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Book Review of City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1)

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, Bk 1)
mickeycat avatar reviewed on + 11 more book reviews


I began reading the Mortal Instrument books because I wanted to give them to my 15 year old daughter (I wanted to know what she would be reading). Overall, I found the author to be...confused by her own writing. First - she cannot seem to decide what type of book to write, so she gives up and writes a story that includes ALL types of supernatural beings. Give me a break, please find one group you like and stick with it. It was probably a brilliant marketing strategy; people who enjoy vampire, werewolf, angels/demons, fairies...you name it -it is here.

It was predictable (and I am now into the 3rd book, it STILL is predictable). I have not been surprised yet. Several people have commented on the dialog. If this weak dialog and the rare occasional witty quip is what people consider great dialog - they are reading the wrong books. Read Diana Gabaldon, THEN decide if this dialog it good.

The parents are sorely missing until the middle of the 2nd book. This leaves the kids running amuck with no supervision. As a parent, this bothered me; but I think teenagers will appreciate the autonomy the characters have.

Overall, I will be happy to give this to my 15 year old daughter. It is age appropriate and we all read books like this at this age.