Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Winter has begun to settle over the busy streets of New York City, a far cry from the sweltering days when Clary Fray first discovered the magical world she had been blind to. She now has a newly-found brother and father. There are several complications to that, though. Jace, her infuriatingly arrogant and good-looking older brother, can't help but capture her heart in a way she knows is impossible. And Valentine, Jace and Clary's father, just happens to be the most dangerous Shadowhunter of all time, dedicated to "purifying" the world of Downworlders--werewolves, vampires, faeries, and the like--and willing to slaughter anyone who will get in his way.

In this second installment, Valentine has stolen the sacred Soul-Sword, which will give him ultimate control over all the demons if he performs a horrifying sacrificial ceremony. Jace, Clary (who is just beginning to understand her Shadowhunter abilities) and their friends work desperately to stop him, but it seems like the Clave itself seems to want to stop THEM. At least, they want Jace. The Inquisitor, a scary woman with no small resemblance in personality to Professor Umbridge of the Harry Potter series, is determined to punish Jace as being Valentine's spy.

And those are just the big problems. More personal but no less hurtful to Clary are her feelings towards two guys: her best friend Simon, whom she may not love enough, and Jace, whom she probably loves too much. She has no idea what she wants, but they all know one thing: to love is to be destroyed, to be trapped, to be in danger.

CITY OF ASHES brings back everything I liked in Cassandra Clare's first book and more. The dialogue continues to be refreshingly witty; there is no lack of action and danger, which will satisfy our adventurous sides, while the love triangle will ensnare our sensitive side.