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
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.
Dying to read City of Heavenly Fire. I need it. Also; totally get the name after reading the last 30+ pages of CoLS ;) You will too, I suppose. It is awesome. Cannot wait. Also; the covers of these books? They are all perfect. Loving this cover the most though :) Can't wait to see the next one! Thank you Cassandra Clare, for writing this amazing series. I love it so much.
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