If you have yet to do so, please read my review of “City of Bones” review before reading this one.
The plot for this novel goes like this: Clary wishes to return to her normal life, but her mother is in a magically induced coma, and the world of the shadowhunters refuses to loosen it’s grip on her. Meanwhile, something is murdering Downworlder children in New York City, and her father, Valentine, is still on the loose.
Compared to its predecessor, City of Ashes has faster paced plot movement and features more violence. Despite that, this novel also displays a deeper exploration of relationships and begins to present the readers with the complex politics of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders. City of Bones also creates a darker tone as it explores the ideas of fear, betrayal, and depression. That being said, this novel felt repetitive and predictable at times.
Bottom Line: City of Ashes gives readers the action, suspense, and character development that they loved in City of bBnes, and in fact does it all a little bit better. That being said, it is at times too similar to its predecessor causing it to become predictable and repetitive. I give City of Ashes a 9/10 and recommend this novel to any reader above the age of 15.