City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Reader reviewed by Hope.

This is now one of my favorite books. I usually don't read too much fantasy stuff - I usually can't get into it too well. This book was exactly the opposite. I was hooked quickly and the fast pace ensured that I would finish it quickly, also.

Clary seems like a real down-to-Earth character, despite everything that is happening to her (I won't tell you because I don't want to spoil it!). The way she reacts is the way I think I would react if any of this happened to me. All the characters were described really well and had growth in the book.


I would only change one thing, though. Everything would get really exciting, and then slow down dramatically, then get exciting, and slow down again, etc. I think this book would be even more incredible if it didn't slow down so much in between the main events.


Overall, though, this is a great book and if you are debating whether you would like it, you most likely will.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Over the course of a single day, Clarys whole life changes. When she goes to Pandemonium Club, she sees the murder of a blue-haired boy by three strange-looking teens wielding strange-looking weapons. But what she cant believe is seeing the body disappear before her eyes, as if it was never there in the first place. And after that, Clarys mom disappears and Clary is attacked by a mysterious creature, only to be saved by one of the strange teens from the nightclub. And with that, Clary is dragged into a dangerous world she never imagined existed.

Clary finds out that shes connected to this new world not only by the teens who saved her, but by her mother and her mothers friend Luke. But since her mothers gone and Luke refuses to help her, Clary has nowhere to turn to except the mysterious teens, who reveal themselves to be Shadowhunters, an elite group of people whose job is to kill demons on earth. Soon, her best friend Simon is dragged in too, and Clary finds herself in the midst of a struggle to find the Mortal Cup before a very dangerous and unstable Shadowhunter named Valentine does.

It is very difficult for me to describe my initial reaction when I finished this book, but it goes along the lines of gasping, screaming, and ranting but in a good way. City of Bones was one of the absolute best books I have ever read; it ranks up with Twilight and A Great and Terrible Beauty. It is a combination of some of my most favorite stories ever to create an awesome and unforgettable super-story.

I really love how Cassandra Clare incorporates the underworld into modern-day New York City. The world she creates in City of Bones is one of dangerous fun, and I was absolutely thrilled to go along for the ride. There is nonstop action throughout the whole book and I think that Jace is almost amazing enough to rival Edward Cullen in his sexiness. The only past of the book I was opposed to was how Clary and Jace ended up being related, because it ruined their chemistry.

City of Bones should be mandatory reading for every teen, and I would recommend it to everyone, especially fans of the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, the A Great and Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray, the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, among other supernatural books. I guarantee that no one who picks this novel up will be able to put it down until theyve finished this amazing story, and I know I cannot wait until I pick of the sequel, City of Ashes.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by Rin

Clary is just an ordinary teenage girl...or so she thinks.

When Clary sees a strange blue-haired boy in the night club killed by a group of three other teenagers things start changing for Clary. Especially no one can see the three teenagers.r

Along with the havoc there, Clary recieves a phone call from her mother. A very unusual phone call. When she dashes back to her apartment, she finds it in ruins, her mother gone and a demon waitng.

Luckily, she's rescued by one of the "unseeable" teenager from the nightclub, Jace who turns out to be a Shadowhunter-or someone who kills demons-and someone whom she can trust.



Despite the danger to herself, Clary's determined to find her mother and to know who (or what) she is. With many plot twists and turns and likeable characters for the ride, City of Bones is a remarkable novel that all teens who like a bit of fantasy, romance and intrigue, should pick up.

Reader reviewed by The Story Siren

Fifteen-year-old Clary Fray thinks she is just a normal teenager. I mean, of course she is a normal teenage, she lives in Brooklyn with her artist mom, and spends most of her time with her best friend, Simon. One night when Clary and Simon are at a club, Pandemonium, she figures out that she can see people that nobody else can. Wham! Not so normal, I guess. The people that she can see are called Shadowhunters. They go around killing demons and such, you know the bad guys.


Not too soon after Clary makes her big discovery, her mom is kidnaped. Clary is entering this new world pretty much blind, except for the Shadowhunters which happen to be three teenagers. Jace, Isabelle and Alec must help Clary to find her mother. It seems that her mother is the only one who knows the whereabouts of the Mortal Cup, which can turn other people into Shadowhunters. But the man that kidnaped Clarys mother plans to use to cup for evil purposes, of course. So Clary must help figure out where the cup is to rescue her mom, fight to keep her friendship with Simon and figure out the complicated feelings she has toward Jace.


Whew! This book was fast-paced and fantastic. I couldnt stop myself from turning the pages to see what would happen next. There is a whole world not only of Shadowhunters but werewolves, vampires. demons, and faeries too! Although, not as to ruin the surprises in the book, I did have a couple things figured out way before they were revealed in the story. Overall, I would recommend this book and of course, I am eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, City of Ashes!!

Reader reviewed by Mary

Clary Fray doesn't know it yet but her world's about to change. Dramatically. First she sees a group of teenagers killing a boy. However, her best friend can't see them. Then, she is thrust into a world where werewolves,demons and magic exist. She about to find that her mother kept more than secrets from her.


Cassandra Clare thrusts her readers into a whole new, awesome world. Clary Fray is far from the stereotypical teen and her problems not even close to ordinary.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Up until a few days before her sixteenth birthday, Clary Fray could tell you with certainty that she is a normal human being. Then she witnesses an odd murder when she goes to a club one night with her best friend, Simon. Three warrior teenagers, their skin inked all over with tattoos, kill a blue-haired boy whom they claim to be a demon. In the midst of Clarys protestations, the dead body vanishes before her very eyes. Clary cant believe it. What is going on here?

Unwillingly Clary is forced to acknowledge the existence of Shadowhunters when her mother is kidnapped and she is attacked by demons. Shadowhunters dedicate their lives to destroying demons who try to exist in the mortal world. They also happen to be very interested in Clary, who is not who she think she is. In fact, her mind, blocked by a powerful spell, may reveal important information about her past and her true identity.

The Shadowhunters decide to keep an eye on Clary, and Jace, a tawny-haired pretentious jerk, sticks close to her. Jace is a gifted Shadowhunter with a troubled past and a penchant for acting&well, like a jerk, and Clary isnt sure how she feels about him&until the secrets of their past are revealed with a vengeance.

CITY OF BONES is, simply put, amazing. The characters are engrossing, the dialogue intriguing and oftentimes funny. This is a book with everything: love, war, secrets, mythical creatures. CITY OF BONES will draw you in and leave you impatiently waiting for the next installment, as I am.