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

Original title: City of Ashes

Year published: 2008

Published by: Walker Books

Number of pages: 411

First sentence: “The formidable glass-and-steel structure rose from its position on Front Street like a glittering needle threading the sky.”

Plot: 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?

(Plot taken from Goodreads)

My thoughts: First off, let me just say that I liked this book a lot better than the first one, probably because there were no movie connections to be made here. This was a really good thing and it meant that I could actually enjoy the book, which I did, very much.

A lot of things happen in this book, a lot of life changing things, for some people at least. Can we just take a minute to appreciate Simon? I mean what he goes through in this book and still he’s there for Clary. Simon, I love you.  Then there’s Jace, whom I of course also love but that’s beside the point. He is so hateable in this book, but still I have a lot of sympathy for him. He makes me so mad with his “no I can’t hate my father” crap, ugh. Seriously it is perfectly alright to hate Valentine, I sure as hell do. Say it with me: “I HATE VALENTINE”. There, that wasn’t so hard was it. The whole Valentine situation is so infuriating. Tricking Clary and Jace into believing they’re siblings is just horrible. They are so obviously in love with each other and it just makes reading most of the book weird, it makes me uncomfortable. Especially when they’re with the faerie Queen and she makes them kiss. I was screaming, really. Like why in the bloody hell would they react to each other that way physically if they truly believe that they are brother and sister? It makes no sense. And poor Simon. I feel so bad for him, although he seems okay with everything by the end of the book.

Also there’s Luke, who really steps up in this book. I love Luke. He’s such a nice guy and the way Clary’s like: “you’re not my father, Luke is” aaaaaaah, I loved that.

One thought that stuck with me while reading the book was:  “When the hell is it time for Jocelyn to wake up?” and by the end of this book we get an answer, maybe. So I can’t wait to get started on ‘City of Glass’.

And why didn't Imogen Herondale get to finish telling Jace the truth? Gaaaah! How long am I going to have to wait for Jace to finally know the truth. This is driving me crazy!

I love the Shadowhunter world. If I could I’d probably be one, that or a warlock, with a nice mark like Magnus’ eyes and not horns or green skin.

Do I recommend it? Yep.

Goodreads rating 4/5

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Original title: City of Bones

Year published: 2007

Published by: Walker Books

Number of pages: 506

First sentence: ““You’ve got to be kidding me,” the bouncer said, folding his arms across his massive chest.”

Plot: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
(From Goodreads)

My thoughts: Um, yeah, no. I mean there really isn’t much wrong with the book and I did give it 4/5 on Goodreads. I love the Shadowhunter world that Clare has created. I love the Infernal Devices series but this, I don’t know. It’s probably because I keep comparing it to the movie and that’s my own fault. The book is better than the movie, I mean way better but I keep seeing the things and people from the movie and I don’t like it. Take Alec for example, he’s a douche in the book and in the movie but I think the book version of him is more attractive, mostly because he’s supposed to be taller than Jace, but I keep seeing Alec (Kevin Segers) from the movie. It’s really annoying to have seen the movie before finishing the book because I find myself going: “No, that’s not how it happened in the movie”. It bugs me because what happens in the book actually makes a lot more sense than the movie. 

This whole Valentine deal pisses me off royally. Why is Jace so quick to believe that Valentine is his father? Sure he has a story to explain everything but it still doesn’t add up. And yes I do know how things actually are with that whole situation and that just makes it so much worse. Ugh. Valentine is much more of an evil asshole in the book than the movie, I didn’t really think that it was possible to be more of an ass but apparently it was. Way to go Mr Morgenstern.  Luke is such a babe though, too bad he’s not Clary’s bio dad.

I’m 30% done with the next book, ‘City of Ashes’, and can I just say: “whaaaaaaat!?” for a moment. And when the hell does Jocelyn wake up?  Confused.com

But do I recommend it? Sure, why not? I mean it’s a good story. My problems are with myself and not the book.

Goodreads rating: 4/5

Cassandra Clare

Hi guys. Remember I told you that I ordered some books a while back? Well they're here!

The complete Mortal Instruments boxed set and the Infernal Devices. 

I can't wait to get started on these. I've already read Clockwork Angel and I started on City of Bones (didn't finish because the series got spoiled) but I've decided to give the series another try. 

That's all for now. Will probably post a review on Captivated by You by Sylvia Day since I'm currently reading it. 

Take care! xx Kayla