The city of bonesI will try and keep it short so you can read this, but if you have got to be quick, just read the last paragraph!
I’ve had a bit of a sci-fi action-reading mode at the moment, and after reading the Percy Jackson series I was pretty addicted! I searched around the library and came up with the city of bones, the first book in the series “the mortal instruments’. I was a bit skeptical at first as it did seem a bit like all those other teenage books-you know, the main character actually possesses special powers and they fall in love and save the world in a week- but I was ready to give it a go!
The book is by Cassandra Clare and tells the story of Clary frays introduction to the magic and mystical world-the real world. A world full of vampires, werewolves, warlocks, faeries and shadow hunters. Shadow hunters are said to be a mix of angel and human and are there to slay as many demons in their life as possible, but when Clary bumps into a few at club with her best friend Simon at a club her life had changed for ever. She gets drawn to a boy with bright blue hair, who, in the end, gets attacked and killed by three teenagers about her age, but is desperate to find out why. After this first incident that sends here spiraling into this new and crazy world at full speed, things just get weirder and weirder… but Clary won’t give up finding as many answers as possible.
The story is fast paced, action packed and I advise you not to read it drinking hot chocolate (even if you can’t put it down!) as the amount of surprises the book has to offer will surely see it being spilled over the whole thing (I speak from previous experience). In a way, the book seems to be copying a lot of the slightly sci-fi, romance and generally abnormal book creations of the period, and this doesn’t give it the edge that highlights the creativity and difference. It is very typical and written in much the same way as things like the Percy Jackson series (which is in my opinion completely original, fascinating, bewildering, the best…) but it seems my views of the book are different tot those of a higher book authority, which doesn’t mean they are correct, but the just have a more positive outlook on the whole thing. Justine Larbalestier, Magic of Maddness, claims that City of Bones has it all. While Holly Black, Valiant, says this book is ‘Funny. Dark. And sexy.’ To have another bloggers opinion, please visit:
overall, I would give it ***1/2 stars, as it does have an interesting, well thought out and carful plot, but I feel it is not trying to be original, just trying to fit in with the average teenage books at the moment. However, if you are looking to get back into reading, or just try something new, the book is very addictive and even has two more in the series.
Top tip: to find out more, visit the official mortal instruments website.
