lilo4h's review against another edition
1.0
this series was difficult to read, mostly for my dislike of the main characters. i love the universe it created and the other series and characters are great to me but something about clary and jace just make my teeth grind and at some points i was fighting so hard just to finish it
x_kyrie_x's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this years ago and enjoyed it but never continued with the series for whatever reason. I wound up with some extra on my Amazon account and decided to just buy the whole series and read it this year.
So this particular book is a re-read and it's a solid four stars.
It reads as a YA book (not a plus for me) but it's got solid characters, good world building, character growth and development (yes characters are a big thing for me). It's got fairies, shadowhunters, vampires and werewolves.
Some of the writing is a little homophobic and a little too interested in incest but at the moment I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and see where she goes with the story.
Most have read the book/series so I won't get too much into the plot other than to say that if this is a book you'd probably like then I think there's a good chance you've already read it (it's very popular in the demographic that she writes for).This was surprisingly good.
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Original Review
Not really caring for YA my expectations were set low but I have heard so many good things about this series that I had to check it out.
Very well written. The plot was engaging and well paced. The world building was very interesting. The characters were the weak point of the book - they were one dimensional, predictable and not very engaging. Average dialogue.
All-in-all I liked it and will probably continue reading the series at some point.
I would recommend this to certain people (teenagers, new readers, Buffy fans etc.) but I could understand if there is a large contingent of people that would dislike this book. Definitely much better than the average YA fantasy that is published these days.
So this particular book is a re-read and it's a solid four stars.
It reads as a YA book (not a plus for me) but it's got solid characters, good world building, character growth and development (yes characters are a big thing for me). It's got fairies, shadowhunters, vampires and werewolves.
Some of the writing is a little homophobic and a little too interested in incest but at the moment I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and see where she goes with the story.
Most have read the book/series so I won't get too much into the plot other than to say that if this is a book you'd probably like then I think there's a good chance you've already read it (it's very popular in the demographic that she writes for).This was surprisingly good.
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Original Review
Not really caring for YA my expectations were set low but I have heard so many good things about this series that I had to check it out.
Very well written. The plot was engaging and well paced. The world building was very interesting. The characters were the weak point of the book - they were one dimensional, predictable and not very engaging. Average dialogue.
All-in-all I liked it and will probably continue reading the series at some point.
I would recommend this to certain people (teenagers, new readers, Buffy fans etc.) but I could understand if there is a large contingent of people that would dislike this book. Definitely much better than the average YA fantasy that is published these days.
yeahjaclynn's review against another edition
3.0
reread! i don't think i'm gonna rate rereads lmao.
okay so this doesn't hold up suuuper well (a few inconsistencies, some moderately transphobic jokes, a literal romance between two teenagers who think they are siblings)
BUT
it is still Pretty Good! definitely an interesting, funny, compelling ya fantasy. the characters are decent (even if alec and isabelle are kind of dicks until the epilogue), the dialogue has some solid one liners and deadpans, and jace is still quite charming in his own, sardonic, shitheaded way. to this day, the world of the shadowhunters is one of my favorite fantasy worlds, and steles/Marks/etc is a really cool magic system imo (even though it's not actually magic? technicalities.)
i read this book more times than i could count when i was a teenager, and reading it again now sort of felt like coming home. it makes me laugh, now that i'm older, that the scene where jace and clary kiss in the greenhouse was the HOTTEST thing i'd ever read at the time. if only 14-year-old jaclynn knew the levels of debauchery she'd discover down the line.
on second thought, probably better she didn't.
okay so this doesn't hold up suuuper well (a few inconsistencies, some moderately transphobic jokes, a literal romance between two teenagers who think they are siblings)
BUT
it is still Pretty Good! definitely an interesting, funny, compelling ya fantasy. the characters are decent (even if alec and isabelle are kind of dicks until the epilogue), the dialogue has some solid one liners and deadpans, and jace is still quite charming in his own, sardonic, shitheaded way. to this day, the world of the shadowhunters is one of my favorite fantasy worlds, and steles/Marks/etc is a really cool magic system imo (even though it's not actually magic? technicalities.)
i read this book more times than i could count when i was a teenager, and reading it again now sort of felt like coming home. it makes me laugh, now that i'm older, that the scene where jace and clary kiss in the greenhouse was the HOTTEST thing i'd ever read at the time. if only 14-year-old jaclynn knew the levels of debauchery she'd discover down the line.
on second thought, probably better she didn't.
evillear's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angelreads's review against another edition
4.0
Synopsis
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. . . .
My Review
wow, what else can I say. I loved City of Bones so much, it drew me in from the first page and I could not out it down. I loved the way Cassandra Clare's writing captivated me. It brought me into the whole new world of Shadowhunters and demons. Even thought it was set in New York it felt like i was in a whole different world. We first come to met Clary one of our main characters whom I came to like thought out the whole book, I like her character, even though she is 'weak' she is also very strong. Simon and I love him but then I don't love him, maybe that is because I love Jace so much. I love Jace's Characterisation, he is a dick head at times, but then he cares a hell of alot about the ones he loves and would do anything for them. Jace at times in City of Bones does get me a little frustrated but oh well. Now to Isabelle Lightwood, at first I hated her, her attitude just got onto my nerves a lot but as the books went on I grew to love her. I loved Alex Lightwood from the Start even though he hated Clary, I understand why. I loved the way Cassandra brought froth Alec, he may not have killed any demons but he comes forward as a strong character to me. I love Cassandra Clare's writing, City of Bones was beautifully written. An Oh my gosh the twist and turns and just wow! I would have never guessed some of them, just omg. I love the Character of Magnus Bane just he is amazing haha, I love the characterisation and I love the way her acts. Now on to Valentine Morgenstern, what a perfect villain he is, the way he acts, the way her talks, and my hatred for him, just a perfect villain. Cassandra's descriptions of everything in City of Bones, From places to Characters was just brilliant. I could go on and on about it. I love the story line of the whole book it was refreshing and different and I loved it. And all I can say is The Bloody Ending OMG!
I give City of Bones by Cassandra Clare a 4 out of 5 Star
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. . . .
My Review
wow, what else can I say. I loved City of Bones so much, it drew me in from the first page and I could not out it down. I loved the way Cassandra Clare's writing captivated me. It brought me into the whole new world of Shadowhunters and demons. Even thought it was set in New York it felt like i was in a whole different world. We first come to met Clary one of our main characters whom I came to like thought out the whole book, I like her character, even though she is 'weak' she is also very strong. Simon and I love him but then I don't love him, maybe that is because I love Jace so much. I love Jace's Characterisation, he is a dick head at times, but then he cares a hell of alot about the ones he loves and would do anything for them. Jace at times in City of Bones does get me a little frustrated but oh well. Now to Isabelle Lightwood, at first I hated her, her attitude just got onto my nerves a lot but as the books went on I grew to love her. I loved Alex Lightwood from the Start even though he hated Clary, I understand why. I loved the way Cassandra brought froth Alec, he may not have killed any demons but he comes forward as a strong character to me. I love Cassandra Clare's writing, City of Bones was beautifully written. An Oh my gosh the twist and turns and just wow! I would have never guessed some of them, just omg. I love the Character of Magnus Bane just he is amazing haha, I love the characterisation and I love the way her acts. Now on to Valentine Morgenstern, what a perfect villain he is, the way he acts, the way her talks, and my hatred for him, just a perfect villain. Cassandra's descriptions of everything in City of Bones, From places to Characters was just brilliant. I could go on and on about it. I love the story line of the whole book it was refreshing and different and I loved it. And all I can say is The Bloody Ending OMG!
I give City of Bones by Cassandra Clare a 4 out of 5 Star
areaderintime's review against another edition
5.0
AHHHH this was such an amazing start to a series that I know I will grow to obsess over and LOVE with all of my heart. Cannot WAIT to pick up the next book very very soon!!
sharonskinner's review against another edition
3.0
It took me awhile to get into this book, but that was due in part because I listened to it as an audio book and I did not care for the reader. Overall it’s a good story with some very interesting settings and concepts.
I did have some trouble getting to like the protagonist and care about her, in fact I cared much more about the actual story and adventure than I did about the protagonist. However, it was a good enough read that I intend to read the next book, or listen to it on audio if I can tolerate the reader.
I did have some trouble getting to like the protagonist and care about her, in fact I cared much more about the actual story and adventure than I did about the protagonist. However, it was a good enough read that I intend to read the next book, or listen to it on audio if I can tolerate the reader.