- Why is the book divided into three parts? Does that structure add anything to your understanding of the book's events?
- Do you agree with Jocelyn's mother's decision to keep her daughter in the dark? Why or why not?
- Do you think Clary's quest was a success or a failure? What makes you say so?
- Would you want to have Clary's Sight, and all the demons that go with it? Why or why not?
- Team Jace or Team Simon? Why?
- If you could pull an object out of any famous painting, what would it be?
- Cassandra Clare got her start writing Harry Potter fan-fiction. What similarities do you see between City of Bones and Harry Potter?
- How does this book stack up to other YA literature, like Twilight, Harry Potter, or The Hunger Games?
- What do you think is going to happen in the sequels? How do you know?
- If you were casting the movie, who would play the starring roles?