Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Serious Question for All Mortal Instruments Readers

City of Lost Souls


Dear Mortal Instruments Readers -

Hello Kindred Spirits! I, as you, have loved Clary and Jace, Alec and Magnus, Simon and the whole cast of characters that make up this delightful series from Cassandra Clare. I've "Fan-girled" my page with gifs of the upcoming movie and book quotes. I'm eagerly anticipating going opening night to the movie and have had my own misgivings about the casting job ... nevertheless, this isn't about the movie.

This about book 5, City of Lost Souls. This book is too long. Nothing happens in this book. I went from loving this book to just hoping I can finish it. It's taken me a month. Normally it takes me two days. I'm dying.

I've spoken with other fans and they have felt the same way. Did Ms. Clare run out of ideas? Did her publisher insist on a certain amount of pages? Did someone feel that this slow moving action was good? I'd like to disagree with that someone.

Now, as a good reader I feel I must finish the book (not always the case) and in order to read the next one (which, hopefully, will be infinitely better). I like these characters, this series, but I feel like this book is still in a draft form and I should be giving advice of what writing to tighten and what to cut because it is so repetitive. If Clary and Jace have one more make-out scene where she is trying to remind herself that "THIS ISN'T HIM," I might put the book down forever.

There is light at the end of the tunnel ... 78 pages to go. I feel like Clary would do anything for Jace, which I don't think was ever the case before. Clary knew the difference between right and wrong, good and bad ... now, gah, now she is Bella and her whole life will fall apart just because Edward, I mean Jace, is gone.

What do you think? Seriously now, tell me if you think that this was up to the standard of Clare's other books.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Lizz! I was just talking to one of my YA patrons about this yesterday. I told her that I had a tough time with the City of Lost Souls too. Sometimes I think the books kind of lose their edge when you've heard the stories over and over again and nothing new comes up. Plus I don't have a soft spot for Jonathan at all and #5 was pretty Jonathan centric if you know what I mean. I say if you are that close to finishing to go for it! Clary & Jace will always be up there in my top ten YA fiction couples no matter what :)

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    1. I agree that Clary and Jace are one of my fave couples and I think you hit it on the head - I don't want to think about Jonathan, let alone allow him to be the star. Oh well, I'm finishing it tonight and then it will be done! :)

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  2. I'm with you guys. Slow moving, but I am determined to finish the book. This book hasn't really grabbed me like the four before it has. But I normally try to end something and not just leave it hanging because I want to know how it ends and if it gets better. There are some interesting parts in it, though. Not saying it's all bad, but just really slow at getting to them. I could see if this was put into a movie, they'd probably take a lot of stuff out.

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    1. Well, I finished it (finally) ... and you should finish it, the ending is actually pretty good. I agree, that movies take out a LOT of the book. Usually this is disappointing, however with this one it will probably be a nicety.

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    2. Well, that's encouraging with the ending. I just got to part three and will start that tonight, hopefully.

      Sidenote: Why do books have different parts (part 1, part 2, etc.)? I never understood that.

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  3. I didn't think book 5 was as good as the other 4 but I still loved it. I love all of those books and the prequel series. Clary is an amazing writer and I think ever word she writes is worth it.

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  4. I agree. I thought It was good but the others were better. Honestly though she could have stopped at book three and have a happy ending. Not every single end needs to be tied. I liked the end of the 5th book. It got really good toward the end and it was worth finishing it. I agree that it was repetitive.I don't know how she's going to do the 6th book it's going to have to be really long.

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    1. Good points - I don't remember any "favorite" parts from book four, so I think I agree with you. I'm not sure where the story will go from here ... we will see :)

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