The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes (Book Two)

To see my review on this book, visit my blog: bookbabe07.blogspot.com

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After I had finished City of Bones, the first book of this amazing series, I was begging my parents to let me get the second one. My dad finally said yes, but after nearly a month of waiting, my friend Cassidy just lent it to me instead. I finished the book in a day, doing some non-stop reading (even though I had to rush to finish my homework in the evening), because I just couldn't get away from it.

The characters were all written and described perfectly, except that I warmed to Alec more than Jace now, because he was even more likely to get angry than in the last book. I also really liked Clary, she was, as always, the perfect heroine.

I can kind of understand why Clary just wants life to go back to normal, but she really needs to press on, for the sake of her mother, who is still in a magical coma. And how could she even think about going back to some boring normal life, when she can see werewolves grinning at her, vampires staring at her from the rooftops at night, and faeries wanting to cause mischief? Not to mention all the rest. No, normal is no longer possible for Clary, no matter how much she wishes for it.

And even if she could let go of the Shadow Hunter world, that world is no longer inclined to let her go. She must track down her father: the rogue Shadow Hunter Valentine, who is insane and capable of twisting anyone to his advantage. And her brother, the annoying Jace, who she just might have been falling for, isn't ready to let her go either.

To make matters even worse than they already are, which I didn't think could have been possible, someone is out there, someone who stole the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul Sword. The terrifying Inquisitor arrives and suddenly normal for Clary crashes and burns. She is again swept up in a war of things she is only beginning to understand.

In this absolutely wonderful sequel, Cassandra again draws us deep into the modern New York, where love becomes the most dangerous weapon, and power the most terrifying temptation, where things lurk in the dark and there actually are monsters who want to kill you while you sleep.

I got City of Ashes as a christmas present from my younger cousins, last year. I had finished City of Bones a month before and I didn't have enough cash (because I bought other books) to buy it. So I was really looking forward to read it. I bought it with me on my summer holiday just after christmas. I sat by the pool and finished it in a day. From the minute I opened the book, I knew it was going to be fantastic, and I wasn't wrong.

I loved all the characters just as much, they are all perfectly written, except they didn't have perfect personalities, especially Jace. He was even more foul-tempered, and cruel, the same. I like Alec even better as well as Clary. But I still liked Alec the best, I liked the minute he entered the book.

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?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

This book is truly amazing!!

everyone should read this

Reader reviewed by Lia

This book is soo good that why even bother writing a review? read it for
yourself! you'll love it just like me!!

here's the synopsis-
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,...

Reader reviewed by Crimin

I just finished City of Ashes and I have one thing to say: Cassandra
Clare, would you think me mad if I confessed to the world that I love
you?



Never have I been so enthralled by a book series, even the Harry
Potter series seems to pale up against these wonderful books. And, even
though City of Ashes left me hanging on a cliff-hanger, I'm too anxious
to pick up City of Glass. Not because I fear of what might happen. No,
nothing like that.


I fear the end of this series. The end of Clary and Jace and Alec
and Magnus and Isabelle and Luke and -- OH! My heart cannot take it!



I digress. Now, City of Bones was excellent and I read it slowly to
savor each word, but with City of Ashes, I couldn't help myself. I
gorged my way through it, eating it up like sweet cakes. It was by far
better than City of Bones.



And I'm expecting to see that City of Glass will taste even better
than its predecessor, with a flavor more associated with ambrosia, the
food of the Gods.

Reader reviewed by An_d

I did not think that the sequel would even tap into the magic that the first book (City of Bones) held, but it surpassed it!  WOW. WOW. WOW.  City of Ashes continues on Clary's journey into a new and unknown world to her.  Love, friendship, demons, vampires, love, fear, horror, betrayal, werewolves, love, action, wizards, battle, lies, twists, flying motorcycles, fairies, and more love.  You will be on the edge of your seat as she charts into unknown territory and then burst into laughter from snarky comments or silly situations.  You will cry with her over heartaches and confusion.  And you will cheer her on as she stands her ground with demons and evil swirling around her!  Most importantly, you will love every word of this book.  I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy/urban fantasy/romance!  

Reader reviewed by holly

amazing, everyone should read this! Also it's a bit like twilight if you look closely. I must admit that some of the explaining part, as i call them, can be quite boring. but what can you do? Other than that the foour way love story is written well, but sad...anyway read this for a great fantasy/romance read!

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.