City of Ashes

Title : City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
Writer : Cassandra Clare
Number of Page : 453
Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry Books

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?

In my opinion:

It is much better than the first book. A lot of actions, a lot of mysteries revealed, many characters emerged, and the past brought back alive. I now could understand why these series were so popular. The stories were much complicated and not only about simple romance fantasy. There were politics in the world of supernatural creatures, betrayals, sacrifices, and wars. But in those chaos and dangers, there were also friendship, love, and family relationship blooming. 

The book started with nasty prologue about Valentine summoning the greatest demon of fear and killed a young wizard. Then, I was brought into the normal world of Shadowhunters where The Clave didn't trust Jace anymore because he was Valentine's son. The Clave thought that Jace was Valentine's tool. Even Jace's foster parents didn't trust him. He was alone and looking affection. Furthermore, the one he loved was not for him anymore. Clary was his sister and not more than that. The only choice was his father. He wanted to help Valentine because at least Valentine recognized his talent and "loved" him. I really liked the dilemmas that Jace had to face as a teenager. All people thought that he was a criminal and he built wall around him higher so that he could protect his heart. Well, how could I not love this character? He was tortured and bitter, concealing all his deep feelings by being a jerk. 

“I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead."
"Well," said Luke, "you're doing a fantastic job.” 

Clary tried to move on. She learned to love his best friend, Simon although her mind always yearned for Jace. Her mother was still in coma and she still didn't know what she would do with her power as Shadowhunter. Moreover, there was special power hidden within her...

There were many memorable scenes in this book, especially the last battle in the Valentine's ship. Oh, I liked the part when Simon turned into vampire. So damn cool and eerie at the same time, I didn't know why. I also met the faery clans which were very interesting, considered that I had a thing with faeries since I read The Iron Fey series. And there was an uncomfortable scene when they all met the faery queen: Jace kissed Clary. It was wrong but I was not really surprised since I had already read the spoiler before (I know right, duh!!! Why I did that, no idea =.=).

“I love you; I love you and I don’t care that you’re my sister; don’t be with him, don’t want him, don’t go with him. Be with me. Want me. Stay with me. I don’t know how to be without you.” 

The last hundred or so pages was so heartbreaking. The part when Jace saved Simon despite all their differences and almost died due to enormous blood loss, the time when Simon thought he was gonna die and declared his love to Clary... And most of all it was very sad when Simon really said goodbye at the end because he wanted to start a new life. I always couldn't stand reading about goodbye between long time best friend and I cried in this part. 

“Maybe I could love you someday."
If you ever do," he said, "come and let me know. You know where to find me."
Her teeth were chattering harder. "I can't lose you, Simon. I can't."
You never will. I'm not leaving you. But I'd rather have what we have, which is real and true and important, than have you pretend anything else. When I'm with you, I want to know I'm with the real you, the real Clary."
She leaned her head against his, closing her eyes. He still felt like Simon, despite everything; still smelled like him, like his laundry soap. "Maybe I don't know who that is."
But I do.” 

I could not wait to read the next installment!!

“Well I'm not kissing the mundane," said Jace. "I'd rather stay down here and rot."
"Forever?" said Simon. "Forever is an awfully long time."
Jace raised his eyebrows, "I knew it," he said, "you want to kiss me, don't you?"

4/5