The Mortal Instruments Series and My Nieces

I think I've mentioned before that I am a bit of an oddity in my family.  My pursuit of the written word is pretty much my only hobby.  When people ask me what I do - well, I read.  A lot.  I do have two nieces that are fond of reading.  Both college age now.  It will not surprise any of you to know that for many years I was the "Aunt Kay who always gives us books".  I have definitely tried to encourage all my young relatives to enjoy reading.  My own daughter is more of a movie buff, but she loves audio books and uses them extensively on her commute to work.

So, when we were all together at Christmas I got into a conversation with the two nieces - what have you been reading?  Was it good?  Do you recommend it?  And they asked me the same questions.  Both of them read Young Adult books as a rule.  I told them that I was reading one of the Mortal Instruments books - #3 in fact, The City of Glass by Cassandra Clare.  Ooh, they said and told of their love of that series.  Would I please finish it so they could talk to me about it?  Well, I said yes, of course.  And today I finished #6, The City of Heavenly Fire.

I enjoyed this Young Adult fantasy series - not as much as Harry Potter or the Twilight series, but there were some interesting aspects.  The books were a little long for me, but I persevered.  I have not read of the exploits of Shadowhunters (who hunt demons) before, but was familiar with vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and the fey or faerie realm.  I was intrigued by this author's use of some of the more obscure aspects of the Bible - the Nephilim, the handwriting on the wall in the Book of Daniel, and angels in specific and in general.  Something different.  There was kind of a Scooby gang of Shadowhunters, Clary, Jace, Isabelle and Alec, and their friends of other types, Simon, a vampire, Maia and Jordan, werewolves, and Magnus, a warlock.  Much drama ensues, of course.  It was good fun.

I'm sure my nieces and I will have a nice little discussion the next time we are all together, spring break maybe.  Oh and one of them asked me if I had started reading the Divergent trilogy yet.  She reminded me that I had promised her I would.  I guess I better get on that pretty soon.  Pant, pant.  She is relentless and this is what "Aunt Kay who always gives us books" gets, right?