Review of City of Ashes

City of Ashes: Mortal Instruments #2 by Cassandra Clare

Pages: 453

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: March 28, 2008

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*Friendly Note: This review contains spoilers, so feel free to read my review of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments series.  

Goodreads says, "Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.  To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?"

Simply incredible.  This series is all consuming.  I wish I started reading this series sooner, because it's everything a fantasy lover could want.  If you read the first book in the series, you know that Clary uncovers some upsetting details about her life.  Not only is she is a Shadowhunter, but she is also the sister of Jace, who was once a love interest (and still has feelings for), and her father is the evil villain, Valentine.  Her mom ends up in a coma and the plot certainly thickens.  Cassandra Clare expertly takes her readers on a journey that really develops the plot further.   This trip that is one that, quite frankly, I didn't want to see end!  City of Ashes is one of my favorite books. 

Things really pick up in this novel. Valentine stole the soul-sword, which allows him to control some extremely scary demons.  Enter the Clave's Inquisitor who is an evil woman with a mysterious past and she hopes to get to the bottom of this bad situation.   However, she is set on the fact that Jace had something to do with this as he is Valentine's son.  Essentially, she targets him and spends most of her energy investigating him.  Of course, there is more to this than meets the eye and I don't want to give too much away, but be prepared for an epic battle scene.

Simon is, of course, still in Clary's life and is the ever reliable BFF/love interest.  Again, I don't want to give too much away, but things really change for him in this book.  There were a few moments when I gasped with shock especially while reading about Simon's situation.  Lets just say things really evolve for him in this book.

The chemistry and tension is still present between Clary and Jace. It's heartbreaking, upsetting, and forbidden at the same time.  I am hoping Book Three will give me more info about this, because it's killing me.  You can also still count on Alec, Luke, and Isabelle in this book and you'll meet some new, interesting characters as well.

What is not to love about this book?  I enjoyed the dialogue, the action, the setting, and the unique characters.  I found myself dying of suspense one moment and the next laughing at the clever dialogue.  And the ending? My review can't do it justice.  

I am desperate to read City of Glass, so I am not going to wait like I did last time to pick up the next book in the series.  I will be reading City of Glass this week as I  can't wait to see what happens.  You know it's a good book when you are sad to see the trilogy end. :(

On an exciting note, Cassandra Clare will be at my local Barnes and Noble this Monday. I hope I can go and I hope I don't make an ass out of myself as I am such a huge fan.  

  

*Buy City of Ashes here

*Buy City of Glass here 

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