123. Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones. 512 pages. 10.23.09.

It's not often I come across a book with a plot as transparent as City of Bones. Clare seems to draw from a traditions of young adult and contemporary fantasy alike, with little altered to speak to her own creativity. While reading City of Bones I found myself waiting for the events and revelations I knew would happen, as opposed to enjoying the "plot twists" as they came along. This is not to say that the novel is entirely lacking in entertainment value, but the best audience for City of Bones is someone just stepping into the genre; the novel serves as a kind of "Cliff's Notes" for contemporary YA fantasy.