The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

City of Bones, the first book in a trilogy under the name The Mortal Instruments.

I just finished reading this book. It’s an odd mix of Harry Potter and TV Shows like Buffy and Supernatural, features vampires, werewolves, warlocks and demons, not to mention incredibly sexy demon hunters (called shadow hunters), and secret hidden worlds. I loved every second of it.

The story is set in New York City, the home of author Cassandra Clare, who was inspired by the urban landscapes. The city is also the home of the main character, Clary Fray. A fifteen-year-old freckly redhead. She has one best friend, a boy called Simon and she’s a talented artist. Her curiosity is sparked one night, by a boy with blue hair at a nightclub, when she sees another two boys, one with a knife, following the blue haired boy.

Then her mother goes missing, and her ‘uncle’ Luke is suddenly not who he seems to be. The two mysterious boys from the nightclub are suddenly the key to Clary getting her answers of what is going on.

The story takes several twists and turns and I was constantly left wanting to know what was going to happen. From the beginning it sets a good pace, not too fast, but it never lags either. It’s author Clare’s first novel and while it has similarities to other books and TV shows, it still remains fresh and original. It’s intriguing and I couldn’t put it down.

The chemistry between the characters is great and as a reader I felt not like just an outside observer but like I was somehow part of the adventure. I loved it and I highly recommended it to anyone who likes the fantasy genre. I haven’t read the other two books yet, but you can bet I plan to.