Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) By Cassandra Clare - Restarting November 17th 2022

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Emma explained to Julian about the parabatai curse. Finally. And then Magnus shows up and sees them in bed together and he TOTALLY KNOWS, OMG.

I am super curious about who Ash is. And how that artifact works. Maybe Ash is the stolen/lost heir of the Unseelie King that they were talking about? Then again, maybe not since he was so young.

The scene where Diana tells Gwyn that she is transgender was beautiful. My heart was dancing. I think that Gwyn is my favorite character in this book.

I am a little shocked by the ending. Like, stunned. I can't even imagine how the last book will start off. I wonder what it means that Cortana shattered the Mortal Sword. And I can't help but think that Annabel didn't kill them on purpose. She just seemed scared. Terrified, really. Which is understandable after what she's gone through. Though, she should answer for what she's done. But then she disappears with what can only be the Unseelie King, so maybe it was planned? If not by her then maybe the Unseelie King was taking advantage of her somehow? And I want to know why the warlocks are getting sick? It has to be something about the dark magic blights that have been popping up.

And since Robert Lightwood is dead does that mean that Emma won't be exiled now? (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ Wow, seeing Arthur step up and sacrifice himself for his family was very touching. And to also see that he knew how much Julian was doing...

Also, I think lying to Kieran about well everything is going to come back and bite them in the ass (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character so I should know better :p

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Jenn wrote: "Part 1: "

(view spoiler)[I agree. I felt so bad for Arthur and what he went through. To have his mind so fuzzy must be torture. I think that deep down he was a good person. He proved as much when he sacrificed himself for his brother's children.

Yeah, I thought that they should have just told Keiran the truth from the start. I mean, what harm did they think it would do? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character so I should know better :p"

I honestly felt that I wouldn't get along with Emma's character at first, but I ended up really liking her. After reading Lady Midnight I realized that she is actually the type of heroine that I love.

[María]

Starting today. I took me forever to end the first one so I'm a bit reticent to start this one but I want to know what would happen with Emma and Julian so...

[Courtney]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ I really like Kit, Ty, and Livvy. Also I dont think I like Diego. Cheater much? (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Vanessa wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character so I should kno..."

I liked her at the end of Lady Midnight, but chapter one of this book made hate her all over again. Lol.

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 4 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yep, Perfect Diego seems anything but. =P (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ oh man. Now the seven are after the black book?? These guys just can't catch a break. I'm also not sure if i trust Diego's brother. Things are getting all kinds of shady up in here (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 22: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the odds are pretty much stacked against the Blackthorns in this series. So much suspense!

I am not sure what I think of Jaime yet. I don't think that he is malicious, but I also think that it is highly inappropriate for him to be spending so much time in a 13-year-old's room. Though, I suppose it isn't entirely creepy since it is stated that she looks older. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

@Vanessa (view spoiler)[Yeah the whole "hide me in your room" was a little inappropriate lol. I was like Dru what are you doing?? (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ Ummm...WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING?? No, there is no way Livvy is dead. Ty cannot survive without his sister. Like I can't deal with that. And Emma is going into exile??? What is even happening here??? I need the next one like now! (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapters 6 and 7 (view spoiler)[ I really hate Zara. She is annoying. I love this thing Ty, Livvy, and Kit have going on though. I am not surprised Mark is going back to fairy to save Kieran or that Julian, Emma, and Cristina followed. I just hope it all turns out well. (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character so I should know better :p"

Me too.
Chapter 3: how are related Jace and Kit?

[Courtney]

María wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character so I should kno..."

I am assuming they are cousins.

[María]

Courtney wrote: "María wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1. I feel like this is going to be a slow read for me. I cant stand Emma right now. Then again I have always had a love hate relationship with her character s..."

Yes... I wasn't sure they were half brothers...

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 4 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Diego in not so perfect any more (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapters 8 to 11. I am so glad this is starting to get better. (view spoiler)[ I cant believe that the Unseelie King had Emma fight her father. This has to be a trick. Also Malcolm is back! I should have been able to figure that out. Who is Jon Cartwright though? I feel like I should know, but its not ringing a bell. (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapters 6 and 7 [spoilers removed]"
I really hate her and (view spoiler)[ her obnoxious opinions. The way the Centurions speak to Mark was hideous.
I feel more engaged with this book than the first one. I mean I have already read...20%...ok it's still a bit slow but more interesting than Lady Midnight. I love Poe poems as reference. I want to read them again or reading with my students! (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 14. (view spoiler)[ Arthur's death was sad. Plus Annabel is back, and the Queen of Seelie got Emma, Julian, Mark, and Cristina to bargin with her. (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapters 8 to 11. I am so glad this is starting to get better. [spoilers removed]"

It was one of the Centurions. (view spoiler)[ Diana is the best. I love when she puts Zara in her place with "stupid child" (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Jenn wrote: "Part 1: Wow, seeing Arthur step up and sacrifice himself for his family was very touching. And to also see that he knew how much Julian was doing...

Also, I think lying to Kieran about well every..."


I agree but I'm more worried about (view spoiler)[ the Queen Seelie... (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 19. (view spoiler)[ Please make Ty and Kit happen!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 19. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ They would be perfects parabatai! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 I wonder about Diana's secrets. (view spoiler)[ And about all the black magic around Alicante. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ That fight with the Riders of Mannan was really good. Plus Gwyn and Diana saved the kids. Cristina finally talked to Jamie and discovered the truth behind Diego's engagement with Zara. (hide spoiler)]

[María]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 24 [spoilers removed]"

Yes. Emma was becoming a legend.
I'm in chapter 29 but someone had spoiled me the end...😭

[Courtney]

María wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 24 [spoilers removed]"

Yes. Emma was becoming a legend.
I'm in chapter 29 but someone had spoiled me the end...😭"

Thats sucks. I have managed not to have the ending spoiled for me. I am almost done as well.

[María]

I'm not sure if I should keep reading...

[María]

I finished (view spoiler)[ 😱😢😩😭 I can't believe Alex'dad and Lyvia are dead... (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I really want to know whats gping on with the warlocks. Why are they all sick? Plus what the hell Annabel? I know I might get bashed for this but I really was expecting a main character to die. Am I said it was Livvy? Yes. I just wished it was Emma. Also Alec is about to open a can of worms on anyway who tried to stop him from getting Annabel. Just saying. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting January 23rd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Claire]

Starting this today! :D

[Claire]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I love Kit and Ty way too much omg, they're too precious 😭

It's funny though that they're being treated like children when they're 15, and Clary only barely turned 16 at the start of TMI 😂

The Clary thing is so weird though, I mean come on, CC cannot possibly expect us to really believe that she's going to die, literally never going to happen.

Zara is god-awful but I like that Cristina isn't doing the whole girl-hate thing, good on her! (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

End of Part 1
(view spoiler)[Bruh. There is SO much going on!

I can't wait to see what happens in England, I hope we get to see some references to TID! I'm really starting to warm up to the younger characters and can't wait to see what they get up to.

RIP Malcolm, you were back so briefly 😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[Diana is totally going to become the head of an institute by the end of this series, I'm willing to bet on it! I have so much respect for her, I know what it's like to be part of a culture with a very strict idea of what is 'normal' and 'acceptable', and not being able to conform to those ideals.

So the truth about the parabatai bond is finally out, and thank goodness for that. I'm not a big fan of the forbidden love trope but I'm still excited to see where this will go! (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Claire, I'm so sorry! I dropped the ball on this one. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to start this before the end of the month

[Claire]

No worries, real life stuff always comes first! I'll keep an eye on this thread though, if you get around to starting it in the next 2 weeks then I will be happy to discuss with you :D

[Claire]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Yikes. You know that things are about to get real bad whenever we head to the Idris meeting room, but this one takes the cake. I expected one of the Blackthorn kids to die at some point but thought it would be Dru since she's so underappreciated by the others.

So that was... Something. Literally the least subtle political allegory I have ever seen, like it was actually a little ridiculous. I know this is YA but come on, we can still write with a little more decorum than this.

I don't know if I missed something but Annabel's powers are still so vague, I wish we got more info about how necromancy works in this universe, it's forbidden but there's clearly still info about it somewhere.

I had a lot of fun reading this book overall but am not a fan of the direction that this series has taken, looking forward to reading the finale though! (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

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Date changed. Restarting 14th June 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Akshita]

Starting now!

[Aaron]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[ This weapon that could destroy all shadow hunters seems a bit dramatic. I guess we’re getting another big war soon. I do like this older version of Jace and Clary.
I’m glad they now have Kit who understands mundane life but it seems like the author has forgotten that Clary spent the first 16 years of her life in the mundane world. Surely, she would’ve also noticed Ty has autism by now since she visits a lot.
I’m glad that we’re getting a more in depth view of how Kit is coping with finding a lot of things he knew are seen as wrong. Usually the characters are just coping with finding out a bunch of creatures exist. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Aaron wrote: "Chapter 3
..."

(view spoiler)[This seems a bit different from the other series as in, unlike others, the plot of the first book was mostly resolved by the end, and now we're randomly getting introduced to the weapon thing for the 2nd book.

Hmm. You're right about Clary. Even i had forgotten that Kit wasn't the first character who'd lived a mundane life.

I'm looking forward to read more from Kit's persepective. Like you said, he's already familiar with the Shadow World, and has his own opinions about Shadowhunters and the Downworld. It'll be interesting to see if they change.

I'm not excited about them looking for Malcolm's body now. I had hoped we'd just be done with it. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Akshita wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Chapter 3
..."

This seems a bit different from the other series as in, unlike others, the plot of the first book was mostly resolved by the end, and now we're randomly getting introd..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree about Malcolm. Something tells me he’s gonna be brought back to life before this series is over. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[I don't really have anything to say.
Not much has happened, but I'm liking the interactions between all the characters.
These Centurions are way too mean. It's like Shadowhunters don't care about anything beyond the physical strength and fighting skills of a person. Almost everyone in power here is cruel or arrogant.
I'm looking forward to know what they are really up to, and how Ty figures it out.
I am also expecting more of Kit and Ty, now that they are a team. They go well together. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Hey, can we decide on a certain number of chapters to read each day?

[Aaron]

We could do 3 a day? Or 2 if we end up not having time for that. I’ll finish chapter 6 tonight.

[Aaron]

Akshita wrote: "Chapter 6
I don't really have anything to say.
Not much has happened, but I'm liking the interactions between all the characters.
These Centurions are way too mean. It's like Shadowhunters don't ..."

(view spoiler)[ I do like Ty with Kit. They keep things simple and it works. I also like that we’ve gotten to see more interactions between Ty and Livvy on their own.
It shows a clear issue with the system if everyone with any power is arrogant and mean. It makes sense that would happen since the people at the top would choose people most like them.
I’m getting pretty invested in this book so far. The focus has shifted from Jules and Emma’s relationship to the plot and several characters which is a lot better. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Aaron wrote: "We could do 3 a day? Or 2 if we end up not having time for that. I’ll finish chapter 6 tonight."

Yes, 3 a day works.

[Akshita]

Aaron wrote: "Akshita wrote: "Chapter 6
I don't really have anything to say.
Not much has happened, but I'm liking the interactions between all the characters.
These Centurions are way too mean. It's like Shad..."

(view spoiler)[I agree. We are getting a number of different perspectives this time, and I like that. Just being in Jules and Emma's heads would've been tiring. (hide spoiler)]

[Akshita]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[It's so good so far! There's been a great balance between focusing on the characters and the plot.
I wasn't expecting to get Arthur's PoV. It was brief, but I liked what we got.
I am liking Kit, Ty and Livvy parts the best. The way they work is fun to read about, and seeing everyone from Kit's perspective is interesting. He's already a favorite character.

Jace and Clary were also on a mission in the same place where Julian and others are headed. I am looking forward to whatever will happen there. (hide spoiler)]