Book Review: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Finally got to dive into this series which I have heard great things about so here we go:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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Description:

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…

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

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~This review contains spoilers for both The Mortal Instruments Series and The Infernal Devices Trilogy~

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This is slightly irrelevant but I hate the term “mundie” I get that it’s supposed to be an abbreviation but there are no less syllables in it than in “mundane” so is it really? Maybe it’s supposed to a younger generation thing for Shadowhunters.

My first impression of Simon is that he is super freaking annoying. I really dislike him at the moment. On top of that, he’s incredibly selfish. Your best friend goes missing for days and instead of being worried about them, you get mad? Who does that? Clary was freaking unconscious. Everything isn’t about you and she could have freaking died. Also, who are you to decide for Clary whether or not she wants to wear a thigh sheath? Granted she didn’t, but it’s not his decision. As far as him telling Clary that she “broke his heart” what the hell did you expect when instead of letting her know how you felt, you chose to give all of your attention to another person? You pushed her away, of course she didn’t get it. *I know that someone’s going to say “but they’re teenagers” or they’re only in high school” but being a high schooler or teenager isn’t synonymous with being stupid*

Alec starts off as an asshole. I loved when Clary called him a dickhead because I completely agreed. Apparently I missed the signs that pointed to Alec being gay I didn’t pick up on it until she asked Isabelle about it. I appreciate having another LGBTQIA+ character in the series though.  I also like the potential that there could be something between him and Magnus. However, he’s still an ass for telling Clary to leave the institute. He had no right and it’s not her fault that his parabatai is reckless. (Like Simon) you also don’t get to claim someone who doesn’t even know how you feel about them. At the end it seems like he will be better throughout the rest of the series, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

At the beginning I knew that there had to be more to Luke’s story. I’m not surprised that he’s a werewolf but I didn’t even figure that out until he saved Clary in the alley. I knew that he was in love with Jocelyn though, that was pretty obvious. I wonder if anything will ever happen between them.

Isabelle seemed like a bitch at first. In the beginning she reminded me a lot of Jessamine and a tad bit of Cecily. I guess the second part makes sense because she is a Lightwood. I love and appreciate how much she cares for her brother so I’m hoping to see more of their relationship at some point. It would also be nice if she and Clary became close.

Hodge. I was indifferent at first but now that I know he works for Valentine, I hate him.

I knew that there was a connection between Jocelyn and Valentine! I knew they were together at some point. It was too obvious. I just didn’t think they had been married. As soon as I found that out, I knew that he had to be Clary’s father though.

In the beginning I was kind of indifferent toward Jace as well. I knew he’d be important but at the time I didn’t really care for him or not care for him. Now I think he’s my favorite character so far.

As for Clary. She, unfortunately is a lot like many female characters who are insecure, naive, and need to gain more confidence in themselves. This trend is so annoying. Otherwise, she seems to take being a Shadowhunter well. Sometimes she just does things that annoy me you know? I feel like she needs to pay a bit more attention to her surroundings sometimes.

I think those are all of the characters. Here are some other things that I happened make note of.

What I noticed in The Infernal Devices is that there were some pretty sexist comments but I let it slide due to the time period. But it keeps going. Little side comments about body image and shaming a really bothering me.

So I’m guessing that it’s a coincidence that the cat’s name is Church? I mean, there’s no way that a cat lived that long and just happened to appear at the institute from London right?

Was Brother Jeremiah the same one from Infernal Devices. If so, I think that’s also a bit far fetched. Another thing that I hate is the way that they talk about the Silent Brothers. Calling them creepy and mutilated. I mean, Shadowhunters kill demons, what’s more creepy than that. Also, these are the people that heal you when you’re injured, be grateful.

I asked on Twitter if we would learn about the Iron Sisters at all and I was told that we don’t. This is disappointing because they are mentioned here and in The Infernal Devices and I want to know more!

I do appreciate some of the parallels to Infernal Devices like when Jace is playing the piano, Clary walks in and he says, “Alec, is that you?” Just like when James was playing the violin, Tessa walked in and he said, “Will, is that you?” I see what you did there Cassie, and I like it.

I do still have a lot of questions though: Hodge’s last name is Starkweather and that was Tessa’s name right? Jocelyn’s last name is Fairchild so she’s related to Charlotte, right? Isabelle and  Alec’s last name is Lightwood so they’re either related to Gideon and Sophie or Cecily and Gabriel – although I’m thinking it’s the latter. Where did Hodge go after he left the Institute? Is the whole Jace being Jonathan thing really true? If it is, that’s pretty fucked up.

Overall, I think I’d give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Next I’ll be reading City of Ashes!