City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)

I'm still waiting for this series to deliver. I've been hanging in there since book one hoping the that next book will tie it all together and make all my hours of reading worth it. This one fell short. While it was still entertaining and kept me turning the pages, there always seems like its missing something. I really want to love this series I mean really bad. It has everything there to be great yet somehow it always falls a little bit short for me. Still worth the purchase, but not living up to it's potential.

2014 so close yet so far away...

This book left me unhinged! I felt that this was the one book in the series so far I had to push through. So why did I rate it a four star? The story line is amazing! With that being said, I cannot grasp the reason Clare would ruin this with the perversion of this book. I was extremely put off with the relationship Clary and Sebastian had in this book. It was just uncomfortable to read. Along with the fact that Clary never seems to think any of her “plans” through. I just hate to see people run head first into things. I feel that this book took away from the series. I lost the things I fell in love with in the book: Jace, Clary’s relationship with Jace, and Alec and Magnus’ “love at first sight”. Jace became and obedient lapdog, his relationship with Clary was a perversion, and Alec and Magnus are becoming extremely distant (not to mention the heart wrenching situation they end up in at the end…). Clary is also being quite unbearably gullible. The tables have turned in this book and Simon seems to be the “hero of the day”. The darkness is coming and time is running out for everyone. Will their efforts be enough in the end?

Jace has become bonded with Sebastian (Jonathan). Whatever they do to one effects the other. The Clave calls off the “hunt” for Jace which of course forces Izzy, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Clary to form their own search team. Like always, Clary makes a reckless decision to try out one of her plans and the search for an answer is on. The book focuses around finding a way for them to release Jace from his soul bound hell, and on putting a stop to whatever plan Sebastian (Jonathan) has come up with. The end result? Well you will just have to read to find out. I am just a little put off that we have to wait a whole year to find out what finally becomes of our duo. Will Simon and Izzy hit it off? Will Luke and Jocelyn finally get married? Will Maia and Jordan make it last? What will become of Alec and Magnus? Guess we will just have to wait in anticipation for the final book to hit shelves.

You know when there are times you just can’t help but have a slight tinge of empathy for the villain (I’m looking at you Angelica Houston circa Ever After)? Or times when you are just a bit tempted to let your evil side out and do things that are just a tad naughty? Well Cassandra Clare lets us all know the supernatural consequences that can happen when you embrace the Dark Side in "City of Lost Souls," the fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

In this book, Jace is one bad son of a gun. Sure, it’s not by his own volition, but rather the psychotic, demon-worshipping ways of Clary’s psychotic, demon-worshipping brother, Sebastian/Jonathan. It’s a side of Jace readers have never seen before. Clare has always told us the extreme power and strength Jace holds, and she’s always hinted at it being a darn good thing Jace is fighting for the powers of good, ‘cause if he were to turn evil, that would be one strong guy to have to fight against.

Unfortunately for Team Good, that’s just what they have to do. But readers are put in a conundrum because we’ve been taught to know and love (and swoon) over Jace in the first four books of the series. I found myself multiple times in "City of Lost Souls" rooting for Jace to succeed in his dastardly deeds. Until the heart-wrenching, and heart piercing, end of the book, it’s not clear whether Jace’s good side or bad side will prevail, and I for one felt a bit like I didn’t care just as long as he survived. It just goes to show that not everything can be decided in a simple good vs. evil format.

In City of Lost Souls, there'll be hell to pay
The Shadowhunters' world is in disarray.
The reality is blurred between friends and foes,
And in this game of hmmm....love? anything goes.

For Jace is lost and his will is on loan
And if Clary's not careful, all will be blown.
Will their love be strong enough to withstand
The pain and destruction from Sebastian's hand?

And then there is Simon, with the Mark of Cain,
Will he be Heaven or Hell's, and can he be slain?
And Isabelle Lightwood who stole Simon's heart,
Will losing Max and then Jace tear her apart?

And what about Alec who loves Magnus Bane,
Is immortality possible for him to obtain?
Or will he grow old and thus wither away,
Perhaps he should bargain with the Queen of the Fae.

To burn down the world is Sebastian's goal,
But even more, he wants his sister's soul.
To make her love him is his greatest need
Through blood and death, will he succeed?

Through broken hearts and minds and dangers untold,
For fighting heaven and hell, they will pay tenfold.
At the end of day, they must all stand and fight,
Or else they fall victim to Sebastian's dark might.

This is the BEST book in the Mortal Instruments series!!! I read it in one day, and then I went back and read and re-read my favorite parts--there were quite a few! I'm actually tempted to stop writing right now and go re-read them again!!!

You know how there are certain moments that change your life? Well, reading City of Lost Souls was one of those (okay...so much more than a moment, but still) moments! I was swept away into Cassie's world--if only I could live there permanently.

Okay...so most people who are going to read this book already love Cassie Clare and TMI, so I'm just going to go with a few reasons why you should read this RIGHT AWAY! (We'll do a countdown)

5. I love when the Fae interfere--I mean, they are just so cunningly evil! Anytime the Queen is around, you know you are in for something dark and twisty!

4. We get to see into Magnus's world! His world is quirky and fun, but with an air of mystery and danger. It divides the line between good and evil, and it's nice to ride that line with the warlock. Magnus has been in so many of Cassie's books, but I really love seeing him get personal in this one!

3. I love the world that Sebastian, Jace, and Clary get swept away in. I won't say much because it would be too spoilery, but there was so much grey there that I didn't know who to trust--and I didn't care! I just wanted more!

2. Sebastian is the absolute best villain ever! I mean--bold statement coming--I think I like him better than Voldemort! (Please don't strike me with a lightning bolt...) He's charming and sexy and manipulative at first, and I just can't help but have a weird crush on him, but then we witness one scene that shows his true depravity and it changes everything. (Brief Statement: The scene in question has gotten a lot of rumble over the past week, and in my opinion, there was nothing wrong with it. It was there to show how truly vile Sebastian is, and it worked.)

1. Jace--of course! Even though he's not the Jace we all remember, he is still to die for! He's just as sexy, just as scandalous--even more so because Sebastian's pulling the strings, and just as kick butt! I date you not to completely fall in love with him!

So...if my wonderful poem didn't convince you and my wonderful countdown did not convince you, then I have to conclude that you are just crazy! May Jace's stele strike you down!

Everyone remember that HORRIBLE, GUT WRENCHING cliff hanger from the last book? Well, we finally get to find out what happened to Jace! *applause*

In this book, all the main characters had someone they were loving. I mean, Clary's mum had Luke, Clary had Jace (although hers was more of an obsession love), Alec had Magnus, Simon had Isabelle, and so on.

Although I love Clare's writing (I mean, who wouldn't), I think this series is just dragging out a tad too long. I reckon that it should have ended when Valentine died. But now we've got this whole thing with his evil demon-child and I'm kind of wondering whether this series is going to go on forever. It is declining a little, because it seems that all Clary seems to do is obsess/worry/chase after Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Morgenstern, and all that Jace seems to do is either get possessed or run away because he wants to "protect" her. Really?

Clary and Jace's relationship has become majorly weird. Like, literally, in some parts of the book she just WOULD NOT SHUT UP about Jace this, and Jace that, and I was just like, GET OVER IT ALREADY!!! She has totally got to realise that there is more to the world than Jace.

(*Spoiler*) OMG WHY DID ALEC AND MAGNUS BREAK UP!!!! Their relationship was probably one of my favourite in this series, but then of course Alec just had to get obsessed about keeping Magnus to himself and try to make him not-warlock WITHOUT telling him. I was like NOOOO!!!! Hopefully they will get back together later, or I swear I will go find Clare, wherever she is, and demand a rewrite. (*End of Spoiler*)

Don't get me wrong, this is an amazing book. It just draws you in, and makes you want to keep reading (like all of Clare's books)

I don't know how I am going to wait for the next book, which comes out in 2014!!!!!! How will I wait that long?! Just a bit of advice, don't start reading this series if you don't want to get addicted and have to wait for ages for the next book to come out. At least Clockwork Princess (another great Clare series) in coming out in '13, otherwise I would just DIE waiting for this.

READ THIS BOOK (actually no, let's rephrase that.) READ THIS SERIES (because if you read this book before you read the other ones that would be a bit stupid.)

READ IT!!!!!

City of Lost Souls was so worth the wait, it was amazing! We got to find out what happened to Jace after that terrible cliff hanger in the City of Fallen Angels.

Though I really enjoyed this book, I really think it should have ended at the City of Glass. Cassandra Clare is now just dragging out the story, where it would of been better just ending at the third book. Though the next books are good, it really should of ended. I also think that Jace and Clary's relationship has become awkward for me, and when she was loving the 'not-Jace', all I could think of was, how stupid can you be? He's not the real one, and yet you still love him like crazy?

Although, this book is so worth reading if you loved the other books. I think they may be another book after this (jeez, when are they going to end?). So, READ IT!!!

City of Lost Souls took a while to digest. All night I could feel it in my gut like deadweight. All the subplots and characters and relationships and the fact that so much was going on made this book hard to break down.

But, finally, I woke up this morning and it all made sense. So, seeing as the book has been split into separate filing cabinets in my brain, I'm going to replicate that onto this review:

Like all of The Mortal Instruments books, I thoroughly enjoyed City of Lost Souls. But I'm wondering if I loved it because it is a part of the TMI series, versus the book actually resonating with me as a reader.

In true Clare fashion, it's not long before things start heating up so I found the pacing to be decent. I did find the side-plots were too numerous, and added to the length without truly adding to the plot. For example, Maia/Jordan's PoVs - while I really enjoyed seeing their relationship begin to re-build itself, I found it completely unnecessary to the advancement of the plot. All of their scenes could have been cut, and I wouldn't be missing anything related to Jace's disappearance/subsequent alliance with Sebastian and the plan to separate the bond between the two. It made for a lot of dialogue and very little action, which had me struggling not to skim while I read.

As always, every scene featuring Clary and Jace was overflowing with sexual tension and filled with uncertainty - was Jace happier now that he was bound to Sebastian, and if so, should she even try to separate them? If it's what Jace wants (when he's lucid), but it will ultimately cause his death, should she go against his wishes, to keep him alive? What is she willing to sacrifice - who is she willing to walk away from - if it means keeping Jace alive, even if it's a mere shadow of his former self? Would Jace even want to be with her once he realized what she had to do in order to save him? It got to be quite tedious, as I'm beginning to tire of the amount of ridiculous obstacles they have to overcome just to be together. I'm beginning to wonder if they wouldn't be better off separated, if being together is always going to be this complicated.

I did enjoy that we finally got to see Clary and Jace being more intimate - even if they left many steamier moments unfinished - as it was a nice reminder that Jace does actually care for her, even if he's not always the best at showing it. That being said though, I began to dislike many of their scenes because they seemed to only focus on Jace's looks! I get it; he's part angel (and has been since City of Bones), so he's got lots going for him. I don't need it shoved down my throat at every turn.

I absolutely despised Alec, and actually dreaded any chapter that started in his PoV. His insecurities were quite prominent in City of Fallen Angels, but they have taken center stage in City of Lost Souls. Everything that Magnus says or does is questioned, as Alec can't seem to understand that someone who has lived for hundreds of years might have had other relationships. I was distracted from enjoying even their more tender or romantic moments because of Alec's wandering thoughts about why Magnus hasn't told him everything about his past. I thought that his solution - turning to Camille for advice about his love life - was absolutely ridiculous; why would he trust anything she has to say?! She's been caught in a lie or in pursuing her own interests, in several other occasions - what's to stop her from doing the same now? And the fact that he even had to think about her proposal had me wanting to rip him from the pages and shake some sense into his head - in the end, he deserved everything that happened to him.

The one thing I did really like in City of Lost Souls was Sebastian. He was written so cunningly, that I was confused for most of the book about how to feel about him. I was apprehensive at first, certain that he was a monster without any redeeming qualities. But as I got to watch him interact with Jace and see him treat Clary with the care and concern one would expect of an older brother, I started to doubt my original feelings; maybe being bound to Jace had changed him, for the better. Part of me began to hope that Clary would be able to give him a second chance, and that his plan for the future of the Clave would be one worth investigating. It was Clare's ability to write someone as devious and evil as Sebastian that saved City of Lost Souls for me, as I was constantly battling myself over whether I felt he was truly changed or just playing on Clary's emotions.

Fans of the series will probably love City of Lost Souls. And like I said, as part of The Mortal Instrument series, I did enjoy it. But as the content becomes fluffier, as the dialogue becomes more forced, and as the plot becomes more outlandish, I find myself less enthusiastic with each new TMI release.

When I recieved this book I immediately started reading it, and I didn't put it down. At all. This book is dangerous for you! You will not eat, sleep or talk to anyone for as long as it takes you to finish it! Don't start reading it the night before finals. You'll fail them...!

Clare has done it again! A whole new shadowhunter book, and some new massive turning points in the plot that kept on surprising me. How on earth can she think of this?! I try to explain TMI to my friends sometimes, but they don't get it. There are so many crazy things happening. I'm like: 'So there is this girl, and she is a shadowhunter. Then her mother is abducted by some evil guy who turns out to be her father. Then she meets this gorgeous boy, and she falls in love, and then he turns out to be her brother. Then there is this other boy she kisses. The first boy she loved isn't her brother after all, the second boy ís. He turns out to be evil, like her father. Then there is the best friend, who becomes a powerful vampire. And he is friends with some werewolf girl. Meanwhile, they save the world from demons a couple of times, meets some very strange people, gets some special powers, ... . Then they free her mother. The mother marries her best friend, who is a shadowhunter / werewolf. Then the boyfriend of the girl dies and is resurrected by the angel. But he is bound to the evil brother, who also died. They both live. -end of part 4 -" and they're like DAFUQ did you just say?!

Sometimes it annoys me that Clare's books are so crazy, sick. This is the 7th shadowhunter, and the idea is getting older and older. I love shadowhunters, don't get me wrong, but 7 books and 2 more that are coming soon is a little bit overdone.

The characters show development. Some just a little, some changed 100%. My feelings about certain characters definitely changed while I was reading this book! Some of them were acting enormously selfish 'in the name of love'. Give up your life for your lover's life is stupid. I mean, when you die either (s)he becomes extremely depressed and wishes (s)he had died, or (s)he doesn't give a sh*t and just goes on with his/her life, so (s)he wasn't worth dying for.

The thing with all the dramatic romance is the thing that really freaks me out about this book. Yeah, love exists, we know that. But seriously, it seems as if no-one can be single. Almost every possible combination of 2 has been used in one of the 5 books in this series. And the worst thing is, you read more bad than good things about their relationships.


CoLS is told from multiple points of view, but still is very easy to read. I read it in a couple of hours only, which is pretty quick for me. Next book I so hope I can read parts from Magnus's point of view! He is like, the most awesome character of this whole series! Team Magnus