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A review by bookchainedsoul
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I would like to start this review by stating that it is incredibly biased and probably too high (I think I would rate it 4 stars if I read it for the first time now) but these books made me fall in love with fantasy and with reading again when I was about 10/11. I have decided to reread, to see if they stand up to how brilliant they are in my mind, and this book did not disappoint me.
I adore Cassandra Clare’s world. I usually don’t enjoy fantasy set in a modern setting but this series has a grip on my heart in large part because it’s one of the few times I’ve read an urban fantasy and gone ‘holy shit this is so cool and the world is so well developed’. I love this universe. I think, especially for slightly younger ya readers (13/14) this world is expansive and developed while still being simple to understand and love.
I also adore all the popular fantasy species in one universe. You usually get vampires and werewolves together but I like seeing demons and angels mixed with vampires and werewolves and fairies and wizards. I think it gives space to easily read dynamics we are all familiar with while also introducing some awesome relationships and original political tension that I think is introduced well and slowly enough to make sense. This is better shown as the books go on and more of that world is revealed, but I think City of Bones gives a expert introduction.
I think Clare’s real talent lies in her characters and the relationships she writes between them. She creates likeable, interesting and diverse characters so that you don’t get bored and grow to absolutely adore them and deeply root for them.
Again, I am aware of how biased this review is, so take what I’ve said with a grain of salt. But that does not massively take away from how good I truly believe this world and these books to be. Definitely worth the read - especially for those newly into fantasy.
I adore Cassandra Clare’s world. I usually don’t enjoy fantasy set in a modern setting but this series has a grip on my heart in large part because it’s one of the few times I’ve read an urban fantasy and gone ‘holy shit this is so cool and the world is so well developed’. I love this universe. I think, especially for slightly younger ya readers (13/14) this world is expansive and developed while still being simple to understand and love.
I also adore all the popular fantasy species in one universe. You usually get vampires and werewolves together but I like seeing demons and angels mixed with vampires and werewolves and fairies and wizards. I think it gives space to easily read dynamics we are all familiar with while also introducing some awesome relationships and original political tension that I think is introduced well and slowly enough to make sense. This is better shown as the books go on and more of that world is revealed, but I think City of Bones gives a expert introduction.
I think Clare’s real talent lies in her characters and the relationships she writes between them. She creates likeable, interesting and diverse characters so that you don’t get bored and grow to absolutely adore them and deeply root for them.
Again, I am aware of how biased this review is, so take what I’ve said with a grain of salt. But that does not massively take away from how good I truly believe this world and these books to be. Definitely worth the read - especially for those newly into fantasy.