City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare: Review

The official synopsis from the book can be found here at Goodreads, but I'm going to give you my own synopsis because the official one is rather long.

Basically what happens, if you've been reading the series you already know that Jace has gone missing (and if this is your first time reading a book in this series I strongly suggest you start from the beginning; not that you can't read this as a standalone, but trust me you will not want to miss the story of these characters from the beginning).  Anyway, Jace has gone missing and so has Sebastian, Clary's half demon brother. The Clave chooses not to focus on finding Jace, so it is up to the original crew to solve this: Clary, Izzy, Alec, Magnus, and Simon.  Clary branches out on her own to help Jace, going into a rather dangerous place to find out information for the others.  That leaves the rest of the crew to figure out how to put a stop to Sebastian's evil plan, and how to separate Jace from the bond Sebastian created with him. There are also little side stories going on in this such as the relationships of Alec, Magnus, Simon, Izzy, and others.

My thoughts on this book were that it was G-R-E-A-T. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and I'm giving it 5 stars here, too.  Although it did take me a while to get into it because I didn't do a reread of the last book, I could not put it down.  I mean, first, Cassandra Clare's writing is phenomenal.  It's not easy to write such a great story, with characters so alive that you can feel their emotions, and include twists and turns in there as well. It's not. So, thank you Ms. Clare for writing this masterpiece.  I didn't mind staying up until 3 am to finish it, honest :)

I thought that this book was very balanced between all the characters and their stories.  There was not really a point when I was thinking: "Hurry up already, I want to get back to whatever".  Not to mention the character growth of Clary.  She is really coming into her own as a Shadowhunter, and I am glad to see her on equal ground with Jace rather then needing him to protect her so much. Actually, come to think of it a lot of the characters were showing growth in this book: Alec with his relationship needs, Simon's acceptance of himself, Izzy's desire to open up with her feelings, Maia with her true desires, etc.

There were also a couple of "OMG" moments.  These are a few spoilers, so please, stop now if you do not want to be spoiled.  I mean it.


Do not read on!!!......




Okay, read on if you want to be spoiled, but you were warned.
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Spoilers

Holy cow, Sebastian's confession.  I had to set my book down and mutter to myself "omg, omg, what the heck" because it was such a twist I certainly did not see coming.  I have noticed throughout the whole series that there is some sort of bizarre incest vibe going on here.

Um, Simon's mark!? Yeah, how many times did we hear foreshadowing about what they would do to him if the Mark of Cain was removed.  Yep, he's dead meat...well, more dead then before. (just kidding about him dying; I really hope it is not the end for him).

The ending itself...talk about creepy.  A dead angel laying on the floor as a message?  Pretty creepy.

Finally, I just wanna throw in a quote that I liked, from the end of the book.

Pg 522
Jace: "You came here to apologize to me?"
She was taken aback. "Of course I did."
"Clary," he said.  "You saved my life."
"I stabbed you.  With a massive sword.  You caught on fire."
His lips twitched, almost imperceptibly.  "Okay," he said.  "So maybe our problems aren't like other couples'."

On that note, good day everyone :)