If you haven’t already done so please read my review of City of Ashes before reading this.
Basically, Clary travels to the city of bones to find a cure for her mother’s coma. Despite being a Downworlder, Simon also enters the home of the Shadowhunters due to various circumstances and finds himself imprisoned by the Clave. Meanwhile, Valentine has managed to build an army large enough to destroy the Shadowhunters, whose only chance of survival is to work with the Downworlders.
City of Glass does not add any new themes but further explores the previously established themes of fear, betrayal, depression, and mortality. It also gives the readers deeper insight into the politics of this world and further develops the major characters. If I had a complaint, it’s that this novel is too anticlimactic, no matter how good a novel is a whole, it’s always frustrating to find myself asking “is that it?” when it’s over.
It is my personal opinion that as far as the main plot goes, the series should end here, but perhaps spread out over four books to answer all the questions. But of course the series doesn’t end here. In fact, book three might only be the half way point.
Bottom Line: City of Glass improves from its predecessors in almost every criteria. It also feels more mature in many ways. Unfortunately, the ending feels too easy and really doesn’t do the novel justice. For that reason I give City of Glass a 9/10.