City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)

Reader reviewed by Aud

City of Ashes is the second book in The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. Clary now understands that Valentine is her real father and from the looks of it is also Jace's father. This tends to complicate their love for each other considered they are possibly brother and sister. Valentine has sworn to over take the clave by using a demonic army. All the while her mother is deep in a coma. Her best friend Simon is falling in love with her and her confusion on what to do grows stronger. She does not understand everything but is learning more and more with each passing day about her real life that her mother tried to keep her from. This series has everything from vampires, werewolves, warlocks, fairys and much much more. The writing style of Cassandra Clare is graphic however I enjoyed that I painted a better picture as I read what Clary and her group were up against.  

Reader reviewed by Britt

This bbokkept up wit the first perfectly which was hard to beat! It had so many things explained. you laugh you cry. you enjoy the whole book as much as the first! I enjoyed it so much i was countng down to the 3rd books release i just had to know.  the suprise were amazing and every battle scene was so descripted that i knew what exactley was happening or going on. The characters personalities shine throughout the book making you laugh

Reader reviewed by Maria

By now, i should hope that you have already read the first book of this series, City of Bones. If not, you should immediatly go to your nearest book store or library and get it, and dont come back here untill you have finished it, because I might give something important away.

So, when I first see a book, i'm usually very skeptical of it. You know the saying, Don't judge a book by its cover? Well, I haven't quite figured that out. So I had been avoiding this series for a while before i finally just went out and got it. Best decision ever, definitly. the first chapter of City of Bones i was hooked, and wasted no time getting City of Ashes and finishing it within a couple days. It continues the adventures of Clary and Jace, along with Isabelle, Alec, Simon, and everyone else, as they try to save the human and shadowhunter world from Valentine. As we all well remember from the first, there is a huge plot twist towards the end, which continues in this book.  all in all, a great 2nd book in the trilogy.

Reader reviewed by Sara

From the back cover: A MURDERER IS LOOSE IN NEW YORK CITY& and the victims are Downworlder children. Clary Fray and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clarys father, may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then whats his true motive? To make matters worse, the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, has been stolen, and the mysterious Inquisitor has arrived to investigate, with his eyes vigilantly targeted on Clarys brother, Jace.
Clary will need to face some terrifying demons and even more terrifying family decisions. No one said that the life of a Shadowhunter would be easy.

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Clary: the only thing that bothered me in this book was her dating Simon, but I understand why she did& to me it was like Twilights Bella dating Jacob (kind of icky); Simon: funny as usual, but dark as well& Im glad that he found a way into the new world Clary is a part of&. Otherwise I think he would have had to be left behind; Jace: he is so dark and brooding, I just wanted him and Clary to find a way to be together&; Alec and Magnus: they are entertaining& and I like how they are have so many dimensions for minor characters

When I finished this book I felt: NEED CITY OF GLASS NOW! Thats basically all I could think after I finished City of Ashes. I wanted to know what the Inquisitor meant when she saw Jaces scar&. What the Faerie Queen meant about the blood in Jaces veins& What Valentine meant when he said something about his first son& So many unanswered questions! Also I was thinking about how comforting fantasy books are& they have a set formula of good versus evil, good prevailing, and the main heroes coming together in the end. I know everything will work out in these books because everything always works out in these types of books. And I love knowing that and then reading to find out how it will all come together in the end. Also, there are an uncommon number of love triangles in these books.

Other books to read by this author: City of Glass, The Clockwork Princess (2010), The Clockwork Prince (2011)

I would recommend this book to: everyone!

Reader reviewed by Brittany Leigh

If you thought the first one was good, this is ever better. We had a major twist last book and it gets even twistier in the sequel. Jace and Clary are trying to hard to stay apart but they can't push down those feelings. Plus, is Simon becoming more than a friend?

Clary is dead on on helping her mother but to do that she must find her father. Will Jace help her and turn against the man that raised him? Or is his 'love' for Clary stronger than everyone realizes?

It's even more action that the first and it will keep you on your toes the whole time.

Reader reviewed by Brooke

This book is great. It tells you more about the nortoious Valentine. Which is Jace's and Clair's so called "Father". Jace is even in more love with is so called "sister". Thats why he tries to stay away ffrom her. I liked this book but hated it because you think that the ending is gonna be something that you know but it's different. I would recommend it. I loved it and i know you all will. It is a really great book, and i totally would say with confiendec that everyone will love this book. If you liked Twilight, you'll LOVE THIS ONE!!!!

Reader reviewed by Beth

This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy. This book is amazing! The story moves along at breakneck pace, and keeps you enthralled, unable to put the book down. The world of the Shadowhunters develops and becomes increasingly complex. The characters all have additional dimensions added to them, which makes them all the more convincing. I can't wait for City of Glass!