Review: Lady Midnight
Spoiler-free review!
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Pages: 669
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Review:
Wow. Cassandra Clare never ceases to amaze me. I've been a long-term fan and avid reader of her books ever since she published City of Bones, and I have to say that this one is by far the best work written by her. And three years was definitely worth the wait.
I'm going to try and keep this spoiler-free, since the book only just came out and I don't want to ruin it for any Shadowhunter fans who have not yet read it.
First off, I'll start with the characters. I loved each and every one of them more than I actually expected. After reading The Infernal Devices, I thought no one could replace my love for the characters in that series, but I've thus far been proven wrong. One aspect I love about Clare's books is how well she focuses on character development. In Lady Midnight, a lot of the characters have already been established in the later books of The Mortal Instruments and know each other pretty well. I absolutely loved Emma Carstairs - she's unlike Clary and Tessa, and instead is more headstrong, tough, and sassy. Julian Blackthorn is her other half who compliments all the parts where Emma lacks. He too is unlike Will and Jace and Jem, but you'll have to read the book more to find out why. Besides the two main characters, some of my favorites were Cristina, Ty, and Mark.
Next, the world was absolutely phenomenal. Clare's books are also amazing for world-building, and this particular ones focuses on the intricacies involving faeries and the Shadow World, something that the readers have never experienced before. To be honest, I had my doubts on this at first, but after reading this book, I found the mythology fascinating and its place in the novel made sense. We also get to know more about the Clave and the Law, which we have always known to be flawed and harsh, but we learn of even more in this book. In addition, Clare does a fabulous job at beautifully intertwining the supernatural and paranormal into modern-day Los Angeles that it seems effortless.
In terms of the story, I would highly recommend at least reading all of The Mortal Instruments series prior to this one, for many aspects tie into this book and Clare alludes to many parts of her previous series. The first hundred pages or so are a bit slow, but that's totally understandable because the rest of the book is action-packed, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Clare is a master writer at juxtaposing opposing scenes and thus eliciting a whirlwind of emotions in her readers. I also appreciate her humor, which continues in this book. I find myself crying at one point, and then on the floor dying from laughter. This particular book has a plot that is resolved (and the antagonist certainly sneaks up at us), but there is definitely an overarching storyline that will cover all three books. Not to mention all the messy business with the parabatai forbidden love, which I'm not going to delve too much into because otherwise that'll lead to spoilers.
So in the end, Lady Midnight definitely did not fail to disappoint. I have to agree with what everyone else is saying, but this is by far her best first book written, which is saying a lot because I absolutely loved City of Bones and Clockwork Angel. Though the book appears to be long, Clare's wonderful writing and gripping plot makes it go faster than you expected. I loved everything about this book, from the complex plot to the well-formed characters to the allusions to her other works. I look forward to Lord of Shadows, which thankfully comes out April 2017! And so, I give this a glittering five out of five stars (which Magnus would certainly approve of).
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Pages: 669
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.
A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other - but they can never fall in love.
Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets Los Angeles where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries - the most powerful of supernatural creatures - teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When bodies of humans and faeries start turning up murdered in the same way Emma's parents were murdered when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma's chance for revenge - and Julian's chance to get back his half-faerie brother, Mark, who who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks... before the murderer targets them.
Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents - and can she bear to know the truth?
The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.
Wow. Cassandra Clare never ceases to amaze me. I've been a long-term fan and avid reader of her books ever since she published City of Bones, and I have to say that this one is by far the best work written by her. And three years was definitely worth the wait.
I'm going to try and keep this spoiler-free, since the book only just came out and I don't want to ruin it for any Shadowhunter fans who have not yet read it.
First off, I'll start with the characters. I loved each and every one of them more than I actually expected. After reading The Infernal Devices, I thought no one could replace my love for the characters in that series, but I've thus far been proven wrong. One aspect I love about Clare's books is how well she focuses on character development. In Lady Midnight, a lot of the characters have already been established in the later books of The Mortal Instruments and know each other pretty well. I absolutely loved Emma Carstairs - she's unlike Clary and Tessa, and instead is more headstrong, tough, and sassy. Julian Blackthorn is her other half who compliments all the parts where Emma lacks. He too is unlike Will and Jace and Jem, but you'll have to read the book more to find out why. Besides the two main characters, some of my favorites were Cristina, Ty, and Mark.
Next, the world was absolutely phenomenal. Clare's books are also amazing for world-building, and this particular ones focuses on the intricacies involving faeries and the Shadow World, something that the readers have never experienced before. To be honest, I had my doubts on this at first, but after reading this book, I found the mythology fascinating and its place in the novel made sense. We also get to know more about the Clave and the Law, which we have always known to be flawed and harsh, but we learn of even more in this book. In addition, Clare does a fabulous job at beautifully intertwining the supernatural and paranormal into modern-day Los Angeles that it seems effortless.
In terms of the story, I would highly recommend at least reading all of The Mortal Instruments series prior to this one, for many aspects tie into this book and Clare alludes to many parts of her previous series. The first hundred pages or so are a bit slow, but that's totally understandable because the rest of the book is action-packed, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Clare is a master writer at juxtaposing opposing scenes and thus eliciting a whirlwind of emotions in her readers. I also appreciate her humor, which continues in this book. I find myself crying at one point, and then on the floor dying from laughter. This particular book has a plot that is resolved (and the antagonist certainly sneaks up at us), but there is definitely an overarching storyline that will cover all three books. Not to mention all the messy business with the parabatai forbidden love, which I'm not going to delve too much into because otherwise that'll lead to spoilers.
So in the end, Lady Midnight definitely did not fail to disappoint. I have to agree with what everyone else is saying, but this is by far her best first book written, which is saying a lot because I absolutely loved City of Bones and Clockwork Angel. Though the book appears to be long, Clare's wonderful writing and gripping plot makes it go faster than you expected. I loved everything about this book, from the complex plot to the well-formed characters to the allusions to her other works. I look forward to Lord of Shadows, which thankfully comes out April 2017! And so, I give this a glittering five out of five stars (which Magnus would certainly approve of).
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