City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments) | 
| Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Category: Book
List Price: $17.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 7078
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.8
ISBN: 1416914293
EAN: 9781416914297
ASIN: 1416914293
Publication Date: March 25, 2008
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Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...
inconsistent timing July 23, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book seemed like much less of a mush of other books than the first one in the series did, which was a relief. It picks up shortly after the first book left off, with all the main characters just recovering from the wounds they sustained in the big fight against Valentine's Forsaken. Which brings me to my only major problem with this book: the timeline. Although we're told that it was August during the events of City of Bones, in this book it seems to be late fall (there's always a chill in the air). Clary wakes up and eats a doughnut on her way to meet Simon, and then suddenly it's late afternoon. And a few more occasions of missing time...
If you can ignore those inconsistencies, though, this is a good read. Plenty of twists and turns, and unexpected action. A few characters wind up not being dead a few too many times (an author can only pull that trick so many times before all the tension leaks away). And, although the book dragged in a few scenes (ok, Inquisitor, we get your point), I'll be waiting with a fair degree of anticipation of the (hopefully, since I don't think this story-line can last for more than one more book) last book in the trilogy.
 The Compulsive Reader's Reviews July 23, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The past few weeks have been hectic for Clary Fray to say the least, and they only seem to get even more so in the sequel to Cassandra Clare's popular debut City of Bones. Clary's mother still hasn't awoken from her strange sleep induced by Jace and Clary's father, Valentine, and Jace is having troubles coming to terms with his true parentage.
Things only get more complicated when an Inquisitor is sent to the Institute to question Jace's loyalty to the Clave, and he doesn't make a good impression. Suspicion is further aroused when children of magical descent are found dead all over the city, making everyone suspect that Valentine is up to something more sinister than they have anticipated.
The second book in the Mortal Instruments series is full of fast paced action and twists and turns that you won't see coming. Clary gets more and more involved in the supernatural world as she and Jace struggle to accept their relationship, while at the same time fending off attacks from all sides. In between it all is exhilarating excitement, the awkwardness of being a teenager, and intriguing mysteries. Readers looking for more breathless adventure and a spectacular battle against evil will delight in City of Ashes.
Terrific read June 29, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I was surprised by the number of negative reviews because I found this to be an original and exciting series. Despite some of the dialogue trying too hard to be "kewl" at times, I thought the plot was excellent, the world well developed and intriguing, and the writing to be first rate. Clare's descriptions of places and characters are terrific and sometimes beautiful, particularly in this installment (it was more uneven in the first). I really like all the characters, I care about them, despite some of them occasionally being annoying - but that's like real people. And I'm impressed with the chance she has taken with the main love story (I don't want to put a spoiler here) - it takes some courage to promote a love story like that. I like the chances that Clare takes and can't wait to read City of Glass!
Much Better Than City of Bones June 22, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
To me, this still isn't perfect, but it's fast-paced and in-character. I cared a lot more about the plot and characters, and saw a lot less parallels to all the other YA fantasy series I've read. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one!
Waiting for more... June 16, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Regardless of the author's beginnings, I am finding myself really liking this series. It has a lot of elements that nod to famous YA fantasy novels (Harry Potter, Tithe) and a lot of elements of its own. It has its own Dark Lord, plenty of magic, and a very interesting bunch of characters.
There is one particular point about this book that's going to make you cringe, though: there is a love triangle...and two of the people in that love triangle are (as yet to be disproven) brother and sister. If that makes you scream "YIKES!" you probably won't be able to get past it and enjoy yourself.
I found it a fun read despite that. It was a page-turner for me, and kept my interest all the way up until the end. I'm excited to read the last book in the trilogy.
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