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It’s Christmas day, but as they say, writers never take a day off. So happy Bookworms day!

I’m the kind of girl who grew up burying myself every last book of the Harry Potter series until I made it to the final pages of the seventh—not only did my appreciation for an intensely and lovingly made series shoot sky high, my standards were also set pretty high for fantasy world building.

It’s not easy after all.

But alas, I found another series that isn’t quite on the same level, but simply in a different kind of category of fantasy world building. Yet, I started the first book back in middle school and here I am as a junior in college, still diligently awaiting the release of every new book so I can fall farther into the pages.

And it I’m going to keep talking about it, I guess I should introduce this series to you. So without further ado, here it is.

The Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, and Dark Artifices—Cassandra Clare

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Now, notice I put three different series up here; even though she started with the Mortal Instruments, if you want to find the full appreciation for these books, you need to read the rest after you finish the first set. From the Mortal Instruments, Clare pulls important details about the characters and their families through to her next series of a different century, the Infernal Devices, and finally her most recent and modern series, The Dark Artifices. Every single one plays off the last, so I hope you’re ready to pay attention.

With six different books within the Mortal Instruments, each sets the elaborate and intense background for the rest of the books to come later. Here you meet the main characters you’ll see reappearing through the rest of the books, whether through family name or actual presence. Jace, Clary, Alec, Isabelle, Simon, and Magnus all begin their journey here. But trust me, they don’t stop anytime soon.

There’s a reason a younger me fell in love with both Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs of the Infernal Devices. And don’t get me started on Tessa, she is quite the badass if I may say so myself.

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Every one of these books is the kind that lets you get lost in another world of things that would never happen in this one—if you have a thing for fantasy and elaborate world building, this is a good place to start.

But I give a fair warning, if you start here, you probably won’t stop.

Now I give these books high regard because just like the Harry Potter Series, I always seem to come back to them when I’m looking for something to get lost in. That doesn’t mean they are without flaw.

First of all, these books are definitely not child friendly as there are quite a few sexual scenes that even if they leave most to the imagination, people will probably assume the same things. Also, if there is any religious sentiment against magic and the works, this series is a no go.

As a whole, the books also seem to get better as Clare kept writing them; though I remember feeling like six books for the Mortal Instruments was a little long, I still loved all of it despite the tedious attitude I took on to find out what happened next. Tapering down to three for the Infernal devices and The Dark Artifices (so far, I’m almost done with the 3rd book that came out on the 4th, so I don’t even know if this is the end yet) was probably a good idea.

Logically, if you haven’t read a lot of fantasy, it can be hard to get a good grasp on this kind of world when it involves warlocks and downworlders and angelic powers, etc. But if you can get into it and truly understand it all, it’s definitely something I think people who like fantasy would enjoy. As long as you don’t mind heavy emphasis on romantic drama in the process—it seems to be the backbone for most of these plots on some level or another.

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Overall, I have enjoyed these books over the years and I guess, maybe this wasn’t a regular Bookworms post considering I just went through three different series for you. But hey, it’s Christmas after all and from a bibliophile, this was my little extra gift to all of you.

So Merry Christmas everyone (who celebrates) and Happy holidays to each one of you and your loved ones.

Have a wonderful day.