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Friday, January 11, 2019

LORD OF SHADOWS (THE DARK ARTIFICES #2) BY CASSANDRA CLARE REVIEW

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: May 23rd 2017
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover and Audiobook
Pages: 699
Buy it: Amazon|B&N|Book Depository

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.


        WOW! That is all I can say about this book without going into too much detail. This book was so much better than I could have ever imagined. While I found Lady Midnight (read my review here) to be a little slow and not filled to the brim with adventures like other Cassandra Clare novels, Lord of Shadows filled all my requirements. It was action packed yet sweet and tender at moments and other moments tore at my heart.
        The way Cassandra Clare writes about love is like no other. Every time there was a moment alone with Emma and Julian I had my highlighter out. The metaphors she uses connect with me in so many different ways and have me thinking about love in a whole new light.
        In Lord of Shadows we get to learn even more about our characters as well as get to see some old faces, which is always nice to see how they have grown between novels. Again I will say the diversity in these novels is incredible which is always welcomed and exciting to see. You could also tell that Cassie was not a fan of the way the last presidential election when writing this book and it shows with the political conflict going on among the Shadowhunters.
        I loved every bit of this book and before I could even write this review I started Queen of Air and Darkness. Lord of Shadows gets 5 out of 5 stars from me!

If you have not read Lord of Shadows please do not read any further! There are spoilers below!



        OMG! Where do I begin??? Lets talk about some of my favorite points at the start of the book that stood out to me. When Emma, Julian, Mark and Christina are on the pier in Santa Monica and Mark wins a goldfish and they name it Magnus and then the fish FUCKING DIES. Why is the fish named Magnus dead? Can someone explain to me. I also grew to love the little awkward relationship that Mark and Emma had. They grew closer as people and Mark learned to confide in Emma and it made me fall in love with him even more.
        Speaking of Mark can we talk about that Mark, Christina and Kerian love triangle we have going on. I am rooting for Mark and Christina because I loved their moments in faerie where they were dancing and drinking together and then again in the ballroom BUT THEN KERIAN SWOOPED IN. When I read it I was kinda confused with Kerian's intent with this. Is it like a "If I can't have you then no one can," or is it more just becoming friends with Marks new lover.
        ALSO GWYN AND DIANA! Actually adorable that Diana turned the head of the Wild Hunt into the most tender person. I loved when he came to her window that night and then SET UP A PICNIC!? And how she confided in him and told her whole life story about her sister and her transformation. I had no idea how unaware Shadowhunters were to mundane medicine.
        Emma and Julian's relationship just breaks my heart. Those chapters where they were in Malcoms house that he had built for Annabelle were the sweetest little moments where they were just in their own little bubble. A house made for forbidden lovers, just like them. The parallels are just too similar. I see what you're doing there Cassie. You ain't slick. And of course Magnus has to walk in on them butt naked after their sexy time. AND IM SO FUCKING CONFLICTED CAUSE LIKE UGH the parabatai bond can be broken but they have to break all parabatai bonds and I know Julian would do it in a heartbeat but Emma is the only sane one.
        And can we talk about Ty, Livvy and Kit! Especially Ty and Kit. I love how their friendship has grown and how Kit has come to understand who Ty is and his habits. The moment when Kit is hugging Ty on the roof was a real parabatai moment! I would love for them to become parabatai if Julian doesn't ruin that for us.
         Okay relationships aside FUCK ZARA! omg I have never hated a character more in a Cassandra Clare novel. Usually her villains are my favorite characters in her novels but UM NO. THIS BITCH NEEDS TO GO. Her entire existence is a giant metaphors relating back to Trump. At first she is just irritating being Diego's fiancé and asking the Blackthorns to do her fucking laundry. BUT THEN SHE TOOK CREDIT FOR MALCOM'S DEAD and for winning big battles. She is so fake. And then she tried to take over the LA Institute. Like just go away. And she has all these bigoted followers behind her. Like just fuck off. As a person of color I felt so personally attacked by Zara even though she has nothing to do with me but I know what she represents and it is terrifying.
        I did not realize how powerful Cortana was. Like not only did she kill one of the riders of mannan but she broke the fucking mortal sword with it. Like I do not understand.
        Also Robert Lightwood being dead really got me. He was the last hope for Emma and Julian and now he is gone. And the heartbreak that Alec must be going through. The scene when Robert has that painting or tapestry or whatever of Alec in triumph was so sweet. AND THEN LIVVY! God I cried so fucking hard. I was listening to the audiobook and I kept playing the part where Julian was hold Livvy's dead body in his hand and screaming over and over. It was so incredibly sad and the tears kept pouring out of my eyes. My heart is still broken for all the Blackthorns. I do not know how I am going to get through Queen of Air and Darkness with all this heartbreak that I have.

How hard did you cry after this book? Let me know in the comments down below!
Thanks Hons,
Lee Chand

9 comments :

  1. Oh my goodness, I love the memes in this post. I also really enjoyed this book :)

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  2. THE JULIAN AND THE CLAVE MEME. FOREAL CRYIN RN

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  3. livvy dying was so sad. i could barely finish the book

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  4. I think the only thing I don't love about these books is the younger kids (maybe it's because I don't like children?), but that's easy to ignore because everything else is A++ for me; I love how they all have their likes and dislikes, how they define family, what they're willing to do for the ones they love... and how being ready to do absolutely anything for them is not shown to be a positive or romantic thing! <3

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  5. THE MEMES!!! THE MEMES!!!

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  6. the blackthorn family must be protected at all costs

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