My main issue with this book is Clary. She’s a classic oblivious pick me/not like other girls and a pretty obvious self insert fantasy. Jace literally says that she doesn’t know she’s beautiful, which is a trope I’m so sick of. I get comparing yourself to others (Isabelle) but not to the extent that you can’t view yourself objectively. And on the oblivious point, she’s somehow aware of Alec’s feelings towards Jace but not 

Simon’s

  toward her? It was pretty obvious to me. I’m a bit disappointed because this idea and world have potential, but this book didn’t live up to it. I liked the first 200 or so pages the most (aka when the most exposition was happening so it was the most interesting). Another thing about Clary that bothered me was that she accepts the magical world way too easily and quickly. In many ways this book reminded me of Percy Jackson, so I’m just going to use that as a comparison. He had difficulty coming to terms with the world of Greek myths despite his mother (he believes) being killed by a Minotaur and his best friend being a satyr. 

I get that this is Clare’s first book in this world with these characters, so of course it will have flaws. I hope it improves. I’m going to be reading Clockwork Angel next, hopefully it will be a bit better. And I can’t wait to meet the infamous Will Herondale. 

Also someone spoiled to me that Clary and Jace were siblings which just completely ruined the kiss scene and all that