Review 100. Cassandra Clare – City of Bones.

Title: City of Bones.
Author: Cassandra Clare.
Pages: 485.
Published: March 27th 2007.  
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Sort: Part one of ‘The mortal instruments.’

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.

Rating:

After seeing the amazing trailer I talked about in Fairytale News 3 I had to read the book. And I am so glad I did, because I liked it! There were some little things that bothered me, but it was a good story.

Summary.
Clary’s life is pretty normal until she sees something nobody else can see. She can look through the Glamour from Shadowhunters and their target; demons. When she encounters Jace and his friends, they are very surprised. How is it possible that a “Mundie” can see them?
Not long after their meeting, Clary is attacked in her home by a strange animal – and her mother Jocelyn is gone. Jace takes her to his mentor Hodge at the Institute and they tell her more about this whole new world. There are Downworlders, like faeries and vampires, and Shadowhunters, a line from the Angels. They fight against demons to keep the humans, or ‘Mundies’ safe.

It appears that Valentine has returned. A Shadowhunter who is supposed to be dead. He once made his own group called ‘The circle,’ because he wants to purify the world by killing everything that isn’t human. The Clave made rules about that and now he wants to build his own army with the Mortal Cup. One problem: he doesn’t know where it is and he suspects that Clary mother knows it’s location.

Nothing will ever be the same when Clary starts to find more information about her and her mother’s life. Can she save Jocelyn before it is too late?

Opinion.

“Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?'
Jace said, "Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself."
..."At least," she said, "you don't have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland."
"Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting.”
 

Let me start by saying that I fell in love with Jace and his strange sense of humour. He must be the most adorable jackass I have ever met. There is something about him I really liked. Behind his attractive smiles, there is a broken boy. Clary also surprised me. She stood up for herself and even when she doesn’t make the most clever decisions all the time, she does it with a good intention. I was glad to see that she wasn’t such a whiner and I liked her conversations with Jace.

The story was nice. I liked the idea of Shadowhunters in our world and the use of all the ‘creatures’ like werewolves and demons. There was a steady pace, action and a bit of romance. The plot was well-done and I was baffled by the ending. You could say that I did not see THAT coming. At all. I can honestly say that I wasn’t even happy with it and I hope that I’m right about my suspicion that it’s going to change. I definitely can’t wait to continue this series.