City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) - Cassandra Clare - 3.5 stars

[Susie]

Can you feel my excitement as I post my first review in PBT? I am starting off with a book that had so much potential but failed to hit the mark for me. I love reading YA, so it wasn't that, and I love fantasy, so it wasn't that either. Let me try and decipher what it was.

I found the character development really weak in the first two-thirds of the story. I didn't feel as though I knew or bonded with any of the characters. The last third of the novel found me more interested, particularly in Luke's character. The overall writing style seemed simplistic, particularly the dialogue. The descriptions felt forced. I wasn't able to wholeheartedly suspend disbelief. The pace was very slow in the first two-thirds. The final third led me to increase my rating by .5.

If asked half way through the novel, I would have said no to reading the next installment, but there was a vast improvement towards to end so I'm going to give it a go at some stage.

[Barbara M]

Congratulations on your first review! It is very well done too. I'm trying to get used to the new layout, I almost missed finding your rating. You are a step up from some of us because you don't have to unlearn and relearn ;-)

[Nicole R]

Congrats on your first review on PBT! I have wanted to read this books for a while but I seem to be temporarily out of my tween drama trilogy/series phase. But it threatens to come back at any moment ;)

I did move your threat though. You posted it as just a general thread and I moved it to the folder that is "February 2016: Other Books."

When you post the next of what will hopefully be many many PBT reviews, below the title of the thread you see a little header that says "folder" and a dropdown box with all of the folders on PBT to choose from. Simply choose the appropriate one and carry on with your review!

[Jen]

Congrats on your first review! I agree with you. I read the series when I needed a break from some of my heavier reading so it fit my needs at the time although I didn't think they were particularly good.

[Cora]

This one has been lingering on my TBR for a while now.

[Susie]

Thanks guys. And oops for posting incorrectly! I'll get it right eventually. :-)

[Jenni Elyse]

Congrats on your first review!

I actually LOVE this series. It's one of my favorites. I was engaged from the beginning, so I'm sad you didn't like it as much. I'm glad you're going to read City of Ashes, though, as I do think the stories get better as they progress.

[Susie]

Jenni, I think I made have chosen the wrong time to read it to be honest. I had just finished A Little Life which I'm calling as the best book I've ever read (bold words!) so perhaps I was being hyper-critical. I'll read the next one soon and keep you posted. :-)

[Brandy]

I read this a few years ago but was also disappointed for reasons difficult to articulate. I have not continued the series.
I did read the Clockwork Prince trying to resurrect some interest in the series and enjoyed it a bit more than Mortal Instruments. But again, I've not felt compelled to pick up the next installment.