Review: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare

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?

Who wasn't sad and seriously surprised to find out the big revelation about Clary and Jace and their connection at the end of City of Bones? I felt so bad for Clary and was still reeling over the revelation when I picked up City of Ashes. Now that Clary has her mom back the goal has changed this time around. She no longer needs to find her mother but now she must find her father, the evil Valentine, in order to find the cure for her mother's magically induced coma. Poor girl right? Her mom is in a coma, her dad is evil and feared throughout Downworld, and her brother is the boy she was crushing on and growing so close to before their parentage was revealed. Not so sure any of us would come out of that situation unscathed for that matter.

And with the killings of downworlder children Clary doesn't really have a whole lot of time to get a grip on her new situation. The Inquisitor was a new and interesting addition to Clare's world of Shadowhunters and she played the role perfectly. Simon and Clary explore their friendship and changing feelings and I didn't like it. Simon's a sweetheart but I still don't think they're right for each other. It's just not there like it was for Clary and Jace. But I know, now that we know they're related that can't work anymore. I'm just thinking Clare will turn everything around and find a way to make everything work out. Please Cassandra, take the revelation back and make it all right in Downworld again!

I gave City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) 4 shamrocks!!!!