And because I had so much trouble last week, I indulged myself with another book.

Title: City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments)

DESCRIPTION:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go—especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings—and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Review:

This book resumed where the last one ended, building up the wonderful worldbuilding to another level. The Shadowhunters were becoming Clary Fray’s new family, only her old family wouldn’t give her up that easily, making everything she does suspect. The adults were a little more front and center in the book, coming to the rescue in some cases, being ‘parents’ in others.

I liked the teenage overtone of the book, the angst and drama of love (and hate), added with the real-life danger of survival. I loved getting to know the characters more, not to mention the deeper mythology. There was a thread that carried over from the previous book that still bothered me, dulling my enjoyment. I understand why the author did it, but it drew me out of the fantasy world. Some parts became a bit more predictable.

Overall, the story was so unique, the characters so haunting at times, I was drawn to them despite the small flaws in the story. I liked watching each character overcome their own stumbling blocks and grow into better people. I will continue to read the series. I hope the next book has a good twist, for I fear it will become even more predictable if something earth-shattering dosn’t happen.