Review: City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City Of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: March 27th 2007
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
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Caution: May contain spoilers

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.

My Thoughts:

With the upcoming movie adaptation, this book is on the radar and being bumped up everyone’s reading list. Well, it was for me anyway. Not just because of the movie, but also because I heard such great things about Cassandra Clare’s writing style. As a writer, I wanted to read it for myself so that I can see what the hype is all about. Let me tell you, it really was wonderfully written. Exceptionally so, in description and dialogue and pacing and intrigue and action.

The story itself sucks you in quickly and immediately you are there with Clary, seeing the shocking things she’s seeing for the first time. When her mom goes missing and she stays with the Shadowhunters, there is so much to learn and so much going on. They are and aren’t welcoming at the same time. Jace is hard to read, but the mystery of him become swoonworthy. He and Clary together talking is the best thing I have read in a long time. I find great amusement in crazy flirtatious banter and this… THIS… is freaking hilarity at its best.

The other characters throughout were well done. Simon was one of those characters that, to me, turned out to be a whiny lovesick frustration. He’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong, I’m just over the whole best guy friend who’s always there and in love with the heroine. As much as I would expect to be the one to love the idea of falling for the best friend, it just never works for me in paranormal/fantasy stories. Alec and Isabelle were dynamic characters and I’m curious to see what happens next in their lives.

City Of Bones was a winner as far as I’m concerned. There was such insanity happening that it kept me on the edge of my seat. I do have to admit that I am not necessarily into the whole Shadowhunter aspect of the story, and I may not get to the rest of the series for awhile, but the book kept me interested. Cassandra Clare is an amazing author. I would recommend the book on the writing alone, even if the premise doesn’t completely intrigue you.

My Rating: