City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5) in The Infernal Devices

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City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)

Cassandra Clare

Start date: May 8, 2012

Finish date: May 31, 2012

Discussion: The Mortal Instruments

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The Mortal Instruments

* Extras, outtakes/deleted scenes & short stories from The Mortal Instruments books!
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last updated Apr 14, 2013 06:44AM

* The Mortal Instruments Series
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last updated Jun 22, 2012 07:36AM

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What Members Thought

May 26, 2012 Maeryn rated it it was ok

Why is it in these books that we have to read what everyone is wearing every single time they appear? "Clary wore a blue sweater and jeans." "Jace wore a white T-shirt and jeans." "Sebastian wore a black thermal shirt and jeans."

Why must we pause in the midst of a scene to know about such and such's ordinary clothes? Who the hell cares what these people have on? Is the fact that Jace is wearing the same thing he always wears a pertinent part of the plot or scene? Do I need to know that Clary is Why is it in these books that we have to read what everyone is wearing every single time they appear? "Clary wore a blue sweater and jeans." "Jace wore a white T-shirt and jeans." "Sebastian wore a black thermal shirt and jeans."

Why must we pause in the midst of a scene to know about such and such's ordinary clothes? Who the hell cares what these people have on? Is the fact that Jace is wearing the same thing he always wears a pertinent part of the plot or scene? Do I need to know that Clary is wearing pajamas in bed? Do you need to point out that Isabelle the fifteen-year-old dominatrix is wearing thigh-high boots?

Oh. And this: "She smelled of Shadowhunter - a smell like sun-warmed glass - and underneath that, a rosy perfume." What? Sun-warmed glass? WTF does that smell like? Hold on, let me wait until the sun comes around and beats down on my window so I can inhale the scent and finally know what a Shadowhunter smells like.

Do we need the same description of a character we've known since book 1 every time he makes an appearance? I don't mean to rant but this is getting borderline Edward Cullenish. Clare feels the need to remind us incessantly about how Jace's hair is like the morning sun haloing around a perfect angelic head. And how his skin is so golden and his body so comprised of ever-flexing muscles, covered in thin white scars from the innumerable runes carved into his heavenly flesh. FYI, those rune scars are visible under his white T-shirts that he always wears. I know, because I've been told this a hundred times.

If these things, along with a whole bunch of other irrelevant garbage, were cut out of the book, it wouldn't have been such a pain to read. Don't get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the first arc of TMI. Maybe because I didn't notice the awkward similes or the repetitive descriptions. Or maybe because the storyline was stronger. This book's story felt weak. I like Sebastian. I enjoyed his sense of humor and I liked the smack down between him and Clary in the apartment. Although I thought that, in addition to the creepy sibling crap getting a tad old, for someone who says he's not like Valentine his motives aren't particularly original. And I do like Clary, too. But 5 books in and I barely see any character development on her part.

Some other things

A.) Two people we could have done without were Maia and Jordan. If anything actually happened with them that moved the plot along, it could have been told or found out by someone else. We didn't need to see them going to the Praetor Lupus or whatever. Someone could have just said that they went. The only purpose they served was to be an excuse to write pointless pr0n to add angst. Because obviously this book had no angst.

B.) Multiple points of view. I had no problem shifting from Clary's to Simon's point of view. But this literally threw you into every single character's POV in no particular order, just whoever Cassie felt like writing at the moment. Personally I didn't feel that anyone besides Clary and Simon had anything worthwhile or plot-moving to offer. It was all superfluous prattle. And it was irritating to be disrupted by constantly changing viewpoints.

Thank God for Magnus Bane and Simon. Truly I think they were the only things about this book I enjoyed. Magnus in his sequined armor was priceless.

I did like the ending. Not just because it was the ending, but Clare does have a knack for leaving us with creepy-curious cliffhangers that make you want to read more. If anything it sent a little chill up my spine, which was nice. But this book could have been cut down. A lot. ...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Roselinta rated it really liked it

CoLS was great. Not amazing like the other 4 but great. I was expecting a lot more and I cant believe I'm saying this but I felt BORED!!! during some of it. I've never found any bit of all the books boring but I found this one boring at certain parts... :(

And this bit is where I start raging and spoiling the story for people that have not read it. SPOILERS! (Like River Song Says)

(view spoiler) CoLS was great. Not amazing like the other 4 but great. I was expecting a lot more and I cant believe I'm saying this but I felt BORED!!! during some of it. I've never found any bit of all the books boring but I found this one boring at certain parts... :(

And this bit is where I start raging and spoiling the story for people that have not read it. SPOILERS! (Like River Song Says)

(view spoiler)[OK! Where to start? Well...
1. I'll start of with the kind of end of Malec! How could you Cassie? They were my favourite couple out of the whole of TMI and TID (apart form Charlotte and Henry). The Malec POV were what really kept me going when I was getting bored of Clary whining (sorry Clary. But I guess you were much MUCH braver that usual and you whined less. )and... and... Waaaaa!!!!! :(
WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE TOGETHER??? HOW CAN MAGNUS SAY 'I LOVE YOU' TO ALEC AND THEN END IT ALL??!!!!! BUT IT IS ALEC'S FAULT. ALL OF IT!! But that didn't mean that Camille bloody Belcourt had to be a jealous cow and tell Magnus. SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED! Well done Maureen. But Alec still has time to somehow make it up to Mangus. If that's possible. I still have hopes. That's my rant over! (NOT QUITE)

2. I hate you Sebastian. For a split second, I thought he actually had feelings. But that split second was over very very quick. I hope he dies a TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, BAD, NASTY, MINGING, HORRIFYING, ATROCIOUS, AWFUL death. But a part of me wants the demon in him to burn away and be the brother Clary had wanted. I want him to be nice and I want Sebastian to be a good guy.

3. Simon, I love you like I always have. You were so bloody brave. I find it adorable that he would die for Clary. It's kind of nice (actually very nice) to know that there is someone that would do anything for you. I wish I had someone like Simon. Hellishly happy that Rebecca didn't tell him that he was a monster and that she didn't do what his mum did.

4. Maia and Jordan! FINALLY!Not saying much more.

5. Luke. The book felt different to me because of Luke not being in it much.

6. Last but DEFO no least, JACE! my baby, I was so worried.I missed his attitude and the way he made sarcastic comments that would make me ROFL for about half an hour. That little moment in the book where he was him, he was him, I was squealing with so much joy. Gosh he suffered so much. I'm just glad he's back. transparent, gold or glowing! WHATEVER! at least he's back!

There's something nagging my mind.: Brother Zachariah. When Clary asked him if he loved someone and he said "two people, There are memories that time does not erase, Clarissa. IS HE HINTING THAT HE IS EITHER JEM OR WILLIAM???? I guess i'll find out in Clockwork Princess. (hide spoiler)]

Ok, so that was probably the hugest(is that a word?)review I've written. Thanks to Cassie for yet another great TMI book. Counting down the days till CoHF (19.03.2014): 550 days. (Not that long?) ...more

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May 02, 2012 Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pnr, paranormal, angels, owned-e-books, fantasy, favorites, vampires, magic, demons, favorites-of-2013

In City of Lost Souls Lilith, the demon has been destroyed and Jace and Sebastian are missing. Clary, not getting any help from the Clave, decides to go out and find them herself. Alec, Simon and Isabelle tag along, of course!!

When Clary and Jace meet she feels that he's changed. Hanging around her evil brother, Sebastian/Jonathan, has made Jace into a different person. He's acting like him and Sebastian/Jonathan are close friends, and that he actually likes him. They soon find out that Jace has ...more

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May 10, 2012 My Nguyen rated it really liked it

I gave this book four stars. Why? It should deserve five stars just because I love Cassie Clare and her dedication to her fans.. Then again this book made me jump from one emotion to another in a turn of a page. I feel really connected with the characters that Cassie creates and sometimes what I want isn't what she writes so yep.. Things happened in this book that made me want to rip my hair out... ...more

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