Skip to main content

Review - City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

City of Bones
Published on 22nd July 2007 by Walker Books Ltd


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.


***

I really enjoyed this book in the end. The story starts off straight away in the middle of the action drawing you instantly in.

I instantly liked the character of Clary. She is headstrong and independent and not at all whiny or annoying. It was nice to see a strong female lead. In addition to Clary being a brilliant lead character Clare includes a variety of secondary characters who are just as strong. Jace is an awesome character who I literally loved as he was absolutely gorgeous (even though he knew it). The relationship between him and Clary was awesome as they constantly sparked off each other as they are both so headstrong and often the dialogue between them made me laugh out loud. I also loved Simon, Isabelle and Alec and am very excited to see more of them in the next books.

There was an awful lot jammed into this book but unlike some books I have read it never felt like too much as it was all introduced well and spread out as the story progressed so that you weren't overwhelmed. There is so much which I am dying to find out more about.

The main thing I loved about this book was that it was unpredictable and I never saw any of the twists coming. There were several times when I was just stunned that something had happened as it was both so huge and so unexpected. Without saying anything spoilery I can't to see how some of the new plot twists play out.

All in all an awesome book which has set up a new series I am sure I am going to be obsessed with.

Comments

I enjoyed this one as well. The entire series in fact. I did find some things slightly annoying but I did love the pacing and the characters too much for that to bother me more than just a little.
Dwayne said…
Yaay finally! Glad you liked it :) The twists are 'the bomb', right? It's amazing. Now on to City of Ashes!
Tara said…
I really want to read this series, and after reading your review I want to read them even more :)
Anonymous said…
Great review :) I've had this book for ages and haven't read it yet - can't wait!