Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

In a kingdom by the sea…

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.

*May Contain Spoilers*

First off, it just feels so great having another Shadowhunter series to dive into. I cannot believe I waited this long to read Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, especially when it was everything I thought it was going to be. At the end of the Mortal Instruments series, Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorns are introduced as fellow victims of Sebastian. In Lady Midnight, it's been five years since Sebastian Morgenstern used his army to attack institutes around the world and Emma is still looking into the death of her parents. Her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn has also grown, into the big brother who takes care of everything for his brothers and sisters: Livvy, Dru, Ty, and Tavvy. He even takes care of the Los Angelos Institute itself. 

Emma Carstairs is a very different female main character than Clary Fairchild. And I mean that in the best way possible. Clare gave Emma her own brand of badass which includes being obsessed with training. Emma trains constantly. Her dedication to being in danger is entertaining and obviously dangerous, which is also entertaining. Yet, Emma is a scarred girl. She is so focused on getting revenge for her parents, figuring out who killed them, that she'll stop at nothing, often breaking laws. Readers will witness two sides to Emma. The first is witty, sarcastic, bold, and strong. The second is scared, hopeful, cautious, and caring. All of these characteristics work together to create a very complex main character that will undoubtedly grow through this series. 

Julian Blackthorn is Emma's parabatai, but he's sort of been regretting that lately. Julian has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Ever since his brother Mark was taken by the Faerie Hunt, Julian has been the caretaker of his family. He's determined to keep them together so he lies. He lies about his uncle's illness, he lies to his family to protect them, and he lies to Emma about his feelings for her. However, he does somehow hold it all together. Julian is the sort of character that never lets you down. He's caring, he worries, and he understands. I think readers will really enjoy Julian's character while also being afraid for him, as his love for Emma (and her feelings for him) threaten their future as Shadowhunters. 

There are many important characters in this book and Clare does a great job at using the way she writes to help readers gain a deeper sense in regards to each one. She does this in such a way that it works to build the plot while providing intimate details about the cast and creating connection with readers. The plot of Lady Midnight is focused around a spree of killings that include dead faerie languages, various types of victims, seawater, and fire. The M.O. even matches that of Emma's parents. Emma knows that this is it, the chance to find out who killed her mom and dad. If she can solve these murders, then she can gain her revenge. 

Though it's always a lot more complicated than it seems. Clare gives readers a twist at the end that was incredibly surprising and let's just say that perhaps the murderer didn't need Blackthorn blood to succeed... The only thing I didn't really enjoy about the book was the Parabatai curse. I'm assuming that the next books will continue to tackle this, and maybe I'll understand it the more it is explained. But, I didn't like it. I don't want to stand for it. However, we do need to celebrate the return of some amazing characters from previous books including Clary Fairchild, Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Jem Carstairs! And let's not forget the favorite Magnus Bane! Jem and Tessa's story (in the Clockwork series) was amazing and made a fan of Shadowhunters and Clare's fantasy work. To see them again in this new series is going to be fantastic. Don't wait as long as me to read this book! And for any fantasy fans out there, if you haven't read the Shadowhunter series, I highly recommend it. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

City of Fallen Angels

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

*May Contain Spoilers*

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Newton taught us that and the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders is not to be omitted. Cassandra Clare shares the consequences of upsetting the balance between light and dark in her fourth novel of the Mortal Instruments series, City of Fallen Angels.

Though Clary and Jace are the main characters of the series, this book focuses heavily on Simon Lewis, the vampire and Daylighter who bears the Mark of Cain. Simon is a troubled vampire who struggles to give up the life he knew as a human. He's protective, wonderfully sarcastic, and increasingly reliable. Coupled with the fact that no one can harm him without it returning on the attacker sevenfold, vampires and demons want him on their side, willing to use force if necessary. Simon has been a strong character, an even stronger influence on Clary, throughout the entire series. Readers will definitely enjoy the deeper look into this character that Clare offers. 

The novel begins with several story lines, all seemingly unconnected. Jace is having dreams in which he kills Clary. Clary and her mother, Jocelyn, are caught up in a mystery of dying newborn humans while she and Luke are planning their wedding. Meanwhile Alec is off traveling the world with Magnus and Simon is having trouble dating both Isabelle and Maia. To make things even more difficult, someone is, repeatedly, trying to kill Simon. Cleverly, Clare manages to connect all of the plot lines into one meticulously planned web which involves one of the oldest and Greatest Demons. If only Clary hadn't upset the balance by bringing Jace back from death in City of Glass...

All bets are off in City of Fallen Angels, as the lives of the shadowhunting crew are put on the line facing down a demon more powerful than Valentine ever was. Though even at the end, the story isn't over, setting up the next installment perfectly. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3)

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy – aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

*May Contain Spoilers*

The epic finish to the Infernal Devices trilogy is a whirlwind of sacrifice and worry, death and the threat of destruction. But would we expect anything else from Cassandra Clare? Clockwork Princess is the chilling end to the prequel series, and thank goodness there's more in the form of Mortal Instruments. 

Tessa Gray will forever be a daring heroine (and not only because she's immortal). When she's kidnapped by Mortmain, the Magister, the Institute must convince the Clave that she needs to be rescued as she will be his biggest weapon against the Shadowhunters. Readers finally see the warrior inside of Tessa, the woman who would sacrifice anything and everything to keep the ones she loves safe. The connection formed in the first two novels will solidify in this third installment. 

And not only with the lovely Miss Gray. The fate of both Jem and Will are decided and revealed in Clockwork Princess. There will be unabashed happiness and unstoppable tears. Readers will revel in the words of Clare as the fate of the Infernal trio comes to light. 

The plot follows Tessa and Jem's plans to be married along with her kidnapping by Mortmain. Then when the Clave refuses to help, readers are witness to hell in the form of demon-infested automatons. Everything is nicely wrapped up without a single loose thread, that I could see, presenting readers with the ultimate end of the series. Some ties will cause sadness, others happiness. But still, we'll all wish for more. 

Rating: 5/5 Cups