City of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments #1

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.

Clary is a 15 year old girl who has a "crazy" mom that seems extremely overprotective. However, Clary quickly realizes that there may have been a reason for all this when she starts to see things other people can't see. When her mother is taken, she is thrust into a world with shadowhunters, demons, vampires, and other creatures. Clary must quickly seek the truth to her heritage and past, if she is to have any hope in rescuing her mother as well as any hope for her own survival. There are plenty of twists and turns that will leave Clary with the knowledge that while she may want to, there is no going back to the way life was before. She will be forever changed.

For most of this book, I seemed to realize things long before Clary did. Usually, a clueless character would annoy me, but that definitely isn't the case in this book. The reader's prior knowledge was just enough to keep away confusion and suck them into the characters. I love Jace's character. He acts so sarcastic and concieted, but you can really see all of that is a front to hide his real feelings. He has been through so much and lost even more, so he shuts everyone out, refusing to let himself care. Well, that is until Clary comes along. Something about the two of them just seems to ignite the other. They really bring out the best and worst in each other.

Its funny how sometimes the cover of a book can be the determination on whether to give a book a shot. I was in the bookstore the other day, not somewhere I get very often on account of the kiddos, and I saw this book. Absently, I remembered seeing it before on other blogs, but I have to say the images do not do the real cover justice. I don't know why I'm so drawn to them, but I think the covers for this series are some of the best I've seen in a long time. They are really captivating and are honestly the biggest reason I decided to read them.

I'm not usually a big fan of fallen angels and nephilim books. Well, I guess that isn't entirely true as I have enjoyed some of the ones I've read. It would be more accurate to say that they aren't usually my first choice. However, I can honestly say I am very glad I read this book. I absolutely loved it! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and was hopelessly sucked in. The only "bad" thing I can say about the book would be the shocking twist at the end. Its one of those that leaves you just hoping its all a trick because you don't believe the author could really be that cruel. Hopefully future books will resolve this issue, but even if they don't the book was still amazing, and I highly recommend it.

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City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)