City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1)

by Cassandra Clare

Book Overview

Discover this first installment of the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and "prepare to be hooked" (Entertainment Weekly). 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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416955070
• ISBN13: 9781442493063
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Length: 485 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 1.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

It was good

It was a good story. Maybe not as good as it hype though?

One of my favs

This series is one of my favs. I was hooked within the first 10 pages.

Awesome World

Still one of my favorite fantasy novels to this day. The story is compelling, the character are well-written, and the world is expertly established!

NOT “very good” condition

Unfortunately, great deal of wear and water damage on most of the first quarter of the book. This was NOT “very good” condition. Extremely disappointed. I did not have the ability to read this, so I’m not sure yet if I like the story.

Wonderful Book! Not a huge fan of the ending though…

I love how the characters are. I think the Author really captured their different personalities amazingly. The plot twists are shocking. This book kept me reading until the very end.

I love this book!!!!!

If you watch the tv show the books series is in my opinion way better. From the different worlds it takes you. To all the creatures they have to fight against!!

It's hard to put down

Such a wonderful start and just sucks you in to the world Clare writes!

Amazing

Great story

Wasn't in Spanish

I bought the supposed Spanish version. Guess i bought myself a gift instead, love the book but I guess be wary if you're buying a foreign language version

The first book that made me fall in love with the world of shadowhunters

Apart from the beautiful cover, I love how the author developed her skills in writing the more she continued with the shadowhunter world 💞

Not what I ordered

I ordered this in the original cover and hardcover and they sent me the new cover in paperback. Needed the hardcover for my collection

Book issues

I had no issues with the actual story itself but I’m upset that I ordered a Very Good copy of the book and the spine is cracked and the cover is torn. I’m really upset.

Mortal Instruments Series is a must read!!

I absolutely loved this book and am now almost finished with the rest of the series!! Such a good plot with exciting fantasy and romance!!

Order a Very good received a good!

I love Cassandra and thought of buying the old cover because I thought I liked more than the new ones! I had bought other books from this site but this book had me sad! Dirty cover and damaged also very dusty! Very unhappy with my purchase

Captivating but...

This book is indeed captivating as most reviews indicate. I, however much enjoyed the book and series, do have a few points to explore regarding a review. For as creative and outstanding a concept the series is. The writing can be a tad over explained. I enjoy detailed descriptions as much as the next person. However some of the explanations are so overdone and unnecessary to the plot and development of the story. Another issue I encounter with this series of the awkward ending reveal. I won’t indicate spoilers but it’s uncomfortable.

Amazing

I Really Liked These, Read Rhe Whole Seriess In Days Because It Was So Good

Great!

This story had many twist and turns. I loved reading this book.

Angry.

I LOVE this book, however I ordered a hardcover and got a paperback.

An amazing book series! Must read!

Great fantasy world that will leave you wanting more! Great characters to fall in love with.

The Mortal Instruments is my favorite!!!

This is my all time favorite book series! Cassandra Clare's other Shadowhunter series are also amazing!

Okay but not great

I am struggling to decide how I rate this book.... There are bits I really like and find so unique to this author and series. I really enjoy Luke's character a lot and his relationship with Clary. I think the use of runes and glyphs is very interesting and special to this series. That being said the book had a tendency to over explain some things that had no necessity for it, it would leave some things to interpretation that need further explanation or fleshing out, and some infered knowledge left me questioning if you were supposed to already have put two and two together. There were times I was annoyed with the pacing of the book and the amount of "surprise plot twist let's start a new direction" in the first book of a series. I feel confused about what audience the books were meant for. It feels like a YA book at some points at others it feels like a middle grade book. I would like to think the things that weren't fully fleshed out would resolve in the rest of the books in the series but I do not think I will continue to read the series. It was okay but overall I was left feeling like this book was rushed in a way shouldn't have for such a long series.

Love this book!

Went I to this read expecting a more slow moving rip off of Harry Potter witch is what I had heard. I was so mislead. Such a amazing book. The kind of book you start reading and can't put down.

Such great shape!

I ordered this book and within a week and a half it was in the mailbox ready to be read. I got it in way better shape than expected!

My Favorite Book Series Of All Time!

This book is full of fantasy, adventure, sassy remarks, love, and mystery. The character development is amazing and you grow to know each one of the characters' quirks, likes, and dislikes. It is told in a third person point of view which allows for there to be different character focuses, so that the story is not only about the main character. Any reader who enjoys romance, action, and humor will enjoy this book!

Great Book!

I really enjoy this series! If you did to, I recommend the The Infernal Devices series!

Great

This is one of my new favorite fiction series

I enjoyed the book very much. It contained detailed information, the characters had distinct personalities, and the plot was great. I love the sci-fi of it all and how it works along with the real world.

This book is a must-read

The romance and action is very well balanced; I’ve never read anything like it before. The way everything and everyone in the story interacts is very interesting and fits perfectly! It’s a must-read for anyone who likes vampires, werewolves, angels, and demons. It’s by far one of my favorite book series.

One of my favorites

This is one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors of all time. Everything she writes is gold

I get very passionate about books that I truly enjoy. This book is totally worth the read. I fell in love with every single character, good and bad. I do not regret reading this and my doubts that you will are high.

Fascinating world created by C. Clare. READ IT!

First, let me start off by saying that as with any piece of literature, it's a matter of taste. And the tastes expressed here are... well, widely ranged. Yet, I do NOT believe that this book deserves less than 2 stars, that would be just someone's biased pet peeves. The book opens with a girl, Clary, whose discovers rather suddenly that she's different from an ordinary teenager girl. And once she does, a cascade of events whirls her into the world that she, or anyone else like her for that matter, did not know existed. As a character, I thought Clary made a fine heroine. She was believable. Yes, sometimes she acted stupidly, she required protection, she craved comfort and attention, but those are the things that make a teenage girl real, don't they? At the end, she showed that she was brave, loyal and moral. The hero of the book was remarkable. There are just so many things that make him stand out. Jace is insanely witty and sarcastic, courageous to the point of being fearless, strong and abashing, unapologetic and unconforming. His upbringing is his strength and his weakness. He's such a complex character, and the first book only lets a glimpse into this soul. The love story is..., well, unique. Unlike most reviews, I didn't find it disgusting. The story was meant to be a forbidden love, and it sure was. The attraction between the two main characters began innocently and it evolved to a natural point. Of course, how it will proceed is what raises our eyebrows. The writing was good, not excellent though. Some of the description was dragged on for a bit longer than necessary. Not always describing the room, clothing, surroundings in full detail is the best of ideas. Sometimes, it has to be pertinent to the story, which is in this case there was half a chance that it was. I do believe that this can be fixed in the future and overlooked in the meantime. DO READ this book, and then judge yourself.

Favorite YA series

I love this whole young adult, fantasy genre. I am a big Twilight fan, but I must admit, this series was much better than the Twilight saga. There is some romance, but it also has a lot more action, which I feel Twilight was lacking. My boyfriend even enjoyed these books! This series was also written in 3rd person point of view......wonderful for developing more characters. Give this series a try: check it out at the library or buy for yourself. I bought the whole series. I hope Cassandra Clare writes some more YA books like this. Also, try Cynthia Leitich Smith for other YA books along the same line (titles: Tantalize and Eternal - VERY easy reading). My next series will be Charlaine Harris (True Blood) and The Vampire Diaries.

Loved it.

City of Bones was a book that kept me up reading late into the night until I couldn't keep my eyes open and then waking up ridiculously early because I had to finish it. City of Bones was definately a book to keep you flipping pages. I could never guess exactly what was coming next, Clare kept you surprised with what she threw at readers. The world Clare created was so vivid. She is heavy on descriptions so you really get the overall picture. At times the description was almost a little much. The characters were so full of life! I loved Jace, he was enjoyable to read about and have a great sense of humor. Alec and Isabelle grow on you as the book go on. At first I found myself not liking them much and almost annoyed with them at first, but then they find a way into your heart. Simon was a really amiable character. Surprisingly, him and Jace were my two favorites. Clary is consistanting reminded of all she must learn, as her world and everything she thought was turned upside down. She was a strong female character. Overall City of Bones is a gripping fantasy that will leave readers heading out the door to get book 2, City of Ashes. A must read for any fantasy lovers out there.

Fantastic Fantasy Series

I started this book one weekend, and ended up finishing the whole series the next week. I absolutely loved it! As a fan of Twilight, I admit that I had low expectations for this series. I thought it would be one of the many imitations in YA fiction right now. It is not. In fact, I enjoyed it more than Twilight. The plot is more complex, and the characters certainly have more depth. Simon and Isabelle are my favorite characters. Although Simon is deeply in love with Clary, he does not allow her to take advantage of him. Isabelle is conceited and cold, but deeply loyal to her family. Even Jace is an unlikely hero. He certainly has character traits that are most unbecoming. It seems that Clary is the only somewhat predictable character--a young, innocent girl struggling with the reality of who she really is. The author describes this fantasy world in great detail, and it's the kind of world you can easily get lost in while reading. I can't wait to see more from this author and hope there's a new series in the works.

Excellent reading!

Excellent characters, great action & pacing, compelling story line, and flat out fun read - start to finish. I ripped through it once and then read it again leisurely. This is simply a terrific YA book. Am looking forward to book 2. Clare has created a world with a mix of familiar fantasy types (werewolves, vampires, warlocks) and those which don't get much print: the nephilim. And her treatment of these is refreshing. Is realistic fantasy a term? Whether a teen or an adult who enjoys a great tale -- do give The Mortal Instrument series a go! Happy reading.