City of Bones

City of Bones is the first book in the YA urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

It’s just another night for Clary when she and her best friend Simon are hanging out at the Pandemonium Club in New York City – but when she happens across a strange scene that no one else seems to see, her life takes a turn for the otherworldly.

Trying to brush off the fact that no one else – including Simon – saw the teenagers with peculiar markings covering their skin talking to another teen they kept calling a “demon”, Clary returns home to an overprotective mother that is so upset that Clary is a little late that she wants to take the two of them away for the summer with family friend Luke.

Fuming, Clary finds solace with Simon – until she has another encounter with those mysterious teens and finds out they are Shadowhunters – warriors devoted to purging the earth of demons and keeping other not-fully-human creatures like vampires and werewolves in line.

When her mother disappears and monsters show up at her home, Clary realizes that she has somehow become part of something dangerous and secretive – and everyone she loves is now in jeopardy.

But why do the demons want to go after Clary?

Hmm.

I’m torn, people.

Despite some interesting world building and a good helping of fantasy and supernatural suspense, I had difficulty connecting with the characters of City of Bones. I’m not entirely sure if it was the writing – which was, I feel, at times rather juvenile – or the overall personalities of the characters…

They just didn’t jive with me very smoothly.

However, a vulnerable, sad, horrid personal story from Jace – the main, attractive Shadowhunter Clary meets – did make me feel more empathetic toward him. It brought a bit of a psychological aspect to him, at least. This helped when late in the novel he started doing things that really irritated me – yet I could sort of see why he would make those decisions…

Sort of.

Anywho, with less interrupted reading time, I was able to start getting more entertained by City of Bones. It’s certainly fast paced and has a decent plot. It started to grow on me a little and as it picked up – though still not head over heels – I began to understand the appeal.

Unfortunately, I had been informed of a big twist before reading the book – the unnamed person shall be forevermore banned from discussing books with me – and that certainly didn’t help. It’s a huge reveal – but kind of odd and makes me curious why Cassandra Clare went there….?

But hey – I’m intrigued enough to try book two.

Right now, though, I’m not clamoring.

P. S. I am not a fan of this cover. Not to mention, there are no scenes - from my memory - that included a half naked male. Therefore, not only is the cover not a favorite of mine but it also isn't accurate! Argh.