City of Bones: Yeah, I Just Read It

So, if you're an Oasis Seeker, then you know that I finally crawled out from under my rock and read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.  I've been following Mundie Moms for months, and all I hear about on hero-worship chats is "Jace-this, Jace-that," so it seemed like it was about time I read it.

I must say, I'm glad I did. (Yes, that's me holding a real book. As much as I love my Kindle, I just had to buy something "paper" at Target one day.  Head over to the Oasis for YA if you'd like a chance to win it.)

Here's the synopsis from Barnes & Noble:

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.

Overall, here are my thoughts:
*  The plot and storyline are unique, interesting, complex, and logical.  These are angels without God; demons without Hell.  It's a fascinating take on the supernatural.
*  I would have liked it a lot more in first person.  This is clearly Clary's story, and it's told in close third person, but the book would have felt more immediate told from her first person perspective.  The book kept me interested, but not staying up too late to read.
*  The plot twist is totally unexpected and you won't want to believe that it's true.  At this point, the book became a total page turner.  Too bad it was almost completely over.
*  I liked all the characters.  I liked their adventures.  Ultimately, I liked the way it ended.  But all I can say is that I "liked" it.  Not "loved" it.  I'm sure I'll eventually read the next in the series, but I'm not salivating to pick it up.

 

In the end, I give it a 3 out of 4 Greek coins -- a URA* rating.