City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare, adds a delicious twist to the fantastical world of vampires, demons and werewolves. The novel demonstrates an equilibrium between romance and adventure, intensifying the monotonous thoughts of vampires and werewolves into an intricately seasoned story of unrequited love, great beauty and hidden secrets.
Set in modern time, City of Bones starts with two main characters, Simon Lewis and Clary Fray, who witness an event that taints them with no choice but to become part of a hidden world within reality. Though the idea of clueless characters unwillingly sucked into an alternate universe may be cliché, the presentation and small details within Clare’s work allows this particular story to stand out.
In the scenes that progress, a curious and cocky character named Jace Wayland exposes Simon and Clary to a place where his kind, the Shadowhunters, protect regular people from soul-hungry demons “lost on their way to hell.” Though Shadowhunters are illustrated as majestic beings of flawless balance and beauty, Clare ingeniously places minuscule moments of human-like errors which aid in the necessary connection between readers and the fantastical characters.
As the lives of Clary, Simon and the Shadowhunters merge, a “sexy, delicious love” between Jace and Clary develops, acting as the focal drive for the important romantic aspect in the novel. The mystique fashion in which the characters’ feelings are demonstrated drags the reader far into the scene, as if the romance is a reality.
Though the novel alone stands on its own, anxious fans have high hopes for the soon-to-be-released movie. The film version of City of Bones is going to be released in theaters on August 21 with actors Lily Collins as Clary Fray and Jamie Campbell as Jace Wayland.
