When Water Dragons mature, they lose the ability to survive on land, entering the water permanently. They are adept swimmers and eat whatever fish are in the lake they live in. They tend to inhabit the same lake for their entire lives, although a few live in the ocean and swim all over the world.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

(also called Clarissa). A 16-year-old Shadowhunter who was brought up as human by her mother for protection.  She is an artist, and is in love with Jace Wayland, even though for much of the series they believe they are siblings. Much of the series is focused on Clary's quest to help her mother while adjusting to her new life as a Shadowhunter. She has the ability to create new runes after being experimented on by her father who put angel blood in her system.