City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) By Cassandra Clare → Start Date: January 7, 2017

[Maddie]

So I may be reading City of Glass rather soon as well, as that counts for a challenge that I'm getting behind on. So it might go something like this: short book, City of Ashes, one or 2 other brs, City of Glass.

[Maddie]

Actually, if that doesn't work for some people, I can just count another book instead of City of Glass that I also want to really read :) I'll just see what the response is as to when I need to have the book read by, because I won't read COA and COG back to back.

[Maddie]

Going to start this one today, and also think I want to read the series quite quite close together, because theis series is on all of the lists I need to read from in another challenge, so I hope someone'll keep up with me.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Maddison I can try but I have other reads. We'll see. When did you want to start the 3rd book tho?

[Maddie]

Yeah I have other reads as well.

Well I'm almost finished my current read, and then I'll start COA, and then I'll probably read another 2 or 3 books before reading COG. That alright?

[Maddie]

They'll take me a while though.

[Maddie]

5% into City of Ashes. I can't really remember how City of Bones finished, and I think I'm getting it confused with the tv show, but it'll fall back into place soon haha. The tv series has overtaken my imagination too, and now I view all of the characters like the tv show.

[Maddie]

Going to pause there until someone wants to sprint with me haha.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Maddison I get what you're saying. I saw the first episode of shadowhunters and stopped there. I wanted to read the book first then watch the show. But the first episode was enough to give me this image of Clary that's completely unlike Clary in the book.

[Maddie]

Yeah she's terrible and the acting is crap

[Maddie]

When are you starting COA?

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Maddison I already did. I just haven't had time to post. I'm not that far in. Just chapter 3 and of course Jace already gets in trouble and acts like a drama queen.

[Maddie]

Ah you've started? Awesome! I just realised that this isn't a group I can count the buddy read for in the YA BR Corner group XD Luckily there's another read for COA in that group that I can count. If only this was over there in that group. I try to make that the only group I do BRs in so that they count for the monthly challenges XD

[Maddie]

Through Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[The whole 'how did Jace not realise that it wasn't Valentine bringing him up' thing I can relate with. How did he not realise?? Wouldn't he recognise him if he brought him up? (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Maddison wrote: "12% through [spoilers removed]"

True. I can sympathize with him too. He was very young and at such age, kids will grasp and believe anything people tell you.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ I'm sorry if this is an unpopular opinion but I just find Simon and Clary together weird. Their interactions to me as a couple seem off with no chemistry. Not that I'm shipping anyone in particular right now but I just don't see the whole Simon and clary thing working out at the moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah that's true I suppose, just a little crazy haha. I mean, he wasn't a toddler.

I'm up to Chapter 3 now, so I should get to Chapter 5 today at least. I have a lot to do today.

[Maddie]

Starting Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[Oh wow, Clary and Simon kissing?? I don't remember this! And then them being a couple?? I'm confused XD This seems too weird.

Maia's past seems terrible :( Wonder how much of a part she'll play in this book.

Why doesn't Jace say that it was Valentine? I'd be pretty intimidated by all of those Shadowhunters too, but still?
I'd be seriously grossed out by all of those dead Silent Brothers. And I wonder if it was the demon that was loose that caused Jace to feel fear, seeing as it was unfamiliar to him, and it made the Silent Brothers break their oath. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 5: [spoilers removed]"

I just commented that in my latest spoiler XD

[Maddie]

Start of Chapter 8. (view spoiler)[I like how she spoke to Jocelyn in her dream. I wonder if the wave was like a prophecy of bad things? (hide spoiler)] Stopping here for the day I think. Too busy. Read quite a bit though, and I'm pleased with that.

[Farren]

(view spoiler)[I'm only three chapters into City of Ashes and I can't believe I forgot Maia was introduced in this book. I thought she showed up in book 3! And for some reason I remembered Simon and Clary already being a couple when the book started but I guess not. (hide spoiler)] I have such a terrible memory =/

Nicole, if you haven't read the whole series I don't recommend watching the show yet. There are major spoilers for things that happen in the later books, too, not just the first two.

[Maddie]

Farren, I didn't realise there were spoilers so I think you telling me that spoiled things. because I didn't realise I wasn't paying that much attention but now I'm kinda annoyed that I know about the spoilers.

and you might wanna put spoilers around that first paragraph just to be safe xD

pleased I've read quite a bit because I won't be reading much in the next few days

[Farren]

Haha I edited it because I forgot how many people are in this thread and not just you guys who zoomed past me! Thanks for catching that.

I think the show writers are trying to make everything so fast paced and "interesting" that they are using all the storylines at once and it jumbles together. There are things featured in the last two episodes that could never fit into where we are now in the series. I'd hate for the show to ruin what is sooo much better in the books you know? It makes me wonder how many seasons they have planned.

[Maddie]

I'm mixing the books and the show together so I'm confused what's happened in the books xD

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Did you guys both read this already?

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Farren yeah I really want to watch it but I'll wait. I want to get to know the books first lol.

[Kelly]

I stopped to finish another book so I'm a bit behind. I'm on chapter 3 now.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ Jace seems so cryptic and pessimistic in this book. I understand he's going through a lot but I kinda miss the old always joining around Jace even if his jokes come off arrogant. Ouch that sucks for Simon. I'm not a fan of their relationship but I still feel bad for him. He kind of deserves it though. He never really clarified with Clary if she was ok with being his girlfriend. He didn't even ask her out or anything. Just declared it and now he's mad about a kiss. (hide spoiler)]

[Farren]

I was out of town most of the day so I've only read a couple more chapters. My boyfriend just left though so I'll probably try to squeeze some more in before I go to sleep tonight.

[Maddie]

Nicole wrote: "Did you guys both read this already?"

Of what? COA? I'm still 28% through XD Might read some more tomorrow may not. We'll see.

[Maddie]

I'm reading Chapter 8 now, so we at the same spot Nicole :) I think I'm almost finished Chapter 8 so then I'll read that spoiler.

[Kelly]

Chapter 10 and speculations (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Clary's gift is premonition. I just knew Simon was going to turn into a vampire when he bit Raphael in COB. Also I know that Cassandra Clare is dropping hints after hints that Clary and Jace are probably not related but it is still kind of weird that they kiss because as far as they know they are brother and sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

so we're all around the same place. are we missing anyone? like has anyone not started?

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Soooooo I finished......I had nothing to do all day so I just read lol.

But anyway here are my thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I still enjoyed this book but not as much as the first. I felt that there were less plot twists and the overall plot for this book seemed like a filler. It didn't really reveal much as to the main point of the whole series. I kinda found it weird that Valentine's focus shifted to destroying the conclave than the downworlders instead. I guess it makes sense since the conclave protects the downworlders, he has to get rid of their protection first. I am glad that we're starting to see more of Clary's powers and what makes Jace different than other shadowhunters. I want to see more of the supporting characters. They started to really grown me, especially Magnus, Maia, Alec and Isabelle. I love Magnus, he's probably my favorite character as of this moment. I wasn't too crazy about Jace and Clary in this book. Clary was still useless but she was more angsty than usual and most of her word was backed by nothing but bad decisions and tantrums. Jace was very morbid and pessimistic in this book. Although he still had his witty asshol-ey charms, it wasn't very present in this book. Also, it took the whole book for some random stranger to come by and say hey Clary, I know how to wake your mom. Seriously? Overall, I still enjoyed reading it but it felt more like a filler book to me. (hide spoiler)]

Take your time guys, I still want to discuss the book with you all.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 10 and speculations [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I figured something would happen to Simon. I'm blindly telling myself that they are not brother and sister and that something crazy will happen to reveal that it was all the misunderstanding and Jace is not related to Clary at all. That or she's going to have another love interest because I am not crazy about Simon and Clary at all.

[Maddie]

Into Chapter 9. This is the bit I remember most from my first time reading it. Actually, the only bit I remember XD It's actually a whole lot shorter than I remember, that part. (view spoiler)[It's so mean that the Seelie Queen made them do that, and I'm so angry at Jace for getting pissed off with Clary when she said that their relationship disgusted her. Of course it would! They're siblings! Why do I have a funny feeling that that's a whole troll as well? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'm reading Chapter 9 now.

[Maddie]

Nicole wrote: "Chapter 8 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah that's so true about Simon! That is quite frustrating, but I could totally feel that pit in my stomach for Clary when she realised that (view spoiler)[it would reveal that Simon's not the one she wanted to kiss. It's cool that Isabelle was alright with it XD No big deal for her. They didn't really need to take it that far though... They always do in books. It's stupid. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Do you need spoilers on your last comment to Kelly's spoilers, Nicole? And oh wow you finished? Damn now I don't have many updates to go on...

Any of you in the YA BR Corner group? I think you are, Nicole.

[Maddie]

Chapter 9 was like 40 pages! Massive!

[Maddie]

Into Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[Oh woah, Simon! For some reason I already thought he was vampire. That's what I meant about getting the show and the books mixed up. And that's an interesting tradition to make a vampire. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Into Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[Looking like Valentine's demons are just starting to attack. And is Maia the werewolf in the show? The white one? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 10 and speculations [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Do you already know that they're not? Because if you just spoiled that for me, if you already knew and posted that, I won't be happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Any of you in the YA BR Corner group? I think you are, Nicole. I'd like this question answered because I want to series read it in that group to get double points for the monthly challenges.

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Maddison wrote: "38% through. This is the bit I remember most from my first time reading it. Actually, the only bit I remember XD It's actually a whole lot shorter than I remember, that part. [spoilers removed]"

I just keep telling myself that eventually it'll be revealed that they're not siblings and if they really are then there better be another love interest!

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

Maddison wrote: "Do you need spoilers on your last comment to Kelly's spoilers, Nicole? And oh wow you finished? Damn now I don't have many updates to go on...

Any of you in the YA BR Corner group? I think you are..."

Yes I'm the other group. Actually I only joined this group to be part of this BR XD. I'm usually in the other group lol

[Maddie]

can we set up another thread for this over there so we can get points? XD just copy paste all of our updates so it counts xD

[Nicole's Book Diaries]

@Maddison Yeah that's fine. Could set it up? I'm about to sleep. It's like 2 am where I am lol. If not, then I can do it tomorrow morning.

[Maddie]

I don't need it right now xD just wondered if you'd be interested.

[Maddie]

I've already got a thread for city of ashes over there but that's just the 1 book