City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 12, 2009 Yz the Whyz rated it really liked it

Shelves: cassandra-clare, 2012-challenge-books, 2012-reads

Hmmm....what can I say?

When I finished City of Bones, I felt that I enjoyed the experience but I was in no hurry to continue the series. Now that I've read the second book, I felt a slight urgency to continue. Obviously that is a good sign, that City of Ashes is an improvement over the 1st book.

I like the world Cassandra Clare had created. I enjoyed the conflict and even the villain. However, I'm sort of blah with the love triangle in the story. I really have no opinion about Clary, and Jace is ...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Logan rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed-library, paranormal, young-adult

**SPOILER ALERT** If you haven't read the series, this review may contain mild spoilers.

First impressions: This book picks up where the first one left off. Clary is trying to navigate a relationship with Simon, Jace is struggling to come to terms with who his parents are, and Clary's mom is still in a coma. I was so anxious to get back into this world, and I was glad the plot picked up right away.

Lasting impressions: I actually liked this book better than City of Bones. I don't know if it was th **SPOILER ALERT** If you haven't read the series, this review may contain mild spoilers.

First impressions: This book picks up where the first one left off. Clary is trying to navigate a relationship with Simon, Jace is struggling to come to terms with who his parents are, and Clary's mom is still in a coma. I was so anxious to get back into this world, and I was glad the plot picked up right away.

Lasting impressions: I actually liked this book better than City of Bones. I don't know if it was that I was already familiar with the characters, but I related to them much more as a reader this time around. I loved the introduction of more Downworlders (especially the werewolf Maia), the Faerie Realm and a deeper relationship between Alec and Magnus.

Conflicting impressions: I still feel a bit squicky when Clary and Jace pine for each other. I just keep hoping they'll find out they're not related after all, especially given the steamy shots being released around the upcoming City of Fallen Angels (Book Four in the series).

Overall impressions: The world that Clare created for this series is so well-developed that you can't help but get totally immersed in it. It's no wonder her books attract thousands of rabid fans. The writing is seemingly effortless, her plots have the perfect balance of action and character development, and there's always something unexpected. I am falling hard for this series.

Poor Clary is stuck between Simon, who loves her mightily and who she tries to love back, and Jace, who she loves but just found out is her brother. It's amazing that Cassandra Clare gets us to root for Clary to love Jace, even though we know she shouldn't. I love that she doesn't back down from this tough issue, and she handles the line without it veering into totally icky territory.

In the first book Clary discovers she is a Shadowhunter, and in this book she discovers a special power. This continued growth serves the plot well and advances Clary's standing among her fellow Shadowhunter and Downworlder friends, which allows me to believe that she is capable of holding her own in a fight. I dislike when a book or movie character learns something about themselves and then automatically has the ability to control that aspect. Here, Clary struggles to balance her innate abilities with the power to control them, making her believable and likable at the same time.

I highly recommend this series to paranormal fans (if you're one of the few who haven't read it yet) and am really looking forward to the next installment. ...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Marla rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, fantasy, demons, romance, with-reservations, shape-shifters, young-adult, paranormal, vampires, zz-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Liked this action packed sequel better than City of Bones.

Likes:
* Jace is a cool, tough, handsome, smart alack Shadowhunter (you might want to be his girlfriend, but I wouldn't want to be his mother!)
* Luke, Clary's werewolf dad-figure is such a cool guy
* Maia, teenage werewolf
* Magnus, the High Wizard, High Warlock of Brooklyn
* Raphael, leader of the Night Children is likable and seems honest
* Clary's coming into her Shadowhunting skills
* the demons were so cool and terrifying, especially, Agr ...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Samantha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, own, 2011, meh, shall-go-no-further

*Spoilerish-ness from the last book, obviously*

This one continues with the seriously creeptastic incest vibe. Since Clary and Jace found out they were related (no reason to not believe it's true) in the last book, they still can't ignore the way they feel about each other. This is the thing that keeps these books from being Great and keeps them at Good. It just isn't my thing and only amps the weirdness, not the drama with these two.

I love that it seems Clare isn't afraid to take risks with her ...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Cheer Papworth rated it liked it

Shelves: ya

More of the same!

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Oct 11, 2010 Adele rated it did not like it

Shelves: stopped-reading-for-now

I Just can't get into it!
i went into this book. thinking oh yeah i'll read this.... only to find i have to struggle to read it.
i may pick it back up at a later stage. but for now.. I just Can't do it!
...more

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