jruonabanister 's review for:

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

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first, to get some business from my last review of this series out of the way:

YESSSS!! OH MY GOD. THEY'RE A THROUPLE!!!!!

While it was pretty clear that there was going to be some sort of throuple action by the end of the last book, I kind of didn't believe that they would have a lasting relationship or be allowed to actually be happy together. I was lowkey convinced Kieran was going to die for like 50% of this book. So glad he didn't though because he really grew on me!! I did not like him very much in book 1, but I was being weak and small-minded. I apologize for my crimes against the tortured faerie prince with blue hair community, of which he is the only member.

Besides that whole deal, I actually thought the exploration of grief in this was surprisingly compelling. Yes, I did spend the first ~50 pages sobbing uncontrollably. So what.

Julian getting his emotions taken away in the wake of Livvy's death was insane and so tragic for so many reasons, but especially because the children that he raised were going through the death of their sister without his support. My girl Cassandra cannot resist writing a guy under a curse/spell. It's her favorite kind of guy. (I can't be mad because it is also my favorite kind of guy) I also think she learned the word 'atavistic' sometime shortly before writing this book because it was used so many times to describe Julian.

My major gripe with the ending is not actually really a gripe at all but more a concern...

I am obviously happy that they managed to separate the government from the insane bigoted evil people but I am a little worried about the fact that every single government official is under the age of 25. Like I'm not saying that they can't do those jobs well but it is wild that Alec, at like...24 (ish??) is the Consul and therefore in charge of like everything...and that DIEGO is now the Inquisitor??? Diego??? Who is at most like 20-21???? Mark and Cristina are the ambassadors to Faerie and are both 18, also crazy, and do not even get me STARTED on the fact that Kieran is the king of the Unseelie Court. HE IS LITERALLY 18 YEARS OLD. THE LAST KING WAS SEVERAL CENTURIES OLD. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?????? Sorry anyway this was just something on my mind throughout the last chapter or two. Lets get like a 45 year old in there somewhere, because the entire new government should actually be at the club.

My OTHER gripe is that

Raphael Santiago

very clearly gave Julian and Emma a message for Alec & Magnus and they did not deliver it 🙄 I know it was a joke but it still pissed me off.
Aaaaaanyway. Loved this series, loved the characters & their relationships with each other, esp the Blackthorn family relationship!! I love siblings so much <3 (This book also achieved the impossible and made me genuinely fond of Jace Herondale where before I was deeply neutral, so kudos for that.)