City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

NYC will never be the same after reading this great Urban Fantasy...
Even my heart will never be the same after this emotional roller coaster!!!

I first read this series years ago before the third one had even come out and I loved them! They were so fresh and exciting and just wow. I decided to reread them because I got a request wanting me to do a review for the series. Reading them now, being older and all, I still think they are pretty dang cool. But they're not quite as good as I remember. They are dark and gritty and fun with tons of adventure.

Reading it before I would give it 5 stars... reading it now it gets 4. Also after rereading it, the movie wasn't quite as bad as I first thought. It hits a lot of the important key points... the acting was pretty awful though and Jace was very underwhelming in the looks department but still... I'm very excited for the TV show, anyone else with me?

I did see some of the actors and actresses they got and I don't know... I'm just going to have to wait and see I guess.

I'm very excited the Shadowhunter world is still around and more books are going to be released. I do like the author's writing style, I always have. It's very simple and flows nicely. I'm not even going to tell you guys to read this book because pretty much everyone already has because they are freaking awesome sauce.

For full review check out my blog www.mollyeyablog.wordpress.com

Where to begin with City of Bones... It has a wonderful plot, setting, and in addition it has great, developed characters. It has a very strong topic and made the characters seem realistic instead of just CHARACTERS. They seemed like real people. The plot is mainly about Clary, a young 16 year-old girl trying to save her mom from the evil demons ruled over by Valentine, an ex-Shadowhunter. This whole phenomenon starts at the Pandemonium Club when Clary sees something suspicious with her friend Simon. She follows the sources of the crime and they vanish into thin air. The next day something terrible happens to Clary's mother--she is kidnapped and gone without a trace, except for the fact that she put up a very good fight in attempt to escape. Shadowhunters Jace, Isabelle, and Alec visit Clary and tell her that she is also a Shadowhunter, a people who are direct descendants of the angel Raziel's blood. They live on an invisible island protected by one of their many runes, or symbols. They have Institutes worldwide and are ruled by a very strict Covenant written by the Clave. Of course at first Clary does not believe them but soon enough she runs into her first demon. It is then that Clary accepts her gift/curse and puts it to good use. Will they accomplish what they came for? What will happen next?

This first book was GREAT! There was NEVER a boring part in the book. I would highly recommend it to teenagers who are fans of the Percy Jackson series! Luckily for you there are four more books to read and book 6 comes out next year! This book is definitely worth reading. It leaves you entranced in the world of the Nephilim.

I think it's safe to say I've jumped on the bandwagon.

First of all, I'm definitely a Jace girl. I mean, I like Simon and I really want to give the poor guy a hug, but he just doesn't quite do it for me. Which is amusing since I almost always go for the cute, quit nerd guy. But Jace, man.
I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about him and Clary now, though. I'm still living in a bit of denial about it.

I can't remember the last time I got this into a book. I was laughing out loud, pausing to talk to myself about scenes (yes, I actually talk out loud to myself), and shaking the book like a cray person trying to get a better answer from a Magic 8-Ball. True story: I was nearly done with it when I got off work so I read while I was walking home and was talking to the book and generally freaking out a little. I'm pretty sure everyone I passed thought I was crazy.

And it's funny. Like, really, really funny. Normally if a book gets a few chuckles or a smirk from me I call it good, but this book had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. One of the best parts about the humor is that it doesn't all ride on one character, either. Almost all the characters get at least a few good lines.

I really enjoyed the character development too.
With both Isabelle and Alec were kind of bitchy and annoying in the beginning but slowly grew on my throughout. I especially have a soft spot for Alec, because the guy is so squishy and vulnerable under all the jerk exterior.
Clary was a bit dense, whiny, and helpless in the beginning but she definitely came into her own by the end. I really appreciate that she wasn't naturally this bad-ass demon killing machine immediately after discovering the world existed. Heck, she doesn't even pick up a weapon until about 2/3 of the way in. I like that it gives her plenty of room to grow and that you could already see a bit of growth in her by the end.
And Jace...well, I'm not actually sure that Jace grew much besides opening himself up just the tiniest bit more because of Clary. But that's okay, because he's Jace.
Simon is just so huggable. When the story starts you can tell he'll do anything for Clary and that she doesn't even realize it, let alone appreciate it. But when he yelled at her and had his awesome scene with the bow I cheered for him a bit. Because he's a really sweet guy and he shouldn't just let Clary walk all over him (however unintentional it may be on her part.)

The Nutshell: Basically, I loved it. Way more than I've loved any other book in a good long while. I don't have one bad thing to say. And also, Jace.

Direct Hit

Okay, I know I'm a little late jumping on to the Mortal Instruments Train, but better late then never, right? After all of the bright and sunny reviews, the upcoming movie release, and of course Cassandra Clare becoming the most popular author, I finally decided to figure out what's up with the half-naked guy on the front cover. And I wasn't disappointed.

The City of Bones is the first in a series about a girl named Clarissa, or Clary for short, who finds out that her family has been keeping a lot of secrets from her. After one eventful (fateful?) night at a club where she runs into people, Shadowhunters, that no one can see, she starts to learn of a world that has been (purposefully) kept from her.

The reason this book is good, and I suspect the series as well, is because of a few key elements. One: the character are beautifully written with their own flare of personality, and their own uniqueness that is sadly not seen as much anymore in the YA world. Two: the detail in the scenery of this new and somehow realistic world Cassandra Clare has created is absolutely stunning. I almost felt as if I were actually in this world, or that it existed somewhere in the real world, and I had just never been. Three: there is constant excitement on every turn of the page that keeps the reader on edge (the good kind of on edge) waiting to see what happens to the characters. Four: there was absolutely no cursing (only the word "cursing", or rhyming of a curse word), or "certain" PG-13 scenes.

But, I have to say some of the stunning revelations the main character made were late in the game and easily predicted.

I have to say, I enjoyed my read, and I'll be picking up the next: City of Ashes.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this book.

Clary is just this normal girl who discovers she was born to be a demon-hunter and gets sucked into a world of supernatural adventure.

The first thing I love about this book is that it is quick-paced and full of minor cliffhangers and action. You are never bored and you keep wanting to read on. The cliffhangers give you a constant feeling of shock (the good kind).

The second thing is the characters. They are well-written and you really come to know and love them during the book.

Third is of course the humor. The book is full of it, especially Jace is really funny. I have laughed so hard because of this book, my family thought I had gone mad.

Fourth is the amazing descriptions of the Shadowhunter world. The writer gives a beautiful and detailed view of every new location, which makes it easy to dive in to the world.

I would definitely recommend everyone to read this book. It has action, romance, humor, supernatural/fantasy stuff: the complete package.

I am really excited for the movie City of Bones. I hope it will do justice to the book.

http://www.evelinesbooks.blogspot.nl

This is what got me into young adult books. This book started it all.

First off, I have SO many favorite quotes this time over, you guys, I just HAD to share some :D

Simon grinned, "You've never heard of Dungeons and Dragons?" "I've heard of dungeons," Jace said. "Also dragons. Although they're mostly extinct." Simon looked disappointed. "You've never killed a dragon?" "He's probably never met a six-foot-tall hot elf-woman in a fur bikini, either," Clary said irritably. "Lay off, Simon."

He squinted at her. "Do you remember back at the hotel when you promised that if we lived, you'd get dressed up in a nurse's and give me a sponge bath?""Actually, I think you misheard", Clary said. "It was Simon who promised you the sponge bath." Jace looked involuntarily over at Simon, who smiled at him widely. "As soon as I'm back on my feet, handsome!" "I knew we should have left you a rat."

"That's why when major badasses greet each other in movies, they donn't say anything, they just nod. The nod means, 'I am a badass, and I recognize that you, too, are a badass.'"

“Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?'
Jace said, "Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself."
..."At least," she said, "you don't have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland."
"Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting.”

Don't." Clary raised a warning hand. "I'm not really in the mood right now."
"That's got to be the first time a girl's ever said that to me," Jace mused.”

Received: From library

Plot: Quite amazing. Fast-paced, thrilling with enough romance and mystery to keep anyone and everyone in its grip. And what an iron-fast grip it is! You are entranced from page 2 and you don’t want to let go for the world. I started reading this the day before my final exams (yes, I know that was the stupidest thing ever) and I just couldn’t stop. I finished my tests fast just so I could keep reading. Lol

Characters: All of the characters in City of Bones are really well-written and easily lovable. Isabelle is such a strong person and I would personally love to meet her and Alec, well it’s awesome Clare gave the gay population some voice! I just wish that Clary (I’m guessing that’s a twist on Clare) was a little less dependent on Jace and the others; hopefully she’ll learn more by the next book – I’d like to see her as a stronger female lead. My favorite character was definitely Simon. You can see why in my favorite quotes lol. I know you’re wondering why I left Jace for last. Well, it’s because I don’t much care for him. (Don’t hit me!) I was really liking him until the end. To be so credulous to blindly throw away all his beliefs just because his "father" turns out to be alive and well shows how undependable he isI find it slightly disappointing and I pity him. Well, I’m sure he’ll have plenty of time to redeem himself in the next few books, but so far, that’s how I feel.

World: Ah, Clare creates such a crazy yet believable world! She’s like Rowling that way (yes, I’m comparing her to Rowling). Both writers have the ability to create amazing worlds that invite you to step right in and make yourself at home.

Romanciness: I loved Jace and Clary until…well, if you’ve read the book you know what I mean and if you haven’t…no spoilers for you! I have no doubt that this *ahem obstacle* will turn out to be not true because that just ruins the chances for these two and I kind of doubt any author would do that in the first book. On the other hand, I do NOT like Simon and Clary. To be honest, I feel like that was just thrown in and there’s really nothing there. Please, Cassandra, don’t turn this into a Twilight-y love triangle! Isn’t one person enough for you? And Please please please tell me Alec and Magnus Bane have a chance!! That’s something I’m rooting for even more than the others. I know there’s probably a huge age difference, but it’s not insurmountable right?

So overall, I’m just beating myself up for not reading this sooner! City of Ashes, where are you???

More About the Series: All you Clare fans probably know more about this than I do, but with some research, I have found that after City of Bones comes City of Ashes, City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels. The 5th book, called 'City of Lost Souls', will be published May 8, 2012 and the last book entitled 'City of Heavenly Fire' comes out Sept 2014. Yeah, you have to gnaw your nails that long, hard-core fans.
But not to worry. There is a spin-off series called The Infernal Devices with Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince out already, and Clockwork Princess out Sept 2013.

Recommended for: OMG Everyone!!

Reposted from my blog: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/

Wow. This was an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING book that just took my breath away. Cassandra Clare combined myth and magic and just plopped it down into the modern world, creating a fabulous setting that kept me hooked.

I found this book at my school's Spring Fair. Me and my best friend Cassidy were looking through the pre-owned book store (we couldn't have spent a single Spring Fair without going without that!). I was just randomly browsing, trying to look for something that wasn't for someone in kindergarten, when, right at the bottom of a box, I saw this book and I pulled it out, because straightaway that cover made me think "Wow, this is going to be a great book." So I read the blurb and, after the first few sentences, I fished out most of my money and bought it straight away. I knew this was going to be a fabulous, one-of-a-kind book.

I loved the idea of the Shadow hunters, the offspring of angel and man, just somehow out here in the modern world, that for weeks after I finished it, I would just sometimes stare long and hard at some random people I crossed on the street, just thinking, what if they were actually Shadow Hunters? And sometimes, at random points in time, I would just whirl around, convinced I had just seen something out of the corner of my eye, when (disappointingly) there was actually nothing there.

I liked how Clary, a seemingly ordinary short girl, was actually a Shadow Hunter linked to a strange and mysterious world, how most of her past and heritage was kept secret from her, that her family actually was Nephilim, not just plain old mundanes like she believed. Even Luke, who she thinks is just some geeky guy owning a bookshop, is actually a werewolf.

I think that Jace was nice, funny and kind of on the wild side, Isabel was just crazy, and Alec was kind of the sensible side of Jace. I think my favourite character should be Jace, but after this book, as I progressed further through the series, I found myself liking Alec more, even though he was gay.

This is a fantastic book and everyone should read it.