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City of Ashes
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Read City of Ashes
The Mortal Instruments: Book 2

City of Ashes (2008) (edit title/settings)

by Cassandra Clare (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

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... read more

Summary edit see section history

City of Ashes is the second book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments quartet. Events take place directly after where the story in City of Bones finished. The story is told in third person and mostly from the perspective of Clary, including her confusion over her relationship with her new... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

City of Ashes is the second book in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments quartet. Events take place directly after where the story in City of Bones finished. The story is told in third person and mostly from the perspective of Clary, including her confusion over her relationship with her new found brother and her feelings for Simon.

Clary Fray starts to wish for her life to go back to normal.<2> But her life is far from it as a demon-slaying Shadowhunter.

The story starts with a brief scene of Valentine who has paid a warlock to summon the Demon of Fear who kills the warlock. Valentine raised the Mortal Cup which gives him absolute power over the Greater Demon. Then it cuts to Clary whose mother still hasn't woken up, and she is living at Luke's house. Simon shocks her and kisses her in the kitchen, and later calls her his girlfriend. Jace is sent from home by Alec's parents. He goes to a bar and picks a fight with a werewolf pack, after it is revealed that there was a were child slain in the alley way. Jace was asked to help, and he had seemed indifferent of the situation, causing the pack to attack. Luke later saves him and calls Clary. The three of them go to the Institute and confront Alec's mother (Maryse) who explains that the Inquisitor is coming to talk with Jace and she was trying to spare him. Clary goes back home to Luke's with Simon and he stays over. She gets up to go fix herself up in the bathroom when she received a text message from Isabelle. When the Inquisitor arrived to Institute, Jace, using his so-called charm, angers the Inquisitor and she locks him in the Silent City. That night, sitting in the cell of the Silent City, Jace hears the screams of the Silent Brothers as something is attacking everyone. He finds out that Valentine kills the Silent Brothers to get the Soul-Sword (Second of the Mortal Instruments). Clary comes to the Institute where Isabelle and Alec explain that Jace was thrown in the prison. A distress call goes out to the Institute from the Silent City, but the adult Shadowhunters were called to the park where a Faerie Child was killed and were not available at the moment. Isabelle and Alec decide to go find Jace and Clary tags along to go to save Jace, since she is the only person who knows the entrance. They discover all of the brothers have been killed, locate Jace, and when they emerge, the Inquisitor believes that Jace might have had a hand in the killing because the Soul-Sword is the only instrument to use against the Shadowhunter to prove if he is lying or telling the truth.

They go to The Faerie Realm and Clary was told to stay as she was tricked into taking fairy food. However, the Seelie Queen said that "the kiss the girl most desires" will allow Clary to leave, leading Clary to kiss Jace in front of the whole Court. Simon storms off when they leave the realm, and later Raphael shows up at the Institute with Simon dying in his arms, with the only choice left for him to become a vampire. Raphael explained that Simon believed that he was already turning into a vampire because he had bitten Raphael in rat form during City of Bones. Because he entered on his own free will, he was considered "free game" and was drained and also given vampire blood. They bury his dead body in a Jewish cemetery, as requested by Clary, and Simon is reborn. They go after the demons and that night Jace goes to visit Valentine (his father) on a boat in the river. The Inquisitor shows up the next morning and claims Jace was with Valentine and plans to threaten Jace's life unless Valentine returns the Mortal Instruments. She places him in a magically electrified cell in the training room of the institute, and tells him that she is going to trade his life for the Mortal Instruments. He tries to explain to her that it will not work, but she does not believe him. At this time, Maia leaves Luke's apartment to travel to see Simon because she wanted to apologize to him for the names she called him after she was attacked and once she realized that he was a vampire. On the way, she is attacked by the Demon of Fear, which she interprets as her older brother who had tortured her while he was still alive. Valentine kidnaps her shortly afterward.

Later, Luke and Clary realize Maia is missing, as she had left a note stating that she was going to make amends. Clary realizes that she means Simon, and calls Simon even though it is daytime. He answers and tells her that Maia never made it to the house, and then hears someone breaking in. Clary and Luke jump into the car to go rescue him but Valentine finds him before they can get there in time. Later Alec convinces Jace to find a way out, and suggests he should escape the cell by leaping out of the cage (which only has four walls). There, he calls Clary and she reveals that Simon and Maia were captured by Valentine. He tells her to bring Luke to the Institute, and wait outside for him. Jace escapes through Isabelle's window and waits at the roof of the institute. Luke and Clary arrive at the Institute and Clary sees Jace jump from the roof and land safely on the ground. It is revealed that this is the ability of the Angel given to Jace by Valentine. Clary discovers that she can create new runes(her ability of the angel) including the rune "fearlessness". Simon and Maia are currently alive on the boat when Valentine arrives and throws silver dust on Maia, hurting her. He then tells Simon he is going to kill him, and if he has any last words. Simon replies, "Clary," and Valentine proceeded to slash his neck.

Meanwhile, the Inquisitor and Alec's mother argue at the Institute, unaware that Jace has escaped. Luke, Jace and Clary all meet at the docks at the river, and Clary draws the rune on Jace. Magnus has turned the truck into a floatable device and they all head out to meet Valentine. Jace, feeling fearless, was about to ask Clary an important question when they are attacked by flying demons and she was forcibly taken by a demon to Valentine. The boat swarms with shadowhunters and the Inquisitor ends up saving Jace's life after seeing the scar on his shoulder--shaped like a star. Jace goes into the boat, kills the fear creating demon, Agramon, and gives Simon his blood to save his life. Clary inscribes a rune on the boat, which Valentine translates as Mene, mene, tekel Upharsin, but actually means "Open" by Clary, who created this new rune. She used the same rune earlier to break Jace out of prison. Instead of just opening things, though, Clary's new rune is much stronger than a normal open rune, causing things to literally break apart. When she finished, the boat falls apart, since her rune had literally taken out all the bolts and rivets. When they escape back onto the truck,they learn that Simon is now able to walk in the sunlight as he did not die when the sun rose. Nobody is thrilled about this.

At the end of the book, Jace is welcomed back in the institute by Alec's mother and tells Clary that he will only be her brother from now on, unaware of Clary's own internal conflict and her love for him. In the last scene Clary, on her way to the hospital, meets Madeleine Bellafleur; a woman who knew her mother and says that she knows how to wake Clary's mother up.

Characters edit see section history

  • Clarissa 'Clary' Fray: Shadowhunter. Feelings For Jace/Jonathan, but she is his sister. Has a best friend named Simon.
  • Jonathan Morgenstern: aka Jonathan Morgenstern. Lives with the Lightwoods at the Institute in New York City. He is said to be the best Shadowhunter his age. He is described as having golden hair, eyes, and skin, making him popular with girls, although he has never had a serious relationship. He is very arrogant, but is a very kind and thoughtful person underneath, though he tries to hide it. His name comes from his initials, J.C., short for Jonathan Christopher.
  • Simon Lewis: Clary's best friend. He's in love with Clary. Has dark hair and glasses. Starts liking Maia.
  • Magnus Bane: High Warlock of Brooklyn. Has feelings for Alec. Centuries old.
  • Isabelle 'Izzy' Lightwood: Max's and Alec's Sister. Shadowhunter. Only Sister, Middle Child. Dated Merliorn, a faerie of the Seelie Court.
  • Lucian 'Luke' Garroway: Werewolf. Fatherly figure to Clary. Feelings for Jocelyn, though they seem to be unrequited. Was in the Circle before he turned into a werewolf.
  • Jocelyn Fray: Clary's mother. Former Shadowhunter. Also known as Jocelyn Fairchild. Clary looks just like her, with flaming red hair and a petite figure.In a coma.
  • Alexander 'Alec' Lightwood: Max and Isabelle's older brother. He is also gay
  • Maryse Lightwood: Shadowhunter. Mother of Alec, Isabelle, and Max. Wary and unsure if she can trust Jace since Valentine is his father.
  • Valentine Morgenstern: Clary and Jace's father. Evil Shadow hunter. He is in his forties, has white hair, broad shoulders, over six feet tall, very muscular. Valentine is arrogant and impossible to argue with. Was married to Jocelyn Fray.
  • Max Lightwood: Alec's and Isabelle's little brother. He is too young to go out on missions with his siblings. He is very close to Jace. He iis the youngest member of the Lightwood family.
  • Maia Roberts: A pretty young female werewolf in Luke's pack. She has a crush on Simon (Clary's best friend).
  • Imogen Herondale: The Inquistor who acts like she hates Jace.
  • Elias: He is a warlock boy with wings.
  • Agramon: He is the Demon of Fear.
  • Freaky Pete: He is the bartender in a werewolf bar.
  • Malik: He is a handsome ebony, skinned man who is a Shadowhunter.
  • Meliorn: He is a handsome faerie knight who Isabelle fancies.
  • Queen of the Seelie Court: She is the leader of the Faerie Folk.
  • Raphael: The Spanish boy who turned out to be a Vampire. Simon bit him thus turning thus into a vampire.
  • Church: An immortal cat that lives at the Institute. If you're looking for someone, you can ask Church where they are, and you'll be led to that person by Church. Jace describes him as a 'backstabbing Judas' for taking him and Clary to Isabelle instead of Alec.
  • Stephen Herondale: The late son of Imogen. Was a "golden child" and was loved by many.
  • Hodge: Add a description of this character.
  • Rebecca
  • Gabriel
  • Madeleine Bellefleur
  • Jonathan Wayland
  • Clarissa Morgenstern
  • Robert Lightwood
  • Angel Raziel
  • Daniel
  • Jace hug Isabelle
  • Lucian Graymark
  • Brother Jeremiah
  • Michael Wayland
Show all 35 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Mundane humans create distinctions between themselves, distinctions that seem ridiculous to any Shadowhunter. Their distinctions are based on race, religion, national identity, any of a dozen minor and irrelevant markers. To mundanes these seem logical, for though mundanes cannot see, understand, or acknowledge the demon worlds, still somewhere buried in their ancient memories, they know that there are those that walk this earth that are other. That do not belong, that mean only harm and destruction. Since the demon threat is invisible to mundanes, they must assign the threat to others of their own kind. They place the face of their enemy onto the face of their neighbor, and thus are generations of misery assured.”
    Valentine
  • “I prefer to think that I'm a liar in a way that's uniquely my own.”
    Jace
  • “Enormous? Did you just call me fat?”
    Jace
  • “That's what I like about you people, You always make me feel so welcome.”
    Simon
  • “Well, I'm not kissing the mundane, I'd rather stay down here and rot.”
    Jace
  • “The kiss that will free the girl is the kiss that she most desires.”
    Queen of the Seelie Court
  • “I can only assume, that mortal emotions amuse you because you have none of your own.”
    Jace
  • “With Jace, you don't really get to choose your insulting nickname.”
    Clary
  • “Jace reminds me of an old boyfriend. Some guys look at you like they want sex. Jace looks at you like you've already had sex, it was great, and now you're just friends-even though you want more. Drives girls crazy. You know what I mean?”
    Maia
  • “I'd say it's been nice meeting you all, but, in fact, it hasn't. It's been quite awkward, and frankly, the next time I see a single one of you will be far too soon.”
    Magnus Bane
  • “No, I'm just a very naughty boy. I do all sorts of bad things. I kick kittens. I make rude gestures at nuns.”
    Jace
  • “If I made a joke about just dropping in would you write me off as a cliché?”
    Jace
  • “Other crack teams get bat boomerangs and wall-crawling powers; we get the Aquatruck.”
    Clary
  • “My jacket," said Jace in a rage, and stabbed down at the thing as it rose, piercing its back. It shrieked and disappeared. "I loved that jacket.”
    Jace
  • “"I get the feeling," Alec said, and smiled, "she hasn't forgiven me for betraying you, as she sees it.""Good girl," said Jace with appreciation."I didn't betray you, idiot.""It's the thought that counts."”
    Alec + Jace
  • “A sexy, sexy warlock”
    Isabelle
  • “A low chuckle broke the tension. "All right, all right, you've tortured him enough. I'm here."”
    Jace
  • “Some things never change.”
    Alec
  • “Then again it was Jace. He'd pick a fight with a Mack truck if the urge took him.”
    Clary
  • “I'll just have to change the entry in the demonology textbook from 'almost extinct' to 'not extinct enough for Alec. He prefers his monsters really, really extinct.'”
    Jace
  • “'We came to see Jace. Is he alright?' -Clary'I don't know,' Magnus said. 'Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?'”
    Clary and Magnus
  • “Everything changes in my life, and the world stays the same”
    Clary
  • “You know the how the bonds of family are, my lady... They cling as tightly as vines. And sometimes, like vines, they cling tight enough to kill.”
    Jace
  • “Usually, I’m remarkably good-natured. Try me on any day that doesn’t end in y.”
    Jace
  • “I'm pure at heart. It repels dirt.”
    Isabelle
  • “"Mom. I have something to tell you. I’m undead. Now, I know you may have some preconceived notions about the undead. I know you may not be comfortable with the idea of me being undead. But I’m here to tell you that undead are just like you and me … well, okay. Possibly more like me than you."”
    Simon
  • “"He looks like a gay Sonic the Hedgehog."”
    Simon
  • “Clary snapped the compartment open and frowned. She took out a shiny pamphlet, the kind they keep stacked in clear plastic stands in the hospital waiting rooms. "How to Come Out to Your Parents," she read out loud. "LUKE. Don't be ridiculous. Simon's not gay, he's a vampire."”
    Clary
  • “"What makes you think that Valentine's change of plans had anything to do with your brother?" "Because," Clary said with grim certainty, "only Jace can piss someone off that much."”
    Luke and Clary
  • “If you can't tell the truth to the people you care about the most, eventually you stop being able to tell the truth to yourself.”
    Luke Garroway
  • “Simon slewed his eyes over to Jace. " Is standing by the window muttering about blood something he does all the time?" "No," said Jace, "sometimes he sits on the couch and does it."”
    Jace and Simon
  • “"A demon army?" said Alec. " This guy is big or armies." observed Simon”
    Alec and Simon
  • “"Lawful Good to Lawful Evil!" said Simon, pleased. "He's quoting Dungeons and Dragons." said Clary." Ignore him."”
    Simon and Clary
  • “There are some things you never forget.”
    Luke Garroway
  • “<True Love's Kiss> It had been like opening up a vein of something unknown inside her body, something hotter and sweeter and bitterer than blood.”
    Clary Fray
  • “Sometimes you don't have to search out danger, sometimes danger finds you.”
    Jace Wayland via Isabelle Lightwood
  • “Jace: Clary. What are you doing here? | Clary: I came to find you. | Jace: You're really here? I'm not--I'm not dead, am I? | Clary: No. <Gliding her hand down the side of his face.> You passed out, is all. Probably hit your head too. | Jace: ... <His hand came up to cover hers where it lay on his cheek.> Worth it. ♥”
  • “Before me things created were none, save things Eternal, and eternal I endure. All hope abandon, ye who enter here.”
    Dante, Inferno
  • “I don't want to be a man; I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people.”
    Jace
  • “Never doubt my weaseling abilities, Shadowhunter, for they are epic and memorable in their scope.”
    Magnus Bane
  • “Everyone has choices to make; no one has the right to take those choices away from us. Not even out of love.”
    Luke
  • “We don't live in a vacuum. There are people around us who care about us who would be hurt, maybe destroyed, if we let ourselves feel what we might want to feel.”
    Jace
  • “'Because' Simon said 'You're so obviously psychotic.'”
    Simon
Show all 43 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Modern day New York
  • Idris: The Shadowhunter home country located between Germany and France. Its capital is Alicante, also called the Glass City.
  • Metropole: Manhattan's most expensive new downtown condominium tower.
  • Hunter's Moon: It is a werewolves' bar located on Hester Street.
  • Silent City: It is located in New York Marble Cemetery. It is also known as the City of Bones.
  • Institute: It is located in a Church. This is where Lightwoods reside.
  • Luke's House
  • Beth Israel Hospital
  • Taki's: It is a diner for Downworlders and Shadowhunters in New York.

Organizations edit see section history

  • The Clave: The Shadowhunters government. It is made up of a Council, the Inquisitor, and the Consul.
  • The Circle: Was a group of Shadowhunters led by Valentine Morgenstern, who rebelled against The Clave and set out to destroy every Demon and Downworlder.

First Sentence edit see section history

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

Table of Contents edit see section history

Prologue: Smoke and Diamonds

Part One: A Season in Hell
1: Valentine's Arrow
2: The Hunter's Moon
3: The Inquisitor
4: The Cuckoo in the Nest
5: Sins of the Fathers
6: City of Ashes
7: The Mortal Sword

Part Two: The Gates of Hell
8: The Seelie Court
9: And Death Shall have no Dominion
10: A Fine and Private Place
11: Smoke and Steel
12: The Hostility of Dreams
13: A Host of Rebal Angels

Part Three: Day of Wrath
14: Fearless
15: The Serpent's Tooth
16: A Stone of the Heart
17: East of Eden
18: Darkness Visible
19: Dies Irae

Epilogue

Glossary edit see section history

  • Shadowhunter: Shadowhunters are Nephilim, supposedly descended from the angel Raziel. They use this to rid the world of demons.
  • Downworlder: Mythical creature e.g werewolf, vampire, faerie, shapeshifter, warlock
  • Drevak Demon: A kind of demon that is blind and they track by smell.
  • Mundane 'Mundie': Any ordinary human who is not a shadowhunter.
  • Downworld: Secret world inhabited by Downworlders.
  • Stele: Is the instrument used by Shadowhunters to draw Runes. Described as a slender twig made of whitish-silver material, apparently flexible.
  • Runes: The marks Shadowhunters use in order to enhance their abilities.
  • Iratze: A healing rune
  • Glamour: Used by Shadowhunters and Downworlders to conceal their activities from Mundanes. Like a hologram.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 8 in The Mortal Instruments. (standard series)

Preceded by City of Bones, and followed by City of Glass.

This is book 26 of 216 in Whitcoulls Kids' Top 50 (2011). (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Cassandra Clare (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: March 25, 2008
ISBN: 1416914293
Page Count: 464

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.C5265 Cga 2008 FT MEADE
  • Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Plenty of action violence and also some profanity. Ages 13 and up.There is also a good amount of sexual innuendo.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Forever Girl
  • City of Bones
  • City of Glass
  • Clockwork Angel
  • My Soul to Take
  • Intertwined
  • Valiant
  • The Demon's Lexicon
  • My Blood Approves
  • Ascend

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Clockwork Angel
  • Clockwork Prince
  • City of Bones

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