The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.
It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a … child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.
Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…
Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?
Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.
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One of my favorite reads of 2017
This series just keeps getting better and better. I loved City of Bones and was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this next stage in the saga as much since we’ve changed narrators and are introduced to a whole new cast of characters. I shouldn’t have worried – Cassandra Clare’s world building and character development still hold up, even ten books later. Also, for anyone who really knows the Shadowhunter world, Clare added in cameos of characters from both spin-off series, which made reading this even more rewarding for long-time fans.
Okay, where to start other than saying I loved the book? If you have not read any of the previous books in the Shadowhunters world and don’t want to be spoiled I recommend to you read them first. Plus some things will make more sense if you read them.
I must admit while I have read and loved The Infernal Devices Trilogy I have only read the first three books in The Mortal Instruments which I also enjoyed but yet have to read the last three books. But thanks to the internet I know how it all ends, so I decided to finally start Lady Midnight which I had sitting on my shelve for some time now.
Now to Lady Midnight. I loved this book and I think it is my favorite book in the shadowhunters word I’ve read so far. Though The Infernal Devices are a close second.
In this book we meet the Blackthrons and Emma Carstairs. I really enjoyed them all. Julian seems all broody but really he has a soft heart and once you get to know it all it all makes sense. He has a lot to carry on his shoulders. Mark, I was not really sure for some time where he stands but I did like him a lot. I also enjoyed all the other kids in the family each had their own quirks and strengths. I look forward getting them to know more about them.
The Blackthorns are not having it easy, not at all. It seems at first all is going smooth but the deeper we go in the more we see the flaws and the struggle, which made me love them even more. With them comes Emma who lost her parents in the dark war and now lives with the Blackthorns and is also Julian’s parabatai which comes with its own little difficulties as she is also in love with him. But as we know it is forbidden for parabatais to be lovers. “The Law is hard, but it is the Law.”
We also meet Christina and Perfect Diego, both I liked very much and can’t wait to see more of. It would not be complete without some fair fold and a warlock both are pretty important as always to the story and both are scary, yet exciting to read.
We also get to see some people we met and loved in both The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments. Which was so great and written into this story perfectly. It was great to see them but even better to see them happy.
This book was a total emotional roller coaster ride and nonstop action. Plus we get some pretty wicked plot twists throughput the book. Every time I thought I had it figured out I was thrown a curveball.
Overall I loved this book and I can’t say much more without spoiling it so I just leave it at that. If you are a Cassandra Clare fan, than this book is a must read.
I rate this book a full 5 and will start book two tonight
OMG, this is an amazing book and I recommend you all read it because you won’t be able to stop until you reach the last page.
Great series. I heart all Cassandra Clares books! This one is becoming my favorite!
I was already in love with Cassandra Clare as a writer before I picked up this book at the store; however, I was afraid that a this new addition wouldn’t live up to the book in the The Mortal Instruments Series (5 books): City of Bones; City of Ashes; City of Glass; City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls series. There was no reason to fear because this book was simply amazing. As always, Clare weaved sub-plots and romances in throughout the book, and created a new romance that will have readers wanting more. My only qualm with this amazing book was the speed. I prefer my books to be fast paced and thrilling with every page; however, I found this book to move a little slower than her previous ones. Thus, it took me longer to finish and I was not as hooked for the rest of the story as I was after reading City of Bones. But, although it has faults, this book was overall very well done and I would highly suggest reading it, especially if you have read Cassandra Clare’s books in the past.
A good story, but I felt lost amid the overabundance of characters and introductions, most of whom you already know about from Clare’s previous series. This is probably my least favorite of the Shadowhunter books, but still worth reading.
Another great peak into the Shadow Hunters world!
The start of The Dark Artifices trilogy takes the reader to the Los Angeles institute where Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family live. It has been 5 years since the Dark War and Julian Blackthorn is still trying to get his brother, Mark, back from faerie. There have been several murders in the area and when it is revealed that some of the deceased have been half faerie, Mark is brought to the Institute as an incentive for Julian and Emma to solve the case.
The reader met Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family in the City of Heavenly Fire, but now we get to really get to know them. The Blackthorn family has been through so much, but they still love each other so much. Emma may not have Blackthorn blood, but she is very much a part of the family.
There are many new characters introduced in this book. Cristina Rosales is visiting from Mexico and Malcolm Fade is the High Warlock in Los Angeles. For a while I wasn’t sure if I liked him or Magnus Bane more (definitely Magnus). We also get to see a few of our favorite people from previous books: Clary, Jace, Magnus, Jem and Tessa.
The mystery behind the murders is very interesting, but what intrigued me the most was the way the author created this whole story around the Edgar Allen Poe poem Annabel Lee. It was creative, well researched, and well written. There aren’t many authors who can write like this.
Emma and Julian’s relationship is strong, but dangerous. I’m looking forward to see what happens.
This is an awesome series it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I was scared I wouldn’t love this. I liked Infernal Devices but I didn’t love it. I’ve been waiting to start and figured now was the best time. I’m so glad I did, I loved it so much!! Emma gives me all the Clary and Izzy vibes! She’s a good mix of the 2. It was such a rollercoaster ride and left me shocked so many times. I can’t wait to keep going with the series
I loved this book. The vibrant unique characters,, the paranormal mystery and romance and the extremely well crafted storyline made this book into a delightful epic adventure that captures your imagination and engages you from beginning to end.
I had a very difficult time getting into this book. The focus seems to be more on the characters than on the action or storyline. This is supposed to be the first book in a stand alone trilogy, but I think I may have enjoyed it a bit more if I had read the earlier books first. The narrative of Lady Midnight depends heavily on the readers investment in the characters, and I found myself not really caring what happened to them.
I devoured The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series in high school and I’m having a blast catching up on the rest of Cassandra Clare’s books.
I was introduced to one of my favorite characters in this book and so far the most inspiring way an author has included a character with educational / commutation differences
Wrote a review on whole series in the review for Queen of Air.
This review MAY contain spoilers.
I am a bloody mess right now. A complete mess. A sobbing mess that has been perusing the interwebs for fanart of these beloved characters for the past hour and a half just to soothe my torn up soul. A part of me is glad that I waited to read Lady Midnight until Queen of Air and Darkness was almost ready to release because I don’t think that I could have survived several years of not knowing what happens in this moving story. Another part of me is baffled why I waited so long to read it when I’ve owned this book since it was released, simply because this book destroyed me so thoroughly. I am talking TORE ME TO PIECES. The first series that I read by Cassandra Clare was The Mortal Instruments and I thought that nothing could compare to my love of the characters and the magical world within the pages. Then I read The Infernal Devices and my heart was shattered all over again. But it also grew. The Infernal Devices blew me away just as The Mortal Instruments had and left me with new character loves that shaped and defined my heart. I didn’t think that it would be possible to love something more than those series but I was wrong. Cassandra Clare surpassed every expectation I had and then some with Lady Midnight. This book is by far the strongest Shadowhunter book to date. Granted I haven’t read Lord of Shadows yet and Queen of Air and Darkness will be released in December, but I can only imagine that the last two books of this series will outmatch Lady Midnight. It seems that each Shadowhunter book that Clare writes surpassed the last. I can only be grateful for that.
So what about this book is so glorious? Well, everything. Most importantly are the characters. The characters are strong and moving. These characters evoke such emotion in me that I feel I can hardly breathe just thinking about them. They are written so beautifully. The characters have real struggles that will touch your heart. This book has a strong theme of family and loyalty. Most importantly is that these characters are three-dimensional. They have so much depth and are so vivid that you feel like you are living alongside them. When these characters are in pain, you are as well. When these characters are overjoyed, you feel happiness also. The very art of these characters emotions is so skillful that it is almost intimidating.
The next thing that I must praise is the masterful plot. I don’t think that it could be called anything less. The plot of this book was set up in The Mortal Instruments, but this plot is so deep-rooted that it is mind-blowing. This plot is engaging, compelling, and so very flawless. All of the pieces fall together like a magic jigsaw puzzle. The foreshadowing is instrumented so phenomenally. One of the best words that I can think of to describe the plot is complex because there are so many components.
The world-building is just as strong as in other Shadowhunter books. I like getting a sense for the Shadowhunter world in other parts of the world.
The romance in this book will have you on the floor crying your eyes out. It will devastate you so completely. The romance is well written and full of so much emotion. It will pull on your heartstrings until you question everything about the Shadowhunter world. Apart from the main romance of the book, there are other love stories. One such love story is a tragic one that will make you question morality in the face of love and loss. Another love story is encompassed by betrayal and brings into question the lengths someone will go to in order to protect those they love.
Overall, this is the kind of book that you shout out your love for from the rooftops. This book will make you feel every single feeling you could imagine and then more. This book will gut you and leave you in limbo. There is a quote from Harry Potter that I think best describes the way this book will make you feel. [Queue Ron Weasley’s voice.] “You’re gonna suffer… but you’re gonna be happy about it…” And that’s the truth. I have never been more happy to feel destroyed and shattered. I recommend all of Cassandra Clare’s books. ALL OF THEM! If you haven’t experienced her genius then you are missing out on something truly special.
Not as good as immortal Instruments series, but still worth reading
Having read all the other shadow hunter books, I could not wait to get my hands on Lady Midnight. I knew it was going to focus on the young (now older) Blackthorn kids as well as Emma Carstrairs. They made their shadow hunter debut in the Mortal Instruments series, mainly in the sixth book City of Heavenly Fire. At least, that is where their characters stuck out to me, but I haven’t re-read that series in awhile. Anyway, Lady Midnight did not disappoint. It has everything I want in a story- action, adventure, romance and a mystery.
Emma Carstairs is the lady shadowhunter that I have been waiting for. She is a badass girl, who just wants to find out what happened to her parents. She is one of the best shadowhunters of her generation, just like Jace Herondale. I think she is a great role model character for young woman.
The storyline is not only addictive, but fast and intense. All of the characters have their own amazing storylines and it will be a book that you keep in your library for a long time.
I have really enjoyed all of Cassandra’s books, with The Infernal Devices Being my favorite. I was excited for this next series and waited until all 3 books were out so I could binge read.
With that said, it took more than half of the book for me to get into the first book in this series. Once it finally grabbed me, it grabbed me, but i was surprised it took so long since that’s not been my experience with a single other book of Cassandra’s.
There are many aspects/threads of the story that I look forward to unraveling. Honestly, I’m kind of surprised she gave us so many answers in this book. What I expected to be the first book of a major motion ended up really only being the first act. A sub plot within a larger plot so you get some questions answered but you can see the building blocks of something bigger starting.
Very interested to see where it all leads.