| BOOK REVIEW | LADY MIDNIGHT BY CASSANDRA CLARE

Lady Midnight
Author : Cassandra Clare
Series : The Dark Artifices
Genres : Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication : March 8th 2016 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

synopsis :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.

I have to be  honest, I was dreading to start this book. This is probably why I haven’t read it sooner. I loved every Cassandra Clare’s books and I was afraid that this time it could be different. Well, let me say this : it wasn’t. I LOVED it ! First, it was so good to be back in the Shadowhunters’ world. I also enjoyed these new characters.

When we first got introduced to Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn, I didn’t care that much about them. I was fully focused on our well known TMI’s posse.

You’ll fix me, because we’re parabatai. We’re forever.

plot

I was afraid to find it a little repetitive. I was also curious to see what new story Cassandra Clare was crafting for us and how she would manage to avoid repeating herself. And I must say I wasn’t disappointed at all ! She created a wonderful story ! I’m not gonna say much about it because it’s better to start it without knowing too much, in my opinion. I’m just gonna say that it’s a mix of magic, secret society, big family and feys !

I cared so much for the characters ! I love Emma so much, she’s truly amazing ! And the Blackthorns are a wonderful family ! I have a particular fondness for Tiberius, that one is a special cupcake ! Livia is so overprotective of him, their bond is so cute to witness !

Another thing worth mentioning is the diversity. We’ve got a bisexual character (not gonna say who), Dru that is described as curvy, Arthur that is suffering from an illness (trying my best to avoid spoilers here !) and Ty that is somewhere on the autism spectrum.

I read reviews saying that the beginning of the book was slow. True, it wasn’t fast paced but it’s important to set up the story ! Lady Midnight can be read without having read TMI or TID, though you wouldn’t appreciate it as much.

These pictures are my heart. And if my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would be painted over with you.

The story is mainly an investigation. Emma is trying to find oud who murdered her parents. The same writing that was found on her parents is found on another dead body. But don’t worry, it’s also a shadowhunters’ story and a Clare’s book. Which means that’s a page turner, action packed and a breath taking and heart wrenching story. But it’s also funny and witty ! I had a hard time putting the book down when I had to go working ! And the plot twists totally surprised me !
Also, let me tell you that the ending will let you craving the sequel haha !

I found it slightly darker than TMI books. Maybe it’s because the two main characters have suffered a lot and had to grow up way quicker than they should have.

Characters

• Emma is such a great character. She is strong and fierce and yet relies so much on Jules and their special bond. She is incredible and I really love her and her wits !
• Julian has to deal with so much. He is like a father to his siblings and he is keeping too many secrets for his own good.
• Diana Waybrun is an intriguing character. She’s barely present and we don’t learn much about her.
• Cristina is such an awesome sidekick ! She has a troubled past. We get to learn about it though !
• Tiberius is so precious and special ! He has his way to see things ! He is absolutely adorable !

There are so many things to say about other characters, but it would spoil so…

Being told that love is forbidden does not kill love. It strengthens it.

I loved witnessing how Julian/Emma’s relationship grew stronger and into something really special !
I’m also glad that Jem and Tessa have somehow an important role to play. I love them so much !! (by now you all know my love for TID right ?!)

Overall I LOVED this book ! I can’t wait to read the sequel !

About the short story

I have mixed feelings about it. I was more than happy to read about the TMI’s posse but the ending left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m sure there’s a reason as to why Clary reacted that way. But I don’t know it seemed unlike her, in my opinion. Maybe I’ll change my mind if we get to read more about it !

She soared above the ground, and he kept her tethered to the earth. Without him she would be lost among the clouds.

About the author

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.