City of Ashes is classified as a work of the urban fantasy subgenre. How does the novel utilize some of the common tropes and techniques of the genre? How does it compare to similar works?

The novel contains references to many works of literature. Choose three examples of literary allusions in the text. What is the wider significance of each of these allusions? How do they help illustrate the text’s key themes and ideas?

Select one of the fantasy groups in the text, such as the werewolves, the faeries, or the vampires. How does Cassandra Clare draw upon traditional folklore and/or earlier literary traditions in her depictions? In what ways, if any, does she diverge from these traditions?