Summer Lovin’: Finding the Next “Hunger Games”
By: Red Velvet
After devouring the Hunger Games series a few months ago, I had been itching to find something like it, somewhat close to it. Books with a great plot, a strong female protagonist, romance, drama, action - all the qualities I look for in a young adult novel - to escape into. But I didn’t want a standalone book, I wanted an entire (preferably completed) series. I read The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher (I knew this one wasn’t a series but I kept reading reviews that said if you liked The Hunger Games, you’ll like this. So not true.) Next I read Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore. These two I adored! But still, they weren’t a series per se. They both took place in the same “fantasy world” but had different characters in each book. So, I kept looking and doing my usual searches on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various blogs to find something new to read.
Eventually, I heard about The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare through my Facebook feed of all places! A bunch of friends were updating their statuses in excitement over the release of an unexpected 4th book in the series. It was only supposed to be a trilogy but the author decided to revisit these characters and create THREE more books. I asked my other YA-reading friends about the book and they all recommended it as well.
Yay! I found my new series!
The Mortal Instruments currently includes four books - City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels. Author Cassandra Clare created a magical world filled with so much detail (lots to remember and keep track of!) that if I were to try and explain it all, I’d give far too much away. So here are the basics: The story follows Clary Fray, a 15-year-old girl from Brooklyn living with her single mother, and her discovery of the Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are nephilim warriors (humans with angel blood in them) who protect humans from vampires, werewolves, demons, witches and the occasional fairy (her fairies are nothing like Tinker Bell, that’s for sure). She finds out about them when she witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers (Isabelle, Alex and Jace) murder another teen, who turns out to be a demon. The problem is, Clary should’ve never discovered them because she’s not supposed to be able to see them — which leads her to learn more about herself, her family and her role in the Shadowhunter world.
I thought Clary was a great female protagonist. She wasn’t perfect but she was someone that I could root for and on some level relate to (she’s petite, stubborn, determined - that sounds awfully familiar to me). She’s thrust into this crazy world and faces it pretty fearlessly (or rather she accepted her fear and charged forward anyway). She also (somewhat predictably) finds herself drawn to the one of the teenage Shadowhunters she meets, Jace Wayland. But trust me, throughout the entire series their relationship takes plenty of unexpected turns. A few times I had to text one of my friends who had already read the series and ask, “Seriously?! Tell me this isn’t true!” (then I’d take back my questions because I didn’t want to be spoiled). Jace is everything you’d want in a male protagonist. He’s got the bad boy with a good heart persona going for him, mysterious, sarcastic but with a vulnerable side and he too finds himself inexplicably drawn to Clary as well. I love a good romance and they didn’t disappoint.
But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. The other characters I mentioned — like werewolves, vampires, fairies and Shadowhunters — all play a huge and continuous role throughout the entire series.
If you’re looking for a young adult series to get lost in this summer (whether it’s on the beach or during the daily commute like me), I would definitely recommend The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. (Unless you haven’t read The Hunger Games yet, then read that first. See my review: here.) It’s quickly becoming the next big thing and (surprise, surprise) there is even a movie coming out. Check it out and don’t forget to come back and tell me what you thought!
P.S. I read two more YA series since this one so I’ve got more recommendations coming!
