(While this review will not contain spoilers for City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, it may inadvertently ruin plot surprises from its predecessor, City of Bones. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

It wasn't all that long ago that Clary Fray lived a normal life. She spent her days painting, hanging out with her best friend, Simon, and lounging around the New York apartment she shared with her mom. She didn't believe in demons, had never heard of ShadowHunters, and didn't have impossible feelings for the incorrigible Jace Wayland. It wasn't that long ago, but it feels like forever since Clary's life plodded by so mundanely.

These days, she's accepted her role in the ShadowHunter world, even if it hasn't quite welcomed her. She doesn't blame the other demon-slayers for their reluctance - after all, her father is Valentine, the rogue ShadowHunter, whose lust for power threatens them all. He's clearly the mastermind behind the recent murders of Downworlder children, obviously behind the thefts of precious magical objects. Clary has to help Jace convince the obstinate Clave to see the truth, before it's too late for them all. As if Armageddon isn't quite enough on its own, she has to figure out how to wake her mother from a magic-induced coma. And then there's the small matter of Clary's heart - her pinings for Jace are completely wrong as are her feelings for Simon. Will the confusion never end? Will Clary ever figure out where she belongs?

City of Ashes takes everything I loved about City of Bones and cranks it up a notch. Heart-stopping action, engaging characters, deepening plotlines, romance, humor - this one's got it all. Including a cliffhanger ending. Don't read this one without having the last volume, City of Glass, in hand because, trust me, you are not going to want to stop reading this fabulous trilogy until you get to the end. Even then, you'll beg for it to go on and on and on.

(Readalikes: City of Bones and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare; Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer; a little like the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling)

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some language, sexual innuendo, and violence

To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find