Review: Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Lord of Shadows

Series: The Dark Artifices #2

Previous books in this series: Lady Midnight (#1)

Other series in the Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Infernal Devices | The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2017

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

My rating: ★★★★★

Let me just say that the fact that this book started off with a Jace cameo made me extremely happy 🥰

“People are flawed,” Jace said. “Not every member of your family is going to be awesome. But when you see Tessa again, and you will, she can tell you about Will Herondale. And James Herondale. And me, of course,” he added modestly. “As far as Shadowhunters go, I'm a pretty big deal. Not to intimidate you.”

Omg I love him 😂 I really enjoyed him just chatting with his long lost relative Kit! Did not see that one coming, by the way 👀

“The legendary Lost Herondale,” said Magnus. “You know, I was starting to think that was a rumor Catarina made up, like the Loch Ness Monster or the Bermuda Triangle.”
“Catarina made up the Bermuda Triangle?” said Alec.
“Don’t be ridiculous Alexander. That was Ragnor.”

But I really love Kit. especially when he’s being a rebellious Herondale 😆

Maybe he could frustrate the Shadowhunters by refusing to work out and sitting around eating carbs. I defy you, Shadowhunters, he thought, thumbing the top off the container and popping a cookie in his mouth. I mock you with my sugar cravings.

I love a Herondale 😆 At one point, Alec is actually talking about Jace and the first time he met him and how he saw through the arrogance to a boy who just wants to be loved 😭 That melted my heart. But more than that, Alec was saying how Kit being found was so important to Jace and how much he cared what Kit thought of him 😭 I’m dead. I just have a soft spot for the Herondale boys.

Speaking of Alec, we got a lot of Alec and Magnus in the last half of the book and that made me immensely happy, too! 🥰

"The Herondales have always been famous for their good looks," said Bridget, "but if you ask me, the Lightwoods are the most sexually charismatic of the bunch."
Alex spit out his tea. Magnus seemed to be keeping a straight face, but with an effort.

I just love these two and their cute little family 😭 It just warmed my heart. And I, of course, just love Magnus in general. Lol. He’s so sassy and so badass with his magic! I love it!

But enough of that! I don’t just love the Herondales and the TMI gang, I swear 😆 I love all of the main characters in this series! I mean, Emma and Julian? What they’re going through HURTS! Their interactions—Emma trying to distance herself from Jules despite her feelings, and then him returning the favor without really knowing the truth behind her actions... it all made me want to cry 😭This whole parabatai bond thing is just... it hurts.

And then the fact that Julian still has so much on his plate, what with him caring for his family AND running the freaking institute... damn! But I love his relationship with his siblings so much! Is SO sweet! Take Ty, for example:

People say we’re unlucky because we don't have parents. But I think they're unlucky because they don't have a brother like mine.

Not to mention that a protective, fierce, no-nonsense Jules is hot 😏 Lol. How Emma found the willpower to keep her hands off, I don't know 😆 Speaking of Emma, I love her! She is snarky and badass, and her mouthing off to Seelie Queen was amazing! 😆

One relationship I wasn’t so sure on because I hate love triangles is the whole Cristina/Mark/Kiernan situation. But it’s not really a love triangle, it’s more polyamory which is very interesting because I have never read a book with this type of relationship! But more interestingly, I don’t hate Kiernan anymore? I mean, after what he did to Emma and Julian in the last book, you can’t really blame me. But he wasn’t as much of a dick here, and he and Cristina had some really tender moments that I quite enjoyed.

And then we’ve got the Kit/Ty/Livvy trio doing their thing... I loved them! And I love how the twins so easily accepted Kit into their little circle. There was one part where Kit was comforting Ty and it was just the cutest thing! I loved it!

One thing I did not like though: The Cohort 😒 I just cannot with their bigotry! They are basically an anti-Downworlder group and the reason it’s so upsetting is because it is just so real! They are repeating history and I hate them 😫 They are gonna be a big problem... I can feel it.

And then that ending...

Everything that could go wrong did. It was SO heartbreaking! 😭 It was a great book though, even though it completely shattered my heart. I loved the characters, the banter, and their complex relationships. And you know that the Shadow World is one of my favorites. Lol. The story was compelling with a lot of twists that got me, plus the action was great! Those fight scenes were intense! I loved it! I’m really looking forward to seeing how the trilogy wraps up!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊