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City of Bones Book Summary

by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones

Cassandra Clare

TL;DR

Clary Fray is a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden world of Shadowhunters, demon hunters who protect the world from evil. When her mother is kidnapped, Clary must team up with a mysterious Shadowhunter boy named Jace to find her and save the world from an ancient threat.


Table of contents

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Writing Background

City of Bones was inspired by Clare’s love of mythology and folklore. She wanted to create a world that was both familiar and strange, and she drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including The Lord of the Rings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Greek mythology.

Author’s Introduction

Cassandra Clare is an American author of young adult fantasy novels. She is best known for her Mortal Instruments series, which has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. Clare was born in Tehran, Iran, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She began writing at a young age and published her first novel, City of Bones, in 2007.

Key Insights

  • Clary Fray is an 18-year-old girl who lives in New York City with her mother, Jocelyn.
  • Clary discovers that she is a Shadowhunter, a member of a secret organization that protects the world from demons.
  • Clary’s mother is kidnapped by a demon, and Clary must team up with a Shadowhunter boy named Jace to find her and save the world from an ancient threat.
  • Clary and Jace travel to the Shadowhunter headquarters in Idris, where they learn more about the Shadowhunter world and their own abilities.
  • Clary and Jace must face a variety of challenges, including demons, werewolves, and vampires, as they try to save Clary’s mother and the world.

Chapter Summary

chapter 1: Clary Fray is a seemingly ordinary teenager who lives in New York City with her mother, Jocelyn. One day, Clary witnesses a murder committed by a demon, and she soon learns that she is a Shadowhunter, a member of a secret organization that protects the world from demons. chapter 2: Clary’s mother is kidnapped by a demon, and Clary must team up with a Shadowhunter boy named Jace to find her and save the world from an ancient threat. chapter 3: Clary and Jace travel to the Shadowhunter headquarters in Idris, where they learn more about the Shadowhunter world and their own abilities. chapter 4: Clary and Jace must face a variety of challenges, including demons, werewolves, and vampires, as they try to save Clary’s mother and the world. chapter 5: Clary and Jace finally find Clary’s mother, but she has been turned into a demon. Clary must make a difficult choice between saving her mother or killing her to save the world.

Conclusion

Clary and Jace are able to save the world from the ancient threat, but not without sacrifice. Clary’s mother is killed, and Jace is seriously injured. However, Clary finds solace in the fact that she has found her place in the world and that she has made a difference.

Others

  • City of Bones has been adapted into a film, a television series, and a graphic novel.
  • City of Bones has been praised for its strong female characters, its complex world-building, and its exciting plot.
  • City of Bones has been criticized for its violence and its portrayal of women.