Reviews with content warning for Blood - Queen of Air and Darkness

So I had this book forever, really, since it was published, 'cause I spent my highschool years being obsessed with Shadowhunters. But at the time I didn't end up reading it, I felt I was not longer vibing with Clare's writing and I am terrified of long books. But lately I had been wanting to read her latest series, The Last Hours, so obviously I had to finally read QoAaD, and I'm glad I did. Emma has since been my favorite Shadowhunter protagonist ever since she was introduced, she's fierce, she's independent but she feels so much emotion and empathy, and Julian... Surpassing the Herondales as my favorite boys is a feat I didn't think anyone would ever do, but he did. And the side characters are amazing, Mark, Cristina and Kieran (whose development along the series I just love, he has grown so much), the little Blackthorns (who I desperately need more about) and obviously our well known Clary and Jace.
There's just something about the way Cassie Clare writes that just entraps you. I declare myself fully back on the Shadowhunter train

Content Warnings

aklovekorn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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tiana_king's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

So much happens in this book it really could’ve been 2. However the non stop action and high stakes was enjoyable and the ending was great. That epilogue though was a surprise.

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em_davies7019's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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binches's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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merle_bookdragon's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I have so many emotions about this book and most of them are good :D

It took me 8 months to finish this book, not because it wasn't good but because it is 893 pages long and I couldn't afford to drown in that many pages because I am a student and if I had let myself to that I would've let many things slide. So instead I read a lot of shorter books and now I finally, finally managed to finish this one.

Honestly, I have by now made my peace with Cassandra Clare books in the sense that I don't expect a perfect fantasy book with the perfect romance and no plot holes because that is seldom what you get (in general as well). I expected quite a few of the solutions and plot twists and while the solution to the big problem felt a little too easy to me I couldn't really mind in the end. I was just so happy that no one else had died and that they could catch a damn break :D

<spoiler > I spent most of the book being mad at Ty for attempting something as stupid as necromancy (although of course I get that he is devasted) and mad at Julian for being another guy that thinks magically making his feelings vanish is going to solve his problems. Poor Magnus really can't catch a break from Shadowhunter boys turning up at his doorstep looking for help. But I think Ty will do well at the Scholomance and Julian also finally got his shit together.

When your twin leaves the earth you live on, it never turns the same way again: the weight of their soul is gone, and everything is off balance. The world rocks under your feet like an unquiet sea. I can't tell you it gets easier. But it does get steadier; you learn how to live with the new rocking of the new earth, the way sailors gain sea legs. You learn. I promise.

Anyways, I friggin loved Christina and her relationship with Mark and Kieran (who I expected would become king) and I'm so happy they found a solution that will make it possible for them to spend time with each other but they also all have their own path to take now. I'm happy for Diana and Gwyn, for Helen and Aline, for Emma and Julian, for Jace and Clary, for Simon and Isabelle and most of all for Magnus and Alec. Because god damn if those last few chapters didn't make me yell into my pillow out of pure happiness. I don't care if it was kitsch (which usually I do) it was absolutely beautiful with Alec's spontaneous proposal because he gets to make the rules now as Consul, everyone preparing the beach and wearing their marriage runes and warlock blue, the runes, the rings just ... ugh sometimes you just gotta be a sap about it okay? Leave me be.

“And when one day people look back on me and what my life meant, I don’t want them to say, ‘Alec Lightwood fought in the Dark War’ or even ‘Alec Lightwood was Consul once.’ I want them to think, ‘Alec Lightwood loved one man so much he changed the world for him.’ ”

“We will stay as close to you as the tide to the shore,” said Kieran. “Neither of us wishes for anything else.” He reached out a hand. “Please believe us, Lady of Roses.”

Of course the epilogue had to give us the hook for the next books and I think it wasn't hard to guess that the Queen of Faerie would stay peaceful for long. I am interested to see where this will continue to go.

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friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

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Not a good book imo. The amount of times i have flicked horace dearborn off is embarracing. The frustration i have reading this is almost unbearable. Im thinking of dnfing it. I will dnf it. Too much frustration. Im going to watch a spoilary reading vlog of it and just not torture myself. I might only read the epilogue because people say its a cliffhanger. This has potencial to put me in a reading slump so im ending it here.

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