City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare - Restarting December 17th 2020

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

[Simone]

Pragya, Jessica, and I will be doing a buddy read of this starting today! Are you guys fine with reading the same amount that we did for CoB (2 chapters per day)?

[Jessica]

That works for me :)

[Pragya]

I need to finish this book by 31st May. There are 19 chapters. Can we do 3 chapters a day.

[Simone]

Pragya wrote: "I need to finish this book by 31st May. There are 19 chapters. Can we do 3 chapters a day."

Sure, that's fine with me.

[Jessica]

That’s fine with me too. So are we officially starting today ending with chapter 3 or ending with chapter 6 Bc of yesterday?

[Simone]

Jessica wrote: "That’s fine with me too. So are we officially starting today ending with chapter 3 or ending with chapter 6 Bc of yesterday?"

How about we follow our original plan of starting yesterday?

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Jessica wrote: "That’s fine with me too. So are we officially starting today ending with chapter 3 or ending with chapter 6 Bc of yesterday?"

How about we follow our original plan of starting yest..."

Sure ☺️

[Jessica]

I just finished reading chapter 6. I don't know what to say really about the chapters

(view spoiler)[ Simone and Clary's relationship feels awkward and forced kind of, I think they both realize it but don't want to say. I wonder if Clary's mom will wake up and what Valentine's plan is. Jace is taking everything really hard, which is understandable his whole life was a lie. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Prologue - Chapter 3

(view spoiler)[Valentine uses a warlock to summon the demon Agramon, and becomes Agramon's master (which will definitely come up again). Maryse believes that Jace is a part of Valentine's plan, and is lying about how much he knew about his parentage. Jace goes to Luke, meets Clary for the first time in days, and goes back to the Institute with Luke and Clary to talk to Maryse. Someone called the Inquisitor will come to question Jace, and he will be tried by the Sword. (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[Clary is given her mother's steele, Jace talks to the Inquisitor, and is imprisoned in the Silent City for disrespecting her. valentine kills the Silent Brothers (most likely using Agramon), Clary, Isabelle, and Alec go to rescue Jace, and they are found by a bunch of adult Shadowhunters outside. So that's definitely going to end up being a problem (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Jessica wrote: "I just finished reading chapter 6. I don't know what to say really about the chapters

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I definitely agree with you on the romance. There was a lot more chemistry when they were friends. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Hey guys sorry I wasn’t able to read today but I’ll catch up tm hopefully:)

[Pragya]

Hi, I am sorry I am unable to read these days as planned. I'll catch up to you all soon.

[Simone]

That's fine, it happens :)

I'll try to post as on schedule as I can, and comment your thoughts whenever you can.

[Pragya]

Sorry guys, I wasn't able to read it as planned due to reading slump.

[Pragya]

Jessica wrote: "I just finished reading chapter 6. I don't know what to say really about the chapters

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree!!! Simon and Clary are just not working. It's appears more forced from Clary's perspective. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I just finished reading chapter 6. I don't know what to say really about the chapters

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Ya, they were better when they were friends. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Till Part 1 (view spoiler)[ Things are definitely getting harder for Jace. I intrigued to know what Valentine is planning with the soul sword. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Till Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ OMG!!! I don't know if Clary's has made a right decision about letting Simon change into a vampire. I don't think Simon will want this.
Why there is no resemblance between Jace and Clary if they are related? It's a little suspicious. (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Pragya wrote: "Till Chapter 10 OMG!!! I don't know if Clary's has made a right decision about letting Simon change into a vampire. I don't think Simon will want this.
Why there is no resemblance between Jace and..."

(view spoiler)[I honestly don't know how much Simon will hate it. He did most likely feel useless as a human, but now he will have to follow Raphael.

Well, I mean genetics exists, so the resemblance is not much of a factor. The biggest difference is their hair, but a brown and red haired couple can have children with blond and red hair. But I do agree with you that they are most certainly not related (because romance). (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Till Part 2 (view spoiler)[ Clary is a little dull for a lead. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Till Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ I intrigued to know what did Inquisitor said to Jace. She definitely realized something when she saw Jace's mark. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Pragya wrote: "Till Chapter 10 OMG!!! I don't know if Clary's has made a right decision about letting Simon change into a vampire. I don't think Simon will want this.
Why there is no resemblance between Jace and..."

(view spoiler)[I honestly feel bad for Simon. Its a repeat of what Clary at to go through when she first found out about the world but somehow worst. I wonder how long he can keep this from his family. I'm also questioning how Jace looks nothing like either of his parents. That must mean something right.
Also it's just weird that they had to kiss in the Court now that we believe they are siblings (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Till Chapter 10 OMG!!! I don't know if Clary's has made a right decision about letting Simon change into a vampire. I don't think Simon will want this.
Why there is no resemblance be..."

(view spoiler)[ I hoping they are not related otherwise it's gonna be a lot weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Jessica wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Till Chapter 10 OMG!!! I don't know if Clary's has made a right decision about letting Simon change into a vampire. I don't think Simon will want this.
Why there is no resemblance be..."

(view spoiler)[ Not even a single resemble from his parents and author has written it few times now. It definitely means something. (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I think Simon is able to be in sun is because he drank Jace's blood. Jace has few powers.
Jace's mark is still a mystery and so is what inquisitor said.
I think we might see a lot of character development for Clary in next book. Fingers crossed 🤞 (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapter 13

(view spoiler)[ Jace joining forced with Valentine?!?!? please tell me that what I read isn’t real. I mean I have a suspicion that it isn’t and it’s all part of a plan (at least I hope it is) (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Pragya wrote: "Finished I think Simon is able to be in sun is because he drank Jace's blood. Jace has few powers.
Jace's mark is still a mystery and so is what inquisitor said.
I think we might see a lot of cha..."

Finished (view spoiler)[I like that theory. I thought it had something to do with Clary, but I think that yours is more likely.

I wonder if what the Inquisitor said caused Jace to have that whole conversation with Clary at the end, about treating each other like siblings. I still firmly believe that they are not siblings.

I really hope that we see some character development for Clary. I mean, it's a common complaint, but I find her to be pretty annoying. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Finally finished

(view spoiler)[ that theory does make sense. I still don’t think they’re siblings either I mean there are so many hints saying that Jace looks nothing like his parents but then I wonder since sometimes they say I can see where Jace gets some aspect from Valentine. Really hope for character development from Clary too. She hasn’t grown as a character at all! She’s meant to be the main character yet no change is seen in here. It’s frustrating (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?

[Simone]

Pragya wrote: "Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?"

I’m honestly fine with whenever, but I kind of want to start sooner rather than later. Would later this week work (Friday or Saturday)?

[Simone]

Jessica wrote: "Finally finished

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I so agree with you on Clary. I’m getting super frustrated with the fact that she’s always on the sidelines (though maybe with her new abilities we’ll see an improvement?). (hide spoiler)]

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?"

I’m honestly fine with whenever, but I kind of want to start sooner rather than later. Would later this week work (Frida..."

I am good with it. Jessica what about you?

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Finally finished

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree! Clary's character has been dull so far. I hope she better have some character development in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Simone]

Does anyone else get the feeling that these books are just a setup for the later ones lol?

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Does anyone else get the feeling that these books are just a setup for the later ones lol?"

I do!

[Jessica]

Pragya wrote: "Simone wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?"

I’m honestly fine with whenever, but I kind of want to start sooner rather than later. Would later this w..."

That sounds great to me! Could you just post the link to the new chat please

[Jessica]

Pragya wrote: "Simone wrote: "Does anyone else get the feeling that these books are just a setup for the later ones lol?"

I do!"

Me too

[Simone]

Jessica wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Simone wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?"

I’m honestly fine with whenever, but I kind of want to start sooner rather than later. Wou..."

I'll go and request it for Friday.

[Pragya]

Simone wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Simone wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Are you guys still up to reading Book 3? If yes, then when?"

I’m honestly fine with whenever, but I kind of want to start sooner rather..."

Thanks 😀

[Simone]

Here is the link to the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jessica]

thank you!

[Simone]

Jessica wrote: "thank you!"

No problem :)

[Blue Butterfly]

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Date changed. Restarting July 24th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Aaron]

Hi. Please could I join this. I’m currently reading the first book and will be done by tomorrow.

[Isabel]

Yes of course :)

[Blue Butterfly]

I'm a little behind on my other books but I should be able to start in the the next few days

[Aaron]

I’m up to chapter 6 (23%).
I’m already enjoying this more than the last book. There’s a lot happening. (view spoiler)[ I don’t like the Simon/ Clary romance thing though. They don’t really work together (hide spoiler)]

[Blue Butterfly]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I forgot how rude the inquisitor was towards Jace. She has a surprise to coming to her. (hide spoiler)]