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

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

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.

MY TAKE:
I'm starting to agree with the people who think that maybe the series should have ended with the third book.

In City of Lost Souls, Sebastian and Jace are now bound together and hurting one means hurting the other person as well. Jace and Sebastian invite Clary to join them, and she does, thinking she can find a way to save Jace. However, Sebastian and Jace's plan is far more sinister than it seems, and Clary will need all the help she can get.

This book reads like a series on The CW. By that i mean there's lots of supernatural elements that could be dark, but here it feels light. The romance is also a bit more dramatic than what you'd expect.

There were some things I liked, though, particularly Sebastian and Jace's plans and some of the Downworlders' reactions to it. With a bit more focus on it, or with a more somber tone, this would have been a four-star book for me.

I didn't like Clary in the fourth book, and she's still not my favorite person here. She's impulsive and emotional and ends up hurting people in the process. Some of the other characters are aware of it and mention it to her, but Clary still does things recklessly, probably because some of the other characters tell her it's a good thing.

At least Simon and Isabelle's and Alec and Magnus' relationships are fun to watch, even if they do have their emo moments as well.

THE GOOD:

1. Sebastian and Jace's plan is actually evil.
2. The final battle looks like everyone will go all out.
3. The romantic relationships are moving along nicely.

THE BAD:

1. Clary is still being reckless. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

“Basia coquum," Simon said. "Or whatever their motto is."
"It's 'Descensus Averno facilis est.' 'The descent into hell is easy," said Alec. "You just said "Kiss the cook." 

READ IT IF:

1. You liked the first books.
2. You like relationships that have a lot of drama.
3. You like shows on The CW.

RATING:


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