The Bone City Awaits You... - The GloBELL ROAR

The City of Bones is a part of the Trilogy called The Mortal Instruments. In the City of Bones, written by Cassandra Clare, comes a story about the real world existing over a hidden world filled with Downworlders and Shadowhunters. The Shadowhunters are called Nephilim, which means angels falling down from the heavens. In the book, the Shadowhunters may look like humans but consider themselves superior because of there abilities to slay demons and keep the mundane (human) world out of harms way from the demons. Downworlders are considered to be half demons and half human mixing in with there blood, including Vampires, Warlocks, and Werewolves. Co-existing together, the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders never get along, nor do the Shadowhunters ever love the Downworlders.

When main character Clary and her friend Simon have a run in with 3 Shadowhunters at the Pandemonium in New York City, Clary is shocked to see an innocent boy murdered by 3 out-of-theordinary teenage Shadowhunters. What Clary does not know is why is she the only one that can see the murder, while everyone around her remains ignorant. With no knowledge of Shadowhunters, Clary is dragged into a world she thought only ever existed in movies. When Clary single handedly kills a demon, and discovers her mother has vanished. Clary must seek protection from the odd Shadowhunters. After all, they could be related. Having grown up with only her mother, Clary is left alone to discover the mystery within herself.

The City of Bones book is filled with suspense, mystery, and irony that will keep you reading for more. With all the different scenes leading from one to another, there is no doubt you won’t want to read this book. The City of Bones also includes many themes and ideas related to psychics and ESP. Bringing in tarot cards and churches into the picture, the City of Bones blurs the line between non-fiction and religious ideas. The author uses pronouns of Biblical characters names to make the reading more interesting, such as Abaddon, the name of a demon the Shadowhunters must fight later on in the novel. In a sense, the author ties psychic and religious themes together into a novel to create a more fascinating world for readers. It is almost as if the author wants some parts of nonfiction to mix with fiction, while keeping a sense of teen drama to contrast of seriousness of Biblical matters. The book visits places not only of tarot cards, but also in runes. Runes are alphabetical symbols used for word meanings which the Shadowhunters are fond of using. In written form, runes can also give Shadowhunters strength to combat demons. Although only people of Shadowhunter blood are allowed to Wereuse the stele to make a mark on your skin, humans who use marks can die or become forsaken.

I believe that the City of Bones is an amazing book to start of the trilogy The Mortal Instruments. The novel creatively shows another side to all the creatures you normally think you would know. While Vampires still drink blood, and the Werewolves still morph under full moons, they must live under laws, which are written by the Clave (Shadowhunter Society), while maintaining a peace treaty between all creatures of the Downworld. The most intriguing point of the novel is that these fantastical creatures are not alone.

My favorite part of the book is the irony and humour the characters keep passing between them. I would recommend this book to people ages 13 and up, which is perfect for high school students. If you are an appreciative fantasy reader, then you are sure to love the City of Bones. I personally believe that the author has perfectly balanced the story line, by not including too much detail to confuse the reader.

With the City of Bones keeping you on the edge of your seat there is no reason for any reader not to love the characters and contrast between the two worlds. It will keep you tuned in with all of the over-dramatic characters, and will open your eyes to a new world of a hidden society that you never would have imagined.