Book Review- City of Ashes

I just finished reading City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare.

From Goodreads:

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.

City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments Trilogy.  I have heard such great things about these books and read great reviews, but I just don't get it.  Maybe I'm missing something, but they're just okay for me.

I still didn't really care about any of the characters, except maybe Jace.  I couldn't connect with, or feel any warmth from Clary.  And this time around, I wasn't too sure that I really liked Simon either.

The plot is interesting for the most part.  There were some definite surprises and twists in the story.  Maybe its just too much action and not enough character for me.  I don't know.

I do know that the story ended on  a cliff hanger and I will be reading the third book soon!

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 37
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 27

*FTC Disclosure: I traded this book with a friend.