City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Werewolves vs. Vampires in New York City. Cool.

Did you enjoy Twilight? Did you enjoy Hunger Games? You'll love this one too! I've just finished it and it will be in the reading room once you have finished your qualifying exams.

Amazon UK review:

Fifteen-year-old geek hipster Clary thought she was just a normal kid, but normal kids don't see invisible people, and normal kids' mothers don't suddenly disappear, seemingly captured by horrific monsters. But like many fantasy heroines, Clary isn't normal, and she's got all the secret parentage, dramatic revelations and amazing magic powers to prove it. Clary is a Shadowhunter, brought up as a mundane but born to fight demons. She and her mundane friend Simon fall in with a trio of Shadowhunter teens, and are soon embroiled in a quest to understand Clary's past - and incidentally save the world. Rich descriptions occasionally devolve into purple prose, but the story's sensual flavor comes from the wealth of detail: demons with facial piercings, diners serving locusts and honey, pretty gay warlocks and cameo appearances from other urban fantasies' characters. Complicated romantic triangles keep the excitement high even when the dramatic revelations tend toward the ridiculous. Lush and fun.

I really enjoyed this book. I like the world that Clare develops and I like the characters. The pace is perfect. She takes time to make her characters interesting, but she also moves the plot along so the story keeps you interested. If you took half of Meyer's brain (Twilight) and connected it to half of Collins' brain (Hunger Games), you'd get Cassandra Clare. She struck an excellent balance between story and plot.

Seriously, if you like the whole vampire/monsters-living-in-the-real-world type of book you will enjoy this. Right from the first chapter, Clare grabs you and doesn't let go.

The book is complete in itself, but you also get the feeling that Clare was really gearing up for the series and setting herself up well I'd say. It's only going to get better as we get to know the characters and what they can do.

I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. Wait a minute, I've already bought it! Yay!!!

Flaws? I'm not sure. I had the ending figured out pretty early on, but I'm not sure if Clare intended it that way or not. Still, there are two more to go so surprises may be in store!

I highly recommend this one.

5/5 Stars