Basically Books! discussion

Goodreads Description: 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.

Let us know what you think. Also if you're going to reveal a spoiler please do the spoiler thing. :)

I think this is an amazing series. I am rarely surprised when I read books, but this author always throws cool twists. And after reading a load of books with annoying weak females who can't make decisions...Clary is a bit more charismatic. Can't wait to see what everyone thinks!

Ive read it toooooooo :D LOVED THE series, hence why im the leader of this discussion :P

This is a really interesting series, it has a lot of movement in the plot and character development. And I couldn't wait to get my hands on the following books. One thing I loved was that the story-line itself kept you guessing and had some surprises until the end.

It does follow a certain formula for romance-story(you'll know what I mean if you read the spin-off prequel "Clockwork Angel" and encountered essentially the same spunky female-lead-with-unique-talent and her hot/sulky/tormented love-interest as in City of Bones). But hardly anything is perfect, so it is just a minor set-back and I really liked the books overall.

I've heard mixed things about this, I will read it but I'm not sure I'm going to like it. I've heard that there's incest in it and I suppose that's what has put me off it. I'll give it a go anyway.

The bare chest on the cover has put me off even reading the synopsis in the past (I've discussed my prejudices about nakedness before - I won't bore everyone with it again). It looks a little formulaic but some of the comments already posted here are giving me some hope that this will be one of the better ones. :)

Emma wrote: "The bare chest on the cover has put me off even reading the synopsis in the past (I've discussed my prejudices about nakedness before - I won't bore everyone with it again). It looks a little formu..."

You know what, it's alright! Although I have the old covers, the ones with the creepy faces on them! But City of Bones is pretty good, but I think she's dragging out the rest of the series too much, it could easily have stopped as a trilogy, but she brought out a 4th, and there's another one after that...it's starting to get a little tedious! :P

I think three books is generally enough for any series and unfortunately there are quite a few that could do with being even shorter than that. I tend to want to read to the end of a series even if I've stopped enjoying it, just to get closure but often wished I'd stopped at book two or three.

The only series I didn't lose interest in which was longer than that was Harry Potter.

Anita wrote: "Emma wrote: "The bare chest on the cover has put me off even reading the synopsis in the past (I've discussed my prejudices about nakedness before - I won't bore everyone with it again). It looks a..."

It was meant to be a trilogy but now she's adding another three. I think it's a matter of money. I for one won't be paying full price for her books.

I feel sorry for writers that are forced by publishers to extend their series because it's become popular. (If it is the publishers insisting of course) I think that's why fans end up getting annoyed at the direction the author has gone in because the characters have already run their course and the writer is trying to think up new ideas when they should just be left alone.

If it is the publishers then the author shouldn't allow themselves to be persuaded to write more than the story, unless they feel there's more to be told. I mean if the characters have had their story told and the publishers want it to live on they could always do a companion a bit like Richelle Mead with the Bloodlines series. I know Claudia Gray and Melissa de la Cruz are also doing companion series for Evernight and Blue Bloods respectively. :) (I think I'm going to start that topic you suggested. It would make a good debate.)

Emma wrote: "I think three books is generally enough for any series and unfortunately there are quite a few that could do with being even shorter than that. I tend to want to read to the end of a series even if..."

No see, I think atleast with Harry Potter, you were aware from the beginning how many books there were going to be - you know seven years at Hogwarts, seven books...but even so, I did get bored, I thought that the last Harry Potter book was just a glorified camping trip, it just went on and on! :P


The 4th book of this series, I read in like 3 days, but I kind of read it more for closure like Emma said than anything else!

I actually agree about the last Harry Potter, it didn't take place at Hogwarts so it didn't have the continuity of the school. I think if the 7th book had to happen they could have sneaked in the school undercover using polyjuice potion. It would have been interesting to know the vibe of Hogwarts during the year.

(view spoiler)[ I did like that in the last battle J.K. wasn't afraid to kill off main characters because she knew that there had to be casualties. So many authors skirt around putting their characters in peril and it annoys me.I want to sense the danger! (hide spoiler)]

Anita wrote: "No see, I think atleast with Harry Potter, you were aware from the beginning how many books there were going to be - you know seven years at Hogwarts, seven books..."

Knowing how many there are going to be definitely helps. I gave up with the Sookie Stackhouse series because it seemed like it was never going to end. (Still does in fact) I loved the final Harry Potter book, lol. :)

Char wrote: If it is the publishers then the author shouldn't allow themselves to be persuaded to write more than the story, unless they feel there's more to be told.

That is one of those ethical debates isn't it - creative integrity versus the need to earn a crust. (Also, they may be tied into contracts, so they might not have a choice) However, I'm sure there are some that are just as happy to churn out books so long as they get their pay-check.

Yey! Glad you think so. I'm sure there will be plenty of different opinions.

Emma wrote: "That is one of those ethical debates isn't it - creative integrity versus the need to earn a crust. (Also, they may be tied into contracts, so they might not have a choice) However, I'm sure there are some that are just as happy to churn out books so long as they get their pay-check."

It is, but in the case of Cassandra Clare, I'm sure she earned a pretty penny with the Mortal Instruments as it's one of the big hitters of the YA PNR genre. (It could well have been but she did tell her fans it was a trilogy not a 6 book series.) I agree, and I think that it's sad.

I was going to wait for a second mod but we've kind of started the debate here now lol. I'm sure there will.

Char wrote: "I was going to wait for a second mod but we've kind of started the debate here now lol. I'm sure there will. "

You are very well-informed when it comes to writers! Do you follow a lot of blogs or are there some particular websites that you visit? I just tend to read books and base my opinions solely on that but the extra info seems to offer a lot of useful context too.

I've just put my thoughts on that thread so I won't carry on here, lol.

I learn quite a lot of the stuff on here. I think blogging helps as well because you learn about the books as you read and review them. The extra info comes in handy because you know what you're letting yourself in for.

Okay, I'll go check out what you put lol. :)

Char wrote: "I learn quite a lot of the stuff on here. I think blogging helps as well because you learn about the books as you read and review them. The extra info comes in handy because you know what you're le..."

I see, so I will become better informed the more time I spend on Goodreads. Excellent excuse to indulge in my addiction even more! :)

Haha, yeah, especially if you start random convos with me. I seem to store a lot of random book information. I have no idea why. :)

Char wrote: "Haha, yeah, especially if you start random convos with me. I seem to store a lot of random book information. I have no idea why. :)"

I have noticed that, :) You will be my official 'random-info' expert. Maybe that could be a new discussion topic too - 'Ask Char', lol.

Emma wrote: I have noticed that, :) You will be my official 'random-info' expert. Maybe that could be a new discussion topic too - 'Ask Char', lol."

Haha! I can just imagine that. It would end up being about more than books though, I can just see it, the questions will end up being really random and I'll become a slave to Google if I don't know. XD Lol

Char wrote: "Haha! I can just imagine that. It would end up being about more than books though, I can just see it, the questions will end up being really random and I'll become a slave to Google if I don't know. XD Lol"

That is true, could get risky: you'd have to put disclaimer in to ensure you couldn't be held responsible for the consequences of people following your advice. :)

Emma wrote: "That is true, could get risky: you'd have to put disclaimer in to ensure you couldn't be held responsible for the consequences of people following your advice. :)"

Now I'm really liking the sound of this thread... It could be an awesome bit of fun! XD

MAY I SAY EVERYONE
these books are worth the money :D

as far as the discussion about the long series of books, i feel the same way about sookie stackhouse books AND the stephanie plum bounty hunter books.....

those books have a love triangle theme (who will she choose???) and they draaaag on and on. i wonder if the authors are afraid that once a girl picks one, she'll run out of new ideas. i think you can show a committed couple experiencing life in an amusing way and show the ups and downs of a relationship. i am starting to get annoyed....

Lara wrote: "i think you can show a committed couple experiencing life in an amusing way and show the ups and downs of a relationship."

I'm with you on that 100%!

Okay - so I've read it. The good news is, I liked it better than the last book I read that had a man's naked torso on the cover. The bad news is, I have been editing my own book and it's made me uber-critical and nit-picky. There were lots of little things that bugged me (and some bigger things too). However, on the whole, it was alright and I am reading the second one because I have a hunch about what's going to happen and I want to see if I'm right.

I've already read this one, and the following three after that. And I agree with a lot of what has been said. I think, although the fourth book was better than expected, Cassandra Clare should have stuck with the original three books and no more. I'm fine with the companion series, Clockwork Angel etc, but I wasn't overly pleased with the continuation of the Mortal Instruments series. I liked the way book three ended and wish it would have stayed ended.

That being said, I have indeed read book four, liked it better than I thought I would, even though it is beginning to feel slightly dragged on (think House of Night series) and hope that after book six the series will be finished once and for all. I will still be reading book five and six, but under protest! ;p

PS: Since I've already read all of the MI books that have been published so far, I'm going to read Clockwork Angel, which I bought a while ago, but haven't gotten around to reading yet. Hope that's alright! (:

Its fine :D

Ive read all 4, and loved all 4, and i was glad they are making more :D

I completely agree. Most series shouldn't go past three. I am currently reading the Fallen series...the third book Passion has been tough to read...the story is falling apart. Harry Potter was strong throughout. City of Bones could've ended with the third..but I actually like the Prequel. I like the characters.


Emma wrote: "I think three books is generally enough for any series and unfortunately there are quite a few that could do with being even shorter than that. I tend to want to read to the end of a series even if..."

I love this series too! I've got all my students reading them.


Tara-Jayne Gaga (BasicallyBooks) wrote: "Ive read it toooooooo :D LOVED THE series, hence why im the leader of this discussion :P"

I've been meaning to read this series after I've only heard great things about it, and coincidentally it came up on this group's group reads for september! I started the book yesterday (ironically the 1st September) and finished it today! Now I am reading the second book because I couldn't help myself :)

(view spoiler)[The first book is as great as I've been told and has lived up to my expectations :) But I think that too many of the characters are crossing the border of over-sarcastic. If it was just one or two characters that were as sarcastic as they are now then it would be great but I just get the feeling of sarcasm overload (and I'm pretty sarcastic so that's saying something haha). I want more to happen with Jace and Clary but then there's the notion that they're brother and sister, but still trying to hide their feelings from each other :/ As I'm at the start of the second book I am kinda hoping that Jace is either Luke or Michael Wayland's child, from the occurrence that Jocelyn had an affair and Valentine didn't know about it and suspected that Jace was just his child and Jocelyn just saying that it's Valentines because he might kill her/the father if he found out.....Yes this is what I hope (I admit I love a good romance in YA books)!!! I don't know why but I don't want Simon to get with Clary, even though I love Simon but still it doesn't really seem right..... (hide spoiler)]

As series go, I hope that the following books are as great as the first (most books I've read the first is always better than the second, and I only know of one book that the second has been better than the first but only by a little (i.e Son of the Shadows) but City of Ashes is going great so far and I hope that it continues with the rest of the books following.

Gina wrote: "I've been meaning to read this series after I've only heard great things about it, and coincidentally it came up on this group's group reads for september! I started the book yesterday (ironically ..."

I agree with you about: (view spoiler)[ the sarcasm. Too many of the characters have the same sort of sense of humour so you lose the effect. I still found some of it pretty funny though. I'm also not a fan of Simon and Clary being together. Simon's okay but I have a thing about the 'best friend' who is in love with the heroine. I always think they should've just manned up before rather than getting all jealous when she starts to show an interest in someone else. (hide spoiler)]

I think the second and third were a bit better than the first one in some ways, though I lost connection with Clary's character.

Emma wrote: "Gina wrote: "I've been meaning to read this series after I've only heard great things about it, and coincidentally it came up on this group's group reads for september! I started the book yesterday..."

Yes, I've nearly finished the second and it is better than the first. (view spoiler)[Yes, Simon just gets too jealous but then it's Clary's fault as well because she always goes back to Simon, thinking that he'll forgive her and they would just go back to normal. Oh and it's pretty annoying as well that when Clary and Jace are having one of those "conversations" we never really find out what they're actually thinking and have to guess at it because Simon ALWAYS walks in (annoying actually), so he does bring it on himself as well, but if he does it and then walks away he might be thinking that if he continuously does it then he'll try to prevent whatever's going on between Clary and Jace.
I'm glad that Valentine is more evil in the second book than the first. He didn't seem all too evil in the first book and when he told Jace and Clary the truth it was in a way that would've been something told over the dinner table and not their actual truth, I thought this bit could've been done better because this bit just makes Valentine drop one on the evil scale. (hide spoiler)]
Yes, I lost connection as well, in the first book she was just hanging in there but in the second she completely fell off and I lost connection with her also.

Gina wrote: "Yes, I lost connection as well, in the first book she was just hanging in there but in the second she completely fell off and I lost connection with her also. "

Unfortunately in the third book I didn't just lose connection, I also started to find her annoying. Luckily, the book made up for it in other areas.

I haven't found this book yet. I've been to seven different bookstores and they only had it in Dutch (and I'm not reading it in Dutch.)

I've heard that Clary is basically a self insert in the Bella Swan is in Twilight. Did you get this feeling when reading the book?

Rea wrote: "I haven't found this book yet. I've been to seven different bookstores and they only had it in Dutch (and I'm not reading it in Dutch.)

I've heard that Clary is basically a self insert in the Bel..."

No so much in the first book, she had slightly more personality than Bella (which isn't hard, granted) but the second book she definitely didn't seem to be there at all.

You know what? I think I've got the wrong idea about what self-insert is. It's a fan-fiction thing isn't it? In which case, the above still applies to what I think about Clary but as I don't know enough about the author, I can't say whether she's a self-insert. However, 'Clary' and Cassandra Clare are awfully similar sounding....

Rea wrote: "I haven't found this book yet. I've been to seven different bookstores and they only had it in Dutch (and I'm not reading it in Dutch.)

I've heard that Clary is basically a self insert in the Bel..."

I loved Clary so much :D

Emma said: "However, 'Clary' and Cassandra Clare are awfully similar sounding...."

I've heard that a lot!! City of Bones was the author's first work after getting a rep writing HP fanfic, so it wouldn't surprise me if Clary's an insert, as most fanfic characters are.

Tara said: "I loved Clary so much :D"

Yes but you would! :P You love all characters! I think you should read Game of Thrones or something where all the characters are such bastards and see if you love them too!

Rea wrote: "City of Bones was the author's first work after getting a rep writing HP fanfic, so it wouldn't surprise me if Clary's an insert, as most fanfic characters are."

I literally hadn't read anything about the series or Clare before I did the group read and I absolutely picked up on a Harry Potter vibe - I even put it in my review. Then I started reading stuff and realised that was were she started out!

I've never read any fan-fiction. I get why fans sometimes want to do it, if they love characters so much they don't want to let go, or if they think a story should have gone a different way, but I'd prefer to take that inspiration and make something original from it.

Rea wrote: "You love all characters! I think you should read Game of Thrones or something where all the characters are such bastards and see if you love them too!"

Poor Tara, lol! It must actually be kinda great to like most books and characters. I don't think I was ever like that - I've always been a cynic. :)

Emma wrote: "Gina wrote: "Yes, I lost connection as well, in the first book she was just hanging in there but in the second she completely fell off and I lost connection with her also. "

Unfortunately in the t..."

Yes I agree, I don't really find that there is much of a connection with Clary anymore, but the third book was the best one so far. It explains EVERYTHING!

The first book does kind of combine a lot of different books/films (star wars? harry potter? twilight (in some sense)?) but I tried not to focus on this sense throughout the book/s but it was still a good books. I wrote a review straight after I finished the first book and I can't remember everything that I wrote in that.

I loved these! I'm on the fourth book now..... did someone say there would be more?

Amber wrote: "I loved these! I'm on the fourth book now..... did someone say there would be more?"

Yes there's going to be two more!!! there's City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire. Can't wait! I just hope that they're not going to put the series off by dragging it on, which most books do.

I know what you mean, Gina... but I don't feel like she's done that yet, each book has been interesting to me; allowing me to see more of the side characters and get a feel for them. I imagine (hope) the next books will do the same.

I overall enjoyed the City of Bones, but I think that having just finished Karen Moning's fever series, I just didn't get as drawn in as I may have to the characters and the plot. I wished that the author would have spent more time on some of the secondary characters like Hodge or Mangus. I also wished more time had been spent on the relationship between mother and daughter. (view spoiler)[ I found the plot interesting and even the love triangle entertaining (Not sure how I would feel about this continuing in rest of the series), but I didn't catch on to the theme of descent that the author said was pointed out in the epilogues. I did however have a bit of a flash back to the Darth Vader "Luke I am your father" moment when Clare found Jace with Valentine. (hide spoiler)] Valentine wasn't much of a villain in this novel, but I read that he gets better through the rest of the series. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't just finished a book with so many similarities.

So out of all the characters which character is your all time fave?

Finally got this book today. The library took forever to get it for me (long waiting list between the interlibrary loans i suppose) Will try to start it tomorrow or Friday

can i say that i'm totally weirded out?? (view spoiler)[ jace & clary brother & sister???? didn't they totally kiss???? once it came out that they were brother & sister, i couldn't get into the story....i was enjoying the love triangle and once he was no longer the love interest.....ewwwwww! i kept reading it, waiting for it to come out, no, valentine lied but it never did!! and the people in the book were like, oh yeah....he's my brother...no big deal. i have a hard time getting over it.....i want to read the other books to see if that's true.....but in the mean time.....what the?????? (hide spoiler)]

i liked isabelle....she was cool. and i like the world the author created.

Does anyone else think of a woman whenever they read "Valentine"? I'm getting confused reading comments about a father with, what is for me, a woman's name!

(Valentin being the male name for me. French influence, I tell you! I know Valentine is a male name in English but I inevitably associate the name with an -e on the end with a woman.)