Review: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones

Series: The Mortal Instruments #1

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2007

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased OG hardcover & 10th anniversary edition

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Synopsis:

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...

My rating: ★★★★★
This book, man, where do I even begin. I’ve read this book SO many times, and on my recent re-read I thought, well, it’s time for a review. Lol.

Since I was a kid, I have been an occasional reader. Back in middle school every once in a while I’d read a Fear Street book or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, that sort of stuff. But then I got into high school and I read Twilight. Holy crap, I was obsessed! Like, I read that series over and over and over and it’s all I would read... for a while, anyway. I always like to say that Twilight was the series that got me into reading. And that is sort of true. It definitely lit that passion for reading. But I think that The Mortal Instruments is the series that really got me into reading, if I’m being honest. After my obsession with Twilight starting dying down, I read this and I fell in love all over again! This series is the series that made me realize that Twilight wasn’t the only great series out there. There was a whole world out there with all these amazing books waiting to be read! This is the series that really got me into reading, and I will always love it!

Ever since I first read this book all those years ago I absolutely loved the story and the world Cassandra Clare created. I just love the idea of these descendants of angel keeping all these different supernatural creatures in check. And I also love the mythos behind how all these different creatures came to be! It’s just very creative and I love it!

“We’re called Shadowhunters. At least, that's what we call ourselves. The Downworlders have less complimentary names for us.”
“Downworlders?”
“The Night Children. Warlocks. The fey. The magical folk of this world.”
Clary shook her head. “Don't stop there. I suppose there are also, what, vampires and werewolves and zombies?”
“Of course there are,” Jace informed her. “There are reasons those stories exist. They're based in fact, even if mundanes think they're myth. Shadowhunters have a saying: All the stories are true.”

And then that Clary/Jace plot twist (yeah, you know the one)... yikes! It’s so cruel!! Valentine is an absolute dick! But the thing about Valentine, I totally get why the Circle was formed. They wanted to save the Shadowhunter race from extinction. I get it, I really do. But boy did Valentine twist that round.

It also goes without saying that I love the characters. Clary is very relatable and I was happy that we got to follow her around as both she and us, the audience, became familiar with this new world at the same time. I also loved Isabelle and Alec and the arc they went through in this book as to why they weren’t the biggest fans of Clary in the beginning. Seeing them all get along with her in the end made me so happy! And a joking Alec?? Omg yes! Magnus is good for him.

And speaking of that warlock, I absolutely love him! I am so happy that it is him the one character that appears across all the Shadowhunter books!

[Clary] tried to smile. “Is [the party] in honor or anything?”
“My cat’s birthday.”
“Oh.” She glanced around. “Where’s your cat?”
[Magnus] unhitched himself from the pillar, looking solemn. “I don’t know. He ran away.”

Not to mention that he and Alec are one of my most favorite couples EVER! And I also love the sibling relationship between Alec, Jace, and Isabelle and all their fun interactions.

“Oh, it’s big enough,” [Jace] said patronizingly, “but somehow I was expecting something... you know.” He gestured with his hands, indicating something roughly the size of a house cat.
“It’s the Mortal Cup, Jace, not the Mortal Toilet Bowl,” said Isabelle.

And speaking of Jace... Oh Jace. I don’t think I even have to say how much I love him. But I really do adore Jace! I love his smug arrogance because it just makes me laugh...

Clary turned instant traitor against her gender. “Those girls on the other side of the car are staring at you.”
Jace assumed an air of mellow gratification. “Of course they are,” he said. “I am stunningly attractive.”

Classic Jace. Lol. But I also love that underneath all that he is very sweet and lovable and protective and just...

I also like that the Shadowhunters are sometimes clueless when it comes to certain things in the mundane world—it’s very amusing. For example, Jace not knowing what Ebay is, or...

“Shotgun!” announced Clary as Jace came back around the side of the van.
Alec grabbed his bow, strapped across his back. “Where?”

Oh and let me tell you about one character I don’t like, at all. Simon. I hate Simon so much, and I can pinpoint the exact spot where this hate was born. It was on page 317 of the hardcover edition, second paragraph, last sentence (if you have another edition, it’s chapter 17 where Simon stick his head out the fucking door and interrupts things). Fuck you SO hard you absolute idiot! There you go ruining a perfectly sweet moment and then you go and make Clary feel bad with your stupid feelings.

Yeah, I don’t like him. Clary + Jace forever! Lol.

Anyway, let’s move onto other things that don’t make me mad, but did make me cry. Lol.

So this is toward the end where Clary and Luke find Clary’s mom and Jace with Valentine and Clary and Jace find out they’re siblings (ugh! So cruel!) and Clary is trying to convince Jace to leave Valentine, telling him that he’s not family just because they're blood. That the Lightwoods are more his family than Valentine ever was and just... this part still affects me. It makes me so sad to see Jace hurting like this! Valentine is the worst!

So yeah, I absolutely adore this series! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve re-read this book... I just love it!

And on this last re-read I actually read the 10th anniversary edition, and it is beautiful! It’s got beautiful drawings, a map, Official Clave Files, and it has gorgeous gilded edges! I just love it and I am so happy I got it!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! :)