A review by welshbookfairy
City of Ashes, by Cassandra Clare

3.0

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"Only mundanes say they're sorry when what they mean is, 'I share your grief,'"

City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series. My actual rating is 3.25/5

Clary is still overwhelmed with the changes in her life, which includes finding out she's a Shadowhunter. So when different kinds of Downworlders are found slaughtered and drained of blood, naturally, the Shadowhunters investigate. Although Clary and Jace are still battling with their feelings for each other - somehow throwing poor Simon into the middle of that - they are bound by the knowledge that if Valentine completes his evil masterminded plan, the world as they know it will be reduced to ashes.

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one, thankfully, as I found the first book of this series pretty lacking in any truly hardcore fantastical action. The author establishes the world of Downworlders further in this book which was enjoyable to read and the tone of the book is a lot more serious, rather than a lot of plot fodder.

Clary is your typical teenage angst paranormal heroine, pining over a boy she can never be with, whilst learning to battle demons. She comes into her own more in this book and actually begins to expand on her skills that were lacking in the first book yet consistently implied of. I am actually pretty excited - also slightly apprehensive - of how the author develops her further.

Although the book is still very Jace orientated. There is progress within all of the characters - the protagonists and the supporters - which is congenial to read. Jace and Simon become more amusing, Isabelle's frozen and fierce personality is slightly melted, and Alec is beginning to accept himself. Their individual journeys are intriguing.

Even though Clary is your classic unreliable narrator, the story is authentic. It is extremely emotional and tense, with lots of agonising internal battles - as well as the odd external one. I sincerely hope the rest of the series continues to improve.