City of Ashes (TMI #2) by Cassandra Clare → Start Date: April 30, 2014

[Mirsada]

Vicki and I will continue with book #2 in the series "City of Ashes" by Cassie Clare! Please join us. =]

[Vicki]

OH, this is so fun! I can hardly wait!

[Megan]

I'll join y'all for this one! I've already read book one and I need to finish the series. :)

[Vicki]

Awesome, Megan! :o)

[nai]

I'd like to join as well! I really want to continue with this series! =D

[Christina]

I would love to join, I just read the first one and want to continue the series :)

[Amanda]

I read the 1st one recently. I'd like to read this one with you guys

[Mirsada]

Welcome everyone=]

[Maddie]

Ok I'll save this thread too lol

[Miodrag ★❥]

It's April 30 :)
Started reading City of Ashes last night.

[Christina]

I want to join you in the group read but I have a few other books to read first. Maybe I can jump in when I'm done reading the other ones.

[Keara]

>Page 1 (no spoilers)- We're off to a good start.

There were fifty-seven floors to the metropole, Manhattan's most expensive new downtown condominium tower. The top-most floor, the fifty-seventh...

Really? If it has fifty-seven floors, then I don't think you need to specify that the top floor is number fifty-seven. -_-

>Chapter 1 (no spoilers)-
p18 I liked this bit.

He'd felt like a jack-o'-lantern for the past few days, as if his guts had been yanked out with a fork and dumped in a heap while a grinning smile stayed plastered on his face.

Not the most well-written analogy, but I like the general idea. :)
p24 Who the eff is Rebecca?

>It seems like the only defining characteristic these characters have are their "honey-colored skin" or "angular" facial features. These descriptions are used multiple times for various characters, and I'm only on chapter 9. Everybody in New York City looks the same, apparently.

>Chapter 6-
p107 Docking a whole star for the use of "g*psy." (censor added)
p108 (view spoiler)[WHY WOULD ALEC CUT ACROSS HIS PALM TO GET THE BLOOD? (hide spoiler)]Do you know how many nerves and tendons there are in the palm? Why not prick your finger? Or your forearm? Frick, WHY?

[Miodrag ★❥]

Who's Rebecca? this is me after reading that up LOL I lost it, who is she? XD
I am currently at (view spoiler)[wolf club, Clary got there to talk to Jace, ahh Simon guarding doors -while bro and sis talks- and 'interacting' with Maia, the cute wolf hahaha I kinda like her... (hide spoiler)] I couldn't read 1 page of CoA today, will continue reading tomorrow

[Keara]

But really, who is she? Clary just started talking about her like she's a regular character, but I don't remember her being mentioned any other time. e_e

[Molly]

Rebecca is Simons older sister.

[Keara]

Thank you!

[Tashia]

I was kind of confused in the beginning because of the changes in the characters (view spoiler)[ because in book one Jace didn't think of Izzy and Alec as step siblings they were friends (hide spoiler)]

[Molly]

Keara wrote: "Thank you!"

No problem! This book sort of does throw in characters without explaining until later on. But I still love them! <3 Rebecca isn't really a main character but it does tell us who she is...somewhere :S

(Spoiler for chapter 2)
(view spoiler)[Like in chapter 2 we're introduced to Maia and Maia then talks about other characters who we'll also meet. (spoiler is for later in the book...)(view spoiler)[Jordan <3 (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Molly]

Tashia wrote: "I was kind of confused in the beginning because of the changes in the characters [spoilers removed]"

I noticed that as well. I think he must have changed the way he looked at his relationships after he learned about him and Clary in CoB

[Keara]

Tashia wrote: "I was kind of confused in the beginning because of the changes in the characters [spoilers removed]"

Exactly! That was the wrong terminology to use in that situation. He shouldn't have used that prefix, I think. Maybe "pseudo-siblings."

[Tashia]

Okay at least I wasn't alone. (view spoiler)[ and since when did Maryse become a strong character <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Miodrag ★❥]

Tashia wrote: "Okay at least I wasn't alone. [spoilers removed]"

same question here XD

molly wrote: "Rebecca is Simons older sister."

Thank you!

[Miodrag ★❥]

molly wrote: "Keara wrote: "Thank you!"

No problem! This book sort of does throw in characters without explaining until later on. But I still love them! <3 Rebecca isn't really a main character but it does tell..."

I loveee (view spoiler)[ Maia, wolf girl and can't wait to meet (view spoiler)[Jordan (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Molly]

(Spoiler for The Infernal Devices and p. 56)
(view spoiler)[I don't know if this means anything -if it's just a coincidence or something- in TID there is a shadowhunter named Gabriel and in CoB amd CoA it talks about the previous pack leader who was killed by Luke, and his name was Gabriel too. Though there is a huge time gap between and I doubt they're the same person...but I thought that was worth a post. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Molly]

Miodrag wrote: "molly wrote: "Keara wrote: "Thank you!"

No problem! This book sort of does throw in characters without explaining until later on. But I still love them!

I loveee [spoilers removed]"

I love Maia. I love the part when she and Simon meet for the first time too. :)

[Keara]

molly wrote: "(Spoiler for The Infernal Devices and p. 56)"

Though werewolves can live longer than humans, right? The time gap may not matter. Maybe the two names being the same is an oversight by Clare, rather than an actual plot point. :P I wouldn't be surprised if it was an accident.

[Keara]

molly wrote: "I love Maia. I love the part when she and Simon meet for the first time too. :) "

Spoilers for up to chapter 11 or 12 (I can't remember which).
(view spoiler)[Do you mean at Luke's house for the first time or when she's attacked? (hide spoiler)]
Asking because I don't know if the first time counts as "meeting." I think the (technically) second meeting makes more of an impact. :P

Which chapter are you guys on?

[Miodrag ★❥]

Finished with chapter 6, going slowly, and also I read other book today, tmr will mostly read CoA, and a little of this other book. It seems like chapter 7 is going to be interesting. (view spoiler)[I'm really starting to hate Alec and Izzys mother, she is now link someone... uhh and I loved first meeting of Maia and Simon, and second one too he he he Am I the only one hoping for something to happen between them? (hide spoiler)]

[Molly]

Miodrag wrote: "Finished with chapter 6, going slowly, and also I read other book today, tmr will mostly read CoA, and a little of this other book. It seems like chapter 7 is going to be interesting. [spoilers rem..."

I totally ship Maia and Simon. Haha

Keara wrote: "molly wrote: "I love Maia. I love the part when she and Simon meet for the first time too. :) "

Spoilers for up to chapter 11 or 12 (I can't remember which).
[spoilers removed]
Asking because I do..."

In chapter 2(I think) when Jace is at the Hunters Moon and Luke, Clary, and Simon go to talk to him. Simon and Maia talk in the hall..

I'm on chapter 5

[Keara]

Clary, Jace, and Simon are all acting like morons. I don't want them to be in any relationships until they get a little lot more mature.

[Molly]

Keara wrote: "Clary, Jace, and Simon are all acting like morons. I don't want them to be in any relationships until they get a little lot more mature."

I agree to an extent. But they are only 17 and 16 years old so I can understand why their acting like morons.

(quote from chapter 2)
(view spoiler)[ "I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead." (hide spoiler)]
Yes, I think that is an immature thing to say out loud but I know that most teenagers think it. Sometimes teenagers want to be the stereo-typical teenagers that TV and Disney and everyone says they are.

However, when it comes to the relationships.. I can't say much since I've already read the books. BUT, let's just say, they need to sort things out and the only way they can think of doing that is acting like their moron selves. Lol



I want to know, who is liking the series so far?

[Molly]

Keara wrote: "molly wrote: "(Spoiler for The Infernal Devices and p. 56)"

Though werewolves can live longer than humans, right? The time gap may not matter. Maybe the two names being the same is an oversight by..."

Yeah, I think (if I remember right) that Alec's middle name is (view spoiler)[Gideon. Like in The Infernal Devices (view spoiler)[Gabriel and Gideon Lightwood (hide spoiler)] So it makes sense that Alec is named after his ancestor but I think that the Gabriel thing was a coincidence. Because that's way too long of a gap even for a werewolf. And as far as I know, Gabriel in TID (view spoiler)[Lived happily ever after with Cecilia (so that excludes being bitten by a werewolf (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

I'm reading ch 6 now. It's pretty good so far, but some of the characters are getting on my nerves.

[Keara]

I hope I wasn't that terrible of a human being when I was 16. e_e

I like the story but the writing and the angsty romance is severely annoying. The second book is definitely better than the first.

[Keara]

I have about 100 pages to go, so hopefully I can finish tonight. :)

[Miodrag ★❥]

So far, so good! For now it have better start than first book and I like how story is going. Jace is maybe a little going on my nerves, I just hate how is he acting... Simon also, I mean like What the heck Simon? what is he jealous on Katy because she talks with Jace or when she just looks at him, God... what are they 10 years old? also I hate that Clary and Simon are now like in some kind of relationship, I don't want them together, I want them to be just friends... I always seen them like friends, even bro and sis, just me. Katy needs to meet someone pretty fast, thats someone can't be Simon, no! no! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for pretty boy to jump in and turn this love story around!

[Keara]

THE ENDING WAS SO FRUSTRATING. But also oddly satisfying. BUT I'M SO ANNOYED I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

[Miodrag ★❥]

Keara wrote: "THE ENDING WAS SO FRUSTRATING. But also oddly satisfying. BUT I'M SO ANNOYED I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS RIGHT NOW."

OMG, I really don't want to ask what happened .. still far away till the end XD but frustating? annoyed? it's not good, I see.

[Keara]

I wasn't able to start the next book today but hopefully tomorrow. I can't wait for you guys to finish CoA. :D

[Miodrag ★❥]

Keara wrote: "I wasn't able to start the next book today but hopefully tomorrow. I can't wait for you guys to finish CoA. :D"

You are fast! I'm lazy, still haven't gotten till 50% of the book and I couldn't resist, I needed to read Onyx yesterday, it was really interesting, I couldn't stop reading it and I said I will read CoA... ugh Will try to finish CoA till Monday-Tuesday, and then start with next book!

[Keara]

I had to read ahead because City of Glass is due at the library on Wednesday! I will try to read on schedule with you guys for the rest of the series though. :)

[Keara]

(also, here's the rest of my commentary--you can see my whole review here)

Chapter 9-
p184 How does one smile like a cat? All I'm seeing is


>Why are Jace and Clary ~~SOOOO~~ in love? They've only known each other for three weeks or something. Jace acts like Clary is the only reason for his existence and I'm just so confused as to why. I don't feel much chemistry between them, but mostly because I have NO CLUE as to why they even like each other.

>Chapter 14- How the frick do Runes work? Who created them and put them in the Gray Book if you apparently can't create new ones? God, maybe? Except there's not proof of a God's existence in the mythology of this story, so where do the Runes come from? This book is one confusion after another.

>Chapter 15-
p316- Who's Yossarian? I still don't know who Rebecca is, either (I mean, somebody in the Buddy Read told me, but she's never introduced in the book besides Simon and Clary talking about her).

>Chapter 16-
p336- The Maia+Simon fiasco makes me :(
p340- Why do they keep whispering people's names when they walk into the room. WE HAVE THE GIFT OF UNSPOKEN DESCRIPTION AND NARRATION, AND YOU STILL CHOOSE TO MAKE THE CHARACTERS WHISPER THE VILLAIN'S NAME WHENEVER THEY CONFRONT HIM. This is reading like a bad action movie. >_>
p343- (view spoiler)[When Simon says "Clary" when Valentine asks him for any last words.
(hide spoiler)]

>So, what exactly defines "human"? Because the Shadowhunters call themselves human, but they're half-angel, right? But the Downworlders are half-demon and don't count as human. This seems like a double-standard, here.

>Chapter 17- At this point, I'm exhausted from reading about characters with (apparently) golden and iridescent skin. Do they sparkle? I don't see how else they would have "gold" or "honey" skin.

[Megan]

I finished CoA yesterday and I liked it more than the first book. But there were some things that I didn't really like with this book.

Simon & Clary (view spoiler)[ I liked them better as friends, so I'm glad Simon told Clary that he wanted to be just friends again. (hide spoiler)]

[Keara]

I agree about Simon and Clary! Though I don't especially like Clary+Jace either.

[Molly]

Keara wrote: "I agree about Simon and Clary! Though I don't especially like Clary+Jace either."

I have that problem too, but that's just because I don't really like Clary..

[Marybeth]

I kind of wish i had waited to read this series this year since the city of heavenly fire comes out five days or so before my b-day.

[Megan]

I don't know what I really think about Cary+Jace, I like and I don't like the idea of them together.

I love Jace!! But I'm not a big fan of Clary.

[Keara]

Clary isn't that bad, to be honest.

[Megan]

Oh, she's not a bad character. I just couldn't really connect with her. I like her better in CoA than I did in CoB though.

[Keara]

Oh yeah! CoA was loads better than CoB.