I’ll start by reviewing my favorite book EVER: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Read it, if you haven’t. Really. It’s amazing. I vlogged about it, too. Here’s Barnes and Noble’s description of it.
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.
First of all, Cassandra Clare is just a fun author to read. Not only the dialogue but also the general narration is filled with sarcastic humor that’s actually witty. I found myself laughing out loud when I read it, and I’m not much of a laugher when it comes to books. Normally I’ll just acknowledge the humor of something silently in my head. Something about this book was different for me, though.
Secondly, Jace. Jace, who currently holds the number one spot on my Fictional Boyfriends List. What can I say about Jace? I’m not gonna say he’s perfect, because he’s not. Maybe that’s what makes me so in love with him. If characters are written to be literally perfect, they’re not believable. That makes them lose their appeal. Anyway, though, back to Jace. His imperfections are human and subtle, and not major enough to make him a complete unlovable jerk. Plus, he’s witty and tough but also really sweet sometimes. Basically, he was written just right.
I could go on and on about all the characters. Magnus, a warlock, is hilarious. Easily one of my favorite characters. Isabelle, a Shadowhunter, is really strong and passionate in her own way. Clary is also really funny. She’s not dry or bland or one-sided, which are common qualities for main characters. Basically, all the characters have really strong personalities. They feel very real and very solid to me.
Also, the plot. I’m a big fan of urban fantasy, which is what this is. The whole world she’s created sort of resembles Harry Potter. Coming from me, that’s a MAJOR compliment. It’s intriguing and dangerous at the same time. On the one hand, I wish I could be drawn into that world, and on the other hand I’m glad for the safety of mine. The story is definitely a page-turner. I was always wanting to know what happened next. It left me wanting more of the Shadowhunter world, and wanting the next book. If you haven’t already read it, make sure to pick it up next time you’re at the bookstore or the library.
Bibliobibula out.
