A review by arleyne
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

4.0

4.5*

This probably would've been a five-star read if I hadn't been in the biggest slump this past month.

I don't know how Cassandra Clare can write so many characters and make me care about every single one of them. The 'found' family in this book might have been my favorite one of hers so far.
I really liked the plot. It was action-packed, fast-paced, and overall kept my interest well, especially considering my reading slump.

But the plot wasn't what made this book so good. That was the characters. Emma, definitely her best female MC written so far, was fierce and witty but at the same time vulnerable.
Jules (poor poor Jules :() is my favorite. The way he cares about his family, about Emma, when he has been through so much. And every single time he thought he might have been granted some reprieve, it was ripped out of his hands (
SpoilerWhen Arthur came to take care of them only to find out he would be classified as a lunatic; When Mark returned, only to for Julian to find that he was traumatized and not fit to take care of the kids; When Emma broke his heart when he thought there might finally be a chance for them;
). Ugh, I want to give him a hug so badly. I loved his relationships with the children, and the way he called them 'his children'. Especially the way he tries to find ways for Ty to cope with his autism and how he tries to make him feel normal. Also, Jules and Tavvy's relationship is so so cute.
The way Ty's autism was portrayed was so well done. I love that Clare added that to the story and the way she incorporated it into the world-building. Ty and Livvy's relationship dynamics were everything. How she could sense his moods so well, how he acted like he was tired so she would go to bed, and the way he covered her body with his so she wouldn't get hurt. My heart <3
Things would've been so much better if Christina and Emma could've been parabatai. The way they care about each other was heartwarming.

Every time I don't read a friends-to-lovers-trope I forget how good it can be. The yearning, the desperation, the jealousy, just uggh. And Clare executed it so well in Lady Midnight. I honestly don't know who are my favorite couple of hers. I think Will and Tessa and Jules and Emma hold the first place together for now. But who knows, Julian and Emma might beat them.

Now about that ending...
SpoilerI did not see Malcolms' betrayal coming at all. And even after we found out, I thought he still cared about them. But no. Yeah did not expect that.
Emma Emma Emma.... what did you do?! I mean, I understand why she did it, but still. I hate this. Julian's heart will break when he hears. Poor Jules... And what about that last sentence??!! If they actually hook up or sleep together I'm going to scream. They can't. They better not. Aargh.
I honestly don't know how they're going to get past the parabatai curse. Cut the runes away? Stop being parabatai's? Or do they have to actually break the curse? Hmmm
I do hope that Julian finds out about it in the next book.
Something else about the ending... So Annabel was resurrected, but with whose Blackthorn blood?I don't remember any of the Blackthorns bleeding during that battle and I feel like Clare would've mentioned it if it was important. So was it Emma's blood? Because she's Julians parabatai? She was the only one I remember bleeding. It could be the parabatai bound, causing her blood to mistaken for Julian's since their souls are intertwined and all that. I have a feeling we'll hear more about that in the next book.