The Laughing Listener
Reread August 2018
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Molly C. Quinn
Length: 16 hours & 59 minutes

Story Rating: 5 Stars
Performance Rating: 1 Star
Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Mark your calendar guys. Today is the day I gave my first one star performance rating for an audiobook. Because BOY was it cringe-worthy. Normally I try to be pretty lenient and forgiving because it’s not like I’ve had to perform an entire book out loud before, but ugh. I’m pretty sure the only reason I got through this at all was because I was trapped in a car driving to Atlanta for four hours there and back.

Glass case of emotion

But I digress. I’m not here to talk about the crummy narrating, I’m here to review this book, which was AWESOME. This was my second time reading this and I’m jarred by how different the experience was. The first time, I was so angry about Sebastian. To me it felt (and honestly, I still sort of feel this way) that the whole Sebastian-coming-back-to-life thing was just a ploy to stretch out the series and pump out more books. My saltiness must have tainted the memories of this because I remembered City of Lost Souls being pretty sub-par and underwhelming. NOT THE CASE.

And apparently I forgot EVERYTHING??? The only parts I really remembered were the ones in Sebastian’s floating house of horrors, which take up shockingly little real estate in the plot. So basically, it was like I was reading this for the first time.

I have such a better appreciation for Sebastian as a villain now that I’ve had time to brush off some of my fangirl bitterness. He’s such a great mix of human and demon. And the fact that he’s Clary’s biological brother adds a layer of complexity to his character and their relationship that was really interesting to watch. Plus, I COMPLETELY FORGOT HOW F**KING CREEPY HE IS AT THE END????? OH MY GOD. I’m not exaggerating when I say I was yelling at him to cut it out when I was in the car. “NO. JUST STOP. STOP TALKING. PLEASE. WHYYYYYYY???” ⇐ That was me.

Forever unclean

Clary’s character arc in this one was really awesome to watch too. I was annoyed with her in the beginning when she falls for Sebastian’s “we’re the same” speech. But she comes around in the most awesome way. There’s also a ton of Sizzy moments that had me giddy!! I LOVED watching Simon and Izzy get closer. They’re just so freaking cute! And MORE BROTHER ZACHARIAH!!!!! All those little references to The Infernal Devices were killing me! So many feels. I love that I finally get to catch everything I missed the first time I read this.

I’m still majorly uncomfortable with Maia and Jared’s relationship and time hasn’t changed my feelings about that. I love Maia individually and I understand the circumstances surrounding Jared’s situation, but I HATE that he was violent with her in the past and she still goes back to him. Their whole relationship gives me an icky, anxious feeling I don’t like and they feel kind of unnecessary to story.

My boy Alec though. Oh my god. He needs to get himself together. I completely understand why he’s freaking out because the immortality thing would freak me out too, but I gotta side with Magnus on this one. He had every freaking right to break up with Alec, because WTF??? I mean, CAMILLE??? THAT’S WHO YOU’RE GOING TO FOR ADVICE?? I can’t.

FINAL WORD

This book was SO MUCH BETTER THAN I REMEMBER!!! Perhaps even my new favorite of the series!! I love that we get more time with the background characters and Sebastian is a top-notch creepy villain.

#1 ↦ [b:City of Bones|256683|City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432730315s/256683.jpg|2267189] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#2 ↦ [b:City of Ashes|1582996|City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432730356s/1582996.jpg|1575860] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#3 ↦ [b:City of Glass|3777732|City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1369452339s/3777732.jpg|3443248] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#4 ↦ [b:City of Fallen Angels|6752378|City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1369452302s/6752378.jpg|6948844] ↦ ✦✦✦✧✧
#5 ↦ [b:City of Lost Souls|8755776|City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460477703s/8755776.jpg|13629058] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✦
#6 ↦ [b:City of Heavenly Fire|8755785|City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460477794s/8755785.jpg|13629068] ↦ ✦✦✦✦✧

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