I read the first two books in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, City of Bones and City of Ashes, probably close to ten years ago now but I couldn’t really get into them because of the writing and the main character. I did like Alec though and when the Shadowhunters TV show came along I liked him even more.

He starts out pretty grumpy and serious but that’s because he’s got the weight of his parents’ expectations on him and he has to be the sensible one when his siblings are more reckless. I love how Alec grows over the course of the series. He becomes more open to his emotions as he becomes accepting of who he is. He’s a badass Shadowhunter, the Head of the New York Institute and he’s in love with a male warlock. I love the badass, warrior side of Alec but I love the dorky more awkward side of him too when he’s all flustered – usually by his boyfriend Magnus.

The bond between Alec and his siblings Jace and Izzy is one of my favourite things in the show. How they love and support one another while still being able to call each other out when they think one of them is being unfair or not doing the right thing is how true siblings should be.

Alec is brave, loyal, sarcastic and caring. He’s highly skilled in both a physical battle with his bow but he becomes a great diplomat, being pretty much the only Shadowhunter who has brought together leaders of the warlocks, vampires, werewolves and Seelies. Other more experienced and older Shadowhunters often underestimate him but Alec is an extremely capable leader and while he’ll do just about anything for his friends, including bending the law, he won’t sacrifice other people for them. Alec always tries to work through a problem and get the most successful outcome for everyone involved. That sometimes leads to him getting hurt by the people he cares about but he has a big heart and a pretty much endless capacity for forgiveness – though he can be ruthless and hold a grudge when needed.