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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

Cassandra Clare

Start date: January 1, 2010

Finish date: January 1, 2010

Why we're reading this: It's incredibly fast, I loved the storyline and it's just amazing!…more
[close] It's incredibly fast, I loved the storyline and it's just amazing!

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Dec 28, 2013 Bill rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

My grand-daughter (13yo) and I (ancient) are reading this series together. I'd of course heard of the book, but didn't really consider it until I recently saw the movie which I really liked as fantasy entertainment. Unfortunately the movie was a lot better than the book, IMO. I don't like seeing a movie before reading the book. I like to form my own impressions of characters and places. In this case it didn't make much difference. The actors where well chosen, except for Kevin Zegers, whom I tho ...more

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Nov 03, 2009 Lisa Lap rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, paranormal, 2011-books-read

Book One in the Mortal Instruments series. Fifteen year old Clary is a Shadowhunter, but she has no idea that the things she is starting to see are actually hidden to the sight of the rest of the human race. She can see angels, demons, and many other lorekind creatures. Her mother, a Shadowhunter herself, has chosen to have Clary routinely subjected to a blocking spell to prevent her from seeing this other side of life in order to protect her. Unfortunately, Clary's mother's past has finally cau Book One in the Mortal Instruments series. Fifteen year old Clary is a Shadowhunter, but she has no idea that the things she is starting to see are actually hidden to the sight of the rest of the human race. She can see angels, demons, and many other lorekind creatures. Her mother, a Shadowhunter herself, has chosen to have Clary routinely subjected to a blocking spell to prevent her from seeing this other side of life in order to protect her. Unfortunately, Clary's mother's past has finally caught up to her and Clary finds herself smack dab in the middle of a war between worlds. What starts out as an innocent night out with her best friend, Simon, turns into a revelation for Clary as she realizes that everything is not as it seems including who she really is. Suddenly thrust into an almost alternate reality that includes fighting demons, escaping from vampires, and evading capture by werewolves - Clary finds herself aligned with a trio of strange teenagers who thrive on battle and sarcastic comebacks. The trio of teenagers help Clary understand what's happening to her and also help her try and find a way to save her mother who has vanished admist a violent struggle. This story is packed with twists, turns, romantic triangle possibilties, and of course shocking betrayals. This story also ends with quite the cliffhanger, and definitely leaves you with a hunger to fine out what happens next.

I have actually owned this book for quite a while and only recently decided to pick it up and give it a try. I've seen quite a few people gush over this series, but every time I tried to start the first chapter I couldn't get into it. Finally, I decided to suck it up and get past the first chapter or two. I'm glad I did. After the first few chapters, I found myself enjoying the story even in its vagueness. I have always had a fascination with the spiritual realm and the constant epic battle between angels and demons. The idea of the Nephilium (also known as Shadowhunters)living and walking among us as a type of invisible superhero is intriguing, and Clary not knowing why she can suddenly see these things that have alwasy been invsible to her is a teasing mystery. As the story continues, the reader begins to feel torn between the quest to find Clary's mother and the Mortal Cup (which is a Mortal Instrument sought by many), and the budding romantic triangle between Clary, Jace, and Simon. The reader and the other characters in the story can all see Simon's love for Clary, but Clary is cluelss to Simon's feelings. Jace, an irritating and sarcastic companion, also has strange feelings for Clary. He doesn't understand why he seems to care about this human (also know as Mundane or "mundie") girl, but he feels drawn to her in a way that prevents him from keeping his head on straight at a time when it can be fatal to be distracted.

The twist at the end threw me a bit, even as I saw it coming. I'm not sure I like that development, but I will continue with the series and the adventures it presents.

~Lisa

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