The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

With the release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie in just a few weeks, I've decided to voice my thoughts on the trailer.

This trailer looks AWESOME. It looks so close to the book and I hope they keep it that way. I'm incredibly anxious for this movie, and I hope they do a fantastic job. The acting looks superb, the color and the graphics look fantastic and I hope that this movie lives up to the book. From these clips, it looks like they're keeping the realistic feel to the movie--everything seems like it could happen. I am SO excited to see the final product. I can't wait! I hope that, if the movie is as good as I'm expecting it to me, we'll be able to see the rest of the books come to life. I'll definitely be re-reading City of Bones in preparation for this film. :)

City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare

The review for this book contains spoilers for the first three books in this series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass. 

[Click the title of each book to read my reviews]

 

The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

 

I was extremely cautious when picking up this book, for a few different reasons the main one being that I wasn't sure if I'd like the direction that Cassandra Clare would go with the fourth book in her Immortal Instruments series. So, I did what any cautious reader would do, and I stalked YouTubers and GoodReaders to figure out whether or not I should actually read this book or not. I ended up reading it, and absolutely loving it. I shall explain:
1. More. Simon.
Simon was one of the characters that I felt that Cassie Clare could have expanded on. Throughout the first three books, he was just kind of there. There was no real depth to his character, besides him following Clary around like a lost and somewhat broken puppy. I love puppies, therefore, I love Simon. The thing that I didn't really like about Simon in this book, though, was the whole Mark of Caine thing. I knew that it would affect him, but the effects of the Mark weren't really shown. They were touched on, sure, but Cassie could have definitely expanded on the whole hurt-me-and-I'll-hurt-you-seven-times-worse thing. Also, in CoFA, you see more of a teenaged guy type to Simon. When you first start this book, you may be very surprised at Simon's relationship status. He is currently dating two people at the same time. Any guesses as to who these "mystery women" are? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway, because it's really obvious and it's not spoiling anything. Isabelle and Mia. Yep. Because that's not a train wreck waiting to happen. I mean COME ON SIMON, you know better than that. You'd think that after the whole Jace-Clary thing that Simon would be a little more sensative to other people's feelings, but whatever, I'm not going to rant about this. All you really need to know is that Simon becomes a key player in this book, which is a VERY good thing.
2. Cassie Clare's words.
If you've read this far into the series, you know what I'm talking about. Her cliffhangers are fantasticly torturous. ESPECIALLY at the end of this book. Words can't describe how much I want to read her next installment - City of Lost Souls. AND there's ANOTHOTHER HUGE cliffhanger at the end of the book. One day, I will ask Cassie Clare how she's mastered this astounding ability to create moments that both confuse and amaze readers.

The only thing that started to annoy me in this book was, dare I say it, Jace. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jace, but in this book he does some really stupid things. Not pick a fight with a bar filled with werewolves kind of stupid, but the more self destructive kind of stupid. Jace and Clary's relationship is still strained, and it just doesn't really do anything for the series at this point. I mean, though out the beginning of the series their relationship was a big deal, especially because of the whole incest thing, but it's starting to get tiresome. As I've previously stated: Jace = Awesome, (with a capital 'A') but he needs to be a bit less self loathing. Which is one of the things that I like about him, but the whole I-hate-my-life thing needs to be toned down a little bit.

Overall, I'd give this book a 4/5.

City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare

This review will contain spoilers if you have not read City of Bones.

Clary Fray just wishes that he life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating new found brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help his father?

Immediately after reading City of Bones [Review] I picked up City of Ashes and completely devoured it. I give this book a 4/5, because I don't feel that it was as good as the first book, the writing seemed a bit rushed is all. The cover is astounding, and I love the contrast between the hair and the blue color in the background, not to mention that awesome swirling of silver. The age grouping that I would give this book is 13+ but, you are free to dismiss my "warning" and read this book anyway. It's not like I can (or would) stop you if you did.

 In this book you see more of Simon and Clary as their relationship grows. Clary is still trying to find herself and figure out which world she belongs in - the Shadow world or the mundane world. Throughout this book you are brought into many battles between many different Shadow persons. First, there's the whole Jace and Clary are siblings and Valentine is their father thing going on, which poses a major problem for both Jace and Clary's romantic relationship, as well as their Shadow Hunter relationship. Jace is seriously questioning who he can trust, including the Lightwoods, who are determined to give Jace a hard time about his father (Like Jace isn't beating himself up already). Then there is the whole vampires and werewolves are eternally at war with each other thing going on, which, at times, was a bit amusing.

Alec was seen more in this book, and I really enjoyed learning more about him. In City of Bones you do see some of Alec, but not as much as you see him in this book. Alec still pines for Jace, even though he knows that Jace wouldn't go for him. It tortured me to see Alec heartbroken at times, but it all worked out for him in the end. And, it was awesome. You also get to see the Lightwood family dynamic, which is pretty cool.

The only thing that I don't really feel that this book touched on was Isabelle's personal life. We learn a few things about her, but we don't really get to see who she really is. I don't know why this bugs me so much, because this book is rated 5/5, but it does. I kind of want to know who she really is and what she thinks about what's currently going on in everyone's lives. As I've said before, I felt that this book was rushed, and it didn't have as many twists as City of Bones did. I could easily figure out what was going to happen next, and I was expecting a little more from Clare. 

City of Bones -- Cassandra Clare

This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series which will consist of a grand total of six books. There will also be a prequil series to the Mortal Instruments called the Infernal Devices (Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess).

When 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 odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons--keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. 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 an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Once you start reading this enthralling novel you are immediately engulfed in a unique and astounding new world. The Shadow World is a magickal relm that is invisible to humans and consists of Shadowhunters, known as Nephilim (the children of humans and angels) among other creatures such as Demons and Downworlders. Shadowhunters hunt and kill demons, and try to keel the tension between the  Downworlders--human-demon hybrids such as vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and the Fair Folk (Faeries)--at bay. The main character in this book is Clary Fray, a mundane (human), who lives in a single parent household. Her father died in an accident before she was born, leaving her mother, Jocelyn to raise Clary, along with her "Uncle" Luke. Clary and best-friend Simon have been pretty much inseperable since they've met and now Simon wants to be more than just friends. Clary is suprised when she follows Shadowhunters; Jace Wayland, Isabelle Lightwood and Alec Lightwood, as they  kill a Demon. Jace starts to show up everywhere Clary goes and she starts to get a little freaked out when she realizes that no one else can see him. She also starts to feel a strong attraction to Jace, which causes tension between everyone, especially Simon. Becoming a Shadowhunter doesn't just happen, you have to be born with the Sight. Clary then realizes that she can see the Shadow World and is taken to the Institute where she finds out more about her past and memories that have been mysteriously taken from her by an unknown person. When Clary's mother is kidnaped by someone from Clary's unknown past, Clary and Jace set out on a quest, with help from Simon, Isabelle and Alec, to find out more about Clary's past, and who has taken Jocelyn Fray.

When I first saw this book at my local library in 2007 I was very skeptical. At first, I was confused at the cover and young-reader-me didn't really stop to read the back of a book. I was that girl who judged the book by it's cover and I admit that young-reader-me was very, very wrong on her initial assessment. Since then I have gotten over my quick once-overs and have looked deeper into books before I start to read them. I am getting very off topic so, on with the review. This book made me want to tear my hair out, in the best way possible. (Kudos to Katelyn for dealing with my frustrations that were brought by this book) I absolutely loved City of Bones! I questioned myself on many occasions, because I kept thinking that Clare was going in one direction, and then she does a complete 180 and goes in an utterly different direction.

My favorite character would have to be Jace. I loved Jace's confidence and his ability to see through some people while being completely oblivious to others. My favorite chapter is chapter 17 because you really get to see a softer side to Jace. You get to see the mushy side to him and how he really, truly cares for his friends. Since Jace is one of the strong and silent types it was nice to see him put himself out there a little bit. He is loyal to a fault and will do anything to protect the ones he loves, which is both lovely and frightening. I hated watching Jace break under certain pressures as his world shatters again and again.

If you were like me and judged this book by the cover, please read this astounding book!
I will definitely be reading the next book in this series, City of Ashes, as soon as my TBR (To Be Read) pile lowers a little.

Read on!
--Leah