City of Lost Souls

WARNING! Spoiler-ridden review, very hard to review without spoiling.

I have always found Cassandra Clare's work an easy and fast read, and I mean that for a compliment. She paces things quite well and knows how to make it difficult for you to put the book down. You get a feverish desire to know what is to come next for your beloved characters. You crave to know what dastardly plan the “bad guy” is cooking up.

It started up a little slow, but that is how she always works it. She works the story a bit slow at first, then it picks up fast and pulls you into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders with ease.

First off, I would like to discuss all my feelings about Simon Fucking Lewis. I have given him a new middle name, for he is a glorious and wondrous creature. He is quite possibly my favorite character in a book in a rather long time. I love how I can relate to his interests in music and how he is a pretty massive nerd. I mean, how can you go wrong with a guy who chooses to retell Star Wars to a girl her cares for as a “lull-her-to-sleep” bedtime story. (By the way, it was quite possibly the most beautiful thing when Isabelle tried to say she didn't remember it at all and yet when he asked her a semi-obscure question about the series, she knew it - no hesitation.)

The the rather disturbing, on the verge of being rape-y scene with Sebastian and Clary was a bit rough. It was hard to read that moment. The abuse, the kiss and him fumbling at her jeans? Yeah, I had to nearly force myself through that. I also kind of had to fight a little bit of bile.

On a side note? Luke. Simon. Magnus. Alec. If you have read, you know why I have selected these names in particular.

I swear if Maureen does something to Alec, I will throw a ridiculous tantrum. I already threw one about the whole Magnus breaking up with Alec. And we shant go into my tantrum full of worries about Simon in conjunction with Raphael upon having Raziel take the Mark of Cain from him. I will not delve into that, it makes my heart hurt. I have this terrible feeling that something horrible is going to happen to both Alec and Simon.

If the Star Wars reference was not enough, the Human Torch reference just made me want to hug Miss Clare. The nerd culture references that she drops through Clary and Simon are a wonderful breath of fresh air. For me it adds to their relatability.

OH! I really hope this was not solely something I spotted... But, is it me or does it seem that Brother Zacariah may have some sort of connection to our dear William Herondale. So many things point to the possibility. When Clary asked him if he ever loved anyone and he answered that it was two people. My head immediately went to Tessa and Jem... Maybe I'm crazy but, hmm.

There is so much more that I could add to this, but here is hoping I get some comments or something for further discussion of things I said above.

(Yes, I know this is not the most fluid review and more of a general discussion/rambling, but I think you will all cope with that.)