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

Dec 08, 2012 Dorothy rated it it was ok

I'm writing this minutes after being hit (pun very much intended) with the news that, after three prior fights and three controversial decisions, Marquez finally knocked out Manny Pacquiao. The first thing I did after receiving the call was to stare at the TV, where the delayed telecast showed a smiling Pacquiao making his way to the ring. "Oh god," I thought, "that is the face of a man who has no clue that tragedy is about to befall him." I couldn't bear to watch, and so I turned off the TV and I'm writing this minutes after being hit (pun very much intended) with the news that, after three prior fights and three controversial decisions, Marquez finally knocked out Manny Pacquiao. The first thing I did after receiving the call was to stare at the TV, where the delayed telecast showed a smiling Pacquiao making his way to the ring. "Oh god," I thought, "that is the face of a man who has no clue that tragedy is about to befall him." I couldn't bear to watch, and so I turned off the TV and booted up my laptop. After six months of waiting, and at the expense of one of boxing's greatest fighters, I've finally found the inspiration to write this review.

As a Filipino, I take great pride in Manny Pacquiao and everything he's managed to do for the sport of boxing and the Philippines in general. For a while I thought, like everybody else who rooted for him, that he was invincible. Obviously not. And while I'm sure plenty of people are interested in Manny's career, especially now that he seems to be at a turning point, there's really only one thing I have to say that ties in directly with this book: like the great Pacman, Cassandra Clare should've quit when she was ahead.

CoFa was underwhelming but fun. Like a true Cassie fangirl, I crossed my fingers and hoped that CoLS would bring the series back to the level of the first three books. It didn't. The cover should've been the first warning sign. I let it slide instead because, while I love the series, I've never been a fan of any of the books' cover art. It wasn't until I started reading that I knew, almost from the start, that things were only going to go downhill.

It's been too long since I read CoLS that I can't remember the exact points that earned it 2 stars. I'll be honest and confess that Jace not being himself was enough to substantially knock down the rating, though. I do remember feeling bored, like I had to see it to the end because I had to and not because I wanted to. I barely tolerated the Maia and Jordan scenes, and there wasn't enough Simon and Izzy. The Jace and Clary storyline has always come through for me in the past, but not this time. I never thought the day would come when I'd say this, but it's about time to retire this series and my beloved pair. I was more convinced of this than ever when I wasn't at all shocked by the twist in the end (aka Jace's new source of angst, because when you're Jace Lightwood, you just never run out of problems). I thought it bordered on ridiculous.

The City of Bones movie is coming out next year (sigh). City of Heavenly Fire will come out in 2014. I would gladly do without the movie, and I'm not all that excited about CoHF anymore either. At this point, I sincerely hope Ms. Clare will go on to start her new Shadowhunter series and just leave TMI be. Like Manny Pacquiao, it's time to call it a day.

I'd like to remember Manny as the champion of my youth, the same man I watched knock down his opponent on a hot summer day in May of 2004, as I frolicked in the waters of an Antipolo swimming pool while waiting for the commercials to end. Likewise, I want to remember TMI as a part of my thesis regimen; the incentive that motivated me enough to wrap up on time so I could spend at least an hour every night reading. These are the memories that I want to keep---not those of a washed out boxer kissing the canvas, or an overextended series that I'm obliged to read only to get a sense of closure. ...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Victoria rated it it was amazing

Oh my how Cassandra can rip the reader to shreds. SO freakin' good. When do we get the next one ;)? I can't wait!

We open with Jace missing for a couple weeks and the Clave giving up looking for him and Sebastian because they cannot track them at all. At this same time Clary is finally found innocent of wrong doing and is allowed to return "home" - Luke's place.

Jace and Sebastian show up at Luke's to take Clary with them and a fight occurs. Luke is mortally wounded by Sebastian's demon blood coa ...more

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