Summer Book #14

The Mortal Instruments Book 1: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

After my last impulse book buy at Target, I was somewhat leery about another one. This time, my husband pointed out the book, noticed it was made into a movie coming out soon, and told me I should read it. This time, the Target book impulse buy was a success.

Clary lives in New York with her mother, Jocelyn. Her father died in a car accident before she was born. He best friend is Simon, who, as it turns out, has an enormous crush on her. One night at a club, Clary sees a blue haired guy, and decides to follow him. She sees him get killed by three teenagers. Blue haired boy is a demon, and the teenagers are Shadowhunters. One hitch, no one can see them, except Clary. They leave the club, and Clary goes on with her life.

Fast forward a couple of days... Clary is at a coffee shop with Simon after having a fight with her mother, and one of the teenagers no one else can see shows up. His name is Jace. Clary goes to talk to Jace, and receives a frantic call from her mother. Jace and Clary go to her house, only to find the place ransacked and Jocelyn gone. They are attacked by a ravener, and Clary's life is changed forever.

Clary finds out that her mother was a Shadowhunter herself, and Clary is at least half Shadowhunter, which is why she can see things she shouldn't, and kill raveners. Jocelyn, they find out, is kidnapped by her former husband, Valentine, who is an evil dude. Think Lord Voldemort, except hotter (I saw the trailer!).  He's looking for the Mortal Cup so he can create an army and rule the world. He must be stopped!

Anyway, Clary and her friends try to stop Valentine. There's a bit of a love triangle that works itself out, and secrets are revealed.

I enjoyed this book. In fact, I am going tomorrow to get the next one, and I plan to see the movie when it comes out in a couple of weeks.