Friday, November 2, 2012

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Margaret K. McElderry
Publication date:  March 27, 2007
Pages:  485
Source/format: Borrowed from the library, hardcover

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis  (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.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that I read the Clockwork Angel before diving into City of Bones. I was late to the reading game for the Mortal Instruments series but I do not regret reading City of Bones when I did. I actually enjoyed reading Clockwork Angel before City of Bones since the Internal Devices series is a prequel series. 

Just like in Clockwork Angel, Cassandra's world building is amazing. Still set in the Shadow World, City of Bones takes place in modern day New York. It was a bit of a chance of pace compared to Clockwork Angel but for good reason. 

Clary used to live a normal life as a mundane with her normal friend Simon until unseen events happen which introduces her into a Shadow World. There is a secret her mother, Jocelyn, has been hiding from her for her entire life. Clary find out more about her heritage and meets her evil father for the first time. 

Can I say I love Magnus? It's great that he appears both the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments series. He is definitely one of my favorite characters in this Shadow World. I also love Izzy too.