Fangirl Moment: The Mortal Instruments

It all started with a boxed set...

I was meandering the aisles of Wal-Mart on one summer day and of course, made it to the book section after the makeup section failed to yield anything interesting and sparkly.  I was looking for some fluffy, lazy days reads but with no particular titles in mind; I happened to glance upon The Mortal Instruments Boxed Set (with the first four books in the series).  Anything that says "Soon to be made into a major motion picture" on the cover has my attention, plus the covers on these books are just pretty and shiny.  Right next to the boxed set was the Official Illustrated Movie Companion which of course, I flipped through.  Being completely unfamiliar with this series or its premise, I felt like I needed some visual aids.  Hot dudes?  Check.  Fantastical characters?  Check.  Mindless entertainment?  Double check.  I grabbed the boxed set thinking that if nothing else, at least it was a good deal for all four books, and I'm always happy to add to my collection even if they just sit there for a while.

Enter the OBSESSIVE READING PHASE.

It started with City of Bones, which according to my Goodreads tracking I read in 6 days.  I was pretty interested in the world that Clare had built, so I started in on City of Ashes -- which I read in 3 days.  And it just. kept. going.  I am now on book 4, City of Fallen Angels, and already have City of Lost Souls in hardcover waiting on my bookshelf.  The story centers around Clary, a normal teenage girl living in NYC with her mother.  While out and about with her best friend Simon, she discovers some things that change the course of her life and the subsequent books chronicle her immersion in this new world that she never knew existed.  Clare's attention to detail and sea of characters sort of reminds me of the Harry Potter series in that this world seems so complete, so vivid that you could literally live in it.  The details are so lush and the characters are so interesting that I was sucked in from the very beginning.  Here's the official trailer for your viewing pleasure:

I am all over the movie's official Facebook page looking for new poster releases, stills from the movie, ANYTHING.  I have found myself searching for Jamie Campbell Bower clips on YouTube.  I cannot wait for the movie release and am so into the books it's disturbing.  I already have some of Cassandra Clare's other works on my Amazon wishlist but I have to wait until I have some more cash to buy them.  Shadowhunter for Halloween, anyone?  ME!  I was going as Khaleesi and dressing my dog up as Drogon, but hey, maybe I can go to two parties!

Don't get me wrong -- I am fully aware that these books are considered YA and I am nearly 30 years old.  So?  I was also totes into Twilight when the movie came out.  When Breaking Dawn Part 2 was released (and I had re-read the book, of course) I went to go see it on its release day by myself and ended up sitting next to a woman my age, also seeing it by herself.  And you know what?  It was rad.  Let's get real, these stories (and that's what they are, easily accessible stories) give female readers what they want, though they may not be willing to admit it: a feisty heroine (though Bella's street smarts are sometimes questionable), a fierce/forbidden love, loyal best friends, and out of this world danger at every turn.  The impossible becomes possible if you can suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride.  No wonder they're bestsellers!  You can put your nose in the air all you want, but if you were to try one of these books you'd be as ravenous for the sequel as the next teenage girl.  They are just THAT GOOD.  So put aside your "I only read classics" thinking and dive in to the fun stuff.  I'm glad I did -- in fact, I'm kind of excited that yet another YA series has captivated my attention like this and can't wait to try some others.  I've heard great things about Divergent and its sequels (also to be made into a motion picture, starring Shailene Woodley) but I think I'd like to get the set once the third book, Allegiant, comes out this October.  If this series is anything like The Mortal Instruments or The Hunger Games, I will want to read them all back to back.

Do you like YA series and/or are you ashamed of it?  What series would you recommend?