[3] Clary returns to the Institute after receiving a text message from Isabelle "Izzy" Lightwood, saying that Jace angered the Inquisitor, Imogen Herondale.

He has been imprisoned in the Silent City and is awaiting trial by the Soul Sword to determine if he is telling the truth about being in league with Valentine.

Clary, Izzy, and Alec respond to a distress call from the Silent City but arrive too late.

Clary frees Jace using an amplified version of the opening rune that appears to her amidst her panic.

Magnus Bane is called to the scene by Alec, and offers to keep Jace as a prisoner in his apartment, while he and the others try to figure out Valentine's plans.

The Queen says she is not sure if she will help and mentions their court knows deep secrets, like how Jace and Clary are their father's experiments come to life.

This is hurtful because Clary has been repeatedly attempting to date Simon, in order to squash her feelings for Jace, her brother.

While discussing how to potentially tell Simon's mother about his vampire transformation with Clary, Maia the werewolf comes into the house with wounds too severe for Luke to treat.

They return to the house to rest with the others and end up talking about the powerful rune Clary used to free Jace earlier.

Everyone decides to sleep, but Jace secretly takes Raphael's motorcycle and meets Valentine at a ship.

Jace tries to tell her that it will not work, which the Inquisitor refuses to believe and devises a plan of revenge on Valentine, who had killed her son, Stephen Herondale.

While traveling to see Simon, Maia is attacked by a demon, who comes to her in the form of her dead brother, after which Valentine kidnaps her.

The group escapes by truck, where Simon discovers that Jace's blood has made him a "Daylighter", a vampire that can tolerate the sun's light.

[6] Common Sense Media gave the book four stars, calling it "gripping" while warning parents of the violence and potential incest.

[8] The film based on the second book titled The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes was planned for production in 2014, but was cancelled.