Book Review: The Mortal Instruments Series

Clary Fray is seeing things; vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn towards a group of sexy demon hunters, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City – and the dangers of forbidden love.

 

…Says the blurb to the first book in the Mortal Instrument series, the City of Bones. Praised for her beautiful writing and creative mind, Cassandra Clare has been named the next Stephanie Meyer. With the first of the fantasy love series arriving in our cinemas this August, it’s no wonder Clare has been grouped with the Twilight author.

 

 

Upon first appearances, the book seems like every other fantasy story around these days. I don’t deny it, it’s chock block with vampires, werewolves and love triangles. However, Clare has decided to revert back to how monster tales used to be told, with blood, guts and fighting.

One of the things that drew me into this book – as the first 40 odd pages were boring and lack action – is the fast pace fight scenes and the gruesome demons/monsters you meet along the way. It had my heart galloping out of my chest and my eyes scanning the room nervously.

Clare has finally produced a fantasy novel with grit and oomph that they all so lack these days. What ever happened to Dracula and Frankenstein? Nowadays we get sparkly Edward and talking Lions.

Granted, there is still a love triangle in this story, but isn’t there in every teenage fiction book? With everything else going on – vampires crawling around on the ceiling, demons in the bedroom, a werewolf stepfather and a crazy lunatic ready to release all hell upon the world (literally), you can look past the love triangle.

By now if you’re still reading this, you’re obviously rather intrigued, so allow me to feed your curiosity – a tiny bit, no spoilers.

Clary Fray is a 16-year-old misfit. She lives in a studio apartment with her mum, Jocelyn who’s an artist and rather strict. Then there’s Simon Lewis, your typical nerdy friend-zone best friend, who as soon as you meet him, you know he’s in love with her. The story starts off with Clary and Simon out in the Manhattan nightlife and going to a new club, Pandemonium. Both being misfit nerdy outcasts, this place is perfect for them. Whilst dancing, Clary spots three teenagers, a little older than her, attack and kill a young boy. She is drawn to them and they interrogate her until the three realise that she could see exactly what the young boy really was; a demon. Jace Lightwood, one of the three, takes an interest in Clary and soon her life is spiralling in a different direction. One that has no return policy as the world of demons, angels and other creatures of the night is opened before her. One that has been right beneath her nose, hidden from sight by a significant other.

Overall, it’s a gripping read. I bought it on a whim; I enjoy a good fantasy story with a twist. I never thought I would go on to read the entire series and be this impatient about the last and final book to be released.

Being an author myself, I tend to be more judgemental but I can honestly say, although I feel Clare took a lot from Melissa de La Cruz’s series Blue Bloods, there is nothing I would change. By the second book, she had found her own feet and was beginning to create this entire other-world with history and culture. It’s a story you can sink into and believe in. The characters are more than likeable; they’re almost real people, bursting out of the pages of the book. Clare has the ability to bring her characters to life, which is the most important factor to me when it comes to a story.

One thing that struck me about them too, was that they were funny! I rarely sit and giggle at a book. Clare is a humorous author with an out-of-this-world imagination.

If you haven’t been interested in fantasy before or adore this genre but want something different, look no further than the Mortal Instruments series. It’s got vampires with facial piercings, gay warlocks, diners serving locusts, demons at every corner and a sizzling romance that will spark off the page. Clare’s neo-gothic style brings about a new age for the young adult fantasy genre. Hidden within it is a coming-of-age story done in a realistic and relatable way. It isn’t patronising and if you took away the bloodsucking demons and the alternate magical world, it would actually be close to reality. Praise for Cassandra Clare and the Mortal Instruments series.

Plus! Look out for the film this August starring Lily Colins, Jamie Campbell Bower and Lena Headey.