Tuesday, November 13, 2012

REVIEW: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES ~ CASSANDRA CLARE



The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is the first of six novels in The Mortal Instruments series.  It follows Clary Fray who must find answers about her true identity when she finds herself drawn into the world of demon hunters.  A carefree night on the town with her best friend, Simon, turns into a nightmare when Clary witnesses a murder committed by a trio covered with strange tattoos. Clary summons help, but finds it hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air, and nobody but Clary can see the murderers.  Equally startled by her ability to see them, the killers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. 

The following night Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.  The question is, why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and Jocelyn Fray? And how is it that Clary suddenly, inexplicably, got the Sight?

With nobody around to answer the burning questions, Clary must risk all as she dives head-first into the danger that surrounds her on a quest to save her mother.  Clary is joined by Jace Wayland, a skilled young demon hunter she shares an immediate, intense connection with, and brother-sister duo Isabelle and Alec Lightwood – both of which seem to resent Clary’s new place in their sacred world.  As Clary navigates the new world open to her, she discovers vampires, werewolves, faeries, mermaids and more truly do exist, and as she crosses paths with several of them she comes to realise that life is not as black and white as it is made out to be, and the supernatural world is fragilely perched on the precipice of a full scale war.  Could Clary be a key to preventing it?


City of Bones is a very enjoyable read.  The world Clare created is very believable, and the lives of the Shadowhunters are fascinating.  It’s hard to go into too much detail without dropping spoilers, as the book is packed with surprise revelations.  The book does not have quite the same pull that I experienced with, for instance, The Harry Potter series or The Hunger Games trilogy, but the series does have the potential to become great.

Upon finishing the novel I did some more reading on the series, and discovered that a movie version of City of Bones is under way.  Filming wrapped just last week, and the film is scheduled to be released August 2013.

Collins (Clary), Sheehan (Simon) and Bower (Jace) on set 

Lily Collins has been cast in the lead role of Clary Fray.  She does have the right look, and I think she can pull off the combination of innocence and fierceness that is Clary Fray.

Lily Collins as Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower has been cast as Jace Wayland.  He does have a certain arrogant rebellion about him - I think he's perfect for Jace.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland

Kevin Zegers will be portraying Alec Lightwood.  I think he can capture the brooding, often rude, Alec just fine.

Kevin Zegers as Alec Lightwood 

Isabelle Lightwood will be portrayed by Jemima West.  She does seem to have the beauty and cool arrogance that makes Isabelle resent Clary's sudden intrusion into her domain.

Jemima West

Clary's somewhat dorky best friend, Simon Lewis, will be portrayed by Robert Sheehan.  Slap some glasses on him, and he's Simon to a tee.  

Robert Sheehan

The first teaser trailer for the movie is scheduled to be released Thursday evening as a preview to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.


Product information:
Title: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
Year: 2008
ISBN: 9781416955078

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