City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Summary
Overview of City of Bones
Discover a hidden world of Shadowhunters in New York City with "City of Bones" - the urban fantasy phenomenon that sold 50 million copies worldwide. Called "demented, delightful genius" by author Kelly Link, this bestseller sparked a film, TV series, and record-breaking $1.15 million Kickstarter campaign.
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Key takeaways
Shadows in the Ordinary: When Monsters Become Real
Imagine seeing something no one else can see-a blue-haired boy being murdered by tattooed teenagers with glowing blades, his body vanishing into thin air. This is fifteen-year-old Clary Fray's first glimpse into the Shadow World, a parallel reality hidden from ordinary humans. What begins as a typical night at the Pandemonium Club in Manhattan shatters her perception of reality forever. The next day brings even more chaos when Clary's mother Jocelyn frantically insists they must leave their Brooklyn apartment immediately. After storming out during their argument, Clary receives a terrifying phone call warning her not to come home. She ignores this advice only to find their apartment destroyed and her mother missing. Before she can process this scene, she's attacked by a monstrous Ravener demon that speaks with human intelligence. What makes this opening so effective is how quickly normalcy crumbles. One moment Clary is worried about art school applications and her best friend Simon's terrible band names; the next, she's fighting for her life against creatures that shouldn't exist. Her ability to see through magical "glamours" raises questions about her identity. Why can she perceive what others cannot? What secrets has her mother been keeping all these years? These questions propel us into a world where nothing is as it seems.
Warriors with Angel Blood: The Shadowhunter Society
The Sacred Chalice: Power Hidden in Plain Sight
Between Worlds: The Vibrant Downworld
Secrets of Blood: Identity Unraveled
Hearts in Shadow: Love's Complicated Dance
When Truth Shatters Everything
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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