Book #11 - City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1), Cassandra Clare
485 pages
Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Started 1/28/12
Finished 1/29/12
4 STARS

Clary Fray is a normal almost-16-year-old who discovers early on in this book that there's something special about her. She can see demons and other things that she really wishes that she couldn't. And, some things she's glad she can see now - like his hotness Jace, a Shadowhunter trained to kill the aforementioned demons. It's a love/hate relationship for both of them (meaning, they love each other, but act like they hate each other so that no one else knows that they love each other), complicated by several factors, none of which more than Clary's BFF Simon. Who happens to be in love with her as well. *sigh* What is it with these chicks in books who get all the gorgeous, chivalrous guys to fall hopelessly in love with them? What do they have that I don't have? Oh yeah - 20 less years and superpowers. Ah well.

So, I digress. As Clary's trying to figure out what and who she is, she, Simon, Jace and his rag tag bunch of teenage Shadowhunter demon butt-kickers are trying to track down the big baddie, Valentine. There is a big showdown at the end, and the big baddie lives to fight another day. But, not before dropping the bomb (warning: BIG spoiler ahead!) - Jace and Clary are really - GASP - brother and sister! This was the reason that this book gets 4 stars instead of 5. I realize that true love can't run smooth. But, did Clare really have to go THERE?? Yikes.

After reading Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, I knew I would have to pick up the Mortal Instruments series. It's by the same author and follows the same world created by Clare in the Infernal Devices series. After finishing City of Bones, the first thought to come to my mind was, Oh, what a tangled web we weave. In addition to the big bomb, there's lots of back story and info dump surrounding the various characters' family trees. All of this information will become relevant as the story unfolds, I'm sure, but it can get a bit confusing at time. Nonetheless, you know by now that I love a good urban fantasy with a guy who loves a girl more than life itself. And this definitely fits the bill.