Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2)

                Hello happy readers!  So as many of my fellow Shadowhunters are aware the newest i book came out last week, Lord of Shadows.  I had the audiobook pre-ordered and had been waiting to dive in after how Lady Midnight left off and had me very worried.  So buckle in and sit back while I try to put my all over thoughts into a somewhat coherent review for this amazing story.  Spoilers ahead for the previous books in the universe duh.  To catch up I reviewed Lady Midnight here.  Also as I listened to the audiobook I didn’t see the names written so sorry in advance if I mess up any of the spellings I am trying to Google them first!

Rating: 5 Runes

                When we left off in Lady Midnight they had just killed the evil warlock and managed to keep things under wraps about their deal with the faeries and Uncle Author with his condition among other things.  Oh and Jem and Tessa shared the news with Emma of the parabatai curse making the love between her and Julian not just against the Shadowhunter law but a curse.  Now while the Shadowhunters have some stupid and unfair laws this one is there for a reason even if no one really knows it.  So Emma decides to pretend to date his brother to make him not love her anymore to prevent the curse.  That’s just the start of the mess with an extremist group, the Cohort, trying to push their agenda and the stress of the Cold Peace and all things Faerie.  So just your typical day at the LA Institute.

                So first things first I listened to the audiobook which I adored.  I was a few chapters, a few hours, before I realized why the voice sounded familiar.  It’s ready by James Marsters (AKA Spike from Buffy) and that was just extra sprinkles on the book because I always adored his voice.  Now for the story, I was so anxious about this curse.  I had spent the time since reading Lady Midnight trying to come up with ways it could be avoided or some loop hole and I kept coming up with nothing solid.  Plus the whole having to hurt him to push him away because being told it’s impossible to love someone doesn’t make the feeling go away even if you want it to.  Feelings are tricky that way.  So I expected there to be some of that back and forth with this side of things.  I went back and forth between saying screw it I want them together just be honest and stop hurting each other and wanting them to stay apart so nothing bad happened.  I just adore them.  But this pretend dating made me love Mark even more.  I really grew to like him in the last book but in this one, him curling up in a blanket cocoon every night in Emma’s room and them talking and really connecting was beautiful.  They were connecting in a way that parabatai are supposed to connect so seeing the inverse with brothers was a great play.

                 I just fell in love with everyone!  I mean I already loved the Blackthron kids from Julian for obvious reasons and his love and care for his family, Liv and Ty with their bond and determination to help, even Dru and her body issues tired of always being stuck babysitting and of course sweet little Tavy.  Even poor Arthur and his broken mind.  I loved that the book handled his condition and showed several sides to it.  This is even more so done of Ty.  We knew he was different and for Shadowhunters that isn’t a good thing as they don’t like not being able to place people in boxes but we really dove into his character.  Seeing him with Kit and watching as Kit, who thought he was normal and knows more about mundane medicine and psychology understands him.  Watching these two interact while Kit struggles with his newfound “family” and surroundings was what they both needed.    This book for all it had happening really gave you a chance to dive into so many characters including Diana and her past which, was so well done and so different all I can say is kudos.

                We also had more of the familiar faces we know from the previous book series which I adore!  I mean I loved these characters so of course seeing them, even if only in smaller less major rolls is huge.  I love knowing what is going on with Jace and Clary in NY and even more I was beyond thrilled to see more Magnus and Alec!  Magnus is my favorite character of the world, not only is he in every series but he is fabulous.  I also adore him and Alec so happy and in family mode was great!  Plus whenever he gets to whip up his blue flames of magic with a smart quip is perfect!  Everything in this world is connected somehow and I love it!

                 Faerie is also a huge influence in this series.  We have the Cold Peace with not everyone agrees with but getting rid of it is easier said than done.  We go into Faerie and get to see both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, both dangerous in their own way.  While the Unseelie King has always been an enemy, the Seelie Queen has been devious in the past with horrible consequences so it’s hard to trust either.  Something did happen I didn’t know if it was possible to do, I like Kieran.  And Gwen (Wild Hunt leader).  Yep, never saw that coming but they were both developed in this story and the way the characters interact and the stories all flow just really opens them up in the best way possible and gives so much to attach to.  Speaking of the Wild Hunt, we see another band of elite and terrifying faerie warriors.  

                Lord of Shadows really had so much going for it.  I was invested in the world I already love flaws and all as it brings important topics to the forefront.  The characters who are all so unique and special in their own way even the baddies I love to hate on.  Ships to ship and so much more.  I also love how the story balances out the mystery and intrigue handling so many different aspects and somehow making them all blend together.  My biggest gripe about this book is that per Goodreads (at this moment) it shows an estimated publication date for the next book to be 2019!  That’s not even a year wait but LONGER!  With the ending…and just trust that I have some serious feels about that ending.  Like LOTS of feels about that ending.  I need more and I need it now.  2019 is too long of a wait so I hope it was a typo. 

                Still that’s all for now.  I’d love to hear your thoughts and feels in the comments below.  I’m waiting for my friend to finish it now and it’s killing me not being able to discuss it with her yet (payback for not having caught up with The 100 yet she says) but my world of bookish peeps are here so score!  Check back I have a couple giveaways planned in the next bit and I think the next one will go live in the next day or so!

                Until next time…

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

                Hello happy readers! Today I am reviewing a book I had been wanting to get to since last year when it first came out but time and all plus it was massive.  So when I was contacted about working with a new audiobook app eStories I was thrilled and knew just the book to start with.  Plus it worked right into my audiobook challenge I'm doing this year!  The eStories app is simple and easy to use and super self explanatory and nicely laid out so thrilled with that.  The book in question you might ask is LadyMidnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare.

Rating:  5 Runes

                It's been a minute since I read the last Mortal Instruments book.  I had planned to re-read/skim it prior to moving on and reading Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy but that didn't end up happening go figure.  Still while I didn't remember specific details about the ending of the dark war it all came back to me as I began LadyMidnight.  We meet these characters, most of them anyways, at the end when they were younger but just as brave, stubborn, and dedicated.  Five years have passed and Emma is no longer a child but a woman still searching for answers about her parents murder.  Her and Julian became parabatai, bound together forever to become better together than apart so long as the most sacred rule of the Shadowhunters is not broken.  Emma and Julian must work to solve the string of demonic murders happening around them while balancing a thin line of treachery between the Clave and the Cold Peace.  Rules are meant to be broken though, especially when it comes to family and love.

                I didn't realize how much I missed this world until I was back inside of it.  It also made me laugh from the start as I do watch the TV show where things are massively different but I find it fun.  I had almost forgotten how non-high tech the world really is.  Getting to know a new Institute in Los Angeles between the ocean and the desert was so different from the one we know in New York.  The plot starts off right away but we also slowly get re-introduced to our characters and where they are currently in life since it has been five years and many things have changed.  Emma who I love just as fiercely as I did when she was a little girl in the last book is even more loveable.  She's strong and determined and confident in her abilities but she is very unsure about other things like matters of the heart which I think most everyone can relate to.  Plus she is kick butt and she has an equally awesome weapon of choice in Cortana.  Cortana is almost a character itself really.  A new face we have is Christina, visiting from the Mexico Institute, and a fast friend to Emma.  I adored them together and having some girl bonding because us girls all need a girlfriend to talk to and confide in.  Christina also brings her own story which I hope will  be much more developed in the next book because what pieces we got I was really enjoying. Plus I want to know more about this "perfect" Diego.

                Now the Blackthorns.  Julian is now the head of the Blackthorns and stand in father to the younger ones.  He is so much more grown up that we last saw him.  He has taken such good care of the little ones after Mark was taken by the hunt in the Dark War and Helen was sent away.  Julian stepped up.  You can't help but to love him and his dedication and love for his family.  He will do anything to help them and keep them together, including Emma.   The younger Blackthorns are just as loveable with the twins Livvy and Ty who are so cute together it hits the feels to Dru and then the youngest of them all little Tavvy.  Each has their own unique personality and skill set.  But it's their interactions together as a family unit that just make them so priceless.  The change in how they act together just family to how they act when someone new or unknown is thrown in just their protective instincts.

                 We also have a tutor for the kids, Diana who has her own secrets.  And of course every Institute works with the high warlock of the area, and while Magnus will always be my favorite in LA they have Malcolm.  He's not the only downworlder though as we have all different type some of the most memorable are the vampire Anselm and of course the members of the Wild Hunt with Gwyn and Kieran.  There are plenty more as they deal with several characters to try and solve this case.  A very rounded out cast already but we also have appearances from old favorites from both flashbacks and present day mentions like Clary, Jace, Magnus (who is still my favorite character in this world), Jem, Tessa, and even Church!  I was so excited to see these old faces.  While I love the new group to pieces, seriously they are amazing it was so nice to see everyone else as it really shows how all the stories come together into one beautiful world.

                With the other books we have not just the immediate plot but the underlying issue of change that needs to happen on a much larger scale.  Previously they made steps to reform and change things but the world still needs work as we all do.  The first book really points out a few issues that I hope will be tackled as the series progresses and I think most will focus on the Cold Peace and overall Shadowhunter law.  There is a specific law I am unpleased about at this moment.  I won't give it away but to say that when I finished this book I was in desperate need to talk about it.  Thankfully this is one of the few books a good friend of mine read before me so as soon as I finished I was texting her I would be over to visit and discuss later that day.  And discuss we did.  I have many theories and hopes myself but right now my heart is just aching for some of the individual relationships between the cast seem on unsteady ground.  I need more and I'm hoping Cassandra Clare doesn’t rip my heart out.  Some victories and some losses.  This series is off to an amazing start and I know I won't be waiting as long to dive into the next book!

                Though having enjoyed the audiobook I think I may want to listen to the next one as well.   I almost forgot one of my favorite parts of the eStories app is that it doesn't just tell you what chapter you're on or how much time you have left but it says what percentage you're at.  For someone who loves to update Goodreads reading progress that is perfect!  Usually I have to guess to update or if I have the physical book or know someone that does I'll ask them what page a certain chapter is on this is so much easier!  I could go on forever about this series and how awesome the audiobook was, because the change in voice/pitch/accent for different characters was on point!  I'd love to know what you guys thought of the book and any theories you have for the future (I can't share mine without spoiling anything) just please put *spoiler* before so if anyone hasn't finished they are safe. 

                Until next time…

~Waiting on Wednesday~ Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Out:  3/8

From Goodreads:

Los Angeles.  It's been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents.  After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn.  A series of murders in the city catch her attention—they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents.  Could the murderer be the same person?  And her attention isn't the only one caught:  someone has been murdering Downworlders as well.  The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute:  if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they'll return Mark Blackthorn to his home.  The catch:  they have only two weeks to find the killers.  Otherwise it's open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them.  At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she's absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love.  Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I have just adored all things Shadowhunter thus far and getting to meet Emma in City of Heavenly Fire just made me want to know more about her all the more.  I am so excited to continue in the world!