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City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

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Brief synopsis
Clary and Jace continue their Shadowhunter path, chasing after demons and one "bad guy" in particular. They're attracted to each other deeply, and they're also siblings. Eww. With the help of werewolves and vampires, the good guys fight a bunch of demons led by a madman.

Category
YA Fiction

Why I chose this book
My daughter wanted to read the series, so I decided to give the next book a try.

My personal opinion (the review)
I'm very disappointed. The characters are caricatures- complete personifications of one particular trait, each. The plot is predictable (the good guys will win, in the end). Jace and Clary are basically invincible. The only thing the story has going for it is the cliffhangers. Throughout the book, it felt like the story was constantly begging, "wait, don't put me down- there's another surprise coming!" I don't recommend this book at all.

Warnings
Language: A couple f-words at the beginning, lesser vulgarity throughout
Violence: Frequent, but not very graphic
"Adult" situations: Many references to romance (including homosexual and incestuous situations), but not explicit
Death: Referenced

Movie rating equivalent
R, for language

Protagonist description
Clary is pretty flat, as characters go. But she's bearable

Point of view of story
Third, focused on Clary

Book length
Medium-long

Story flow
Pretty good

Grammar and spelling issues
Minor, and very few

Character connection (no spoilers)
None

For series
Independent or integral:
Integral

Series review as a whole:
This is definitely a series written for adults. But the main characters are teenagers. So it feels like I'm following a bunch of teenagers around, as an adult. I'm done with the series; I do not recommend it to anyone.

If you only have time for one, read:
Don't. Pick another series

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