New fantasy series, new ‘Twilight’?

With the “Twilight” saga, “Harry Potter” series and “The Hunger Games” trilogy complete, readers have been searching for a new set of books to occupy their time. One series that has captured the attention of these young readers comes from author Cassandra Clare. “The Mortal Instruments” novels have found their place on the New York Times Bestseller list, and now the series has been picked up by Sony Pictures for a movie adaptation due out August of this year.

The first book of the series, “City of Glass,” centers on main character Clary Fray as she discovers that she comes from a line of Shadowhunters when her mother is mysteriously kidnapped. Shadowhunters are a line of half-angel, half-human warriors. This group of soldiers has been sent to earth to protect humans from the demons that invade our world. Demons, vampires, witches, warlocks and even a werewolf or two are all a part of “The Mortal Instruments” world.  

What would a teen book series without a good love connection? That is right, Clary finds herself falling for the bad boy Shadowhunter, Jace Wayland. Not to worry though, their dynamic is not nearly so pathetic as the Edward Cullen and Bella Swan romance in the Twilight series. However, similar to the series from author Stephenie Meyer, Clary not only finds herself attracted to Jace, but also to her awkward best friend, Simon. Oh, hey, love triangle.  

Amid all of this relationship drama, Clary trains up to be a Shadowhunter herself in order to win her mother back from the demons who stole her away.

Clary takes the supernatural world that has been tapped into by so many authors over the years and puts her own personal twist on it. The story line is interesting and unique, considering some of the obvious similarities that it has among the Twilight saga and other similar novels. Just when it seems like everything begins to go right in the lives of the young Shadowhunters in the novel, Clare throws another twist that sends the characters on yet another adventure.

The sixth and final book in the series, “City of Heavenly Fire,” is due out September 2014.