City of Ashes - The Mortal Instruments Book Two

by Cassandra Clare

First paragraph: "The formidable glass-and-steel structure rose from it's position on Front Street like a glittering needle threading the sky. There were fifty-seven floors to the Metropole, Manhattan's most expensive new downtown condominium tower. The top most floor, the fifty-seventh contained the most luxurious apartment of all: the Metropole penthouse, a masterpiece of sleek black-and-white design. Too new to have gathered dust yet, its bare marble floors reflected back the stars visible through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows. The window glass was perfectly translucent, providing such a complete illusion that there was nothing between the viewer and the view that it had been known to induce vertigo even in those unafraid of heights."

Review: Once you've read the first book in this series the second book is a must. This book continues with the struggle of Clary to figure out who she really is and destroy her evil "father" - Valentine.

The shadowhunters face demons and try to create ties between them and the downworlders - vampires, warewolves, faeries, warlocks, etc. The story is addictive and the unexpected happens with every turn of the page. There were so many spots that I thought, wow - didn't see that coming. Sometimes the unexpected leaves you exstatic and other times it leaves you near tears. The worst part of the book is that the end leaves you hanging for more.

Luckily, I've already got book 3 waiting for me at the library.

Click here for The Mortal Instruments website.