A review by readwithria
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

adventurous dark medium-paced
  • 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

4.0

I'm pleasantly surprised at how well these books have held up, both to time in general and to me being older than the target age range. I really enjoyed the pace, the action, the characters, and the continued worldbuilding. The addition of new Downworlder characters added more depth to an already exciting world.

My one complaint, which made me consider dropping my rating from a 4 to a 3, was the relationship dynamic between Clary and Jace.
Okay, so at the end of the last book, we are told that these two love interests are siblings. We have no reason to believe that this isn't true. Before this information was revealed, they were love interests. Now in book two, they are still pining for each other even though THEY FULLY BELIEVE THEY'RE SIBLINGS. Neither of them is under the impression that Valentine lied to them, they're both fully on the same page about being siblings, but they also both have the hots for each other. SPOILER FOR BOOK THREE:
of course, anyone who has completed the third book knows that they aren't actually related at all, but another love interest of Clary's is actually related to her.
Why all the almost-incest, Cassie? Why?
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