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.
Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
My Thoughts:
So, this is my first review in almost a week., and I'm a little rusty, so bare with me, kay? I've been so busy lately, that the only time I've had to review my book, is right now! So lets get to it!City of Ashes is the much anticipated sequel to City of Bones. The book picks up almost immediately after the ending to the first book, still telling the story about 16-year-old Clary Fray and her new realisation that she was born a Shadowhunter, destined to battle demons in the world full of Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies that she didn't know even existed.
Now that Valentine (Clary's father and everyone's biggest enemy) is getting stronger after acquiring capabilities of summoning demons, everyone is very... very... worried and on guard all the time. It seems that a war cannot be avoided and is lurking around the corner.
On the surface, this book (or series) sounds like a typical young adult story about vampires and werewolves. It might even be true to a certain point, but so much is added to the story, that it became a very unique and interesting series. And it also became very addicting.
All the characters have a meaningful purpose in the book, that most people would not suspect, unless you read all the books. The exploration of the characters is deeper and darker than your normal, every-day romance Young Adult books.
Describing the characters feels like a lot of work right now, and i already described them in the city of bones review, so I'm just gonna quickly sum them up.
Clary is starting to act more tough in this book, which is great, because in the first book, she had to be rescued multiple time. Which kinda annoyed me.
Jace acted like a sad, depresses emo boy in this book, which didn't really annoy me, but I wanted much more action. He still had his snarky comebacks so that was awesome!
ALEC FINALLY COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET.....sorta......not really.
Isabelle was freaking awesome, cause' she just is! Deal with it. :D
Magnus Bane is still his awesome, magicy warlock self!
Valentine is still a freaking jerk who doesn't know when he's gone overboard on his beliefs. I really wanted to punch him in the face multiple time, but seeing as he is a trained killing shadowhunter, my hand would barely graze him before he had a knife through my chest.
We also have new character like, Maryse Lightwood (Alec and Isabelle's mother), Robert Lightwood (Alec and Isabelle's father), Max Lightwood (Alec and Isabelle's little brother), and Imogen Herondale: The Inquisitor.
Now let's talk about the "Incest" part of this book. In my opinion, there is no Incest in this book......well....not that much at least. Jace and Clary really do love each other, but that doesn't count as incest, because for a relationship to be called incest there should be sexual act. Kissing doesn't count, sex does. Clearly Clary and Jace haven't had sex yet. So I guess their safe....for now!
The plot was great, just like in City of Bones. And Cassandra Claire's writing style is great. You get sucked into the books so fast it makes you dizzy! LOL! LOVED IT!! I am definitely looking forward to City of Glass.
Quotes:
“I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead."
"Well," said Luke, "you're doing a fantastic job.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
“Well, I’m not kissing the mundane," said Jace. "I’d rather stay down here and rot."
"Forever?" said Simon. "Forever’s an awfully long time."
Jace raised his eyebrows. "I knew it," he said. "You want to kiss me, don’t you?”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
“You see, cuckoos are parasites. They lay their eggs in other birds' nests. When the egg hatches, the baby cuckoo pushes the other baby birds out of the nest. The poor parent birds work themselves to death trying to find enough food to feed the enormous cuckoo child who has murdered their babies and taken their places."
"Enormous?" said Jace. "Did you just call me fat?"
"It was an analogy."
"I am not fat.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
“No, I'm just a very naughty boy. I do all sorts of bad things. I kick kittens. I make rude gestures at nuns.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
“Isabelle drifted over, Jace a pace behind her. She was wearing a long black dress with boots and an even longer cutaway coat of soft green velvet, the color of moss. "I can't believe you did it!" she exclaimed. "How did you get Magnus to let Jace leave?"
"Traded him for Alec," Clary said.
Isabelle looked mildly alarmed. "Not permanently?"
"No," said Jace. "Just for a few hours. Unless I don't come back," he added thoughtfully. "In which case, maybe he does get to keep Alec. Think of it as a lease with an option to buy."
Isabelle looked dubious. "Mom and Dad won't be pleased if they find out."
"That you freed a possible criminal by trading away your brother to a warlock who looks like a gay Sonic the Hedgehog and dresses like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?" Simon inquired. "No, probably not.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
“Jace slammed his hand down on the stele. “Clary-“
“She said she doesn’t want it,” said Simon. “Ha-ha.”
“Ha-ha?” Jace looked incredulous. “That’s your comeback?”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes
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