Lord of Shadows by Cassandra ClareMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Month Read In: April 2022
Since the series installments are an ensemble cast, typically with a couple or small group headlining, I found the development of this series to be similar in character development to the rest of the Shadowhunter novels. Also, having Emma and Julian all grown up from the end of the Dark War and struggling with the world's pressures much the same way that Clary and Jace struggled with their challenges makes it start to feel repetitive. The background characters of this series, aka The Blackthorne's, have been a bit more interesting than the secondaries from previous Shadowhunter installments. For example, The Mortal Instruments had this small primary ensemble, but were headlined by Clary and Jace. Readers can tell you all about Simon and Isabelle, Magnus and Alec, and Jonathan/Sebastian though. In The Infernal Devices, we had Wil, Tessa, and Jem, and while Magnus was there, and we know of Jessamine, the rest of the characters seem to fade into oblivion. Here, Clare returns to her small primary ensemble set up, with Emma and Julian leading their band of merry men, aka the younger siblings and some strays they have taken in such as Cristina, Kieran, and Kit.
When it comes to atmosphere, Clare has become lazy. She doesn't need to explain the world anymore as we all are now quite familiar with the Shadowhunter world. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but Clare could use this opportunity to craft better scenes in regards to action, dialogue, and plot to give us the atmosphere this novel needed. You need to keep world building, Clare, even if it's just fleshing out areas of the world that haven't yet been extensively covered.
In writing style, this was typical Clare, and I almost wish that she'd brought one of her co-authors on for this. Perhaps The Eldest Curses and Tales from Shadowhunter Academy started to spoil things for me. It has felt to me as though the breadth of the world is almost too much for one author to keep straight anymore. I cannot pinpoint inconsistencies at the moment, but I feel in my bones as though there have been; a future re-read will occur to disabuse myself of the feeling.
There were again two primary plots in this latest installment each with their own subplot. Looking forward to the wrap up in The Queen of Air and Darkness, but I truly hope Clare does not rush it as she seems to do towards the end of her sub-series trilogies. With the addition of the side plot relating to the Rosales clans... This could be their own spin-off. Kit and the twins would have made a nice sub-series as well.
The intrigue of this book was all due to the overall story of the Shadowhunter world. It almost felt like there was too many side things going on that were building up into future books rather than a cohesive storyline for this one. Between Cristina and the Rosales boys, Mark caught between Kieran and Cristina, Kit's story with the Twins, Dru getting involved peripherally with Jaime, Diana and Gwyn, Helen and Aline and their possible return, the aftermath of the convergence and the ley lines... And this doesn't even touch on what's going on between Emma and Jules, you know, the main characters? Less can be more when you need it to be more. Don't have to throw it all in at once.
Of the main and primary characters, Emma's logic is about the only one that made sense to me. She does things on purpose. We see the purpose. Julian on the other hand... Maybe I've been in too many abusive and borderline abusive relationships, but some of the wording Clare chose for Julian to use when discussing what Emma was to him sent too many red flags through me. Of course he's also a young man without the maturity that comes with years and consideration. I'm really liking though what Clare did with Mark and Cristina and Kieran, the bond the 3 of them are developing. Perhaps this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship that will expand the boundaries of representation. Maybe it will be squandered. We'll just have to wait and see.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I found myself chomping at the bit, impatient to get to the 'good stuff'. This was the obtuse and blunt tool that needed sharpened into its best self. It didn't make the cut, but I still enjoyed it.
And. That. Ending. omg
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 5
Writing: 7
Plot: 7
Intrigue: 6
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 8
Average: 6.57, 3.5 Stars. Rounded down due to problematic atmosphere and character development.
View all my reviews
Challenge:
N/A
Methodology: Audiobook read by James Marsters, via Library on Libby
Genre- Fantasy: Urban
When it comes to atmosphere, Clare has become lazy. She doesn't need to explain the world anymore as we all are now quite familiar with the Shadowhunter world. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but Clare could use this opportunity to craft better scenes in regards to action, dialogue, and plot to give us the atmosphere this novel needed. You need to keep world building, Clare, even if it's just fleshing out areas of the world that haven't yet been extensively covered.
In writing style, this was typical Clare, and I almost wish that she'd brought one of her co-authors on for this. Perhaps The Eldest Curses and Tales from Shadowhunter Academy started to spoil things for me. It has felt to me as though the breadth of the world is almost too much for one author to keep straight anymore. I cannot pinpoint inconsistencies at the moment, but I feel in my bones as though there have been; a future re-read will occur to disabuse myself of the feeling.
There were again two primary plots in this latest installment each with their own subplot. Looking forward to the wrap up in The Queen of Air and Darkness, but I truly hope Clare does not rush it as she seems to do towards the end of her sub-series trilogies. With the addition of the side plot relating to the Rosales clans... This could be their own spin-off. Kit and the twins would have made a nice sub-series as well.
The intrigue of this book was all due to the overall story of the Shadowhunter world. It almost felt like there was too many side things going on that were building up into future books rather than a cohesive storyline for this one. Between Cristina and the Rosales boys, Mark caught between Kieran and Cristina, Kit's story with the Twins, Dru getting involved peripherally with Jaime, Diana and Gwyn, Helen and Aline and their possible return, the aftermath of the convergence and the ley lines... And this doesn't even touch on what's going on between Emma and Jules, you know, the main characters? Less can be more when you need it to be more. Don't have to throw it all in at once.
Of the main and primary characters, Emma's logic is about the only one that made sense to me. She does things on purpose. We see the purpose. Julian on the other hand... Maybe I've been in too many abusive and borderline abusive relationships, but some of the wording Clare chose for Julian to use when discussing what Emma was to him sent too many red flags through me. Of course he's also a young man without the maturity that comes with years and consideration. I'm really liking though what Clare did with Mark and Cristina and Kieran, the bond the 3 of them are developing. Perhaps this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship that will expand the boundaries of representation. Maybe it will be squandered. We'll just have to wait and see.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I found myself chomping at the bit, impatient to get to the 'good stuff'. This was the obtuse and blunt tool that needed sharpened into its best self. It didn't make the cut, but I still enjoyed it.
And. That. Ending. omg
Characters: 7
Atmosphere: 5
Writing: 7
Plot: 7
Intrigue: 6
Logic: 6
Enjoyment: 8
Average: 6.57, 3.5 Stars. Rounded down due to problematic atmosphere and character development.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment