City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I am almost hesitant to put up a review for this book. The reason being that this is a series. There have been quite a few series that I didn't love the first book but ended up loving the series. Example: the Vampire Academy series, The Hourglass Door series, and, believe it or not- The Seven Realms series (which is now probably my very favorite). It's not that I hated the first book in these series, they were just...slow. They were/are all books the I liked, while I loved the rest of the books following them. (Does that even make sense?? I'm struggling today.)

My point is-- I liked this book, didn't love it. But I am excited to read the next one to see what happens.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. I loved Clary and Jace, of course, but I found myself kind of rooting for Simon. Crazy, I know. That's like being Team Jacob or Team Gale. (Wink, wink) I felt so bad for him though. The whole book Clary would be doing something and then think Oh, I totally forgot about Simon. Simon? Who's Simon? Oh well. Really? He's your best friend! It kind of made me want to slap her. But then, I'd probably do the same thing in the presence of Jace. Which leads me to my next thought...

Why is it that in real life, (the majority of) guys with long hair just look scraggy? It seriously makes me want to break into their homes and shave their heads while they sleep. But in books, guys with long hair-- especially with some curl-- sound so hot?? Oh how I love fiction-- it makes anything possible. :D

As for the storyline, I really liked it, even though parts of it were so unoriginal. Mainly, the villain's evil plot to rid the world of any "unpure" blood. (cough, cough Hitler!) How many times have I read this idea in books lately? A lot. One that immediately comes to mind- the Harry Potter series. I'm okay with that though. It obviously makes for a good villain theme or there wouldn't be so many books with it woven in. My guess is that one of Valentine's parents is going to be a mundane or Downworlder or something, so really he's not a pure blood either. Just like Voldemort was half Muggle and just like Hitler was half Jewish. Just a guess though.

Anyway, I'm off to start on book two, City of Ashes. I'm going to say that this is one you should definitely read, but I'm going to hold off on saying it's "buy-worthy" until I read more of the series. Until then...

Happy Reading!