#to be fair they're all fairly similar. these are just the worst offenders

[puppys-rhythm-heaven]

ds has the best sequels tbh. i mean a lot of them suck if you judge them based on, like, how different they are from the original (built to scale 2, the dazzles 2, rhythm rally 2, lockstep 2, karate man 2, glee club 2, munchy monk 2). but also they're still great i love them. <3

[mistwraiths]

3 stars

City of Lost Souls is the fifth book in the Mortal Instruments series. After that ending of Fallen Angels, I was really looking forward to this book. So I was pretty disappointed that this book just didn't hit the mark for me. In fact, this book is probably my least favorite of the whole series so far.

In fact, this book was sadly quite boring. There's a lot of kissing and couples being together, and that's about it. Oh, yes, there was a bit of a plot going however it's dragged out entirely too long. To find out what Sebastian is doing and to find out about Jace, and to figure out what the others are going to do and do that plan just takes FOREVER. I do love these characters but it felt like hardly anything is happening for 500 pages.

The worst offender is the Clary, Jace, and Sebastian trio. I like Jace and Clary together, but not like this. Jace being mind controlled or not himself basically and Clary kissing on him and all that just wasn't something I enjoyed. Look, I know they were together and they loved each other, and I know she was like ~trying to trick them/be on their side. But I would have preferred her to be there just for Jace and not have that. I think it could have worked. About 75% of their scenes felt so boring. Not-Jace and Clary walk around Venice for ????????? a date. She's literally supposed to be finding out how to help him and what Sebastian is doing. The whole "is he happy?" thing was dumb too because HE IS NOT HIMSELF????!!!! It doesn't matter if he's happy, he's literally possessed or whatever.

And then, he just becomes free for a little while OFF SCREEN. I would have loved to have it been onscreen. And Clary literally does the same thing Jace did to her. She takes away his choice. And it ends up being really bad. I really did like the epilogue part where they talk about trusting each other and how being together is the best protection because they shouldn't be stopping each other. Ugh, these two I go up and down with.

Sebastian is an okay villain, he just really feels a bit of Valentine 2.0. Has a cup, raise something powerful, the Clave is stupid. He's more interesting than Clary and Jace in the same scenes until he gets all incestous.

Okay, let's talk about Simon. I actually didn't mind Simon in this book! I'm shocked. He's fairly useful in the book with his Mark of Cain and getting the sword was cool. Do I like him? No but I tolerate him. He actually had a really GOOD quote part that I enjoyed:

"Is it really love to tell someone that if it came down to picking between them and every other life on the planet, you'd pick them? Is that-- I don't know, is that a moral sort of love at all?" - Simon

" Love isn't moral or immoral. It just is." -Clary

" I know. But the actions retake in the name of love, those are moral or immoral. And normally it wouldn't matter. Normally whatever I think of Jace being annoying He never asked you to do anything that went against your nature. Not for him, not for anyone. But he isn't exactly Jace anymore, is he?" - Simon

I think about something similar when characters are willing to like burn the world for their love. Or don't care who suffers as long as their love one gets what they want or is safe. I really liked this part even if they don't really go into depth about it.

To tell you I'm most disappointed with Alec is an understatement. I'm glad he didn't go through with but to even to entertain the idea!!!!!! Or just talk to Camille about your problems instead of maybe Magnus. Is it fair of Magnus just to shut it down about his past when Alec clearly wants to know and it's causing issues? Probably not. But Alec isn't doing himself any favors. His part about the million different paper cuts a day made me so emotional though!!!

Isabelle is probably my favorite. There's really not much going on with her except she likes Simon and she's struggling with what's going on in her family.

Luke deserves better!!!! He's the best one in this series. I still extremely dislike Jocelyn. As for, Maia and Jordan, I don't really know why they're still here. As for their romance plot, it's... okay. I get it but I don't really love it.

The end battle did make up for the boring parts of the book, however how many times is a book in a series going to be rescue Clary and werewolves doing the Most™️. The whole Jace having that heavenly fire is cool. I liked that Clary was the one who stabbed him too.

Anyways, it was just okay but I'm hoping for a banger of an ending.