City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments

Rating: 4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Way more than I thought I would. I admit, I mostly read this because I’m trying to read some of the more popular YA books, to make up for the years when I was terrified of YA,* and therefore hadn’t read any of the well known YA books.
So I wasn’t actually all that keen on City of Bones, it didn’t sound amazing, and it has a cover that really didn’t appeal to me. At all.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I liked the writing style, the plot was interesting, and it was hilarious. I was cracking up through the whole book. There was just so many funny lines, and some great banter between the characters.

*Yes, I know that’s weird. I was a very odd child. And teenager. I also refused to read Harry Potter until I was twelve… because… I don’t even know why.**

**Actually, I DISLIKED Harry Potter until I was twelve. Without having read it. For no reason. I actually once told my cousin that I loved her “even though you’re wearing a Harry Potter shirt”. Really. Really. Embarrassing.

Setting

I really liked the setting in this book. Probably mostly because it surprised me, I read the blurb, and was under the impression that most of the book took place in an alternate world. But no, apparently not. It took place in New York… I was pleased, because alternate worlds aren’t my favourite. It didn’t bother me that they existed, but I was glad that they didn’t spend much* time in them.
I don’t really know why this made me happy… it just did.

I also think that the story just really fit in New York, it would have worked in an alternate world, but it wouldn’t have fit as well.

The magic** was also very believable. Even though I’m still not entirely sure how it all works, it did work.

*Or, you know, ANY.

**The characters were VERY adamant that it WASN’T magic, but I’m calling it magic anyways. Because I want to.

Plot

I think that the plot was where City of  Bones was weakest. Although I admit, I was surprised by the ending, I did spend most of the book switching between complaining to my family about how obvious all the plot twists were, to berating the characters for not figuring stuff out sooner.

For instance, part one ended with what I believe was supposed to be a shocking revelation. I was sitting there, not at all shocked, laughing about how obvious it had been.

It did redeem itself a bit at the end, by revealing something that really surprised me, but it was literally the ONLY thing that surprised me. I. Guessed. Every. Single. Other. Plot twist. Every one of them.

The plot was also interesting, and I did like it, even if it was predictable. Very predictable.

Characters

I LOVED the characters in this. They was so much great banter between them, and they were all very complex characters.

Clary – I liked her, she wasn’t my favourite, but she wasn’t too bad either.*

Jace – Jace was one of my favourite characters. I can’t honestly say what I liked about him I just did.**
I actually didn’t really like him when he first came in, I thought he was a bit of a jerk. Although thats probably partly because I was reading about a demon, while thinking it was Jace.*** Also he really wasn’t all that nice at first…

Isabelle – Isabelle was another one of my favourite characters. She was feisty, and funny, and I sort of loved her. Even though she often wasn’t the nicest person… I normally DON’T like the characters who aren’t very nice… really…

Alec – Honestly I don’t have much to say about Alec… He wasn’t my favourite, I didn’t dislike him, he was just sort of there.

Simon – Simon was great. I think he might have been my favourite character. He was nice, and goofy, and I loved him. He was wonderful.

And also, THE BANTER! It was wonderful! And I know I already said that, but I think it was my favourite part of this book. It just had me cracking up. So. Much.

*This is praise coming from me, while I’m talking about a main character. I don’t usually like them all that much.

**I feel like this is how I describe a lot of things. I’m bad at pinpointing what it is I like about people apparently…

***Um, no, there wasn’t any sensible reason for me to think this… I just… did.

Over All

I really liked this book. I would highly recommend it, and I am definitely going to finish the series. I’d like to know what happens. And more importantly, I want to read more of their wonderful banter. Really badly. Because apparently that’s all I actually care about.

Have you read City of Bones? What did you think of it? Do you like wonderful banter? (Is that even a question?) Was anyone else terrified of YA? Or was that only me?