City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, narrated by Molly C. Quinn, is the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series. In this installment, Jace has been taken and his whereabouts are unknown, and the shadowhunters normal ways of tracking people are not working. Clary is desperate for the Clave to take action and find him, while her friends, Simon, Alec, Isabelle, and Magnus are working on their own with Maya and Jordan to find him.
Be aware that this is the 5th book in the series, and you have to read these in order. You’ve been warned that there are possible spoilers below.
Sebastian (aka Jonathan Morgenstern, Clary’s demon-like brother) has taken Jace to a pocket universe, making tracking extremely difficult. What’s his plan, and why does he need Jace? The bond between Jace and Sebastian was sewn during a ritual in book 4 where Sebastian’s blood was consumed by Simon at the behest of Lilith, who sees Sebastian as her child. Bound together, Sebastian’s injuries become Jace’s injuries and vice versa, but Jace is subservient to Sebastian’s will.
If the Clave finds them, they will both die because “the law is the law.”
The friends take different approaches to uncover Sebastian’s plans and save Jace, with Clary placing herself right in the lion’s den. It will take all her strength to tow the line with Sebastian and Jace so she can uncover the plan. She knows Jace is still Jace beneath the surface, but she can’t seem to reach him. Lilith’s binding spell is strong, but she’s placed herself in harm’s way just to save him.
Impetuous and perhaps foolish, Clary is determined as a teen who throws herself headfirst into danger. To be young, confident, and ready to jump in, those are some qualities of youth that are ever-present in this series.
On the other side of the world, her friends are bargaining with demons, Iron sisters, and angels to save Jace and Clary, while preparing to save everyone from Sebastian’s demonic plans. The plan they devise involves summoning an angel with Simon and his mark of protection, but what price will he pay to save his best friend?
Clare’s characters are slowly maturing through this series, but Clary is frustratingly “in love at all costs.” She thinks of nothing by Jace or even of any possible consequences as she acts. It’s only until after she’s in a situation that she begins to see the dangers to herself and others.
Molly Quinn is one of the best narrators in this series. She’s able to differentiate the numerous characters in this book with inflection and voice, with her cadence in Jace’s changing voice as he succumbs to Sebastian’s bond.
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ramps up the tension and has a lot of action. It’s a world that has been built over time, but its mythologies and spells are being unraveled and cast slowly on its readers.
RATING: Quatrain
