City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments book #5) by Cassandra Clare

  Title: City of Lost Souls

                                                       Author: Cassandra Clare

                                                       Pages: 534

                                                       Published: May, 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry

                                                       Series: Mortal Instruments book 5

                                                       Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

                                                       Stars: 3.5/5

Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.


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

I have to admit, I really, really, REALLY liked the first three set of books in the ‘Mortal Instruments’ series. However, I really (yes another ‘really’) think that Cassandra should have left it there. The next set of three books (or two, since the last one hasn't come out yet) with Sebastian (Clary’s very psychotic and sick brother) as the all time villain was a bit flat. I think Cassandra spoilt the whole series by adding the next part. Now, I hate to write this because believe me I absolutely love ‘The Mortal Instruments’ and the whole kick ass shadow hunter business. But some things are best left untouched......in this case it was leaving the first three books to rest.

There a lot of relationships within this story....and to be honest that's what pretty much makes up the whole book, except the ending where most of the action actually happens. At first I liked getting to know each of their relationships, but it soon became tiring. I don’t want to seem like I’m slagging off the author, but it seriously looks like she was high on her hormones (not like that can happen anyway) when she wrote this book. There was a LOT of heavy intimate aspects, in my opinion. Yes, I do understand that because this book is made up with a lot of relationships, it is bound to have some sort of intimacy as all relationships do and I should just grown up (I really should) but seriously? In every chapter that is some form of someone in someone else’s bed! All I’m just saying is that it is wayyyy different from the other books (especially the first three) where it had more of a substance. 

Considering the amount of characters in this book, I’m not going to list all the ones that I liked or didn’t like (we would be for ages). But one character that I didn’t like was Jordan, Maia’s boyfriend, who was her ex-boyfriend and also the one who turned her into a werewolf. I liked him a lot in the fourth book; ‘City of Fallen Angels’ as he was this cool, new kid on the block, but in this book he acted kind of clingy. I mean come onnnn, I know you’re kind of insecure about where you stand with Maia but whether or not you wear a nice shirt isn’t going to make Maia like you any less!

Also, I really hated Clary in this book. She can be just so silly sometimes! She doesn't think and lunges into a situation without knowing the full consequences (actually that was repeated several times in the books about her) and I actually felt glad when she lost the Faeirie ring and her source of communication to Simon (not meaning to sound harsh).

Sebastian is just some messed up, twisted, sick guy. It’s not even the amount of people he killed (or will kill) or his diabolical plan, but it’s his obsession with his own real blood sister! What made me laugh was that he associated his and Clary’s situation with Egyptian’s marriage between brothers and sisters. Pah! 

However, there are some okay aspects with this book, but the majority of it was kind of slow. The only real interesting part was near the end...but that’s all. However, I do have to say that the last bit of the epilogue actually made me want to read the last book. It was a good way to end this book.

Okay I know this isn’t part of the actual story and this may be far from being true but I LOVED it whenever William Herondale’s name was mentioned in this book and whenever Magnus or Camille thought about their past in London! Eeikkkkeeeeeee! I really do hope that in some form or another William does get to appear in the last book of the ‘Mortal Instruments’! Oh but I have a theory. In this book, Clary’s mother didn’t get to finish who  the female warlock was that was present when Clary got baptised. I figured it must be Tessa Grey (for those of who don’t know who William or Tessa are you MUST read the Inferno Devices books by Cassandra Clare. You can find the review for the first book here and the second book here). This is only because, firstly she’s a warlock so she can’t die and secondly she appeared at the end of the third book in front of Clary, albeit it being briefly. We must wait and see.

Notable quotes/passages:

'“Basia coquum," Simon said. "Or whatever their motto is."
"It's 'Descensus Averno facilis est.' 'The descent into hell is easy," said Alec. "You just said "Kiss the cook."
"Dammit," said Simon. "I knew Jace was screwing with me.”'

Note: But I must say 'City of Lost Souls' book trailer is one of the BEST book trailers I have ever seen. See for yourself. 

Book Trailer: