City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

As I mentioned when I reviewed City of Bones, I am officially hooked. After reading the first book in the Mortal Instruments Series I was compelled to walk right over to my bookshelf and pluck the next one to devour and the situation is no different this time around. I have already started City of Glass this morning. I also thought that City of Bones was really well written but Cassandra’s writing style became even more fluid in her second book. Cassandra Clare has a way of making you feel like you are truly watching the story unfold in front of you. It’s like when you are watching TV and the killer corners the damsel in distress, she screams and then…..it flips to another story line/commercial. I felt like she did this to me a lot (and no I am not saying that there are commercials in the book lol). I was left going “Wait! What happened to *insert character here*?” and anxiously reading on to find out. The suspense is intense at times.

After the devastating realization that the guy she loves is her long lost brother, Clary is left feeling like the rug has been ripped out from under her. Everything has changed. Clary is a Shadowhunter, her best friend Simon is in love with her, her mother is in a magically induced coma, her biological father is a evil mastermind, and her mom’s best friend (her father figure) is a werewolf. Yep, I think we can say that Clary has her hands full at the moment.

Jace is also crushed to learn that the girl he loves is really his sister and he is not who he always thought he was. Now the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen and the Clave thinks that Jace may be aiding his father, Valentine, in his pursuit. Now Downworlder children are turning up dead, drained of blood. Can they clear Jace’s name and stop Valentine before he can execute his plan?

Cassandra Clare really ups the stakes with this one and I love her for it. But Can I just say that in life when ever you want to tell someone something and they say “No, me first” DON’T LISTEN! Jace and Clary, you are killing me! I never thought I would be saying, “Who cares if you are brother and sister, you are clearly meant to be!” I know I am one sick puppy….lol Don’t be like me and put this book off any longer. If you have not picked it up run, don’t walk to your nearest bookstore/library and grab the series. You will not regret it. I know that I don’t!