Baba's Reviews > City of Ashes

The Mortal Instruments book No. 2: Rereading this with gloss coming off, was not as fun as my first reading. This continues from the first book, with Clary's mother ill; Clary involved with an interesting and quite daring love triangle, and then some; and Valentine's quest for the Mortal Instruments. I do like the urban fantasy reality and the detail around, and character development of, the supporting characters; what I don't like is how the 'love stories' over dominate the series so much that the jeopardy I should feel for the characters in what at times are very dark events, is watered down knowing in a page or two, we're going to be reading about someone's romantic feelings again. I would say this being such a strongly romance led fantasy is probably what made it so popular with its intended audience. :) 6 out of 12.

2022 read; 2017 read