City of Bones
The Mortal Instruments #1
by Cassandra Clare
This book has been collecting dust on my bookcase for a while now but for a couple of reasons I haven't been that excited about reading this, one because it's YA and those books generally drive me crazy and two because it has an endorsment by Stephenie "I-inflicted-Bella-Swann-upon-the-world" Meyer . However, pick it up I did and while I don't regret it I wouldn't say I was over enthused by it either.
Clary Fray is a normal 15 year old girl until she witnesses the killing of a seemingly innocent boy by a group of youths. However, normal boys don't have claws and don't fold up on themselves when they die and normal youths don't have runes inscribed on their skin. As Clary is pulled into the world of the Shadowhunters she realizes she has always been closer to it then she realized.
Before I have my little rant about what I didn't like about this book, I think I should start this review on a more positive note. I did like it and I will continue reading this series so it definitely has certain aspects that kept me reading. What I thought was great in this was the world. Cassandra Clare has crafted a fascinating world, where demons, vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels and any other species you can think of are all interconnected and live amongst us unknown, and where Shadowhunters are almost like a paranormal police force trained to make sure the Downworlders (all non human species) don't snack on the Mundanes (normal people). But I also like how she complicates the current world with politics from the past in which the adult characters all played a major part of. It is like characters from a past series are now showing up in a new series about the next generation of Shadowhunters.
So what annoyed me...I may have liked the world, but damn Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec made me realize why teenagers annoy the hell out of me. I love sarcasm as much as the next person, but really, does it have to be everything they said? Especially Jace, I know he is meant to be the romantic hero in this but damn I wanted to smack him and if I did he would make a smart arse comment back and then I would just have to murder him! I know he was supposed to have the whole tortured hero thing going on *yawn* but couldn't he brood silently? I would definitely prefer that!
Spoiler Ahead! Don't read if you don't want to know about The Twist
Clary Fray is a normal 15 year old girl until she witnesses the killing of a seemingly innocent boy by a group of youths. However, normal boys don't have claws and don't fold up on themselves when they die and normal youths don't have runes inscribed on their skin. As Clary is pulled into the world of the Shadowhunters she realizes she has always been closer to it then she realized.
Before I have my little rant about what I didn't like about this book, I think I should start this review on a more positive note. I did like it and I will continue reading this series so it definitely has certain aspects that kept me reading. What I thought was great in this was the world. Cassandra Clare has crafted a fascinating world, where demons, vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels and any other species you can think of are all interconnected and live amongst us unknown, and where Shadowhunters are almost like a paranormal police force trained to make sure the Downworlders (all non human species) don't snack on the Mundanes (normal people). But I also like how she complicates the current world with politics from the past in which the adult characters all played a major part of. It is like characters from a past series are now showing up in a new series about the next generation of Shadowhunters.
So what annoyed me...I may have liked the world, but damn Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Alec made me realize why teenagers annoy the hell out of me. I love sarcasm as much as the next person, but really, does it have to be everything they said? Especially Jace, I know he is meant to be the romantic hero in this but damn I wanted to smack him and if I did he would make a smart arse comment back and then I would just have to murder him! I know he was supposed to have the whole tortured hero thing going on *yawn* but couldn't he brood silently? I would definitely prefer that!
Spoiler Ahead! Don't read if you don't want to know about The Twist
The Twist. I am in two minds about it. I liked the twist in itself, that Jace and Clary turned out to be brother and sister, I thought that was a great idea, but did she have to make them seem like love interests before hand? They even had a full tongued kiss!? *shudder* I don't really want a side of incest with my romance! But I like the idea, and I hope she doesn't retract it in some way and they turn out NOT to be just so they can get back to the kissing. But if they start kissing again and they are siblings I am afraid I will have to stop reading immediatley!
Spoiler Over
It was an enjoyable read and I will continue on with the series, annoying teenagers a side, as I did really enjoy the world and the history Ms Clare has created.
Spoiler Over
It was an enjoyable read and I will continue on with the series, annoying teenagers a side, as I did really enjoy the world and the history Ms Clare has created.
Jace drove me nuts too, and the twist, ah I couldn't take it! It made me so mad. This book was OK but not great.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I had a hard time seeing what was so great about this series. I've read all of them and I'll probably read the next one, but they just weren't as good as the hype built them up to be. I much prefer her Infernal Devices series. I think it's because I enjoy things set in the Victorian era. Plus, I adore Jem. You should try that one and see if you like it any better.
ReplyDeleteI have read most of these and I loved the world that was created and truthfully I was a fan of a few of the Downworlders. I'm not a big teen angst person either, but I was loaned the series as a gesture when I was laid up with an injury.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the other series yet so I will have to try them.
I have not read this series either and your review kind of proves why. I have picked up the book on more than one occasion but it seems I have to FORCE myself to read it. Then I put it down and see some blogger gushing about how great of a series it is so I pick it up again........I still have not finished it. I most likely won't.
ReplyDelete