Courtney

I honestly don't know how to feel about this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I just didn't get it. I've seen so many reviews that say this book is /scary/terrifying/funny/the bee's knees but I didn't get any of that.

I loved the mythology and folklore in the book, and the only character I truly enjoyed was Carmel. Cas was either too pompous, prideful, or too gooey eyed over a ghost who's murdered countless people. And for some reason he just can't bring himself to kill her, even though she ripped someone IN HALF right in front of his own eyes. I just don't understand. Yes, she ended up not being evil, but where was the logic behind any of this? And he fell in love with her within days. A murdering ghost he just met. Anything passes for love in YA novels. I should just stop reading them all together because all one has to do is look longingly at someone they just met and they are ~~~IN LURRRVE~~~ And then somehow Anna isn't actually a ghost because they can makeout, which makes even less sense than a ghost actually being possessed.

And don't even get me started about how none of the characters, with the exception of Cas' mother and Will, had no emotion what so ever. If I saw my friend being ripped in half, or even just heard about my friends dying gruesome deaths, I would shit my self then go huddle on my bed and cry/pee/vomit simultaneously.

The last few chapters was when the book got really interesting, no surprise there. Too bad the book as a whole couldn't keep me interested as the last chapters did.

I must say, this wasn't as good as I expected. This is coming from someone who read Clockwork Angel, from the prequel series just released a few months ago, first. The writing was a lot better in Clockwork Angel than City of Bones.

Let me start by saying I still really liked the book. The characters were good. I liked how strong-willed Clary was and how witty and charming Jace was. I usually find myself annoyed by the “bitch” of the story but Isabelle was a very refreshing character (unlike jessamine) as was Simon. I felt the story dragged a little bit. There wasn't much action if you think about it. A lot of the story just focused on Jace and Clary, which is fine with me, but there just wasn't enough action mixed in.

Over all I enjoyed the book. I just didn't find myself flipping through the pages like a mad man like the way I had done for Clockwork Angel until the very baffling end. It is very strange and revolting storyline to have, in my opinion.

In comparison, I feel more drawn to the Infernal Devices characters. I feel like I know more about them, excluding Will, than I know about the Characters from The Mortal Instruments. I still have 2 more books to read at the moment, and i'm sure some of my opinions will change. But this is my first glance at the series based on the first books of both series.

This book was EXACTLY like a reincarnate of Twilight except with archangels instead of vampires and the writing was a tad better. I was very excited to read this book but was very disappointed with the outcome.

CONTAINS SPOILERS

The whole book the protagonist, Nora, who is very naive and ignorant, is trying to figure out her love/hate relationship with her new biology partner, Patch, while also trying to figure out what he is, if not human. She comes to find that he's an arch angel who is constantly struggling with the urge to kill her so he can finally become a human but the love he grows for her over powers his want to become human. She isn't even bothered by the fact that not only has he he has been constantly stalking and harassing her, but also wants to kill her because, omg he's soooo dreamy and mysterious. She also has another guy stalking and trying to kill her but not because he has some personal disliking for her, but because he has a personal hatred toward Patch. And what better way to harm Patch(because he can't feel physical pain, but he can feel emotional pain) than to hurt the person he cares most about? by the end of the book she had a handful of people trying to kill her. I was actually surprised that none of them didn't accomplish killing because she is definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed.

I thought this was a great read. It was very tragic and frustrating at times, but it was still hauntingly, and heartbreakingly, beautiful. Not going to lie, I teared up while reading it. This is one of those books that you want to see as a movie. This book would make a perfect movie, the ways it's written, All the flashbacks. I could see it being portrayed with so much emotion and being kind of a dark film.

I loved all the name drops and references. I loved how unique her family was, but yet so normal at the same time. I loved how her and her boyfriend were so different but so happy together. This book left me thinking about it days after I finished reading it. It's definitely one that sticks with you.

I had a hard time getting through this book. We're supposed to like the relationship between Kaylee and Nash, but other than the fact that they are both bean sidhes and are attracted to one another, there is nothing else there. Where are the common interests? What are their thoughts about one another (aside from Nash being ~OMGSOHOT) and their opinions? They never have discussions about things other than bean sidhes, hellions, demons, reapers, etc. and this is a huge problem for me. It's like they've meshed into one character and it's such a disappointment.

Also bothering me is that we hardly see any interaction with Kaylee and Emma, unless Emma is doing Kaylee a favor (such as covering for her, or borrowing her car.) You would think that Emma's near death last book would have opened Kaylee's eyes and she'd want to spend time with her best friend, seeing as she almost lost her. forever. But, no. She just wants to spend time with Nash. Nash, Nash, Nash. Someone who has absolutely no depth, and she doesn't even have decent conversations with. And then it seems like the author is casually working up to some Nash-Kaylee-Tod triangle. Just what we need, 2 brothers in love with a girl that is extremely naive, hypocritical, gets in over her head and puts other people in danger.

The continuity is that great either. I specifically remember at one point in the book Kaylee is thinking about how she has surpassed her curfew and is going to be late, then later in the book when she gets grounded she is thinking to herself how she “forgot about her curfew because too many things were happening” when she was actually very much aware of the fact that she was purposely ignoring her curfew earlier. Little things like this are just a minor annoyance, but still annoying, nonetheless.

I feel like the author doesn't realize how long it actually takes to get from Arlington to Dallas. I feel like she portrays it as just a drive up the road when in actuality it takes about 20-30 minutes to get from Arlington to Dallas, and that's without traffic. So sometimes I don't understand how they can get to and from places so fast. I still find it neat that the book is set in my home of north Texas though, as this doesn't happen very often.

I will give the series a second chance and hope the third installment isn't as boring and repetitive (Awkward scenes of Nash and Kaylee dry humping all. the. time., Painful descriptions of Nash's good looks and her insecurities about the popular jock wanting her for one thing she isn't even giving up. Surely he wouldn't risk his life several times just for a lay so she needs to get over it or break up with him if she can't.) I saw that the next book has a better rating overall than this one so i'm hopeful. I just have a hard time reading a series where I don't particularly care for the two main characters. Tod is a different story, though.