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rafacolog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Toxic relationship
kal517's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Incest
oystersauce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death, Incest, Violence, and Blood
lawbooks600's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Score: Six points out of ten.
First, let me tell you something before I begin. It's been months since I read the first book, City of Bones, which I thought was only okay, so a few months later, I picked up the second instalment in the series. When I finished it, I found it slow-paced (that's not always bad. However, sometimes, that's an issue), and couldn't fully connect to the narrative and characters. I could pick up the third novel, but I don't have high hopes anymore. There was a map showing all the locations the book would go over; that was a nice touch. I would be better off if I read another series instead. It starts (or continues) with the main character, Clary Fray, or Clary for short, and I know this novel picks up right off from the first but I barely remember that. In the first half, almost nothing happens, but that let me explore all the characters and their dynamics, e.g., Jace, Clary and so many others I forgot due to the character soup. Out of all of them, the romance was the most significant, but it wasn't the best part. When you think about it, it's messed up. Wow. Now with that out of the way, the second half was a little faster paced than the first, and the final few pages were a rollercoaster to read through, it's has so much action. However, that didn't save the book in the end, considering that I only enjoyed 10% of it. Shame.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Blood, grief and loss depiction, death of a person from suicide and other people, physical injurybookthief's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I felt really bad for Jace throughout this book because he had the right intentions the whole way through he just didn’t know how to express them. Especially with the Inquisitor. I thought he was quite blunt and could have tried harder to prove he was innocent. I thought it was really cool how he could jump really high and fall from high places and land perfectly.
When they went to the Seelie Court I thought it was really cool for them to be in a different environment and I loved how visual it was and cool the entrance was. I did think it was a bit strange and weird how the Queen made Jace and Clary kiss but I guess they aren’t actually siblings so it’s okay.
I was shocked when Simon was actually a vampire!! Like I thought it was completely unexpected but quite cool to find out how people became vampires. Also it was shocking at the end how he can be in sunlight which is really strange but I’m sure there is some sort of reasoning behind it that will be explained later.
Clary’s ability to create new runes is super cool! And she was extremely powerful and talented when she managed to destroy Valentines boat with a single rune. I loved her and Luke’s relationship!
The epilogue was really interesting with Madeline. I thought her character may return again after Clary and seen her at the Silent City. I am really curious to what the spell was!
And finally Magnus is such a great character I wish we could see more of him and his relationship with Alec!
Overall, this book is more intense and intriguing than the first book. I can’t wait to read the next one !
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
breedawnwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The tension between Jace and Clary in this book was entirely unhinged, and I loved every single freaking moment of it.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Incest, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Cannibalism
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Mundane humans create distinctions between themselves, distinctions that seem ridiculous to any Shadowhunter. Their distinctions are based on race, religion, national identity, any of a dozen minor and irrelevant markers. To mundanes these seem logical, for though mundanes cannot see, understand, or acknowledge the demon worlds, still somewhere buried in their ancient memories, they know that there are those that walk this earth that are other. That do not belong, that mean only harm and destruction. Since the demon threat is invisible to mundanes, they must assign the threat to others of their own kind. They place the face of their enemy onto the face of their neighbor, and thus are generations of misery assured.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death
barbarella85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Death and Violence
onyxem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
to begin, i really enjoyed the plot developments that occurred in City of Ashes. my critique of the last book was that some explanations were droning on too long, and i was happy to see that there was none of that for me in this one! everything was well paced, especially at the beginning of the book. there was a point at about the 75% mark where it got a bit slow, but other than that it picked up pace for an action-packed ending.
my favorite part of City of Ashes was the Queen of the Seelie Court. oh my gosh, i haven’t in YEARS ducked my face into a book giggling like a child over a character. i absolutely loved everything about the descriptions of the Seelie Court and that’s honestly the highlight of the book for me.
overall, without making this way too many paragraphs, i think i enjoyed this a bit more than the first one! overall, 4.25 stars! :))
(p.s. Jace is my son)
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Gaslighting
kaayaak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Incest, Blood, Murder, and Abandonment