City of Ashes (2008)

City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.

Plot [with Spoilers for City of Bones]:
After the events of City of Bones, Clary’s life has fundamentally changed. Her mom is in a coma, she’s living with Luke, her mom’s best friend who turned out to be a werewolf, her feelings for Jace remain unchanged by the fact that she’s his sister, while she tries to make it work as a kinda-couple with her best friend Simon. And to make things worse, Valentine is still out and about, killing left and right, Jace is under suspicion of spying for him and is locked up and investigated and things just generally don’t look too well.

While there is much I didn’t like about City of Ashes (this series generally probably won’t ever be my favorite), I’m still enjoying it a lot and I’m still engaged in the story. And I already started reading book three, so there’s that, too.

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My Opinion : I've loved him forever, but he can never be mine. Isn't that sentence haunting? I mean, don't you want to read the book just by reading that sentence? I did.

This series is one of my guilty pleasure series.Do you have a series/book like that? Well, this series' mine. The writing isn't exceptional, but still fun to read and fast-paced, the romances are cheesy and it's really easy to know what's coming in the book, but I as it is.

I think that Brittany would be my second favorite female character of all the series; I liked her because she wanted to be badly what she wasn't, that she would do everything to have it, or almost anything. My favorite would be Kayla; I thought she was so sweet. Connor is, like my my least favorite guy, but I don't really know why. Rafe is my favorite; so... HAWT(hot), hey, see what I did there, 'hawt'= Hawthrone !

I just love that cover! With the girl's black hair, the blue eyes and her pink lipstick, I think it'S awesome; and my favorite cover of this series. You can tell by the look of this girl's eyes, which I presume is meant to be Brittany, is a girl you don't want to mess with.

There's a book left in the series; can't wait to read it!



4/5 stars


Title : City of Ashes
Series : Mortal Instruments #2
Pages : 453
Author : Cassandra Clare
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format : Hardcover
Source : Bought - Owned

My Opinion: 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 roses ( )

The second book of The Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes, written by Cassandra Clare, continues the story of our heroine Clary, as she tries to stop her evil father, Valentine.

My major issue with this book was how nothing really happened. Two thirds of the book are just teen angst (Jace's mostly) and the last third is a mess.

Clare's characters also lack personalities; they all feel the same, they all sound the same. Specially her protagonist, Clary, who has as much personality as a carboard. Clary has no voice, and the only thing she brings to the story is a love triangle.

And the love triangle! Let me tell you about the love triangle. It's painful, and not in a good way. Jace and Clary are supposed to be siblings (though it's obvious they are not, I mean, Jace is blond with golden eyes that shine like the sun at 11 am so he looks nothing like his "parents") but still! I just kept reading their scenes together and couldn't stop wondering HOW? How can someone have the hots for other knowing KNOWING they are siblings! HOW?

My other problem was Jace. Jace is a jerk. No matter how sad you say his story is, he's still a jerk. And I still feel like hitting him. He walks over everyone, and expect people to be thankful for being allowed in his presences. Prick.

The other characters are pretty much irrelevant, even though they are supposed to be important. Alec is supposed to be Jace's parabatai, but they worked together a grant number of zero times, Alec is mostly Jace's cheerleader. Then we have Magnus, great wizard of NYC or something like that, who is basically the team nurse. Izzy, who is supposed to be badass, but doesn't do a thing. Simon, who's job is to pretend to die to make Clary show some emotion (he dies like four times I think, at the end I was rolling my eyes, because Clare obviously is not killing her characters). The useless parents and the mean authoritative figure and I think that's it.

The way most behave is unrealistic, and the way they talk just doesn't feel right.

By the way, Clare needs a Spanish counselor if she wants to keep writing latin characters because: "El no es muerto" is grammatically incorrect and it makes me think she's using Google Translate.

I did find some parts interesting, like the world she has created, and I wished she would try to explore it more, instead of shoving Jace's perfection down our throats. ( )

The second book in the Mortal Instruments series continues the action, adventure, friendships, and complicated romance of the first. When Valentine starts killing underage Downworlders in order to advance his evil power-hungry plan, Jace comes under suspicion as a spy for his father. The whole gang has to work against Valentine while trying to convince the Clave of Jace's loyalty. In the midst of all the danger, Clary and Jace still struggle with their conflicted feelings for each other. Entertaining and fast-paced fantasy adventure with the appeal of a motley crew of friends surrounding the main characters. ( )

Awesome ( )