TMI Wrap Up Tour: Exclusive interview with Cassandra Clare + giveaway

We are so very honored to be a part of the TMI Wrap Up Tour, in preparation of City of Heavenly Fire, and today we’re looking back at City of Glass, the book that was originally intended to be the final book in the series.

Thankfully that didn’t prove to be the case. I couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to these characters after just three books. City of Glass has remained my favorite book in The Mortal Instruments for many reasons, including character development, action, ships, Idris and the guaranteed emotional trauma that is accustomed with Cassie Clare’s books.

Here’s our exclusive interview with Cassandra Clare where we look back at City of Glass. Also, be sure to keep reading below for a giveaway you won’t want to miss! TMI Source: At the time, City of Glass was intended to be the final Mortal Instruments book. What was the most difficult part about wrapping up the series at that time?

Cassandra Clare: The story would have wrapped up pretty neatly . . . except for all the other ideas I kept having! I had introduced Sebastian, and I loved him as a villain, and I couldn’t say goodbye to him: his body never turns up in City of Glass. I knew I was going to revisit him. And after going on this huge journey with Simon, I had so much more I wanted him to do! The thing is, I always did intend to continue the story in some form, so even though things weren’t wrapped up in City of Glass, that was okay. 

Had you planned Simon’s Mark of Cain from the beginning of the series? Where did the inspiration come from?

I had. The Shadowhunter world is so centered around runes, I wanted to tie in a more storied, ancient symbol. It was also a perfect demonstration of the double-edged nature of the power Clary has— creating such an infamous mark showed the Nephilim what she’s capable of, but they were also deeply disturbed by it. Even Raziel was disturbed by it! But yes, the Mark of Cain is seeded into City of Ashes, where Magnus tells them it was the first Mark. That was a hint we would see it eventually.

What was your favorite chapter or scene to write in City of Glass?

The scene where Jace and Clary finally snap at the manor house and just start kissing like crazy. Maybe that’s silly but they’d both been holding back so long and so hard that when they dropped the pretense finally it was a relief for me, too!

What influenced the character and development of Sebastian?

Valentine. Through Jace, we already saw one example of the results of his, shall we say, unique parenting style. Taking Valentine’s ideas to their extreme gave me Jonathan/Sebastian. He was always meant to be Jace’s shadow self. He shares many traits with Jace. Even their love for Clary — if you can call it love in Sebastian’s case — is something they share.

City of Glass was intended to be the final book in the series, yet Sebastian’s fate was left up in the air. Did you always intend his fate to be left hanging?

Yes. I had written a plot for a graphic novel about what would happen to Simon after the events of Glass, which is why I left so many threads untied at the end of City of Glass (where was Sebastian’s body, what would happen with Simon’s love life, the Seelie Queen’s threat, etc).

And now for the giveaway (which is open to U.S. residents only. Publisher’s rules). Enter below for your chance to win the following:

• A Mortal Instruments hoodie
• Signed copy of City of Glass

GIVEAWAY ENDED

Be sure to visit the previous stops and remaining stops below:

May 22 – Fangirlish (TMI)

May 23 – Novel Novice (City of Ashes)

May 24 – TMI Source (City of Glass)

May 25 – Hypable (City of Fallen Angels)

May 26 – Dark Readers (City of Lost Souls)

May 27 – Mundie Moms (City of Heavenly Fire)

May 28 – Wondrous Reads (The Bane Chronicles)