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A review by ghostduchess
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
2.0
I watched the Shadow Hunters Freeform series before reading this book. I listened to the audiobook, and if you are a fan of the first book, DO NOT LISTEN to this one. The narrator has horrible diction. She mispronounces so much stuff, especially the names of people and things. I don't think I have heard some of her chosen pronunciations.
Below contains some spoiler information. Read on at your own risk.
Many people are understandably upset by the incestuous relationship that seems to be blooming between Clary and Jace. This doesn't bother me as much because I watched the series, and if it follows the general story arc of their coupling, he's not really her brother. She acknowledges that if two people already have feelings, it can be hard to just shut something down when something happens to change it. I would think a brother/ sister relationship would prove different, but I have never been in that situation. The fact that I look remarkably like my father and my husband looks remarkably like his family means that I will probably never experience this. I don't know if the television series spoiled things for me, but the book makes Clary and Simon seem so immature. Now, 16-18-year-olds are generally immature, but this actually makes them seem even younger, almost preteen. I am several years past this point myself with children older than the characters here, so maybe I have just forgotten. However, my children don't and didn't act that whiny at that age, so it is just off-putting. I realize that I am not her target audience, but YA books can be good. Look at Rick Riordan, JK Rowling, and other such authors' success (no matter how you feel about them personally). Bad writing is bad writing. The STORYLINE is pretty good. The premise is great, but the execution is blah. I may finish the series just because I tend to do so, but like one of my children, I am likely to stop at the first story arc and not read all eleventy seven books.
Below contains some spoiler information. Read on at your own risk.
Many people are understandably upset by the incestuous relationship that seems to be blooming between Clary and Jace. This doesn't bother me as much because I watched the series, and if it follows the general story arc of their coupling, he's not really her brother. She acknowledges that if two people already have feelings, it can be hard to just shut something down when something happens to change it. I would think a brother/ sister relationship would prove different, but I have never been in that situation. The fact that I look remarkably like my father and my husband looks remarkably like his family means that I will probably never experience this. I don't know if the television series spoiled things for me, but the book makes Clary and Simon seem so immature. Now, 16-18-year-olds are generally immature, but this actually makes them seem even younger, almost preteen. I am several years past this point myself with children older than the characters here, so maybe I have just forgotten. However, my children don't and didn't act that whiny at that age, so it is just off-putting. I realize that I am not her target audience, but YA books can be good. Look at Rick Riordan, JK Rowling, and other such authors' success (no matter how you feel about them personally). Bad writing is bad writing. The STORYLINE is pretty good. The premise is great, but the execution is blah. I may finish the series just because I tend to do so, but like one of my children, I am likely to stop at the first story arc and not read all eleventy seven books.