City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire!

(Placeholder covers for the next three TMI books from the official TMI website)

Cassandra Clare shared some very exciting news in her USTREAM chat this afternoon!  She officially announced that she is writing two more Mortal Instruments books to follow City of Fallen Angels.  City of Lost Souls is set to be published in May 2012 and City of Heavenly Fire will be published in September  2013!  How exciting is that?!  More of all our favorite TMI characters - Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, Magnus, and Alec = AWESOME!  :-)

She didn't reveal many details about the upcoming continuation of the TMI series, but she did say that the main antagonist they will face is someone who has been mentioned (but no one seems to have correctly guessed who that is yet).  Cassandra also mentioned a few minor plot elements from the next three TMI books.  *MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD*  (highlight the area below to read them)

1.  Simon's wandering is interpreted in a very specific way & is more like being an outcast.

2.  Aline will get a girlfriend.

3.  There will be a new Inquisitor as well as a new Consul.

4.  Jocelyn is worried that Clary's relationship with Jace could lead her to make some of the same youthful mistakes Jocelyn regrets having made, so she is not a huge fan of their relationship.

5.  New characters will be introduced, including a new male character and a new female character who may shake up the relationships a bit.

6.  Some questions that are brought up in Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) will be answered in City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5).

To see the archived video of Cassandra Clare's chat, click here.  To read more about the announcement of the fifth and sixth Mortal Instruments books, visit The Mortal Instruments website or keep an eye on Cassandra Clare's livejournal.

Are you as excited as I am to hear that there will be more Mortal Instruments books?!  *does a happy dance*  :-)