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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
It feels like I haven’t read a Shadowhunters book in ages. But I am still obsessed with this world. I mean, these books definitely aren’t five-star books to me, but they do deliver a sort of comfort to me. I know this isn’t much of a review, but we now are so far ahead in this series, and it all is just the same, to be honest.
It feels like I haven’t read a Shadowhunters book in ages. But I am still obsessed with this world. I mean, these books definitely aren’t five-star books to me, but they do deliver a sort of comfort to me. I know this isn’t much of a review, but we now are so far ahead in this series, and it all is just the same, to be honest.
My absolute favourite from TMI series. Mostly because something is happening throughout. Clary being in enemy territory and trying to figure Sebastian and Jace out is so interesting and exciting to read. Clary's character really develops in this book too and turns into the Clary that we all know and love.
The jokes in this book are so funny! I loved it. It’s fitting for such a crisis happening around them. My favourite one was one Magnus thought Simon ate Chairman Meow
This book.... wasn't as torturous as the City of Fallen Angels, but I wasn't looking forward to reading it after I finished my homework. And it didn't help that I had to read the Kite Runner at the same time (not a particular fan of that book either...I compared Clary to that main character in my class presentation...).
Clary was still as frustrating as ever. Surprise, surprise. She was asking for everything to go wrong when she stole faerie rings and relied on them as her main form of communication with Simon. With no backup plan whatsoever. I have never seen a such a selfish character in a young adult novel before (she's right next to Amir from the Kite Runner). A healthy relationship is usually present when both figures respect and support each other's decisions. But nope, Clary decides to make Jace's choices for him. He wanted to turn himself in to the Clave to save the world, but Clary decided that her emotional state was more important and made sure he stayed away from the position of being a helpful character. And yet, the novel makes their relationship out to be romantic and healthy. They claim they would die for each other, but they always seem to be having a relationship I would never dream of wanting. I still can't get over the fact that whenever Clary describes Jace, she points out all of his physical characteristics. She does this with Sebastian too, which is even more creepy. I think by the fifth books we know what Jace looks like. We get it. He's hot. And if we forget, we can look at the front cover.
Also, INCEST IS NOT ROMANTIC. But that's for another day.
Speaking of unhealthy relationships, Alec seems to have changed through this entire series. In a bad way. In City of Bones, he was my favorite because he was grounded and focused on his work as a Shadowhunter. As the series has progressed, he has caught the disease of being unhealthily obsessed with his significant other. He almost pulls a Clary by nearly making a life-altering decision for Magnus. Up to this point, he has gotten together with Magnus, discovered Magnus has been with other people before him, and almost made the decision to take the steps to strip Magnus' immortality. Alec has moped about Magnus' past relationships, even though they make sense since Magnus is immortal and everything. Then after Alec is grumpy, he suddenly becomes upset over Magnus breaking up with him..... um no, you had this coming, Alec.
The worst thing about this novel is that there is the fact that the characters care more about their personal lives than the world's well-being. There is the possibility of Sebastian creating dark Nephilim and taking over the world. These are some important events, people. Demons are summoned. Angels are summoned. But nobody can take two seconds without thinking about their significant other. There is actually a conversation between Isabelle and Alec in which they are working under an extreme time crunch and must collect numbers to fight Sebastian. But before they address this serious matter, the two of them have an entire conversation about their relationships.
The only reason I will be reading the next book is to say I read the series. Hopefully the last book won't be as painful as City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls. If Clare had just ended the series with City of Glass, the world would have been a better place.
Clary was still as frustrating as ever. Surprise, surprise. She was asking for everything to go wrong when she stole faerie rings and relied on them as her main form of communication with Simon. With no backup plan whatsoever. I have never seen a such a selfish character in a young adult novel before (she's right next to Amir from the Kite Runner). A healthy relationship is usually present when both figures respect and support each other's decisions. But nope, Clary decides to make Jace's choices for him. He wanted to turn himself in to the Clave to save the world, but Clary decided that her emotional state was more important and made sure he stayed away from the position of being a helpful character. And yet, the novel makes their relationship out to be romantic and healthy. They claim they would die for each other, but they always seem to be having a relationship I would never dream of wanting. I still can't get over the fact that whenever Clary describes Jace, she points out all of his physical characteristics. She does this with Sebastian too, which is even more creepy. I think by the fifth books we know what Jace looks like. We get it. He's hot. And if we forget, we can look at the front cover.
Also, INCEST IS NOT ROMANTIC. But that's for another day.
Speaking of unhealthy relationships, Alec seems to have changed through this entire series. In a bad way. In City of Bones, he was my favorite because he was grounded and focused on his work as a Shadowhunter. As the series has progressed, he has caught the disease of being unhealthily obsessed with his significant other. He almost pulls a Clary by nearly making a life-altering decision for Magnus. Up to this point, he has gotten together with Magnus, discovered Magnus has been with other people before him, and almost made the decision to take the steps to strip Magnus' immortality. Alec has moped about Magnus' past relationships, even though they make sense since Magnus is immortal and everything. Then after Alec is grumpy, he suddenly becomes upset over Magnus breaking up with him..... um no, you had this coming, Alec.
The worst thing about this novel is that there is the fact that the characters care more about their personal lives than the world's well-being. There is the possibility of Sebastian creating dark Nephilim and taking over the world. These are some important events, people. Demons are summoned. Angels are summoned. But nobody can take two seconds without thinking about their significant other. There is actually a conversation between Isabelle and Alec in which they are working under an extreme time crunch and must collect numbers to fight Sebastian. But before they address this serious matter, the two of them have an entire conversation about their relationships.
The only reason I will be reading the next book is to say I read the series. Hopefully the last book won't be as painful as City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls. If Clare had just ended the series with City of Glass, the world would have been a better place.
“Too much of anything could destroy you, Simon thought. Too much darkness could kill, but too much light could blind.”
My track record of hating this series has finally come to an end, mainly due to the blissful absence of Jace and Clary’s relationship drama. I’ll be honest, if I wasn’t eager to read Cassandra Clare’s other series—The Infernal Devices in particular—I would have given up on The Mortal Instruments long ago, but most people say I have to finish these books to fully appreciate the her others. Considering my feelings towards the first four books, I expected to hate City of Lost Souls, but was pleasantly surprised to love it!
Sebastian is a far more interesting antagonist than Valentine, and everyone knows I love me a well-written villain. I was eagerly anticipating the moment his true colours would show, and he’d stop pretending to be friendly. I was not disappointed. Clary—ohmygod Clary—was a badass during that hallway fight scene. (And yes, you’re hearing this from someone who previously couldn’t stand her).
The romance aspect improved for almost every couple in the series. There was no senseless drama between Clary and Jace, no stupid misunderstanding between Simon, Isabelle and Maia, and Alec and Magnus, well... no comment. (Maia and Jordan are now my favourite couple of the series, I love them so much).
My one complaint is the length. I don’t think this novel needed to be as long as it was. Some of the many scenes between Jace, Clary and Sebastian probably could have been cut down or eliminated altogether, especially since many of them didn’t add much to the plot. Otherwise, I’m really happy to have enjoyed this so much, and am eager to read the finale so I can get to Clare’s other works!
My track record of hating this series has finally come to an end, mainly due to the blissful absence of Jace and Clary’s relationship drama. I’ll be honest, if I wasn’t eager to read Cassandra Clare’s other series—The Infernal Devices in particular—I would have given up on The Mortal Instruments long ago, but most people say I have to finish these books to fully appreciate the her others. Considering my feelings towards the first four books, I expected to hate City of Lost Souls, but was pleasantly surprised to love it!
Sebastian is a far more interesting antagonist than Valentine, and everyone knows I love me a well-written villain. I was eagerly anticipating the moment his true colours would show, and he’d stop pretending to be friendly. I was not disappointed. Clary—ohmygod Clary—was a badass during that hallway fight scene. (And yes, you’re hearing this from someone who previously couldn’t stand her).
The romance aspect improved for almost every couple in the series. There was no senseless drama between Clary and Jace, no stupid misunderstanding between Simon, Isabelle and Maia, and Alec and Magnus, well... no comment. (Maia and Jordan are now my favourite couple of the series, I love them so much).
My one complaint is the length. I don’t think this novel needed to be as long as it was. Some of the many scenes between Jace, Clary and Sebastian probably could have been cut down or eliminated altogether, especially since many of them didn’t add much to the plot. Otherwise, I’m really happy to have enjoyed this so much, and am eager to read the finale so I can get to Clare’s other works!
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced