City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) in Once Upon a Twilight blog

Oct 11, 2010 Hannah rated it it was amazing

First off, I want to thank you guys who encouraged me to read this book. I know that if you hadn't glued my hands to the book, that I probably wouldn't have finished it. I have gotten into the habit of where I can't find a book that 'dazzles' me.
City Of Bones had a kind of dazzling effect on me. I loved the book, and was glad to have FINALLY found a paranormal book that wasn't all about vampires. You guys know I love vampires! And I know you guys love my reviews(LOL) but sometimes it's good to ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2010 Cesya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely loved this!!! I really wasn't expecting the whole Jace/Clary situation but I'm keeping my mouth shut so I don't spoil it for others. Can't wait to see this book come to life on the big screen!! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 23, 2010 Brandy rated it really liked it

This is a very good YA Book, and by YA anyone from 11 on up would enjoy it. It is well written and keeps you guessing. It can be a bit slow in places but I think that it is because I am not a YA. There is also a slight amount of romance in the book BUT it is kept very tasteful and I found nothing offensive in the situations. I don't always let my girls read the YA books I read because I don't feel that the content is for a young person but I WOULD LET THEM READ THIS. If you are into demons, vamp ...more

Like · see review

Aug 23, 2010 Amber rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, reviews

Clare infuses unforgettable and lovable characters into a gritty world that feels like it's just around the corner in New York City. The plot had me racing through the bulky page count to see how the characters were going to make it out alive. Though I'm not usually a fan of third person because it makes it incredibly hard to connect about a character, Clare succeeds at giving the reader a reason to care about her leads and guides the reader to a somewhat comfortable ending for a debut.

Following Clare infuses unforgettable and lovable characters into a gritty world that feels like it's just around the corner in New York City. The plot had me racing through the bulky page count to see how the characters were going to make it out alive. Though I'm not usually a fan of third person because it makes it incredibly hard to connect about a character, Clare succeeds at giving the reader a reason to care about her leads and guides the reader to a somewhat comfortable ending for a debut.

Following Clary Fray in the heavily urban backdrop of New York was fun because she never let her "mundane"ness stop her from fighting. From the very beginning, Clary was interested in figuring out what was going on behind the scenes and she didn't let little things like the word "no" stop her. When she is attacked by a demon in the beginning, she relies on herself to fight, not for Jace or anyone for that matter to save her. I kept expect Jace to barge in and save her at the last minute but it never happened and I was so thankful for this. Clare gave us a smart, inquisitive heroine who took situations far beyond her control into her own hands and Clare allowed her to flourish. Everything out of Clary's mouth was observant or smart and she had a quick witted response to through back at Jace whenever the time called for it.

Speaking of wit and quick retorts, both Simon and Jace were the king of them. There were so many times I'd laugh out loud while reading this novel because of the witty dialog. Jace was an interesting character in that he always told you the truth and I believed it. He was strong and good at what he did. I wanted to swoon but I found it hard as Clare repeated reminded us how young the characters were. I had a hard time picturing a lean and muscular guy like on the cover every time I read how Jace was the youngest Shadowhunter in history or when a character reminded him that he was just a child. I got frustrated with it. However, the compliant is small and I'm hoping it's a wrinkle that will smooth out in the next installment of the series.

I thought Simon was equally worth note. Though he wasn't trained to fight, he always came through. I enjoyed his friendship with Clary and the fact that he used his wit for more than just great one liners. He always had a plan whether it was to get Clary jealous or burst in at the last moment and defeat a demon. He knew what he was doing and for that, I really liked him. I'm really interested to see how he will progress in the series.

Reading this novel reminded me of two things. The first is Harry Potter (and no, not in a "Clare copied Potter" sort of way-- I think that just because they both have flying bikes doesn't mean they are the same, that's like saying since Rowling wrote about wizards with wands then no one else can.). Bones reminded me of Potter in the way that it read. It had a very storybookesque quality to the writing. The third person narrator who knew what was going to happen. Basically, I trusted the voice to lead me safely through the novel to the other side and I don't usually get that in a third person novel. I also never felt like the voice talked down to me.

I was also reminded of playing a Final Fantasy game because of the atmosphere that was created. The crazy costumes and over top hair, the gritty city that mixed swords and cell phones. The broadsword wielding hero with a shock of blonde hair and the evil guy from the past who started out with the best intentions. It all reminded me of a video game. This added to my enjoyment.

All this being said, this novel wasn't without its flaws. There were times when Clary would explain something about the world to another character and I'd have no idea where she learned it herself. Since Clary was experiencing everything in that world the same time as the readers, it really showed when she knew something we didn't. There were also places where Clary would connect something completely random that wasn't even hinted about beforehand. For instance, she asks Isabelle if Alec is gay and there was nothing to hint at it before hand. After the question comes up, we see more of that behavior but there is nothing beforehand to suggest he's gay. Also, and this has to do with the third person, there were times in the novel where reactions were too exaggerated and jumped out from no where.One minute Clary would be fine with Isabelle and the next she'd think she was a bitch and all Isabelle would do is look at her. I just didn't think some actions warranted the reactions.

The last major thing I had wrong with this novel was the ending. When The Big Secret (you know what I'm talking about if you've read it) is revealed, I just kept waiting for someone to tell me it was a joke. And waiting... and waiting and then the last page came and it never did. I really hated this. As a reader, I felt tricked and not in a pleasant way. Also, during that last scene, I could feel some confusion in the fluidness of the writing. For me, that's where it was most obvious that this was a debut novel. Anyway, the ending bothered me so much, I went on Wikipedia and had to look up some things and spoil the ending for myself just to put my sick mind at ease. What redeems this ending for me and will make me keep reading is the fact that I cared enough to look it up. I wanted to make sure everything was going to be okay. That shows me that the writing and the characters were worth spending more time with.

Don't let the little things get in the way of you trying this novel for yourself. So it's not perfect. Rarely anything is. This novel is a fun read with a wonderful and gritty environment, characters to love, a whole bunch of awesome paranormal creatures and a plot that will make this whooping 495 page book seem short. City of Bones is worth every page. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 17, 2012 Joni Thomas rated it it was amazing

I waited a long to read this series. For a while my local library only had the second book in the series but that's not my main reason for waiting. I am more of a contemporary YA kind of girl. And yet I have yet to read a paranormal YA book and dislike it. Makes no sense does it? Well anyway, I finally found the first in the series at the library and promptly took them home. As soon as I started City of Bones I was enraptured.
We first meet Clary, our main character, at a teen night club with he I waited a long to read this series. For a while my local library only had the second book in the series but that's not my main reason for waiting. I am more of a contemporary YA kind of girl. And yet I have yet to read a paranormal YA book and dislike it. Makes no sense does it? Well anyway, I finally found the first in the series at the library and promptly took them home. As soon as I started City of Bones I was enraptured.
We first meet Clary, our main character, at a teen night club with her best friend Simon. Following a series of events she witnesses a murder. But not just any murder. She witnesses the murder of a demon. And as it turns out no one can see the murderers aside from Clary. She tries to shake the whole thing off until she goes home to find her mother has disappeared and a demon is waiting to attack her at her apartment. She is saved by Jace, one of the people she saw murder the demon at the night club.
Jace is a shadowhunter. He and his family hunt and kill demons. As Clary is drawn into their world she finds out that her life is not as it has always seems and Clary might be more connected with Jace's world than she once thought.
I was completely caught up in this novel from the beginning. I felt the pull of it when I was not reading it. The descriptions of the faces and creatures have so much detail that I could picture everything like a movie behind my eyes as I read. I got a bit annoyed with Simon lingering in the background through out the book but eventually I got used to him. I really liked Clary's attitude. She was sarcastic and funny and she really held herself together in a situation that would have most teenage girls falling apart.
My favorite part was when they talked about the runes and their magic. The fact that the Shadowhunters had runes tattooed onto their bodies to protect and aid them in battle was just an interested and new concept. And reading about the glamour that was used to hide the Shadowhunters home, modes of transportation, even to hide themselves makes me want to look closer at the world around me and see what I may have been missing.
The action is this novel flowed so well and I was able to keep up and never found myself confused as can happen with some paranormal novels. Cassandra Clare has created a well laid out world that is easy to immerse yourself. And you are in for one surprising twist at the end that had me falling off my chair.
...more

Like · see review

Dec 14, 2010 Paola rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

I LOVED THIS BOOK. IT WAS AWESOME. SOME PARTS I DINT LIKE BUT IM LIKE WHATEVER

PLOT:19/20
CREATIVITY:20/20
CHARACTERS:20/20
WRITING:19/20
ENDING:17/20
COVER:10/10

Like · see review