City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments, Book 2

Name: City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments, Book 2
Item: City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments, Book 2
Rating: 4
Author: Matt Berman

Book review by

Matt Berman, Common Sense Media

City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments, Book 2 Book Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

(i)

City of Bones sequel is gripping but a lot gorier.

Save

Rate book

Read or buy

Popular with kids

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 35 reviews

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Readers can explore why the author quotes from Dante's Divine Comedy and Milton's Paradise Lost. They can also think about how the author's version of vampire, werewolf, angel, and fairy lore differs from other books, and how it's the same. Fantasy fans will race through this installment and be on to the next book in the series before you know it. Could lead to some interesting discussions about book series, and the difference between fantasy and realistic violence. See our "Families Can Talk About" section for some ideas.

Positive Messages

Some classic good versus evil stuff as a brother and sister fight against their power-hungry father. The book also ponders what makes a family and binds people to each other. Also, the book explores what it means to be fearless as characters fight a demon that preys on fear.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Teen characters fight for good and Clary is a strong female demon-fighter, discovering some of her hidden gifts in this installment of the series. Jace lets some of his walls down to care for others, and when faced with a difficult choice, he makes the harder but better decision. Except for Luke, who plays the protective father figure, the other adults are pretty pig-headed.

Violence

Lots of fantasy violence, much of it very gory, more so than the first book -- stabbing, impaling, throat and wrist cutting; severed limbs and bodies; organs coming out; children being eaten; descriptions of puddles, bowls, and rivers of blood; many deaths. Also, a father deliberately breaks his son's bones; and stories told about a pregnant woman who commits suicide and an abusive teen relationship.

Sex

Some kissing and making out, and a brother and sister resist their incestuous feelings for each other; porn channels mentioned; several mentions of sex; some innuendo; two characters are gay and may be having an affair.

Language

Smattering of insults including "bitch" and "asshole," plus "dickhead," "bastard," "jackass," "damnit," and "screw you."

Consumerism

Toys, computer games, electronics, snack brands, bands, and movies mentioned.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Wine and beer drinking by adults and underage werewolves. Some smoking by an adult.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is a lot of gory violence here -- more so than in the first book. This installment includes throat and wrist cutting, dismemberment, stabbing, severed limbs, and more, all with lots of blood. There are also mild sexual references, including to incest and homosexuality, and some kissing. Teens who didn't read the first book will be confused by this one.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 14 year old Written byTwilight Mom August 27, 2009

age 15+

Great for adults, use discretion for tweens, not appropriate for children

Again, a lot of "minor" curse words and one gd word. Plot was excellent, but would have been just ass good without the language.

Report this review

Adult Written byApril R. October 15, 2015

age 14+

Great book and series, but there are a lot fight scenes. There are many plot twists and turns throughout series that will keep you guessing.

Report this review

Teen, 14 years old Written byteenreader123 April 28, 2015

age 15+

City of Ashes Review

City of Ashes is an amazing sequel to City of Bones. There are a couple of things that parents should know about the book though. I am a teen, and I still found... Continue reading

Report this review

Teen, 13 years old Written byBlazing Innocence September 1, 2009

age 10+

Loved it

very good loved the book

Report this review

What's the story?

In this sequel to City of Bones, Clary continues to be torn between Simon and Jace; an Inquisitor, who has an agenda of her own, comes from the Clave to investigate Jace's relationship to Valentine; and Valentine gathers an army of demons to destroy the Clave. And if none of that makes any sense to you, that shows that you need to read the first book before tackling this one.

Is it any good?

Fans will be glad that author Cassandra Clare wastes no time in recapitulation of the first book -- she slams straight into the action here. In the first book, City of Bones, a complex world of demons, werewolves, vampires, faeries, and Shadowhunters, hidden within our own and filled with politics, factions, and history, was set up and partially explained. CITY OF ASHES won't make much sense without having read the first book.

And there's a lot more of that action than in the first book. It's also a lot bloodier, sometimes unnecessarily, and sometimes disturbingly so, such as when a major character's throat and wrists are slit. But fans of the series will find many of the elements that first drew them in: an engrossing, if melodramatic, writing style that makes the pages fly by; a complex and fully realized parallel world; intriguing mysteries that are more fully fleshed out here, but not yet solved; and appealing teen characters who are gradually discovering new and unusual abilities. Teens who don't mind the gore will find this is gripping sequel.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the trend toward gorier violence in the genre. Is it necessary?
Is reading about fantasy violence different than realistic violence? What about reading violent scenes versus seeing them on a screen?