City of Ashes and I started off rocky. If you read my review of City of Bones you know that I read that book twice (because I couldn't remember anything). What you don't know is that the first time I read it, I proceeded to open City of Ashes immediately. I read the prologue. I closed the book. It stayed closed for about... oh, I dunno... two years, maybe?..
I can't even explain what went wrong and why this happened. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it. But whatever it was, I kept recalling that I did in fact do that every time I considered reading the book, and so I became too afraid to actually read it.
So afraid, that I had to limit myself on a vacation by taking City of Ashes only to make myself read it. If you're like me, who take 3 physical books and a full kindle everywhere, you must understand how dire the situation truly was.
I ended up being completely baffled by my initial reaction. City of Ashes, for me, was a much superior book toCity of Bones.
Firstly, I got to like Clary better in this book. I never hated her, but I was never sure I liked her, either. Does that make any sense? Anyways, in this book Clary discovers a power that finally makes her useful. She is no longer helpless. And that makes her much more interesting, to me.
Though, I will say - I was gritting my teeth so bad at how she behaved with Simon! That is NOT okay.
As for Jace, the first book I was surprised to like this character, who is named a jerk (though usually affectionately) by many people. In this book I was once again surprised that I liked him - this time, because I strangely enjoyed his mopey and sullen attitude. It added a much needed vulnerability to his character, making him that much more relate-able.
A character that I lost some respect towards (thought I still love him) is actually Simon. Why would you go into a lair of vampires? That is such a stupid thing to do. The end of the book with him was interesting, for sure, though I don't quite understand how it was possible. Hopefully, Clare explains this in the next book (side note:did Clare explain? I can't seem to remember o-o)
My possibly favorite part of the book was listening to Simon recite Sh'ma Israel. It was very accurate, because that is the prayer a Jewish person would use (I should know lol), and I wasn't actually expecting it.
Simon also gets a possible future love interest in this book, called Maia. I hated her. She is just such a useless character, so unnecessary to the plot. Hopefully, Clare won't negate Simon to an actual relationship with her.
Two side characters I feel deserve the extra mention are Luke and fan favorite (and my favorite) Magnus Bane.
I love Luke for the fatherly feeling he gives off, and Magnus for the sparkly feeling he gives off. Both of them create a large contrast between how you (and the Shadowhunters) expect a character like themselves to be and how they really are, Luke because he is the farthest thing away from the cruel, vicious werewolf and Magnus because he is not the typical wise, bearded Mage but a colorful collection of traits that create this persona that is so much fun to be around!
I hope to see more of both these characters in the following books (with emphasis on Magnus's relationship with Alec).
"Every time you almost die, I almost die myself".
As for the romance - I was kind of on the middle with it. Sometimes I loved it, like when Jace said the quote above. At that moment? I shipped it hard.
But then sometimes I hated it. Like when Jace started blowing up over things Clary hadn't even said, based on his wrapped interpretation on them-- and Clary wouldn't even contradict his weird assumptions, instead continuing on with the conversation as if he is right. Like, major wtf.
I think this reading experience was so much better than in City of Bones because, above all else, I got used to the writing. But I'll be honest, I still don't like it.
OLD VERSION
To read this review and more, go to my blog; Drugs Called Books!
Back when I first read City of Bones, I picked up City of Ashes. I opened the book, read the prologue, closed the book - and never opened it again.
I can't even tell you what went wrong; as best as I can figure out, I simply wasn't in the right frame of mind for it. But whatever it was, it nagged in my head for a long time afterwards, and made it difficult opening the book again.
But this weekend, I decided I've had enough with it. I took City of Ashes, and City of Ashes only, with me for a short vacation with my parents, thus guaranteeing I'll read it.
Turns out, I needn't have worried - I didn't need much initiative to read the book once I started.
In fact, despite it being a very busy weekend filled with shopping and outdoors activities, I still managed to read about 100 pages a day!
City of Ashes, for me, was a lot better than City of Bones. Can't even put my finger on exactly how, but that's how I feel.
I got to like Clary better in this book. I never hated her, but I was never sure I liked her, you know? No? Guess that's just me, then. Anyway, in this book we find out Clary is special - and she has a special power, unique only to her. This special power makes her so much more useful than she'd been the book before, and she actually helps fight this time, making me appreciate her a lot more.
On the other hand, I disliked the whole attitude she has with Simon - making out with him just cause the guy she actually likes is... well, her brother. But contrary to other heroines, her reason for not going out with the guy she likes is pretty understandable - if only she knew Jace wasn't really her brother... ~sigh~ maybe next book she will?.
All in all - I liked Clary a lot better this book.
Same goes for Jace. Don't know about you, but I kind of enjoyed his mopey and sullen attitude this book. Seeing him a bit more vulnerable made him a lot more relate-able, and my heart went out for him because of the rough treatment he received from the Clave here.
I love Simon, but dude - you weren't that stupid last book! What were you thinking, for crying out loud, going to the lair of the vampires?! ~shakes head in dismay~
And can anyone explain to me what happened in the end of the book with him!? How is what happened to him possible? I sure hope Clare explains that in the next book, because that's a detail she has to explain - what with it being supposedly impossible and all...
But I did love the fact he said Sh'ma Yisrael when he was facing Valentine - Kudos for Clare for putting that in, as it is what a Jewish person might recite facing death (and I should know).
We got a new character this book, called Maia - and I dislike her greatly. She wasn't annoying, really, just really useless and stupid, especially with all that lashing out at Simon. I don't see why we really needed her, really.
On a side note, if we're already talking characters - I love Luke and the fatherly feeling he emits. I think it's a really wise choice to have made him the werewolf in the story, as it creates such contrast between how you think werewolf are supposed to be and how they really are. And I'm glad we saw so much more of him this book.
Another character I loved was Magnus Bane. I love the... sparkly feeling he gives off! LOL. He's so colorful and despite the pretense he doesn't care, appears like he does. I was really glad he took a more center stage this book, and I'm hoping to see more of him and Alec next book!
As for the Romance in this book - there were moments I loved it, and moments I disliked it.
Half way through Jace got pretty annoying, blowing away Clary's answer to something he said, interpreting it as if she said she thought his feelings for her were sick. But then, instead of explaining she didn't mean that - she spoke as is she did, so I was pissed at her, too.
On the other hand, some parts were just so sweet, and I positively swooned over Jace when he said:
Clary - "I almost died back there on the ship, you know."
Jace - "I know. Every time you almost die, I almost die myself.”
As for the writing - it was better than I remembered, if that makes any sense. Anyway, it was really good.
I got a bit thrown out of the story every time we got a random look into a character's head that wasn't Clary or Jace, such as Alec and Simon's few POVs.
Then again, Jace had only one POV part in the first book, and he had about a third this one - so maybe Clare's sets the ground for next book, in which Simon and Alec's POVs will have a larger part?
I both hated and loved the Ending.
On the one hand, I thought to myself WTH kind of place is that to close the book with? I think it would've been much better to have actually seen her wake up, or something.
On the other, I also felt it gave a sense of closure; the first book ended with Clary taking Jace to see Jocelyn, and this book ends with going to wake her up.
Regardless, I loved City of Ashes and will be starting to read City of Glass next week or so! Can't wait to see how the first trilogy will end :]