Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
Super happy that I only have to wait until December for book three. Waiting to read book two paid off.
This is a continuation of the The Dark Artifices series, which is a continuation of the Shadowhunter world from The Mortal Instruments. Just for any of the uninitiated who might read this.
We continue to follow the lives of Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorns who get into more trouble post-Dark War. The was CoHF ended you had to know that the way they treated Downworlders was going to cause all sorts of awfulness. And here it is.
I think this book really taps into the frustration of the current political climate in a way that makes my blood boil. It is horrible to read these characters treating other characters horribly and it is even more horrible to see that hatred in real life with the ways people talk about immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color. I just kept connecting it to that feeling you get all the way to your bones when people compare your anger at discrimination and prejudice and hatred with their own bigoted views. Not saying Clare has created the perfect allegory for Trumps America, just saying that is where it kept hitting me. And she started this storyline before Trump was elected, so I guess it is more accurate to link it to the rise of fascist thinking and fascist inspired thinking in parts of American and global politics.
This has been a massive digression from a person with a political science degree.
The characters are strong as ever in a Cassandra Clare book. You can really see her commitment to increasing the representation in her books. She is coming through with the effort and I thought the characters that are a part of minority groups were all treated as full human beings and not reduced or clearly just there to be a sidekick. Every character has their own story and modulations and desires. Also basically every story had a moment that punched you in the gut. Because that is Cassandra Clare’s MO. She is a mean lady.
I also adored the plot. And I cannot wait until book three. I was theorizing like crazy while reading. I know shit is going down in Air and Darkness and I cannot wait to have my heart stomped on by that book.
Also only cried once and it was in the scene between two characters about 2/3 of the way through with a secret and a Forrest. And I wanted to see Simon. I love Simon.
I’m giving this four stars and not five because I just feel kind of completely without resolution (I know it is book two of three and duh there are things open, but the chaos of the ending kind of translates to my mind not knowing what to do with a rating. If this changes I will change my rating).
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads and read it on June 30th, 2018.
