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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“it feels like there's a hook dug in under my ribs, and there's something pulling at the other end. Like i'm tethered to you, no matter the distance"
before taylor swift, there was julian blackthorn
before taylor swift, there was julian blackthorn
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"We want what we cannot have,
but we love what shows us kindness."
❤
but we love what shows us kindness."
❤
This was such a thoroughly enjoyable read!
The Good:
- The characters: It was really cool to read about a heroine who is already fully immersed in the Shadowhunter world when the story begins. I enjoyed Emma's character overall, although she did make a few too manystupid selfless decisions for my liking. Julian was so soft and sweet, Cristina was a really great addition (also, yay diversity!), and I adored the dynamic between the Blackthorn siblings. The jury is still out on Mark though...
- The set-up: Although the plot felt a bit slow at times, I really appreciate how this book was structured and (presumably) set up the rest of the trilogy (and maybe beyond), solving an arc while opening up lots of possibilities. Also, I loved the introduction to Kit, and I can't wait to see more of him.
- The cameos: I squealed internally (and sometimes externally) every time characters from other books popped up; it was so fun to see snippets of what the TMI gang was up to, and Jem + Emma's interactions were really great.
- Emma & Julian (until the last few chapters): Ah, the burnnnn. Clare really knows how to break both her characters' and her readers' hearts... I loved Emma and Julian's friendship and the development/realization of their love for each other throughout the novel. Although, it did feel a bit strange for Emma to so suddenly be into Julian towards the beginning of the book; the reason that it was because they had been apart for a few months and now Emma was somehow looking at him with new eyes felt a bit flimsy.
The Bad:
- Oof. That big lie/miscommunication at the end was not it.
- Plot: While everything that happened did turn out to be necessary for the story, I still feel like some places could've been cut down a little. There were a lot of parts with them just wandering around and trying to find clues, making the plot progress kind of like a roller coaster that kept dipping down before picking back up. However, this impression I have might just be due to me having to put the book aside for almost 4 months about 25% in, so I might take this back if I ever feel inclined to reread.
Overall, this was a really solid start for a trilogy, and I'm excited to see the story progress. Once I've mentally prepared myself for lots of love triangle drama, I'll definitely be picking up Lord of Shadows!
~~
Review for The Dark Artifices Book 2: Lord of Shadows (5 stars)
Review for The Dark Artifices Book 3: Queen of Air and Darkness (5 stars)
The Good:
- The characters: It was really cool to read about a heroine who is already fully immersed in the Shadowhunter world when the story begins. I enjoyed Emma's character overall, although she did make a few too many
Spoiler
Clare did a great job of making me love-hate him with the whole morally gray faerie/Shadowhunter thing, but I didn't really like how he kind of led Cristina on. Loved Diego though.- The set-up: Although the plot felt a bit slow at times, I really appreciate how this book was structured and (presumably) set up the rest of the trilogy (and maybe beyond), solving an arc while opening up lots of possibilities. Also, I loved the introduction to Kit
Spoiler
Herondale (!!) - unfortunately, I saw that version of his name somewhere before I started this book, I think because he's going to be the MC of the final series?, but the "reveal" was exciting all the same- The cameos: I squealed internally (and sometimes externally) every time characters from other books popped up; it was so fun to see snippets of what the TMI gang was up to, and Jem + Emma's interactions were really great.
- Emma & Julian (until the last few chapters): Ah, the burnnnn. Clare really knows how to break both her characters' and her readers' hearts... I loved Emma and Julian's friendship and the development/realization of their love for each other throughout the novel. Although, it did feel a bit strange for Emma to so suddenly be into Julian towards the beginning of the book; the reason that it was because they had been apart for a few months and now Emma was somehow looking at him with new eyes felt a bit flimsy.
The Bad:
- Oof. That big lie/miscommunication at the end was not it.
Spoiler
I can already feel all the unnecessary drama that will definitely be in the next book thanks to Emma's (honestly, very dumb) decision to lie to Julian. I guess I understand her reasoning (i.e. telling Julian he can't love her will just make him love her more), and it was in character for her to do something like this, but I just really, really hate this trope. While the whole pushing-your-true-love-away-without-telling-them-why-so-you-can-save-them thing worked well in TID, partly because Tessa didn't know Will that well, it feels a bit forced here. Emma and Julian are best friends, and she should know better; instead, this is just setting up for additional angst that's going to get tiring real quick. Also, not only will they be hurting each other in the process, but poor Mark will also be caught in the crossfire. I get that this all needs to happen to create a particular story or whatever, but I would have much preferred if Emma had told Julian the truth; they could've "broken up," and we still could've gotten lots of angst from a they-want-to-be-together-but-they-can't-because-it's-bad like in TMI. Instead, I'm now hesitating reading LoS (or at least, I feel like I need a break to prepare myself for lots of eye-rolling before I continue). Going into this specific series, I was really hoping that there wouldn't be a love triangle for once because Emma and Julian are so obviously made for each other, but I guess it wouldn't be a Cassandra Clare story without a love triangle. Sigh.- Plot: While everything that happened did turn out to be necessary for the story, I still feel like some places could've been cut down a little. There were a lot of parts with them just wandering around and trying to find clues, making the plot progress kind of like a roller coaster that kept dipping down before picking back up. However, this impression I have might just be due to me having to put the book aside for almost 4 months about 25% in, so I might take this back if I ever feel inclined to reread.
Overall, this was a really solid start for a trilogy, and I'm excited to see the story progress. Once I've mentally prepared myself for lots of love triangle drama, I'll definitely be picking up Lord of Shadows!
~~
Review for The Dark Artifices Book 2: Lord of Shadows (5 stars)
Review for The Dark Artifices Book 3: Queen of Air and Darkness (5 stars)
Maravilloso. Y yo que pensaba que Cassie no podia haceros sufrir mas...
DIOS MIO.
Puedo decir sin duda alguna que este libro se ha convertido en mi segundo libro fav de Cassandra Clare (clockwork princess siempre estará el primero, sorrynotsorry).
Los personajes son simplemente, fantásticos. Julian me ha gustado muchísimo, y es refrescante que sea más maduro (debido a las circunstancias) que los demás protagonistas masculinos de los demás libros. Ty y Mark no se quedan atrás, cada uno a su manera, me han enamorado.
Por otro lado Emma y Cristina son increíbles, y su amistad ha sido lo unico que no me ha hecho sufrir en este libro:'(
Los plot twist han sido flipantes, algunos me han pillado por sorpresa totalmente, y el final... MADRE MIA. Tengo sentimiento encontrados, lo he pasado fatal sólo en pensar lo que va a pasar Jules, pero por otro lado, creo que entiendo a Emma. Bueno, y que decir de Kit!!!
No puedo esperar al siguiente, aggg
PD. Y que decir que ver a Tessa, Jem, y los protas de TMI ha sido otro punto a favor, y de los grandes.
Puedo decir sin duda alguna que este libro se ha convertido en mi segundo libro fav de Cassandra Clare (clockwork princess siempre estará el primero, sorrynotsorry).
Los personajes son simplemente, fantásticos. Julian me ha gustado muchísimo, y es refrescante que sea más maduro (debido a las circunstancias) que los demás protagonistas masculinos de los demás libros. Ty y Mark no se quedan atrás, cada uno a su manera, me han enamorado.
Por otro lado Emma y Cristina son increíbles, y su amistad ha sido lo unico que no me ha hecho sufrir en este libro:'(
Los plot twist han sido flipantes, algunos me han pillado por sorpresa totalmente, y el final... MADRE MIA. Tengo sentimiento encontrados, lo he pasado fatal sólo en pensar lo que va a pasar Jules, pero por otro lado, creo que entiendo a Emma. Bueno, y que decir de Kit!!!
No puedo esperar al siguiente, aggg
PD. Y que decir que ver a Tessa, Jem, y los protas de TMI ha sido otro punto a favor, y de los grandes.