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A review by smiletall_
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
4.0
4/5
Whew.
Did I mention that the previous books in this series were super long? Well, this one is even LONGER. It felt like a marathon. And yet, I think I still liked it. I mean, I gobbled the entire story up, so that must mean something, right?
SOO much happened.
This book picks up right after The Lord of Shadows ends, which is great when you can immediately reach for the next book like I did. The fallout from The Lord of Shadows has a huge impact that plays through to the end. There were parts of the story I did not expect at all. And with so many characters and story lines occurring simultaneously, it can feel like a lot. Still, I felt that many of the plot lines were addressed, except those obviously meant to carry on to a future series.
While I still liked Emma and Julian, I think their character arc and development emotionally peaked for me in the Lord of Shadows. That may be because of specific plot decisions made by Cassandra Clare for Julian, but essentially the emotional payout wasn't as explosive as I had wanted in the final book regarding their parabatai bond. What did surprise me was the only moment that made me tear up: a moment around Ty, Livvy, and Kit. Ahhhh, I really anticipate their future story.
When comparing this series to all the rest in this story universe, I honestly think The Dark Artifices was the strongest across the board so far. The entire cast of characters are really likable and solid. Although my aggravation for the Mortal Instruments series carried over a bit, by the end, The Dark Artifices did a lot for even those characters that their own series could not and I was fine spending a bit more time with them. (Mostly Alec and Magnus, less Clary and Jace. And give me more Simon and Isabelle!) The antagonist was still irritating and the weakest aspect of the story. I'm also not sure I loved how the big battle ultimately played out and how some things were resolved, but I felt that the overall conflict and the subsequent repercussions were more nuanced and weighted than any of the previous series. Having recently read through most of these books in close succession, I can also look back and say that Cassandra Clare has done a pretty great job of layering the outcomes of each series on top of each other. What happens in a previous series eventually has massive implications for future ones. And as she continues building out the world, the characters and connections just get richer and deeper.
Clare also has become so much better at introducing and incorporating characters who will eventually lead a future trilogy. Like the way she introduced Emma and Julian at the end of the Mortal Instruments, we are again introduced to Ty, Dru, and Kit even earlier in this series. I think it's pretty clever because I am immediately invested in their characters and want to read about their own journeys. It's also why I had to start The Dark Artifices as soon as I finished the Mortal Instruments (which I was not a fan of). I wanted to learn more about Emma and Julian with all the events and characters fresh in my mind. And even though the next series has recently finished, I think I can finally take a breather since that one jumps back into the past. The final series, yet to be published, will likely be back in present-day with Ty, Dru, and Kit, which honestly, I cannot wait for. I probably also won't remember anything by the time it comes out!
Whew.
Did I mention that the previous books in this series were super long? Well, this one is even LONGER. It felt like a marathon. And yet, I think I still liked it. I mean, I gobbled the entire story up, so that must mean something, right?
SOO much happened.
This book picks up right after The Lord of Shadows ends, which is great when you can immediately reach for the next book like I did. The fallout from The Lord of Shadows has a huge impact that plays through to the end. There were parts of the story I did not expect at all. And with so many characters and story lines occurring simultaneously, it can feel like a lot. Still, I felt that many of the plot lines were addressed, except those obviously meant to carry on to a future series.
While I still liked Emma and Julian, I think their character arc and development emotionally peaked for me in the Lord of Shadows. That may be because of specific plot decisions made by Cassandra Clare for Julian, but essentially the emotional payout wasn't as explosive as I had wanted in the final book regarding their parabatai bond. What did surprise me was the only moment that made me tear up: a moment around Ty, Livvy, and Kit. Ahhhh, I really anticipate their future story.
When comparing this series to all the rest in this story universe, I honestly think The Dark Artifices was the strongest across the board so far. The entire cast of characters are really likable and solid. Although my aggravation for the Mortal Instruments series carried over a bit, by the end, The Dark Artifices did a lot for even those characters that their own series could not and I was fine spending a bit more time with them. (Mostly Alec and Magnus, less Clary and Jace. And give me more Simon and Isabelle!) The antagonist was still irritating and the weakest aspect of the story. I'm also not sure I loved how the big battle ultimately played out and how some things were resolved, but I felt that the overall conflict and the subsequent repercussions were more nuanced and weighted than any of the previous series. Having recently read through most of these books in close succession, I can also look back and say that Cassandra Clare has done a pretty great job of layering the outcomes of each series on top of each other. What happens in a previous series eventually has massive implications for future ones. And as she continues building out the world, the characters and connections just get richer and deeper.
Clare also has become so much better at introducing and incorporating characters who will eventually lead a future trilogy. Like the way she introduced Emma and Julian at the end of the Mortal Instruments, we are again introduced to Ty, Dru, and Kit even earlier in this series. I think it's pretty clever because I am immediately invested in their characters and want to read about their own journeys. It's also why I had to start The Dark Artifices as soon as I finished the Mortal Instruments (which I was not a fan of). I wanted to learn more about Emma and Julian with all the events and characters fresh in my mind. And even though the next series has recently finished, I think I can finally take a breather since that one jumps back into the past. The final series, yet to be published, will likely be back in present-day with Ty, Dru, and Kit, which honestly, I cannot wait for. I probably also won't remember anything by the time it comes out!