Review: City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare
publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
date published: April 14, 2009 (first published March 27, 2007)
format: NOOK ebook
pages: 351
source: gift
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
challenges: Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge; 2011 E-Book Reading Challenge; 2011 YA Reading Challenge

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.

What I Thought

I went into this book feeling very excited and hopeful thanks to my excellent experience with Clockwork Angel, which was my first time reading anything by Cassandra Clare (I know! It's shocking!) At first, I wasn't sure what I thought, since the book opened in a club scene and I never have been very enthusiastic about bars and clubs. I soon got past all of that, however, and was immersed in the story. As I learned more about Clary, I began to wonder of this girl would be able to look beyond her preconceived notions about the world. I wasn't disappointed in her. While she may have railed against those who began to fill in the gaps of her memory, she eventually came to accept what she was told and seek to change things.

The Shadowhunter world was just as absorbing as I had found it in CA. It was interesting to find out about the events that occurred since the aforementioned book, as well. The villain, Valentine, was hyped up very well. Though we don't get to officially meet him until near the end of the book, it is easy to see that he is every bit as evil as we were led to believe. He is insidious, silver-tongued, and conniving. I have the feeling he is going to make things very interesting as the series progresses.

The plot had an excellent number of twists. I was kept guessing from beginning to end, which is just what I like in a book. There were, "ah ha!" moments, as well as "what the heck!?" moments. I was left reeling by the time the book came to its close. If book one was this action-packed, I can't wait to see what will happen in books two and three! As for the dialog, it was just as laced with humor as Clockwork Angel. I do love a book that makes me laugh in delight and gasp in surprise.

I don't know what else to say without giving away some of the best parts of the book. Suffice it to say that I am even more a fan of Cassandra Clare after reading City of Bones. I'm very grateful to have City of Ashes and City of Glass already loaded to my Nook. If I could rate it higher I would, but my system has a limit, so I give City of Bones a rating of 5 hoots.