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.
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…
Glad you enjoyed it! I LOVED it when I read it last year and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel. I've missed this world so much!
ReplyDeleteI also really like Christina! I can't wait to uncover more of her story!
I can't wait for the next one. I've been randomly texting my friend new thoughts and theories as they come to me. I hope we lean more about Christina and "perfect" Diego and his brother.
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