Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

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Way late. I know. Sorry. I got sidetracked by shiny Poppy books. :D

Total: Four Stars

{Summary From Jacket Flap}

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 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.

Behind The Grade:

Um. So, seriously, I shouldn't be doing this now...I have homework and whanot, but this book gave me insomnia last night so I figured it deserved a quick* post.

I wasn't quite so engrossed in this one. (You'll notice by how long the book cover sat on my sidebar.) Clary's Mary Sue-ness is epic-ly worse, but, you know what? It was fun. Her life isn't totally perfect - if it was she would have both Simon and Jace - and so what if she has magic powers and everyone's always in awe of her? I still love the books and Clary hasn't given me a migraine. Yet...

Was it just me or was the plot a lot slower? I remember loving how fast paced City of Bones was.

I usually have a pretty good memory, but, honestly? The only thing I can remember from this is, like, the very end. Can this be accredited to my cold? (I hate Canadian winters!) Or was it just not that memorable?

Moving on...

I do love the supporting cast. Alec and Isabelle, a brother-sister Shadowhunter duo, are too awesome for words. Isabelle is kind of Rosalie-y and Alec is just...I don't know. A realm all to himself.

Overall, the dialogue is often laugh-out-loud funny and the story is just as good as the first book. Hopefully, Clare's whiplash-inducing plot speed will be back in the threequel, City of Glass, which is out March 24th, 2009.

(*EPIC FORESHADOWING. AND ALSO A LIE.)