Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Did someone say Dred Pirate Roberts.
So like....This felt like it was a lot of set up/exposition heavy.
No shade, but you can tell she's trying to make it new adult.
The concept is cool, but I feel like I've read it already
604 Pages

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

......Parts of the book were kind of underwhelming for me... And maybe it's because I didn't do a re-read, but also like....Some of the writing was repetitive and cringe-y and not in a fun way.
I feel like the characters deserved better... like... Especially Matthew and Christopher...And Jesse...And Cordelia...and James...and Grace...like....everyone deserved better.
I love Alastair. So much....
Oscar. The hero we didn't deserve, but we needed.
Sometimes I really want to hurt CClare...For reasons which I will not be expressing in this review....
I don't care why they say the family tree is misleading, I just want the right one. So now I have to go stalk people on TikTok to see if someone did the research or if I have to do it myself.
800 Pages

Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 617

"The Shadow Market is a meeting point for faeries, werewolves, warlocks and vampires. There the Downworlders buy and sell magical objects, make dark bargains, and whisper secrets they do not want the Nephilim to know. Through two centuries, however, there has been a frequent visitor to the Shadow Market from the City of Bones, Brother Zachariah.  Follow and see, against the backdrop of the Shadow Market’s dark dealings and festive celebrations, Anna Lightwood’s first romance, Matthew Fairchild’s great sin and Tessa Gray plunged into a world war. Valentine Morgenstern buys a soul at the Market and a young Jace Wayland’s soul finds safe harbor. In the Market is hidden a lost heir and a beloved ghost, and no one can save you once you have traded away your heart. Not even Brother Zachariah..."

I will read anything from the Shadowhunter universe at this rate and getting to follow Jem and Tessa even more? Sold! My favorite part of this universe is still the Clockwork trilogy with the Dark Artifices a close second. This brings them both together with eight short stories that all had me smiling (my favorite being The Land I Lost). 

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

 

Pages: 673

"Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters."

I know, I'm addicted. But this was a nice break from the main books and I enjoyed the chance to follow Simons character growth from one series to another. Some books were better than others, my favorite being "Born to Endless Night." Magnus is an amazing character and this story was so pure!

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 870

"Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of a tragic death, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined."

This series is one of the best YA series I have ever read. The author has made me fall for so many of the characters, the representation is on point as is how she handles mental health. This is certainly the darkest of the three books but the ending was absolutely phenomenal. I truly hope we get to see the Blackthorn family more in future books. Though I think I may have to take a break from this universe to recover from the emotional damage.

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

 

Pages: 699

"Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides? Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own."

I don't have words. The ending has ripped by heart out and run all over it. I want to throttle so many side characters. The Blackthorns don't deserve this. I am scared for Ty and how he will react in the next book but I am going to read it anyway cause I have so many questions and no answers!

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Pages: 688

"Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses. Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?"

I absolutely loved this book. The angst was a little drawn out for me, but the characters and plot made up for it. I was not expecting the neurodivergent representation and fell in love with Ty. I hope we get more of him in the next two books. I really liked the weaving in of the poem into the story and could not stop reading the last 200 pages. Everything was happening at once and so many reveals were made. I cannot wait to start the next book!

Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels

Pages: 425

"The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves."

City of Lost Souls

Pages: 535

"What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?"

City of Heavenly Fire

Pages: 753

"Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…"

Apologies for the long post, but I binged the last three books in this series. The writing kept getting better, though it did slow down in the 5th book a little bit but the conundrum of how to separate Jace from Sebastian kept me reading. Prepare for some heartbreak in the final book. I had to take a few breaks near the end especially to process. I cannot wait to see what else the author has in store for this universe in the coming trilogies and spin-offs!

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 541

"To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters. As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?"

Soo many reveals in this book! The ending had me crying and I was left wondering what the next three books are going to be about. They left one loose end and I am curious to see how it plays out. I really enjoyed this one and I am hoping the books keep improving as the series goes.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

 Pages: 453

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father."

Where to begin. I was surprised at the diversity in this book. It was published in 2008 when diversity in YA wasn't as big as it is now, making it a trailblazer in that regard. The tension and pacing was better in this book than the first, and we are finally getting some secrets answered. I am also shipping everyone together and I am hoping they all happen!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

 

Pages: 485

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled in with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know..."

Finally going back to re-read this series and finish it this time around. I was intrigued by the "magic" system in this book. Though the Shadowhunters refuse to call it that. The author paints a rich world where the supernatural coexists with the human world, which isn't the most original of ideas, but there is the added Shadowhunters that keep these beings in line that makes this world unique.

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh
when you know things and you can't do anything about them and you want to strangle a character, and you're starting to like another character but you still dislike them.
Honestly all of my babies deserve the world. Protect all the Carstairs and Herondales and all their friends.
I love Cordelia and I would kill for her. Someone give Matthew a hug. And Thomas. And Alistair. And Christopher. We love all the muppet babies. I just want to take all of them away from Cassie until she learns how to not hurt them.
why are the children always unsupervised?
688 Pages

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Boys are stupid. Daisy deserves the world and she should be protected.
Ahh ducks.
A dog. Named Oscar Wilde. Perfect.
Alastair... a beautiful cactus
Thomas is a sweetie.
All of my ships.. beautiful
Me catching all of the hints Clare is dropping and guessing plot twists/evil characters:


624 Pages