The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide? Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.
ebook, 388 pages
Published May 8th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
I loved the earlier books in The Mortal Instruments series but - unlike most reviewers - for me City of Lost Souls is the first that
doesn't rate more than an average 3 stars out of 5.
My expectation was that the series would end with City of Glass, but the cliffhanger ending made me somewhat glad that wasn't the end. However, City of Lost Souls didn't quite deliver. I still love Magnus Bane - thank goodness! - but the story felt drawn out, and I lost all respect for Clary.
On the plus side would be Simon...in the earlier books I liked and felt sorry for him, then I simply pitied him, and now he's come into his own! I also liked getting closer to the Iron Sisters and learning more about the Silent Brother...there's something about one of those brothers that makes me think there's a hint to upcoming events in The Infernal Devices series!
There are several steamy, romance scenes - I literally had to fan myself - but while several couples were getting action the action in the book itself was lacking at times. The scenes were mostly well put together but the overall pace of the book was slower than I would have liked. Things might have been sped up if it weren't for the constant reminders of Clary's beautiful pale skin and Jace's golden skin...I got really tired of the whole 'so beautiful' thing. Even the villain Sebastian/Jonathan is supposed to be extremely attractive.
Simon, I think, was the only average looking person in the series, but even that changed when he 'changed'. I love characters I can believe in, but I didn't find myself believing in anyone but Magnus.
The focus of the book is on whether Jace can be saved from Sebastian, and it's made clear that such a thing is near impossible. Clary is meant to figure out a way to save Jace, but she's so selfish and foolish that I came to the conclusion that a lot of things ended up working out through sheer luck, rather than anything she specifically figured out. Sad, cause I liked her in the very first book.
Cassandra Clare has a talent for ending with a cliffhanger and this book is no exception! Finally - after lots of mooning around from the couples - the book concludes with an action packed scene and a finale that makes you want to know what happens next.
Still a good book, but given my love for the books that went before it falls short of my usual, gushy approvals of Cassandra Clare's novels.
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I kind of agree with you here,I used to love Simon too. Actually i am not yet finished with this book lol I know! I am a huge fan of this series but it would have been really good if it has ended in the City of Glass. the plot just drags on and on and it goes in circles that its getting into my nerves already. Also I want Jace but Jace isnt here. so I had to put it down. dunnow here the story is going anyway. Wow sorry about this rants. :) Anyway great review girl! x
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I am so bad at keeping up with this series. I loved City of Bone, which I read about a year ago. I still have City of Ashes waiting to be read! Hopefully I will force myself to get to them soon because I hear they are fantastic books! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteMcKenna @ Young at Heart
Like you, I enjoyed the earlier books in this series, mainly the first 3 but I don't know if I can force myself to read this! Clary is really annoying and she ignores everything that is obvious to the reader and always does stupid things instead *sigh*
ReplyDeleteBut Simon coming into his own might be reason enough for me to read this... maybe I'll wait until the library gets it in.
Great review, hun!
The reviews seem to be mixed on this one and for me it's the last book that was s downer compared to the others so maybe I'll enjoy this a bit more. I'm super curious if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteWhile I did love this book, I definitely agree with this review. I feel like I had just accepted that the series would end with City of Glass and then when the story continued, I had to come to terms with there being yet another ending to the series. I've always been kind of "meh" when it comes to Clary, but Magnus has been consistently awesome throughout the entire series so far! I can't wait to see how this series wraps up though.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I can't wait to see how it wraps up too! CC has a gift for cliffhanger endings
DeleteI am more of a Infernal Devices fan than Mortal Insturments, so I'm intrigued to read it to learn more about the Silent Brothers and any Infernal Devices info it may have for me! I keep hearing mixed reviews of this installment too, I'm glad you gave your honest opinion. I'm definitely going to read it but glad to hear other opinions first :)
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