Review: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

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 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 TAKE:
This was one of those books wherein I didn't really like the female protagonist, plus a few other things, but I liked where the story was headed so I rated it high anyway.

In City of Ashes, Jace and Clary are being pulled deeper into the tangled web that their father has been weaving. Can they escape him or will he able to convince him to join his side?

Like with City of Bones, we learn a lot of new information in City of Ashes. I'm used to the pacing and flow of information at this point so it really didn't bother me. I enjoyed reading more about the Downworlders, especially about the Seelie Court. By the way, there's a scene when they were in the Seelie Court that can be either gross or romantic, depending on how much you know about the future books or how you feel about Clary and Jace as a couple.

It's a lot more gory than City of Bones, but the violence isn't unnecessary. I liked the scene in the City of Bones better than the final fight sequence, though, as I felt it was more subtle but more powerful at the same time.

My biggest issue with this book was Clary. She was such an emo drama queen at times. It really got on my nerves. I certainly hope she learns to pull back a little on that urge in the next books.
  
THE GOOD:

1. The story is getting interesting.
2. The abilities and background stories of the Downworlders are more complex than I first thought.
3. The action sequences are pretty good.

THE BAD:

1. Clary can be a drama queen. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

“I've got a stele we can use. Who wants to do me?"
"A regrettable choice of words," muttered Magnus.” 

READ IT IF:

1. You liked City of Bones.
2. You're curious about what will happen to the Jace-Clary-Simon love triangle.
3. You like the Downworlders.

RATING:


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