Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare is the second book in The Dark Artifices series. This series is set in the Los Angeles Institute (and the characters travel to the London Institute), and follows Emma Carstairs and her friend, Julian Blackthorn, and his family. It’s hard to describe this book without spoilers, but it starts off where Lady Midnight ends, with Malcolm Fade’s death. I absolutely loved this book, as much as I love all of Cassie Clare’s other works. However, I did feel I liked Lady Midnight more. There was a ton of action scenes in this book, which I love, but I felt the middle of the book moved too slowly for my liking. This could honestly be because I decided to read this book while I recover for surgery, so I couldn’t just sit down and binge it; I was interrupted from my reading by my need to sleep and my pain. Overall, I gave this book a 4.75 stars.

SPOILERS

Right away, the book started off with a bang when the gang had to fight off some sea demons. The fight scene on the Ferris wheel was the perfect depiction of what I imagine a fight on a boardwalk would look like.

I absolutely love Kit, and I’m excited to watch him grow as a Shadowhunter and teach Emma and the Blackthorns more about modern life. As an example, I knew from Ty’s behavior in Lady Midnight that he is autistic, as I’ve grown up working alongside autistic children my whole life. I literally dropped my book when I read the scene where Kit pointed out that Ty is autistic. I’m so glad that Cassie is incorporating not just diverse sexualities, but diverse ‘disabilities’ as well (I use the term disability lightly here). I was so excited when Julian mentioned that Kit has a family now. I have heard some theories about Kit and Julian as a ship, but I did not get that vibe at all from this book. I honestly spent this whole book thinking about what a great parabatai couple Kit and Ty would be.

Now, Zara and her Cohort; I hated them. From the beginning, I knew that she and her friends would bring nothing but trouble to LA. I was very angry when Zara made the claim that the kids at the Institute could do the Centurions laundry while they were out doing more important things. Emma and the others are just as much Shadowhunters as the Centurions. And I was irritated that they could not help with the case, even though they were the ones that figured everything about Malcolm out. And I am still enraged that Zara is claiming she killed Malcolm the second time.

Speaking of Malcolm dying a second time. I think I am the ONLY one that didn’t see that coming. At the end of Lady Midnight, I figured he wasn’t dead for good, but I thought that he wouldn’t come back until later books in the series. I was shocked when Annabel killed Malcolm. I could not wrap my head around why she would do such a thing. I thought she had been persuading him to give her life again so that she could kill him and get the Black Volume, but I was wrong. Upon hearing her reasoning, I don’t blame her for killing Malcolm. But, I still hate her for the ending. LIVVY WAS SUCH AN INNOCENT CHILD THAT DESERVED TO LIVE. I still don’t understand why it was Livvy, though, I hope her death is explained and avenged in later books.

Now, Kieran. I sighed with relief when Mark said he wouldn’t save Kieran. I expected him to drop everything to go back to save his love. Although, I did have a feeling he would try and sneak out and do it alone anyway. I figured Cassie wouldn’t put this scene in the book if Mark did not go after Kieran.

With Emma’s battle to get Kieran, I knew Emma would win, but I was expecting more of a struggle. It seemed her only struggle was when she saw it was her dad she was fighting; although I knew it was an illusion. I thought that was so cruel of the Unseelie King, but have now learned not to put anything past him. I mean, he was going to kill his own son…

I still am unsure of Diego, if I like him or hate him. I don’t trust him, that’s for sure. I understand his reasoning for being engaged to Zara, and that’s awesome of him to be able to put up with her, but I still feel like he has to have feelings for her.. And Jaime seems way too suave, I don’t trust him either. I really think they were lying when they took Kieran away at the end of the book. Where did they really take him? Was the whole thing planned?

And what is with the token? What is it?

I was so excited to know that Julian figured out that there is a curse between parabatai love, and thought he and Emma could figure it out together now that they both know. Then, we find out that if you destroy one parabatai bond, you destroy them all?! Who would do such a thing? Now I don’t know if I should root for them to destroy it or want them to hate each other so the other parabatai can stay together. And finally, upon watching Emmmabooks review on Youtube, she reminded me that since Robert Lightwood is dead, so is the chance of him helping Emma and Julian figure out the curse. Now I have no idea which way Cassandra Clare is going to take this problem in the next book.

This book took me on a wild ride, and I cannot wait another two years for The Queen of Air and Darkness.