Review: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

 Source: Bought/Personal Library

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Release Date:Already Released.
Number of Pages: 534 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

I haven't included the description from Goodreads because I don't want to spoil anyone who doesn't want to read the description...if you do want to read it, it can be found on the book's Goodreads page.

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I was extremely torn after I finished the book before this one, City of Fallen Angels, so I was going into CoLS just hoping that I would love it like I'd loved the first three books...and thankfully, I did! :D I am super happy to be able to say that I absolutely loved City of Lost Souls, and I'm extremely excited for the final book, City of Heavenly Fire now...and we have to wait until 2014 for it! It's gonna be a long wait, but at least now if I decide to reread the series, I know it'll end for the time being on a note I'm happy with...so yay for that! :D

One big difference between CoFA and CoLS from the first three books, is that that there are way more narrators! Instead of just being more Jace and Clary centric, these ones include lots of Simon, some of Alec, and in CoLS's case, even some of Maia (and some other characters who shall not be named to avoid spoilers :P)! I like that there are more sides to the story now, but it's definitely a big shift from the earlier books. Hopefully it's one that most fans will adapt to, and like. :)

The biggest thing I'm going to stress in this review is the fact that even if CoFA left you conflicted and kind of tormented (like it did for me :P), then you can still enjoy City of Lost Souls! I seriously was kind of nervous about going into this one because I was just so out of it after I read CoFA. I didn't even know how to react. I knew I loved the writing, but the story as a whole left me just so sad, and so broken up inside...so when I read CoLS I was just hoping and hoping that this one would end on a better note for me...and it did! Yes, it had a cliffhanger, like most of Cassandra Clare's books, but this one wasn't nearly as brutal as CoFA, and it left me content and excited for CoHF rather than feeling all jumbled! What I'm trying to get at here is that I think if CoFA wasn't necessarily a hit for you, you shouldn't be afraid to keep going with CoLS because if you don't read it, you might just miss out on one amazing story! :D

I think by now we all know the characters in this series, but I'll mention some just because. I've read some reviews where people said Clary annoyed them, but I've always loved Clary...I don't care what anyone says. I think Clary is a great heroine. She's strong, determined, and always stands up for what she believes in. She may be impulsive, and doesn't always consider her own safety, but she does it for the people she loves, and I can't help but admire her for that. Yes, maybe she mopes around about Jace and misses him...but seriously? Wouldn't you?! Honestly, I think some people forget that characters are supposed to be people too, and that they're supposed to behave as if they have feelings. :P Anyway, I think Clary is awesome, and I think that she's grown a lot over this series, and in CoLS she really shows it. She shows off some of her awesome Shadowhunter moves, and proves as always that she is willing to do whatever she can for what she believes in and to help those she loves. I'm going to avoid talking about my number one YA heartthrob, Jace, because I really don't want to ruin anything for you all...but I will say that he is in the book, so don't worry, he shows up. :P

So, if you've been afraid to start CoLS because you were unsure after CoFA, I'm going to encourage you to give it a shot! Also, if you've been waiting to read the final three books in this series until they all come out to avoid cliffhangers...I say go for it now! CoLS ends on a great note...one I was seriously okay with it ending on, so I think if you're waiting, it's time to pick it up. :)


Have you read City of Lost Souls?
Are you waiting to read the last three books until they're all out (I actually know someone who's doing this, which is why I'm asking in case you were wondering :P)?
Did you read City of Fallen Angels? Were you torn like I was?
Anything else you'd like to share? Haiku's about Jace? Rants about Clary (or should I say counter-rants since my comment turned into a bit of a rant :P)?
Whatever it is, feel free to discuss. :)

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Fanfic Favourites! :D

Remember how I said that I'd be recommending some fanfiction, or just basically raving over the ones I love, while also pimping my friend's work...well the time is nigh, she's just posted the first chapter of her new story, and I have some awesome recommendations for you! :D

So, my friend paper-fl0wers has posted the first chapter of her newest fic, Raziel's Angel. == Click link to go to Chapter 1! :) This fanfiction is about Jace and Clary from The Mortal Instruments, it's AU (Alternate Universe), but they're still Shadowhunters. It's rated T (Teen), so it's not going to be a racy fic. I know some people don't like those, while others may be disappointed that it isn't one. :P haha I really enjoyed the first chapter, she's set up a world where Clary's grown up as a Shadowhunter, and is the daughter of Luke, not Valentine. Then Jace, is the adoptive son of Valentine. Plus, I love Jace and Clary...so I adore this! :)

If you'd like the description of Raziel's Angel again, its:

Jace and Clary have been best friends since childhood, but a tragic event pushes Jace away from her and forces him to make difficult decisions. He then has to struggle to figure out the difference between what is right and what he's been told is right.

I'm also going to be helping her beta it, by throwing ideas back and forth. Right now, she has limited time to get onto the computer, so it might take a while for new chapters to show up, but I'll keep you updated when new chapters are posted. :)

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I also have a couple of my favourite fanfics that I'm going to recommend! These one's are complete, so you can just keep reading until the end if you want to. :P

The first one is by ddpjclaf, who I absolutely love! She's fantastic, and her fics are so amazing! Seriously, you'll be wowed! The one I'm going to recommend today is called, Turbulence. == Click link to go to Chapter 1! :)

It's also about Jace and Clary from The Mortal Instruments (obviously I love TMI fanfics, but I have a huge soft spot for anything by ddpjclaf). This one is rated M (Mature), so it's definitely one that some people might not want to read. It has some pretty serious subject matter, and has some lemony moments, but in general, the M is more for serious stuff, like abuse, etc. This one is AU (Alternate Universe), AH (All Human), OOC (Out of Character), and fluffy (moments that make you go...Awwww, and the kind of kissy scenes that make you go all warm and fuzzy inside). I'm giving you all this lingo so you can understand the descriptions. haha I'm thinking maybe I should just make a whole post on Fanfiction lingo...would that interest anyone?

Turbulence is also posted in completion on its own blog, but I'm going to warn you that there is a music player on it...so don't blame me when the music scares you. haha  Here's the link: Turbulence Blog. You can also find videos, a playlist, and various art for Turbulence on the blog. :)

Here's Turbulence's description:

While dealing with a loss, Clary befriends her new neighbor's troubled foster-son. Can their friendship help them let go of the pain or will their pasts intervene and rip them apart? AU/AH PRETTY OOC. VERY FLUFFY. A wee bit of lemonade.

PS. Jace plays guitar and sings in this one...and he plays soccer. *sigh* Oh, how I love Turbulence Jace. ;) 

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And my last recommendation is written by GreenPuma, and it's called Facebook Friends == Click link to go to Chapter 1! :)

This one isn't about TMI! haha This one is a Twilight fic, centered around Edward and Bella. It's AU (Alternate Universe), AH (All Human), and OOC (Out of Character). It's also rated M (Mature), and this one definitely has "adult" material in it, of course, there's also swearing. It's now completed, so you won't have to wait for more chapters. :) I loved this one. I'm a sucker for anything that mentions Facebook...so this story's title had me interested right away, and then I read it, and I was hooked! I love how this fic has Facebook added into it, through statuses, and chats...it's awesome! :D Plus, you'll notice with these recommendations that I mostly read AH and AU fics for Twilight, I'm a sucker for really well written ones.

Here's Facebook Friends' description:

Bella is shocked when her sexy but standoffish lab partner, Edward, friends her on Facebook. Will Alice, convince her to accept Edward's friend request? Or will she write it off as a prank of the conceited, spoiled rich kid she knows him to be?

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So, that's my first actual recommendation post for Fanfiction, I hope that at least a few of you are interested, and if you are please let me know! I want to make sure at least one person actually wants some great fanfiction to read! I'm not sure how frequently I'll be doing these posts, but I made a button for it, so you'll know when you see the button that it's about Fanfiction. 

Also, I will only recommend fanfiction that are well written, seriously. I've read some of the ones that aren't, and I've finished them too....I'm one of those people who find it hard to not know how something ends, so I will not put you through that. :P 

I mentioned making a post about Fanfiction lingo, but you might've missed it in my all my words up there, so would anyone be interested in a post exclusively about Fanfiction and it's lingo? You know terms, like OOC, AH, AU, the different ratings, Mary Sue, OTP? If you are let me know, and I'll start compiling one, and I'll research to see if I can find some I don't already know. :)

If you read fanfiction, what do you like to read it about? And what are some of your favourite pairings?

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur

Fanfiction! Why I love it, and a bit of pimpage for my friend, Jen! :D

You all might not know this about me, but I'm a pretty big fan of fanfiction. I absolutely adore it! There are some really amazing fanfics out there, and I won't lie, I've spent many hours reading them! And I mean many. I even have a few saved on my computer because I know I'll want to read them again and again, and I've also written a couple myself, but I'll keep quiet about those. :P

I love that with fanfiction my favourite characters can basically do or be anything! They don't have to be confined to their own world within their story, or even their own book! A scene can be rewritten and something can be added, or a story can be continued on for forever...or at least until the fanfic stops. A story can be completely shifted around and characters can become average people in our world. Characters that you hoped and hoped would be together could finally get their chance! Or if you're like I was when I first found fanfiction, you can get a chance to read more stories about the characters after their story has ended! 

The first fanfic that I every read was for The Mortal Instruments. I'd just finished City of Glass and I was so not ready to stop reading about Jace. Yes, I won't lie, it was all about Jace. My obsession with him can be unhealthy at times, and I've come to terms with that. :P This was before the newest TMI books had been announced, so I was seriously desperate. I can't remember which story I read first, but that first fanfic lead to countless others, and soon I was reading Twilight fanfics, Harry Potter fanfics, Hunger Games fanfics...and pretty much any other fanfic that stirred my fancy. I even read a couple fanfics for Veronica Mars, where Logan and Veronica FINALLY ended up together...although, in my mind they totally did even if the show isn't on anymore! Come on, after that finale and that look between Logan and Veronica after he kicks that dude's butt (VM fans totally know what I'm talking about :P), there is no way that they didn't end up together. Piz knew it too (you could so tell), and I knew it! Anyways...I'm getting off topic!

So, I'm a huge fanfic addict, although I've weaned myself off of it pretty well, if I do say so myself. I no longer have tonnes to read every other day. There was honestly a time where I had at least one fanfic update to read daily, but I quickly realized it was a ridiculous amount, so now I limit myself. :P

Anyways, my friend, Jen, asked me to see if any of my followers were fanfic fans, and see if anyone would be interested in her new fanfic, so I thought, "Why not?" and I figured it would be a great time to see if I have any other fellow Fanfic addicts out there reading the posts on my blog. ;)

 

Both of the two fanfics that I'm going to mention are for The Mortal Instruments. Her profile on Fanfiction.net is: paper-flowers, and she's written 14 fanfictions so far, but her longest and most popular one (and the one that I met her through) was Fallen Gold, which is now completed. 

Fallen Gold's Summary: 

Our golden haired angel has fallen when, after breaking a law, the Clave removes Jace of his runes and abilities. He tries to see past the glamours and one day meets a redhead who can. Meanwhile, Idris is being taken over by a villian you're familiar with.

And her upcoming fanfic is called Raziel's Angel, here's its summary:

Shadowhunters, Jace Herondale and Clary Graymark, have been best friends since childhood. They grew up together in Idris. But a tragic event pushed Jace away from his friend and forces him to make difficult decisions. He struggles to figure out the difference between what is right and what he's been taught is right.

I'm definitely excited to read her latest fanfic, and I hope that at least a few of you are fanfiction fans too! That way at least one person will be interested it this post! haha

I'm thinking of doing a post every once in a while with Fanfiction recommendations, and I'm planning on posting about Jen's story, Raziel's Angel, again when she posts it online, would any of you be interested in that?

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur

PS. I know some people don't like to admit that they like fanfiction, so if you want to comment, but don't really want it to be seen, feel free to email me about it at ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com, I'd love to know that people are actually interested in me posting about it. :)

Cover of City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare Revealed!

Here's the awesome City of Fallen Angels cover which was just revealed today!

If you can't tell, that's Clary and Simon on the cover, and Cassie explains why at her livejournal HERE.

And HERE is a short excerpt from CoFA!

I don't know about anyone else, but this is getting me excited, less than four months until it comes out, and if you didn't notice, the countdowns until CoFA even changed to this cover! It looks awesome! :)

Happy Reading Everyone!! :D

♪♫ Ambur

Cassandra Clare MEGA Giveaway on Paperback Dolls!!!!

Okay, first, I think this may be my favourite contest ever!!! TONS of Cassandra Clare/Shadowhunter goodies being given away! How can I resist an offer like that???? I can't... : p
Even if you've never read these books I still suggest you enter because they are so worth having!!! : D

http://paperbackdolls.blogspot.com/2010/08/cassandra-clare-mega-giveaway.html

Happy reading, and good luck to anyone who sees this! : D

...don't we all????

I was feeling bloggish, so I thought I'd give this a try....

CANADA DONUT! . . . yum :P

First time blogger here, and I thought for my first post I would share a picture of a donut, oh what a fine donut it is. :) Eh Canada Go...or something like that anyways. All I know about that Olympic chant is that most of my friends think it's idiotic. haha I still love you my dearest Canada though. :D

Okay, so I guess I'll start by telling the blogisphere a little about myself.
So, I'm an 18 year old, Canadian taurus who definitely follows many of the traits for her astrological sign. Obviously, since I am referring to myself as her, I am in fact, a girl. I love reading, especially if it's fantasy in any form, and I'm a sucker for a good romance too. I've got the heart of a dreamer and it shows through my constant daydreams...and by the fact that I still am trying to prolong "growing up."
My friends, and family mean the world to me, and without them I'd be lost. I used to hate living in the city and residence because it wasn't home; I was out of my comfort zone, away from my family and dogs, and it was hard. Thankfully, I've started to actually enjoy it; I'm not sure if it's because of something I'm doing different or just me getting used to it. Either way, I still love going home on weekends, it brightens every day just knowing you're getting one day closer to being back home...even if it's only for a couple of days.
I have an obsessive personality, which could be linked with my perfectionism, but who knows. I also tend to get addicted to random things, like fanfiction or perezhilton.
I've been a major Twilight junkie, but it was soon replaced when I found the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Jace pwns Edward, but Edward's still an awesome dude, who has a slight problem with sparkling, but don't we all????


Now that the blogworld knows me...at least a little...I am going to have to find a point for this blog. It won't be easy, but it will be done.

Till next time. ;)