August 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-In this sequel to "City of Bones" (S & S, 2007), the nonstop action continues. The Shadowhunters are battling a world of demons that few people can see. Guided by the laws of the Clave, these hunters balance fighting with the other more mundane aspects of lifelove, betrayal, and confusion. Jace, the fiercest teenage Shadowhunter, seems determined to make everyone around him angry, and is looked upon with suspicion because his father, Valentine, is out to rule the world. Meanwhile, love triangles abound, vampires are reborn, and general teenage angst blossoms among a group of friends and siblings. Set in an alternative present-day Manhattan, the story comes complete with Britney Spears references and even, ironically, refers to the scientific "CSI". Well written in both style and language, it compares favorably to others in this genre. The human characters are well developed and quite believable. The whole book is like watching a particularly good vampire/werewolf movie, and it leaves readers waiting for the next in the series. Watch this one fly off the shelves."Jennifer-Lynn Draper, Children's Literature Consultant, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2008
The breathless adventures of fledgling demon-fighter Clary, her newfound brother Jace, and their friends continue in another battle with Valentine, the child-murdering archvillain who's also the siblings' father. Self-consciously hip banter and florid clich's sometimes take precedence over fully realized individual characters' voices. Clary and Jace's incestuous attraction is the romantic heart of this glittering urban fantasy.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)