City of Ashes

In the second installment of the Mortal Instruments series, Clary finds herself falling deeper into New York City's underworld of demons, werewolves, vampires and Shadowhunters. With her mother still in a coma, Jace banished from the Institute and Valentine bent on stealing the Shadowhunters' ancient Soul-Sword to raise a demon army, Clary already has much to deal with - and that's before she begins to consider her complicated feelings for Jace and for her oldest friend Simon, who himself is increasingly being drawn deeper into the Shadowhunter's world. But as she continues to learn more about her own powers, and to uncover long-buried secrets about her family and history, Clary must risk everything to put a stop to Valentine's plans.

This fast-paced, dramatic urban fantasy will not disappoint readers who enjoyed City of Bones. Rich with descriptive detail, Cassandra Clare creates an atmospheric and appealing vision of a dark New York City, drawing both on traditional folklore and contemporary fantasy for inspiration. Smart, humorous, with an engaging cast of characters and plenty of unexpected twists and turns, this is both a compelling coming-of-age story and a thrilling fantasy offering a more complex and rewarding take on the paranormal romance genre.