City of Bones by Cassandra Clare | Book Review

City of Bones

"Shutting your eyes and pretending something is not happening doesn't make any true, Jace."--Clary.

The Mortal Instruments #1

By Cassandra Clare

3 of 5 stars

Publisher              : Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published Year     : March, 2007
Number of Pages : 485 pages
ISBN                    : 9781416914280
Format                  : Ebook
I got this novel from my friend.

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.

***

The Mortal Instruments is one of series that I want to read since I knew that this series exist. But the problem is, I am very idle to search and read. Moreover, when I want to read this series about two years ago, I didn't have any device to read it. I means, I couldn't stay read in front of my PC all the time. So, when I got my smartphone, I decided to search this novel and try to read it.

Actually, I had been watch the movie before I read this novel. When I watch the movie, I started to curious with the novel. Is there any different? Is there any interesting thing in novel that not mentioned at movie? Okay. I really want to know the detail of this story. So, I was very excited to know more about City of Bones.

Seeing the cover of this novel, actually, I felt disappointed. In my opinion, the cover is not interesting. Moreover, the color of the cover is not a good composition. Then, the picture of the guy there not caught my attention. Ah, I just couldn't take this cover as my favorite. Really. I hope something more interesting for this novel. Maybe, the silhouette of the Institute would be more interesting for the cover picture.

The story begin with the meeting between Clary and shadowhunter--the one who have task to kill Demon. The more complicated one is, Clary's mother--Josselyn Fray, lost and Clary don't have idea where he is. With the help from Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, Clary try to search her mother. Along with that, finally, Clary know that she is not a mundane but the descendant of shadowhunter. The one that really shocking is the fact that Clary's father is Valentine, one of the strongest shadowhunter ever. Unfortunately, Valentine has another obsession for Mortal Cup. 

"Don't ask him a questions unless you know you can stand the answer."--Isabelle.

Image source: here, edited by me

Actually, the story was really amazing and out of the box. Despite the trend that usually use Vampire or Werewolf as character, Clare try to make other creature that lovable. That's why, in my opinion shadowhunter is a good choice. I like the conflict. Clare could take me want to know more about her shadowhunter-world. Then, she has capability to make sure the history of shadowhunter clear enough.

Please ignore my hands :3

Maybe, the weakness of this novel is the detail. Sometime, Claire describe a place or something very specific. Actually, it would be good if Clare can put on a right point but unlikely, she put the detail not in perfect time. So, i think it's boring and sometime a little bit annoying--oh, c'mon, who would read the description of some place when you read the action scene? 

"If you're angry, just say it. Don't act like nothing ever touches you. It's like you never feel anything at all."--Clary.

One thing that caught my attention is about the changing of point of view. I didn't really remember about the exact chapter, but, the point of view changing when Luke start to tell his story to Clary. Actually, this kind of thing is not really annoying, but I think that it would be good if Clare still use the third point of view. The changing of point of view is not a good one in my opinion.

"As I said before, where there is a love, there is hatred"--Hodge.

Like what another said, I really sad because of the fact that Jace and Clary is brother and sister. Whereas, I hope that they will be a couple. Ah, I would like to read the second till the last book. I would like to know about the secret of Valentine, the continuity of Jace and Clary relationship, and many other. Maybe, I would like to search and read the next one. Yes, I have to.

3 stars for the-failed-relationship between Jace and Clary :(