Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight. Lord of Shadows is a Shadowhunters novel. Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the … parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?
And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear–before it’s too late.more
Like all of Clare’s books, I was instantly drawn back into the world of Shadowhunters as if I had never left. I truly enjoy seeing some of the familiar and beloved characters like Jace, Clary and Alec, but I’ve come to love this new set of Shadowhunters as well. Even Kit, who is newer than the rest.
In this volume, I was shocked at some of the losses and I have to say that I did end up crying at this book. I’m not sure I’ve completely moved on, although I am anxious to get to book three and see where we go from here.
The relationships, whether romantic, friendly, or familial are complicated and entertaining to see unfold. I love how rich the back stories are of all of Clare’s characters.
My heart. My heart has been ripped from my chest. Every Cassandra Clare book gut-punches me in the feels, but I think this one has to be one of the most heartbreaking. I haven’t felt sorrow like this since the Will and Jem scene in The Infernal Devices.
I love the way that the characters were paired off for this installment of the series. Everyone complimented each other and it was nice to see relationships grow. I particularly loved Christina, Mark, and Kieran. They had so much chemistry together, and I honestly can’t choose between them. They can be my first 3tp.
I also love the development of Kit! What is it about those Herondales? They are always so damn fascinating! I like that he’s finding his way in the shadowhunter world and finding he actually belongs there. His relationship with Ty is so special. I love the way it is described; I love that the issue of autism is being addressed and normalizing it makes me love Cassandra Clare even more. I also love that their relationship isn’t all about Ty being different, it’s about the way they make each other feel. They have an understanding of one another, they have built trust.
Another thing that always touches me about Clare’s books are the strong emotional bonds between family. As someone who would do anything for my siblings, and as the oldest, I really can relate to Julian. Every single time he talks about his younger siblings I catch feels. Remembering them as babies, seeing how far they have come and the immense sense of pride they give you, the worry that you always have for them, all of those feelings are present in this book.
What can I say other then I need Queen of Air and Darkness NOW!
If you have not read the first book , this review may spoil some things for you. I suggest you go read it because it is awesome and come back after.
Okay it has been three or more weeks since I finished the book and I’, still not over it. I’m still so very emotional about this book, I also not sure how much I can say without spoiling it so I will try to make it short but really all I can say is that I loved this book way too much. Even now , weeks later and I had time to think about it, if anything I just love it even more.
This books start shortly where we left off in book one. And things are a little awkward between Julian and Emma. But even worse between Julian and Mark, as they continue their struggle to … I guess understand each other. Overall this book in general is less about the relationship between Julian and Emma but about the giant sh&tstorm they are about to face that was set in monition last book.
Not to give away anything to new readers I will just say that this book was epic. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I wept. The ending was not only a major shock but also really heartbreaking, I can’t remember the last time a book shook me like that.
I love how Cassandra Clare always has diversity with characters. This series we get someone with Autism and it written great and I really enjoyed that part. Another thing was that we get a closer look at how the Clave thinks about mundane medicine.
In this book we learn a lot more about the fae, their role and plan in all of this. It is also hinted that there is something going on with the warlocks and I wonder if that has to do with anything that happed in last book with the death of a certain warlock. I cannot wait to find out what really is going on and how it all is related. But really that goes with a lot of things in this series. Like Emma’s sword, there is something with it and I can figure out what it is but I know it will hgave to do with something that will solve a lot of problems… I think… and hope.
“Lady Midnight” as mentioned in the epilogue of last book plays a big part in this book and it will keep you on your toes.
Now a little about some of the characters. Of course we get to see some people form the other book which I loved and Alex and Magnus have actually a decent amount of page time, which I also enjoyed very much. Of course we have Emma and Julian, who both struggle with the “curse of the parabatai” but each in their own way. We get a little more history about both families.
I think all characters had great arc and development but I think both Kit and Mark made the most progress. I adored Kit and his journey on how he is taking it all in. Of course I love the friendship / relationship he has with Ty and Livvy..
Mark who I didn’t fully last book I now adore as he trying to find a great middle ground between the fae and shadowworld.
We also get more of Kieran and him, this book I was not a fan of. No real reason just didn’t like him much.
Christina was awesome in this book, I really want her as my friend, Speaking of the three, there is something going on between the three of them (Mark, Kieran and Cristina) but not really sure yet what and to what extent.
We learn Diana’s secret which was awesome and again showed us how much the Clave can suck sometimes.
I said we learn more about the fae, that includes the wild hunt and of course Gwyn, who I aslo just loved and couldn’t get enough off.
I think that is all without spoiling too much and there is so much more going on that I’m sure I missed something or someone.
Overall I cannot say how much I loved this book, even with all the turmoil and roller coaster ride of emotions. Also while some is pretty dark we still get plenty of humor .
I rate it full 5 again
I know by now that I will pretty much enjoy anything Cassandra Clare writes, and this installment in the series is no exception. Her character development and world building is always so impressive, but I especially love the natural, funny, sparkling dialogue (it’s like my own personal catnip!). Another high point is the diverse cast, who actually get to participate in the story. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I highly recommend it!
This is the best book I have ever read. It made me laugh. It made me cry. This book is one that I will never forget.
It’s good
Lord of Shadows will rip your heart out. It’s so brutal in the best possible way. It’s probably the most brutal book I’ve read by Clare so far. On the plus side, I love how much diversity is in this book. The character development has been amazing and I can’t wait to see how Clare ends this trilogy.
This is an amazing series full of great, creative characters, action, adventure and well worth the read. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The writing is excellent and the storyline is fast paced and smooth. As with other books from the shadow world, there are a plethora of unique creatures and characters. I enjoyed this book very much.
It has so many crazy twists that makes it even harder to put down!!
Even better than the other one. You really get to the story and you don’t want to stop reading once you already started.
This review MAY contain spoilers.
My soul aches in such a way right now that I can scarcely breathe. Time has stopped and all thought has become transcendent. I am a bloody mess right now. This book, this story, these characters…OMG, send help. I feel like my chest has been mauled. I feel savagely broken. I thought that Lady Midnight broke me, but Lord of Shadows has gone beyond that. I never feel quite so happy to be so shattered inside as I do when I read a Cassandra Clare book. And her books get better and better with each passing title in the Shadowhunters universe.
Clare’s books are full of so many emotions. The well-written characters play an important role in her books. Her characters have incredible growth and fascinating story arcs. They are so vivid that they are completely believable. You will feel like you are in the same room with these characters living alongside them. Clare is extremely talented in crafting strong relationships between her characters. Their every interaction will evoke emotions in you. And what I like about Clare’s books is that no character is unimportant. The side characters are equally as moving as the main characters. Sometimes even more so. Her characters become ingrained in every part of you until you are breathing them like air. I urge you to let these characters become your oxygen. Experiencing a Cassandra Clare book is like making new lifelong friends. Her characters are special. I don’t know how else to put it.
The other thing that pulls emotion into her stories is the masterful way she plots them. Everything happens for a reason and everything is linked in one way or another. Her plotting is clever, purposeful, and I can’t even fathom her brilliance in crafting stories. She is an unparalleled storyteller. She can truly plot her heart out and do it better than most authors out there. The details, the foreshadowing, the wonder woven into her books, all of it!
I enjoyed the world building in this one. We’ve all read at least one Shadowhunter book before Lord of Shadows so we know that aspect of the world building already. It’s there, it’s awesome. What I liked more about the world building in this book is the way that Clare brought the political issues of the Clave to the forefront of the story. Prejudice and bigotry are powerful themes in this series, and Clare has shown that the Shadowhunter world is not just about slaying demons. These people are real. Just because they are Nephilim does not mean that they don’t experience the same things that mundanes do. There are a lot of political ideas expressed in the book. This part of the world building is done extremely well and it sets the tone for the book marvelously.
I loved the transgender representation. I thought that the character’s story was told very well. I liked that it had a purpose and wasn’t just thrown in for shock value. It also shines a light on more Shadowhunter rules and laws that are unjust and outdated, which ties into the already pressing issues with the hate surrounding Downworlders and the Cold Peace.
The romance in this book will mar your heart so thoroughly. I love Julian and Emma’s tragic love story. It has brought me so many feels. And I adore the strange relationship between Mark, Cristina, and Kieran. The way that the three of them are coming together is so beautiful and I can only hope that it will end with a polyamorous relationship. I would LOVE to see that representation in Clare’s books. I also adore the growing relationship between Ty and Kit, though I am unsure what type of relationship it is becoming. I kind of like that I don’t know yet, and honestly, I don’t care if it is romance or friendship because it is beautiful to the core. And I don’t know if Jaime is going to pan out for Dru, but I can only hope so. I love that girl.
And that ending shook me to the core. I just…oh god. December can’t come fast enough for me so that I can read the final book of this series.
Overall, I urge you to put this book on the top of your TBR list! Clare’s books are so good that they could be a religion. I gladly worship her genius. Her stories stay with you long after you finish reading. If you enjoy books that make you feel something then Clare is the author for you. Being tortured by her books is a privilege. I will always volunteer as tribute!
I got into and through the second installment of this series much more quickly than the first book. I have to say though, that there are WAY TOO MANY story lines going on here that venture into the major category… like just as important as Julian and Emma.
I started out reading this series because I was really interested in finding out how Clare was going to resolve the parabatai issue. But now, I feel like I’m reading a pamphlet advertising every type of non-traditional relationship (which doesn’t bother me) with a dash of how much LGBT can we fit in (which also doesn’t bother me), and it’s creating too many complex characters/story lines. It’s completely distracting from what is supposed to be the main story line, and I’m very nervous about the ability to tie it all up WELL with one more book, even if that book is over 900 pages.
I liked the book, but the story is getting really busy.
I’m a huge fan of Clare and after Lady Midnight I was really looking forward to this one. The book is as entertaining as all her other books and the characters engaging as usual. However I was a bit disappointed in the way Clare handled a lot of the social issues. At times (as when Diana reveals her secret) it was almost awkward as if the author had climbed on a soapbox instead of subtly writing it into the story. I’m a great believer in moderation and Clare just went overboard and stuffed the story with so much diversity and social issues, it distracted the reader from the characters and their stories. Having said that, I’m looking forward to the next one
Incredibly, this series just keeps getting better. I’m totally in-love!
I love all the shadow hunters! And this book was so good so much happened I can’t even! But the end wow grab your tissues and be ready for a ending that will make you want to grab book 3.
I love the Blackthorn family and how much Julian cares for them and will do anything to keep them all safe and together. So much devastation happens in this family and this book but you can’t stop reading ahhhh it was just as always the magic of the shadow hunters.
I love the world of Nephilim and fantasy that Cassandra Clare has built. When we first met Emma and Julian (and the rest of the Blackthorns), the focus was on Clary and Jace and their story (in the Mortal Instruments series). But you knew there was going to be more, since even as children, there was a sense that Emma and Julian shared a deep, abiding, life-altering love. There is the usual major upheaval, followed by a sort of resolution, but I’ve waited years to find out if there is a solution to the parabatai bond limitations. I loved the book, and the characters we’ve met before were nicely fleshed out and made lovable. Quite a good read – can’t wait for the last one in the series.
I love the world of Shadowhunters and this did not disappoint.
Fantastic series.
I thought that most dangerous thing in the Shadowhunter world was Valentine, Sebastian, and just demons. But I was wrong, in fact, I think demons was the easiest thing to deal with for the Shadowhunters. There so much happening in this book, that I wonder how anyone goes to sleep at night knowing you have to watch your backs.
The book is a roller coaster ride of emotions, action, and thrills. Everywhere I turn there is something that keeps my attention and made it hard for me to put it down. I also enjoyed the world building in this book. I actually the fact that in this book we got to learn more about fairies and see more of their world because in the other series she has written we don’t get a lot of fairies scenes as much. Another thing that enjoyed about the book is the fighting combat scenes that add another punch.
I love the characters. I like the interaction between Emma and Julian and how they always have each other’s back no matter what. Even when they are having a fight or what not they are still Parabatai. I also like Julian who will do anything to protect his family and to keep everyone together. Another character that caught my attention was Kit who was introduced in Lady Midnight who was also known as The Last Herondale. I like how he starts out as an outcast but then slowly finds his way. I hope in the next book he overcomes he struggles and gets a spin-off.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and had so much fun. And in fact, I wait so long to read it and now I have I know I have great hopes for what’s to come in the next book. Cassandra Clare’s books keep getting better and I hope the world of Shadowhunters don’t end.
Great read!