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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
What if damnation is the price of true love?
Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the blight that is destroying the race of warlocks.
Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.
Review:
Queen of Air and Darkness is a mammoth of a book. At over 900 pages, this book is a gift for fans of the Shadowhunters series. All the major characters are back, from Julian and Emma, to Jace and Clary. And they are not just making cameos! I really enjoyed all the characters, the plot, most of the romance, and the overall message of acceptance.
What I Liked:
Characters:The Blackthorns:
I love that we get to really get to know all the Blackthorn children. Each sibling is mourning the death of Livvy, but also has other big issues. Helen is finally back with her family, but struggles to connect with her siblings. Mark is torn between the fairy prince, Kieran, and Emma's best friend, Christina. Julian is struggling with his romantic feelings toward Emma. Drusilla desperately wants to be valued by anyone. And Ty is deeply in denial over Livvy's death. Only Tavvy (who is maybe six years old?) seems to be doing all right, but his older siblings are constantly concerned for Tavvy's safety.
Other Beloved Characters:
Jace, Clary, Alec, and Magnus are back baby!!! I would say that a tiny criticism of the other two books in The Dark Artifices series is that author Cassandra Clare would pop these characters into her books, but they weren't really part of the plots. Not so in this book. Jace and Clary are up to their superhero antics, and I couldn't be more pleased. I love that Clary really is recognized for her efforts in this book. Alec and Magnus are also a big part of the story. I love their devotion to each other and to their family.
Plot:
The Shadowhunter government in Idris has been taken over by extremists who want to isolate shadowhunters from downworlders and fairies. In order to do this, Horace Dearborn and The Cohort (a group of young people reminiscent of Hitler's Brownshirts) stir up fear of downworlders, and are quick to silence any opposition. I can't help but wonder if she is making parallels between the plot and the current anti-immigration sentiment throughout the world. I appreciated that Cassandra Clare makes the point that a society can go from open and inclusive to isolationist quickly, particularly if people are uninvolved and complacent.
Romance:
There is a lot of wildly romantic relationships in Queen of Air and Darkness. Besides Alec and Magnus's, there is the huge dilemma for Julian and Emma. They are parabatai, and have been told that romantic love for them would lead to disastrous results. Yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. This leads both Julian and Emma to extreme measures in order to either break the parabatai bonds, or stop their feelings completely.
Message:
One of the most wonderful aspects of all the Shadowhunters books is the overriding message of acceptance for all kinds of love, all types of people. There are several characters who are gay, and others who are bisexual. There is also a transgendered character, and even a romantic relationship between three characters! Okay, the three person relationship did make me uncomfortable, but I understood the point of it. The author is showing many different types of genders, sexualities, and relationships in order to send the message that people need to stop judging others. I think this is a message we all need right now.
Rating:
Release Date: December 4th, 2018
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 912 pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: If you are a fan of this series, you will love this grand finale. Full of beloved characters, this is a very satisfying read.
Be aware that although this is a YA book, there are several very sexy scenes in this story. The descriptions never get to the level of mommy porn. But I would say this would be more appropriate for high school readers and above.
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