4.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 15/04/2009

Great series, not one of the best books I’ve read but certainly captivating, and the two main characters are fantastic. The end of this book is incredibly infuriating and leaves you desperate to read the next one to find out what happens. Unlike other novels in this genre the fantasy aspect is quite well thought out, and has some depth to it, but without being too heavy, and leaves some to the imagination.

The idea of who is bad and who is good in this series is a little blurry in parts, which I like - enemies can become your allies, and vice versa.

Good read, would definitely recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 23/09/2008

15 year old Clary finds out the hard way that there is a whole secret world of vampires, werewolves, faeries, warlocks and angels, demons and demon slayers, they live amongst us, we just can't see them.

Cassandra Clare's young-adult debut novel City of Bones is a dark, sexy, exciting and fantastical experience. It has everything it it, romance, humour, horror and action all packed into one book, I couldn't put it down.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 13/03/2011

For me, this book shines, and to those of you who loved it, I imagine you are a bit like me. You found yourself immersed in a world where demons roam the night, weres run a bar, vamps occupy abandoned hotels, warlocks cast spells while rockin glitter in their hip hugging jeans, fey wait tables at the best mom and pop restaurant in NYC, and the law is upheld by Shadowhunters, a race of humans blessed by the angel Raziel. Even the setting, NYC, was so palpable; it became another character in this vibrant story. I thought the Shadowhunter world was funny, sleek, dark, sexy and hopeful. More importantly, the characters came so alive for me that they jumped off the pages. I felt as though I were in the story with them as opposed to merely following along in their journey.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 02/10/2010

Fifteen-year-old Clary thought she was just a normal kid, but normal kids don't see invisible people, and normal kids' mothers don't suddenly disappear, captured by horrific monsters...
Clary isn't normal... and she soon finds that out when she's thrown into a life filled with demons with facial piercings, diners serving locusts and honey, pretty gay warlocks, and cameo appearances from other urban fantasies' characters.

Each page is incredibly detailed and was full of fantastic twists and turns just when they were least expected.

This book was a captivating read, the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, and it certainly left me looking forward to follow her further adventures in the next book in the amazing trilogy.

I would definitely reccomend this novel.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 14/08/2010

I have to admit that I was reluctant to read these books. I had seen the series in the shops and avoided them based on the covers, they didn’t seem like books I would enjoy. Eventually I just gave in because I had nothing else to read. I AM SO GLAD I HAD NOTHING ELSE TO READ! This series was amazing. I loved the twilight books, but I am tempted to say that I enjoyed this series even more. The books are really fast paced, something is always happening. The book has Shadow Hunters, Fairies, demons, vampires, romance, action and more. The series consists of three books: City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass. ABSOULUTLEY FANTASTIC!!! A must read.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 19/05/2010

I highly recommend this series. Its got a great love story wrapped around an action packed plot. With so many exciting twists and turns you wont be able to put it down.

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 25/11/2009

The Mortal Instruments is an absolutely captivating YA novel. I loved this series more than the Twilight saga. Be careful though, once you start reading them you will have to read the whole series… you just can’t stop!

Cassandra Clare has based the structure of The Mortal Instruments around the famous poem ‘Inferno’ by Dante. The first in the series, City of Bones, symbolises the character’s descent into their personal hell. City of Ashes is the state of being in hell, followed by City of Glass being the ascent from hell.

Cassandra Clare has announced that there will be a 4th Mortal Instruments book; City of Fallen Angels, which will be released in 2012, after the release of the Clockwork Angel for her new series, The Infernal Devices, a prequel to the Mortal Instruments.

4.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 01/11/2009

I really enjoyed reading about the world that Clare has created within the Mortal Instruments Trilogy. Clare's ideas of the supernatural are interesting and her world of the Shadowhunters are a nice addition.

I would have rated this book higher, but I felt that some parts were a little repetitious. However, with that said, this is my favorite book out of the trilogy. It has action, intrigue, a little romance and a whole lot of supernatural elements that would keep most fans of the genre engaged. The characters are well rounded, although at times they can be frustrating and annoying. But this helps add a certain dimension of reality to otherwise unreal characters.

A good, fun read. There is nothing heavy or complicated, so it is good for light reading without having to really use much brain power!

5.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 02/09/2009

I loved the Mortal Instrument Series and for me was a series I didn't want to end. As other reviews have stated the story line is not too heavy and it will captivate you and you won't want to put it down.

I read all three in under a week and was left wanting more. Cassandra Clare is making another one City of Angels but it is not due for release until 2011 I think. She is also releasing another similar series called the Infernal Devices sometime next year which I will definately get hold of.

4.0 out of 5 based on 11 reviews. – Customer review on 23/08/2009

Overnight, Clary's world changes, when she and her best friend, Simon, go out to a nightclub, and Clary witnesses the murder of a demon. Life as she's known it is turned upside down, when she learns her mother has disappeared, the substitute dad she's known since birth abandons her, and she's left in the care of Jace, Isabelle and Alec, who are Shadowhunters, who exist to save the world from Demons. Weirder still, Clary learns she, too is a Shadowhunter and her Mum, Jocelyn, was married to the most powerful and hated Shadowhunter to have ever lived.

Of course, readers will be guilty of comparing this to the Twilight sagas, including me! Clary and Jace, at the moment, don't have the chemistry of Edward and Bella, however, the ending of the story suggests that this may heat up over the next 2 installments.

The whole Baddies vs Goodies aspect can be a little bit confusing - we are introduced to so many creatures, that I got lost at times, and the blurred lines of vampires and werewolves kind of confused me.

Having said that, I'm very eager to get through the trilogy.