bookthief's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I felt really bad for Jace throughout this book because he had the right intentions the whole way through he just didn’t know how to express them. Especially with the Inquisitor. I thought he was quite blunt and could have tried harder to prove he was innocent. I thought it was really cool how he could jump really high and fall from high places and land perfectly.
When they went to the Seelie Court I thought it was really cool for them to be in a different environment and I loved how visual it was and cool the entrance was. I did think it was a bit strange and weird how the Queen made Jace and Clary kiss but I guess they aren’t actually siblings so it’s okay.
I was shocked when Simon was actually a vampire!! Like I thought it was completely unexpected but quite cool to find out how people became vampires. Also it was shocking at the end how he can be in sunlight which is really strange but I’m sure there is some sort of reasoning behind it that will be explained later.
Clary’s ability to create new runes is super cool! And she was extremely powerful and talented when she managed to destroy Valentines boat with a single rune. I loved her and Luke’s relationship!
The epilogue was really interesting with Madeline. I thought her character may return again after Clary and seen her at the Silent City. I am really curious to what the spell was!
And finally Magnus is such a great character I wish we could see more of him and his relationship with Alec!
Overall, this book is more intense and intriguing than the first book. I can’t wait to read the next one !
Graphic: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, Death, War, Blood, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, and Grief
toastyghosty13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I also found the dynamic between her and
Spoiler
Jace to be absolutely horrific. Why this type of relationship (where they are in love with each other and then find out they are long lost siblings) was included as a major plot point of Clary’s romantic interests is a complete mystery to me. It offers no value other than to make Jace a forbidden love in the ABSOLUTE WORST WAY POSSIBLE. It’s gross, especially when they have to kiss in front of the Seelie Queen and the rest of the gang just brushes it off as if it is no big deal, except for Simon who had the only normal reaction of walking away angry.The spoiler above plus how annoying I find Clary are making it super difficult for me to want to move on to the next book, despite the fact that I am invested and interested in uncovering Valentine’s ultimate goal. I also found this book to be pretty boring for the majority of it, other than the last ~3-4 chapters where all of the action takes place. I will probably get on to the 3rd book at some point in the future since I do at least know that
Spoiler
it is revealed in the 3rd book that Clary and Jace are not actually relatedAlthough I will be making my way through the next book eventually, I still want to emphasize that the only thing keeping this from a 1 star rating are the lovely secondary characters of Alec, Isabelle, and Magnus Bane. Magnus Bane is a mood and vibe, and I love that for
Spoiler
Alec since he needs any semblance of normal social interactions away from Clary/Jace/only his familyGraphic: Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Incest and Homophobia
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Ignoring the incest issue, this book was really boring for about 60% of the way through and then after that point the action started to pick up. When the action picked up I just remember thinking "why should I care about these characters?" Most of the characters, like Alec and Isabell, are one dimensional characters and I have no interest in them.
Isn't Magnus a 1,000 year old Warlock? Why is he dating a 17 year old Alec? Why is he interested in dating a teen, he's old as hell. He's way too old to be dating Alec, that's worst than some Bella and Edward, Twilight shit.
I might continue this series because I recently found 20 Clare books at a thrift store and this series was among the books I found.
Spoiler
I want to see what happens when Jocelynn wakes up and I want to know what it means now that Simon can go into the light despite being a Vampire, after he drank Jace's blood.This book was a miss for me.
I'm giving it 2.5 (rounded up to 3) stars out of 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Body horror, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
breedawnwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The tension between Jace and Clary in this book was entirely unhinged, and I loved every single freaking moment of it.
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Incest, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, and Child death
Minor: Cannibalism
chrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Mundane humans create distinctions between themselves, distinctions that seem ridiculous to any Shadowhunter. Their distinctions are based on race, religion, national identity, any of a dozen minor and irrelevant markers. To mundanes these seem logical, for though mundanes cannot see, understand, or acknowledge the demon worlds, still somewhere buried in their ancient memories, they know that there are those that walk this earth that are other. That do not belong, that mean only harm and destruction. Since the demon threat is invisible to mundanes, they must assign the threat to others of their own kind. They place the face of their enemy onto the face of their neighbor, and thus are generations of misery assured.
Spoiler
Although Simon turned into a vampire, we saw Robert and Maryse, and there was a battle between the Shadowhunters and Valentine, the plot felt lacking.Spoiler
And yes, the incest thing bothered me more in this book because of Clary.Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Murder, Torture, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping and Child death
Minor: Animal death
slipp99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Incest, and Blood
lenarthoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Incest, Murder, Child death, Gore, Death, Violence, and Blood
audragio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Vomit, Incest, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Death, Cursing, and Blood
thatbookbitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Kidnapping, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Torture, and Genocide
artemisg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Spoiler
Look, I know they aren’t actually siblings, but they don’t know that and still want to run away and be together or whatever.The one thing this series does well is found family (and adoptive family), I stand by the Alec and Jace duo being so wonderful, and it’s nice to see Clary try not to be such a bitch to Isabelle. The banter and general bickering are actually quite entertaining sometimes, even if it’s so so unrealistic.
Also, vampire Simon is such a slay, Daylighter supremacy, tbh. Absolutely obsessed with Jace saving Simon’s life as well.
Graphic: Incest, Blood, and Violence