Sunday, August 12, 2012

Book Review: City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book Stats:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
(Book #1 of The Mortal Instruments)
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover, 485 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: 3/27/2007
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Adventure
Goodreads Summary: 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.
Well, it has been awhile since I've read this book so my thoughts might be a little clouded and might be a little biased now considering I've already read the next 4 books in the series. But here goes nothing!

At first, I must admit, I wasn't entirely in love with the world that's introduced by Cassandra Clare in City Of Bones. I wasn't much of paranormal junkie before, after coming off a Hunger Games and Divergent high, I was still in search of another dystopian and that's when I stumbled into this. I know, how wrong was I? I'm laughing at my mere innocence and lack of knowledge with YA literature, thankfully now I know better.

The world still confuses me up till this date but its undeniable that it's very interesting and genius. City Of Bones is set in busy streets of New York! When I first read this, that's what fascinated me. I was like, "It's in freaking New York!". 

We follow the story of Clarissa Fray, a normal teenager out for a night with her best friend Simon... or so she thought. They we're in a club called Pandemonium and suddenly, things got a little weird. She suddenly sees things moving out of the shadows and witness a killing with her own eyes. Only this wasn't entirely murder and the person wasn't entirely a person.  We then meet an angel look-a-like Jace, Isabelle and Alec Lightwood. A set of unusual siblings who are trained to fight demons called Shadowhunters. Being able to see them opens up a whole new world for Clary, which she has been hidden from by none other than her mother. We later than find that she's been kidnapped. She finds herself getting more involved in a world she never knew existed and with a boy that might have nothing to offer her but heartbreak.

I really did like MOST of the characters but there's just some I could have lived without reading about. There we're a lot extras that made it confusing! Clary was ok, a little bit of a whiner but what can you expect from a 16 year old girl being thrusted upon a whole new world with angels and demons? I loved the Lightwood siblings especially our cocky little jerk, Jace. Despite that playful shell, he was really a tormented soul and I really loved that flawed part of him. I also liked Simon and Magnus. One major problem that I had was the villain, Valentine. Sure he made a lot of twists but he just wasn't evil enough for me to consider a threat for a happily ever after, you know? The story was really enticing but the dialogues we're pretty dull and repetitive for me. I did like Simon and Jace's banter but sometimes it just gets really exasperating.

The beginning was a little slow for me but it did pick up. That's where the romance kicks in! I won't say much but City of Bones introduced me to one of my favorite YA couples. Boy, Cassandra Clare definitely knows what she's doing in that department! This was a really nice starter for The Mortal Instruments. I have stucked around for the next 4 books, will read City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire plus The Infernal Devices and possibly, the spin-off series as well so I guess that could speak for itself!



Connect with the author:
Purchase/Add to shelf:
Add to shelf: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

1 comment:

  1. That is one gorgeous cover! I have yet to read Cassandra Clare, but I know I need to. Hopefully soon:)

    ReplyDelete

We love hearing what you think! Please leave your feedback below and I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

This blog is an award free zone. I'm very flattered that you want to honor us with an award, but with running a very tight schedule with real life and blogging, I cannot promise to reciprocate the awards.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Book Review: City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book Stats:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
(Book #1 of The Mortal Instruments)
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover, 485 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: 3/27/2007
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Adventure
Goodreads Summary: 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.
Well, it has been awhile since I've read this book so my thoughts might be a little clouded and might be a little biased now considering I've already read the next 4 books in the series. But here goes nothing!

At first, I must admit, I wasn't entirely in love with the world that's introduced by Cassandra Clare in City Of Bones. I wasn't much of paranormal junkie before, after coming off a Hunger Games and Divergent high, I was still in search of another dystopian and that's when I stumbled into this. I know, how wrong was I? I'm laughing at my mere innocence and lack of knowledge with YA literature, thankfully now I know better.

The world still confuses me up till this date but its undeniable that it's very interesting and genius. City Of Bones is set in busy streets of New York! When I first read this, that's what fascinated me. I was like, "It's in freaking New York!". 

We follow the story of Clarissa Fray, a normal teenager out for a night with her best friend Simon... or so she thought. They we're in a club called Pandemonium and suddenly, things got a little weird. She suddenly sees things moving out of the shadows and witness a killing with her own eyes. Only this wasn't entirely murder and the person wasn't entirely a person.  We then meet an angel look-a-like Jace, Isabelle and Alec Lightwood. A set of unusual siblings who are trained to fight demons called Shadowhunters. Being able to see them opens up a whole new world for Clary, which she has been hidden from by none other than her mother. We later than find that she's been kidnapped. She finds herself getting more involved in a world she never knew existed and with a boy that might have nothing to offer her but heartbreak.

I really did like MOST of the characters but there's just some I could have lived without reading about. There we're a lot extras that made it confusing! Clary was ok, a little bit of a whiner but what can you expect from a 16 year old girl being thrusted upon a whole new world with angels and demons? I loved the Lightwood siblings especially our cocky little jerk, Jace. Despite that playful shell, he was really a tormented soul and I really loved that flawed part of him. I also liked Simon and Magnus. One major problem that I had was the villain, Valentine. Sure he made a lot of twists but he just wasn't evil enough for me to consider a threat for a happily ever after, you know? The story was really enticing but the dialogues we're pretty dull and repetitive for me. I did like Simon and Jace's banter but sometimes it just gets really exasperating.

The beginning was a little slow for me but it did pick up. That's where the romance kicks in! I won't say much but City of Bones introduced me to one of my favorite YA couples. Boy, Cassandra Clare definitely knows what she's doing in that department! This was a really nice starter for The Mortal Instruments. I have stucked around for the next 4 books, will read City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire plus The Infernal Devices and possibly, the spin-off series as well so I guess that could speak for itself!



Connect with the author:
Purchase/Add to shelf:
Add to shelf: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

1 comment:

  1. That is one gorgeous cover! I have yet to read Cassandra Clare, but I know I need to. Hopefully soon:)

    ReplyDelete

We love hearing what you think! Please leave your feedback below and I'll get back to you as soon as I possibly can.

This blog is an award free zone. I'm very flattered that you want to honor us with an award, but with running a very tight schedule with real life and blogging, I cannot promise to reciprocate the awards.