#And with Mortal Instruments
I didn’t use to like YA (the Young-Adult literature) much, some time
back. (In-fact, depending on the storyline I was on the hate-it Que). Then one
not-so-differently-fine day, I came across a movie ‘the mortal instruments -
city of bones’. The movie said to be adapted from the book with same title by
author Cassandra Clare; and the movie sucked as much as any book adaptation
could possibly suck; but it got me intrigued about the book.
The title itself suggested fantasy, and story revealed presence of loads
of mythical creatures. With some internet research I came to know that ‘The
Mortal Instruments’ is a series of six books as:
City of Bones
City of ashes
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angel
City of Lost Souls
City of Heavenly Fire
I downloaded all six books greedily and read first four in a row over a
week.
A young girl Clary Fray living in New York with her Mom with only her
best Friend Simon and a family friend Luke as the other important people in her
life. One day coming across a strange set of events – and people – she realizes
that she is one the extraordinary of extraordinary people called the “Shadowhunters”.
The book series is her journey of early times and adaptation to the life as
Nephilim or Shadowhunter.
Storyline revolves around Clary, her mundane bestie Simon, her Shadowhunter
family - Jocelyn and Valentine, indirect family – Luke/Lucian, the Shadowhunters
she has her first encounters as the actual Guardian Nephilims – (‘it’s
complicated’-)Jace, (watching six for all-)Alec, (warrior princess the sexy-)Isabelle,
etc. and the hottie warlock – Magnus Bane.
It was good and pretty entertaining to read overall. But ‘hero’ Jace is much
too complicated (and over-emotional at times) that he becomes irritating even
for a reader sometimes (heaven knows how Clary puts up with him!). Magnus Bane,
Alec, Isabelle appear to be far more bearable and (maybe that’s why) far more ‘engaging’
characters than Jace. Clary and Jace’s story goes such weird angles that
initially it becomes difficult to gulp those twists (at least till the time
when you develop that understanding that ‘it’s possible’).
And yet, I’d say it’s a
good-to-read series. Because apart from the ‘emotional-atyachaar’ (that’s melodrama
in Hindi) story is rather good, imagination is impressive and overall fab
no-worries-fantasy to read, who doesn’t want that?
The Mortal Instrument series was mine too, first encounter with the Shadowhunter
Universe. After reading four books in a single go, the fourth one ended for me
with a shock and above that a little “now what?!” feeling, which resulted in,
me forsaking the series, for a while. But I missed them. I completed the series
after taking a break of few months before last two books. I liked the way
intensity of climax and the way of storytelling keeps climbing up with each of
the MI books.
I must say the last book of the series ‘City of Heavenly Fire’ appeared
to me rather different than the other books. I mean, the rest of the books of
the series go all in one flow, one color; revolving around Clary and a fixed set
of characters. Whereas, ‘Heavenly Fire’ has so many new colors mixed. ‘Lost
Souls’ too has introduced some new characters but ‘Heavenly Fire’ has tried and
gone further to explain those new characters, partially; probably because of
connection with so many of her other Shadowhunter series which were released or
were upcoming by then.
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