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Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices, #1)

Cassandra Clare

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The Dark Artifices

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2012 Thomas rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtq, own-physical, romance, fantasy, young-adult, own-signed

I fanboyed my first Cassandra Clare book seven years ago at the tender age of 14. Now, with my 21st birthday approaching in just a few days (hint: I changed my GR pic to honor the occasion), not much has changed. I still tore through Lady Midnight's 668 pages like my life depended on it. I still fanboy screamed whenever my favorite couple - Mark and Kieran for life, yo - interacted. I still even shed a tear near the end of the book while reading an emotional scene.

Yes, Clare has her formulas. Sh I fanboyed my first Cassandra Clare book seven years ago at the tender age of 14. Now, with my 21st birthday approaching in just a few days (hint: I changed my GR pic to honor the occasion), not much has changed. I still tore through Lady Midnight's 668 pages like my life depended on it. I still fanboy screamed whenever my favorite couple - Mark and Kieran for life, yo - interacted. I still even shed a tear near the end of the book while reading an emotional scene.

Yes, Clare has her formulas. She has a tendency to make all her characters attractive and to describe their eyes and their hair a lot. She often ends chapters with characters passing out at the end of a confrontation or gasping when they encounter something shocking. She over-relies on romance to fuel her stories' conflict, the main reason I give this book four stars instead of five.

But you cannot deny that Clare knows how to write amazing entertainment. She weaves together plot lines with precision and the kind of effortlessness that only comes with decades of writing and thinking about writing. She makes every character complex and distinct, and she balances multiple familial, platonic, and romantic relationships like a pro. In Lady Midnight, she even incorporates deeper themes that tugged both at my brain and my heart: why do we perpetuate cycles of discrimination based on fear? Why do we place restrictions on certain types of relationships because of tradition? Clare also includes non-neurotypical and mentally ill characters in this book, and she writes them with skill and sensitivity.

Overall, I so enjoyed Lady Midnight. The Blackthorn family dynamic feels compelling and multi-dimensional, in particular for Julian and Mark. Mark is my I-will-fanboy-scream-my-love-for-you-forever favorite this time around, and if (view spoiler) does not return I will really, actually scream. Hopefully the romance between Emma and Julian will not bog down the rest of the series too much. Recommended to fans of Cassandra Clare who can appreciate her gifts despite her shortcomings. Curious to hear what others think of this one. ...more

49 likes · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Jessica *The Lovely Books* rated it it was amazing

Wow....
I love you, Cassandra Clare. I freaking LOVE you!!!

6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2015 Harley Markey rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. it was worth the wait! I already can't wait for the next book! the suspense and desire to read the next one is real! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 22, 2016 Bronwyn Lok rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2016 Bronwyn Lok rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2017 Fallon rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2017, read-2024

So, this is the second time I've read this book. When I picked it up last time I had no idea about Cassandra Claire's other novels, the immortal instruments and the infernal devices.
After realizing it I went back and read both. I love both series very much! I decided to re-read Lady Midnight before moving onto Lord of shadows. I definitely have a greater appreciation for this novel now that I know the history. That being said, I do feel like this book is slower than Cassondra's other works. It ...more

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Jun 13, 2014 Sarah Crisan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, magic, 2016

LADY MIDNIGHT. Holy shit. What a ride. This book was a Cassandra Clare book, and so you may jump to the conclusion that I did indeed love it with a full dedication to the world of Shadowhunters that she created. I have long been a fan of The Mortal Instruments & The Infernal Devices, so I was very curious as to how the first book of The Dark Artifices would stack up. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, FOLKS! Though, there were a couple of things that struck me down here and there... I give the story a soli LADY MIDNIGHT. Holy shit. What a ride. This book was a Cassandra Clare book, and so you may jump to the conclusion that I did indeed love it with a full dedication to the world of Shadowhunters that she created. I have long been a fan of The Mortal Instruments & The Infernal Devices, so I was very curious as to how the first book of The Dark Artifices would stack up. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, FOLKS! Though, there were a couple of things that struck me down here and there... I give the story a solid 90%. (In other words the ship sails, and does not sink. However, she does leak...)

The Issues that I had with this story included:
- There ware parts you will not understand if you are not a fan of TMI or TID.
- Some of the characters needed more development
-Edgar Allen Poe bullshit. WHY?
-Plot holes at the end. }:<

Things I love about this story:
-The NEW characters were great
-Seeing the OLD characters was great
-Story is stuffed with hilarity and gut-wrenching emotion (:
-The story line was entertaining
-I want the second book right now.
-We get to see into the parabatai life.

That is as vague as I can be for all of you trying to avoid spoilers. Those who have read the book feel free to continue...

(view spoiler) ...more

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