Review: City of Lost Souls (TMI, #5) by Cassandra Clare

 City of Lost Souls (TMI, #5) by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

B&N / Amazon


Blurb:
The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts:

Wow! City of Lost Souls was awesome! This was a testament to how far Clary would go to save the man she loves, would do anything and everything to right wrongs even if they weren’t what she thought they should be or how. Being the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series, I was elated that it turned out to be just as good as the first four.

So much happens in this book. There is non-stop action and it’s full of love and romance! COLS is told through multiple pov’s which at first, I wasn’t fond of the swapping around, but unexpectedly ended up really liking it. Cassandra Clare executes the change in just the right spot, and just when you are settled into one pov, you’re onto the next. I loved reading from so many different characters perspectives. I felt I understood them better and what they were facing or going through.
I’m going to break this down nice and easy, and avoid spoilers as best I can.
 
Clary makes a decision to see the Faerie Queen, who always wants something in return. She just wants to find out where Jace is and if he is still alive! The Clave wasn’t real helpful, but Sebastian had ways of making it nearly impossible to track him and Jace. (Very clever if you ask me)
Alec was facing his own personal demons. Being in love with an immortal could do that anyone. And he got some advice from an unlikely source, but it was helpful to him and overcoming his issues. Perhaps it will come back and bite him in the rear, but I fully understood his dilemma and sympathized for him.

Simon is such a guy. The best “boy-friend” a girl could have yet is oblivious when affections are thrown his way. Of course, his instinct is to think he isn’t worthy and is misreading them because there was no way a beautiful, fierce, strong-willed woman would find him anything other than a monster. Since that’s what his mother has deemed him. He too, is fighting an inner battle. He wants to speak with his sister, but he’s afraid of losing her also.

“I think about him all the time,” she said. “It’s awful. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

Isabelle is once again fierce, but there’s a whole new path she walks in this book. She may seem cold and tough, but when she opens up to Jordan, and liquid courage is flowing, Izzy transforms. I was soooo elated when this event took place, because she was the only one who seemed to be a free spirit, without a love interest.

Jordan and Maia were so darn cute! These two wolves were basically at a crossroads and finally were able to talk and work through their feelings for one another. I honestly wasn’t sure if they would get passed their past maturely.

“I won’t be just your friend. I love you, Maia. I’m in love with you. I always have been. I always will be. Just being your friend would kill me.”

Jocelyn’s maternal instincts were on high alert, but being too protective has actually set Clary off, making big decisions behind her overprotective mother’s back. Jocelyn has her hands full with Clary, and I think she intends to do right by her, but she needs to let Clary be a woman. Let her make choices for herself. Advice is one thing, but preventing an iron-willed girl from doing something she feels passionate about, will only cause waves in their relationship.

Once again, I just loved Clary in this book. Not only does she prove time and time again how strong she is, not just physically, but emotionally. Torn between doing the unthinkable and her emotional and physical love for Jace, Clary surprised me. She was able to set her deep emotional love for Jace aside and act without regret. AND that is one strong protagonist. She would go to hell and back if she had to. What can I say about Jace and Clary that you haven’t already thought? They are a rockstar couple! It is inevitable they belong to one another. I felt so bad for Jace and the situation he had no control over. Being bound to your enemy is the worse possible scenario. Even though he wasn't his true self, Clary knew he was in there, her real Jace.

This group of friends went above and beyond to get their Jace back. And it was evident how much he is loved by them. I love that these characters have grown so much and have formed such a deep connecting bond. And that ending!!!! Gah!!! I can’t wait for the next book!