"To loved is to destroy and to be loved is to be destroyed" 
 Rating: 4.5 stars 
 Can I make my opening statement a mental note to myself? BECAUSE LILIAN WHY THE HELL DID IT TAKE YOU THIS LONG TO PICK THIS SERIES UP HOLY CRAP I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU... 
 I had heard of this book years ago and additional buzz when the movie adaptation was released but never really felt any form of inclination to read it. Little did I know, I started this book with low expectations (not even kidding when I say this, I genuinely thought It was just going to be another overly hyped fantasy series that wasn't necessarily my style). But of course Cassandra Clare proved me wrong and introduced me to a world of endless possibilites. Having already seen the movie (don't hate me, I have an obsession with Lily Collins and I had to watch it) I picked up this book with some knowledge on the plot and the sequence of events, AND CAN I JUST SAY WOW the book is so much better. The essence and vibe of the setting and characters was portrayed perfectly in the movie but I found the plot to be more captivating and easier to follow in the book. 
 I loved the setting and this WORLD - full of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, warlocks, fairies, AND BLOODY MUNDANES (I shall use this from now on to insult the irrelevant people in my life thank-you Cassandra). From the beginning to end I found myself heavily submerged within their world and never for a split second found it difficult to imagine or hard to follow. I loved the equal combination of fantasy and reality and believe this is why the setting was so captivating, I mean honestly... how cool would it be to walk along Times Square and see leather jacket shadowhunters strutting their sassy stuff? (okay, this sounded better in my head). 
 I would have given this book a five star rating if it weren't for the characters. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore them and already find myself throwing agitated fits, swooning and defending them when they do something stupid. BUT I just thought they lacked well-rounded personalities, as much as I love a good sarcastic, bad-ass with a soft, outspoken side, some of the characters to me felt at times too "perfect" (does this make sense? I don't know... I feel like I'm just contradicting myself here but just know that I loved the characters but felt like some needed more development in order for the reader to obtain some form of relationship/connection, idk). 
 PLOT TWISTS, this book has them, if you're not a fan of emotionally traumatic game changers perhaps this book isn't for you, BECAUSE I DIED OKAY I BLOODY DIED AT THE END AND COULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED... HAPPENED. 
 (also Jace is emotionally destroying and I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT STUPID PLOT TWIST, I SHIP THEM OKAY I BLOODY SHIP THEM)