City of Bones, Cassandra Clare Review
The impression a book gives you that first time you read it is irreplaceable. It is that first feel of the characters – whose overridden emotions fill you with surprise of the unexpected. The characters come vaguely alive to the reader in their mind & slowly – but surely – you grow fond of them and somehow, you find yourself thinking about them every day. The reader grows and feels with the characters and every little pain or stupid decision lingers in our minds until a resolution comes at the end of the book. And yet, when it ends we are not satisfied because the fun is over.
This review is not based on that first time I read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. After reading Clockwork Prince by the same author this last December I realized how I needed, in order to take my enjoyment of the series and their correlation to the maximum level, to reread the contemporary part of the story. For those wondering, Mortal Instruments (contemporary) & Infernal Devices (prequel) are stories on the shadowhunters, people who are carefully trained to take care to of our world and rid it of demons. With a series of unique weapons and laws they make sure all the downworlders (which include vampires, werewolves, fairies, and warlocks) follow the rules and help control the demon population in this world. The main characters on both series are two girls who find themselves involved in this invisible parallel existence which combines the intricate and peculiar traditions of the shadowhunter culture mixed with their respective realities. Passion, love triangles, action and violence are all packed into these masterfully written works by Cassandra Clare.
What makes this book highly enjoyable is how Cassandra Clare makes make belief into looking so normal. Although shadowhunters do not exist and their terms and traditions are not from an existent country, this author makes the reader believe they are real by being so keen in expressing the minor detail of her invented world. The characters are relatable and their inquisitive nature can be resembled to the reader’s own. The first time around, the reader is enthralled with the romances in the book and forgets much of the action. Usually girls are the ones who read these books and – let’s face it ladies, we do enjoy romance when it is so plainly and beautifully handed to us. This book in particular is not as action packed as the others but there is still plenty of action to enjoy. The writing is great, especially if you are in your teens and are in need of a wonderful time with paper, ink, and imagination. Cassandra Clare was crafty in this book in particular for she decided to leave a lot unsettled and unresolved. Basically this book is like an introduction to a really intricate story. Besides being intricate, she tries to be as colloquial as she possibly can, and for those of you who enjoy sarcasm and irony – this book will satisfy your needs.
It is an all-round good book, and the characters are simply hilarious and adoring. How could avoid thinking of a Jace and a Magnus Bane once in a while? In those moments of anger, who could help thinking of Clary and her spontaneous needs to combust? While the book is clearly the start of a very long and beautiful series, the quality of work and the hours spent on it clearly shows. City of Bones is a beautiful mixture of fantasy, romance, action and just plain fun!
