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City of Ashes Audiobook
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(4.00) - 193,329 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
The second book in Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes continues the gripping love story between Clary and Jace who discovered, at the end of the last book, that they might be siblings. Of course, it was impossible for them to take the relationship any further, but that didn't mean that the feelings they'd developed for each other just went away. In City of Ashes, we see both of them struggling to forget what the other means to them, exactly as intended by Valentine, the man who claims to have fathered them both.
At the beginning of the book, Jace is under suspicion of collaborating with Valentine, who is practicing all kinds of dark magic and trying to raise demons. Even though Jace has nothing to do with the man, he is investigated by an Inquisitor from Idris, the city of Nephilim, a half angel and half human species that both, Jace and Clary, are a part of. Meanwhile, Valentine slaughters all the people in the Silent City in order to get a sword, which is the second mortal instrument he seeks. Now, he must get the blood from four types of Downworlder children—a warlock, a faerie, a werewolf and a vampire—so that he can get demons to do his bidding. He's already found two of these and ends up kidnapping Maia, a werewolf Clary knows, and Simon, Clary's best friend, who has been turned into a vampire.
Jace and Clary also travel to the faerie realm where they are forced to kiss again to escape the Queen's spell and return to the real world. We also learn that Jace and Clary have special powers that other Nephilim do not possess. While Jace's powers are physical, enabling him to cover long distances in a trice, Clary's powers lie in coming up with new and powerful runes.
Overall, this installment of the mortal instruments is action-packed and full of romantic tension, given that Clary and Jace both believe that their love can't ever be consummated. More information about their possible blood connection is given us in the third book. Clare's writing is beautiful and detailed and we learn a lot more about this fantasy world and the characters inhabiting it as the series goes on.
Cassandra Clare's real name is Judith Rumelt and she was born in Iran to American parents. Her family traveled a lot when she was young, so she lived in France, England and Switzerland before the age of ten. Since they were never in one place for too long, young Judith turned to books and always carried one under her arm. As an adult, she worked for various tabloids, writing celebrity gossip, but in 2006, she started writing fiction full time and playfully jokes that she never wants to write about Paris Hilton again. She is friends with Holly Black, also a fantasy writer and the two often refer to characters in each others' books within their own work.
"This is the second book in the series and the first one got me hooked and this one was just a good. I love how Cassandra Clare draws you into the story and she just leaves you wanting more. I love how she tells the story the charters are strong but I don't want Jace and Clary to be related and I know that it will come out that they are now just don't know how just yet. If you like vampires and ware-wolfs you will love this series. "
— Deniella (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
Is love worth betraying everything? Plunge into the second adventure in the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and “prepare to be hooked” (Entertainment Weekly)—now with a gorgeous new cover, a map, a new foreword, and exclusive bonus content! City of Ashes is a Shadowhunters novel.
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?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures readers back into the dark grip of New York City’s Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.
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Quotes
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“You’ll be so into this smart, funny, romantic read that you won’t even be frustrated at the cliff-hanger ending.”
— Seventeen -
“Well written in both style and language...The human characters are well developed and quite believable. The whole book is like watching a particularly good vampire/werewolf movie, and it leaves readers waiting for the next in the series.”
— School Library Journal -
“This action-packed tale uses melodrama and florid descriptions to good effect, crafting emotional tension and heart-wrenching romantic dramas. Readers of urban fantasy will devour this deliciously overwrought adventure.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
Hold on tight for a smart, sexy thrill ride." --Libba Bray
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
City of Ashes Listener Reviews
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" I've read TMI series twice already. Having someone else read it to me is absolutely brilliant! "
— Monique, 12/21/2017 -
" I thought that as a secondary to City Of Bones it was a good follow up. I really am enjoying how all the characters are developing especially Clary she's a good shy hero she will have me in rapped for a while! "
— Colleen, 2/9/2014 -
" i honestly cant remember what i thought about this book and i also cant remember the plot line "
— Maaike, 2/7/2014 -
" I WILL WRITE A REVIEW SOON~ "
— Tara, 1/19/2014 -
" love it .my faveorite person is luke "
— Hope, 1/16/2014 -
" definitely nowhere NEAR as good as city of bones. this one dragged on for what felt like forever. and the entire book... well... it was pretty awkward. the sad part is that I want Jace and Clary to get together, and I'm CONVINCED that they're not actually siblings. anyways, yeah. the plot line just dragged on for awhile, and in the climax scene, you didn't even really find out much. so, yeah. kind of a let down, but whatever. on to the next one... "
— Emmacastiel, 1/16/2014 -
" I really like how this story is progressing. I am glad I listened to it. I am on to the next audio book. "
— JoJo, 1/12/2014 -
" I'm trying to move forward in this series. It wasn't as bad as the first, and the characters are slowly becoming more likeable to me. Hopefully the next one is even better! "
— Natalie, 1/11/2014 -
" the incest thoughts are creepy, but BESIDES that this book was awesome. Now onto city of glass! "
— Silver, 12/30/2013 -
" Buen libro, me gusto, aunque la historia no muy buena. :) "
— Alan, 12/10/2013 -
" I'm really liking this series. Some of the silly teenager angst is gone, and the characters are becoming more rich and fully-fleshed out. The action scenes are terrific. Can't wait for the next one. "
— Deanna, 11/17/2013 -
" I thought it dragged a bit on some parts but the other parts were really good. I liked the first one better though, and can't wait to see what is in store for the third book.. "
— Emily, 7/27/2013 -
" This book was seriousley amazing! I loved it! But come on Jace! Clary was going to tell you how she felt, and you just messed it up! That was so sad ... "
— Felicai, 5/4/2013 -
" Why is this story taking so long?!?!?! "
— Jessica, 3/16/2013 -
" i liked it. just got tired of reading series "
— Maria, 1/20/2013 -
" Loves the sequel to city of bones best book ever "
— Jacelover555, 12/26/2012 -
" Enjoyed this series, very Harry Potter and PG13 in the romance department, a good light read and should translate well into a film. "
— Liz, 8/20/2012 -
" Extremely interesting. I enjoy this series a whole lot so far. "
— Irina, 6/10/2012 -
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michelle carr, 8/21/2011
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" this was an AMAZING book. it was action packed and a great sci-fi! I truly enjoyed it :) "
— Shireen, 6/30/2011 -
" this series is one of my all time favorite. I highly recommend for everyone to read it. I've already read it like ten times...literally!!! "
— Kassandra, 6/30/2011 -
" I'm not usually a big fantasy book fan, but this one was very interesting. There were so many plot turns, that it always kept me on my toes! "
— Ms.Feldmann, 6/30/2011 -
" Hard to get into at first but Clare has built a brilliant world with witty and 3 dimensional characters that make you keep turning the page "
— Iona, 6/30/2011 -
" This was a brill book couldnt put it down when i started reading absolutly awsome. :) "
— Cara, 6/29/2011 -
" Good for a teen magic book! "
— Laura, 6/29/2011 -
" OMG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SERIES! Ahh, Jace and Simon <3 <br/>Can't wait for the fifth book! IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING! "
— Helen, 6/29/2011 -
" A good read. Something akin to harry potter and twilight. Can't wait for the next one "
— Lonica, 6/29/2011 -
" I absolutley love love this series!!! I love the world that Cassandra Clare created!! The characters are amazing I <3 Jace!! "
— Nichole, 6/29/2011 -
" TMI is my 3rd favorite series out of twenty-......something. I HIGHLY recommend these books to everyone! You will love them! "
— Jamie, 6/29/2011 -
" ugh... I loved the book as I got into it, but it first it seemed to drag on... and on.... and on... <br/> <br/>I'll read the series, but I can't guranetee I'll like it all that much. Sorry. "
— Kendal, 6/29/2011 -
" Book:City of Bones,Rating:4/5, I included this book in my book bucket ist necause my sixth grade english teacher told me about it. Then I saw all 4 of the books in Bj's and decided to buy and read them., yes the book was worth it to me, yes i would recomend it "
— Tori, 6/29/2011 -
" Extremely disappointed when I first purchased the book; I can tell right off the bat she's a newbie writer. "
— Ha, 6/28/2011
About Cassandra Clare
Cassandra Clare is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices trilogy, and she is coauthor of the Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson. She also wrote The Shadowhunter’s Codex with her husband, Joshua Lewis. Her books have more than thirty-five million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.
About Natalie Moore
Ellen Archer has narrated numerous audiobooks and has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, as well as the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She is an actress, and singer with a degree in opera performance from the Boston Conservatory. She has performed extensively on the New York stage and in regional theaters.