Guest Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover: 485 pages

Release date: March 27th, 2007

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... 

One of the best books I’ve read this year.

The story revolves on three major characters: Clary Fray, Jace Wayland, and Simon (I really don’t know Simon’s surname.). Book one mainly centres on Clary discovering her true nature as a Shadowhunter while she gets help from new friends to find her lost mother. While at first reluctantly acknowledges the world of Shadowhunters, she discovers things little by little what makes someone being so different good.

The book itself is great! It’s actually nice to read a new series other than HP (although I never get tired of re-reading it) and to focus my attention to more action-packed YA novels. The characters were often very credible, but on other scenes, they make me confused. The story is perfectly woven by Clare, and many new terms were introduced (like Mundane, Runes, and the like) so new to me it’s often confusing. Anyhow, the story depicts some serious butt-kicking scenes that make me want to jump, like the scene where they run on vampires on Hotel Dumort. The book also features many mythical creatures, not just vampires and werewolves, but also faeries and warlocks.

I think that the most relatable topic here on the book is the topic about friends falling in love with another. Clare takes a serious tone on this topic and managed to do well. Girls who are independent, strong and at the same time vulnerable, can relate well to Clary. The main theme the novel shows is being strong. Clare writes characters that are so bold and strong it’s so magnificent to read.

The factors that I liked the most in this book are the story and the characters. They blend so well that the vivid pictures form in my head when I read it. My favourite part of the book is the part where Clary managed to kill a Ravener demon by using Jace’s Sensor. On contrast with my favourite part, my least favourite part of the book is the part where Valentine and Jace reveal to Clary that Clary and Jace are siblings. So much for the romance.

The book intimidated me to read it because of the rave reviews written about it. And they were right. It’s so amazing. Have I already said that it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far? It blows my mind whenever I sit and read the spellbinding story Clare had written.
I surely recommend this book to all YA book lovers, and to those who want to switch to action-packed novels.

Patrick

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