The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes (Book Two)

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

This is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series, and I did not like it as the first. There is something about it that has me skimming pages instead of thoroughly reading.

Previously published on my blog: http://fictionfervor.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/review-city-of-ashes-by-cassandra-clare/

Without a doubt, the second novel in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series is just as nerve-wracking as its prequel. With the return of some of my favorite Shadowhunters, I couldn’t help smiling as characters fell in love, pondering as new discoveries were made, and gasping at every turn.

I’ve always loved the world Cassie Clare had created. A world of nephilim, vampires, werewolves, faeries, and warlocks–each species being a combination of either angel, demon, or human–fascinates me. And the plot in this book! I was engrossed in this one even more than I was in City of Bones (I think I have a thing with murders in books; they just grab at my attention).

Cassie’s characters also majorly improved. With this installment in the series, Clary became less of a Mary Sue in my mind. Her newly discovered talent with runes still didn’t qualify her as kick-butt, but my opinion of her rose rapidly. And Jace–Jace became even more complex, even more of a character whose emotions dominated him.

The romantic tension between Clary and Jace grew even more in this novel–which of course made me pleased. (Totally Team Jace here.) Even though they still had that pesky little hurdle of (spoiler if you haven’t read City of Bones) incest, they couldn’t help falling in love with each other, no matter how hard they tried to push their feelings away.

I adored this book. With even more plot twists and major improvements in character development, this book left me flipping its pages ’til the very end. Readers are going to want to get their hands on City of Glass the very minute–no, the very second–they read the last word in this novel.

Source: copy borrowed from library

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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

Cassandra Clare is the author anyone can relate to; what she writes always comes out as a masterpiece and is comfortable for any reader; it envelopes many genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, sometimes Contemporary and others. Cassandra Clare is the new JK Rowling.

City of Ashes is the sequel to City of Bones, and is the second in The Mortal Instruments series, who is acclaimed by many readers. It involves around Jace and Clary, who are supposedly brothers and sisters, but never knew until a few months before. And they were in love. And still are, but they need to stop, because they fear that anyone (family, friends, strangers) would find it disgusting. But they still find drawn together... until Jace says they have to stop. Clary reluctantly agrees. Now, the story doesn't revolve around only that, there's also Valentine, their evil father who is trying to summon as many demons as he can to kill everyone in the Clave, and there's also their mother, who is 'asleep'. Oh, and Simon, Clary's best friend and almost-boyfriend-but-not-really. Oh, and there's teh obvious chemistry between Alec and Magnus Bane(two boys!).


Clary is, to me, playing weak when it comes to fighting. She always seems to get hurt and doesn't do anything about it. Or maybe she just sucks at fighting... oh well. Jace is, I have to say, hot, arrogant, hot, cute, and MINE! I love the way he jokes and is arrogant, and that is why he got in jail. But, also, it'S because the Inspector or something hates Valentine and, therefore, hates Jace because he's his son. Talk about the incarnate of stupidity :D I have to admit, the character I like the best would be either Jace (mmmh, hawt!) and Alec or Magnus (since they are sooo cute together!).


I think the characters mature a little in this book, yet I think they will evolve even more (mmmh, I seem to like words will 'volve' as an ending in this review, sorry!).


I really like the writing; it kept me on the edge, wanting to ead faster and therefore be able to read eat more of the book. It was just so great! I think Cassandra Clare fairly improved in City of Ashes, and I canMt wait to see how City of Glass will be, since one of my fellow book bloggers (Stephii!) told me that it was the best of the series.


The cover is awesome-looking on my shelves. It catches the eyes! Also, I love the girl's hair; it looks like fire! (Somebody call 911, shawty fire burning on the dance floor, oh-oh-oh!!)


I loved this book: 4.5/5 stars!!

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.