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WIJFR: City of Bones (Series SP)

GilliCGilliC member
Ancient Membership 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
edited April 2014 in Nest Book Club
Yes, I'm late to this party! This was my SBC choice that everyone has read but me.

At first I thought it was entertaining for a quick, light read, but then the ending happened. Or rather, didn't happen. I'm not a fan of completely open endings, and the only bits of the plot that were resolved at all were added almost as afterthoughts ("Oh, by the way, wasn't it great that Alec was saved by Magnus while we were off not resolving our own storyline?" "Yeah! That was swell.")

As for the fan-fic aspect, I wasn't terribly distracted by the HP similarities (though the word "mundane" as a noun never read smoothly to me, so I probably just should have replaced it in my head with "muggle"). I actually had a bigger problem with its parallels to my favorite fandom. Boring normal person turns out to be have strong supernatural powers. Hero finds out that the evil villain is father! Then finds out that crush is a sibling*! (gasp) Who ends up playing Jabba the Hutt?
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It's a decidedly 3-star book for me. It had its good points, but it definitely had some detractors. There are far too many things on my TBR list to continue with the series. I may consider The Infernal Devices at some point.

*I've seen the series spoiler on this, but I believe a book should be able to stand on its own to some extent even if it's part of a series. You can't just replicate a huge chunk of plot from somewhere else and then say that you didn't, because a later book comes along and says "Psych!"
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Re: WIJFR: City of Bones (Series SP)

  • j*&p*j*&p* member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 250 Love Its Name Dropper
    "There are far too many things on my TBR list to continue with the series." 

    That's exactly how I felt too. Especially after the creepy incest implications at the end. When I read it I had no idea that this was originally HP fan fic, and I still don't think the similarities were too glaring. But not that you mentioned the Star Wars parallels...
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  • I didn't know it was fanfic until I'd finished the series.  I was ready to throw the book away at the ending of the first book, but I'd bought a box set, so I decided to continue with the series.  I have to admit, the books get better, but should have remained a trilogy.  I know you said you read series spoilers, but the major things that completely turned me off in the first book were resolved going forward, and I think that those things were intended as cliffhangers and not things that make you want to throw the book out the window.
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  • Exactly! I felt the brother/sister thing coming. I listened to the audio book. I kept thinking, "they better not!" And then it happened. I was at work and practically yelled, "Oh, please!" And ripped the earbuds from my ears.
    I write sexy books. I read all the books. I love dresses & macarons.

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  • GilliCGilliC member
    Ancient Membership 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited April 2014
    I didn't know it was fanfic until I'd finished the series.  I was ready to throw the book away at the ending of the first book, but I'd bought a box set, so I decided to continue with the series.  I have to admit, the books get better, but should have remained a trilogy.  I know you said you read series spoilers, but the major things that completely turned me off in the first book were resolved going forward, and I think that those things were intended as cliffhangers and not things that make you want to throw the book out the window.
    I don't think it would have bothered me as much if it wasn't soooo close to the Star Wars plot. If it was a completely original (but equally skeevy) cliffhanger, I would be much more forgiving.

    You shouldn't have to read two more books to find out that she's not exactly copying someone else's idea.
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  • I didn't notice the Star Wars references because I don't remember much of the Star Wars movies or anything (don't judge, lol).  I liked it as a series, but I agree with PP that it should have stopped at the trilogy.

    I just started the Infernal Devices and I like it so far.  I think I like the story line a little better.   

     "Live like there's no midnight."

  • I've heard this referred to as being originally fan fic, but I don't know the full story. Was her (original, pre-publication) fanfic based on HP, or on Star Wars? I didn't really see any HP similarities ... at least, thinking back, I can't remember any. I'd love to hear the skinny on that, if anyone cares to enlighten me...? 

    I really, really liked the Infernal devices series. I thought it was so good. I didn't read it for so long, because I was annoyed overall by the Mortal Instruments series, lol. But I was glad I eventually picked it up. 
  • It was originally HP fanfic, I'm pretty sure.

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  • I found this: http://www.paperdroids.com/2013/09/16/cassiegate-cassandra-clares-alleged-plagarism-in-the-mortal-instruments/ 

    I'll need to finish reading that tonight, but thought I'd post it for anyone else curious. At first glance .... wow. 
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