City of Ashes

Cassandra Clare

Mar 2009 · The Mortal Instruments Book 2 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Is love worth betraying everything? Plunge into the second adventure in the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and “prepare to be hooked” (Entertainment Weekly).

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.

Ratings and reviews

this was really fun and experience that there was of movie franchise to keep it going but I'm glad that it exists in a novel for at to know where it would've taken place. all the characters are l Iikeable they all have feelings and it's relatable with their sense of humor I like how it's tells there side of the story. has more questions but very little answers like who are they it just leaves you wanting for more.

Once you’ve discovered the world of the Shadowhunters, you will never go back to just being a mundane. Clary Fray is no exception. Her mother is trapped in a magical coma and her father, Valentine, continues his quest to steal the mortal instruments. If he has his way, he will bring the Shadowhunter world to its knees. Clary must help Jace and the others track down Valentine before it is too late. But this time it’s going to cost her someone she loves. The characters are what make this series so enjoyable. Each one of them has a unique role to play, and Cassandra Clare does a great job of pushing them all towards what it is. There is a balance between the wide cast of characters, and I am never left wanting more from any of them. Each book builds on the last and allows us to see more into each of these characters and what motivates them. This is one of the first series that I read such a manipulative villain. I still think Valentine is one of the best written villains of the young adult genre I have read. The way he can even trick the reader and make them doubt what they know is true leaves me impressed. Having read this series years ago, I already know the lies and the truths, but Valentine has a smooth way of talking that made me contemplate if I remember the series as well as I do. In my original review, I mentioned how Cassandra Clare doesn’t limit herself. And I still believe this is true. The variety in demons, cultures and the overall world of the Shadowhunters is proof of that. She is also one of the few authors that can break her owns rules, but still, make it believable to the reader. And she isn’t afraid to break her characters, allowing them the opportunity to reforge themselves into something better, or worse. I am loving my second read-through of the Mortal Instruments!

WO WO WO! Slow Down! First, why is Simon a vampire, Is this how Cassy is trying to make it so Simon is stuck in the Shadow world? It's kind of cool, but I'm not sure I like it. And another thing, Why can Clary Create new Roons, and How did Jace get out of that trap? Who is Maia going to be to the series? Is their going to be something between her and Simon, what about Isabel? And Sence we are still on Simon [q~"]here, why can he walk in the sun now, is it because he drank Jace's blood? Is Val dead? What's the secret to waking Jocelyn? I NEED NEED NEED to find the next book. The end of this one sucks for Clary, She kind of got dumped twice. Well She wasn't dating Jace but that's still pretty much what happened. This Author is, that's for sure.

About the author

Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles. She is also the coauthor of the bestselling fantasy series Magisterium with Holly Black. The Shadowhunter Chronicles have been adapted as both a major motion picture and a television series. Her books have more than fifty million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three fearsome cats. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.