City of Glass
Cassandra Clare, 2009
Fantasy Young adultRomanceHorror
Clary crosses into the Shadowhunters' hidden city of glass to save her mother, with Jace, Simon and a war following close behind. The mood is longing and dread, with witty banter and romantic tension moving through a city on the edge of war.
Feels like longing, dread and wonder. About love, family and art.
Who it’s for
You may like it if you enjoy YA fantasy with romantic tension, family secrets and a hidden magical city. It is a later book in an ongoing series, so starting here may leave you piecing together prior relationships and politics.
Why read it
It gives you a tense, romantic fantasy about loyalty and family under pressure, with sharp banter and a city close to war.
A page from the book
The particular tiredness of disliking someone you can't help admiring.
And then there was Jace, standing off at a little distance, as if he didn’t quite belong. He was all in Shadowhunter black like the others. When Simon wore all black, he looked like he was on his way to a funeral, but Jace just looked tough and dangerous. And blonder. Simon felt his shoulders tighten and wondered if anything—time, or forgetfulness—would ever dilute his resentment of Jace. He didn’t want to feel it, but there it was, a stone weighting down his unbeating heart. Cassandra Clare.Clare began as a fanfiction writer whose 'Draco Trilogy' was read by millions; City of Bones, the first Mortal Instruments book, appeared in 2007.
Books that feel like this
More by Cassandra Clare
City of Bones
Cassandra Clare, 2007
A girl who sees what others can't is pulled into a New York of tattooed demon-hunters, rune-magic and a boy with gold eyes who is trouble.
City of Ashes
Cassandra Clare, 2008
The second Mortal Instruments book: Shadowhunters, demons and a bond that won't break, in a New York where every loyalty is tested.
Clockwork Angel
Cassandra Clare, 2010
A girl who can become anyone by touching their belongings is held captive in gaslit London, where angels and clockwork hide in plain sight.
Where to get it
Some of these links earn us a small commission, at no cost to you. It keeps BookFeed free.
Questions readers ask
- Is City of Glass for me?
- You may like it if you enjoy YA fantasy with romantic tension, family secrets and a hidden magical city. It is a later book in an ongoing series, so starting here may leave you piecing together prior relationships and politics.
- What is City of Glass like?
- The mood is longing and dread, with witty banter and romantic tension moving through a city on the edge of war. Feels like longing, dread and wonder. About love, family and art.
- What should I read after City of Glass?
- If you liked City of Glass, try Blood Promise (Richelle Mead), The Summer of Broken Rules (K.L. Walther) and House of Flame and Shadow (Sarah J. Maas).
A taste of the feed
Affection and menace in the same hand.
You forgot another lesson: Never turn your back until you know your enemy is dead. Looks like we’ll have to go over the lesson again the next time I see you—which will be soon. Love, D.
Blood Promise · Richelle Mead
What you say when a perfect week is almost over.
Let’s pretend that time doesn’t exist. Let’s pretend that this week isn’t ending. Let’s pretend that we will always be us—happy, sunburnt, and tangled up together.
The Summer of Broken Rules · K.L. Walther
What would you promise if this life were not the last one?
I love you. I fell in love with you in the depths of my soul, and it’s my soul that will find yours again in the next life.
House of Flame and Shadow · Sarah J. Maas
Read pages from books like this, one at a time
Keep reading in the feed