City of Lost Souls

WOOT WOOT!

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 (From Goodreads.com). 

Cassandra Clare has done it again. I absolutely love the world she has created in this The Mortal Instruments series. Her characters continue to astound, her writing is unforgettable and beautiful, and her plotting unstoppable. 

The characters continue to face their antagonists with an unending will. They are just flawed enough to be interesting and to keep you wondering if they have what it takes, yet they are absolutely perfect. Clary steps it up in this novel as the heroine. The way she fights for Jace is admirable and beautiful. While Jace is Not-Jace we actually learn more about him and he leaps out with depth by the end of the novel. He's not just a pretty face after all. I love their romance and their epic story that continues to be a favorite. 

It seems that Clare is darkening her story as well as making it more adult. The characters are getting older so it makes sense. That being said there is a lot more sex in this book than there has been in any other. I do not say this is a bad thing. However I do find it funny that Clare can write about premarital sex (there really isn't a lot of actual sex...but a lot of almost-sex and sexual tension that is actually quite delicious) and it's ok, but Stephenie Meyer can allude to wild honeymoon nights with no real description of how it all goes and she gets razzed for it. It makes no sense. (Yes, I think I just defended Meyer...go figure). 

Anyway...that was a random tangent that kinda leads into how I love what Clare is doing with the characters. While I was reading City of Lost Souls I noticed how it has become such an epic tale. Each of the characters have their own little plots that interweave and connect in very interesting ways. Maia and Jordan have a nice, tense past and they make a reliable and fun duo. Simon continues to be a favorite of mine, and I like the romance between him and Isabelle. Alec and Magnus are a delight but it breaks my heart how the end of this book leaves them. I hope Cassandra Clare plans on righting that, but I worry because a lot of this series seems to like the tragic. 

Cassandra Clare's writing is one of my absolute favorites. There is no one like her that I know of. She describes people and surroundings with such an astute observation that it feels like you're there looking at the person. She can turn a phrase with deft power and keen vision. The words and images seem to leap off the pages and filter into my mind with clarity. 

Her plotting is unstoppable. Just when I think I can predict what is going to happen, she throws in a wrench in the whole system. She manages to make you think you're smart by throwing in details in just the right way so you think you'll be able to predict the outcome, then she flips it on you all with a scheming smile. I wish I could be inside her brain. This woman never ceases to amaze. 

I look forward to the next installment in this series. Cassandra Clare, I am a dedicated fan for life.