This is an urban fantasy novel set in New York City in the present day. Clary works through finding out the truth about her past after her mother mysteriously goes missing. She meets a group of half angel humans called Nephilihim otherwise known as Shadowhunters. These half angels are mortal and hunt the demons that regular “mundane” humans can’t see. I know it sounds a bit hokey and it is. But also a bit fun.

What I liked about the book? This is a hard question for me to answer. I think I liked that there was a love story and that that love story didn’t drown the rest of the book like so often happens in YA fiction. I liked Clary’s complex relationship with Simon (her best friend). I liked Clary, especially since my name is Clarissa. It’s not often I get to read a book with my name in it, much less as the main character (my nickname is Lissy though, didn’t love the name Clary). I totally fell for Jace too, so much so that I went on wikipedia and read all the spoilers.

What I didn’t like? Cassandra Clare, was obviously  borrowing from Star Wars and other authors, and I really didn’t like the love story angle she chose. I think she might have been able to leave that part out. Creepy. Unnecessary. I should clarify, this is a CLEAN romance, just read the book.  At times it also felt as though, just as Eric’s  (a character in the book) poetry, she swallowed a dictionary and spewed up words at random.

I am having a hard time figuring that out why I liked it so much. I read it twice. I flew through it both times. I am baffled. But still super excited for the next installment and even the companion novel coming out in August.