Quotes from book
City of Ashes

Name: City of Ashes
Author: Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes is the second installment in The Mortal Instruments series, an urban fantasy series set in New York written by Cassandra Clare. The novel was one of YALSA's top ten teen books for 2009.

“Only mundanes say they're sorry when what they mean is "I share your grief,"' Jace observed.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Lightwoods,” Magnus said. “They always have to have the last word.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Stripping the protection wards off the ship was bad enough—it's a strong, strong enchantment, demon-based—but when you fell, I had to put a fast spell on the truck so it wouldn't sink when I lost consciousness. And I will lose consciousness, Alec.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“When I was a little kid, I realized that if you say any word over and over fast enough, it loses all it's meaning.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“But the name Magnus Bane made him think of a towering sort of figure, with huge shoulders and formal purple warlock’s robes, calling down fire and lightning. Not Magnus himself, who was more of a cross between a panther and a demented elf.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“There was no Jace Wayland more real than the one he saw in her eyes when she looked at him.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“You are mortal. You age, you die. If that is not hell, pray tell me, what is?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Not Magnus himself, who was more of a cross between a panther and a demented elf.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I’m not unsympathetic. But do you like me? Because this being gay business doesn’t mean you can just throw yourself at any guy and it’ll be fine because he’s not a girl. There are still people you like and people you don’t.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“We seem to be trapped in an episode of One Life to Waste. It's all very dull.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Magnus to Alec, pg. 144
Variant: What’s going on?”
“We seem to be trapped in an episode of,” Magnus observed. “Its all very dull.”
-Alec & Magnus, pg.144-
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“You're so easy to tease. And yes, your friend is just fine. Well, except that he keeps putting all my things away and trying to clean up. Now I can't find anything. He's compulsive.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“But that's what you're doing, isn't it? You're part of the fight just as much as the Shadowhunters on the ship—and I know you can take some of my strength, I've heard of warlocks doing that—so I'm offering. Take it. It's yours.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Why does it take girls so long to shower?” he demanded. “Mortal girls, Shadowhunters, female warlocks, you‘re all the same. I‘m not getting any younger waiting out here.”
-Magnus to Clary, pg.272-”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“Isabelle," she said, lightening her tone with an obvious effort, "your loyalty to your friend is understandable --"
"He's not my friend." Isabelle looked over at Jace, who was staring at her in a sort of daze. "He's my brother.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“You tried to drink the East River,"Magnus said, and Alec saw, as if for the first time, that Magnus's clothes were soaking wet too, sticking to his body like a dark second skin.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I thought you hated demons. Now you use them like servants. The Ravener, the Drevak demons, Agramon-they‘re your. Guards, butler-personal chef, for all I know.”
-Jace to Valentine, pg.260”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“I remember you saying that growing up happens when you start having things you look back on and wish you could change. I guess that means I've grown up now…”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Variant: I've screwed everything up royally. I remember you saying that growing up happens when you start having things you look back on and wish you could change.
Source: City of Ashes

“It doesn't matter how many times you say it. It'll still be true.'
'And it doesn't matter what you won't let me say, that'll still be true too.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“It won't be pleasant."
"Nothing ever is.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

“But unlike you," said Jace, "there is nothing of hell in us."
"You are mortal; you age; you die," the Queen said dismissively. "If that is not hell, pray tell me, what is?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes