Is this book part of a larger series or can it be read alone?

This is the first installment of a six-book series known as The Mortal Instruments, and it serves as the primary entry point into the broader Shadowhunter Chronicles universe.

Are there any film or television adaptations of this story?

The novel was adapted into a feature film in 2013 and later served as the basis for a television series titled Shadowhunters that premiered in 2016.

City of Bones

Reader reviews of City of Bones

frogus · 2026-06-02T18:30:10.000000Z

i think it's been like 3 years since the last time i read this book. i kind of missed it. i know that back in 2017 i gave this a 5 stars immediately, but now it feels like a 4 stars book. and i know it's YA but still, 15 years old??? i don't know why but i can't get over the fact that clarissa is 15. it just bothers me. other than that, i liked the plot and i love the characters, and im looking forward to reading the second book. there were so many things that i didn't remember while rereading it, and it amazed me how easily i forgot about them. also, i kept remembering the movie (the one with lily collins) and now i can't stop thinking about it. maybe i'll watch it again one of these days. i know for a fact that i liked it more than the series (and i only watched the series because of the malec relationship, the content we all deserve).

Dark Fantasy Fantasy

Pages: 720
Published: 2007
Language: English

When Clary Fray discovers a hidden world of demon hunters, her ordinary life is turned upside down. She's drawn into a dangerous conflict in New York City, where vampires and werewolves are real, and forbidden love might be the least of her worries. This is the start of an epic urban fantasy adventure.

Prose complexity: 4/10

Adventurous Dark Tense Romantic

Chosen One Found Family Secret Identity Forbidden Love

Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare is the pen name of Judith Lewis, born Judith Rumelt to American parents in Tehran, Iran. She spent her childhood travelling with her family, living in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten, and attended high school in Los Angeles. She worked in entertainment journalism — including a spell at The Hollywood Reporter — before turning to fiction full time in 2006. City of Bones (2007) opened The Mortal Instruments, the six-book series that established her Shadowhunters w...

Clary FrayProtagonist

A Brooklyn teenager who discovers she is a Shadowhunter, descended from demon-hunters.

Simon LewisSupporting

Clary's lifelong best friend, an ordinary human drawn into the Shadowhunter world.

Isabelle LightwoodSupporting

A Shadowhunter warrior who befriends Clary.

Alec LightwoodSupporting

Isabelle's brother, a disciplined Shadowhunter.

Jace HerondaleSupporting

A confident, skilled Shadowhunter who becomes Clary's ally and love interest.

All characters in City of Bones

Frequently asked questions

Is this book part of a larger series or can it be read alone?
This is the first installment of a six-book series known as The Mortal Instruments, and it serves as the primary entry point into the broader Shadowhunter Chronicles universe.
Are there any film or television adaptations of this story?
The novel was adapted into a feature film in 2013 and later served as the basis for a television series titled Shadowhunters that premiered in 2016.

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City of Bones

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City of Bones

Synopsis

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Genres

About the author

Characters

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Frequently asked questions

The Mortal Instruments

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