City of Ashes
Ratings572
Average rating3.7
I was surprised at what Clary can do, but I won't spoil it!! :D I felt bad for Jace because of what he had to go through. It's worse than not having a father,
Weer veel te lang en jammergenoeg weinig spanning in vergelijking met boek 1...
absolutely not as good as COB (even though it wasn't great to begin with) but at least after the epilogue i hate simon a little bit less
edit: and yes, i'm reading this series out of pure entertainment and for the sake of reading (and to count for my reading challenge)
I loved it but the whole Clary and jace thing is getting old. The action in this book was more jammed pack though which is why I gave it 3 stars, I would have given it more if it wasn't for the push to get these two together when they are literal brother and sister. Like get over him girl!!!
I took almost 10 days to read the first part because it was so boring and tbh this is read like a Fanfiction and not a good one, I powered through the last two parts and it actually got better after 60% but I'll try the rest of the series to see if gets better
Amazing story with amazing characters. I am in love with this series.
Erin and I continued on with our buddy read of The Mortal Instruments and read City of Ashes. This is the second books in the series. I felt so bad for Jace in this book. He didn't deserve to be treated the way he did. I was angry with everyone on his behalf. I'm so over the whole are Jace and Clary really brother and sister aspect. It is being drug out way to much and the fact that they think they are brother and sister yet still are romantically attracted to each other is just wrong. I don't actually think they are really related but still it's wrong. I'm still enjoying this series just not as much as I did The Infernal Devices trilogy.
I read this all in one day and it looks like I never even marked it as “currently reading”. I was hooked, and couldn't put it down! If it hadn't been 3:30am I would've started the next one immediately. I'm waiting to find out that Jace and Clary aren't proper siblings for some reason and I have several theories on the matter. I noticed that they both have star shaped scars on their shoulder blades. Something different runs through Jace's veins according to the fairy queen. The inquisitor knew something was up, but in dramatic information teasing fasion, died before we could find out. Valentine was, I'm sure, about to say “I didn't mean Jace” when he told Clary about her mother's first child. I could complain that these tactics are a bit contrived but they're working on me and I'm anxious to read the next book in the series.
This book is probably my least favorite of the entire world. There is too much ridiculousness and a lot of the plot seems to be specifically for shock value. I also remember how terrible the ending cliffhanger was when I first read it when it came out. Now that I know what happens, I'm not concerned anymore. Luckily I can jump right into City of Glass one my continued read of the whole world this year.
I finally committed and finished Book two in the mortal instruments series and Oh My Goodness it was just as fantastic as the first one. I could not put this book down. I loved all the previous demons and newer demons that were introduced in this one. I loved the pace, I loved Clary's and Jace's character even more along with Alec and Isabella. Seeing more of Simon and now Maia was fantastic as well. I really love Magnuses character. Just overall the growth of the characters and building of the world is sooo well done. I can't believe I haven't picked up this series till now but better late than ever. I'm sure I'm going to rant and rave about it in my upcoming Vlog on my youtube channel.
menos mal que simon ha superado su etapa de clary es mi novia porque era un pesado sjsjs simon vete con izzy y dame contenido sizzy
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: City of Ashes
Once you've discovered the world of the Shadowhunters, you will never go back to just being a mundane. Clary Fray is no exception. Her mother is trapped in a magical coma and her father, Valentine, continues his quest to steal the mortal instruments. If he has his way, he will bring the Shadowhunter world to its knees. Clary must help Jace and the others track down Valentine before it is too late. But this time it's going to cost her someone she loves.
The characters are what make this series so enjoyable. Each one of them has a unique role to play, and Cassandra Clare does a great job of pushing them all towards what it is. There is a balance between the wide cast of characters, and I am never left wanting more from any of them. Each book builds on the last and allows us to see more into each of these characters and what motivates them.
This is one of the first series that I read such a manipulative villain. I still think Valentine is one of the best written villains of the young adult genre I have read. The way he can even trick the reader and make them doubt what they know is true leaves me impressed. Having read this series years ago, I already know the lies and the truths, but Valentine has a smooth way of talking that made me contemplate if I remember the series as well as I do.
In my original review, I mentioned how Cassandra Clare doesn't limit herself. And I still believe this is true. The variety in demons, cultures and the overall world of the Shadowhunters is proof of that. She is also one of the few authors that can break her owns rules, but still, make it believable to the reader. And she isn't afraid to break her characters, allowing them the opportunity to reforge themselves into something better, or worse.
I am loving my second read-through of the Mortal Instruments!
This was... Interesting. I mean, I did enjoy it, for the most part. I did have some problems - mostly coming from, once again, Clary, but once I wanted to haul off and punch Simon. Other than that... When characters got annoying, I just pictured their show counterparts, and all was smooth sailing. But, then again, I often pictured the show counterparts. Especially Luke. I cannot picture him any other way than from the show now.
Anyway, not terrible and now I understand what people mean when they say the show was/is rushed.
WOW!
Was this one better than the first one or was I just so tired of reading the first one and never continuing. Although, some of this one seemed familiar such as the fearless rune and the ending... hmmm perhaps I've read quotes?
I gotta say, I love this building up of Alec and Magnus' relationship and I can't wait to read more.
Clary and Jace are... annoying. I'm hoping they aren't siblings because I do like them together... although if we had some more teen characters, that could change.
Clary though... she is kinda annoying. She always wants to fight, but then can't. It isn't her fault– she was never taught, but she needs to learn to stand back or how to fight. Also, she doesn't have to hate all other girls because they are pretty. I'd love to learn more about Izzy and Mira besides how envious Clary is of their looks.... and how her envy is what keeps her from having female friends. Totally not healthy...
Anyhow, I'm really liking this series.
Took me way too long because I'm the worst but oh my god I cannot wait to start the next one.
The book was a little slow to my liking and frustrating but, the ending got me hooked and I will continue to the third book.
I almost lost track of how many times I've started this book and then stopped over the past few years. It feels great to have eventually come to it, with more knowledge and a fresher perspective on its predecessor and accompanying series, at last with the ability to enjoy and devour it. And devour it I did in only 2 days and I absolutely loved it.
Picking up immediately after City of Bones, the first instalment of The Mortal Instruments series, we are immediately allowed a glimpse of Valentine Morgenstein hatching his latest progression in his plans to destroy the Shadowhunters as they currently exist and twist them to his view of the world. There are some truly shocking moments in this book as the story unfolds and Valentine goes to more extreme lengths to make his plan come to fruition and some of these moments were real OMG moments where you catch your breath and feel real grief for things and people who have become familiar to you throughout both City of Bones and The Infernal Devices series. The story that was very much laid out in the first book is allowed to progress with much more vigour in this second book and moves us more speedily without the need to introduce the world we are reading about. This gives it more pace and, as a result, you fly through the chapters without even noticing how quickly you are doing so. I was astounded by how I couldn't put this down, when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it.
I loved that this book expanded the world in which the book was based, we introduced more characters which added depth to the story and more people for us to love and care about. Not that I don't love Jace, Clary, Alec, Isobel and Simon but having their parents join the narrative and the inquisitor to add light and shade to the story made it feel a more rounded book and gives us a sense that the world is growing and will continue to grow as the series progresses as 6 books is a LOT to focus on only the characters from City of Bones.
I also have to give Kudos to Cassandra Clare's writing as she makes no bones about the fact that her villain Valentine is a very persuasive individual, intelligent and with strong morals who manages to enchant those around him. The scenes with him and Jace are a testament to this and as he speaks to Jace of why he is doing what he is you almost as a reader find yourself thinking that you can see his point from other events which have happened in the book. You know you shouldn't but you do and you have to stop yourself being drawn in by him.
There are some twists and turns in this book I felt were quite surprising. Simon, our mundane best friend to Clary takes a whole new journey in this book and whilst I could see where Clare was going with this from early chapters I wasn't so convinced by the end of the book. It would appear that she's developed a whole new kind of hybrid downworlder to suit her purposes and I kind of wasn't too sure about that. I am interested in it though and keen to see where she takes it in the next book as he is a brilliant character and you need him to keep Clary from becoming too wrapped up in the world of Shadowhunters and he keeps her connected to the girl she was at the beginning of Book 1.
I am now feeling invested in this series, much more than I was when I tried to read it first time round. I actually care about what happens to these characters and know that this month I hope to work through at least books 3 and 4 although if I read them as quickly as I did this then who knows where I may end up? I gave this one a 4 out of 5 stars as I do think it's still got scope to grow as the series goes on and to give this 5 stars gives me nowhere to go as it does get better.
This one was a painfully slow starter but it ended up having a fantastic ending. I'm definitely willing to see what comes next. As always this one served to remind me that this book should have been Simon's story because yes please haha
I absolutely loved this book, liked even better than the City of Bones!! Can't wait to start reading the next one. I'm loving this series so far.