City of Ashes

CITY OF ASHES

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS 2

By:  Cassandra Clare

FIRST SENTENCE

“Are you still mad?”

SUMMARY
from goodreads

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 oma, 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 killiings – and if he is, what is he trying to do?  When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquistor 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?

REVIEW

I would not have thought it possible, but City of Ashes is even better than City of Bones.  Perhaps it is because I have gotten more attached to the characters, maybe it is the brilliant writing, or it could be the plot that just won’t stop delivering.  Whatever it is, this series is incredible.

Clary finds herself in one predicament after another.  Just when I would think it couldn’t get any worse for her, Clare would throw in yet another twist.  If you like your action served with a side of even more action, then you will love this ride.  It is super high energy!

Clary remains the strong lead character she was in the first book and new characters are added to the mix.  Each one plays an important role in the evolving mystery.  It is amazing how Clare intertwines the plots in such a way that every single character and scene plays off the others.

Dark and mysterious, City of Ashes delivers a powerful paranormal punch. 

RATING

5        Plot

5        Characters

5        Attention Grabbing

4        Girlie Meter

5        Ending

24      TOTAL

5        STARS