City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) in Q&A with Cassandra Clare

Aug 06, 2010 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) marked it as to-read

Shelves: i-own, i-own-but-havent-read-yet

*sobs* May!?!? 2012?!? May 2012?!?
*sobs some more* This cannot be! Really! It's like....too long! Too, too long!
I NEEEEEEEEEEED THIS BOOK! How can Cassandra Clare do this to me--ahh, I mean us! I need this book, like yesterday!

I don't know how I'm going to wait this long!

*sobs, wails, bawls some more.....* ...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Bianca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, e-books-and-online, books-i-loved, romance-i-envy-and-love, front-covers-i-love, best-characters, guys-i-wish-were-real, put-life-on-hold-to-read, goodreads-reading-challenge-2012

Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers!!!!

Wow, where to begin>?? Damn I am impressed, Cassandra Clare once again has blown me away with her ability to create a world so awesome I am pretty sure my love for it borders on obsession. (An unhealthy, have to have it obsession) I got this book one day after it came out, (Yes people that’s right, my heart was breaking too) But nevertheless I struggled through the agony and finally got my hands on a copy of it! Come hell or high water I was not waiting Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers!!!!

Wow, where to begin>?? Damn I am impressed, Cassandra Clare once again has blown me away with her ability to create a world so awesome I am pretty sure my love for it borders on obsession. (An unhealthy, have to have it obsession) I got this book one day after it came out, (Yes people that’s right, my heart was breaking too) But nevertheless I struggled through the agony and finally got my hands on a copy of it! Come hell or high water I was not waiting two weeks for my local bookshop to order it in! I love this series, why? A- Jace, (Need I say more) B- Because the characters feel so real, everything feels real. (If only) C- For a few hours I was able to totally forget I have an English Essay due Monday, and Math’s homework that I probably should have been doing. Nothing else exists when it comes to these books. To be able to create something so amazing that you can make people forget about the real word is what I believe must be one of the most brilliant feelings ever. I also hate this series though, Why do they have to end so quickly? All the waiting and excitement, the need to know what happens then as you get down to the last few pages you wished you hadn’t read it, because let’s face it 2014 is a hell of a long time away. You need to read it yet at the same time if you have the self restraint (I sure don’t) leave it, for future readers don’t read this series until they are all released!
Anyway on to the actual book….

I was a little frustrated at the beginning, yes everyone is searching for Jace, woo hoo give them a gold star or something, I just wanted to get into the action! But soon enough we do, and my my, the badassness is definitely back. Sebastian, Jace and Clary. What a team. (Kinda reminded me of Elena, Damon and Stefan) Okay so we all knew Sebastian’s niceness wasn’t going to be real, once a bad badass always a bad badass. So we knew sooner or later this little triangle of happiness would come crashing down. Although I liked some of Sebastian’s comments like when he jokes and say “That’s my sister you are defiling” (Something like that) It made me want him to be the good brother, against better judgment part of me wanted him to be good. I loved seeing Jace happy though, however fake it was. It was nice to see him happy, confident (Not that he has a problem with that) cocky and not doubting himself. In a way I kinda wished they could stay like that. Things happen, plans change and Jace gets to be himself for a while………..

(Wolf whistles) Hello the scenes we have been waiting for, it was killing me, they were so close yet I have a newfound respect for Jace, thank god he said no! As much as we fans want it to happen it just wasn’t the right time, I was glad he just wanted it to be something between them minus Sebastian.
I knew Sebastian had a thing for Clary, but ewwww… Hahaa, as much as I like him, I cringed as he kisses, hurts and tries to sleep with Clary, I’m so glad she fought him off and slapped him. The line about the nail polish and sticking her finger up at him was classic. The dude is crazy! Incest is not cool. (Flowers in the Attic, I am not judging you. Loved the book) But this was not understandable incest, this was down right weird.!

Glad to see Jace’s humor is back, I missed his cocky smart as comments. Even when he was being controlled he was still funny. There were a few cute moments between he and Clary, although we could tell it wasn’t exactly caring Jace, hence the storm off for a cold shower. ;) But I loved the line from Sebastian where he says “Is there a reason you just threw my sister into a sink?” And Jace replies “I was sweeping her off her feet”

I am really glad Maia and Jordan are back together, they are the perfect couple. Aww and Izzy and Simon. I was glad to see a new side to Isabelle. She is always so confident and independent that to see her worry about telling a guy she likes him and is scared of telling him, was nice to know that she is just as human as the rest of us. Although I wish they had of established a more official relationship. I don’t like what happened between Alec and Magnus. (I haven’t been a die-hard fan of them) but I can’t picture them not together, he made a mistake so what??? People make mistakes all the time. He didn’t even get to make it, he just thought about it. I really want things to work out for them!

I have to stop myself there before I write an Essay or something, read the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ohh and thank you Cassandra Clare for not leaving is with a massive cliff hanger ending, It’s intriguing yes but not a dying to know ending, makes the pain a little easier to withstand. :)
...more

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Aug 07, 2010 Zainab rated it really liked it

Shelves: werewooooolves, paranormal, urban-fantasy, ya, fantasy, romance, vamps, series, magic, angels

I don't like faces on covers. It ruins the image in my mind.

2/6/2012
Loving it so far!

11/6/2012
okay so more of a 3 and a half. I loved it, I did. I just wasn't as sucked into it as I feel I should have been. It was good, great even. Loved the (somewhat) progress with Alec and Magnus and naturally Jace and Clary. Also good to see simon and izzy slowly work things out but as a lover of Luke, there was not enough of him involved. and ugh, why does sebastian have to be so..creepy. and like sure i fe ...more

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Aug 05, 2010 Megan (magan bagan) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal

Cassandra Clare has managed to completely pull in me in with each book and she definitely didn't disappoint with this latest installment. And look at this cover, isn't is gorgeous!

After finally finding Jace and Sebastian, Clary discovers that they are bound to one another because of Lilith. To kill one would be to kill the other as well.

She is determined to find a way to save Jace, and with the help of Alec, Isabelle, Simon, and Magnus they will find it. But what price is too much to pay? And wi Cassandra Clare has managed to completely pull in me in with each book and she definitely didn't disappoint with this latest installment. And look at this cover, isn't is gorgeous!

After finally finding Jace and Sebastian, Clary discovers that they are bound to one another because of Lilith. To kill one would be to kill the other as well.

She is determined to find a way to save Jace, and with the help of Alec, Isabelle, Simon, and Magnus they will find it. But what price is too much to pay? And will they find what they end before it's too late.

Maybe it was just me, but I noticed a slightly different tone in this book as opposed to the others, which wasn't a bad thing. The writing and the tone was just a little bit different, more mature and intense perhaps. Either way I really liked it and it seemed appropriate for the setting of CoLS and where it was headed. I'm going to try my absolute hardest to not give any spoilers.

One of my favorite things about Cassie's writing is not only her attention to the world building, but also the characters. We get a little bit of everything from her, and yet it's so much for the series and the overall story. I can hardly remember it all, but Cassie brings it all together seamlessly.

I've been a big Jace and Clary fan from the beginning, wanting them together and loving when they finally had the chance. But after this particular book I have to say that I'm rooting a little more for Isabelle and Simon now too. Sure, I thought they'd be cute if they'd end up together, but I really loved how Cassie showed each of their struggles and the growth their relationship. I hope to see more of them in the last book. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the Jace and Clary moments that we got, because I did. They were some of my favorites.

Hopefully I can say this without any spoilers. Now, after the final battle in this particular book things have been set up for the ultimate battle for the series. I can only imagine what all she will have in store for us, and can't see any of the characters that we've come to love die. We shall see. But until that happens we have the last book in The Infernal Devices trilogy, Clockwork Princess, coming out soon and I'm beyond excited for that. I have my fingers cross for the conclusion I'm hoping for and am looking forward to how it all works out. ...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Sophie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, signed, re-read

It’s no secret that The Mortal Instruments series is one of my favourites and each new book is always a highlight of my reading year. City of Lost Souls did definitely not disappoint.

I really don’t know where to start with this review other than screaming via caps lock about how awesome this book is, but that’s quite unhelpful really. You’re probably wondering why on earth it’s taken me so long to read and review this if I loved it so much, the reason: exams. If I had started this any earlier, I It’s no secret that The Mortal Instruments series is one of my favourites and each new book is always a highlight of my reading year. City of Lost Souls did definitely not disappoint.

I really don’t know where to start with this review other than screaming via caps lock about how awesome this book is, but that’s quite unhelpful really. You’re probably wondering why on earth it’s taken me so long to read and review this if I loved it so much, the reason: exams. If I had started this any earlier, I wouldn’t have done a shred of revision and starting it the day before my last exam will most definitely explain the disappointing mark I will get in August because it’s just so damn addictive!

From the evil cliffhanger of City of Fallen Angels which leaves a pool of blood and a missing Jace; anything could have happened. For the entire time that Clary and the rest of the gang didn’t know where Jace was, I was panicking. Would he be hurt? Would he know who he is? What has Sebastian done to him? What does Sebastian want with him? It was a tense eighty or ninety pages until I he appeared, I’m telling you know. And even after that, it wasn’t quite right. I just couldn’t quite muster up the feelings that Jace usually elicits from me – it was unnerving and rather wrong.

With the absence of my normal wanting to be hearing from Jace every second of the novel I got to know and love some of the other characters in Clary’s world a little better. There was a heavier focus on Alec and Magnus’ relationship in City of Lost Souls which I really loved. They are in a difficult situation and the way that Cassandra Clare explored the difficulties of Magnus’ immortality and the way that their relationship has been dealt with by the Clave and the rest of the Shadowhunters was really interesting a more than a little worrying. They are quickly becoming one of my favourite literary couples.

Simon and Izzy also got more attention while the spotlight wasn’t shining solely on Jace and Clary. There’s something about those two that’s so right but so wrong at the same time. I think that they’re are the kind of couple you’d see together on the street and think ‘Perfect’ but if you knew them beforehand would make you blink in wonder a few times and then slowly start to nod your head in complete agreement. They work, I don’t know why, but they do. I have to admit that I started to fall for Simon a little bit...

As well as a cast of awesome characters, City of Lost Souls completely delivered on plot. I won’t give anything away, I’ll just say that Cassandra Clare had me on the edge of my seat, gasping aloud in shock or horror far too frequently to be good for my heart and she threw enough curveballs to ensure some serious whiplash.

City of Lost Souls is a novel of epic battle scenes, dangerous plans and stupid ideas and I loved every page of it. Bring on City of Heavenly Fire for what I’m sure will be an epic ending to The Mortal Instruments. ...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Mairead rated it it was amazing

this series is back on track.
And getting naughty to boot.
the thing I appreciated most about this book was the fact that characters who never truly got to voice chapters came to the forefront. To be honest, I found myself skimming over the Jace/clary bits (I never really cared for them) and relisehd every moment of Simabelle!
I love that Izzy is growing, and that we got to see it, rather than hear Clary complain and scream constantly...
I'll write a proper review when I can.
...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Elissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, ya-read, paranormal-ya

Amazing...what a freaking roller coaster of emotions I went through! I don't know how many times I wanted to throw my book at the wall but I still loved it!! ...more

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