City of Ashes
American cover for City of Ashes.
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| Author | Cassandra Clare |
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| Cover artist | Cliff Nielsen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Mortal Instruments |
| Genre | Fantasy Adventure |
| Publisher | Margaret K. McElderry |
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Publication date
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March 25, 2008 (U.S.) |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 464 pages |
| ISBN | |
| Preceded by | City of Bones |
| Followed by | City of Glass |
City of Ashes is the second installment in The Mortal Instruments series, an urban fantasy series set in New York written by Cassandra Clare. The novel was one of YALSA's top ten teen books for 2009.
Clary returns to the Institute after she receives a text message from Isabelle "Izzy" Lightwood, saying that Jace had angered the Inquisitor and has been imprisoned in the Silent City awaiting trial by the Sword to determine if he is telling the truth about whether he is in league with Valentine. While sitting in his cell, chained to the bars, Jace hears something attacking the Silent Brothers and soon discovers that Valentine has come and killed the Silent Brothers to obtain the second Mortal Instrument - the Mortal Sword.
Clary, Izzy, and Alec respond to a distress call from the Silent City, only to discover that the Silent Brothers have all been slain. Clary frees Jace using an amplified version of the opening rune that appeared to her amidst her panic. The Inquisitor appears, along with a large group of armed Shadowhunters, and accuses Jace of helping Valentine, since he was supposed to go on trial by the Sword which is now gone.
Magnus Bane is called to the scene by Alec, and offers to keep Jace as a prisoner in his apartment, while he and the others try to figure out Valentine's plans. Jace soon receives a surprising offer from the Queen of the Seelie to visit her court. Jace goes with Simon, Izzy and Clary. The group tries to convince the Queen to aid them in the defeat of Valentine. The Queen says she is not sure if she will help and also mentions how their court knows deep secrets, like how Jace and Clary are their father's "wonderful" experiments come to life. The group becomes confused and decides to leave.
However, Clary is tricked into consuming faerie food, and is only able to leave by kissing "whom she most desires". Simon offers to kiss her, but the Queen tells him he is not the one "she desires most". Clary and Izzy suggest that the kiss might be from Jace. The three are reluctant at first, because Clary is Jace's sister, but after Izzy insists that she too would kiss Alec to free him, Jace kisses Clary. The kiss suddenly becomes intense and passionate, and afterwards Clary is free, proving that Jace's kiss is the one she most desires. This hurts Simon, and he storms off after they return to their realm. Jace and Clary confess their love to each other, Clary is torn between her love for Jace, and the taboo against it because they are blood relatives. Jace suggests keeping a secret relationship, to which Clary replies that it would eventually be discovered and that she is unwilling to lie to their friends and family.
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