City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Warning: Summary contains spoilers for City of Bones, if you haven't yet read the first installment:

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. (chapters.ca)

The second book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy was a spectacular follow up to it's predecessor, City of Bones. I couldn't put it down! The plot continued to captivate me and I found myself reading speedily along, full of questions and desperate to have them answered. The action was fast paced - something was always happening and the main characters acted and reacted with such vibrant life, jumping off the page at me with such wonderful description.

I adored each of the characters more with every turn of the page. Despite their supernatural elements, the reader is able to relate to every character we are introduced to. Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, and Alec will stay with me for a long time after completing the series. They're each so endearing and heroic in their own right, and after reading I couldn't seem to get them out of my head. I love that, when a book is so amazing that the characters seem to follow you around for days afterward. I know that might sound completely insane, but there you have it!

For me, this series has it all. Loveable characters, and those you love to hate. Gripping action, emotional angst, laugh out loud humor, and an intruiging mystery. Without a doubt, check this series out ASAP!