City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, Book 5) by Cassandra Clare (2012)

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #5
Pages: 535
Published: May 8th 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books


I started reading The Mortal Instruments before the film had come out which was a couple of years ago, but I didn't finish the series. At the time the final book "City of Heavenly Fire" had not come out and this book was therefore the last one out so far. And I was not quite ready to let go of the characters yet so I decided to wait until the sixth one had come out until I would read it. But then when the sixth one did come out I hadn't read the fifth book and I took a break of almost three years before I decided to pick up the book again this June. I am so happy I decided to finish of "The Mortal Instruments" though because I've really missed the Shadowhunter world and returning to the series was like saying hi to a long lost friend.

I have to admit that I was lost at times and had to remind myself of what had happened in the previous books, but I soon caught on.

I had a really hard time accepting Jace. I know that he was bound to Sebastian and therefore acted differently and Clary kept on reminding us that but I still thought he was annoying. I missed Jace and after four books about him where I really liked his character I felt as though he had completely disappeared. This Jace was different and not what I remembered and though I knew it wasn't really him I couldn't accept that as an excuse. Spoiler! In the scene towards the end when he has managed to tear his mark that binds him to Sebastian and comes into Clary's room telling her that he's him again I thought I would melt. I was so relieved that he was himself and that the actual Jace that I remembered after my long break of reading the books still existed.

Simon and Isabelle are by far my favourite characters. I have nothing against Clary and Jace, I absolutely love them, don't get me wrong. But they are the perfect couple. He's the perfect hero and she's the perfect protagonist and they're just perfect with perfect obstacles that they handle perfectly and I love it. Simon and Isabelle however have a relationship which I ship more however, because it's so real and believable. Isabelle has the issue of admitting that she loves Simon and Simon is shy. Simon is not the ripped romantic hero with amazing super powers and that makes him perfect. Because despite being undead and a vampire he's so completely human.

I love Magnus's appearance in "The Mortal Instruments" and "The Infernal Devices" and his relationship with Alec is awesome. I understand that Magnus got upset about Alec visiting Camille, but I also understood why Alec did it. Magnus walking away from Alec at the end upset me so much and I was seriously worried that that relationship would be over forever. 

I absolutely ship Jordan and Maia and I think Jordan is absolutely adorable. During the early books when Maia was first introduced to us I was torn between shipping Simon and Isabelle and shipping Simon and Maia. But as Jordan stepped into the picture all problems were solved and Simon and Isabelle may seriously be my OTP at the moment (this changes over time guys, so this statement may pop up again with a new couple in the future).

Plot Summary:

"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?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series." - Goodreads

Favorite Quote:

"Speaking of hope. Did you see that shot Alec got off with his bow thats my boyfriend." - Magnus

My Rating:

9/10

The only reason this got a lower rating than the others is because I could not stand Jace's behaviour when he was bound to Sebastian. The lack of the actual Jace was painful.

Other Books in these Series:

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1)

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, Book 2)

City of (The Mortal Instruments, Book 3)

City of (The Mortal Instruments, Book 4)

City of (The Mortal Instruments, Book 5)

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, Book 6)

Other Books by Cassandra Clare:

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, Book 2)

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, Book 3)

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices Book 1)
Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices Book 2)

This review is also available on YouTube here.

The White Rose by Amy Ewing (2015)

Title: The White Rose
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Lone City #2
Pages: 310
Published: Oct 1st 2015
Publisher: Walker Books


So when I finished The Jewel I without question bought The White Rose on iBooks. I was absolutely addicted. It's crazy good. I have the feeling that this will become one of the series to fit in with The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments and the really famous book series that most fangirls (and boys hopefully) have read. You get addicted. Again I read this so quickly that I got surprised when I had reached the end. I'm usually not a very fast reader (but these iBooks allow me to read when I've got a minute to spare so I suppose it adds up pretty quickly) so I was almost shocked when I realised that this is it. No more to read.

It's not too often that I read a series before all the books have come out. It's only really happened with The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices and Divergent. So now I'm in agony. I have to wait. And I have no idea when the third book comes out.

I really started to like Garnet in this book. I admit it. I thought Violet was going to end up with Garnet when we first met him during the dinner in The Jewel. Who didn't. At the moment he was the only book of her age in the palace. Until we met Ash. So nooooowww, I hope Raven ends up with him because they seem really nice together and every time I read about him I just feel like they should skip the teasing and get on with it. One book left for them to prove themselves worthy of my attention.

Plot Summary:

Violet, Ash and Raven have escaped the palace of the Duchess of the Lake, but Regimentals are hunting them across the city. Nowhere is safe, and they are dependant on Lucien and his secret society for survival. If they can reach the safety of the White Rose then Violet may be able to help Lucien in his plan to rescue more surrogates. For one surrogate, however, it is already to late. Violet's best friend, is pregnant. And in the Jewel, surrogates cannot survive giving birth.

- Waterstones

Favourite Quote: 

"You have the poer to connect with every blade of grass in this field, every drop of water, every branch on every tree. They will react to you. But, remember, you do not have power over this force. You are only ever its equal. You must be worthy of that. You give yourself to the element, as it gives itself to you" - Sil

"Right now, the united front seems to consist of three surrogates, one lady-in-waiting, a companion, and a royal son. It's a pretty ragtag bunch" - Violet

My Rating:

10/10

No regret.

Other Books in these Series:

The Jewel (The Lone City #1)

The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

The House of the Stone (A  Lone City Novella #1.5) - from Raven's point of view

The Jewel by Amy Ewing (2014)

Title: The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Lone City #1
Pages: 362
Published: Sep 4th 2014
Publisher: Walker Books

I got this book for free on iBooks as it was the book of the week about three weeks ago. I hate actually reading e-books. I don't think it is as charming and cozy and personal and also, as you know, I love having my own copy of the book. And worst of all is when you borrowed the first book at a library or of a friend so you don't have it but continue to buy the other books in the series so you're standing there without the first book. Like wth. Same thing when u get the first book on e-books. Such a trick. But I couldn't help myself, because it was free and a YA book and sometimes book of the week is not interesting at all. I also got a little tricked because I had The Jewel on my to read list on Goodreads but with a different cover so I didn't get that I had wanted to read it. So when I looked it up I already had it clicked in. Wonderful.

I read and read and read and I loved it. Because the setting was a bit Victorian in lifestyle, fashion and culture, but they did have advanced medicine and cars. Strange, yet believeable. I didn't doubt it at all. She must have done some serious planning and research (although the idea of the book is fictional.

I didn't really like Matched but if you did this is a perfect book. It's something between Hunger Games, Divergent and Matched I suppose. Wicked. Truly. I say I like a lot of books and I do. Most are 10/10.This is another one of those. The tension was unbearable! The chapters would either end and then resume at the same event or continue days or weeks later which made it an absolute page turner.

If you read e-books you will know that it gives you page out of so many pages or a percentage. Well, it doesn't mention that the last few pages are acknowledgements and notes from the author etc. So I'm sitting there, thinking I've got 12 pages left because it was right at the climax and as I scroll I reach the acknowledgement and I'm like nooooo. Not another cliffhanger. Like Divergent, but worse. I was devastated.

I'm really critical as to what to spend my iTunes money on so I'm sitting there with 22 pounds and I'm not even hesitating as I buy the second book. Yes, I know. I hate it. But looking from the bright side: the second book had a matching cover to the first one (which was free) and it was only 5 pounds, unlike most physical books that are like 8 or 9, and since I already had the first book on there, why not the second. AND, it mean I can read more often cause I can just pick my phone up when in the car which is really convenient or when I'm waiting. It's harder to bring a book everywhere if you know you will only get a minute or so scattered through the day.

Anyways, I bought the second book. So over to the usual stuff.

Plot Summary:

Violet lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the higher royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her soul purpose to produce a healthy heir to the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learnt the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities. Destined to carry the child of the woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity - until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppet in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other's jeopardy - and salvation.

Favourite Quote:

'I look at you and I feel human again. I look at you and I feel whole' - Ash Lockwood

'Mama always said that it isn't who you are but what you do that is important' - Carnelian

My Rating:

10/10

Please don't let the others disappoint me. I've got really big hopes.

More in these series:

The Jewel (The Lone City #1)

The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

The House of the Stone (A Lone City Novella #1.5) - From Raven's point of view

Oh dear. I've written so much. It's easier to write a lot about a book that you've just read. That's still got clear deep footprints on your mark that hasn't necessarily had time to fade a little yet. I explained my love for it my friend and I think possibly that she may want to read it. I hope so.