Review: City of Bones

Book: City of Bones (Cassandra Clare)
Stand-Alone or Series:  Series, The Mortal Instruments #1)

Pages: 485
Genre: Young Adult
Description (From Goodreads):

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.
 

So, I think it is safe that say that I am one of the last people on the planet to read this book. Honestly, before Clockwork Angel was everywhere, I wasn't all that interested in reading the Mortal Instruments Series. However, I cannot tell you how glad I am that I finally picked up a copy of City of Bones.

This book has a lot going for it, there is tons of action, a quick moving plot and interesting characters. There are plenty of hideous and terrifying bad guys, including vampires and demons - which means there are also plenty of fighting scenes. Thankfully, our teenage cast of characters are completely bad-ass and can hold their own in a throw down.

Although the main characters do not preform magic (they are very adamant about this), there are tons of magical elements to the story. Everything in their world uses a glamour; shielding the mundanes (humans) from the reality of it all. This one probably one of my favorite elements of the story, because it allowed for some awesome plot points. There is late night flying motorcycle ride over the Brooklyn Bridge and a crazy Cinderella-eqsue taxi ride.

While the plot was certainly intriguing on it's own, I also enjoyed the characters immensely. Especially Jace and Clary. Clary is our main character, a fifteen year old girl, who was born into the world of Shadowhunters, but raised in the ordinary world. When her mother goes missing she teams up with the teenage Shadowhunters (Jace, Isablle and Alec) to find a way to get her mother back. When the character of Jace is introduced he is portrayed as very good looking (shocker!). He is also, very aware of this fact and flaunts it constantly. He is also an extremely good fighter, apparently having killed more demons that any other Shadowhunter his age. He and Clary often butt heads and banter back and forth. Which of course, means that I am a Clary/Jace fan. I have such a weakness for affectionate banter, it is just too perfect. Anyways, Jace takes to Clary, although he would never admit (he has some serious daddy issues) and makes it his responsibility to look out for her. Clary, who knows she is not fighter, allows this and begins to depend on him.

The rest of the characters are also entertaining, some more than others. I instantly took to Simon, Clary's best friend, although I fear for him. He has got disappointment written all over him. I am in a love hate relationship with Isabelle, she is one of those characters that you never really warm too, but love to read about. Alec, Isabelle's brother and Jace's best friend, was the only one I did not like, in anyway. I think I may grow to like him over the next few books, but in the first one, he is just annoying. He always acts superior to Clary and Simon, and although I understand why, I still do not like him.

The storyline packs plenty of twist and turns, some predictable and some not - one in particular was out of left field. In fact, that plot twist was the only thing I did not really enjoy about the book. I really don't want to spoil it for future readers, because it is definitely their for the shock value.

Those of you who have read the book, know exactly what I mean. Let me just say, that I had to reread that part, because I did not believe what I was seeing. I am still in denial, which I am thinking it a good thing. That revelation was just accepted to easily, I would want some proof.

If that turns out to be true, I will be devastated, because it makes the book... icky.  That is the best word I know to describe it, icky.

Anyways, City of Bones was a great, intriguing read. The pacing was perfect and the storyline was fun to follow. I enjoyed the characters and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, City of Ashes.