City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare

Serie: The Mortal Instruments #2
Release date: 2008 
Stars: 4/5

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?
Okay, so after reading City of Bones we now know more about Clary, Jace and the shadowhunter's world. Also we learned about the evil one, Valentine, who happens to be her father. Wow this second book was really something. Clary's know that the most evil person in her world is her one father and then the one she loves turns against her and she can't be with Jace. It's a very difficult time for Clary in this book. I really loved to read how Clary struggles with everything and how unfair life can be for her. The tension in the book is really alive and I felt it. There are so many characters, but they all have some unique character that makes them so great and loyal. You get to know a lot of the characters more. The plot is also very interesting. What is the evil plan of Valentine? What does he wants to do with the mortal instruments? There is a lot of actions and drama scenes, but also humor and love. You get to know a lot more about Jace and his familie and there is some really dramatic events unfolding in City of Ashes. I really liked the second book better than the first.