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brynn_books's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this series so much! It’s my favorite Shadowhunter series (although i’ve only read two so far). I’m in love with Will Herondale. I love him so much. And I love all the interactions between the different characters. And I love the setting of Victorian London. Just, everything about this series is so fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Drug use
cait's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“You and I, Tess, we’re alike. We live and breathe words. It was books that kept me from taking my own life after I thought I could never love anyone, never be loved by anyone again. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt – I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamed. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted – and then I realized that truly I just wanted you. The girl behind the scrawled letters. I loved you from the moment I read them. I love you still.”
I. Am. In. Agony.
Love triangles are not supposed to work. There is supposed to be one guy who is obviously right and the other who is obviously wrong and the main protagonist’s inability to decide is supposed to be infuriating since only one of the dudes is worth her time.
But that’s not the case here. I love Tessa and I love Jem and I love Will. No matter who she ends up with, my heart is going to break and I really can’t bear to even think about it.
In the aftermath of Mortmain’s failed attack on the Institute and subsequent escape, Charlotte’s leadership is in question with the Clave and she has only two weeks to track down Mortmain to guarantee that her position is not usurped by Benedict Lightwood. But, with no new leads and an even more preoccupied Will, time is not on their side.
This book was phenomenal. Truly phenomenal. I’m so emotional and all over the place after reading it that I’m not sure how to share how I felt about it. It’s definitely taken position on my list of favorite books and I can’t imagine how Clockwork Princess could possibly top what this novel had to offer.
There was so much development throughout this story as Sophie and Tessa begin combat training with Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood by order of the Clave, Will pursues Magnus Bane’s help in hunting down a demon for a reason he refuses to explain, Tessa and Jem become closer and closer, and Jessamine’s behavior becomes more and more bizarre. Every new revelation was more shocking than the last, every moment was fraught with tension, and every new character aroused in me a deep suspicion and paranoia – Surely this one was the one who would turn on them?
And this book was steamy. That scene. In Jem’s room. When he speaks to her in Chinese. *swoons* How am I supposed to live if this poor, beautiful, kind boy gets his heart broken?
And that scene on the balcony with Will? And then when he finally faces off against the demon who cursed him? How am I supposed to live if this poor, kind, misunderstood boy gets his heart broken?
My heart is the one that’s breaking right now.
Overall, I find myself deeply satisfied with this story and both eagerly anticipating and absolutely dreading the conclusion. Easy 5/5. I’m in love with this world and these characters.
"It's too late," she said.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism