Some sequels aren't as good as their predecessors, and some downright flop. But "City of Ashes", if anything, exceeds the first Mortal Instruments book.

With all the background introductions and secrecy out of the way, this book gets down to pure emotion and character. Valentine still looms, deadly and evil, in the background, but his influence on the characters is subtle until the climax. Jace's struggle with two different kinds of loyalty is heartrending, but ultimately essential to his growth. Clary's indecision about both the dangerous Shadowhunter world and her forbidden feelings for Jace is likewise angsty, but not really in an annoying way. There is certainly plenty of tangled-relationship stuff going on, and it really makes you hope the third book will resolve it. But besides that, the action, witty and pop-culture dialogue, and twists still abound. The climax is definitely more riveting than the previous one; a massive clash aboard a demon-ridden ship.

And despite all the incestuous, scandalous, secret relationships, Clary and Simon's ironclad friendship continues to touch me the most. It doesn't matter if they're being romantic or just platonic (and there's plenty of both here), it just makes me choke up every time with how cool it is.

Oh, and Magnus is still awesome. :D