Wednesday, January 28, 2015

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare Review

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.

Published: May 2012
Page count: 535
Series: Fifth book in the Mortal Instruments series.
Rating: 5 stars

Cassandra Clare is an amazing author. She has this cast of characters, which you most likely are already familiar with from the previous books in the series and she's set them on another dangerous, trying adventure. The ending of the fourth book begs you to pick up the next book immediately and it's rather similar to the ending of the fourth book.

Painful and slightly dark, one that leaves you clenching your teeth but unable to put down the book. (Spoiler from the 4th book) Jace has been possessed basically by Clary's evil brother, Jonathan/ Sebastian, who their father injected with demon blood. And Clary is desperate to find him and get Jace back no matter what the cost, even running away from safety and letting her be captured by the two of them. There are a lot of things that Clary and Jace are going through and alongside that there is something hanging over the characters' entire world. There's a storm coming, to quote the dark knight rises xD There's tension building between the characters and distances forming and others lessening. 

Despite all the dark parts of the story it doesn't make it any less enjoyable. She makes it enjoyable. There's the sassy characters and the funny moments mixed in with the tense and action-packed moments. And the characters and their relationships make it worth any pain you might go through as the reader. I was talking with my best friend while reading this, we were reading it at almost the same pace at the same time and it was hilarious, reading our conversation there was a lot of complaining and desperation. This is the kind of book that you love but you're also wanting to scream throughout it because of what is happening to the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The writing and characters were amazing and I think even though it was a bit darker than the fourth book I almost preferred it, it was a bit faster paced and there was a lot going on. I would definitely recommend it if you've read any of Cassandra's books previously and enjoyed them or like supernatural drama/romance/action. It's a great book and it leaves you wanting to have the sixth book on hand.