City of Bones and City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Sometimes you can't go by what a book review says about a book. The review I read about this series almost made me not read it. I think it said something about the story getting bogged down by lengthy explanations but I didn't get that impression when I read the books. I really enjoyed them and I am anxiously awaiting the third book called City of Glass. It comes out in March of 2009. Just keep in mind that just because so in so doesn't like it doesn't mean you won't. You can miss out on a lot of good reading that way.

The main character is Clary. She is fifteen and her best friend is Simon. When they go to a club one night Clary sees three teenagers sporting tattoo's and weapons and they are about to kill another teenager. Clary goes to stop them and the three teens are in shock that Clary can see them. They are Shadow Hunters and they hunt demons. The teen about to be killed is a demon disguising himself as a boy.

Clary doesn't understand what is going on but she soon finds out that her mother has been hiding a terrible secret and she is kidnapped. Clary must trust the Shadow Hunters (Jace, Alec, and Isabelle) because they know things that could help get her mother back. Ms. Clare has created an intriguing world full of vampires, werewolves, Fae, and people that were born to fight the evil in the world. Clary is one of those people. Once you read the first book you have to get your hands on the second one.

Just when Clary and Jace may have feelings for each other they find out they may be brother and sister. Clary's father whom she thought was dead is alive and evil. Everything normal in her world is falling apart. If you are into fantasy then you should read these books.