Book Review: City of Ashes

About the Book

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments #2

Publication Date: March 25, 2008

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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.

My Review of City of Ashes

City of Ashes is even better than City of Bones, which is not an easy feat. While the ending of City of Bones left some deep wounds, I was interested in finding out how everyone was now a fairing, and what Valentine has up his sleeve. While I was expecting another battle with Valentine, City of Ashes has so much more than just another battle. City of Ashes is action packed explosive sequel, and another marvelous addition to The Mortal Instruments Series. 

Alec’s relationship is my favorite part, simply because I wanted to see him happy versus pinning after someone he can never have. It has allowed readers to see a softer side to Alec. Clary and Jace’s relationship is obviously fractured and both are trying to fit the pieces into a new mold. A few interactions between them are glimpses of the past. There are also a few signs pointing toward buried secrets that may influence future novels in this series. 

Jace endures most of the anger and suffering for Valentine’s return. Distrusted by the Clave and the only family he has ever known causes Jace to fell lost and alone. Clary is dealing with her mother’s coma and she also tries to find comfort in the new stage of her relationship with Simon. Just as thing seem to level out; Valentine has to muck it all up. 

So much happens in City of Ashes, so many new characters, storylines, and just danger around every corner. I can only imagine what City of Glass is going to be like. I also now understand why this series is so addicting. 

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Book Review: City of Bones

About the Book

Title: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments #1

Publication Date: March 27, 2007

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When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

My Review of City of Bones

I read City of Bones a few years ago on a suggestion from my sister. I really enjoyed it, but for some reason I never finished the rest of the series. After seeing the movie, I knew I had to restart the series and continue until the end. I decided to refresh my memories of the Mortal Instruments by re-reading City of Bones. City of Bones although the story stayed the same, I love it even more. 

The characters in the series each have their own personality and I love so many of them. I do have to say my favorite is not even one of the “main” characters, my favorite is Magnus Bane. His personality sticks out so well, and he seems to care about Clary. I of course love Jace and Clary’s relationship in this book and Jace’s sarcasm made me laugh aloud on more than one occasion. 

The way Cassandra Clare writes the story of Clary and the Shadowhunter’s World is captivating. There are many elements to this story along with a lot of mythology. It could have been overwhelming, but it was spaced out to avoid feeling like information overload. I can only imagine that Cassandra Clare has just barely touched the surface of the Mortal Instruments world with City of Bones, and there is much more information to come in the next installments. 

For those of you who were like me and just have not pick up this series yet, I suggest giving it a try I think you will be blown away. I am starting City of Ashes tomorrow and I cannot wait to catch up, finally, on this series, before the sixth installment comes out. 

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