City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Ashes	Loved it	Graded
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Elements: Vampires, fallen angels
Series: Book 1 of the Mortal Instruments series

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?

Ever get the feeling of wanting to escape in another universe, no matter what it takes?

That's how it felt as I was reading City of Ashes. I tried to read as slowly as possible, savouring every word, every line, every chapter just so I can experience the book a little bit longer until I got City of Glass, but the lure was too great and I finished it fast. Oh wells.

After the emotional upheaval of knowing that Valentine is his father and Clary his sister, Jace* has to deal with the fact that his adoptive parents do not want him in their house. Faced with this rejection, he decides to talk to Valentine. Valentine tries to lure Jace to the dark side. ("Come, we have cookies.") Jace has to choose between getting to know his father, betraying everything he lives for while saving his loved ones, or defying him once again and thus incurring Valentine's wrath and putting everyone he loves in danger.

That's a tough choice to make. I mean, us mundanes probably just have to choose between two favourite desserts, and it already makes us cranky. And no, Jace cannot choose both options, like we probably would.

He goes home, only to be apprehended by the Inquisitor for being Valentine's son. Clary, even though she's Valentine's daughter, doesn't get that treatment as she's not of the same world as Valentine and thus, the Clave has no influence over her. The Inquisitor doesn't believe that Jace isn't a spy of Valentine's, and with his mouthing off just plain pissing her off, sentences him to a night in jail. Not just any jail, but the jail under the Silent City.

Meanwhile, Clary goes out with Simon in an attempt to forget Jace and "just think brotherly feelings" about him, and Simon, being neither stupid nor delusional realises that. Their relationship sours slightly. After finding out that Jace is thrown in jail, Clary decides to save him with Alec and Isabelle's help.

That's when things start to go horribly wrong.

The second Mortal Instrument, the Soul Sword, which is kept in the Silent City is stolen. Jace is injured, and Valentine comes to gloat at Jace in his prison cell. The first Instrument, the Mortal Cup had been stolen in the first book, and since then, Downworlder children have been murdered and drained of their blood. Since it's Valentine, and he has the ingenuity and the clout to pull off something like that, this is probably part of some elaborate plan.

It's up to Clary and Jace to stop their father, but can they do it once again?

I found this book the perfect continuation to City of Bones. And look, it's Clary on the cover! 'nuff said.

*How do you pronounce Jace? Is it "Jays", "Jesse" or "Jay-see"?

Recommended for:
Fans of the previous book, and a menagerie of magical creatures.