Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

[Goodreads page]

Author: John Green. Website, Twitter

Published: 10 January 2012 (Puffin)
Format: Hardback

Pages: 318

Amazon: Paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: Paperback|e-book
Book Depository: Paperback|Hardback

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My Review:
I first read this book last year and decided to re-read it recently, something I've been wanting to do for a while! It was the first John Green novel I read and all the hype when it was released was what drew me to it. Having re-read it, I wanted to update my review and add some more to my thoughts. The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of Hazel, who has thyroid cancer. When she attends a cancer support group she meets Augustus Walters and the two of them hit it off.

I'd forgotten just how instant this book was. From the first few pages I was already in love with Hazel as a character and unable to stop reading. What hit me is how funny the book is, which is not something you expect given the subject matter, but the humour throughout this book is just so spot on. The characters themselves are so funny and come out with the most beautiful lines that just crack me up.

The book charts Hazel and Augustus' relationship from the moment they meet and I can't stress just how much I loved the two of them and their developing relationship. They both have that same sense of humour and fantastic honesty that means you're not focusing on the fact that they're kids with cancer, you're just impressed by how awesome they are as people. I loved the fact that give and take from each other and always have time to listen, for example when they share they're favourite books with each other - I just loved how much they learnt from that experience and how they were open to learn from each other.

One of the things that impressed me most was how relatable this book was, which given I've never had cancer was pretty impressive. I thought there was one really telling comment when Hazel and Augustus were talking about how people tend to define themselves by their illness - something they've experienced with other cancer kids. I absolutely loved this observation because it's something I've had experience of. I'm chronically ill and I know so many people who introduce themselves with their illness and list all the things they can't do because of it instead of the things they can. I just had to stop reading at that moment and appreciate how nailed John Green has it.

Expanding on that, I think The Fault in Our Stars sums up brilliantly how life isn't perfect, but that you have to get on and deal with it whether you like it or not. There's real honesty in Hazel and Augustus' opinions of life and at points it can be pretty brutal reading them talk the way they do, but it's so refreshing to strip away all the wishy washy stuff and get down to the nitty gritty of how life can be a bitch but that sometimes you have no choice but to get on and make the most of it.

There's so much to take from this book - from a great love story to a book filled with metaphors about life, love, death and family. You can read it on so many levels and re-reading it definitely helped me appreciate that. Both times I've read it in the space of a day and then been unable to move on to another book as I digest it. I just loved the characters so much that I didn't want to stop reading about them or stop thinking about them. I think characters that mean that much to you after closing the pages is a sign of a perfect book.

I really would urge everyone to read this book. I know there will still be people who'll be wary because of the subject matter, but it's such an un-put-down-able refreshing read that I think it will appeal to so many if you give it a chance. The writing is moving, witty and poetic. Like I said, this book made me laugh, a lot. Yes there are sad moments, ones that rip at your heartstrings but reading every page of this book felt like such a pleasure.

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Looking for Alaska by John Green.
Books like this: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Review: Catching the Fever by Kylee Gwartney

Catching the Fever by Kylee Gwartney

(Goodreads page)

Author: Kylee Gwartney. Twitter
Published: 12 July 2012 (CreateSpace)
Pages: 252
Buy: Amazon: paperback|Kindle Barnes and Noble: Nook

Source: Received free copy to review from author.

Plot Summary: (from Amazon)

All Brynn, Claudia, and Norah wanted was a normal sophomore year. You know, homecoming, photography class, watching Audrey Hepburn movies – that sort of thing. Well, it’s good they didn’t know what was coming because they would never have had the guts to show up. It’s pretty crazy what they went through to try to save the place - their school, that is. They can’t say they didn’t have fun ….even if they did have to steal a BMW. P.S. Justin Crew really is as hot as everyone says. They would know.

My Review:
I got sent a copy of this book by the author and really liked the sound of it. Paisley is the new girl at O'Riley and her roommate Claudia isn't impressed by her obsession with the popstar Justin Crew. Only when the future of their school is threatened, it seems like Justin may just be the answer they've been looking for. Along with Claudia's friends Brynn and Norah, the girls plot a way to get Justin to perform at a benefit concert for their school.

Now I know what you're thinking. A popstar called Justin? Who teenage girls are obsessed over? That sounds familiar! Indeed it does. You only have to have a Twitter account to see how stars like Bieber, One Direction and other similar people attract a wave of frenzy wherever they go. That makes this book feel pretty current. Even those of us who are a bit old for the teen popstars of today will have obsessed over something at sometime (for me it was Green Day - pictures in my locker, lyrics on my pencil case etc. etc.) The fictional Justin Crew in this story is pretty much Bieber (he's Canadian and has fans called "Crewlievers"). But that didn't put me off.

What really drew me into this book was the characters. Each of the four girls has some drama going on but, more importantly, the relationship between the group of them was just spot on. They were funny and wound each other up, comforted each other and made each other laugh. Even I was laughing along at some of their conversations! I really loved getting to know all the girls. You get chapters told from each of their point of views which worked for the most part (sometimes I'd get a little confused about who's point of view I was reading at that moment) because it gave each character their chance to shine. I was most drawn to Paisley who was such a fascinating character. If you'd asked me beforehand if I'd have chosen the Justin Crew fangirl as my favourite character then I probably wouldn't have believed you. But this book really shied away from the stereotypical image of those fans and gave a fresh approach to them.

There's some lovely moments where the characters deal with relationships. Brynn is having boyfriend trouble and her relationship with her mum is strained at best. Other issues were addressed really well, too. Claudia is feeling pressure from her parents, Norah has insecurities and Paisley is worried about her total lack of experience with boys. There were just so many levels to the characters.

I got so excited when I noticed Harry Potter references in this book as well! Chameleons named Harry and Ron - amazing. The book is littered with little details like that that really made me smile as well. The only thing I wasn't so keen on was the constant mention of brand names and designers.

The plot isn't the most out there in the world and it may be a tad predictable but I still enjoyed every minute. I was totally into it by the end and getting all excited for the characters!

It's a great little girly, chick-lit kind of read and anyone who has at some point obsessed over some celebrity will love it, but even those sceptics of teenage fangirls should give it a go as well. I was pleasantly surprised!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Justice by Jade Varden.
Books like this: The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy.

Review: Pandemonium (Delirium book #2) by Lauren Oliver

Spoiler Warning! Pandemonium is the second book in the Delirium trilogy. If you haven't read Delirium then please look away now! (or read my review of Delirium right here) You have been warned!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Author: Lauren Oliver. Website, Twitter
Published: 1 March 2012 (Hodder & Stoughton)
Pages: 336
Buy: Amazon (hardback|Kindle), Waterstone's (hardback|e-book), Book Depository (hardback)

Source: Borrowed from library.

Plot Summary: (from Amazon)
Love, the deadliest of all deadly things.
It kills you when you have it.
And when you don't.

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

My Review:
I absolutely loved the first book in this trilogy and I've been waiting and waiting to read this book! My library finally got it in this week and so I dove straight in.

Pandemonium stars off with Lena not entirely where you'd expect from the end of Delirium. The way this book is structured is with chapters titled "then" and "now" and so we're effectively getting two stories running alongside each other. One plotline is Lena's escape into the Wilds, and the second is the present day where she is working undercover. I won't give too much away but I think this way of doing it was absolutely brilliant. It means you have to wait in anticipation to find out just what happened to Lena after the climax of Delirium, whilst being curious about just what she's up to now. You get double the cliffhangers as each part of the story concludes a chapter and you'd have to wait two chapters to wait and find out happened, whilst all the time being gripped to the current chapter. It's the perfect balance of suspense and revelations. I loved it!

One of my favourite parts of the first book was Lena as a character. She underwent such a vast change from a girl who was willing to go along with what she'd been told to someone who rebelled against the system. Her character develops even more in Pandemonium which I was really glad to see. She's constantly having to adapt to the world around her as she tries to survive and carry on with her fight. You get to see such a different side of her as she finds herself in some really sticky situations.

There's plenty of new characters to get to know as well; both good people and bad people! I really liked some of the new additions and their back stories were so well told. The interactions with Lena and the new characters made for some really tense and emotional moments.

I'm such a fan of Lauren Oliver's writing style. I think she conjures up such beautiful images and gets across the harshness of the world the book takes place in just perfectly. In every book of hers I just get so wrapped up in the words. This book was no different. I savoured every line!

There's plenty of action and it more than lives up to the previous book. Pandemonium real heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping moments and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Requiem by Lauren Oliver, book 3 in the Delirium trilogy (released March 2013).
Books like this: Crossed by Ally Condie, Insurgent by Veronica Roth.

Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Author: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. Website, Twitter

Publsihed: 5 July 2012 (Hodder & Stoughton)

Pages: 384

Buy: Amazon, Waterstone's, Book Depository

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

My Review:
I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and I've been looking forward to this book since she first announced she was writing a YA book with her daughter. Jodi Picoult + YA is literally a dream come true for me! I was worried about how I'd review this; whether I'd be comparing it to her other books etc. but this book completely stands out on its own, and it's going to be pretty easy to talk about!

Firstly, this book is beautiful. Not just the cover, but the stunning illustrations that appear throughout the book, and the way the chapters are given different fonts and even different colour text. It's obvious that so much love and care has been put into making this a book that you'll want to treasure. I had to be so careful reading it because I didn't want to damage it at all! (Ok, so I'm like that with all my books but this one even more so). There's several full page illustrations which are just wonderful, and smaller, cute little silhouettes dotted throughout some of the chapters. I just want to stroke this book all day long!

Now on to the actual story. The book tells the story of Oliver and Delilah. Oliver is a character in a fairy tale. When the story is being read he must act out his part in it, fighting to rescue Seraphima and live happily ever after. But when the book is closed the characters are alive, waiting until the next time someone reads the book and they have to spring into action. Delilah is a misfit teenager; unpopular, always last in swimming races and happiest with her head in a book, particularly this one fairy tale. Then she realises that the characters are alive and strikes up a friendship with Oliver.

The whole story is so brilliantly done. It's such a fab little idea! I think what impressed me most is that it's exactly the kind of story a dedicated reader should love. Not only is Delilah a girl who loves reading, but the whole story bases itself on the idea that characters are alive when we're not reading them. I think the best books and the best characters are those where you play out scenes with the characters in your head, long after you've finished the book. Between the Lines really plays on that idea and turns it into something even bigger. What if the characters are only acting? What if you could change the ending of a story? What would happen if you could speak to your favourite character? What happens when you close a book? Plus, if you've ever read a book and been able to totally relate to a character and wish they were real (who hasn't?!) then you will love this story.

The story is told from both Delilah and Oliver's perspectives, with the chapters alternating between the two, and between chapters of the fairy tale from Delilah's book. Not only is the main story between Oliver and Delilah brilliant but the fairy tale itself is an absolute delight to read! I loved reading those parts and escaping into that world just as Delilah does, with the magical tale of a prince and princess, plus added dragon, mermaids and fairies really hooking me in.

I couldn't put this book down. I just loved spending time with the characters and waiting to find out what would happen. It's not like anything Picoult has ever written, but it makes me want her to write more YA in the future. I'm so glad she helped her daughter's idea come to life! (Samantha originally pitched the idea to her mum and they decided to write it togther). It's a book I know I'll want to re-read over and over.

Anyone who loves and appreciates books should absolutely adore this one. If you love fairy tales then it's a must as well!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.
Books like this: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Enchanted by Alethia Contis.

Review: Silenced by Simon Packham

Silenced by Simon Packham

Author: Simon Packham. Website, Twitter
Published: 1 June 2012 (Piccadilly Press)
Pages: 192
Buy: Amazon, Waterstone's (e-book), Book Depository

Source: Received free copy from the publisher to review.

Plot Summary:
It wasn't grief; grief I could have learnt to cope with.
It was so much worse than that.
When Chris's best friend is killed in a car crash, Chris is struck dumb – literally.

My Review:
This book tells the story of Chris, who becomes mute following the death of his best friend Declan in a car accident. We follow his journey as he comes to terms with what happens and tries to find his voice again.

I really loved the idea of this story. It's showing the reality of grief through a teenager's eyes, and even though what's happening to Chris is a tough subject matter, the way this book approached it was brilliant. Both the topics of grief and mental health are handled really well - not once did I sit there feeling depressed or uncomfortable, but at the same time you felt the realness of what Chris was going through. I think this book is a prime example of how to tackle these subjects for young adult readers.

The way the book is narrated was one of the things I loved most. The story is told through Chris as if he were talking to Declan. This means we get a real insight into their friendship even though his best friend is no longer alive. It also helps give Chris this really witty, brilliant personality, even though for most of this book he isn't able to speak.

There's some really great humour in this book too - totally not what you'd expect when you hear the plot summary! But Chris and Declan saw themselves as comedians; dreaming of the Edinburgh Fringe and writing their own sketch show, so with Chris's point of view comes all these fantastic witty lines and observations. I'd find myself chuckling along throughout!

I loved that the book felt really current, too. In a generation of Facebook and smartphones this book felt like it fitted right in with teenage life, and even what happens to Declan is something you hear about on the news far too often.

The climax towards the end maybe felt a little rushed - maybe I just wanted more time with the characters! But I really liked that every character got their own sort of conclusion. It was a very satisfying ending.

It's a nice easy read; fairly short length and not too wordy. I'd thoroughly recommend this book to anyone of any age, young and old as I think anyone could get something out of reading it. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Comin 2 Gt U by Simon Packham.
Books like this: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher.

Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Author: R.J. Palacio Website, Twitter
Published: 1 March 2012 (Bodley Head Children's Books)
Pages: 320
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's, Book Depository
Source: Borrowed from library.
Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

My Review:
This book tells the story of August, who having been homeschooled his whole life is about to start fifth grade - his first ever experience of real school. He's grown used to the stares and comments about his facial disfigurement, but entering a building full of kids who speak their mind and judge quickly provides even more hurdles for August to face.

I really liked this book. I think the thing to remember with this book is that whilst not everyone can relate to August's specific problem, the issues raised in this book are still pretty relatable on the whole. Everyone has been teased because of something about them, or has witnessed teasing around them. It's a pretty cruel world sometimes and people aren't very nice! And although August is somewhat of a unique case, the problems he faces in this book aren't always unique to him.

One of my favourite aspects about the book was the way that the story was told from several characters' point of view. We start off seeing the world through August's eyes, which is a real eye-opening, sad at times, inspirational at others view of the world. Then the book moves around and tells the story from the eyes of his sister and school-friends etc. which was a really enjoyable way to read the story. Each character has their own views on August and getting each person's perspective and getting to see their own flaws and problems was brilliant. I particularly liked hearing about August's sister Via and his friend Jack Will. All the characters had their own things going on and I loved that we got time dedicated to each one.

The overall tone of this book isn't all sad. There's some really great messages weaved into the story about friendship, and the obstacles we all have to face, but it's not at all preachy. I loved seeing how all the kids coped with the bullying that went on in the school and how they viewed their friendships with each other. This book definitely captured that child-like innocence! There were plenty of times I had a huge smile on my face and by the end I was laughing along as I read.
A great contemporary story about friendship and family that'll leave you feeling fuzzy inside. A definite must read.

Rating: 5*
What to read next: The Fault in our Stars by John Green.
Books like this: House Rules by Jodi Picoult.

Review: Intangible by J. Meyers

Intangible by J. Meyers

Author: J. Meyers. Website, Twitter
Published: 29 January 2012 (CreateSpace)
Pages: 348
Buy: Amazon, Kindle,

Source: Received an e-book copy from the author to review.

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.
Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it

My Review:
I have a lot of books to read at the moment, including a steadily building pile of review copies, but this book jumped out at me as something I'd like and so it found itself at the top of the queue! The book follows twins Sera and Luke as they deal with their life, knowing they have powers they cannot share with anyone but each other. With Luke having visions of terrible things to come, it becomes clear that something is going to have to give.

Firstly, I absolutely loved the relationship between Sera and Luke. Not only are they twins, but they have this special bond with both of them having powers - Sera can heal people and Luke can see the future. My favourite scenes were when the two of them were together and their personalities bounced off each other. I'd find myself laughing along with their jokes and it made the whole reading experience that bit more enjoyable!

The book is written in third person and showcases different characters' points of view, a technique that was extremely well done in this book. The narratives flowed from one person to the other perfectly and smoothly, and it gave the chance for every character to have their moment to shine and for the reader to witness all the unfolding drama happening in each character's life. I really loved how it was written and the characters were all really interesting, from Marc who can hear people's thoughts to the mysterious vampire Jonas.

There was lots of tension as you get to glimpse the future through Luke's visions and then wait for them to unfold. I read the last 100 or so pages from the edge of my seat, unable to put it down as I waited to find out what happened! And plenty of action at the end to make the pay-off worth it.

I really loved the world this book takes place in with all the supernatural characters. There was a really good balance between the real and the fantasy, I thought, and it had all the right elements to it.

If you like supernatural or urban fantasy books then this is definitely one to check out. I adored it!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Intuition by J. Meyers - a bonus Intangible short story available for free here.
Books like this: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.

Review: The Calling (Darkness Rising book #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Spoiler warning! This book is the second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, which follows on from the Darkest Powers trilogy. If you haven't read The Gathering, The Summoning, The Awakening or The Reckoning then look away now! Reviews of all four books are on the Reviews page. You have been warned...

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong. Website, Twitter

Published: 5 April 2012 (Atom)

Pages: 336

Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Source: Borrowed from a friend.

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)

Maya Delaney’s paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is—a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they’re kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

My Review:
This book picks up right after where The Gathering left off, with Maya and the others on the helicopter being evacuated from a fire ravaged Salmon Creek. It soon becomes obvious that something isn't quite right with the evacuation and the story suddenly becomes a tense, exciting fight for survival.

I absolutely loved this book; even more than The Gathering! You find out a lot more about Maya and her hidden abilities, and more excitingly you start to learn more about some of the background characters. I was really excited to learn more about Sam and Nicole in particular. I'm always really pleased when there's more to a character that originally meets the eye!

The characters spend a lot of this book in constant peril which really amps up the tension. Unlike the previous book, I didn't get bored once and was gripped throughout. There's plenty of twists and turns throughout and everyone's loyalty comes into question. Seeing Maya explore her new found powers was really exciting too and she got some really great action heroine moments. There's just something about her character I really like especially her sense of humour and the way she interacts with the male characters - like she's an equal to them.

A really exciting second instalment in the Darkness Rising trilogy with plenty of action and surprises that kept me glued to the page.

Rating: 5*
What to read next: The Rising by Kelley Armstrong, the third book in the Darkness Rising trilogy - coming 2013.
Books like this: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Related news: Kelley Armstrong reveals cover for The Rising.

Review: Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

Spoiler warning! This is the second book in the Divergent trilogy and so this review will contain spoilers for the first book. You can read my review of that here. You have been warned!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Author: Veronica Roth
Published: 1 May 2012 (Harper Collins Children's Books)
Pages: 525
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
War looms in sixteen-year-old Tris’s dark dystopian world as disputes between the factions grow. Tris must now fight against all odds to discover the truth that can save her and the people she loves. Sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge – and the choices she makes will have devastating and unexpected consequences.

My Review:
I don't know where to start reviewing this book, so many mixed thoughts/feelings! This story picks up where Divergent left off, as Tris struggles to deal with the losses she's suffered and learns to deal with the consequences of her actions.

A lot of the book focusses on her internal struggle, as the world she has come to know falls apart. What's great about this story is that we get to see more of the other factions - Amity, Candor and more Erudite. It's fascinating to get a better look at the people and headquarters, which was something I wanted from Divergent.

The action scenes in this book are exciting and tense, but sometimes I felt they were a bit pointless. There were an awful lot of fight scenes I felt could have been cut to help the pacing of the story. You still get the feeling that the book is building towards something, and when you get there it completely blows you away. So, overall I think it's another thrilling read but maybe not quite as good as Divergent (in my opinion).

Rating: 4*
What to read next: Matched by Ally Condie, the 1st book in the Matched trilogy.
Books like this: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

Review: City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments book #5) by Cassandra Clare

Spoiler warning! This is the 5th book in The Mortal Instruments series. Avoid this review if you haven't read the previous books, or better yet take a look at the review of City of Bones, book 1 in The Mortal Instruments series, right here! 

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Author: Cassandra Clare. Website, Twitter.
Published: 8 May 2012 (Walker)
Pages: 560
Buy: Amazon, Kindle, Waterstone's

Plot Summary: (from Goodreads)
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

My Review:
When I first started reading this series I had no idea just how much I was going to end up loving it. After the huge cliffhanger at the end of City of Fallen Angels I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to get my hands on this book and find out what happens!

Firstly, I want to mention the tone of this book. It feels a lot darker than the previous instalments, and not just because Clary and the gang facing even huger obstacles before. The whole book feels a lot more intense and touches on slightly darker subject matters than previous books.

One of the main things I noticed was the stepping up of the relationships. Cassandra Clare has done amazing job throughout the series of making you really invest in the romantic relationships of the main characters, and in City of Lost Souls it was no different. The book spends a lot of time flitting back and forth between Clary and her feelings for Jace, Simon and Isabelle, Magnus and Alec and the ongoing tension between Jordan and Maia. There's plenty passionate scenes between the couples (one couple gets a shower scene, one couple a bedroom scene, and many fits of intense snogging) and sexual tension runs pretty high throughout the whole book. It's a shipper's dream!

As well as that there are some other moments that touch on subjects such as substance abuse and unwanted relationships, but it's not a bad thing. It just shows that these books have grown up and got darker as the story goes on, which I would want from any series I've spent this much time with.

As for the plot, it's just as gripping and exciting as the past books, with Jace's disappearance to deal with and the looming sense that something bad is coming. Clary has grown in to a full on Shadowhunter who can handle herself, and so her action scenes are even better than before.

And of course I have to mention the brilliant characters.  Everyone gets their chance to shine in this book, with Alec, Izzy and Simon all having their own issues to deal with alongside Clary's storyline. Not forgetting the fact I finished this book with a million and one Magnus quotes I wanted to look up. He's absolutely brilliant!

Possibly a tie with City of Glass for best book in the series so far. Roll on book six!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, the first book in the prequel Infernal Devices series.
Books like this: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling.