I am giving this book a 4 star review.
“City of Bones” by Cassandra Clare is the 1st book in the series of “The Mortal Instruments.”
This is not my typical genre to read. But it held my interest, and I am shocked. It is well written novel. I had never read a book, watched the movie or tv show before reading the novel. It has been on my TBR list for some time now but never knew what it was about. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised after I started it!
The characters were great in this novel even the villain. I think the best villians are the ones that you actually understand their motives. Additionally, we (the reader) are learning what is happening with the main character. Things are being explained to us as though we are Clary. This is helpful as the world/plot is complicated with the magical elements.
The story is about Cary Fray. She discovers the world of the Shadowhunters by mistake (witnesses a murder at a nightclub where the body disappears). But she finds out that she is deeply connected to this world more than she knows. There are vampires, werewolves, Shadowhunters, The Clave, etc. Her mother is kidnapped by someone in that other world, and she will stop at nothing to find her. She meets Shadowhunters who are willing to help her find the truth and her mother.
Some of the things that really irked me was the length of the book. I do not think the story warranted such a large book. I also see the rest of the books in the series are about the same length. Additionally, some of the “magical” plotline was a little complicated for me. (I am new to this genre). I had to re-read some of it just to understand the world that she was in. Most of the stuff that you learn about “people” in that world, really play no other role in the novel as well.
Overall, it was a great novel. I would pick up the rest of the series later on.