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We are-two crazy teenagers-Raven and Beez and on this blog we hope to enlighten you with our hilarious comments on the countless books we have read ;)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Raven: The City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)

A novel by Cassandra Clare

Publication date: March 27th, 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 485
Targeted Audience: Young adult (Fantasy and romance)

Summary: 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.


To begin with, I suck. I just know it. Why do I suck? Because I read oh-so-awesome books after the movies release! *sobbing* I think Hunger Games and Percy Jackson are the only series that I have read before the release of the movies (Thank god for that) and there is no need for me to say how much I love both the books which means you have to read it... if you still haven't.

Anyways, back to the review in hand. So, two weeks back in school, on Monday, we had library and so I go inside and sit down with my friends at a table waiting for the librarian to call out my name so I can take my card and get a book.

I scan the shelves (which was pretty difficult since some books are hidden behind other books and also because I hadn't worn my glasses) and I see City of Bones. I immediately turn to my friends and say in a grave and serious tone (Kinda like a police officer) "I see City of Bones." It was a pretty funny moment but whatever, I am deviating from the topic again.

So I start reading this book, expecting lots of interesting stuff to happen. I reach chapter 7 and by that time I have lost all hope. I mean things are happening but it's just not there, that jittery excitement! That wasn't there! I guess it was because Clary was accepting whatever was being thrown at her. Unlike Percy Jackson, she didn't go all "Oh my god! This is not possible. Vampires and werewolves don't exist and I have never heard of shadowhunters so they don't exist." She doesn't throw any tantrums!

I was almost about to stop reading but being a book junkie I needed to know what happens in the end. So I went on and I am glad that I did. Because after chapter 8 I just fell head over heels in love with this book. It's thrilling and hilarious at the same time!

So Clary is a normal girl (just like any other character in a fantasy book) and for her birthday she goes to this club called Pandemonium with her best friend Simon (who obviously has a crush on her and she doesn't know it)  Here she sees three weirdly dressed people kill someone. 
This is how she was introduced to the shadowhunter world. 

Soon after, her mom is kidnapped, she fights  a demon by stuffing a cell phone down its throat and ends up in a church which is covered from the human eye by glamour (Like the mist in Percy Jackson) Now like in every other fantasy book you need a villain and in this book it's Valentine.  At first when I read about him, I thought he was a girl (Since I have a class mate with that name but slightly altered) and then when I find out he was a guy... *insert dropped lower jaw*

As said in the book, shadowhunters (or Nephilim) were made after they drank the blood of Angel Raziel mixed with the blood of the person changing. Idris is the homeland of the Nephilim and Alicante (glass city) is the capital of Idris. Now this can be really confusing and so I will be giving just a brief information of everything related to the children of the Nephilim. 

The Clave is the general organisation of the Nephilim. Like the government that we have. The Covenant is the Law of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders (Vampires, werewolves and all other supernatural creatures) like our constitution. And the Accords is the treaty that ordains how Shadowhunters and Downworlders will never reveal the truth of the Shadowworld to mundanes (Muggles or humans)

Now on why the series is called the Mortal Instruments. The Mortal Instruments are three divine items given by Angel Raziel to Jonathan (the First shadowhunter). Those three items were The Mortal cup, The Mortal Sword and the Mortal Mirror.
In this book Valentine's objective is to steal the Mortal Cup and Clary and the Shadowhunters must find it before him. 

Anyways, It's a very interesting book. The more you read the more you fall into it. There are soo many shocking factors here. I'm sure that if you love Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Hunger Games and many other such books then you're sure to love this one.

Clary is nice but I just feel like slapping her for what she does to Simon (What she does is for you to find out).

Simon is the nice and cute guy and I absolutely love him! He is the kind of guy (Like the author said) who will take you to prom and impress your parents. I just love him and his sarcasm and cuteness.

Jace is hilarious! I love him for his ridiculousness. I love his jokes sooo much that I am going to quote one of my favourites.

Jace: "It means 'Shadowhunters: Looking better in black than the widows of our enemies since 1234" 

And this was a grave situation (Literally). 

I love Luke. He is like the handsome old man who you wouldn't mind falling for even though you two have an age difference of 300 years.

By the end of the book, I was literally ripping my hair off at what had just happened. I wanted to reverse it. Change it somehow even though it wasn't possible. The last few pages are just wow!

I love this book. I love Magnus Bane. I love Alec, Isabella, Hodge and Raphael. I just love all the characters. I love the story plot even though I don't find Valentine that vicious (I guess he will appear more ruthless in the next books) I really do want to keep reading. I want to see the movie and read the other books (Including the prequel and the e-book edition on Magnus Bane).

I rate this book a 4 for it's original plot but it loses its 1 since it reeled me in a little late. For those who haven't read it, I advise you to read it before your friends start laughing at you for being Late Larry (That's just what I call people who are late. Sorry Larry) 

I am pretty sure that if you haven't read it and the rest of your class has read it and when they see you reading it they will probably laugh but just shoo them off cause it's better reading it late than not reading it at all (That's my true story for books and exams *sigh*)

Lots of love & Pasta
Raven