Book Review : City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

To love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed.


City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
(Book #1 of The Mortal Instruments)

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; First Edition edition (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781416955078
• ISBN-13: 978-1416955078
• Available on: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

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....

I'm probably the only person who's never read this book. I mean, with City of Bones being the #1 New York Times bestseller et al. I'm so glad I finally read it! I really appreciate having the chance to read this masterpiece by the outstandingly talented Cassandra Clare.

I was transfixed to the pages of City of Bones once I started reading it. Instantly, I knew I had found a book worthy of 5 shimmering stars. The concept of Shadowhunters and Downworlders immediately captured my attention as it was fresh and unprecedented. The plot is brilliantly conceived and I found myself unable to tear myself apart from the book (literally).

At the end of each chapter, there was always something that made me want to keep on reading. The characters in this novel each has their own special traits and I could easily relate to each of them. Clary is an amazing protagonist; her bravery and wits made the story a lot more fun to read. Jace is a handsome blonde who likes to make hilarious and sarcastic comments about nothing in particular. However, I could sense that he is actually hiding his hurt and grief beneath his cool demeanor. Clary and Jace always engage in good-natured banter, and I find their conversations quite amusing. As feelings of love start to blossom between the two, the plot starts to change direction...

The ending was so unexpected that it sent me away feeling awed and satisfied, yet not really happy with how things work out. I was hoping for a better ending for the main characters' sake. But still, I have to admit that I'm impressed with how the story progressed and ended. The author made a good job in portraying the evil which exists to oppose the good. I was once again reminded of the truth that there will be darkness where there is light.

To sum things up, City of Bones is a book which paranormal fans will immensely enjoy. It has all it takes to be categorized as a great novel. It is fast-paced, exciting, thrilling and full of twists and turns. The author's adept writing skills also made this book easy to read. Go get it from your nearest bookstore now if you haven't read it!

Notable Quotes:

Quote #1:
"Your friend's poetry is terrible," he said.
Clary blinked, caught momentarily off guard. "What?"
"I said his poetry was terrible. It sounds like he ate a dictionary and started vomiting up words at random."

Quote #2:
"What do you want?"
"Just coffee. Black - like my soul."

Rating:

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Teheran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old. Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name).

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