Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

[Gwennie]

Funny, I thought it was perfect. Normally books that end with everything working out in everyone's best interest drives me insane, lol. But I didn't think this one did at all, because (view spoiler)[both boys are human and Tess is essentially immortal. So she had to watch Will grow old and die, and then now she's going to get to be with Jem, but only until he grows old and dies too. Then she'll be left alone. And also, for all those years that Will was alive, Jem and he were essentially forced to be apart. And then Jem had to live for hundreds of years without his parabatai even though he became a silent brother so that Will would always know he was there. That's tragic. Even thinking about it makes me sad. Actually the only thing that worked out was that Will got to be with Tessa when Jem was gone, and now Jem and Tessa will console each other now without Will. And it made sense to me that she loved them both equally because they were two halves of one soul, Will and Jem. To love one was to love the other. Will, Jem and Tess loved each other equally.

For me, too perfect would have been if Jem realized that he wasn't truly in love with Tess, became a silent brother and Magnus had done a spell making Will immortal so that Jem, Will and Tess could all live together happily ever after forever and ever.

As far as Silent brothers being irreversible... I can't remember, did they say that?... If they did, Jem said that the toll the Yen Fin took on his body prevented him from fully becoming a silent brother. He said he'll never be like them completely, so perhaps that was just one of the ways he was different. It was reversible (hide spoiler)].

LMAO, I guess I just cried to dang hard for me to say it was wrapped up too neatly. I do agree though that I think (view spoiler)[Will's death was too fast. After all the angst I would have liked a little more about their life together (hide spoiler)]. (I think she
loved them both equally, lmfao. ME though, I loved WILL!)

I'm not really a fan of Cassie Clare, lol. I don't care much for MI, and I'm not a huge fan of Jace and Clary's. BUT, I did love this trilogy a LOT. And I totally can't wait to find out (view spoiler)[how Jem finds his cure (hide spoiler)]. There's no way she can write the last book and not tie it in somehow.

[Jenny]

The stuff in your first spoiler is how I feel too Wendy, which is what makes me conflicted about the epilogue rather than just disliking it. I probably would have imagined that sort of situation and smiled, had it been (view spoiler)[hinted at or proposed as a possibility in conversation rather than, "TA-DA I'M CURED!" I think I would have liked it more if, say, Jem had sat with Tessa as a silent brother and a conversation took place in which he mentions that there is a possibility that the cure is very close and that his time as a silent brother may soon come to an end. And I'm also still a little confused by the cure, which is why I think this may come to be explained within the plot of City of Heavenly Fire. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwennie]

I agree with you completely. I definitely would have liked it more if (view spoiler)[we had seen the conversation happen, instead of him just showing up. And if Clare's intent was for Tessa to be surprised, maybe a conversation about how he didn't want to tell her in case the reversal didn't work, or the cure didn't work. Something. It was a bit like 'I'm cured, let's walk off into the sunset!'

If the cure for the addiction isn't explained in Heavenly Fire I will be really ticked off. Holes in a series is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Mostly I was saying that I didn't feel that Tessa getting to love both boys in the end made it too perfect. I thought that the love between the three of them was beautiful and I'm glad that Tessa will get to love them both (hide spoiler)].

[Breeze]

I loved stressing the past tense Cass. Clare Mortal INstruments until I realized she has a wash rinse repeat style of writing and I got tired. Clockwork Angel series is the same pattern, to bad.
I love the on going chats about Sebastion (yes I love his character and really get it) I find some younger readers just don't get it. Anyway, if you'd like an adult version of this kind of story then i recommend the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning.
Jace is a boy, Jerricho is a man......and you can google Jerricho Barrens to see the women swooning (women not girls) no disrespect.

[Gwennie]

I've read the fever books, and I love them. I don't think they're very similar though, other than the fact that their UF (and ones adult vs ones YA). And I definitely don't think Jace and Barrons are the same. Barrons is dark and deadly, and a bit of a sociopath. Jace is snarky and cocky, and usually just finds himself over his head especially as the series progressed, I thought.

I was also the opposite. The first three MI books got better for me, but after the third they just went downhill again. I'm going to finish the books, but only cause there's just one more. I MUCH preferred the Infernal Devices trilogy to the Mortal Instruments. And other than the fact that the 3 main characters were 1 female and 2 males, I didn't think anything was a repeat of MI. A good majority of YA books contain a story with a triangle that is 1 female and 2 males. And ID and MI take place in the same world, ID is a prequel, so the world building is going to be the same.

[Jenny]

Wendy F wrote: "I agree with you completely. I definitely would have liked it more if..."

I had to edit the spoilers out of the quote. Bad Goodreads!

Yeah I can see the sadness about that situation, and I'm glad that she did include Tessa's consideration of the fact that (view spoiler)[she'll have to go through that pain of a loved one's death again (hide spoiler)]. But it is still pretty (view spoiler)[HEA, at least temporarily. I mean, everybody dies and loses loved ones in life and every happily ever after ends with death one way or another (hide spoiler)].

I keep thinking what if (view spoiler)[Tessa has kids with Jem that are like 150 years younger than her other kids and then Carstairs and Herondale family trees get TOTALLY complicated? Like someone could end up making out with their half great aunt. (hide spoiler)] lol

[Gwennie]

HAHA! I didn't even think about that, but you're right. It's entirely possible!

(view spoiler)[That's true, though I'd say it's still sad. You also have to take into consideration that, unless something actually kills her, Tess will never die. I'm honestly not sure how Magnus does it. To be mortal you know that eventually you'll be gone too. Magnus and Tess will forever watch those they love die. I feel like I'd never want to love anyone, lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Kathleen]

I agree Wendy, I thought the story was beautiful in how it showed what it meant to be parabatai. One of the reasons I loved this trilogy so much was how loyal and honorable Will, Jem, and Tessa were to each other. I was afraid in the beginning that this was going to be another typical love triangle but I was wrong because it was beautiful in the love they had for each other and how the story played out. I think it just caught me off guard in the end because there weren't any hints to that happening. (view spoiler)[ Maybe it just felt so soon/rushed to me because of all the buildup with Will. But you're an entire explanation is right and that's how I also came to terms with it. Next time I read it I just won't read the epilogue. :)

I could be wrong about the Silent brother reversibility thing, but I do remember that yin fen conversation making him different and therefore a loophole for Jem if anything. She HAS to address that in City of Heavenly Fire.

So, did you all see the family tree in the cover jacket? Any chance Tessa and Jem had kids? Lol, I know it's a long-shot but I love fantasy because anything can happen. (hide spoiler)]


I have also read and love the Fever series. I love both Barrons and Jace and I don't think they're similar for the same reasons Wendy stated above. Infernal Devices actually isn't a copy of the Mortal Instruments and though I didn't fall in love with Clockwork Angel at first, the story picks up and Clockwork Prince and Princess are amazing.

[Kathleen]

Jenny wrote: "Wendy F wrote: "I agree with you completely. I definitely would have liked it more if..."

I had to edit the spoilers out of the quote. Bad Goodreads!

Yeah I can see the sadness about that situat..."

LOL! That's exactly what I was just thinking Jenny. (view spoiler)[ That family tree is going to be all sorts of messed up if Jem and Tessa had kids. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwennie]

Well Jem and Tessa (view spoiler)[came back together in 2008 in the trilogy. So if they do it's probably in the future. (I bet they do.) (hide spoiler)].

[Jen (at last!)]

So, I just finished and I have mixed emotions. I loved the book. I loved Will and Jem's parabatai relationship. It was beautiful. However, I could have done without the epilogue. I would have much rather she'd (view spoiler)[given us a glimpse into Tessa and Will's life together instead of just given us Will's death scene(though poignant with Jem playing his violin) and then cutting to a miraculously cured Jem walking up to Tessa and them walking off into the sunset. To me, this book focused on Will finally allowing himself to love and be loved in return. He finally realized he was worthy of Tessa's love and she realized she loved him, too, and that it was okay. So, I agree with Jenny that I'd have enjoyed just a convo between Jem and Tessa after Will's death, of course, about a possibility of a cure/reversal happening and a hint of what they'd do about it.That way the focus remains on Will's triumph over the "curse". The rest just seemed to spoil all the emotions I just felt at the end of the book. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, and Jem (view spoiler)[becoming a Silent Brother just has me all mixed up inside. I thought it was more painful for Will to lose his parabatai that way then to have lost him in death. I also thought it was more painful for Jem to live that way. So, I am glad he's cured, but I'm sad he has to actually live without his parabatai and Tessa has to eventually lose her other great love to death. (hide spoiler)]

PS--If the (view spoiler)[cure isn't explained in the last TMI book I will be so ticked off!(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[N.B.]

It just seemed well, kind of wrong, at least, the epilogue did. The rest was beautiful. I guess I'm just sick of love triangles and I hoped Cassandra Clare wouldn't fall prey to that trap and choose one guy for Tessa to end up with. I agree though, an amazing trilogy.

[Jenny]

Nadia, you should probably go back and tag some of your posts for spoilers.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Wendy F wrote: "I've read the fever books, and I love them. I don't think they're very similar though, other than the fact that their UF (and ones adult vs ones YA). And I definitely don't think Jace and Barrons..."

I'd agree. I don't think Fever and MI are similar at all. The only thing they have in common is that they're both UF, but UF is a pretty broad category.

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Okay, I finished.

The epilogue to me was brilliant. (view spoiler)[I think it was the perfect catalyst to show how intertwined the three of these people were and how one person was not more important than another. I agree with Wendy that if it had gone the route of Jem going away and Will becoming immortal - THIS would have been the "too happy" ending.

Tessa got to have them both, but she had/has to live with the pain of losing them both. So in a way, her burden will be the toughest to bear, even if she got to have her cake and eat it too.

The way it was explained with Jem and Will sharing a soul brought the whole triangle home.

Without the epilogue, I wouldn't have loved the book as much as I did.

Oh, and there was something about the description of Will and Jem as boys jumping from roof to roof that got me all teary eyed. I could picture it in my mind, all of the love and memories that they shared before Tessa came along. (hide spoiler)]

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

Oh and a question (view spoiler)[the scene in MI book 5 with brother Zechariah, was that supposed to be before tessa and jem met again? (hide spoiler)]

[Isamlq]

Stacia (does not squee) wrote: "Okay, I finished.

The epilogue to me was brilliant. I think it was the perfect... ---> same here! :)

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I was so torn on how to rate this book. The last 25% or so was 5 stars to me, but a good portion of the middle dragged.

I have it at 4.5 but still am not sure if my final verdict will be a 4 or 5 on the star. I have it at 4 now but given the fact that so many emotions were pulled out of me and just seeing how all of the details played out, I almost feel like I'm needing to go higher.

Hmmm...

[Kathleen]

Stacia (does not squee) wrote: "Oh and a question [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Maybe both since they were meeting each other yearly? I don't remember what year MI 5 was supposed to be set in. (hide spoiler)]

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I think I missed the year (view spoiler)[Jem and Tessa got together in the epilogue? Was it 2008, someone said? If so, that would line up I guess. (hide spoiler)]

The upcoming Dark Artifices starts its story in 2012, I think? But the math isn't lining up for me if it was supposed to start 5 years after MI.

I'm crappy with details like that.

[Kathleen]

Oh yea it was that year. I'm good with details right after I finish the book but ask me 3 days later and I completely forgot already.

It took me almost a week to read this but I think if I finished sooner I would've been crying my eyes out. I almost always bump up my ratings if I get so emotional with books.

[Gwennie]

Yeah, (view spoiler)[she said in 2008 they met and Jem was cured. And I can only imagine that it would have to be after, otherwise the timeline doesn't make sense. I have a feeling it'll be after the ending of MI 6... at least that's what I'm hoping (hide spoiler)].

I agree, I absolutely LOOOOVED the resolution. It was my favorite part of the trilogy!

[Jenny]

TMI books are set in 2007, right?

[Gwennie]

I think so, yeah.

[Hillary]

Well I guess the good part of working overtime this week and not having time to read and respond to this thread, is I don't have to say a thing in here, because Stacia NAILED IT on how I felt about the book and the epilogue. :P

I will say this though, (view spoiler)[I do believe she has to touch on how the cure was achieved. The epilogue tied ID more to MI with Tessa being a little taken aback by having JUST SEEN Magnus and him not telling her about Jem--though we know Magnus didn't know himself-- If she doesn't...I may contemplate using her books as kindling cause that would be a hole of epic proportions to me. You are tying THREE series together and you can't seem to do that? NO. Just NO. /sigh TMI6 better be awesome. Poor Magnus... (hide spoiler)]

[Stacia (the 2010 club), groupaholic, YA-MA founder]

I have a question about both series and how they tie together. Do we think that (view spoiler)[Tessa and Jace will interact at all in book 6? Is Jace one of Will and Tessa's great-grandchildren, or has that theory been disproved already and I missed it? (hide spoiler)]

[Hillary]

(view spoiler)[ Jace is one of their decedents. The family tree in CP2 shows that. Now as to if there is going to be interaction between Tessa and Jace...maybe. I would be interested to see it, that is for sure. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

I don't think there will be because (view spoiler)[in the epilogue, Jem says that he has another story about Lightwoods and Herondales and Fairchilds to tell her. (hide spoiler)]

[JanaMarga]

Hey, Im new here, and maybe all this was covered before... Am I the only one who thinks ID was better than MI? and, to the last question, I would love to see them interact!!! (view spoiler)[ Tessa/Jem, I would like a reunion between them and Jace. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittney]

Hi! I think MI is better. My problem is the fact that MI was written first and then ID and I feel like ID is way too similar to MI. I don't know though I really need to read MI again because it has been so long.

[JanaMarga]

I just finished CoHF. I liked it a lot, it gave me closure. There are some things however....
(view spoiler)[ I think the entire trip to the demon realms was kind of crazy, I expected more demons and dangers and confrontations while there. However, it's not that much of a difficulty. I was thrilled, excited, beyond happy to see Magnus and Alec get together again, and I couldn't stop fangirling everytime Zachariah/Jem is mentioned. (Sorry, I am all for Team Jem, Im in love with him). Tessa's encounter with Clary, great. And of course, sad about Simon. But I think the epilogue was good, it gives everyone a bit of a HEA ending. The 6 deaths of the book weren't that terrible, I kind of saw them coming and didn't suffer as much. (hide spoiler)]
What do you guys think about this book? And, what do you expect for TDA??

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

"The Infernal Devices" was so good, and I plan to get into "The Mortal Instruments" this winter. I think Tessa Gray was a great heroine, and I loved Jem! The ending surprised me a lot, which was a nice change.