The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare's newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally best-selling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It's been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn't lead her in treacherous directions....

Making things even more complicated, Julian's brother, Mark - who was captured by the faeries five years ago - has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind - and they need the Shadowhunters' help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn't recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare's Dark Artifices series.

Listening Length

19 hours and 44 minutes
Author

Cassandra Clare
Narrator

Morena Baccarin
Audible release date

March 8, 2016
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Schuster Audio
ASIN

B017KWLX9C
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	19 hours and 44 minutes
Author	Cassandra Clare
Narrator	Morena Baccarin
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	March 08, 2016
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B017KWLX9C
Best Sellers Rank	#8,529 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #20 in Paranormal Mystery, Thriller & Suspense for Teens #23 in Paranormal Romance for Teens #29 in Action & Adventure Fantasy for Teens

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Azia

Cassie Clare at her best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 11, 2018

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***Review posted on The Uncharted Word blog***

By the Angel, this book is phenomenal! As I’ve said before, I rarely give books a perfect score, but this one and ACOMAF have come pretty damn close. There are so many great things I have to say about Lady Midnight, so let me begin by saying bravo, Ms. Clare. Bravo. I truly think Lady Midnight is your best one yet.

WHAT I LOVED

The story starts off in the Shadow Market, a place where Downworlders and mundanes with the Sight sell their wares, and we are briefly introduced to a mysterious character named Johnny Rook and his equally intriguing son, Kit. From there, we catch our first glimpse of our witty heroine, Emma Carstairs, who is accompanied by a fellow Shadowhunter. She is at the market to further her investigation into her parents’ suspicious murders. Rook has some useful secrets to sell, and these secrets reveal a bigger mystery at hand. *Cue the X-Files music.*

Some weird stuff is going down that may or may not be related to the death of Emma’s parents and though the Clave would prevent her from continuing an investigation into these strange occurrences, nothing is going to stand in the way of Emma and her thirst for vengeance.

The beginning is much more fast paced than most of her other novels in the Shadowhunter’s series. It took me a while to get into the first book in both the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments, but I had no such issue with Lady Midnight. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop.

Clare does an excellent job in capturing my attention and maintaining it unto the very end. There was never a dull moment in this monstrously big book. I was far too invested in the relationships that were built up and torn down throughout the novel. While the mystery aspect is compelling, the focus of the story rests on the characters. The who-dunnit element of the plot is complimentary yet subordinate to the family dynamics and romantic pairings of the novel. There are periods in which the action subsides or is purely absent, but I was never bored during these periods because the focus shifts to the Blackthorn family, their slow exploration of the mysterious deaths, and of course, the romance.

The characters are the highlight of this book. Julian is, by far, my favorite character, second only to his brothers, Mark and Ty. His character is sensitive, artistic, loving, secretive, and just plain good. His perception of love is among the most romantic and mature I’ve read so far in a young adult fantasy novel. He loves his family more than life itself and he acts as the Papa Bear to his brothers and sisters, believing them to be his children, his babies, that he must care for until they don’t need him anymore.

The times where he contemplates the what ifs in life are among the most heartbreaking. He’s been forced into a situation where he must be the father, rather than the brother, to his siblings and he constantly reflects on the decisions he makes, hoping that when the time comes for his babies to leave, they won’t resent him in the end.

The interactions between Emma and Julian are heartwarming and realistic as they trade witty remarks in their casual banter and slowly begin to realize their true feelings for one another. Their interactions are sweet and pure and everything you could wish for in a YA romance. And though I loved Jemma, and I ship it to the ends of the earth, I was more in love with Julian and his family.

Each member of the Blackthorn family is a character all their own and completely lovable. Mark is the lost child, even though he is the eldest. Dru is the horror film junkie and resident sweetheart. Livvy is the spunky twin with warrior potential. Ty is the lovably different one and twin to Livvy. And Tavvy is the baby. I loved each and every one of them so much that I nearly got a heart attack during the events in the end.

Clare did well to portray diversity in a cast of characters that differ in ethnicity, language, class, sexual orientation, living situation, mental health, and so much more. You can always count on Clare to give you an LGBTQ+ romance that steals your heart and tears it up over and over again. The author also touches on some more serious topics regarding mental health and learning disabilities and these issues are represented mostly in Ty and his Uncle Arthur. So there’s never a lack of great content in the novel.

Another thing I greatly appreciated was the tie-in of my favorite poem, Annabel Lee. The way Clare brought the poem to life was creative and original and superbly done. Each of the chapter titles are lines from the poem, and at first I thought that was all there was to it, but the titles are reflective of the story, the mystery, as a whole.

WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE AS MUCH

I had only a couple issues with this book. The first being the representation of the female characters. While both Emma and Cristina are strong and capable females who don’t need no man, there isn’t much else I could say about them. While Julian, Mark, and Ty are given remarkable complexities to their characters, Emma can mostly be summed up as a warrioress with a chip on her shoulder who tries too hard to be witty and is way too ditzy in some cases, especially in the case of love.

"His voice was rough; he looked as if he hadn’t slept. Emma wondered what could have kept him up. Research?"

By this time, a brick could have deciphered Julian’s feelings. No one should be that clueless, especially not our fearless heroine. Besides her, seemingly, deliberate ignorance, Emma is solely focused on solving her parents’ murders and getting revenge. I enjoyed the times she interacts with the Blackthorns, and though she lives with them, she still seems apart from them due to her single-minded purpose. She’s a likable character, better than Clary IMO, but still not the heroine I wish Clare would write.

As for Cristina, I didn’t much care for her storyline. She’s a great companion to Emma and seems like a nice person, but I didn’t trust her the whole book and I don’t think that was Clare’s intention. I know next to nothing about the girl and though she’s a friend, I can’t seem to care about what she does or does not do. She really is that uninteresting in my eyes.

My last issue with this book: There’s not nearly enough Magnus Bane.

But that’s it! Lady Midnight was close to perfection in its storyline, cast of characters, action, romance, diversity, and humor (so much of this that I chuckled more than a few times while reading). Plus, the few twists at the end hurt like a b****, but it was worth it.

3 people found this helpful

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Kyera

Fantastic start to a new series in the Shadowhunter world

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 5, 2017

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I do not discuss any plot points in my review, so you will not be spoiled.

While the Dark Artifices may not be my favourite Shadowhunter series, I believe it is the most well written thus far. It is difficult to accurately judge, as this is only the first book in a trilogy but the more that Cassandra Clare writes – the better a writer she becomes. Her books have always been fantastic but Lady Midnight just felt like another step up. Cassie has clearly grown as a writer and storyteller over the years, which gives me so much hope for all her future Shadowhunter novels.

While it is possible to come into the Shadowhunter Chronicles with Lady Midnight as your first book, I would not suggest it. The Mortal Instruments is fantastic for that, as we follow Clary a girl who discovers that there is more to the world than the mundane life she thought she knew. The world building in that first series really lays the groundwork for Cassie’s entire Shadow World. Even in the Infernal Devices, we mainly experience the Shadow World through the eyes of Tessa who has also not grown up with the knowledge of who she is. That is the first aspect that makes Lady Midnight so different from the previous two series – our two main characters Emma and Julian have grown up as Shadowhunters.

I felt that there was less world-building overall for the Shadow World, but that’s not to say that the world building in this novel wasn’t fantastic as can be expected from Cassandra Clare. The politics of the Clave and the Downworld, the role of the Shadowhunter and the world that they live in have been brilliantly described over the course of the novels that Cassie has written. It is for this reason that I feel that while it is not necessary to read the Infernal Devices or the Mortal Instruments before reading the Dark Artifices, I would highly recommend it. You won’t necessarily understand the history or the events that led up to Lady Midnight as well as you could. There are also spoilers from the previous series and character cameos that you won’t appreciate as much unless you read the previous series.

The world building the Los Angeles itself and the new aspects that Cassie writes about the Shadow World, like the Shadow Market, are absolutely fantastic in this book. With each book she writes in the Shadowhunter World, she continues to build and develop this immersive experience that is like no other. Her words are vividly descriptive and paint the image of the world in your mind. It is what makes her such an incredible writer and one of the reasons that I love her books so much.
Lady Midnight takes place in Los Angeles, the Institute that has been the home of the Blackthorn children for their whole lives. Our main characters, Emma and Julian are parabatai which makes for a nice change to the point of view that we have experienced before. You learn a lot more about the parabatai bond and its potential in this book.

With Helen exiled to Wrangel Island and Mark taken by the Hunt, Julian has had to raise his brothers and sisters for the last five years. This forced him to grow up a lot faster than he would have otherwise and changed him in various ways. He loves his family more than anything else in the world and would do anything for them, even if it meant crossing a line. That ruthless heart, willingness to betray, and capacity to lie was learned after the Dark War. Those were not traits that he had prior but were forced upon him when everything changed and the Clave tore his family apart.

Emma has made it her life’s mission to discover who killed her parents at the end of the Dark War and why. That mystery has defined her every day, pushing her to train for hours at a time, run along the beach to get faster and turn her into an incredible Shadowhunter. She is also very sassy, quippy in conversations and the midst of a battle, which reminds me a lot of Jace.
The other characters we spend time with throughout the book are Julian’s siblings: Ty, Livvy, Dru, and Tavvy; Cristina; Diana and Malcolm. Diana has a lot of secrets, which I’m sure we’ll discover over time, but she’s the character we end up knowing the least about. Beyond being their tutor, not wanting to take over the Institute and supposedly taking her travel year in Thailand, I can’t tell you anything about her.

It was nice to see the Blackthorn children grow and develop from how we knew them in the Mortal Instruments to this series. Their familial relationship and interactions were authentic and heartwarming. You fall in love with them, just like you do with Cassie’s other characters and understand Julian’s plight.

Cristina is a Shadowhunter from the Mexico City Institute who decided to spend her travel year in Los Angeles. It was nice to get to know her because we don’t always get to experience or hear from Shadowhunters from other Institutes. I really enjoyed her addition to the Blackthorn family (plus one) and the dimension she added. Plus, her backstory created a connection to the Scholomance and the Centurions which are going to add even more world building to the Shadow World we know – and I can’t wait to see more of it.

Malcolm is the High Warlock of Los Angeles and although his personality is very different, you immediately like him. He’s more playful and childlike at times than Magnus but seems to really care for the family. After falling in love with Magnus in the Mortal Instruments, and Catarina Loss to a lesser degree in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, I wanted Malcolm to be the next warlock character I loved.

There is so much betrayal in this book that I could never anticipate what was going to happen next. It doesn’t just come from those you would consider “bad guys” but Shadowhunters, crooks and those with broken hearts alike. Cassandra Clare is the Queen of plot twists, fantastic character development and astounding, emotional rollercoasters in her books – and this was no exception.

Lady Midnight was a fantastic read that made me fall in love with the Shadowhunter World all over again or more than I was before? It’s unclear. Either way, I adore this book and I actually think that I enjoyed it more the second time through. I would also highly recommend a re-read prior to Lord of Shadows because the novel is so packed full of incredible character development, world building and plot that you will appreciate its sequel more if the story is still fresh in your mind.

31 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Kristel Greer

I am already addicted to the plot and in love with all the complex and compelling characters.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 17, 2022

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Julian Blackthorn has been secretly running the LA Institute himself. He has also suffered a loss in his family due to death and banishment due to ties with the Fae. His brother Mark was sent to The Hunt and hasn’t been seen since. After a tentative alliance between Shadowhunters and Faerie, Mark is returned from the Seelie Court but he has been changed by the experience.

Emma Carstairs is a fierce and determined young Shadowhunter and wants to be the best Parabtai to Julian. Emma has suffered loss and trauma due to her parent's death. Emma thought they had been murdered by Sebastian's forces but when other bodies show up similar to her parents, Emma questions the truth.

Meanwhile, Julian and Emma have another heartbreaking issue. Best friends since childhood and now sworn Parabtai their love for one another are strong but it has grown beyond that of mere friendship and blossomed into a potent and all-consuming desire and attraction. However, amorous love between Parabtai is forbidden and the penalties for acting on these feelings can result in being stripped of their Shadowhunter status and never seeing their family again while also potentially creating untold dark magical consequences.

As the murders continue, Julian and Emma along with their fellow Shadowhunters and Downworlders, uncover clues to what dark plan is behind the killings and how they link to Emma's parents. The closer they get to the murderer the more dangerous the situation becomes which heightens the risk to their lives and the lives of all their loved ones.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I am always afraid I won't like the next book series in the Shadowhunter world but I should have known better. I am already addicted to the plot and in love with all the complex and compelling characters. The dilemma facing Emma and Julian and their forbidden love is intriguing and it will be fascinating to see how that plays out. The dynamics between the characters and within the Blackthorn family are interesting which opens up the story for many potential plot developments in book 2.

2 people found this helpful

Olivia Emily

the best introduction to a series Cassandra Clare has ever written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 24, 2016

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Read this review along with others on my blog @ libroliv.com

I've been waiting for this book for years. Years.

I was so worried that I wouldn't like, that I'd be disappointed.

But how could I think that? Cassandra Clare has only ever impressed me, only ever made me fall in love with her world. How could I doubt that?

Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking, but I sure don't doubt Cassandra now...

Lady Midnight was stunning.

From the first chapter I was engrossed, and I knew that I had a wild ride ahead of me.

Firstly, I'd like to address the unique nature of this novel when compared to Cassandra Clare's previous writings. Both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices began with a protagonist who was unfamiliar with the Shadowhunter world. Thus, both City of Bones and Clockwork Angel had lengthy beginnings, and took a while to get into the flow and pace of the story.

Lady Midnight - due to the protagonist, Emma, being familiar with the Shadowhunter world - was able to skip past this length introduction, and delve straight into the action.

And the action - there was so much of it! This book never stopped, never even slowed; it was a constant stream of events transpiring, and I loved that! There was never a dull moment!

Likewise, the pacing of this novel was very well done. It was consistently fast - but not too fast - and the transitions between scenes were seamless. This, in hand with the heightened levels of action, made for an engaging novel that I never wanted to put down.

However, I would complain that the chapters were a little lengthy. This isn't the kind of book that you can read spots of here and there - if you feel like reading this book, you're in it for the long haul. The combination of long chapters and an engaging story is deadly; I was reading for hours at a time when meaning to do other things!

Throughout this novel, there are consistent switches in point-of-view. This - I believe - was very beneficial from a reader's perspective, as it allowed for a broader perception of the current events. Because this book was so complex with so many overlapping events, it was great to get a head start, and see little snippets from each perspective.

Without these switches in POV, it is definite that the book would have suffered. Such changes both enabled more of an in-depth insight to the characters, and an invaluable insight into the action.

It also made it so that the book had an even faster pace, because the chapters were split into sections for each POV.

Likewise, this book not only discusses current events from differing perspectives, but past events, too. The flashbacks that were incorporated were endlessly interesting, because many occurred during latter half of The Mortal Instruments series. Having read said series, it was interesting to get an insight into what was happening on the sidelines of Jace and Clary's story.

Also, it was nice to gradually discover the important events that occurred during the 5-year gap between City of Heavenly Fire and Lady Midnight without going into the more mundane aspects (pun intended).

Frankly, through this novel, I have learned much of the Shadowhunter world, especially what it was like for Emma and Julian to grow up in it, and not just be thrown into it like Tessa and Clary were.

Cassandra Clare is renowned for her incorporation of both LGBTQ and differing ethnicities into her novels. Lady Midnight was no different, nationalities and sexuality being approached with an accepting demeanour.

It was so great to read a book wherein such things were the norm - as they should be - and no one was singled out for the things they couldn't control.

It was like magical realism, but with nationality and sexual orientation.

(I loved it.)

Likewise, because the Blackthorn family motto being "lex malla, lex nulla" (or a "bad law, is no law") demonstrates what this book is really about - change. The acceptance of Downworlder-Shadowhunter marriages, and the abolishment of the Cold Peace, alongside scrapping how falling in love with your parabatai is forbidden. I believe that Emma - despite not being a Blackthorn - will be the voice of change, and the next generation of Shadowhunters.

In our modern society, these issues are really relevant, and I'm sure will aid multiple readers around the globe.

In terms of characters, I believe this is the strongest group Clare has created. I would first, however, like to discuss the incorporation of other Shadowhunter characters from previous series: Jem is commonly mentioned, which I really liked, as it allowed for an insight into his life after The Infernal Devices, and also after City of Heavenly Fire; both Clary and Jace were spoken of as if they were famous, which was really amusing, but comforting all the same - it was so great to see that they were continuing with their life together; Magnus was as he always is - flamboyant...surely it would be a crime to neglect to include Magnus in a Shadowhunter novel; Simon and Isabelle...I won't spoil it for you!

Now, in terms of the main characters in Lady Midnight, I would begin by stating how much I admire Emma Carstairs. She is definitely my favourite protagonist of all the Shadowhunter books in existence - she is strong and unwavering, and loves fiercely. She is a warrior, and not afraid of a battle or a head-on altercation. She is outrageously sarcastic and witty and always able to make jokes, even in difficult moments. But she's vulnerable. Despite these powerful aspects of her personality, it is evident that her deep love can cause her pain. She is the image of a strong female protagonist - she is not perfect, and she doesn't try to be.

I loved that about her.

Tarot Rings 5On the other hand, Julian was much more obviously sensitive, and I loved that he wasn't afraid to show his siblings and Emma how much he cares. The development between City of Heavenly Fire and Lady Midnight is astounding, because Julian has grown into a man. It was so great to read about him.

The remainder of the Blackthorn family were equally as great. All were unique, so much so that it was easy to tell them apart even after a few chapters. (I usually find it hard to tell large families apart in books.) Also, there were subtle hints at how things will develop with the children in the future. I understand that the sequel series to The Dark Artifices - The Wicked Powers - follows the younger Blackthorn children, and so it will be interesting to see how they develop in the coming novels in preparation for The Wicked Powers.

.

Overall, I would not hesitate to proclaim that this is the best introduction to a series Cassandra Clare has ever written. It was jam-packed with action from start to finish, and consisted of the best cast of characters I have ever read about. I loved everything about it, and could not stop thinking about it throughout my entire reading journey. Thus, I awarded it 5/5 stars, and would award it more if I could.

19 people found this helpful

Wolfie

Buy all three because you can't wait between books.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 29, 2021

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Once again Cassandra has given us a superbly written insite to the Mortal Instruments saga from the LA Institute perspective, Jace, Clary, Magnas, Alec, Simon and a few others all make appearances in this and the other two books that follow in this chapter of the saga and once I started to read it I couldn't put it down and I hate reading one book and then waiting two years for the next so I waited until all three had been released then bought them as a set, excellent continuation of the saga that carries on from the previous books with no giant gaps in years, one spoiler alert :- I might have missed a book somewhere (it's hard to keep up when she writes prequels etc) but I haven't read anything about Magnas and Alec adopting two children until I read these books, I'll have to get a timeline list of these excellent stories so that I can re-read them in the right order, thank you Cassandra Clare for another side to this incredible story.

One person found this helpful

Char Louise

Shaping up to be another brilliant Shadowhunter series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 6, 2018

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Having read and loved The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, I was looking forward to reading this. The story immediately felt different from the others, as Emma has a very different voice and personality to both Clary and Tessa. I immediately fell in love with the Blackthorn family; being an only child, I’m always drawn to tales of large, chaotic families. The last Mortal Instruments book – City of Heavenly Fire – introduces us to the Blackthorns and provides a longer account of what happened to them, their parents, and Mark and Helen, during the Dark War. Lady Midnight begins five years after the Dark War, when the children are older, which works as their personalities and abilities as Shadowhunters have now become more developed.

This book almost reads like a supernatural crime novel, with murders to be solved that increasingly appear to be linked to the Blackthorn family. There’s a lot less background to the Shadowhunter world in this novel – it’s obvious that Clare expects readers to have already read The Mortal Instruments, at least. The focus is more on faeries and, to a certain extent, warlocks, with very little mention of vampires or werewolves. I hope that there may be more involvement with vampires especially in the next instalment, as I always found that faction of Downworlders interesting. I also liked the literary connections of the plotline, in its use of Poe’s Annabel Lee, which the chapter titles are also taken from.

Some of the same themes are shared with The Mortal Instruments though, most obviously forbidden love, though forbidden for a different reason than Clary and Jace’s love. The bonds between siblings are equally strong, though possibly more complex here. I like the way that Clare brings modern issues and a diverse range of characters into her novels: as in her other series, there are LGBT characters, plus in this one she also looks at mental health (Arthur) and autism (Ty), and how dangerous the lack of understanding of such conditions can be. But I like how she doesn't label people, she just lets them be as they are.

The other thing I found interesting is the way it links to the story about Tatiana Blackthorn in The Bane Chronicles; in the short story she is experimenting with some kind of dark magic, but her aim and whether or not she is successful is never revealed. So the idea of a curse on the Blackthorn name immediately intrigued me as I thought it might be picking up the thread of that story? Maybe that’s something that will be pursued in the next book.

It was a long book but didn’t feel boring or tedious, the main characters are likeable and the mystery intriguing. The big reveal was sudden but excellent, as I hadn’t guessed the identity of the killer, but it all made sense when it came out. There are some other mysteries hinted at but not yet solved – like Diana’s secret – so I’m looking forward to finding out more about those in Lord of Shadows.

4 people found this helpful

Alex Stargazer

The Lady Midnight is a great book written by an obviously talented and experienced storyteller.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 17, 2016

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Ah, another day, another Cassandra Clare novel. Or should I say, another year, another Cassandra Clare? Sadly, the author’s writing speed is less than fantastic; which is a pity, but one ought remember the old adage here. Quality not quantity. And if we have to wait close to a year for the sequel, so be it; it makes the *Lady Midnight* that much sweeter.

Speaking of which, the *Lady Midnight* is indeed an excellent story. I don’t give out 5* star reviews for nothing, you know. If you want to know why, read on…

**Some Background**

I feel that before I really begin, I feel it is necessary to share some background into what exactly *Lady Midnight* is. Those of you familiar with the Mortal Instruments series will certainly know some of the characters—Jace and Clary, Magnus, and others all feature. But the *Lady Midnight* is concerned with another, hitherto more minor characters: Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorns.

Essentially, the story concerns the mystery of how Emma’s parents died, and if and how they may be related to the string of murders that have just occurred. That is the ostensible side of the story, anyway. But a great deal of the tale is devoted to Emma, and her *parabatai*, Julian.

The *parabatai* is basically a kind of bonding magic, held in the form of the *parabatai* rune, that allows the two *parabatai* to feel what the other feels; to draw stronger runes on their partners; and, in the case that they happen to fall in love—a thing very much verboten by the Clave—then they are able to wield a power more akin to warlocks.

Anyway, with that out of the way, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.

**Characters**

The *Lady Midnight* excels in many areas, but here it shines most of all. The characters are—masterful. Simply masterful.

Emma, the chief protagonist, is portrayed down to perfection: she is a strong, intelligent, and perceptive woman. Not only is she fierce and rather likable, but Clare manages to capture her personality in her words, actions and thoughts down to a T.

Julian, her parabatai and lover, is more interesting still. He’s remarkably complex, conflicted, and compelling. At twelve years old, he effectively took responsibility for his brothers and sisters; he became, for all intents and purposes, their father.

The person who was meant to be taking care of them was, unfortunately, a lunatic. So not only did Julian have to take care of his siblings—but he also effectively ran the Institute.

To top it all off, his older brother was taken by the Hunt (which I can best describe as kind of like faerie Cossacks) and his older sister was exiled.

These experiences render Julian remarkably old for his age; he wields a maturity and foresight that would shame some adults, never mind a teenager.

What really strikes out from Julian, though—even beyond his maturity—is his love. Firstly, he loves his siblings; he loves them with an intensity that is poignant to experience, and gives the *Lady Midnight* a powerful family dynamic. But he also loves Emma; loves her as a parabatai, and doubly so as a romantic partner.

The combined effect of this can leave one rather breathtaken.

Beyond Emma and Julian, though, there are a number of immaculately drawn and compelling characters. Malcom Fade—a Warlock, and friends with the Blackthorns—has a curiously eccentric personality intermixed with a stranger, darker nature.

Mark Blackthorn, the exiled brother, is half-faerie and half-Shadowhunter. Both of his natures are captured expertly. He is at once the Shadowhunter: not only fierce, but caring, vulnerable and powerfully attached to his family. But he also the faerie; mysterious, wild, and strangely compelling.

I’ve already mentioned the family dynamic between Julian, Emma and the numerous other siblings within the Blackthorn family. But it’s worth making this point explicity: their family is a wonderful creation of sibling love, rivalry, and loyalty.

Aside from all this, there are a number of more miscellaneous elements I’ve picked up on.

Firstly, there are several gay and bisexual characters. There’s Mark; his lover; there’s Helen; and there’s even Kit, a character whom we meet in the beginning and the end. All of them have romantic feelings that are poignant and heartbreakingly romantic—Mark most of all.

I must, however, take issue with the number of gay and bisexual characters. Yes, I know some people will cry mutiny when I say this, but it’s true: gay people—of which I am one—are not common. Bisexual men are very rare indeed, but there are appear to be two of them in *Lady Midnight*, possibly more.

I love the fact that gay characters feature: but I’m worried that Cassandra Clare (or perhaps more likely Simon & Schuster) are using them as a marketing gimmick. Gay characters are at that strange border line between too controversial to be mainstream and too normal to be taken as particularly noteworthy. They’re controversial; they interest people. Which is great, but it’s not something I’d want taken advantage of.

Anyway, overall, the characters are a work of art.

**Plot**

The *Lady Midnight* is not a disappointing novel. The plot, while not quite perfect, is still worthy of my 5*.

The main reason why is to do with its varied and unexpected turns. You can never quite see where it’ll go; it’s as unpredictable as a snake, and just as dangerous. Every piece of action is fast and energetic—and slower scenes are suffused with expectation.

The plot is also paced well. There are no moments when the action begins to overwhelm, and nor does the tale ever drag to a juddering halt. Things progress smoothly.

If there’s anything that falls a little short, it’s really to do with the scope of the book. The *Lady Midnight* has a fascinating tale to tell, but I can’t help that it both lacks the scope and power of the Mortal Instruments series—and that this is because the real story is yet to come.

The *Lady Midnight* is to do with more than just the death of Emma’s parents. It’s to do with an ancient Shadowhunter Law; it’s really, at its heart, about Emma and Julian.

Still: considering that this *is* the first book, I think I can let Clare off the hook.

**Worldbuilding**

The Mortal Instruments was a fascinating, imaginative and compelling world; the *Lady Midnight* is no different.

The Shadowhunters are as interesting as ever. There’s something about their fierce, warrior-like culture intermixed with their harsh laws and religious adherence to virtues that inevitably draws the interest. And of course, their magic is fascinating—Clare’s magic-system of runes is both coherent and clearly defined, and yet still manages to surprise you.

But I find the Warlocks especially interesting. Maybe I’m just sucker for magic; for power that amazes and inspires awe.

There are also the usuals. Vampires feature, though only modestly, and so do werewolves.

The faeries are the last piece of the puzzle. The Mortal Instruments, in truth, didn’t really pay that much attention to them; they were more a detail rather than a key feature of the world. But the *Lady Midnight* brings out a world of faerie detail.

Their personalities are what I find especially grabbing. The faeries, as in the tales of old, are fickle and wild and dangerous; but they are also capable of love, and regret, and have a sense of what is good. If any of you reading have ever read Julie Kagawa, well; you’ll be right at home.

**Writing**

Cassandra Clare writes with eloquence and skill; there’s a great deal of imagery in the *Lady Midnight*, and it is… inspiring.

I was particularly fond of the descriptions of the desert—I had a powerful sense that Clare knew what deserts were like. More than that: *I* understood deserts, and I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing one.

This, however, would make Clare’s writing merely good. What makes it very good is the fact that it can bring a whole new dimensions to that which you thought you knew. The sea, for example, is a wild thing here: a place of magic, of the wild abandon of the elements, and of death.

It’s not quite brilliant. I’ve seen better. But, hey: I only require that 5* books be *fantastic*, not *perfect*. There is a difference.

**Conclusion**

I’ve decided it’s not worth boring you all with a long conclusion when, frankly, the message is simple. The *Lady Midnight* is a great book written by an obviously talented and experienced story teller. You’d be silly not to read it.

Still, it may be worth waiting. S&S have priced the ebook at £7.99, which seems a little high for my liking. Then again: if a bad book isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, and a good book is worth every penny, then a great book is worth its weight in gold.

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