[FRIDAY FIRSTS] Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
I was in search of a Friday meme article and came across this one over at Tenacious Reader’s blog and fell in love at the spot.
| What kind of article is Friday Firsts? |
It will feature the first few sentences/paragraph of my current book and my first impressions as well. It’s meant to be a quick and easy way to share a bit about what I am reading, and I would love to hear others join in sharing their current reads as well.
The format is really simple. Include a quote. Include first impressions, it will not be a long drawn out analysis of the text or grand speculation of what is to come. Just a brief overview of how I’m feeling about the beginning of the book.
| Today’s Book |
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
#1 in the Dark Artifices trilogy
Genre: Young adult fantasy
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books on March 8th, 2016
Pages: 720
About Lady Midnight:
In a kingdom by the sea…
In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.
A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.
Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.
Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?
The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.
| Prologue |
Los Angeles, 2012
Shadow market nights were Kit’s favorite. They were the nights he was allowed to leave the house and help his father at the booth. He’d been coming to the Shadow Market since he was seven years old. Eight years later he still felt the same sense of shock and wonder when he walked down Kendall Ally through Old Town Pasadena toward a blank brick wall- and stepped through it into an explosive world of color and light.
Only a few blocks away were Apple Stores selling gadgets and laptops, Cheesecake Factories and organic food markets, American Apparel shops and trendy boutiques. But here the alley opened out into a massive square, warded on each side to prevent the careless from wandering into the Shadow Market.
| First Impressions |
This is a re-read for me since I read LM for the first time right after its release in 2016. In preparation of the release of Queen of Air and Darkness on December 4th, I decided to reread Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows. I’m buddy reading this book with my friends Candyce and Isabelle from @the Book Dutchesses.
The first time reading this book, back in March 2016, I had some minor issues about the first part of it, since it felt like some pages weren’t really necessary to my understanding at the time. In general, I really loved the first book in the dark artifices trilogy though, because towards the end it really took off and Clare took control of it and showed us yet again what a great writer she is.
This time around, I find myself emerged into this world and story right away and loving every second of it. That’s why I love re-reading books so much; it’s much easier to get aquatinted again with a world this complex and characters this diverse. I understand more of the depth and background of the story-line and characters now, as I did the first time around. So this re-read, so far, has been awesome and I can’t wait to finish it, re-read Lord of Shadows and eventually read the new release.
What are you reading right now and did it start out good or not? What are your first thoughts about your current read? Love to hear from you.
With Love,
25 Comments
jamieleezonneveld
I’m reading a Penny Jordan special from Harlequin. I liked the first story, Falcon’s Prey from 1982, but it was very different from story’s now, gave it 3 stars. Liking the start of the second story already better.
MelissasFandomWorld
I’ve read Penny Jordan before and really liked her stories but stories written so long ago are indeed so different to stories written today which isn’t always a positive thing, lol. Glad to hear you’re liking the start of the second story better already, happy reading!
lauregalie
I also enjoyed this book much more the second time around 🙂
MelissasFandomWorld
Glad to hear that! Have you read Lord of Shadows as well? I think that’s one of her best books she’s written so far <3 I’m soooo excited for the release of Queen of Air and Darkness!
lauregalie
Lord of Shadows and Clockwork Princess are my favourite books from Shadowhunter Chronicles!
Bookworms corner blog spot
Great review. She is such a popular author and it is not hard to see why. People love her books. I also reread a lot of books.
MelissasFandomWorld
Thank you! I’m so loving this re-read so far. She’s one of my faves but there are definitely a lot of readers out there as well who don’t like her books or only specific ones. In general, I love them all. I do have my favorites, but who wouldn’t have favorites when you’re reading so many diverse books set in different times and such, but I just can’t get enough of her writing. I love re-reading so much! What authors do you like to re-read?
Books tales by me
Graphics of your blog are so pretty 🙂
MelissasFandomWorld
Thank you so so much! I have to make do at the moment because I have a free WordPress theme. But I’ve already bought myself a new WP theme but I can’t install it yet until I’ve purchased the Business account of WP which I’ll be doing somewhere in January. So then, I’ll be changing things up a bit hihi.
Books tales by me
These things are so complicated 😃
JuliaSwoons
This book has been on my TBR for a long time.. Look like it’s time to take the leap and read it already 😉
MelissasFandomWorld
a thousand times yesssss haha! Hope you’re going to love it!
Empress DJ
I fear I am far too lazy for all the world building required for this one
MelissasFandomWorld
It’s quite an extended world building indeed. Especially since there are already 9 books published prior to this one and 2 books that are stuffed with novella’s set in this world. It’s quite a commitment if you have to start reading all of them yet haha.
jenchaos76
I love this kind of fantasy
MelissasFandomWorld
Great to hear! It’s so good <3
bookswithkathy
Not my kind of read but looks good!
Saturday Nite Reader
That is a cool book cover. I normally don’t read fantasy but enjoyed your review!
MelissasFandomWorld
Thank you! That’s so nice to hear. The covers of all of her books are really gorgeous. I have the hardcover copies and they are shiny and just lovely <3
gemmasbooknook
I’m currently reading Illuminae and loving it. I’ve not read any of the Shadow Hunter books I’m a bit scared to commit to such a large series.
Gemma @ http://www.gemmasbooknook.blogspot.com
MelissasFandomWorld
YASSSSS FOR ILLUMINAE! Great to hear that you’re loving it!
I totally understand that you’re a bit scared to commit to these books, there are so many out there already!
Whispering Stories
I have a signed copy of the book so haven’t actually read it as I don’t want to ruin it. I really should though as I loved the Shadow Hunters series.
MelissasFandomWorld
Personally signed? That’s sooo cool! I got an autograph in this one as well – all of the first hardcover editions received her autograph which is so cool I think. Haven’t had the opportunity to go meet her yet since she isn’t in Europe that often and when she is, I wasn’t able to travel there unfortunately. She’s been one of my all-time favorite authors for years now and meeting her is really high up on my bucket list. These books are everything to me <3 But pleaaaase don’t postpone reading it haha it’s so good! The Dark Artifices books are one of the best she’s written so far.
Kati 👩🏻 (@KatisBRR15)
Great post, I am going to start this trilogy the new year of 2019 I absolutely love TMI & TID books so much that I can’t wait to continue to read more about the shadowhunter world soon. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
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