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thedambookshelf's reviews
302 reviews
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
5.0
SPOILERS AFTER THE SECOND PARAGRAPH!
I just finished Lord of Shadows last night , I had to sleep on it and what was buzzing through my mind the whole time after reading it. I was left feeling so many emotions at once I could not understand it. I felt Grief, Love .. some many different forms of it, Happiness, Anger, Resentment, Forgiveness, friendship. There aren't many books that have left me feeling that way and it has been a long while since I've felt in tune with one of Cassandra's books. The mortal instruments will always be a favorite because it was the first series I had ever read by her but she knocked it out of the park with The Infernal Devices.
I went into The Dark Artifices expecting a lot and I was not disappointed. This trilogy so far (since QoAaD hasn't been released yet) has touched base on so many things. The shadow world has dealt with mundane (haha) world issues as far as discrimination, racism, sexism, body shaming, sexual orientation, feminism, and even parental responsibilities falling on siblings. Cassie knew what she wanted to do with this story and she has delivered. Now moving onto the spoilers hehehe.
First I just want to say this is my opinion and solely my opinion , so do not feel angered with me from how I interpreted these characters and my feelings towards them.
Julian Blackthorn, I adored him when I met him at the end of heavenly fire and I love this family through and through. I will give credit where credit is due and that is that Julian did one hell of a job raising that family and controlling that institute from behind the scenes but as this series has progressed I have lost every interest in his character. Emma is the main reason behind this , his blinding love for her is one of the key reasons the poor guy is so (excuse my language) fucked up. I understand it though, they were placed in a very unfortunate situation , having to choose to become parabatai at such a young age so they could stay together. I get that , I do and for a long time I was a huge jemma shipper but by angel look at where they are now. Also , and this is my opinion of course, Cassie is going for a hero turned villain situation for Jules. As these books progress this guy will do anything to keep his family safe. They even speak about how he would burn down the world if it meant keeping his family safe, Kieran says he has a ruthless heart and I would trust his judgement have you seen poor kiers father (which we will get to cause like wtf) also he's fine with throwing around deals if it keeps his family safe and its logical of course but its terrifying to think what he is capable of.
Talking about Julian and Emma lets get to The Seelie Queen's request and what she would give in exchange. Breaking the parabatai curse which also means ending all parabatai period. I'm sorry but that is something , no matter the situation two people cannot choose to do because of their feelings for one another which is why I exhaled happily when they went to Robert for help because hey, exile is much better than breaking all Parabatai bonds for your own selfish reasons am i right? But then I literally threw the book across the room since THE KEY TO FIXING THEIR PROBLEMS GOT SKEWERED BECAUSE OF ANNABEL AND THE COHORT (also going to get too those pompous jerks) don't you just love the sweet sweet turn of unfortunate events. RIP Robert Lightwood.
Now onto the request itself, the really popular book everyone wants... the black volume. This is just a theory I have come up with, the way the Seelie Queen was described there is something much deeper going on with her and that's is where (the cute little faerie boy inside that heirloom Dru touched comes in). I honestly believe Ash is Jonathon's and the Seelie Queens son and her only way to bring him back from wherever he is , is using that book but how unfortunate is it that the Unseelie King himself wants it as well.
Even though the Unseelie King is a complete ass-hat the guy is smart and he has a plan for whatever destruction he wants to perform on all lands but lets be honest isn't the cohort trying to do the same ? Cassandra did not hold back on making this group of shadow hunters completely ruthless. The hatred they spew is literally repulsing to even read about and the whole time I just wanted to ring Zara's pretty little neck. So either way, wherever that book falls its a bad outcome unless they can deliver it to the Seelie Queen and bring an end to the cold peace which is good but that also doesn't clear the Queens true intentions.
This entire book has you going back and forth between what is wrong and what is right, rather the world of faerie is worth fighting for and even if the shadowhunters reasoning's themselves are correct. Loyalties are all over the place and so are intentions but there is one thing that we can all agree on and that's that Kit & Ty are absolutely the cutest things to touch this earth and in my personal preference I rather the ot3 of Kieran , Cristina, and Mark than Mark choosing between the two because why pick one when you can have both. I mean Tessa herself was an intellectual when it came to that (; #praiseherongraystairs.
Have to love Cassandra for creating ships we never thought we would ship.
Finally I just want to touch base on the representation before getting to the biggest moment, by the angel the lovely representation! Though this isn't rare is Cassie's writing , Diana's story and telling Gwyn about her transition into a woman was so beautifully written. I was so happy , overwhelmed with how it was described and the way she spoke. I have so much respect for Diana and I truly just want her to receive the happiness she deserves.
And now before I finish up , Livia Blackthorn's death. I knew about this for awhile which is why I had put off reading this book period. Though with the final book in the series around the corner I knew I had to push through and I didn't think it would be so bad because ya know, I knew but nope. It hurt like shit. Which is why I needed a moment before writing this review because I could not see clearly through the tears clouding my sight. Even though it was painful , it was very well written and I could picture the whole thing piece by piece , from Julian's piercing screams to Tiberius falling to his knees clenching his own heart where his twin was fatally wounded. Livia wasn't my all time favorite character but I enjoyed her and I loved the bond she had with Ty and even Kit. She deserved so much better but it made sense in a way for her to be the one that died. Solely because she wanted to be just like Julian she had even voiced it to him. Livvy matured so much in this book and stepped in for Julian a lot so I feel like if Cassandra wanted to make a huge impact on the family as a whole. Livia's death was purposeful and the story she had told Kit earlier about the clock chiming every hour meant that the gates of heaven opened (cries) hurt so much because when she died it chimed at the the hour.
With that being said, this is my review on this book and it deserved 5 whole stars. Cassandra did so good and by far this is my favorite book in this trilogy, Am I ready for the next one? Nope not at all. Once again this is solely my opinion I do not wish for people to feel the same way I do and I know a good amount won't and that is fine! Thank you for reading if you read this if not well (: Also I didn't touch base on Annabel because at the moment I truly don't know what to say. [b:Lord of Shadows|30312891|Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, #2)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479513427s/30312891.jpg|19104295]
I just finished Lord of Shadows last night , I had to sleep on it and what was buzzing through my mind the whole time after reading it. I was left feeling so many emotions at once I could not understand it. I felt Grief, Love .. some many different forms of it, Happiness, Anger, Resentment, Forgiveness, friendship. There aren't many books that have left me feeling that way and it has been a long while since I've felt in tune with one of Cassandra's books. The mortal instruments will always be a favorite because it was the first series I had ever read by her but she knocked it out of the park with The Infernal Devices.
I went into The Dark Artifices expecting a lot and I was not disappointed. This trilogy so far (since QoAaD hasn't been released yet) has touched base on so many things. The shadow world has dealt with mundane (haha) world issues as far as discrimination, racism, sexism, body shaming, sexual orientation, feminism, and even parental responsibilities falling on siblings. Cassie knew what she wanted to do with this story and she has delivered. Now moving onto the spoilers hehehe.
First I just want to say this is my opinion and solely my opinion , so do not feel angered with me from how I interpreted these characters and my feelings towards them.
Julian Blackthorn, I adored him when I met him at the end of heavenly fire and I love this family through and through. I will give credit where credit is due and that is that Julian did one hell of a job raising that family and controlling that institute from behind the scenes but as this series has progressed I have lost every interest in his character. Emma is the main reason behind this , his blinding love for her is one of the key reasons the poor guy is so (excuse my language) fucked up. I understand it though, they were placed in a very unfortunate situation , having to choose to become parabatai at such a young age so they could stay together. I get that , I do and for a long time I was a huge jemma shipper but by angel look at where they are now. Also , and this is my opinion of course, Cassie is going for a hero turned villain situation for Jules. As these books progress this guy will do anything to keep his family safe. They even speak about how he would burn down the world if it meant keeping his family safe, Kieran says he has a ruthless heart and I would trust his judgement have you seen poor kiers father (which we will get to cause like wtf) also he's fine with throwing around deals if it keeps his family safe and its logical of course but its terrifying to think what he is capable of.
Talking about Julian and Emma lets get to The Seelie Queen's request and what she would give in exchange. Breaking the parabatai curse which also means ending all parabatai period. I'm sorry but that is something , no matter the situation two people cannot choose to do because of their feelings for one another which is why I exhaled happily when they went to Robert for help because hey, exile is much better than breaking all Parabatai bonds for your own selfish reasons am i right? But then I literally threw the book across the room since THE KEY TO FIXING THEIR PROBLEMS GOT SKEWERED BECAUSE OF ANNABEL AND THE COHORT (also going to get too those pompous jerks) don't you just love the sweet sweet turn of unfortunate events. RIP Robert Lightwood.
Now onto the request itself, the really popular book everyone wants... the black volume. This is just a theory I have come up with, the way the Seelie Queen was described there is something much deeper going on with her and that's is where (the cute little faerie boy inside that heirloom Dru touched comes in). I honestly believe Ash is Jonathon's and the Seelie Queens son and her only way to bring him back from wherever he is , is using that book but how unfortunate is it that the Unseelie King himself wants it as well.
Even though the Unseelie King is a complete ass-hat the guy is smart and he has a plan for whatever destruction he wants to perform on all lands but lets be honest isn't the cohort trying to do the same ? Cassandra did not hold back on making this group of shadow hunters completely ruthless. The hatred they spew is literally repulsing to even read about and the whole time I just wanted to ring Zara's pretty little neck. So either way, wherever that book falls its a bad outcome unless they can deliver it to the Seelie Queen and bring an end to the cold peace which is good but that also doesn't clear the Queens true intentions.
This entire book has you going back and forth between what is wrong and what is right, rather the world of faerie is worth fighting for and even if the shadowhunters reasoning's themselves are correct. Loyalties are all over the place and so are intentions but there is one thing that we can all agree on and that's that Kit & Ty are absolutely the cutest things to touch this earth and in my personal preference I rather the ot3 of Kieran , Cristina, and Mark than Mark choosing between the two because why pick one when you can have both. I mean Tessa herself was an intellectual when it came to that (; #praiseherongraystairs.
Have to love Cassandra for creating ships we never thought we would ship.
Finally I just want to touch base on the representation before getting to the biggest moment, by the angel the lovely representation! Though this isn't rare is Cassie's writing , Diana's story and telling Gwyn about her transition into a woman was so beautifully written. I was so happy , overwhelmed with how it was described and the way she spoke. I have so much respect for Diana and I truly just want her to receive the happiness she deserves.
And now before I finish up , Livia Blackthorn's death. I knew about this for awhile which is why I had put off reading this book period. Though with the final book in the series around the corner I knew I had to push through and I didn't think it would be so bad because ya know, I knew but nope. It hurt like shit. Which is why I needed a moment before writing this review because I could not see clearly through the tears clouding my sight. Even though it was painful , it was very well written and I could picture the whole thing piece by piece , from Julian's piercing screams to Tiberius falling to his knees clenching his own heart where his twin was fatally wounded. Livia wasn't my all time favorite character but I enjoyed her and I loved the bond she had with Ty and even Kit. She deserved so much better but it made sense in a way for her to be the one that died. Solely because she wanted to be just like Julian she had even voiced it to him. Livvy matured so much in this book and stepped in for Julian a lot so I feel like if Cassandra wanted to make a huge impact on the family as a whole. Livia's death was purposeful and the story she had told Kit earlier about the clock chiming every hour meant that the gates of heaven opened (cries) hurt so much because when she died it chimed at the the hour.
With that being said, this is my review on this book and it deserved 5 whole stars. Cassandra did so good and by far this is my favorite book in this trilogy, Am I ready for the next one? Nope not at all. Once again this is solely my opinion I do not wish for people to feel the same way I do and I know a good amount won't and that is fine! Thank you for reading if you read this if not well (: Also I didn't touch base on Annabel because at the moment I truly don't know what to say. [b:Lord of Shadows|30312891|Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices, #2)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1479513427s/30312891.jpg|19104295]