***Review*** City of Ashes Mortal Instruments #2 by Cassandra Clare

On the Back of the Book



With her mother in a coma and her father hellbent on destroying the world, Clary Fray is dragged deeper into New York City's terrifying underworld of werewolves, demons and the mysterious Shadowhunters. Discovering the truth about her past was only the beginning. Now the fate of the world rests on Clary's shoulders, but can she master her new-found powers and control her feelings for a boy that can never be hers?



Pre Read Thoughts


I'm not looking forward to reading this. Reading book one involved lota of *facepalm*, *headdesk* and the occasional rant. Different people have said different things to me about the rest of the trilogy but the general consensus seems to be that I'm gonna hate it. I have to finish what I start though so I'm going forth and everyone I know is taking this opportunity to hide (I assume, I would if I were them anyway). Once again I managed to get a used copy, this one's a bit battered but no worries, it cost me £2.50 and the money went to a great cause (British Heart Foundation for the record). I have the creepy face cover, I don't like it, not even the fact that it's shiny can save it. Once again I don't like the synopsis, it's very cheesy, or do I mean cliche? Either way I wouldn't have bought it for that.


Post Read Thoughts


I don't know what to say without sounding like a broken record. I guess I'll start with the explanations or rather lack thereof. After two books I still don't have a clue what a stele is. It does some things but not others, why is this? The serpah blades: Why are they named? Why can't they be called 'Raziel'? Am I the only one thinking these questions? I also disliked the use of 'bitterer' on page 89. If you want to be intelligent and use the archaic form of 'more bitter' then that's jolly nice but in schools today a kid would be shot down in flames for using it. Surely an author should be using more recognisable terms so teens can learn correct spelling and grammar while they read a book that they enjoy?

Don't get me started on the characters, oh actually I've started now, I may as well continue. Clary and Jace, it's disgusting. Or am I the only sane person that read the end of book one? I mean it just made me physically sick. As for the Simon storyline, it screamed cop out. Seriously, you set it up for something good to happen and you kill it. The Inquisitor was transparent, I knew exactly what her motives were. Luke is as dull as very dirty dishwater and Valentine is one of the worst baddies I've ever come across. By 'worst' I mean 'awful' not 'scary', just to clear up any confusion.

Overall I was thoroughly unimpressed. The pace was intersting if you like being put to sleep and then just as you're dozing off "BAM" something happens. The plot was predictable, the characters were boring, explanations of the world just don't exist and the ending, it was a cop out. I swear on my kitty's very regular washing habits (what? He likes to be clean!) that this is one of the worst books I've come across this year.


My Rating

 1 star - I can't bring myself to give it any more. I am horrified by some of the plot and I wouldn't give it to anyone under 16 because of that. Also carrying on with a point I've made before. The trees! The trees! I'm devastated that yet more of them are being sacrificed for this, if you want to waste precious electricity reading this as an e-book then go ahead but please, not the trees. They can't take anymore. Needless to say, I don't recommend it to anyone.


A Final Note


There's some swearing and a lot of violence. I just want to make you all aware of this.