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A review by the_alexeli
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
5.0
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars
First off, can I just mention how reading this book has made me realize just how much I've missed Shadowhunters and their world? Even after finishing Lady Midnight and watching the TV series every week, I still haven't had nearly enough time in the Shadow World. The nostalgia is real.
This book took my breath away. Even though it's beginning kept a slower pace than I'm used to in a Clare novel, I loved the way that allowed me to get to know these new characters that much more. And, oh, how I loved the characters. Emma, now one of my favorite heroines of all time, was a complete riot. Her sense of humor was a welcome relief amongst the darker sections this book tossed at me. And her badassery is going to be legen- wait for it-dary. She's the best sort of female character. Strong, kind, fun, independent, yet doesn't lift her nose at any man who offers her a helping hand simply because she thinks she has something to prove. But my absolute favorite thing about Emma is the amount of physical pain she is WILLING to go trough for this family that has taken her in. And, of course, I couldn't help adoring all of the Blackthorn children, but the o ed that stuck out to me in a special way were: Mark, with his odd sense of humor and quirks, and how much he came to care for the kids; Tavvy, who is just the sweetest little dumpling to ever walk the Shadow World planet; and Ty, who is so incredibly precious to me because he reminds me so very much of my little brother who has that exact same habits as dear Ty does. Then there is my favorite character from this entire story, the character who passed my heart and went straight for my soul: Julian Blackthorn. That boy is a poem I want to read over and over again. He is tragedy and color and pain and life and beautiful, so very beautiful. I rarely come across a character who is filled with so much unconditional and glorious love. I admire him very much. But more than that, I UNDERSTAND Julian. I understand his artistic nature, and his need to protect and take care of people. And, possibly most of all, I know what it means to have a handful of siblings that are more like my own kids. I understand having to take care of them while being nothing more than an eleven-year-old kid myself. I know how awful it is to have to be the one to tell your kids no when you want nothing more than to say yes, and to watch them grow up and no longer need you, but you're still left feeling like you HAVE to take care of them. Julian feels and loves and sacrifices so much for so many. And it definitely doesn't hurt that everything he does is incredibly hot. In conclusion, Julian is a very precious character whose well-being I take very seriously.
The plot wasn't as exciting as I'm used to from the other Shadowhunter novels. I just couldn't get myself 100% invested in discovering who the guardian was and what he was up to. UNTIL I finally knew who it was. Then the story erupted and took so many twists and turns that I couldn't follow any sort of speed limit to. I just had to go go go, like an adrenaline junkie, and not stop for anything.
A beautiful sidenote: prepare to be addicted to the romances in this book. Seriously. They are hot, and I cannot get enough.
Also, don't be surprised if every other page of this book paper cuts your heart. It did mine. It's not as if the story is bursting with devastating betrayals and heartbreak, but because the overall tragedy some of the characters hold within them. I teared up countless times simply because of things Julian or Mark or Ty would think or say or do. But maybe that's just me and hoe I feel about those characters thanks to my own personal experiences.
In summary, Clare painted us another vividly beautiful masterpiece filled with pain, love, badassery and swoon worthy men. Her characters were hard to resist, her surprises twisted your gut, and when her story ended, you were left thirsty for moremoremore. And I can't express enough how happy it made me to come across familiar and beloved characters from the other series. it was like seeing an old friend I've missed so terribly. It was a delight to see them in a story once more and get a glimpse of their lives. And don't get me started on the short story at the end of Lady Midnight. Talk about feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. <3 As impossible as this may sound, I think I MIGHT have enjoyed that little story story even more than I did the actual book. So beautiful, both of them. BUT I was terribly frustrated on two separate occasions. once, during the last five pages of Lady Midnight itself, and the other during the last page or so of the short story. Those of you who've already read the book can probably guess at what both those two this are. And for those who haven't, beware: Clare loves to torture and tease.
People, read this book and FEEL. Xxx
First off, can I just mention how reading this book has made me realize just how much I've missed Shadowhunters and their world? Even after finishing Lady Midnight and watching the TV series every week, I still haven't had nearly enough time in the Shadow World. The nostalgia is real.
This book took my breath away. Even though it's beginning kept a slower pace than I'm used to in a Clare novel, I loved the way that allowed me to get to know these new characters that much more. And, oh, how I loved the characters. Emma, now one of my favorite heroines of all time, was a complete riot. Her sense of humor was a welcome relief amongst the darker sections this book tossed at me. And her badassery is going to be legen- wait for it-dary. She's the best sort of female character. Strong, kind, fun, independent, yet doesn't lift her nose at any man who offers her a helping hand simply because she thinks she has something to prove. But my absolute favorite thing about Emma is the amount of physical pain she is WILLING to go trough for this family that has taken her in. And, of course, I couldn't help adoring all of the Blackthorn children, but the o ed that stuck out to me in a special way were: Mark, with his odd sense of humor and quirks, and how much he came to care for the kids; Tavvy, who is just the sweetest little dumpling to ever walk the Shadow World planet; and Ty, who is so incredibly precious to me because he reminds me so very much of my little brother who has that exact same habits as dear Ty does. Then there is my favorite character from this entire story, the character who passed my heart and went straight for my soul: Julian Blackthorn. That boy is a poem I want to read over and over again. He is tragedy and color and pain and life and beautiful, so very beautiful. I rarely come across a character who is filled with so much unconditional and glorious love. I admire him very much. But more than that, I UNDERSTAND Julian. I understand his artistic nature, and his need to protect and take care of people. And, possibly most of all, I know what it means to have a handful of siblings that are more like my own kids. I understand having to take care of them while being nothing more than an eleven-year-old kid myself. I know how awful it is to have to be the one to tell your kids no when you want nothing more than to say yes, and to watch them grow up and no longer need you, but you're still left feeling like you HAVE to take care of them. Julian feels and loves and sacrifices so much for so many. And it definitely doesn't hurt that everything he does is incredibly hot. In conclusion, Julian is a very precious character whose well-being I take very seriously.
The plot wasn't as exciting as I'm used to from the other Shadowhunter novels. I just couldn't get myself 100% invested in discovering who the guardian was and what he was up to. UNTIL I finally knew who it was. Then the story erupted and took so many twists and turns that I couldn't follow any sort of speed limit to. I just had to go go go, like an adrenaline junkie, and not stop for anything.
A beautiful sidenote: prepare to be addicted to the romances in this book. Seriously. They are hot, and I cannot get enough.
Also, don't be surprised if every other page of this book paper cuts your heart. It did mine. It's not as if the story is bursting with devastating betrayals and heartbreak, but because the overall tragedy some of the characters hold within them. I teared up countless times simply because of things Julian or Mark or Ty would think or say or do. But maybe that's just me and hoe I feel about those characters thanks to my own personal experiences.
In summary, Clare painted us another vividly beautiful masterpiece filled with pain, love, badassery and swoon worthy men. Her characters were hard to resist, her surprises twisted your gut, and when her story ended, you were left thirsty for moremoremore. And I can't express enough how happy it made me to come across familiar and beloved characters from the other series. it was like seeing an old friend I've missed so terribly. It was a delight to see them in a story once more and get a glimpse of their lives. And don't get me started on the short story at the end of Lady Midnight. Talk about feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. <3 As impossible as this may sound, I think I MIGHT have enjoyed that little story story even more than I did the actual book. So beautiful, both of them. BUT I was terribly frustrated on two separate occasions. once, during the last five pages of Lady Midnight itself, and the other during the last page or so of the short story. Those of you who've already read the book can probably guess at what both those two this are. And for those who haven't, beware: Clare loves to torture and tease.
People, read this book and FEEL. Xxx