Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifacts, Book 2)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Lord of the Shadows is the second book in the Dark Artifices series.
To kinda set up the storylines, The Infernal Devices series is the beginning of the whole set of series, then in time, you move to The Mortal Instruments series, and finally the Dark Artifices series comes last, or at least at this point. So in reality, all the different series that Cassandra Clare has written all build off each other.
Lord of the Shadows takes up were Lady Midnight ended, and it does a wonderful job continuing the story. It was such a good story and we really got to know more about the people and moved everything forward!
This story was very much time and culturally appropriate. There is a movement in the Shadowhunter world against mixed alliances, and people marrying or dating and being in relationships with people that are not Shadowhunters, such as the Shadowhunter Alex and Wizard Magnus or other such relationships. There are people who are vocal against these mixed alliances and are talking about making changes in the hierarchy of the Shadowhunter world.
This was a good book, but as someone who has watched friends become victims of racial profiling and treated differently because of race, I have issues with that type of thing, and to read in happening in a book makes me mad, because there is nothing I can do about it. That racial treatment was difficult to read, and to get past, so that made parts of the book very hard for me to read, and I am not really sure that I will be able to read the next book because of the huge uprising in this book.
Book One: Lady Midnight Review Link
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Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifacts, Book One)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lady Midnight is the beginning of a new series by Cassandra Clare. This one called the Dark Artifices and it takes place about 5 or so years after the end of the Mortal Instruments series, give or take a few years. But you will hear Clary and Jace's name's brought up and it's not that far removed from the end of the Mortal Instruments. Just to give you an idea where we are starting, but we are not in New York, the setting of the Mortal Instruments, nor are we in London, the setting of the Infernal Devices, we are in San Francisco. Completely new city, completely new set of shadowhunters, well sort of.
You know how those same names seem to keep popping up again and again! You will find them again, and some of our favorites will drop in for a visit now and again in this story.
Here we have a disconnect between the faerie world and the Shadowhunter world, they are no longer in communication, yet a series of deaths brings the faerie's to the Institute for help, but is all really as it seems? Young Emma Carstairs and her parabati Julian Blackthorn are tasked with the job of discovering the truth, with the help of only their younger siblings and Mark, Julian's older brother who was kidnapped by the fae and has no idea of the normal world. This is almost an impossible task. But, if they can do it, they can ensure that Mark will be able to stay in the Shadowhunter world and not have to return to the fae. Julian will have part of his family back, something he has always wanted.
Once again, Cassandra Clare gives us a story of youth facing a daunting task, that should be well over their heads, and yet they attack it with courage and determination that is unbelieveable at times, they do not give up. Their faith in each other and belief in what is right supersedes anything else. You will fall for these characters!
Book Two: Lord of Shadows Review Link
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The Bane Chronicles
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Bane Chronicles is a collection of stories about the life and adventures of Mangus Bane, everyone's favorite Warlock. Word of warning - DO NOT READ this until you have finished the Mortal Instruments AND the Infernal Devices, unless you want them to be spoiled for you! Some of the stories occur during the periods of those series and you get Mangus point of view of what was going on, where in the other books you got it from only the Shadowhunters point of view.
Mangus Bane is character quite unto himself and is a joy to read about. He is not self-centered or as egotistical as you would think a centuries old Warlock would be, but he has a calm outlook on life.
There are also a lot of things that Mangus' stories fills in. There is a story about Valentine's Circle, the moment that Joyceln first comes to him with Clary and many others, so you find that in reading about Mangus he fills in some gaps and gives you more details. Which is why you would hate to read it before you read the original stories.
Definitely another must read by Cassandra Clare.
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Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, Book Three)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clockwork Princess is the third book in the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. Set in London in the 1800's this book finishes up the story of the Devices, of Mortmain and the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
Let me start by warning you that you will need to keep some tissue close when reading this one, because things do not go the way you think they are going to go and there is a lot of things that happen that will have you in tears, both good and bad.
The mystery of Tessa is finally revealed and we learn how she came to be and what exactly she is, and why Mortmain is so interested in her in the first place. That mystery again reinforces how long this plan has been in place and how many different people Mortmain has used to get what he desires.
The Consul finally shows his true colors when he refuses to support Charlotte and anything that she says about Mortmain, leaving the London Institute completely alone to fight him on their own, and almost impossible battle.
This book does a wonderful job of telling this story and giving us closure to the characters that allows us to but the books away and know that all is well with them. I really think you should read this series. It can be before or after you read Mortal Instruments or you never have to read Mortal Instruments, but the author is great at giving you a glimpse into the mind and soul of the person. They become almost like friends and you want to know what happens.
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Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, Book Two)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Clockwork Prince is the second book in the Infernal Devices series, which is a precursor to the Mortal Instruments series.
In the Clockwork Prince we continue to follow Tessa Gray as she tries to discover more about who and what she is, and the London Institute as they try to find and defeat Mortmain.
This book grows each of the characters in age and maturity. We learn more about Tessa and her brother Nate, Jem and Will and even Jessamine. We watch the friendships and affections between the people grow and become more and shape and influence decisions that they make.
Familiar family names from the Mortal Instruments series can be found in this book, but as the shadowhunters are an elite lineage that should be expected. We find some bad apples in some family trees.
I found myself hoping for and enjoying the development of a relationship with Tessa and Jem, I found it true and innocent and refreshing, especially in a world filled with demons and conflict. i long for the next book and the resolution to the story, and the hopes for a happy ending.
Book One: Clockwork Angel Review Link
Book Two: Clockwork Prince
Book Three: Clockwork Princess
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Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book One)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices series, which is a precursor to the Mortal Instruments series. This book and series is set in London area in the late 1800's. All your favorite character types from the Mortal Instruments are there, werewolves and vampires, demons and shadowhunters, it is just more the beginnings. You will also recognize some familiar last names.
Clockwork Angel revolves around a young girl named Tessa, who has always though she was a normal (mundane) girl and never imagined anything more to life, until her Aunt dies and she moves to London to be with her brother, only all is not what it seems. Tessa is more than what she thought, and someone knows more about her than she does, and they have plans to use her.
Welcome to the London Institute, where young James Carstairs or Jem and William Herondale or Will are living and training to be Shadowhunters. They follow a trail that leads them to unknowingly to young Miss Tessa, and she has to decide if they are worth trusting after all she has been through. And is she willing to help them save the world.
If you have already read the Mortal Instruments series, you will see some similarities in some of the characters. If you haven't then have no fear, you will still enjoy this book. The layers of story that weave throughout are wonderful, it is not all on the top, but there are under currents upon under currents of stories in the book.
I personally enjoyed the first three books of the Mortal Instruments, which is why i started reading this series, and i find that I like the characters, was glad to see Magnus Bane in this book as well, and find that the struggles are the same this century and last.
I almost find myself enjoying this series a little more than the Mortal Instruments, and maybe that is the time period, i have always had a thing for historical books.
Book Two: Clockwork Prince Review Lin
Book Three: Clockwork Princess Review Link
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City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
City of Glass is the 3rd book in the Mortal Instruments series. Being as there are three mortal instruments, the mortal cup; which was stolen in book one. The mortal sword, which was stolen in book two, and this was book three, I already thought this would be about this third of the mortal instruments, and it was in part.
It did bring us to the third mortal instrument, it brought us to the ancient home of the Shadowhunters, it filled in a number of blanks, and could have very easily wrapped up the series and I could have slept at night thinking they all lived happily ever after! In fact I really think I want to stop right here, forget that there are any more books to follow this and just walk away, but I know that I won't be able to do that.
For me, it was the perfect ending to the series. It tied up all the loose ends, but still left enough untold for you to imagine everyone living happily ever after. Jocelyn is awake, but the conversations between her and Clary were not what I expected, they seemed so off kilter for the closeness the relationship was portrayed to be. All in all, aside from the senseless death of Max, the book was good. It seemed a fitting and proper end to the series, only it wasn't the end to the series, there are more books.
Now, if I read some of the reviews right, it originally came out as a triology and the next two books came out later, but as I m just now reading them, I know they are out. I also know there is a prequel series and some other spinoff series. Maybe I would be better off moving on to one of those, because I am not looking forward to returning to these characters. I feel as if this book should have put them to bed and let them sleep. Yes, I loved them and I like the author and I do want to read more from her. Jace and Clary finally had a few minutes of a true and perfect love at the end of the book, I just want to end it there. Close the book and leave it at that and not tamper with it. Somethings are just to precious to fool with, move on to a spin-off.
That all being said, I still liked the book. I like the author, and I am still looking forward to reading more from her, just no more Mortal Instruments. I think I am going to check out the Mangus Bane series. He is a favorite character from this series, and I think that might be good fun to read books from his world view for awhile. I will probably look into the prequel series too, but I just can't bring myself to pick up the City of Fallen Angels. There was an excerpt in the back on my book, and I hated it! The interaction between Jace and Clary was like two completely different people.
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City of Bones by
Cassandra Clare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
City of Bones is the first book in the Mortal Instruments Series and involves another world of Downworlders, demons, half-humans, witches and warlocks, vampires and werewolves, Shadowhunters and more all trying to co-exsist in a human world, the treaties and accords and uprisings and overthrows and defeats. But the main characters are teenagers trying to understand adults and themselves in the midst of all this, with each adult twists the truth of the history to fit themselves, making things only muddy for the the teens to figure out.
For parts of the book, I could swear I had read it before, or read something almost the same, but for most of it. it seemed like a new book. The beginning and the, here before thought to be a normal human girl Clarey is able to "see" the ShadowHunters at a club seems so familiar, and the interest between Cleary and Jace, and the dislike that Isabelle and Alec feel toward her seems over the top teenage angst, but it so much feels like I have been there before.
I guess that the Shadowhunters and their marks might remind of Lara Adrian and the Breed, or many of the novels I have read, but it is more of a feeling, that although I know I have never seen this book before it feels familiar.
The twists and turns, the bits of History that Cleary learns from each adult she meets, and how each adult twists the history and their owe involvement in it to make them look less bad, and more a victim of place or timing, than really planning to do bad, is thoughtful and well laidout. The Ultimate twist that turns Jace and Cleary's world on it's head is kinda expected and I really hate that card played in the story, but I still want to continue reading and hearing more.
I am intrigued by the world, I want to read more and see how they figure out their struggles, how they decide who and what needs to be protected and what needs to be allowed to life free and left alone. Just keep a clean mind that you are going to be dealing with teenagers throughout and sometimes the throught processes and thinking aren't what you would expect from adults.
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Another Blogger's Review
Author: Cassandra Clare
Amazon Author Page Link
GoodReads Author Page Link Author's Blog
The Mortal Instruments
1. City of Bones
Author Site Link Amazon Link My Review Link
Another Blogger's Review
2. City of Ashes
Author Site Link Amazon Link My Review Link
Fay Bay's Blog Review Another Blogger's Review
3. City of Glass
Author Site Link Amazon Link My Review Link
Another Blogger's Review
4. City of Fallen Angels
Author Site Link Amazon Link Mystery Sequel's Blog Review
5. City of Lost Souls
Author Site Link Amazon Link
6. City of Heavenly Fire (scheduled publication May 27, 2014)
Author Site Link Amazon Link
The Infernal Devices
1. Clockwork Angel
My Review Link Author Site Link Amazon Link
Another Blogger Review
2. Clockwork Prince
Author Site Link Amazon Link My Review Link
Another Blogger Review
3. Clockwork Princess
Author Site Link Amazon Link My Review Link
The Dark Artifacts
Author Site Link
1. Lady Midnight My Review Link
2. Lord of Shadows My Review Link
3. The Queen of Air and Darkness
The Bane Chronicles
Author Site Link
1. What Really Happened in Peru 4/2013
Amazon Link
2. The Runaway Queen 5/2013
Amazon Link
3. Vampires, Scones and Emund Herondale 6/2013
Amazon Link
4. The Midnight Heir 7/2013
Amazon Link
5. The Rise of Hotel Dumort 8/2013
Amazon Link
6. Saving Raphael Santiago 9/2013
Amazon Link
7. The Fall of Hotel Dumort 10/2013
Amazon Link
8. The Last Stand of the New York Institute 11/2013
Amazon Link
9. What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who has Everything 12/2013
Amazon Link
10. The Course of True Love 1/2014
Amazon Link
