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Alright, ya'll. I enjoyed City of Ashes a bit more than City of Bones writing-wise. You can see Cassandra improving as an author the more she writes, and I always appreciate that. This is a reread for me since I've read this series up until Dark Artifices but also skipped out on a lot.

I'm not going to spend much time mentioning HP comparisons because I feel like it's been done to death in other reviews. The only one I feel the need to say is how the Inquisitor was such a heavy-handed attempt at making someone similar to Umbridge. But in the end, I felt sorry for Imogen. More on that later.

A quick note about Shadowhunters as a whole: When reading a fantasy book about a made-up world, sometimes it's a world you want to go live in and become one of the magical creatures in said world. For example, everyone wants to go to Hogwarts. That's the most obvious one, but it's also the truest. We all want to go to the motherfucking school of Witchcraft and Wizardry and learn some magic. I don't think anyone would actively choose to be a Shadowhunter. I can't imagine wanting to join a society of prejudiced assholes who believe they are better than everyone else just because they've got some Angel blood. They shit on anyone they see as less than them, and Clary was very quick to adopt that mentality when spending time with Isabelle, Alec and Jace in COB. I like the narrative CC created of these people being anuses and then Clary coming into their world with her werewolf stepdad and her vampire best friend and being like, lol, look at my Downworlder pals tho,, you guys. They're not that bad! Also, Shadowhunters are homophobes! When Clary asks Isabelle if Alec is gay, she breaks down in tears and says that if their parents were to find out, they'd strip his marks and disown him. Naturally, this doesn't happen once Alec comes out but still.

On to the story. This is going to be like a character ranting as the story goes on. So, enjoy.

I know we're meant to think that Maryse(I still can't say her name) is initially being a cold-hearted bitch to Jace. She thinks Jace is in league with Valentine and kicks him out of the Institute for it. But the thing is, I don't blame her for thinking that. At the end of City of Bones, Jace was ready to forget everything he'd been told about Valentine and side with his dad. He was willing to pretend like Valentine didn't murder a bunch of Downworlder or his grandparents until Clary gas-lighted him into realizing the truth. Now he acts shocked that people suspect him of siding with his dad. Well, you did initially side with him, bro! Get some therapy for your daddy issues.

Jace's refusal to visit Jocelyn is ridiculous. He reasons that she abandoned him and wanted nothing to do with him even though he's been repeatedly told by multiple people that she thought he was dead. Yet, he still shuns any attempt Clary makes to get him to connect with their mother. I didn't like him much in City of Bones, I thought his arrogance was a turn-off, and now this makes me dislike him even more. It's like he got too comfortable playing his sad orphan boy routine, and now he doesn't want to accept that maybe he has a non-abusive parent. Oh, wait, no, it's because he desperately doesn't want Clary to be his sister and therefore doesn't want to share her mother. A weird thing to do, Jace. Stop thirsting after your sister.

Simon lost points with me the second I realized he was a weeaboo. He changed an anime because, I quote, 'no one ever has sex'. It should be mentioned that he was watching this anime with Clary at the time. Like, oh, let's just casually watch some Hentai. Also, he cannot read the room at all. I can't believe he thought kissing Clary with everything going on was a good idea. Not only is her mom in a coma, her stepdad a werewolf, and her real dad an evil mastermind, but she just found out she's part of an elite race of demon hunters, and her mother has been lying to her her whole life. Oh, and she's in love with her brother, which Simon knows very well. Yet, he still kisses her. And Clary is too much of an idiot to stop him or reject him, so she lets it happen, and then pity dates him the whole book. Like, how embarrassing for him.

I like Maia. I like her toughness and how she fights her own battles(primarily). I like that she calls Jace out on his bullshit, and she doesn't take crap from anyone. I like her healthy wariness of attractive men because it is such a real thing. If you've ever dealt with good-looking men who think that the sun shines out of their asses and are trash, you'll know that feeling well. Also, the fact that Maia immediately thought of her abusive brother when she met Jace is very telling. I trust her judgment far more than I trust Clary's, let's just say.

Jace continues to prove he is the most enormous prick ever. I get it; you had the saddest life ever. Your dad abused you as a child, faked his death and let you believe it for years, and then came back to life and manipulated you even more. You're in love with your sister. Your mom, whom you thought abandoned you, actually thought you were dead this whole time but is now in a coma. Like yes, all of this sucks. That doesn't mean you should LAUGH in someone's face after they find the body of a dead child.

Imagine being anyone who met Jace and Clary when they thought they were brother and sister. You would firstly be disturbed as fuck at how weirdly intimate they are with one another, and then a few weeks/months later, when you see them again, they're dating. You'd be like...uhhhh???? And then they would have to explain their relationship to everyone so people wouldn't look at them with disgust. Real talk, I'd still judge them even after their explanation.

Simon proves that he is nothing more than an idiot friend-zone guy. I see now that Robert Sheehan in the film adaptation is what made me like him. Now, I see Simon as a pathetic dweeb with occasional decent quips.

Maryse’s logic of bullying Jace out of the institute makes no sense. So let me get this straight. To avoid him having to face the Inquisitor, she accuses him of being in league with Valentine and essentially kicks him out without knowing or caring where he plans to go live. This is somebody she raised as her son for what was it ten years? And she…doesn’t give one fuck about Jace because he didn’t tell her Valentine was his dad? I don’t buy that for a second. But also, like, most of the Shadowhunters seem like absolute assholes, to begin with.

Already Inquisitor Herondale is giving off Umbridge vibes. She is far too extreme already. She has some grudge against Valentine and is taking it out on his teenage son because that makes sense. She puts him in a scary prison cell for talking back to her. Logical.

Clary meets Maia for the first time, and when Maia asks her if Jace is her brother, she DISLIKES MAIA’S INTRUSIVE CURIOSITY. You have no idea how much this made my fucking blood boil. SHE HAS SOME NEEEERVE. Miss “how did Jace’s dad die?� On day one of being in the Institute, it was legit NONE OF HER BUSINESSSSS.

Does anyone else notice how Clary has a habit of initially disliking girls whom she finds prettier than her? Like why are you so threatened, girl? She did it with Isabelle in book one, and now she’s doing it with Maia. Saying that because Maia is a werewolf, she should be hirsute. Like, shut UP. Clary.

Sorry did Clary invite Simon to have sex with Luke in the next room? They sleep in the same bed together all the time, and he’s asking her, ‘are you sure� like they’re about to bone?

In regards to the stele. I asked about their limitations in the last book because they seemed like a universal solvent for any problem. Hiding and need to spy? Use the stele. Broke your arm? Use the stele. But at the same time, it can’t heal poisons from a Greater Demon, nor can it unlock a door but can somehow block the same entry against pursuit. An iratze is their healing rune, and I still have no idea what it can do. It makes Jace’s bruises disappear but doesn’t remove his body aches or dizziness? What’s the point of only healing him on the surface? (Apparently, the aches and dizziness were due to lack of food, but couldn’t an iratze stave that off?) In COB, there was no unlocking rune, but in this, Clary has the most powerful open rune ever. I know she has the power to make new runes, but they claim the open rune existed before this. And judging by how Clary recalls runes, they just come to them as needed? Like they don’t have to memorize the runes.

I find it unbelievable that people would automatically accuse the vampires of the killings. Like yes, they were drained of blood, but they had their throats slit, and every Shadowhunter would be well aware that vampires have fangs. Why would they slit their throats? My first thought would’ve been the warlocks, tbh. Sliced throats and blood collections usually mean a ritual of some kind.

I liked the introduction to faeries. I’m big into faerie folklore and usually like seeing the author’s interpretation of it. I love the twist on faeries being the spawn of angels and demons, and I like that all the customary laws apply to them still. (No lying, no eating their food or drinks, no dancing with them, and no iron.) I like that the Seelie Queen is a tricksy manipulative bitch. Though I enjoyed that scene, it felt like an excuse to get Jace and Clary to make out and gross all of us out.

I know they’re not related, but THEY don’t know they’re not related, and it’s so GRODY. I keep thinking, what happens when they finally date and have to explain to everyone that they’re not related. They only thought they were and then like…what expressions/reactions they’d have. I’m desperate to witness that conversation.

Simon is so stupid. He got so butthurt over Clary making out with Jace(they were forced to, bro, it’s not about you.) that he went and got himself turned into a vampire. His reaction made no sense, though, is the thing. He knew Clary loved Jace, yet he still thought it was a good idea to try and date her. Sure, most normal people would be disgusted at lusting after their brother but not Clary. She continues to pine away, and considering she hasn’t vented her disgust to Simon; he clearly knows she’s still into Jace. So why did he let himself get so bothered by this?

Also, Clary punishes herself by ignoring Jace. Like�.bitch, come on.

I can’t believe they thought it was a good idea to let Simon go home and sleep under the same roof as his mom when he had been turned into a vampire. Also, naturally, Clary is making it about her. I would have liked to see Simon’s actual emotions about being turned into a vampire. Like the experience of it, etc. I feel like we don’t get much of it? We get a POV right after he’s turned, but he’s just talking about Clary and how tiny she looks and shit. And like, idk I think Simon is pathetic at this point. Why would you WANT Clary to date you knowing she doesn’t love you and shit. Like the thought of dating someone and them having to ‘try and be happy with me� because they can’t be with the person, they want to be with sounds like a nightmare?? Why would you even want that? I think he and Maia would’ve been an adorable couple. ¯\_(�)_/¯

Jace is the absolute dumbest bitch and goes to see Valentine and then acts shocked when the Inquisitor knows about it. That woman is a psycho who has it out for you, bro. You should know better. Also, she is so extra. Breaking Jace’s mirror was so mean, and like I wish someone would’ve yelled at her for doing it.

The relationship between Magnus and Alec isn’t as excellent as I recall. I think my young, naive self didn’t see how icky it was for this centuries-old warlock to spend all his time with a group of 17-year-olds. And then proceeds to date one. Like it’s creepy, but I accept it’s a common theme in fantasy writing. (Centuries-old vampire dates a 17-year-old girl is so overdone) I felt like we got cheated out of this relationship. CC includes povs from multiple characters, which is one of the reasons I like this book. I always prefer books with various POVs from the third person because it feels like you get the most out of the story. But that’s just a personal preference. I still feel like CC could’ve utilized it better because she could’ve written from Alec’s perspective?? And told us about how he and Magnus got together, etc. Yet we like kind of vaguely hears about it as background info. Instead, we have to read about two siblings who are not siblings but think they’re siblings pining after one another. Where’s that gay representation, Cassandra??

What's with Cassandra's obsession with coffee and cats? I'm noticing a theme here. Everyone likes to drink coffee(I can't relate), and the only pet anyone has is a cat. Magnus has a cat; the Institute has a cat, and Simon has a cat. Does no one like dogs?

The boat scene was fun. I may or may not ship Jace and Simon a little bit now after that whole part. Also, naturally, Clary has to have some extraordinary power. And I'm glad Simon finally learned and ended things with Clary. The entire book had me wanting to punch him.

Oh, the thing with Imogen. I felt bad for her in the end! Like yes, she was the most extra but she thought she was alone in the world and died seconds after finding out that she wasn't. :(

Noted inconsistencies.
In the last book, when the wolves shifted, their fur grew over their clothes, but here, when we’re told about Maia’s first shift, it says she woke up naked miles from her home. How is that possible if the fur is meant to grow over their clothing? Also, how could Jordan possibly speak to Maia while in his wolf form after he attacked her?

We were also told in COB that Luke’s weapon of choice was the crossbow because of his ‘perfect aim and eyesight�, yet he wears glasses. But now it has changed to his good eyesight is only in wolf form, which doesn’t make sense because he used the crossbow in his shadow hunting days. I highly doubt the werewolf’s eyes deteriorate, so he had to have worn the glasses before being bitten. So again, HOW COULD HE HAVE PERFECT AIM AND EYESIGHT IF HE WEARS GLASSES, HUH?

Notes made while reading
* Oh my god, is Bat the bartender also DJ Bat from Club Pandemonium?? Also, if Maia is only 15 and she dated a guy old enough to bartend and DJ�.??? *barf*