City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments)
by Cassandra Clare
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Book Reviews of City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments)
Book Review: The Thrill Ride Continues
Summary: 5 Stars
Readers are brought back into the exciting world introduced in Cassandra Clare incredible City of Bones. Clary's life can no longer be normal. Her mother is in a coma, her father is deranged, her best friend may no longer be human, and she has feelings that she shouldn't have toward her brother Jace. Someone is murdering Downworlder children and has stolen the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword. Clary and Jace suspect it to be Valentine with another evil plot, and they know they must stop him. Their world is on the brink of war. Soon, they are swept up into another dangerous adventure as they struggle to save the ones they love as well as their own lives in this epic power struggle.
If possible, City of Ashes was even better than its prequel City of Bones. The story has non-stop action which kept me on the edge of my seat in suspense. I also highly enjoyed the love tensions among nearly all the characters. The story was just as unforgettable as the first, and the end left me hungering for more. City of Ashes is the type of story that I want to read over and over because it is just such a well-written and amazing story.
The characters in City of Ashes are just incredible. Clary is my hero; she's strong and resourceful, even if she sometimes doubts herself. Jace is an alternate form of Edward Cullen; he's sexy and will give anything to protect the ones he loves. The cast of characters from the Mortal Instruments series are some of my favorite fictional characters ever. They make me wish I could participate in their attractive, although dangerous, world.
I most definitely recommend the Mortal Instruments series to every eager reader out there (if you couldn't already tell from my excited raving). Fans of supernatural series such as the Twilight series or the A Great and Terrible Beauty series, among others, will certainly fall in love with this amazing story. If you've already read City of Bones but not yet its sequel, then get on it! And if you haven't even begun the series, you'd better get started. I promise you won't regret investing your time in this incredible series.
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Book Review: so bad, she had to get her author friend to praise it.
Summary: 1 Stars
If there is one good thing about Cassandra clare's writing is that it is a perfect tool in the classroom to teach you how not to write a book. The book, and the first book in the trilogy are both extremely derivative from various well known sources such as Buffy, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. This is something that is unexcusable. This isn't like jk rowling creating the mythos of the deathly hallows based on a ancient midevil moral fable, or Tolkein baseing the Lords of the Rings on a old norse saga. This is the example of a author who dosent want to do the work in creating a rich tapestry, and simple weaves a dishtowel filled with plot holes, cliches, and mary sues.
Serious readers dont want to read books with main characters that are flat, and can do no wrong. Writing is about conflict, and its hard to get into the conflict of a story when it is nagated by the fact that the main character goes from being a zero to a hero immediatly. People want to read books about characters with flaws and obstacles. People dont want to read what they already have seen in famous movies and books.
Poorly edited, with prose that makes reguler purple prose look at white, eloquent, sophisticated writing, The mortal instruments trilogy so far two books in lacks depth, and dosent make up for it with new ideas. It is highly pathetic when books written by authors for 6-9 year olds far outstrips a YA novel in quality and creativity.
Also, its kinda lame that the person Amazon has posted as praising the book is not only a long time friend of the author, and therefore biased, but the person who pushed through a publication deal for a writer already famous for plagerisem. she might not be copying text word for word with character names changed anymore, but she certianly isent creating new and interesting plot elements.
If you want a good book, look elsewhere.
Book Review: double review of City of Bones and City of Ashes... no spoilers
Summary: 5 Stars
Rating: 5/5
My Double Review:
Occasionally, I'll find a book that immediately captures my interest. I'll pick it up and start reading, and just be hooked.
City of Bones was one of those books. From the very first chapter, I was intrigued. This series was unlike any other fantasy books I've ever read. I mean, come on... Shadowhunters? What the heck are those? Um, hello? Uniqueness! It's a great concept, and these novels have it all.
So I started reading, and I was interested. My first question was: who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Every single character has an element of mystery to them; and while a lot of questions were cleared up, I still find that the depth of the characters extends beyond just good and bad. The characters are real, flawed, and none of them are perfect, even if they do happen to be on the "good" side.
And then I read further and I found myself genuinely caring about the characters and what happened to them. Believe me, I really got into it. At some point in time during the second book, I closed the book and couldn't read anymore, because I just couldn't stand the thought of something bad happening. I was borderline obsessed. I found myself caring about the characters, and also wanting to be in their world. This was one of the first times that I've found myself actually believing and hoping that it could be possible for a fantasy to be real. I mean, vampires? Whatever. Werewolves? Yeah, okay. But Shadowhunters? How cool would that be?! How fascinating.
I have a strange fascination with the Shadowhunters.
Just like how I find myself with a strange fascination with these novels. Which is perhaps why my review is so strange; these books are definitely at the top of my list, and I really recommend them to anyone.
Book Review: Better than "City of Bones"
Summary: 4 Stars
As someone who read Cassandra Clare's Draco Trilogy (DT) fan fiction a very long time ago, I remember feeling underwhelmed after reading "City of Bones" because a great deal of the characterization of Jace and Clary came from the DT. Now, over a year later, I have returned to the series and just completed reading "City of Ashes." I was very pleased to see a progression from heavily DT-influenced characterization of the protagonists to something that is more subtle. This time around I only recognized one joke recycled from her fan fiction days and am glad that she continues to move away from the comfort zone of what she had previously written.
I gave this book four stars because one scene in particular had my heart thumping madly. (Note: SPOILERS.) It was very chilling to read CC's description of the death of Brother Jeremiah, who is one of the Silent Brothers, especially because at first we don't know where the sound is coming from; who is making the sound; and because we can't see anything. ("We" in the context of Jace's perspective.) I hadn't felt anything akin to that feeling since the graveyard scene in which Voldemort rises in HP:Goblet of Fire.
The only bone I have to pick with this book is the incestuous relationship between Clary and Jace. I don't believe that they're really blood-related like the plot wants us to believe, so the physical aspect doesn't particularly bother me. What bothers me is the fact that their incestuous relationship isn't given more than a side glance from the other characters, implying that it's not a big deal. (That in itself implies to me that they're not related.) I wish more discussion had taken place amongst the characters to firmly introduce the morality of this issue into the plot in order to create more tension. In short, more development needs to occur about this issue.
Book Review: A sequel full of action
Summary: 5 Stars
As a sequel to City of Bones, City of Ashes provides a LOT of action. And, again, I was mesmerized by Clare's writing. I have always said dialogues, for me, is purely what gives continuity to the story. The dialogues in this whole series feel very spontaneous -- it makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you just smile because of cutenesses. But description is the highest point of this book. Although I am not so good at building images in my mind by reading description, I can say Cassandra Clare brought this to happen to me this time.
Characters continue the same, strong and well-developed. Then, we get to meet a few new ones. There's also more scenes with Magnus and Luke, who I came to adore while reading. Luke really feels like Clary's father while he shows himself to be [super] careful with her, in a way her real father wouldn't.
Also, I wish I had seem more scenes between Alec and Jace. I can't even remember when they really talked like best friends anymore... I mean, a real and long conversation. Nonetheless, Alec seemed stronger this time than in the first book. I even got to like him. Oh, I almost forgot to talk about Simon! Which I can't do if I get excited, though. There are changes in his life, but not in his personality. He continues to be that nice, kind, amazing guy in love with his bestfriend. I think you'll gonna like it. So, read the book.
After a long and tough literally war, the ending was at the same time hopeful and heartbreaking. So heartbreaking that I felt so emotionally like [the character] and even shed a few tears. I couldn't help myself but run into City of Glass to sneak a peek! I wish I could continue reading this series right now. Once I can't, I may wait a while to dive into the next one. And probably, after that, I will be anxiously waiting for City of Fallen Angels.