Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - The Red Scrolls Of Magic

alternatively: malec and the cockblocking cult leader. thats. thats about it really, thats the actual plot.

ok no, im being dramatic, but it IS a recurring theme. and all in all, im both pleased and confused. its no secret that, as a philosophy, i am of the belief that cassandra clase Should Simply Stop. i think the shadowhunter world has been sufficiently exploited and we're ready for new things. HOWEVER. malec is an exception to every rule. heres why: they matter. they hold a very special place in the hearts of people who've been reading YA for what, a decade? because back then the lgbt rep was scarce and frankly mediocre. and i LOVE. and by that i mean LOVE love, seeing them go from minions to main characters. its what they deserve. so, actually, this is okay.

what isn't as okay is how this book threw me back at the period between city of glass and city of fallen angels because my dude,,,, i remember nothing. its been so long. this is criminal. also, explain alec being so progressive and accepting here and still going slutshaming and trying to rob mag of his immortality later on. unless im getting the timeline wrong (which is, admittedly, entire possible). something just dont match.

also! this reads kind of like satire. every character is so,,, overdone. it literally reads like satire and i mean this knowingly because i do read satire and this is how it is. the main characters not so much, but the more minor the character, the more it feels like a caricature (aside from magnus, except excess is expected when it comes to mag). who co wrote this, christopher moore? (actually, can we get that? shadowhunters x christopher moore? pls and thank you). raphael feels like what raphael would be if i wrote fanfiction. you know what i mean? its just a lot. and dont get me wrong -its fun. i almost like it better this way. its just not coehesive with the rest of the series,,, saga,,, universe,, whatever.

but also: its fun. and its highly quotable. and i think if i hadnt spoiled the twist for myself by reading a review (i swear to god people who dont tag spoilers have a special place in hell waiting for them) i think i would have been quite surprised, and i liked that even knowing what the twist WAS, i still got a bunch of lil surprises here and there. at the very end it throws a curveball i was really very not expecting and now im confused and sad and confused.

and of course: alec and magnus, and magnus and alec. and also: helen and aline, so, wlw/mlm solidarity, which is the thing of dreams, as we all know. aline is an absolute gem, where is HER book? (honestly there might be one and id be none the wiser, i got lost about five series ago). also: i would die for malec, i really would. theres a bit where alec cant decide between saving the world or getting laid and he goes physically back and forth no less than five times. absolutely iconic behavior on his part. also, magnus gets my whole heart.

my closing statement is as follows: alec lightwood is a pillow princess, pass it on.

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