*This review may contain spoilers as City of Glass is the third novel in The Mortal Instruments series.*

Clary can no longer sit and watch as her mother's life slips through the cracks. All she needs is to travel to the Shadowhunters' homeland, Alicante, the capital of their hidden country to find a cure. The only problem is that she is prohibited from passing through their wards, and without their permission, Clary would be breaking the Law. Breaking the Law has consequences, consequences so severe that it could result in death. To make matters worse, Clary learns that Jace is desperate to keep her away from Idris and unwilling to help her, and that her best friend Simon is confined deep within its walls, held prisoner by Shadowhunters who don't trust him. Conflicted between her heroic, desperate impulses and her cautious practicality, Clary is at war with herself over what she should do.

She decides to throw caution to the wind and portals into the heart of Alicante. Not knowing what to do or where to go, Clary comes across another young Shadowhunter, Sebastian Verlac. He becomes a mysterious ally of sorts, and seems to know far more about her than he's letting on. Yet, with Valentine gathering his forces and planning a final siege on the people she loves most, Clary doesn't have time to be suspicious of the one person helping her. She discovers that the only way to prevent her father from destroying the world is to have Shadowhunters and Downworlders join forces, but will they be able to put their differences aside for the greater good? Will Clary be able to restore her relationship with Jace and learn how to control her newfound powers to help save the Glass City, or will she watch as it all crumbles to dust?

City of Glass was an excellent addition to the Mortal Instruments series. From the first turn of the page to the last, the writing danced with action, adventure and emotion. Cassandra Clare made Clary's indecisive and impulsive nature extremely clear in a way that made Clary relatable and real. She's rash and bold, and rarely thinks before she acts, but it's what makes her a whole, complete person. Though she makes plenty of mistakes, she still brings a reassuring, loving presence to those she loves, which is what I adore about her. Cassandra Clare created a heroic female figure who is strong and brave, but also kind, caring and supportive. I believe it was her way of conveying that kindness and weakness do not go hand in hand, and that being an affectionate young woman does not make you less of a hero, but an even better one.

I absolutely adore the characters and their development throughout this series, as Cassandra Clare breaks down many gender stereotypes within her writing, for both men and women. All of that wrapped up in a sweeping, adventurous plot and suspenseful storyline makes this a fantastic book. 

If you're interested in looking into other books similar to this one, I would invest my time in anything written by Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan or Stephenie Meyer.