City of Glass is a thrilling continuation of The Mortal Instruments series. In this book, Clary Fray travels to the Shadowhunter city of Alicante in the realm of Iris. Her goal is to find a way to cure her mother, who is trapped in a magical coma. Meanwhile, Clary’s brother, Sebastian, is shown to be a spy for their father Valentine. Jace, Alec, Isabelle, Simon and others also face their own struggles, as they prepare to stop Valentine’s plans.
The main characters are Clary Fray, Jace Herondale and their allies Alec, Isabelle and Simon. Valentine and Sebastian are the main antagonists. Clary wants to save her mother and stop her father from carrying out his evil plan to wipe the Downworlders out in order to gain all control over the Mortal Instruments. Clary faces many obstacles including Jace’s belief that they are siblings, the ongoing war with Valentine and Sebastian’s betrayal. Clary seeks to find the Book of the White to wake her mother, join forces with the Shadowhunters and confront Valentine’s army. Additionally, Jace battles internal struggles such as his feelings for Clary. By the end of the book, Clary discovers that she and Jace are not siblings and this resolves the tension between them. Valentine is defeated. Clary’s mother is awakened and peace seems not too far away. However, was it all for a great price?
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the tension between Clary and Jace. The twists, particularly the revelation of Sebastian’s true identity and the final battle with Valentine kept me turning pages. I would recommend this book to fans of young adult fantasy, especially readers who enjoy stories with morally gray characters and intense, emotional stakes. Readers that love romance with a mix of action would enjoy this book as well.