#119 Book Review: City of Lost Souls

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)
Release Date: May 8th 2012
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia | Dymocks
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Cover:
Absolutely gorgeous! I love how the cover finally features Jace and Clary together. Clary's dress looks so fierce and her hair looks amazing! 

Story:

What price is too high to pay, even for love?

City of Lost Souls completely took my breath away. It is the 5th book in the series but I love it as much as the first, second, third and fourth book. Cassandra Clare truly knows how to write a series so engaging, gripping and romantic it will hook you from the very first page.

City of Lost Souls picks up from where City of Fallen Angels ended. Clary tries to find Jace and when she finds him, she noticed that something is wrong with Jace. The answer: Sebastian. Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other. Kill Sebastian and you'll kill Jace too. Can Clary save Jace and break the bond between him and Sebastian?

This book is fairly thick, about 500 pages but it did not feel like 500 pages at all. I couldn't stop reading. Once I got into the book, I just had to continue reading and find out more about what was happening. The book was written from different POVs so we got to see what's going on in their heads and I love it. The book was fast-paced, filled with actions, amazing romance and the ending made me desperate for the next book!

Characters:
Clary is still our kick-ass heroine! She is so brave and will do anything to find Jace. She is not afraid of facing dangers and her love for Jace is so strong that she is willing to take the greatest risks for him. Her chemistry with Jace is still so amazing and romantic. Jace is still the same sort of arrogant but hot shadowhunter although he is controlled by Sebastian throughout the book. Jace is still Jace, but he is not Clary's Jace. 

While I loved Jace from the first book, I really liked Simon as well. His relationship with Isabelle is so cute and sweet. I would definitely want a best friend like Simon. He always supports Clary and is always ready to help her.

Magnus and Alec are my favourite couple in the book too! They are completely adorable and perfect for each other. I also really liked Maia and Jordan even though I did not quite paid attention to them in the previous book. 

Sebastian, what can I say? You surprised me a lot. I can't even decide if you're pure evil or merely a wretched and sad person who needs a family to support you.

To summarize, the characters are all brilliant!

Overall:
City of Lost Souls is simply put, brilliant. Cassandra Clare never ceases to take readers in an exciting, romantic and gripping journey back into the world of The Mortal Instruments. The last book in the series, City of Heavenly Fire, is going to be out in 2014 but I'm going to patiently wait for it because Cassandra Clare will deliver yet another brilliant book worth the wait to conclude the whole series.

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for City of Lost Souls!

Thank you Walker Books Australia for the review copy!

Check out the book trailer!