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City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)
by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
Sophie Riggsby's review
bookshelves: chemistry-101, dont-tell-others-youre-my-fave, hot-boys-with-swords, instant-classic, laughter-tears-giggles, on-the-edge-of-my-seat
May 18, 12
bookshelves: chemistry-101, dont-tell-others-youre-my-fave, hot-boys-with-swords, instant-classic, laughter-tears-giggles, on-the-edge-of-my-seat
Read in May, 2012
*Review posted on Page Turners Blog on May 21, 2012*
This is such a hard review for me to write because I’m such a huge fan of Cassie’s and I love every one of her books. I really do. It bothered me to read some of the more critical reviews of City of Fallen Angels. I know it hurt to watch our beloved characters have to go through even more trials and pain, but aren’t those the very best stories in the end? Well,City of Lost Souls, is such a perfectly written story that I think even the strongest critics will have to agree with me.
You see, Cassie turns up the comedy in such a truly funny way that I found myself literally laughing out loud (not just “HA-ing” or giggling). The sarcasm and gentle jabs between the characters are so sweet and exactly what I’ve grown to expect from them. Here’s an example featuring Isabelle and Simon (from chapter 7: A Sea Change):
See what I mean? And then, Cassie gives us these lovely scenes that make our hearts ache and we realize that all of the characters have matured and the world is a much more complicated place for them. There’s a bittersweet moment with just about every one of the pairings. And I won’t even mention my favorite scene in Venice on a boat…
As if all that isn’t enough, Cassie blurs the lines between Team Bad and Team Good. Oh yeah, she does it and does it well. You will be swayed by the baddest of baddies. For those who hate a cliffhanger ending, oh just you wait…you get my favorite kind of ending, a soft landing before the inevitable has to happen in the next book. I have nothing else to add except – this, THIS is exactly how a series should be written.
This is such a hard review for me to write because I’m such a huge fan of Cassie’s and I love every one of her books. I really do. It bothered me to read some of the more critical reviews of City of Fallen Angels. I know it hurt to watch our beloved characters have to go through even more trials and pain, but aren’t those the very best stories in the end? Well,City of Lost Souls, is such a perfectly written story that I think even the strongest critics will have to agree with me.
You see, Cassie turns up the comedy in such a truly funny way that I found myself literally laughing out loud (not just “HA-ing” or giggling). The sarcasm and gentle jabs between the characters are so sweet and exactly what I’ve grown to expect from them. Here’s an example featuring Isabelle and Simon (from chapter 7: A Sea Change):
“Can you tell me a story?”
He blinked. “What kind of story?”
“Something where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. And stay dead.”
“So, like a fairy tale?” he asked. He racked his brain. He knew only the Disney versions of fairy tales and the first image that came to mind was Ariel in her seashell bra. He’d had a crush on her when he was eight. Not that this seemed like the time to mention it.
“No.” The word was an exhaled breath. “We study fairy tales in school. A lot of that magic is real—but, anyway. No, I want something I haven’t heard yet.”
“Okay, I’ve got a good one,” Simon stroked Isabelle’s hair, feeling her lashes flutter against his neck as she closed her eyes. “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
See what I mean? And then, Cassie gives us these lovely scenes that make our hearts ache and we realize that all of the characters have matured and the world is a much more complicated place for them. There’s a bittersweet moment with just about every one of the pairings. And I won’t even mention my favorite scene in Venice on a boat…
As if all that isn’t enough, Cassie blurs the lines between Team Bad and Team Good. Oh yeah, she does it and does it well. You will be swayed by the baddest of baddies. For those who hate a cliffhanger ending, oh just you wait…you get my favorite kind of ending, a soft landing before the inevitable has to happen in the next book. I have nothing else to add except – this, THIS is exactly how a series should be written.
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