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| cassandraclare.com |
In this exciting new installment to Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles, book two of The Dark Artifices has lots to offer for fans of this expansive universe.
What it's about:
Malcolm Fade is dead, and Emma can finally put her torment over her parents' deaths to rest...or can she? When Emma learns the details of why parabatai are forbidden from falling in love, she knows what she must do to protect not only herself and Julian, but the rest of the Blackthorns - pretend to have feelings for Mark. But Mark is not without his share of troubles. Having just begun to adjust to life outside of the Wild Hunt, and with romantic entanglements of his own, will their relationship strengthen him and Emma, or cause more harm than good? The Faeries will no longer submit to the Cold Peace, the Clave is considering more rigid regulations, and the Seelie Queen wants something that only the Blackthorns can give her - how will the Shadowhunters be able to stop history from repeating itself?
Why it's worth a read:
Although I did enjoy Lord of Shadows, for me it was a bit of a disappointment. I often found myself skimming later pages to see if certain things would happen, and then would delay actually reading the book. I was expecting a book that I didn't want to put down for an instant, like I felt with Lady Midnight. It took me a rather embarrassingly long time to get through it (although that is not to say that it is bad). I do still have high hopes for the next book, The Queen of Air and Darkness, as this book in a lot of ways just felt like it was setting up for the next book. It seemed often to just be there to bridge the gap between the first and third books, expect for a few interesting developments. So, that means that I think that the following book is going to be absolutely amazing, and will likely pre-order it as well. Unfortunately, I have a long time to wait.
- If you are into romantic drama and love triangles (...love squares, I suppose) then this is a winner. Filled with passion, confusion, and heartbreak without it feeling frustrating or cheesy
- However, that being said, romance isn't the only part of this story (nor the most important). Relationships are the pivotal theme of the novel, with familial, platonic, and romantic all playing important roles. Family being the major focus, and the various ties that bind, this doesn't feel like an excessively romantic story. It is still very important, and many sides of relationships and feelings are touched upon (so, if you love it you will get you fix, and if it's not really your thing there will not be too much to detract from the story).
- There isn't just a single enemy or problem - multiple difficulties are constantly arising and must be worked around, making this more complex than your standard YA novel.
- Lots of adventures, and a rich fantasy environment like previous novels by Clare
- Great characters that you truly grow to care for and appreciate for their differences and complexities. These aren't your cookie-cutter protagonists. They have unique personalities, some of which are very unusual to see in literature (especially as secondary characters - usually anyone with a complex or unusual personality takes centre stage).
- It feels a bit longer than it should be, and that causes it to drag in a few areas. It definitely could have been effective with 100 less pages.
- With the intensity of its predecessor, Lady Midnight, it feels like it lacks in a few places here. Some things just feel too calm - where's the edge? There are definitely some strong moments, but I felt like a lot of things got resolved too quickly
- It's part of a trilogy, so it leaves a big cliffhanger. If you like having things all neatly bundled up, and hate having to wait for a sequel, then I am sorry. And, well, wait until next year or so to read this!
- In some ways, this feels like a filler book in the series. Yes, there are some very important elements, and interesting story points, but it mostly feels like a build-up to a penultimate novel. It's not boring, and I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what it is lacking, but it does feel like it is missing just a little bit of development.
Although I did enjoy Lord of Shadows, for me it was a bit of a disappointment. I often found myself skimming later pages to see if certain things would happen, and then would delay actually reading the book. I was expecting a book that I didn't want to put down for an instant, like I felt with Lady Midnight. It took me a rather embarrassingly long time to get through it (although that is not to say that it is bad). I do still have high hopes for the next book, The Queen of Air and Darkness, as this book in a lot of ways just felt like it was setting up for the next book. It seemed often to just be there to bridge the gap between the first and third books, expect for a few interesting developments. So, that means that I think that the following book is going to be absolutely amazing, and will likely pre-order it as well. Unfortunately, I have a long time to wait.
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What did you all think of this book/this series so far? Are you looking forward to Cassandra Clare's next novels? Please let me know if you would like to hear my predictions for The Queen of Air and Darkness!
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