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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was really good. However, it's the one book out of all Cassandra Clare's that I've read that I would only give 4 stars out of 5 instead of 5 of 5. It was kinda meh the whole way through for me (besides the romance parts). That's because there's not really a lot going on. ***SPOILERS TO MAKE MY POINT SO BEWARE***** There was the Jace-whoes-not-really-Jace-and-I-want-to-ship-clace-but-I-want-the-real-Jace-back, and the Malec break up because of Camille, and the Simon and Izzy realizing that they're in love, but other than Clary pretending to join Sebaston, and Jace-whos-not-her-Jace, and the forboding of evil coming, there's not much happening besides Clace romance. So I liked the book, but I want to know what ****MAJOR SPOILERS**** what happens when Sebastion comes back. Cause he's not going to rest unti lhe has a whole clan of super powerful demon shadowhunters that are loyal to him and ready to release onto the world and overturn the good shadowhunters. Nope. And he's going to come back for Clary, obviously, because there's the whole thing with him liking Clary, but I really do wonder how it's all going to go down. Probably in a blaze of fire. But will it be of glory?
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly the only thing that made me continue this book was because of the Team Good's efforts and progress. But then Cassandra Clare just knew we all were a tad bit tired of bittersweet moments with Clace/Jary that she made the last third of the book so wild. Pushing through it was worth the feels I felt in the epilogue.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
everything was going great until sebastian’s demented ass decided he wanted a bit of that incest action too. why was that sa included it wasn’t necessary to the plot whatsoever!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoiler Review!!
City of Lost Souls, admittedly, it took me almost exactly two months to get through the book, though there was simply a long pause between reading days. I do really enjoy the story and the characters, however I think bits of it are dull and dragged out. That said, it’s a really well-written book and the last quarter or so really sucks me in and keeps me interested.
City of Lost Souls, admittedly, it took me almost exactly two months to get through the book, though there was simply a long pause between reading days. I do really enjoy the story and the characters, however I think bits of it are dull and dragged out. That said, it’s a really well-written book and the last quarter or so really sucks me in and keeps me interested.
Jace being bound to Clary’s brother, Sebastian, adds a truly excellent conflict to the story; how can Sebastian be defeated when what hursts or kills him would do the exact same thing to Jace? Most they abandon all hope for the greater good, or shall they try to save Jace? That’s the driving force behind the entire novel and, of course, our crew will do everything they possibly can to save Jace. I found Jace and Sebastian’s dynamic incredibly interesting throughout - I think Cassandra Clare of capturing Jace-but-not-really-Jace while he is enthralled and bound to the demon-blooded Shadowhunter. Getting to know Sebastian better in this book - the true Sebastian - he is the perfect anti-thesis to Jace and Clary; he’s all silver and darkness where they are golden and light. He was infinitely fascinating in that he’s, at the end of the day, just a lonely 18-year-old who has a ridiculous amount of power and an evil agenda to act out; he’s jealous, emotional, possessive, and arrogant, but he’s also lonely, craves attention and love, and his family. He hates being alone and we see that again and again - it’s ultimately at the root of his plans, which is just something I find really great in a villainous motivation, particularly in a teenage antagonist.
Now, I also love Simon and we see him further grappling with his faith and his family, but also his relationships and what it means to be a Daylight amongst his friends; he’s in the Shadow World for good, so what will he do with the responsibility that continually falls into his lap? Well, he’s the true hero of the novel, in my opinion. Without him, his bravery, his Mark of Cain, and his willingness to put it to the test, they never would have gotten Jace back. I think his arc just continues to be grow and get better with every book!
I found the Alec trying to turn Magnus mortal by trusting Camille subplot awful; it felt pointless, really, save to break Alec and Magnus up - which, arguably, isn’t fully pointless but it just doesn’t matter so much to the greater plot. The subplot felt a little too removed from the main plot, in that it seems like it would have been much better suited to a short story or its own book. That said, I may just be harsh on it because I truly just hate it! I think it’s really unfair of Alec, even cruel, to go behind Magnus’s back and potentially make a decision that will fundamentally alter Magnus’s life, and that he trusted Magnus’s nefarious ex more than he trusted Magnus. It just makes me very mad at Alec, which is awful cause he’s otherwise one of my favorite characters.
Maia and Jordan is always a nice little duo to follow; I like their background and how far they’ve come from where readers know they started. Jordan is a good dude - honorable, noble, brave - but he really had to work at it. I like knowing and seeing that he really put in the work to be better and that he respects Maia’s journey and boundaries.
Izzy learning how to let go of her emotions and let down her walls to connect with Simon is just a really sweet subplot; I really like Izzy and I love that she opens up to Clary and Simon more and more with each book. I think she deserves the world, and I really like her and Simon together.
All in all, it was a really well-written book and I truly did enjoy it. I believe it took my so long to get through the book due to a sort of Shadowhunters-fatigue, as I read the first four books in such quick succession and just needed to branch out to some other reads before making my way back. I look forward to jumping into the final installment of this series, though!
awesome book, flew through it. i didnt find it for a while after reading city of fallen angels, so i didnt read that until early september. the cliffhanger on City of Fallen Angels killed me the whole time!!
This one has always been the worst of the “original” series and upon a reread, it continues to be that way