City of Bones (Clare novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Cassandra Clare |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Urban fantasy novels |
City of Bones marks the debut urban fantasy installment in Cassandra Clare’s acclaimed New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. Released in 2007, the narrative unfolds in contemporary New York City and has been made accessible in various languages such as Bulgarian, Hebrew, Polish, and Japanese. This novel initiates the original trilogy of The Mortal Instruments, which continues with City of Ashes and City of Glass.
Plot
While at the Pandemonium nightclub with her friend Simon Lewis, Clary witnesses a blue-haired youth mysteriously disappear after being attacked. Simon’s inability to perceive the other figures involved highlights Clary’s rare capacity to observe the Shadow World. The following day, Clary learns from her mother Jocelyn about their impending summer relocation to the countryside, a revelation that unsettles her given her limited understanding of her family background. During a poetry event, Clary meets Jace, a Shadowhunter who informs her that she is not an ordinary human but possesses the Sight to detect supernatural entities.
After Jocelyn cautions Clary against returning home, Clary discovers her mother has vanished and is subsequently assaulted by a demon, which she manages to kill with Jace’s assistance. Jace then introduces her to the Shadowhunter Institute and confirms her Nephilim lineage through a ritual involving a stele. Utilizing a teleportation portal, they travel to Luke’s bookstore where they reunite with Simon and confront two men dispatched by Valentine Morgenstern searching for the Mortal Cup—a potent artifact connected to their families.
Hodge, the Institute’s instructor, outlines Valentine’s Circle—a group dedicated to eradicating Downworlders—and reveals that Clary is Valentine’s daughter. Jocelyn and Luke were once members; Luke also shares a parabatai bond with Valentine. To recover memories suppressed by warlock Magnus Bane’s enchantment, Clary consults the Silent Brothers.
At a gathering hosted by Magnus, Simon consumes a potion that transforms him into a rat; vampires abduct him but Clary and Jace manage his rescue. During Clary’s sixteenth birthday celebration at the Institute’s greenhouse, Jace kisses her but soon distances himself when interrupted by Simon. As her recollections resurface, Clary deduces that the Mortal Cup is concealed within Madame Dorothea’s tarot deck.
Clary retrieves the Cup but confronts Abaddon, a demon possessing Madame Dorothea. With Simon’s aid, she escapes and returns to the Institute where Hodge delivers the Cup along with an unconscious Jace to Valentine before fleeing. Luke reveals his werewolf identity and protects Clary from Hodge’s assault. Amid an attack on Valentine’s followers by Luke’s pack, Clary locates her mother and Jace. Valentine asserts that Jace is his son, complicating Jace and Clary’s relationship. When Valentine tries to take Jace to Idris with him, Jace refuses; Valentine escapes through a portal which he destroys behind him.
Jace and Clary receive recognition for their bravery while Alec recuperates with assistance from Magnus Bane.
Characters
- Clarissa Adele "Clary" Fray/Fairchild/Morgenstern
Clary is a slender redhead with green eyes who was raised in New York by her mother Jocelyn without knowledge of her Shadow World origins. An artist at heart, she leads an ordinary teenage existence until her mother’s abduction thrusts her into the Shadowhunter realm. Throughout the initial trilogy, Clary endeavors to save Jocelyn while coming to terms with her newfound identity. A romantic tension develops between her and Jace until they face the possibility of being siblings. - Jonathan Christopher "Jace" Wayland/Morgenstern
Orphaned at age ten and raised at the New York Institute alongside the Lightwoods and Hodge Starkweather, Jace is trained as an elite Shadowhunter. Characterized by his golden hair and eyes, he exhibits a cold and sarcastic demeanor yet possesses considerable combat prowess. Beneath his tough exterior lies deep affection for his adoptive siblings. His attraction toward Clary turns to shock upon learning they may be related. - Simon Lewis
Simon is Clary’s devoted human best friend for over ten years who has a passion for his band and geek culture. Secretly harboring feelings for Clary, he struggles with her interest in Jace but remains unwaveringly supportive. A tall, slim sixteen-year-old with black hair and glasses, Simon comes from a single-parent household. - Isabelle Sophia "Izzy" Lightwood
Tall and striking with black hair and dark eyes, Isabelle values family above all and prioritizes duty to The Clave. Fierce in defending those she loves, she challenges Shadowhunter prejudices by forming bonds with Downworlders like the fairy Meliorn and warlock Magnus Bane. Isabelle matures into a multifaceted character balancing toughness with vulnerability. - Alexander Gideon "Alec" Lightwood
The eldest Lightwood sibling responsible for family leadership and overseeing the Institute, Alec wrestles with loyalty toward both law and kinship. Initially burdened by low self-confidence, he conceals his sexuality due to Shadowhunter stigma. His complicated emotions include love for his parabatai Jace and jealousy over Clary's connection to him. Alec's romantic relationship with warlock Magnus Bane begins to develop. - Luke Garroway/Lucian Graymark
A former Shadowhunter turned werewolf pack leader following Valentine’s betrayal, Luke acts as Jocelyn’s close confidant and serves as a father figure to Clary. He owns a New York bookstore linked to teleportation portals and leads assaults against Valentine’s forces while supporting Clary's mission. - Valentine Morgenstern
The primary antagonist presumed dead after years in hiding, Valentine aims to exterminate Downworlders and forcibly transform Mundanes into Shadowhunters through violent means. He seeks possession of the Mortal Cup from Jocelyn and claims paternity of both Jace and Clary. His extremist views fuel much of the central conflict. - Magnus Bane
The flamboyant High Warlock of Brooklyn romantically involved with Alec Lightwood. Initially approached by Clary for information about her past, Magnus had previously erased her memories of the Shadow World at Jocelyn's request. Known for his glittering appearance and eccentric fashion sense, he plays an essential role in safeguarding Shadowhunters. - Hodge Starkweather
The eccentric tutor of Isabelle, Alec, and Jace who is ultimately unveiled as a follower of Valentine. Once part of Valentine’s Circle, Hodge was exiled to the Institute as punishment and is frequently accompanied by his raven named Hugo. - Jocelyn Fray/Fairchild/Morgenstern
Clary’s mother and former Shadowhunter who concealed the Mortal Cup to protect it from Valentine. An elegant artist with dark red hair, Jocelyn enlisted Magnus Bane's aid to shield Clary from knowledge of the Shadow World via memory spells. Kidnapped by Valentine for information regarding the Cup, she is later found comatose in hospital care. - Madame Dorothea
A witch residing beneath Clary's apartment who provides refuge for both Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike. Adopted by a warlock due to their inability to have children, she unknowingly harbors the Mortal Cup hidden within one tarot card from a deck gifted by Jocelyn.
Reception
The critical response to City of Bones was largely favorable. Publishers Weekly described it as "a captivating narrative." While Teen Ink delivered a mixed critique, it acknowledged the book's addictive qualities despite pointing out its predictability. Similarly, the School Library Journal highlighted the story’s foreseeability but appreciated the urban fantasy backdrop, finding it enjoyable and engaging for readers eager for the sequel.
Awards and recognition
- 2008 Nominee for the Locus Award for Best First Novel
- 2009 Nominee for the Georgia Peach Book Award as an Honor Book
- Recipient of the 2010 Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award
Film adaptation
The movie version premiered on August 21, 2013, under the direction of Harald Zwart, featuring Lily Collins as Clary Fray and Jamie Campbell Bower portraying Jace Wayland. Production was carried out in both Toronto and New York City.
Allusions to other works
Cassandra Clare incorporates references to the works of her colleague Holly Black, such as Stepping Razor from Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale and the characters Valerie and Luis from Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie. Additionally, Clare pays homage to Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines Quartet, drawing parallels between its villain Thaddeus Valentine and her own character Valentine, who is Clary’s father.