City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - ESSENTIAL

Clare, Cassandra City of Ashes: Book Two of the Mortal Instruments Trilogy 453 pgs. Margaret K. McElderry

Language~PG-13; Sexual Content~PG-13; Violence~PG-13

MS, HS –ESSENTIAL 

As Clary continues to adjust to her new life among the Shadowhunters, someone is murdering Downworlder’s and draining them of their blood! The second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is also now missing. Jace is under investigation as the culprit for both the theft and the murders. The Inquisitor believes he is in league with his father, Valentine. There are tough times ahead and Clary is right in the middle of it all.

The second installment of the extremely popular Mortal Instruments series does not disappoint! As in the first novel, there is plenty of teen angst in the form of sexual innuendos but there is little more than kissing that is actually described. The language is on the dark side but I don’t recall any ‘f’s. The violence is frequent and dark similar but par for the course in an adventure/paranormal story. There is the birth of a vampire that may cause some to cringe but others will relish in the fascination and suspense.

Allison Madsen~Teen Librarian-SJO Public Library