Title: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance (YA)
Pages: 496 Pages (Paperback)
Original Publication Date: March 25, 2008
Overall Rating: 
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Summary from Shelfari
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….
My Thoughts
As with City of Bones, I don’t regret my choice to buy this trilogy. City of Ashes has also landed on my Favorites shelf. These books are seriously intense! There’s a part of me that wishes I would’ve read this series as each book was published so I could wait and let the adrenaline coursing through my body ebb a bit. But, then there’s an even bigger part of me that’s glad I didn’t have to wait between each book as it would’ve been torture, even more so than waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or Breaking Dawn.
Wait … w-what? Isn’t that sacrilege? You’d think, but I’m seriously rethinking the order of my favorite books. I don’t think anything can ever take the Twilight Saga’s place in my heart. After all, it’s what started the catalyst to my reading frenzy and I still think about the characters, their lives, and compare them to every book I read. But, the Mortal Instruments may one up Harry Potter. I can’t say for sure yet; not until I read City of Glass, the final installment in the Mortal Instruments.
City of Ashes is just as intense as City of Bones. Actually, it’s probably even more intense because you know the characters and you’re more interested in what happens to them now. The feelings the characters are going through along with the intense situations occurring around them make this book so action-packed that I felt like I needed an inhaler to help slow down my breathing and a sedative to relax my nerves.
There’s no way I can include the synopsis on the book jacket for City of Ashes in this post. It would give away too much! If you haven’t read City of Bones, I recommend you don’t read the synopsis yet. Otherwise, it’ll ruin it for you!
At this point, I can’t wait until I read and finish City of Glass so I know what happens. I’m worried that the story isn’t going to end the way I want it to; that the conflict between the two main characters can’t be resolved the way I need it to be. But, I’m starting to see how things will turn out because of Cassandra Clare’s amazing ability to foreshadow. There’s still hope.
you have the most amazing reading list. I’m dying to start this trilogy…Is it really that amazing that I should go ahead and buy it? How much are the hardbacks?
I think they’re that amazing! I’m only 52 pages into the third book and I’m already sucked in. It’s already intense! They’re $17.99 each, so not too bad. :D
Hey Jenni! I love the blog, and it sounds like I’m going to have to give this trilogy a try.
Also, I need your address so I can send you the book. Can you email me when you get a chance? brosam (at) gmail (dot) com
Ohhh My God ! ! ! ! You have just named my favourite books in the whole entire universe! Twilight is fantastic i love it more than i can say. lol. Have you read the host yet? its brilliant and so intense.
I spent ALL last night reading City of Bones and i cannot wait to buy the next!
Have you got any suggestions about good reads that i can have a look at after i have finished the mortal instruments trilogy?
Abbey, I love the Twilight Saga as well. It’s my favorite series. The Mortal Instruments is my second favorite series. ;) I have read The Host. It’s one of my favorite books. I think Stephenie Meyer is an amazing author. Her stories are very captivating. :)
As far as recommendations, you should read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Graceling by Kristin Cashore if you haven’t read them yet. They’re both very good and I think you’ll like them if you like the Twilight Saga and the Mortal Instruments. ;)
thanks for those books.
Stephenie Meyer is a brilliant writer and I have just finished the
The Mortal Instruments series and its GREAT!
I have heard a rumor that apparently the host is going to be a series, do you know whether its true?
Abbey, no problem at all with the book recommendations. As far as The Host being a series, it could happen. When Stephenie Meyer was on tour for the signings, she said she has outlines for two more books. But, she has other books she wants to write too, so it just depends on what she decides to go for. I hope she’ll write the other two books because I enjoyed The Host a lot! :D
me too! thanks for that by the way :)