Young adult author Cassandra Clare has released a new book as a continuation of the world she has so carefully and beautifully created, the Shadow World. Lady Midnight, the first book of The Dark Artifices trilogy, introduces the Los Angeles Institute and its inhabitants, the Blackthorn family and Emma Carstairs. With her parabatai (bonded, platonic soul-mate) Julian Blackthorn, Emma has searched for the reason of her parents death during the Dark War seven years ago. When similar deaths begin occurring around the city of Angels, it's the beginning of the end of Emma's investigation. Will Emma find her parents' murderer? Will she stop any more deaths from occurring?
[SPOILERS]
Yes, but she does get some help. Emma's relationship with the Blackthorn family is one of the most incredible things about this book because, after losing her parents, Julian had to kill his own father to protect his siblings. When they all end up at the Los Angeles Institute, Emma and Julian essentially become the replacement for Andrew Blackthorn. They become the parents of Ty, Livvy, Dru, and Tavvy, who was just a baby when Julian begins teaching himself how to care for his family. This family dynamic that they are forced into is one of the most significant parts of the book for me. At the end of chapter thirteen, Julian remembers one time when he was thirteen he tripped while carrying Tavvy and "it was the first time he's thought 'my baby' and not 'the baby.'" It's a pivotal moment for Julian, but also for us as readers because it gives us a better understanding of how much responsibility Julian had to take on at the young age of twelve. These children are his children, and that becomes crucial to Tavvy's rescue at the climax of the story.
The story, as with many of Cassandra Clare's stories, is driven by the relationships between the characters rather than the plot. That being said, Emma and Julian's relationship was fascinating because of all the parabatai bonds we have seen in The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments series, this is the first that includes "eros" love. From the very beginning we can see the connection between Emma and Julian is stronger than just a simple friendship. At the end of the book, Jem, from The Infernal Devices, explains the reason why Emma and Julian can't love each other. My first thought was: why can't Emma explain that to Julian? I understand that if the love is one-sided, which Emma decides will be from her side while trying to manipulate Julian into not loving her, the bond would be normal again. If Julian knows, would that encourage him to be the one to sacrifice his love? Would it even work?
Continuing with theories, I have one about Perfect Diego. I find him suspicious. No one, even fictional characters, could ever be that perfect. I think, especially considering the fact that he's part of the Scholomance, where he has access to more information than anyone could dream of, we have reason to be suspicious of him. However, this would destroy Cristina and Dru, who has a crush on Perfect Diego (and really, who wouldn't?). As for Annabel and Malcolm Fade, I guess we'll have to see when the next book comes out, won't we? Cassandra Clare projects the release date to be around April of 2017.
[END SPOILERS] Overall, I give the book a 98%, because one of my favorite things about Cassandra Clare's writing is how everything is connected, every single detail that you would never believe is connected is actually connected and she works magic with words to do that. There were ups and downs in this book; it was a genuine roller coaster of emotions that leaves you wanting more and yet agonizing over what's going to happen next. If it wasn't over 700 pages long, I'd consider re-reading it again right now.
~Yessi
