Questions About City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (284)

I keep putting this book down :( Will it get better or is it just me?

Atheda It really won't, unless you appreciate Mary Sues and their cliché life stories and so forth. That's my own opinion though and there are plenty of peop…moreIt really won't, unless you appreciate Mary Sues and their cliché life stories and so forth. That's my own opinion though and there are plenty of people out there that will tell you the opposite. In the end, you might have to read it to see if it is worth reading or not. Cheers!(less)

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Is this young-adult series more for teenagers than for 20-somethings?

Katherine Definitely a teenage audience in my opinion. The characters are fairly one-dimensional, which a lot of more sophisticated audiences would not apprecia…moreDefinitely a teenage audience in my opinion. The characters are fairly one-dimensional, which a lot of more sophisticated audiences would not appreciate. A lot of detail is given toward Clary's (the protagonist's) self-consciousness and ambivalent feelings about Jace (the stereotypical chauvinistic, male romantic love interest who secretly has a "heart of gold"). Ultimately, it probably is more thought-provoking and universal than a trashy romance novel, but very clearly geared toward young teenage girls. Even for older teens it's fairly juvenile.

I read the prequel trilogy a few years ago and enjoyed them immensely, expecting to find the same satisfaction with this book. Even though the character layout and underlying themes and concepts were pretty parallel or similar, I enjoyed this book a lot less; I feel that this is probably because I simply outgrew it.

Clare's writing style is beautiful in places, however, and that may appeal to you. I enjoyed her lovely descriptions of the city lights and backdrops. It really depends on your interests.(less)

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Can somebody please explain to me why people are calling this Harry Potter fanfiction?

V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards Because Cassandra Clare started as a fanfiction writer. Apparently there are some similarities between the draco trilogy and the Mortal instruments. A…moreBecause Cassandra Clare started as a fanfiction writer. Apparently there are some similarities between the draco trilogy and the Mortal instruments. A lot of the wanna-be writers that were part of the fanfiction network are now goodreads reviewers and quite popular at that. They backlashed Clare and keep backlashing her. The thing is that I've read the Draco trilogy and realized that, unlike EL James that ripped off Twilight without even bothering in creating something new, Cassandra created EVERYTHING IN THE shadowhunter universe. The parabatai concept, the falcon story, the politics of the clave, the history of the shadowhunter world, all of that come from Cassandra and bear little or no resemblance to Harry Potter.

Ginny has some similarities to Clary but other than that all the characters and the universe are cassandra's but this wanna be authors, instead of writing their own stories are trying to make it look like Cassie did something wrong.

If what they said was true JK Rowling would have earned a millionaire demand. That woman is smart.(less)

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There is basically the Mortal Instruments, and the Infernal Devices? Which serie am i actually supposed to read first - any ideas?

Jennifer From Cassandra Clare's website FAQs:
What order should I read the Shadowhunter Chronicles in?
I suggest that you read them in a slightly strange order. …moreFrom Cassandra Clare's website FAQs:
What order should I read the Shadowhunter Chronicles in?
I suggest that you read them in a slightly strange order. That means:

The Mortal Instruments, Part One: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess

The Mortal Instruments, Part 2: City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire

Then: The Bane Chronicles, Shadowhunter Academy, Lady Midnight, etc....

If you, understandably, don't want to break up your reading that way, I suggest this:

The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Bane Chronicles, Shadowhunter Academy, Lady Midnight, And so on.

[note from poster: I'm doing it the second method and the 2nd half of the Mortal Instruments does reference The Infernal Devices but [correction: it fleshes out the story here and there, more than spoils it. You won't feel lost reading it last]. "Lady Midnight" is the first of the "Dark Artifices" trilogy which involves characters introduced in "City of Heavenly Fire" and is still in the writing phase. Ms Clare has also planned to write a sequel trilogy to "The Infernal Devices" called "The Last Hours".](less)

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if i read mortal instruments city of bones without reading the infernal devices would i under stand it? pls answer me

Ryan McCloskey-Murray I read TMI then TID after. It made sense, although I wish I read them in order of release so that they were read as intended. They were released in th…moreI read TMI then TID after. It made sense, although I wish I read them in order of release so that they were read as intended. They were released in this order, and if you are going to read both series, I would suggest you read them in this order:

1. City of Bones
2. City of Ashes
3. City of Glass
4. Clockwork Angel
5. City of Fallen Angels
6. Clockwork Prince
7. City of Lost Souls
8. Clockwork Princess
9. City of Heavenly Fire(less)

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