Series: The Mortal Instruments #5
Published by Simon & Schuster on May 8, 2012
Genres: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Goodreads
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?
You get a real sense in this book, even more so than in City of Fallen Angels, that the last year or so has changed Clary, Jace, Simon, Alec and Isabelle in profound ways. Cassandra Clare has done an outstanding job of developing these characters to the point that City of Bones seems like a walk in a meadow of daisies compared to what they face now. There are many “OMG” moments in this book and I really felt like we got to know everyone better. While Jace and Clary’s relationship is still the center of the story, I felt just as much love for all of the other characters and what they were also going through. Simon has the opportunity to really step up, Izzy deals with more personal issues than we’ve ever seen before and we also get some insight into Magnus and Alec’s relationship. Maia and Jordon are still there, don’t worry, and they have a very important part to play in everything that happens. This book belonged to the young Shadowhunters and I loved how they took matters into their own hands. I noticed the adults really kind of faded into the background more than in the previous books. The action is non-stop, of course, and all of the different little side stories are almost too much awesomeness to handle, but pay attention because you know that there are no frivolous facts or unimportant side stories in these books. If it doesn’t matter now, it will, someday, I’m sure.
There are clues given about the next series set in LA, The Dark Artifices, and who might appear in them. As Cassie Clare said, be on the look out for a brief appearances by some kids that will probably be teenage Shadowhunters when we see them next. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the many, many Infernal Devices references. They are peppered everywhere, part reward for fans and part clues from the past that lead you to think one thing, then another. (If you haven’t read the ID series, it won’t take away from this story at all). I do feel like there was some significant information about everyone’s favorite Victorian Era Shadowhunters, but I could be totally wrong. Of course, my heart wants to believe all of this, but you never know what it really means, do you? Overall, this book was a lot of fun to read and it was much less heartbreaking than I feared! It was nail biting, yelling at the book, what’s going to happen next, fun and I loved every word!
Great review! I agree…this book is non-stop, and I liked how the young Shadowhunters really stepped up. It might just be my favorite book of the series so far…
Also, good job on writing a spoiler-free review. That’s so hard to do, especially with books like this where you just want to talk about everything!
ahh wow! amazing review! i caaannnot wait to get this. it sounds amazing<3
Yaaaaay! So glad to hear it didn’t disappoint. My copy hasn’t arrived yet but I’m SO EXCITED to get started on it. I like that it ties in a little with ID. Great review, Kate. 😀
wow I really need to try this book, I keep hearing great things about the series and I don”t know why I haven’t read it yet. Thank you for this great review!
Awesome review!! It’s so hard keeping it spoiler free. So glad you loved it!