who die in battle are burned, their ashes used to make the marble arches that you see here. The blood and bone of demon slayers is itself a powerful protection against evil. Even in death, the Clave serves the cause.

City of Ashes also titled by the Silent City after after Valentine and Agramon (the greater demon who attacks with your greatest fear ad feed from that) murder the Silent Brothers and steal the Mortal Sword.

City of Glass is absolutely for city named Alicante, capital city of Idris, which is called as city of shadowhunter. It called as city of glass because of this city is surrounded by Demon tower which looks like glass.

Comparing Each Book in the Series

I would say city of bones is frustrating which is obvious because first book tent to introduce the whole system that set in the book, get to know each character, who's who and what they are, but i still frustrated anyway. I remember i start reading it back in 2014, put it down back then after reading few pages. Probably i don't really understand the mechanism at that time, so i try it again this year (after reading more fantasy books and get used to it) and end up finishing it, with struggle, yes, but finished!

What i don't really like about the first book is how the inconsistent the characters are, probably because it's her first book? or maybe i'm not being objective.
FYI i read TID first which is her second series of shadowhunter world after she wrote this TMI first season (book 1-3) and the characters in the TID is absolutely different in terms of development of the deep characteristic in each of them.
I mean like, Alec is different from book one to three, he somehow hates Clary probably because she like his prabatai whom he also has crush for, for some reason he didn't want to kill demon in first book (hunting demons isn't his fave thing to do) which i don't get to know why.
Izzy is being such a queen bee and reckless, how she treat Simon like animal (when he turns into rat because of her anyway, practically) just leaving him instead of try to help Clary to find Simon.
Jace in all of character is the worse in my opinion, he said he'd kill Valentine at first, then he took his side just because he discovered that he's his son, altho Valentine use the forsakens to guard them, which is ridiculous to me. He lets Clary witness Valentine battling with Luke and said that Clary doesn't understand, this is how it's done and better not to look??? oh c'mon Jace!
Clary is thickheaded, dunno anything yet go to all the dangerous that might kill her, well i guess i can still accept that because she's fifteen. But when it came to Jace suddenly she's a bit older than she is in my opinion.
In book two, again Jace being stupid by looking for his daddy, because he "needed to talk". I mean like, i get it that everybody questioning his identity and which side he's in, his dad or the clave and it frustrates him. But seriously, should you make anything more difficult?
There's also a scene that i don't think need to be included in this book. I get it that the author want to give a piece of puzzle, a hint,  a teaser that would make sense in the future, but... Imorgen Herondale asked Jace for time to talk to her in the middle of battle? To apology and then discover Jace's left shoulder scar? in the middle of battle??? tell me if it make sense to you.

In book three the plot mostly taken in Idris, Clary didn't get into portal together with Jace and the other because Jace didn't want to bring along  Clary to the city that believed as the next target of Valentine's plan.  Which Clary got herself there anyway because she's sulking for not being there together.
What i don't get it that, Jace said Clary didn't have to go, that he'll search for the cure for Jocelyn, Clary (and Jace's) mom. But instead he just kind of "make out" with other girl. The love line in here, is kind of messy. Well.. not kind of but definitely messy. Clarry love Jace, Jace is her brother, she make out with Simon instead, but still love Jace, then met Sebastian like he's the man that she's been searching for. Kissed Sebastian then compare it to Jace while kissing him? Yuck.
Go discover more Valentine secret and get the book that Magnus asked for, kissing Jace again and then get mad when Jace kind of relieved that he's part Demon that's why he still want her tho she's his sister? This loveline in this first season of this series really disgust me.
When finally her mom's awake, instead of happy Clary is just sulking again angry here and there, i mean after whole trouble she get herself into, for the sake of her mom she said, but when the goal achieved she just being kiddo again, angry at her mom, i begin to wonder if it was her truly goal, to wake her mom, or just going all the way for the sake of sticking up with the Jace and the others. Because she doesn't really truly happy with her mom awake.

What I like the Most

I really do like reading the whole book. Well apart from Jace and Clary controversial love. I love that Clary finally start to get her role in this whole series, with the Marks she created. I love Simon's adventure for sure, he developed a lot, form just a boy with constantly changing name, to such a great man ready to sacrifice himself for greater good.
Izzy indeed a Queen bee, but her love for her brother is worth to read tho sometimes she's being such overprotective sister, but i guess that's her part that i love. I also like Alec better in this third book. Not to mention I always love whenever Magnus takes the scene in the book.
I always love plot twist, discovering plot twist after another is such a fun read. I really like Valentine's character a lot. He's a Villain, but he has his greater goal, which actually, weirdly, make sense, probably because his persuasion ability, tho how he reach that goal can't justify what he did. He loves his family, or in other opinion maybe he's protective to them?

"Well, I think it's kind of romantic, that whole business about Clary's mother being married to Valentine. So now he's back from the dead and he's come looking for her. Maybe he wants to get back together."
Isabelle Lightwood - City Of Bones

The mortal battle which made Downworlder and Shadowhunter combine their ability together just like prabatai is one part of my favorite scene. I always love when it happen in book, when the cluster of people decide just leave the pride of each of them and work together for greater good. I always love the Mark of Cain scene, how big it affect the plot in whole series (mostly after, but i won't say much for it, for now.)

The Raziel angel is something, but the ending is also something.

Overall, i read first book with so much struggle, i remember i rant a lot in my instagram story about Jace's decision when he discover that he'll leave whatever Valentine doing with Luke, questioning what is his actually character is. The second book again i complained a lot with Jace's character, how lost puppy asked for father's love altho he knows that would made other people questioning what's his true identity

I have fun reading the third book tho. Mostly probably because it's more action packed, and set in "imaginary" world that doesn't really exist in real world, instead of New York where the other two books was set. I love Simon's story a lot, there's no single question for it. Magnus also take part in it. I think the sidekick characters in this whole series shine a lot more the main character which is problematic in my opinion, Jace and Clary.

In Conclusion

I think i like the third book, absolutely better than the other two. I think it's not because it's my favorite number three this time. It's because it's the Finale of the series indeed, But also because of how page turning this book was, i finished it in two days, which is super fast in my slow reading pace.

So what do you think about this first season of this series? do you like it? can you relate to me?



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About Me

Hello! I'm Dee.

I'm a booknerd who loves mostly fantasy books and think that sci-fi is my jam although i haven't really read sci-fi much. I tend to read more other genre but i guess i'm kind of sucks at them. I love collecting beautiful books, and yes i do judge book by its cover. Fell free to leave a comment, let's talk! Or you can reach me out in my socials below.

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