City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) in The Not-So Austen Bookclub

Apr 20, 2013 Amy rated it liked it

Didn't really plan on picking this one up after my "What the heck am I doing with my life?" experience with second Infernal Devices book, but Jordan really likes this series. So I suppoes for his sake I'll read it.

Demon fighting Shadowhunters!
Love triangles!
Predictable plot twists!
Shocking plot twists!
Teenage angst!
Kid with blue hair!
Scene from Star Wars!
Names from Harry Potter!
Romance from Twilight!
Another kid with blue hair!
That’s right people…you’ll get it all right here.
A fast, flighty ...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Lauren rated it really liked it

City of Bones is the first in the Mortal Instruments series. For young adult fiction it was really well-written. The description is intricate enough that you are able to picture the novel in your mind, as if it were a movie, but it's not burdensome to where there is more description than plot. This is no Twilight rip-off. In fact, I applaud Clare for keeping the romance interesting enough but minimal - this book is more action- and mystery-filled than a tweenager love story.

Perhaps it's because ...more

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Jun 25, 2009 Miss Clark rated it it was ok

Shelves: fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What this book has going for it is a very inventive system of magic (those runes are a very nice idea), and an insanely convoluted mishmash of supernatural creatures, from vampires and werewolves, to demons and angels, with faeries and warlocks thrown in for good measure.Plus a few interesting characters amid a host of minor characters, all with little to no motivation for their actions. In terms of plot, dialogue and style, it is nothing extraordinary. Sister/ brother love is mega-disturbing an What this book has going for it is a very inventive system of magic (those runes are a very nice idea), and an insanely convoluted mishmash of supernatural creatures, from vampires and werewolves, to demons and angels, with faeries and warlocks thrown in for good measure.Plus a few interesting characters amid a host of minor characters, all with little to no motivation for their actions. In terms of plot, dialogue and style, it is nothing extraordinary. Sister/ brother love is mega-disturbing and the cavalier attitude toward romantic relationships in general was trite and tiring. But even with a whole lot wrong with it, I still want to find out what happens.

That said, Clary Fray is out partying one night and then the next thing she knows she can see demons and all sorts of other supernatural creatures, her loving albeit eccentric mother is abducted and she is tossed into a world that she should have grown up in, but was assiduously protected from by her mom. She discovers that she is a Shadowhunter, sort of like the law enforcement of the supernatural realm, and that there is an uber-villain, former Shadowhunter Valentine who is trying to tip this realm into war due to a race superiority complex. His idea is that only humans are worth anything and that everything else, like werewolves, faeries, or vampires, should be exterminated. And even though demons are the ultimate evil, he has no problem teaming up with them to get rid of the other undesirables. Hmm, rank hypocrisy, anyone?

Clary is a good character who, though justifiably freaked out, does not crack, but deals with this new worldview. I love her relationship with Luke, her father-figure, and I was so afraid that he was going to be killed off! Jace, her maybe-but-I-don't-believe-it-for-a-second brother has all sorts of angst and issues, mostly stemming from having one of the creepiest dads of all time. Who tells their kid that love destroys? And then kills their pet because they like it? Psychopaths for one. Alec and Isabelle Lightwood are a bit flat in this volume - just your typical demon slayers, complete with the cool clothes and weapons. I was rooting for them to kill off Clary's "best friend" Simon, so it is safe to say I did not like him much.

So, by novel's end, Valentine is revealed as Jace and Clary's dad (still not falling for it), those two are "in love," Clary's mom is still in some weirdo coma, Valentine has made off with the Mortal Cup which means all sorts of bad is sure to happen, and Simon is, sadly, still alive. I am so glad that I waited for all three to come out before getting into this series. Now for City of Ashes. ...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Jaemi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-series, favorite-authors, ya-fiction, fantasy, magic, vampires, faeries, werewolves, demonology

Clary Fray's first hint that she might be different comes when a normal night out at the club turns into anything but; after following a cute blue-haired boy and three others into a store room, finding herself in the midst of a wholly unexpected scene, she's left to grapple with the encounter on her own, upon realizing that neither her best friend nor the bouncer can see what she sees.

Not soon after her mother is suddenly and unexpectedly trying to get Clary out of town, and when Clary storms o ...more

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Oct 23, 2016 Huma rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: angular-relationships, adjusting-to-new-worlds, young-adult, adult-themes, fantasy, series, over-rated, thriller, paranormal-n-supernatural, adventure

A 2.5 actually.

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Jan 30, 2011 Marie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

So glad it's over!

I hate hate hate hate hate Clary. And I hate how much Clare hates her characters who aren't Clary. Or Jace (whom I also hate).

Ummm... Goodreads wanted to know "What is the pace of this book?" and I was forced to answer "relaxed pace." It's not supposed to be, but sometimes that's just how it works. ...more

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