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City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1)
City of Bones - Mortal Instruments, Bk 1
Author: Cassandra Clare
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 e...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9781416955078
ISBN-10: 1416955070
Publication Date: 2/19/2008
Pages: 512
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 660

4.1 stars, based on 660 ratings
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

TenDigitCreations avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
If you would have told me two weeks ago that I would love a series involving demons, wizards, and the like, I would have told you that you were nuts. In fact, I thought I'd never find books that I would love again after finishing the Twilight saga.

From beginning to end, I was hooked on this series! Love, Love, Love the characters...especially Jace! His sarcasm had me laughing out loud on several times.

In my opinion, this book is filled with the perfect amount of action, violence, and romance. I've read all three, and I plan to read them again in the near future. Looking forward to reading other books in the future from this author.
reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I really enjoyed this book until about 3/4 of the way through when I realized it was taking a Star Wars twist. Quite a letdown.
skywriter319 avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 784 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Up until a few days before her sixteenth birthday, Clary Fray could tell you with certainty that she is a normal human being. Then she witnesses an odd murder when she goes to a club one night with her best friend, Simon. Three warrior teenagers, their skin inked all over with tattoos, kill a blue-haired boy whom they claim to be a demon. In the midst of Clary's protestations, the dead body vanishes before her very eyes. Clary can't believe it. What is going on here?

Unwillingly Clary is forced to acknowledge the existence of Shadowhunters when her mother is kidnapped and she is attacked by demons. Shadowhunters dedicate their lives to destroying demons who try to exist in the mortal world. They also happen to be very interested in Clary, who is not who she think she is. In fact, her mind, blocked by a powerful spell, may reveal important information about her past and her true identity.

The Shadowhunters decide to keep an eye on Clary, and Jace, a tawny-haired pretentious jerk, sticks close to her. Jace is a gifted Shadowhunter with a troubled past and a penchant for acting...well, like a jerk, and Clary isn't sure how she feels about him...until the secrets of their past are revealed with a vengeance.

CITY OF BONES is, simply put, amazing. The characters are engrossing, the dialogue intriguing and oftentimes funny. This is a book with everything: love, war, secrets, mythical creatures. It will draw you in and leave you impatiently waiting for the next installment, as I am.
reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I reallllyy reallllyyyy liked this book. to be honest i liked the last book the most thoughh. theres a lot of twists and turns. if you like being shocked this is a book for you!
GeniusJen avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

Clary Fray thinks she's a fairly ordinary fifteen-year-old girl--until the world as she knows it falls apart, all starting the night she and her best friend, Simon, visit the Pandemonium Club. Sure, in a city the size of New York, a lot of weird things happen; Clary didn't expect to witness one of the weirdest.

What she sees that night is a murder, a murder committed by tattoo-covered teenagers no one else can see--a murder with no body left behind. That's certainly a sign that Clary's life is about to get a little farther away from normal, and it certainly does so.

Clary's life is falling to pieces. Her mother goes missing. Clary is attacked by a creature - a demon. She's seeing things no one else can--including the Shadowhunters, demon hunters whose world is hidden within Clary's own. She meets three young Shadowhunters - Jace, Alec, and Isabelle - and is quickly sucked into their world, searching for her mother, trying to protect herself, trying to sort out what's real, what's true, and what's not. It is, obviously, a bit much for anyone to handle, but Clary's got no choice. Along the way, she's discovering her past, herself, and just who the Shadowhunters really are.

This debut novel from a brilliant, smart new voice in young adult literature is a marvelous adventure, full of fantastic twists and turns just when they're least expected. The complexity of the story, the threads from the past and present intertwined, is reminiscent of the Harry Potter series--and that's high praise!

The writing of this magical story is excellent, and I was very impressed with the wonderfully lifelike characters and amazing magical world hidden within our own. I was reminded of Holly Black's mastery of the urban fantasy genre. The captivating story told by the very talented Cassandra Clare in CITY OF BONES is surely the start of a brilliant series--I can't wait for the next MORTAL INSTRUMENTS book. This paranormal fantasy is truly unforgettable.
Read All 72 Book Reviews of "City of Bones Mortal Instruments Bk 1"

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laina42107 avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 115 more book reviews
Well I honestly don't know what to say for once. I guess I'll start by saying it was definitely an interesting read! There was a whole lot of stuff going on in this book. I'm actually still trying to wrap my mind around it. Story flow reminded me of the original Vampire Diaries books. With just about any and everything thrown into the story. It was enough to keep me reading though. I will probably read book 2 and then hopefully I will have a better feel for this series. I will say the revelation at the end of the book left me thinking wtf???? If you've read it you know what I'm talking about. Still confused!!! Why build it up one way for it to turn out, um bizarre?
readabookaday avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
A must read!
solarawynn avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 724 more book reviews
Was good,have put City of Ashes on hold.
danielleraybuck avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 76 more book reviews
I wasn't in love with this one. I kept waiting for something more exciting to happen...and exactly what you think is going to happen, does happen...it just takes 300+ pages to get there.
witchcat avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
While I enjoyed this book, it was not my favorite. The writing was a little juvenile, and I could not put my finger on the style until the author mentioned that she used to write fanfiction. Yes, this is written in a very fanfiction-esque style that kind of jolted me a bit.
I very much dislike Jace. He has that whole bad boy thing going in a way I do not like. Though I understand where he is coming from, it is just no. And the ending with Clary and Jace? No, what. I understand that topic is controversial and sticks out, but really? Star Wars anyone? Though I do understand the two boys fighting over one girl is a real thing that happens to real teenagers, it is very overdone. Simon's infatuation with Clary was predictable from the first page, as well as any of his future actions. Valentine was evil to be evil, basically, and lacked anything to strike a cord with me.
However, I am going to read the second book because the concept interests me.
susieqmillsacoustics avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 1062 more book reviews
I really liked this first in the series. It has a little of everything; demons, witches, warlocks, werewolves and vampires. Quite a bit of action, a touch of romance and a few twists (some I saw coming and some not). Loose ends at the end so I guess I will have to read the next.
confuzzledbooks avatar reviewed City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1) on + 486 more book reviews
Clary and Simon are best friends. They go to the latest club and coffee houses. At one club Clary sees something that no one else can see. She sees people known as Shadowhunters killing demons. No one else sees the two mystical beings. One of the Shadowhunters, Jace, finds himself attracted to Clary and wonders how she can see him and his family. Suddenly Clary's mom goes missing. Then Clary and Simon get caught up in the Shadowhunter's life.



Usually when I read books with a triangle romances my vote goes to the first love interest, But this time I landed on the side of the of bad boy. Of course the end of the book ruined that for me and suppose Clary as well. Grrr....



A lot of the story is pretty typical for a Fantasy YA read. Young girl in lead, her best friend is in love with her and she does not know, she sees things others can not, a new love interest introduced ..etc I could go on. That said it is still a fun read and I am glad I read it before the movie. I can tell from movie trailer there is already some differences. Frankly I believe the book will probably be better.



I really did like (almost love) the story and even though some of was expected I feel I am emotionally invested in the series. I will be continuing to read the rest of the series.

Book Wiki

Series
People/Characters
Clary Fray (Primary Character)
Jace Lightwood (Primary Character)
Valentine Morgenstern (Primary Character)
Alec Lightwood (Major Character)
Isabelle Lightwood (Major Character)
(Show all 8 People/Characters)
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