Hang with me, it’s been a while since I wrote a book review.  Truthfully, it’s been a while since I’ve made a blog post.  I could make excuses but suffice it to say, life happened.  Then it happened again and I’ve been metaphorically (and in some ways, literally) sidelined physically so here we go.

City of Bones is the first book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series.  Having read her Infernal Devices series, I had high hopes for this one.  Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed.  I loved Will Herondale and Tessa Gray and Jem Carstairs!  I loved the time period that series was set in and the characters seemed to “pop off the page” for me a bit more.  Maybe it’s because Infernal Devices was written after the Mortal Instruments series.  Maybe Ms. Clare had more time to polish her world.  I’m not sure.  But where I can, I enjoy reading a series in chronological order.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a still a good read and I would absolutely recommend it to my friends! I just didn’t connect with the characters as much. I’m hoping that as this series progresses, I’ll come to love it as much as ID.

So if you’re like me and started this journey in Victorian England, City of Bones opens in modern day New York and we’re introduced to Clarissa (Clary) Fray and her friend, Simon. She’s an ordinary teen just trying to navigate life. That is until she witnesses a boy murdered in a club by some other teens. As if that’s not enough, a shocked Clary finds out her Mom is missing, her home infested with demons, and a strange attraction to one of the boys involved in the club killing. But the deeper Clary dives into the Shadowhunter world in order to find her Mom, long buried secrets begin to surface. Secrets that change the way she thinks about herself and her future.

The supporting cast of characters, thanks to Freeform‘s take on Ms. Clare’s story, felt like old friends to me. Oh yes, I broke the cardinal rule of the reader universe… I watched the show first. Of course, some liberties were taken for the show so don’t expect a perfect match when comparing the two (Luke is a completely different ethnicity and has a different job?!). Personally, I haven’t decided which version of those characters I like better yet and I’ll admit it’s played into how much I emotionally responded to the book versions. That’s probably some sort of Book Nerd sacrilege, right?

Anyway, I walked away just feeling “meh” about this one. Again, nothing was really wrong with the story line. Pacing was good, characters were well fleshed out, backstory given at appropriate moments… I just didn’t get that “hooked” feeling I was hoping for with it. 3 stars was my ultimate Goodreads rating.

Have you read it? Share your thoughts in the comments section if you have. I’d love to hear other’s opinions on this book and/or the series.

Reviews Best Friends Cassandra Clare Contemporary Fantasy Love Triangle Nephilim New York Paranormal Romance Series YA