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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

Cassandra Clare

Discussion: The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Discussion leader: Molly Morgenstern

Why we're reading this: Hi, I just joined this group, but this is the first book I read in my favorite set of series, by my favor…more
[close] Hi, I just joined this group, but this is the first book I read in my favorite set of series, by my favorite author, Mrs. Cassandra Clare.

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What Members Thought

Aug 18, 2020 andrea hartmann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bechdel-test, liked, to-reread

8/18/20:

I rated this book four stars. I'm not sure if that exactly matched up to how I actually felt about it while reading but that's what I want to rate it. Honestly, I liked this book way more than I had expected to at the beginning, although I can recognize its flaws. A large flaw that people often mention about City of Bones is that it dumps a ton of information in one place, but I didn't quite agree with that so much. The more significant issue I had with it was all the twists. Literally e 8/18/20:

I rated this book four stars. I'm not sure if that exactly matched up to how I actually felt about it while reading but that's what I want to rate it. Honestly, I liked this book way more than I had expected to at the beginning, although I can recognize its flaws. A large flaw that people often mention about City of Bones is that it dumps a ton of information in one place, but I didn't quite agree with that so much. The more significant issue I had with it was all the twists. Literally every single thing that happened, happened for a different reason than we originally thought and it was excessive. It worked sometimes but that last twist at the end made me nauseous and gave me secondhand embarrassment and I get the need for relationship drama but I honestly wish it didn't happen. On the other hand, Cassandra Clare's writing is spectacular, and I've heard she just gets better at it over time. She is amazing at painting the picture for her readers and it just makes everything feel so real. My favorite characters were probably Isabelle and Alec Lightwood because Isabelle is badass and caring and Alec is a badass and amazing brother and friend. Anyway, I've heard this book is the worst out of all the others, and I actually really enjoyed it, so I am very excited.

4/23/23:

I read this book for the first time nearly three years ago and it's so crazy to see the development of my feelings for this series. I definitely enjoyed this book more this time around because now I have the full context of the backstory and the world, and it is way easier to get invested in the story and characters and worldbuilding when you don't have to process information (I already know how the world works). Its not 100% of a spoilery read, because the series is so extensive that I have forgotten many specifics when it comes to the plot and side characters. Some things do never change: I still hate Clary and Jace and still love Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, and Simon. Interestingly, I have a much deeper appreciation for this book in particular when I know the endings and the family histories. I love the intricacy. All in all, I love this book more than I feel like I do when I'm not reading it. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 29, 2019 Lulu rated it liked it

* RE-READ
forever hating cc for thinking THAT was a good plot twist 😭😭

4 likes · Like · see review

May 02, 2022 elisia_spiering rated it liked it

Oh dear...that ending.
Stop reading right now if you don't like spoilers. I mean it!

Okay, so this book was about the Shadowhunters, a race of beings descended from a Cup (it's weird, just roll with it) who fight demons and have been looking better in black than the widows of their enemies since 1234. There seems to be some sort of academy/training/dorm thing going on and enter Clary Fray, redhead protagonist with no definable personality that I can figure out but still somehow endearing? I don't ...more

1 like · Like · see review