Watermark’s Cool Summer Reads #4:
The
Mortal Instruments --
A great
pick for "Twilight" fans
Watch News & Notes each week this summer for a featured book recommendation
for young readers ages 7 to 17. We’ll help you find the smartest, funniest,
most exciting summer-blockbusters-on-the-page, books guaranteed to keep a
youngster reading.
“City of Bones" and "City of Ashes” by Cassandra Clare (Margaret K. McElderry,
9781416914280 and 9781416914297, $9.99 and $17.99, ages 14 and older)
Need a great way to soften cravings for the next “Twilight” book? Just sink
your teeth into Cassandra Clare’s “Mortal Instruments” series, which mixes
teen romance with suspenseful urban fantasy. When city girl Clary Fray
witnesses a supernatural murder in a Manhattan club, she suddenly discovers
she has the power to see magical creatures--werewolves, faeries, vampires,
more--and she’s quickly pulled into a secret battle between the monsters and
those who hunt them.
In this new second book, “City of Ashes,” Clary has to balance her
allegiances between her regular-world best friend (Simon) and her fellow
monster-hunter (the dangerous Jace)--all while tracking down the mysterious
power that’s preying on the magical children of New York City. Clary also
has to answer for herself two pressing life-and-death questions: why did her
mother flee from magic so many years ago, keeping her past a secret from
Clary, and whose side should her daughter be fighting on now?
Join Clary as she flirts with danger (and with dangerous flirters), uncovers
huge revelations about her family roots, and grows into her role as a
Shadowhunter who protects both the magical and non-magical worlds from evil.
It’s breathless fun. Loyal “Twilight” readers are flocking to this series,
and one of Watermark’s teen readers confessed that not only could she not
bear to put this new book down, she happily read it through twice!
A new reader should begin with the first book, “City of Bones.” After that,
she’ll be on the hunt for the new “City of Ashes.”
Review by
Mark David Bradshaw, May 29, 2008
Back
to Reviews
