The entire text of City of Bones is online right now to read. Yup, the whole book. So if you haven’t read the first book to the fabulous series yet, here’s your chance!
Available only until August 10th!

This just in, straight from Cassandra Clare’s livejournal blog:

The Mortal Instruments party — You’re invited! So I’ve already mentioned this to some of you, but a little while ago Simon and Schuster let me know that they were planning a special end-of-summer event for The Mortal Instruments series, emceed by the lovely Holly Black! A mad, massive TMI themed party, if you will, to be held — where else? — in New York City, where I will be signing books, answering questions, and making some Very Special Announcements about the future of the Shadowhunters books, what’s up next, and sharing some (I think) fairly awesome news. I now have the date and place and time, so I’m going to share them with you. http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/events/event.php?event=1338 * Saturday, August 22 * 12:00pm – 2:00pm * Bryant Park Reading Room, on the 42nd Street side of Bryant Park between 5th and 6th Ave. “Join New York Times best-selling author Cassandra Clare for TWO special announcements about her urban fantasy series, The Mortal Instruments. Cassandra will read and sign books and special guest Holly Black will emcee the event! Don’t miss the chance to get books signed and hear some top secret news from Cassandra herself!” This is going to be a little different than other signing events. For one thing, the main focus of the event is the announcements of the top sekrit news. There are also going to be giveaways — signed posters and and excerpts from The Clockwork Angel (you’ll be able to choose between two different excerpts with different covers) and perhaps a sneak peek at Holly Black’s new book The White Cat. There is, if you want to attend, an RSVP email address: rsvpcassandraclare@simonandschuster.com where you can let S&S know that you’re coming. You don’t need to RSVP in order to come. You can just show up. Bryant Park Reading room is a public space. HOWEVER, if you do RSVP, you get entered in a drawing to win a Shadowhunters flash drive loaded up with excerpts from the Mortal Instruments books, an outtake from The Clockwork Angel, and even an as-yet-unread-by-anyone 10,000 word novella that tells the story of Jocelyn’s early life and marriage to Valentine from her point of view (and not just the version she decided Clary should hear . . .) I think it will be tons of fun, and not like any event I’ve ever done before or am likely to do again! I hope to see those of you who can make it there.

Hey yaReaders,

We’ve gone MORTAL INSTRUMENTS craaaaaaazzzyyyyyy.

Just a quick note to say that we have City of Glass read and reviewed here at yaReads and I’ll be posting the review up first thing on the 24th. Also, as a special treat, we’ve got an interview with Cassandra Clare herself which I’ll also be posting on the 24th. Cassandra was kind enough to answer some hard hitting questions about City of Glass and her beloved characters, plus she dishes a little info on her new and upcoming series The Infernal Devices.

So stay tuned … only four more days to go now.

We’ve also got a really awesome City of Glass giveaway happening thanks to Walker Books. Details of the competition will be posted in the next day or so, so if you want to know how you can get your hands on a copy of the novel PLUS some other City of Glass related goodies, keep checking back in.

In the meantime, we’ve got some awesome Mortal Instruments conversations (and a whole lot of speculation and anticipation) going on over at the yaReads forum. If you’d like to join the madness and contribute, click here

This is the second novel in The Mortal Instruments series.

Fans of the first book – City of Bones – are going to love this. City of Ashes is masterfully suspenseful, and utterly engaging. If you became emersed in the characters’ respective stories in book one, then I can safely say that their individual journeys in City of Ashes will leave you speechless.

What would you do if you were in love with your brother or sister? How confusing, how scary would that be for you? Welcome to the world of Jace and Clary. Of course, when they fell for each other they had no idea they were related. As I’m sure you can imagine, City of Ashes finds things between Jace and Clary a little on the tense side.

Although she is trying really hard, Clary is unable to stop thinking about Jace in a romantic capacity. She tries distracting herself with a new boyfriend, but that doesn’t really work out for her. And Jace, well he deals with it just like everyone expects him to: he tries alienating Clary in every possible way. However, just when readers think that all hope is lost, Jace comes face to face with the original fear demon and we learn that he’s really more in love with Clary than ever before. Everything is a mess, and they’re both unbearably confused.

So what do two kids in this situation do? How long can they keep denying each other? And is it so wrong to act on their feelings, even though society says it is? These are the questions the narrative poses as they tackle their demons – both real and metaphorical. Readers will be stunned, joyed, and totally peeved all at the same time by the outcome.

To make matters worse for Clary and Jace, their father is causing trouble for the Clave, and Jace finds himself in all sorts of strife. Clary does what she can to help him, but how much can you really help a stubborn kid like Jace? And will this only get Clary in trouble too? Valentine’s involvement in this novel will reveal some impressive, yet anxious plot twists and turns.

Some of the secondary characters take a nice big step forward in this book. Although readers were told Alec was gay back in book one, here in City of Ashes, proof is served up on a shiny, glittery, half Asian platter otherwise known as Magnus Bane. I’m either the most naïve person on the planet, or Cassandra Clare did a really good job of hiding the hints that these two were dating within the pages of her story. Magnus is just what Alec needs; he’s got spunk, he’s carefree and he’s very into Alec. So what is stopping Alec from really opening himself up to Magnus, and will Alec get himself together in time? My heart goes out to you Magnus Bane, and I can’t wait to read your story in book three.

Simon – Clary’s best friend – goes through some changes of his own. Totally in love with Clary, Simon finds it difficult to be around Jace. Simon is more perceptive than everyone gives him credit for, and he can see the deep connection Jace and Clary share.

And it burns him up inside.

His anger, his confusion and his self-pity lead him into a place of darkness, and he makes some choices that will change his life – forever.

The reality of growing up is intricately woven into the supernatural elements of this story. The magic, the drama and the fantasy are all portrayed so clearly that its easy to forget that this is just fiction.

Cassandra Clare’s prose is flawless, engaging and a pleasure to read. My enthusiasm for this series increases with every single read through. Like so many others, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third installment. March 09 can’t get here fast enough.

Rating: :

This is the first novel in the Mortal Instruments series.

When Clary meets Jace, Isabelle and Alec in a club one night, her whole world suddenly gets turned upside down. See the thing is, Jace and his friends are Shadowhunters – an elite breed of humans created specifically to keep the population safe from demons and other unsavoury creatures. When on a mission, Shadowhunters should be invisible to the ordinary humans (termed “mundanes”) but much to everyone’s surprise, Clary can see them all perfectly well.

After a demon attacks her mother, Clary has no choice but to step inside the complex Shadowhunter world. Suddenly, everything she had always thought was fiction and fantasy becomes her reality. After only a short time in Jace, Isabelle and Alec’s company, Clary realises that perhaps, she’s more than just the regular human girl she always thought she was. Jace suspects it from the moment he sees her, but Clary isn’t sure. Is she a Shadowhunter? And if so, how on earth did she go through her entire life not knowing this?

The characters in this story are so colourful, so alive, that they could actually be real. I completely forgot I was reading a book; my experience with City of Bones was much more like watching a movie or listening to someone narrate a really vivid story. Clary is just so normal that she could literally be the girl next door. She’s dealing with friendships, love, relationships, and parental trouble. She’s a moral, upstanding citizen that values human life, family and friends above all else. I don’t think there is anyone anywhere that couldn’t relate to some aspect of her personality.

I was entirely unsurprised when Clary realises that she has feelings for Jace. He’s attractive, bold, fearless and a complete mystery. If this novel were set in a schoolyard, Clary would be the new, shy girl and Jace would be the all powerful, popular kid. Everyone looks up to Jace – and for good reason. He’s a brilliant, brave fighter and an asset to the Shadowhunting community. So when Valentine (the Big Bad in this series) rocks into town and pulls a Darth Vader, announcing that he’s Jace’s father, all hell breaks loose. Things get really interesting when its determined that Jace is not an only child, like he always thought…

City of Bones is narrated in third person, so the novel isn’t restricted to just one character’s version of events. Girls will be drawn into the romance, and the drama that unfolds within individual relationships. And boys will undoubtedly love all the action and suspense. The fantasy will appeal to all. City of Bones calls upon a wide variety of fantasy elements, showcasing vampires, faeries, werewolves, super-humans and more.

Cassandra Clare has the whole suspense thing down pat in this novel. Each page holds a new drama, a fresh revelation, a new jaw-dropping experience. It is completely unputdownable. You’ll be hooked after just the first chapter.

Rating: :