Enchanting Review: City of Ashes

CITY OF ASHES
CASSANDRA CLARE
YA urban fantasy
McElderry Books
ISBN# 978-1-4169-1429-7
496 pages
$9.99
Paperback - Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Sixteen-year-old Clary Fray’s world has turned underside down with the knowledge that she’s a demon-slaying Shadowhunter. She can’t make sense of her relationship with her best friend Simon, who seems to want to be more than friends. The handsome Shadowhunter who infuriates her is her long lost brother Jace. And the only way to help her comatose mother is to find Valentine, who is insane and probably her father.

Now someone is killing New York City Downworlder children. The second of the Mortal instruments is stolen. And even worse is the scary Inquisitor zooms in on her brother Jace, thinking he might be hiding something. Clary finds herself more involved in world of the Shadowhunters while even more frightening things appear; revelations about her parents, Jace, and her boyfriend Simon.

I enjoyed this second tale in The Mortal Instruments trilogy. Once again the author takes the reader on one fast-paced action tale where demon-slayers live with us mundanes. The world of the Shadowhunters is filled with vivid creatures right out of a fantasy - faeries, werewolves, and even vampires. The conflict Clary struggled with over her attraction to Jace felt real and I couldn’t help but hope that he wasn’t her long lost brother. Clary is a strong character who just happens to be a demon butt kicking heroine. Don't miss reading this series.

Ms. Clare is the author of CITY OF BONES, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. She lives in Brooklyn with her boyfriend and their cats. Find out more at www.mortalinstruments.com.

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
April 2009

Enchanting Review: Need

NEED

CARRIE JONES

Urban Fantasy YA

Bloomsbury

ISBN# 9781599903385

320 pages

$16.99

Available January 2009

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Zara has a little quirk. She likes to repeat phobias. And she knows a lot, including phobophobia-the fear of phobias. After her stepfather dies, she draws into herself. Her mother sends her to live with her grandmother in cold Maine so she can stay ‘safe.’

Zara doesn’t care much for the sleepy Maine town. Then she starts noticing a strange man who watches her and calls out her name. There’s other strange things that include missing boys and some secrets that no one will let her in on.

Zara finds out maybe repeating phobias won’t help, especially when she finds out the stranger is a pixie who leaves gold dust and has an uncontrollable need that might involve her.

NEED is one of those novels that grabs you and won’t let go. This urban fantasy is sure to appeal to fans of Cassandra Clair and Melissa Marr. Jones does a great job showing a spunky heroine who demands to know the truth even when this might reinforce another phobia--pixiophobia--fear of pixies.

I enjoyed this fast-paced tale where pixies live in our world but whose needs are high. Zara’s quirk of repeating phobias gives her an added dimension as a character. I also enjoyed her interaction with Betty, her grandmother. Her romantic interest also has a surprise of his own. It seems nothing in this little Maine town is what it seems to be. But you’ll have to grab a copy of this book to find out what’s hidden behind the glamour. You won’t be disappointed.

Carrie Jones lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award. Check out more at her website www.carriejones.com

Kim

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

SEPTEMBER 2008