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.
Release date: March 27th 2007
Review by Melissa
The world Cassandra Clare created is so complex, so imaginative and seriously kick-ass that it’s no wonder why (almost) everyone in the reading community loves it. It’s such a relief to have finally joined the wicked fan club that’s been going on for ages since the release of this first book, and even more to have done it before the movie hits theaters on August 20th, I didn’t want to be sitting there clueless not knowing if the movie stays true to the book or not (I just love doing that!)
Anyway, I see why every girl out there fans herself at the mere mention of Jace’s name. There’s just something so lovable in him, despite his sarcastic, selfish and I’m-just-too-awesome attitude. Wait, I think that’s what made me fall for him in the first place! Okay, he was also sweet, caring and overly protective even when he said things around the lines of love being your downfall (broken boy talking here).
Honestly, Clary Fray didn’t turn out like I expected her to be. I thought she would be some amazing natural shadowhunter who would finish off dozens of demons with a flick of her wrist. Instead, she slowly starts growing into this new world, taking in everything but using her mind rather than strength during tough fights, though she might throw a knife here and there when the situation arises. I know she will grow out to be an amazing fighter, but for now, I’m just glad she started off like this.
My only problem would be the plot twist towards the ending. Seriously? I mean, it’s good, but why? Why anguish the readers? I bet it was awful back in the day when you had to wait a whole year to get to the next book. Good thing I won’t have to wait at all, there’s a lot of catching up for me to do and I will gladly take up the challenge. Easy as taking out a ravener with a sensor, or so I’ve heard.
Series in Order
#2 – City of Ashes
#3 – City of Glass
Book Travels 