With the release of City of Bones coming up at the end of the month, I'm continuing on with the Mortal Instrument reviews. This week is book 2, City of Ashes. I really enjoyed this one as well. If you haven't read it, you should. This series is highly addicting. I feel that the stories get more mature and better and better as the series goes along.
Release Date: March 25, 2008
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 453
Source: Purchase
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Original Review Date: September 8, 2009
Rating: 4 bookmarks
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, 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.
Our usual suspects are all in CoA, and they are all enjoyable to read about. We also see a few new faces added to the mix as well. There's something new happening with Simon, a new girl Maia. Maryse and the Inquisitor, well....they are just dreadful. Of course, don't we can't forget psychopathic Valentine! Woah, that dude is more than a little cray cray.
This installment did have it's share of teenage angst, so if you have an extreme aversion to it, you may want to be aware that it's there.
Now this book is not perfect, but the story was moving forward and you want to find out what happens to Clare and Jace. I feel like their situation is very reminiscent of the earlier V.C. Andrews books, they always seemed to have sibling falling for each other...well before they knew they were related...but we'll see where this goes.
I am looking forward to reading book 3. Fans of City of Bones will certainly enjoy this sequel. I know I did.
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
Missed my review of the first book in the Mortal Instruments series? Check out my thoughts on City of Bones.