Every sequel of Cassandra Clare surprises me with her characters, the plot, the imagery of the words that entail to one masterpiece of a story. I read this last chapter of The Dark Artifices for too long as if I wouldn’t want to end reading it. Well, if you’re hooked with the author’s artistry, you have to seek a conclusion. So here goes, Queen of Air and Darkness Book Review.
STOP!
I’d very much appreciate you reading the first two blogs I have written about the two books before this. It will also give you a better understanding of the story. The first book is Lady Midnight and the second book is Lord of Shadows. If you don’t know, The Dark Artifices is part of the Shadowhunters Novel that the author, Cassandra Clare created. Also, her first series, The Mortal Instruments, was even produced into a live-action TV Series on Freeform TV which lasted 3 seasons.
WITH SPOILERS
Sorry, as I had to spill a lot of tea here but since it’s a book review, I’d very much want to pour out my emotions here of what I think of this blog. Probably, this would be read by those who have read the books already. I am so open to having a substantial discussion with you if you’re one of them!
The Chapters
I was surprised that this book was divided into three parts! The first part is Feel No Sorrow which covered half of the book. The second is Thule and the third is Lady Vengeance. Cassandra Clare has this enormous talent to be able to get each reader hooked to the story. I am happy to see even the core characters from the past books; The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices are also included in this trilogy.
The Characters
A surge of emotions wrapped in my thoughts while reading how the characters are all connected, how each of them has a significant role. Zara Dearborn and her father, Horace Dearborn, perfectly make an example of stubborn and corrupt politicians which I so much resented throughout the book. Of course, there’s always the protagonists, Emma and Julian, or better say, the Blackthorn, Lightwood, Herondale families, Downworlders, and more. Reading their personality, I resonate so much on each of them, especially Emma Carstairs, of course. I aspire to be like her, her strength to keep going and her understanding of stillness between revenge and peace. I also love Julian Blackthorn, I want his wisdom and richness in being so understanding!
Thule
I feel like I had to discuss this part of the book. It is an alternate dimension wherein there was a different ending of the Dark War from the book of The Mortal Instruments. The protagonists, Emma and Julian got transported to Thule which they didn’t expect that it’s where they can seek solutions and answers that could help them in their own world. At the ending of that chapter, I honestly felt so heartbroken. Sometimes you can never take back what was lost. You had to explore a moment of what you’re not used to, to seek closure and to be stronger as you cross another path. Sometimes, I wish that someone could go to a different dimension and seek a solution on how to end this ongoing pandemic in our world. Emma and Julian were able to learn a solution to cure the dying warlocks. I wish we have our own Lake Lyn that has miracle water!
Love Affairs
I love the open-mindedness of Cassandra Clare in this book. She gave light on LGBT awareness here wherein the teacher of the Blackthorns, Diana, is a transgender. It was forbidden in the Shadow World for Shadowhunters to undergo mundane medicine. She even had an actual unexpected relationship with a faerie, Gwyn of the Wild Hunt. Cristina, Kieran and Mark, are an awesome trio. It isn’t normal to the real world, but maybe, just maybe, as Clare wrote it, maybe it is also happening. A peculiar relationship between three individuals. I was surprised, mixed emotions of joy and confusion. Aline and Helen, at least these books, they were highlighted even more. Both of them are female. I think their love is so pure and so accepted. Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, they are just the strongest for me. Oh yeah, they finally got married in this book but in The Shadowhunters TV series, they got married there in the end. Totally different, but that’s alright!
The Parabatai
You probably know about this. Of course, Emma and Julian! Part of me felt hopeless that they would never be together as a couple. Again, a Parabatai is a pair of Nephilim warriors who fight together as lifelong partners, bound together by oath but The Law forbids a romantic affection for the pair. Well, I love the twist that Clare had written here! I didn’t know there was such a thing as “True Nephilim” which Emma and Julian transformed into and caused the removal of their Parabatai bond and rune! I read that paragraph of Jem explaining the good news to Emma and Julian for at least three times, and I was like, “what? What?” with an unstoppable grin!
What I Learned
I learned that love and family are two gifts in life we can never live without. That’s my understanding of this book. I like the stories of friendship here especially the relationships of different families in The Shadow World, even the relationships of Shadowhunters to Downworlders like warlocks, vampires, faeries and lycanthropes. They are not self-centered and self-righteous, they fight for what is right and stand by it until the end. I like their intelligence guided by wisdom, compassion and wit. Queen of Air and Darkness has taught me to learn about acceptance of what I can never control. I learned that, (sorry cheesiness ahead!), love is unstoppable as long as it is true and you’re not hurting anyone, sometimes, love can and have to wait. I also love the courage that represented in each of these characters. They had the courage to speak up, to prepare for battle, and the courage to be true to themselves.
I’ll leave a quote here written by Cassandra Clare for this book, “This would be the true beginning of a new life that they would face together, in all their human frailty and imperfections. And if ever one of them feared the bad in themselves, as all people did sometimes, they had the other to remind them of the good.”
Thank you for reading this blog of The Dark Artifices: Queen of Air and Darkness Book Review and I hope you learned a thing or two! Stay radiant!
I have finished all 3 seasons of shadowhunters in Netflix! Too bad it got cancelled, but they did a special series finale episode. Cant wait to read this book
Yeh, I love the book and the TV adaptation!
i havent read this book and watched the the tv adaptation in netflix. but seems interesting, i will definitely make time to watch it. ano kaya mas better unahin, book muna or tv?
Either! 🙂 tbh, I am not that kind of person na…”oh you should read it first..or “the book is better than the series” heheh 🙂 I understand each side of art and medium. Go read or watch na!
This whole universe was made so well! I was a fan of the books before it got adapted for film and a series eventually. I might need to start reading other books in this line as you gave a detailed review on it (and made me miss the days when I pored over books morning to night)!
I think I’ll never get tired of Cassandra Clare like how I got tired of Paolo Coelho, whoops! hihi
I have not read the book yet since we’ve all been busy coping up with what is happening in this country, but I agree with your statement about love and family are two things we cannot live without.
Based on how you made this review, I can tell that this has an amazing plot! I’m now curious about the entire story. I was trying to avoof the spoiler parts though. Haha! But thank you for sharing this, I’ll be adding this to my “to read” list.
Thank you for the comment! 🙂 It is worth reading Cassandra Clare books! 🙂
I want you to know that your content is by far, my most favorite to read. It’s unique and takes me away from all sponsored and biased content. Would love to read this book! Current read: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green.
I appreciate your comment Janella. That made me smile. Thank you! Happy reading!
I was never a fan of this genre but I think I need to consider this kasi I am a teacher of literature. Dapat aware ako sa various forms of 21st century lit. Thanks for this post, I learned something new. Really.
Aww you don’t like fiction? 🙂
This looks like an interesting book to read! What really caught my attention is when you mentioned about the writer shedding light on LGBT awareness. As part of this community, I definitely advocate for proper representation even in books.
Even the first books of Cassandra Clare, she already emphasized LGBT awareness. 🙂
I love stories that center on a cause bigger than themselves.
I love stories that center on a cause bigger than themselves. It’s pretty thick, though. I hope I find the time to read such books as before
I’m not into this kind of genre when it comes sa book. I’d rather watch about them. But the story seems interesting. And yes, love and family are important part of life talaga. ❤️ I’m glad that’s one of the lessons in this novel. 🙂
I haven’t been reading fiction books for a long time now because I got so caught up with self-help & motivational books but The Dark Artifices series sounds interesting to read! I skipped to the What I Learned part of this post since I don’t want to be spoiled haha I promise to go back to this once I finish reading! I agree that love & family are two important aspects of our lives that we should never take for granted. I also love this the most from your review “acceptance of what I can never control.” This hits deep. Thank you Rae for sharing your review!
Thank you so much for reading!
Hello Rae! Well-written! Although I haven’t read the book, reading your review gave me the feels. It might be added to my “to read” books later on. I loved how you elaborated the courage in these characters.
Agree on the value of family and love in our lives. 🙂