City of Lost Souls ~ Review

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)
By Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5 


“You have a dark heart in you, Valentine’s daughter,” he said. “You just won’t admit it. And if you want Jace, you had better accept it. Because he belongs to me now.” 


Jace was freed from captivity and Clary left him in the firm belief that their days of separation and conflict with demonic forces, such as the malevolent Lilith, were over.

But when the other Shadowhunters arrive on the scene, they find no sign of Jace...or Sebastian. 

Clary fears the worse, as do Isabelle and Alec. Their dread worsens when the Clave fail to prioritise the search for Jace...and even go as far as suspecting Jace of being a traitor to the Shadowhunters. 

Clary realises they need to take matters into their own hands, no matter the cost.

But then suddenly, Jace reappears - to Clary. He begs her to come away with him, and Clary learns that he and Sebastian are ultimately linked. It's similar to a parabati bond,  except more parasitic - whatever one feels, so does the other. If you kill one, you kill the other also and no weapon on the earth can sever their connection. 

Clary longs to be with Jace, but reality is sinking in. He isn't her Jace anymore. 

The Lightwoods, Simon, Maia, Jordan and Magnus form 'Team Good' and start coming up with plans to bring Jace back. But their plans involve breaking many Clave rules, defying the Clave's orders, using unconventional methods of help and risking their lives and their souls in the process. Meanwhile Clary plans to see out her plan alone, taking the flimsiest of chances to bargain for Jace's freedom. 

But how far will Clary go to save the guy she loves? 

Sebastian plays the role of repentant sinner and long-lost brother far too well, and Clary tries to keep her sight focused on the line between good and evil - finding it blurry when it comes to the two guys...struggling to remain in control of her emotions and convictions. 

Utterly alone, what will Clary do when she discovers Sebastian's sinister plan - a plan that could ultimately mean the end of everything the parallel world, of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, have ever known? 

Can Clary save the world and Jace? Or will she have to choose between the two? 

My thoughts on the book:

This. Book. Was. Epic! 

But let me just say that I am 100% convinced that Will Herondale and Jace are somehow spiritually, mentally or just plain old linked. The evidence?

• Will hates ducks
• Jace hates ducks
• Will has a copy of A Tale of Two Cities
• Jace has a copy of A Tale of Two Cities
• Will likes apples
• Jace likes mangoes
• Will loves himself
• Jace loves himself
• Will has hair that curls
• Jace has hair that curls

I can think of plenty more, but I'll leave it at that for now - the duck thing had me in fits of laughter when Jace is like:

"I've always hated ducks. I don't know why." 

I think I do, Jace! 

But my favourite character in this book is unquestionably Chairman Meow. Here's to cat power!

To finish of this review, here is one of my favourite quotes:

'He grinned. It was a wicked grin, the kind that made the blood in Clary's veins run a little faster. "You want to go on a date?"

Caught off guard, she stammered. "A wh-what?"

"A date," Jace repeated. "Often 'a boring thing you have to memorize in history class,' but in this case, 'an offering of an evening of blisteringly white-hot romance with yours truly."
"Really?" Clary was not sure what to make of this. "Blisteringly white-hot?"

"It's me," said Jace. "Watching me play Scrabble is enough to make most women swoon. Imagine if I actually put in some effort.”'