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

Demon hunters in present day NYC
Apr 9, 2015
3 min read

Clary is safe, but both Sebastian and Jace has vanished into thin air. The boys cannot be tracked, and Clary is worried sick for Jace's safety. When the Clave decides that they have mort important things to do than search for Jace and refuses to give Clary much extra aid, she decides to take matters into her own hands. However, Jace can't stay away from the girl he loves, and he comes back to visit her. Clary is horrified to see that Jace has been, through the use of dark magic, bound to Sebastian. When Sebastian is harmed, both boys bleed. Even worse, Jace is subject to Sebastian's will and is, through the use of the magic, totally okay with it. He isn't even aware that he's doing anything against his will.

Clary, determind to free Jace, agrees to help Sebastian with his plan. What plan, you ask? He's all rather cryptic and vauge about it, but this is Sebastian, so it can't be any good. While Clary spies on the boys and tries to find a way to stop her brother on the inside, Izz, Simon, Alec, and the others work back in New York to see what they can do for Jace there, doing everything from visiting the Iron Sisters to summoning greater demons.

I love and hate Sebastian so much after reading this! Yes, he's a pyschopath and undoubtedly evil. He tears me apart so much... The thing is, I also got the feeling that, in his own way, he really does care for his sister. I have a theory about why Sebastian listened to Valentine: He's probably stringer or faster, but he craved his father's attention and approval. It's very human to want your parents' affection. Valentine is dead now, but he wants Clary's love and admiration since she's the only family he has left. Speaking of his family, his father is dead and his mother abandoned his and openly admits that she wishes he was dead. Clary is his one constant, his one family member, who he feels like he has left. Sebastian expresses a wish to be forgiven for the things he's done while talking to Clary in the book, and it makes me feel sorry for him. He asks his siter if people like him are capable of being loved. I pity him for having to wonder. City of Lost Souls indeed.

Furthermore, Magnus makes a joke about Sebastian kidnapping Jace because he's lonely, but there may be some truth to that. Sebastian must feel very isolated, running from the Clave and without anyone to talk to. He hates Jace for being Valentine's favorite, but maybe he knows that Clary will be where Jace is. Since he cares about Clary, it would be motivation. I think Sebastian is much more human than some of the characters, such as Jocelyn, give him credit for. Maybe he doesn't understand love, but he does feel, to some extent, loneliness and jealousy. Granted, they're not the most positive emotions, but it's a start.

The book was unbelievable! There were plenty of action-packed fighting scenes, and Simon, Jace, and Magnus delivered their trademark humor for some laughs. The character development with Sebastian left me torn over him and vey syoathetic, which I think is a symbol of clare's writing. You know the author's good when you can sympathize with a main antagonist. There was no shortage of romance with the various couples. As always with Casie Clare books, there were plenty of perfect quotes and thoughtful conversation between characters to help the book feel very moving and memerable. 5/5 stars! There's only one more book left, and I'm a bit scared, but no doubt thrilled, to see how it all ends.