 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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City of Glass: The Mortal Instruments, Book 3
- By Cassandra Clare
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Exciting, violent series cycle concludes with a bang.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's lots of bloody violence, including lots of killing and injuries -- see content grid for details. There's also some kissing and making out, a major character is gay, and there's a relationship that appears to be incestuous. Some parents may be bothered by the religious aspects of the story -- angels and demons exist, an angel is tortured and commits suicide, another angel is summoned by a human, and the Shadowhunters have a mandate from God to kill demons.
What's the story?
In this conclusion to the Mortal Instruments trilogy (the conclusion to the first cycle of three anyway), Clary makes her way to the hidden Shadowhunter country of Idris, seeking a cure to her mother's magical affliction. While there, her father delivers an ultimatum to the Shadowhunter ruling council: declare him their leader, or he will use the Mortal Instruments to unleash a plague of demons and wipe them out. Meanwhile, Clary struggles to learn how to use her unique powers, discover her secret heritage, and figure out her relationship with her maybe-brother, Jace.
Is it any good?
Derivative, predictable, and melodramatic can be good things when they're played for fun and done well, and this is done really well. Action, horror, complexity, romance, twists that aren't too hard to see coming, mysteries the reader will figure out before the characters -- they're all here, in just the right amounts, and mostly with just the right pacing, though, like most 500+ page books, it sags in places.
It's easy to find things to criticize: the climactic battle happens offstage; the religious and incestuous aspects may disturb some; there's a fair bit of repetition. But with characters who grow ever more satisfying, a cleverly detailed fantasy world, a thoroughly engrossing writing style, and a host of questions from the earlier books answered before the end, fans of the series will find this everything they had hoped for. And if you haven't read the first two books? Don't even think of trying this.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the classic creatures used here. Why are vampires and werewolves always popular? How are they different here from the Twilight series?
Families can also talk about the violence in this book, and the whole series. Books 2 and 3 are especially bloody. Do you think the fantasy element makes the gore easier to handle?
The series seems to neatly end here, yet the author released a fourth book (part of a second cycle of three) and a prequel series -- starting with Clockwork Angel -- besides. There's also talk of a movie deal. Do you think more is better, or would you rather the series ended here?
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AGE
Unoriginal
Cassandra Clare returns to poor form after an above-average City of Ashes. Characters have about-faces; are made unbelievable and crude, especially Simon. Clary is as ridiculous as ever, sprouting extra powers as need demands, and she is as compelling as a piece of cheese. The primary antagonist, Valentine, is an unoriginal cardboard cutout, with goals taken straight from Rowling's Voldemort. Valentine inspires no fear. Jace is a waste of space. The incest plotline(s) are unnecessary and overblown.
The author wusses out on the 'dramatic character death' front, killing off an extremely minor character, instead of someone who really deserved it, who was brought back to life by an angel - Can you say Deus ex Machina?
Plot is stringed together by a series of coincidence. Backstory is ridiculous and the reader has to endure several pages of forced exposition on multiple occasions.
Ultimately, the book is overlong, with a sagging middle, irrelevant characters, and borders on plagiarism on several accounts. The writing is poor, and Clare does not know how to use an adverb, or a semi-colon. Or a comma. But you do get a happy ending!! (And another book; the fourth in the trilogy. Cassandra Clare is an official trilogy creep.)
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AGE
Yet Another Book Filled With Sarcasm And Hot Guys(Somehow I never get tired of them.)
COME ON PEOPLE YOU GOTTA LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I mean I fell in love with the first two but this one just put the cherries on my sundae. Finally you get the ending you've been waiting for and, well, if it was a little predictable who cares? We need a little predictable every once in a while. So all in all great book for teens and even adults. The sarcastic humor throughout it is enough to make even the most strict of parents crack a smile. READ THIS BOOK, JUST DO IT. (unless you haven't read the first two, definitely read those first)
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AGE
i think that its perfect for ages 11-16
i just loved it!
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AGE
most amazing book EVER
wow is all i have to say. i thought the 1st book was great the second was unbeatable, but the thrid was WOW. it took my breath away, i stayed up to 1:30am to read it. so many twists! it really tyes real life to a magical world and you can get lost completely in it. i would NOT read these books OUT OF ORDER. You will have no idea what is going on. but these books, espically this one, is AMAZING. :D
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AGE
Perfect for 10+
So my little brother read these books he was eleven at the time and being bored i ended up stealing them and becoming engulfed in this story. loved them
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AGE
I don't recommend this book for younger tweens. City of glass is even more violent than the first two books and there is even more sexual scenes than the first two also. Personally I think that the whole series is great, I really loved all of them, but as a Christian girl I find the demonic stuff a little disturbing.
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AGE
Extreme violence... suited better for teens
Absoultly amazing!! The best of the series. It blew my mind!
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AGE
Good for teen or preteens
I love it! It was a book for kids that like trills and chills and love, if you read this you will fall in love with Jace or Clary!
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AGE
AWESOMENESS!!
Just as I Predicted, This Book was Amazing! I Love it! There were so Many Things Revealed and so many twists and and.... Well it's all a little Overwhelming to Write About. I actually cried at one part. There is SO MUCH I want to say but it would just spoil the whole thing. To make it short, The Mortal Instruments Series is an addicting, heartbreaking, heartmending, and Spectacular book! Any person who loves a good fantasy book MUST read this!! Definitely one of my favorite books ever!!
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| Author: | Cassandra Clare |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Margaret K. McElderry |
| Publication date: | March 1, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 541 |
| Hardcover price: | $19.99 |
| Paperback price: | $10.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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