As we continue to count down our favorite moments of The Mortal Instruments in preparation for the release of City of Heavenly Fire, it is MY turn to share my personal Top 5 Scenes from my favorite book in the series, thus far, City of Glass!
I remember when I first read this book, thought City of Bones had sold me on the series; it was City of Glass that brought me to my knees. Everything that I needed to happen in that book happened so brilliantly. I’ve yet to find another book that’s affected me as much as this one has.
I’ve a hopeless romantic to the fullest. It’s my goal in life to see everyone happy, so when I got my Clace moments and my Malec moments, I was elated!
Anyway, here’s are my Top 5 —
1. Clary meets Sebastian
In Chapter 5, A Problem of Memory, Clary is reunited with her fellow Shadowhunters that left her in New York when they went to Idris in search of Ragnor Fell. Clary wasn’t supposed to be there, so it was quite the shock. Clary meets Sebastian, as she is trying to climb the stairs of the Penhallow house to find Jace.
“So this is the famous Clary.” His smile lit up his face, and Clary felt her breath catch.
I specifically remember being upset at the ‘catch of the breath’. My immediate thought was “That’s NOT Jace! Clary, don’t you catch breaths!” But little did we know, I had nothing to worry about. We didn’t know who Sebastian really was!
2. Jace confesses his love for Clary
This particular moment hurt and healed my heart at the same time.
In Chapter 14, In the Dark Forest, we’re aware of how hard these two struggle to maintain a sibling-like relationship. How hard they’re fighting their feelings and attraction to one another. So when Jace climbs through Clary’s window at Amatis’ home, looking for comfort and something familiar (especially after Max’s death), I just couldn’t help but want them to just need each other. To just be with one another in that moment.
This is one of those rare “Jace is vulnerable” moments. And I drank it all up. In fact, his confession of love is going to be tattooed on my body at the end of this month! It’s by far my favorite book moment — ever.
“There is no pretending,” Jace said with absolute clarity. “I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there’s life after that, I’ll love you then.”
3. Jocelyn and the BIG Reveal
By this time, the readers are pretty much on board with this revelation before its even made known. I think by this point, we were just “somebody PLEASE tell them!”. Chapter 17, The Shadowhunter’s Tale, revealed a LOT about Clary’s history, her brother’s history, and Jocelyn’s. It was the Morgenstern family dirty laundry airing. I breathed a DEEP sigh of relief once everything was out in the open. But I was also pretty ticked at Jocelyn for being so secretive in the first place.
“So Jace,” Clary whispered. “Jace is not my brother?”
She felt her mother squeeze her hand–a sympathetic squeeze. “No, Clary. He’s not.”
And trumpets sound! Angels sing! A beam of heavenly light shines down… er, at least in my mind… But FINALLY! It was out in the open. A moment of rejoicing. Though, brief.
4. Alec marks Magnus and kisses him
Another proud moment for my feels in this book. Gotta have my Malec moments — and this was a big one. Especially for the ever so stoic Alec Lightwood. In Chapter 18, Hail and Farewell, the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders have to come together to defeat Valentine and his plans. Clary’s binding rune is the only way to do that. Each Shadowhunter has to bind themselves to a Downworlder, so — of course, Alec chooses Magnus.
Alec needed to apologize for his treatment of Magnus and make his feelings known at the same time. Magnus was constantly being hurt by Alec’s indecisiveness, so Alec knew he had to rectify that and make Magnus believe that he wanted him and their relationship.
Alec had his arms around Magnus and was kissing him, full on the mouth. Magnus, who appeared to be in a state of shock, stood frozen. Several groups of people–Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike–were staring and whispering. Glancing to the side, Simon saw the Lightwoods, their eyes wide, gaping at the display. Maryse had her hand over her mouth.
5. The Epilogue: Jace and Clary finally get it together!
My second favorite moment in the book! The beautiful epilogue that is called Across the Sky in Stars. As we all know, this was supposed to be the final book of the, then, trilogy. But alas, that isn’t the case since we’re counting down to the sixth and final book. This is when everything finally comes together — Valentine is gone, Luke and Jocelyn are trying to get themselves together, Simon’s getting all the ladies, etc.
But I needed my Clace fix. I needed to know that they were okay, especially after all of the lies and the deceit. The pain. The death. I needed that forever moment. And I got it.
“And now I’m looking at you,” he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has. I never dared give much of myself to anyone before–bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it–but, Clary, since the first time I sae you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.”
*Sobs* That was BEAUTIFUL!
And is the script that I will be giving the man who shall propose to me one day.
I simply adore this book. It’s the reason why I enjoy reading so much. I feel in love with Jace in this book. I screamed my head of when Alec and Magnus kissed. I jumped for joy when the angel Raziel killed Valentine. I cried with Sebastian killed Max.
There were SO many fantastic and powerful moments throughout this book, but these five? They’re my heart. They’re what made CoG so epic for me.
And I hope you enjoyed.