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A review by rosegoldrose
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The relief that filled me when I closed this book for the last time is immeasurable. I swear I started to believe I'd never finish it during my lifetime.
I bought it three years ago because I suddenly remembered my friends being obsessed with the Shadowhunters franchise and wanted to learn what the fuss was about.
I had to have read the first half of the book at least three times at this point, so it went a bit easier. The world-building parts, however, felt like trudging through mud and sometimes made me put the book down for days. The chapters I enjoyed the most were definitely the ones focused on the characters and their interactions, but the pace picked up toward the end, too.
I also cannot fail to mention how annoying I found Clary in the early chapters. While I appreciate the diversity of main character personalities, she was the shining example of the "not like other girls" trope and I found myself rolling my eyes every time she'd want to slap someone for merely existing.
I figured out the plot twist midway through the book, but in a way, it helped fuel me because I just had to see if I was right.
I bought it three years ago because I suddenly remembered my friends being obsessed with the Shadowhunters franchise and wanted to learn what the fuss was about.
I had to have read the first half of the book at least three times at this point, so it went a bit easier. The world-building parts, however, felt like trudging through mud and sometimes made me put the book down for days. The chapters I enjoyed the most were definitely the ones focused on the characters and their interactions, but the pace picked up toward the end, too.
I also cannot fail to mention how annoying I found Clary in the early chapters. While I appreciate the diversity of main character personalities, she was the shining example of the "not like other girls" trope and I found myself rolling my eyes every time she'd want to slap someone for merely existing.
I figured out the plot twist midway through the book, but in a way, it helped fuel me because I just had to see if I was right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Incest
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Body shaming, and Fatphobia