Friday, August 15, 2014

City of Lost Souls | Cassandra Clare


The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Since this is the fifth book in the Mortal Instruments Series, I will be going straight into a spoiler filled discussion of the book, but here are the links to my reviews of all the other books. 
City of Bones
City of Ashes 
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angels

Spoiler-Filled Review

The side characters really shone in this book. With both Clary and Jace out of the way, the ones who are usually given recognition for saving the day, the minor cast of Shadowhunters and Downworlders really stepped up to prevent the world from burning. 

From City of Fallen Angels, Sebastian and Jace are bound by Lilith's rune, leaving Jace in a subservient position to Sebastian. Jace, under Sebastian's influence, is much different than his typically self. He's no longer witty, funny or passionate, rather he's unperturbed and emotionless. 

Sebastian himself also had me strangely confused. It was strangely disturbing hearing him consistently calling Clary his sister, however I do wish that Sebastian weren't evil and they did have the normal brother and sister bond. I knew Sebastian hadn't changed in the book, but when he was pretending to be good, I really wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe he was getting better. But I knew he wasn't. 

Clary herself had a few ups and downs during this series. Her plan to accompany Jace and Sebastian to figure out their entire plan was pretty genius especially with the faerie rings, however she got so caught up and distracted by Jace, that her priority shifted. The moment she forgot about the rings, of course Sebastian took them. But she has definitely gotten better since the first book. Her training has paid off and her inner Shadowhunter is really starting to show. 

While Clary was figuring out Sebastian's plans, back home, everyone else was dealing with stuff as well. Simon, Isabelle, Alec and Magnus brought the angel Raziel and got a heavenly sword that would only kill one of the two. 

While the plot wasn't as fast moving as it was in some of the previous books, there was quite a bit of relationship progression between various characters. 

First, and most importantly, there was Malec. Ever since Camille had instilled the idea that Magnus would outlive Alec, Alec's been incredibly troubled. For a short time he believed that Camille could make him immortal, while this turned out to be false, there was something that could've been done to make Magnus's life shorter. I don't think that Alec would have gone through with it, but since Magnus caught him even considering it, he broke it off. Malec was one of my favorite couples throughout the whole series and I seriously need them to get back together. 

Then we had a bit more progression between Simon and Izzy. I officially declare their ship name as Sizzy. With Maia out of the picture, both of them are drifting closer and closer, and although they haven't officially declared anything, I'm sure they're going to officially get together in the last book. If they don't I will be writing a strongly worded letter to Cassandra Clare. 

Finally we have Maia and Jordan. What's their ship name? Mordan? Jaia? I'm not sure. These were jumping each other at every chance they got. Several times in the beginning Maia kissed him and ran away, which was annoying because every couple did that at some point in the series. But they're together now... I think. They have yet to have "the talk", but I don't think their going to split up, just have a really awkward talk. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love Cassandra Clare's writing. It's clear, concise and funny. I am plowing through all of these books and I only have two more left until I have completed both the Mortal Instruments Series and the Infernal Devices Series! 

As usual, let me know in comments what your favorite scene in this book was. I think mine is the intense fighting scene at the end with Sebastian and Clary. I love that Clary was able to hold her own against Sebastian. Although what he did, or almost did was not cool. 

Bro tip 103: Don't rape or attempt to rape your sister. Especially if she's a (somewhat) trained shadowhunter. 

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