Lady Midnight

By Cassandra Clare

The latest Shadowhunters novel from bestselling author Cassandra Clare.

The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare's newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

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.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.

Praise for Lady Midnight:
'Positively aquiver with secret ardor and murderous zeal.' Kirkus Reviews
'Fresh and...wonderfully told.' Booklist
'Clare's well-developed protagonists..., pell-mell action sequences, complicated family dynamics, and fascinating magic system continue to engage.' Publishers Weekly
'Clare delivers spectacular Shadowhunter fare with her trademark street tough yet emotionally fragile adolescent characters taking on adult roles and includes plenty of violent action and passionate romance to satisfy fans of The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments series, who will be thrilled to see some of their favourite characters from the previous books make appearances.' School Library Journal'

Also by Cassandra Clare:

The Dark Artifices:
Lord of Shadows
Queen of Air and Darkness

The Eldest Curses:
The Red Scrolls of Magic
The Lost Book of the White

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Mar 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781471116643

Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass. City of Bones was a Locus Award finalist for Best First Novel and an ALA Teens' Top Ten winner. She is also the author of the upcoming YA fantasy trilogy The Infernal Devices. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her boyfriend and two cats.

Reviews for Lady Midnight

[sweet_serenity · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd been anticipating this book for a long time. It was pretty good- on the level of the Mortal Instruments series, but not up to the standard of Infernal Devices.

The good things-The best scenes of the book were the action & romance scenes, because they're Cassandra Clare's strength. There was a great vein of wit running through the whole thing. Emma, Julian & Mark were pretty amazing characters and of course I loved all the little Blackthorns too. The parabatai connection was written really well. There were some great scenes with Tessa, Jem, Clary, Jace & Magnus. At first I thought it might be a bit forced, but I think I actually liked seeing them again through Emma & Julian's eyes. Plus there was a bonus section at the end from Clary's POV. The book ended with some exciting leads for the sequel.

The bad things- The start was a bit shaky, with a lot of info-dumping and repetition. Some things were a bit rushed/messy/shallow, which was a bit disappointing for a book from an established author that had been in the works for so long. And I wasn't quite sold on the minor characters- Diana, Christina & Diego. I didn't feel they were really necessary. The book goes through a lot of contortions to justify the whole kids-saving-the-day thing. I think raising Emma & Julian's ages a few years would have given it a lot more sense.

The good outweighed the bad, and I decided to give the book 4 stars. I did criticise this book a bit, but that's only because I had such high hopes for it. It fell a little bit short, but then most things usually do. I enjoyed the book and was pretty happy about it, but not over-the-moon ecstatic. I think some of the awkwardness of the new series is out of the way now, so the next book could really take it to the next level.

[simplykelina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been putting off starting the Dark Artifices series until it was closer to the final book coming out. It was time to finally jump in.I personally loved the beginning of the story. It had been so long since I was in the Shadow Hunter world, so I enjoyed how a recap of characters and terms were reintroduced within the new story. It made getting back into the world much easier. There was a lot of building the new characters and scenes up before much else happens. The one thing that really kept my interest was learning about the murders so early on.I do feel this was way too long for what it ended up being though. There was not too many high points throughout the story. A lot was dragged out to more than it needed to be. I ended up having to switch between reading this physically and listening to the audiobook as certain parts I was losing interest in. I did end up enjoying this, but it did not blow me away like I was hoping and expecting. Do not get me wrong, it was still good. I cannot wait to see where book two takes us and all of the characters.

[thebacklistbook · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

As much as it was so easy and comfortable to slip back into the shadowhunter world, like slipping into your favorite worn-out jeans; that's all it was. A comfortable read. It did not excite or thrill me in anyway. The bad guy was a surprise. The relationship between E and J felt very forced and cringe-worthy.

It is like the author has something deeply against platonic love. I never realized this in all my years of anticipating her next books. After this read I am really not sure that I will be picking up the next Dark Artifices book. I just don't feel that it is worth the frustration and angst between E and J to hear about Tessa and Jem some more, or to hear details about Malec.

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A new series about shadowhunters. Such a whirlwind of crazy events happening in this book. Loved all of it. Even the sort of cliffhanger. I absolutely can't wait until the next book comes out.

[beckakw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think I liked this book better than the Mortal Instruments series. The mystery aspect of it was very intriguing and kept me reading. I also liked the romance aspect more than Clary and Jace in the Mortal Instruments. I can't wait for the next book and I think I'll pass the time by reading the Infernal Devices series.

[areneehunt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't know why I thought I'd love this book. Was it bad- no, but after I read the Clockwork series, I was ruined for the rest of the books. When I read The Mortal Instruments, I was already suffering death by Shadow Hunters. I even tried to watch the tv series- crashed and burned there too! So what made me pick up Lady Midnight, book one in the Dark Artifices series? The fact that I'd already purchased both the book and audiobook. Now, on to what I read...Picture Just to reiterate, I am a Cassandra Clare fan. She's a phenomenal author, leaving me swept away with Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess, and Clockwork Angel, but once I got to The Mortal Instruments, the story shifted- not just in time. It became more of a tumultuous love saga with whiny people and their issues. The rage of the mega plot was pretty cool and that's what created the doorway for Lady Midnight, the Dark Artifices series. Emma's a problem from the very start, with her deep rooted desire for revenge and closure. Though understandable, she was endangering her parabatai left and right, even with knowing her injuriy or death would damage him too! She's a headstrong warrior who's more temperamental than skillful. Julian is love struck to the point- I figured it out the first few pages of the story! He became a butthole, plain and simple. Never mind the family troubles. Now I'm going to stop there, because they're the reason I really couldn't get into the story. Because of the main characters, it's next to impossible to get along with the story. The plot could have been so much thicker and better had they not been battling their... No SPOILERS, sorry. I can't tell you what's happening but it's just not the same. The main story was what drove the two characters, but it was all overshadowed. It turned in to super-strengthened teenagers with mundane issues. I can get that anywhere! So I may be finished with the Shadow Hunter reads. I wasn't happy at all with Lady Midnight, and that's okay. Just means I will have to seek out my YA fixes elsewhere now. Cheers to you, while I move on to the next read!Lady MidnightCassandra ClareMargaret K. McElderry BooksMarch 8, 2016

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another episode of the Shadow Hunters series. I like this world, but I didn't find this as compelling as her Infernal Devices. Often times a romance can be a good addition to a novel, adding a touch of emotion to the battle of good vs. evil. In this book, the romance was more the main point of the story. I read this a month ago, and to be honest, I can't remember anything other than the romance and it seemed more of a common reuse of forbidden love. A fun distraction, but I don't feel that 'can't wait for the sequel anxiety' that I feel after I've finished a really good story.

[doolfandoms · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazingly put together. I love the fact that it was a lot bigger than most books because it just gave me more to read. Now the only problem is waiting a year for the second book to come out.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Five years after the war in The City of Heavenly Fire, Emma Carstairs is living in the Los Angeles Institute with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn, and his family. They are Nephilim, or Shadowhunters: part-human, part-angel, and sworn to protect mundanes (regular humans) from Downworlders (vampires, werewolves, and more) and uphold the law of the Clave, the sort of ruling class of Shadowhunters. When murders start occurring and the victims' bodies are left much like Emma's parents, with strange markings on them, Emma starts investigating even though she knows that, with many of the bodies being Faerie, the Clave won't like her getting involved - the negotiations after the war left the "Cold Peace" and restrictions in helping any fae, including the two half-Faerie Blackthorns, Mark and Helen.I hadn't quite figured out how confusing this all sounds until I started to write it all out. This is the first in a new series within the Shadowhunter world, and while it's not absolutely necessary to read the other books before reading this one (it's been over a year in my case, and I still followed everything), I'm not sure I'd recommend starting with this one. Emma and Julian are an interesting pair, and the other secondary characters are fleshed out well, all of them individual and realistic, people you can root for without being perfect. I especially like the way the relationships between the Blackthorn siblings are described, and I like Ty who seems to be on the autism spectrum but treated with such love and respect by his siblings. Emma is as wise-cracking as Jace was in the original series, and I burst out laughing at a couple of scenes. Really fun reading, and I'm looking forward to continuing the series when the new book comes out in May.

[samanthamholt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of all of the Shadowhunter stories, this is by far the most compelling. I felt devastated and sad throughout the entire story. The story had such a grim and hopeless energy that I couldn't shake. I couldn't put the book down until I finished (although I did throw the book a few times). Every time one door opened, I felt another door shut. More than anything, I am terrified for Julian. These poor children and these terrible secrets they have to keep. They're enduring all of this alone. I can't imagine the trilogy ending well for any of the protagonists. My heart is so heavy for these children.

[bookishpeach240 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review contains spoilers! If you have not read Lady Midnight yet, I suggest you do not read this.
Firstly I have to say I expected to enjoy this book more than I did. Don't get me wrong; I liked this book. It's just that the first 400 pages or so were very slow and I had a hard time getting into the story. I felt that nothing really happened the first half and it seemed to drag on forever. The last 200 pages or so were phenomenal though. The betrayal!! I would never have guessed it! I'm glad we were finally introduced to the mysterious lost Herondale. I was annoyed his seemingly irrelevant perspective kept popping up but now I understand why. I hope we get to see more of him in the next books. I probably should have read the novellas before reading this book but I was too lazy. Also, I think one of the reason I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked to is because I have been extremely stressed out these past few weeks and my mind wasn't entirely focused on the book. And, I forgot to mention, I'm really worried about Emma. I mean, there's this whole forbidden patabatai relationship with Julian and Mark seems, well, unstable. I really hope Mark adjusts to his old life.
Though I did not give this book 5 stars, I can't wait to read the next book!

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

AudiobookThe mystery of who killed Emma's parentsThe mystery of the deaths of shadowhuntersThe mystery of love The mystery of a lost boyThe mystery of the one in chargeSo many mysteries to answer. They just kept pilling up for the first 3/4 of the book. I expected them to crumble under the weight but no the characters stayed true and stayed strong. Fought and fought and suffered, till at last answers started reveling themselves and the answers were not easy to accept. The stress of the last 1/4 of this story was crazy. Ms. Clare made sure that they were dragged through the mud and left caked and battered along a troubled river. Seriously Ms Clare, why did Emma have to do that at the end ? Troubled times. Yes, I loved it. Yes, I already downloaded book 2.

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters series several years ago and this book was a delightful return to that magical and dangerous world. There are plenty of references to characters and events of the previous novels, but also new characters and further world-building. This book is a great follow-up to the Shadowhunters books, although I don't know how much readers unfamiliar with the earlier series would enjoy this one.

[dianeasther · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love the characters more than anything else

[linyarai · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I feel sorry for anyone who has chosen Lady Midnight as their first Cassandra Clare novel. Yes the plot makes sense and you might find the characters relatable and likeable, but you are missing out on EVERYTHING. There is so much history, so much back story, so much Emotion, and SO MANY FEELS! I feel like it's given me a heart attack, my heart hurts, it's hard to breathe, and I'm nauseous. And it was worth every second. It was such an exciting ride, every moment of pain when Tess and Jem were mentioned, the happiness for Clary and Jace, I can't even cope right now.

[sapphiremoonlight23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! Mark x Cristina xxxxxx

[catherinehsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE THIS BOOK.Cassandra Clare does it again! Thank god she keeps expanding this universe, I can never get too much of it!I love the relationship between Emma and Julian, although they did get together earlier than I expected. But I'm excited to see what Cassie does with it in the sequels :)The plot was full of twists and turns, full of adventures that the characters embarked on.And the ending. Man, that plot twist there.AND THE CAMEOS BY TESSA AND JEM AND CLARY AND JACE I'M NOT OKAY BYE

[ariana723 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Honestly if I could give this book more stars I would, this was the amazing comeback I was waiting for from Cassandra Clare. After finishing the Mortal Instruments I really wasn't sure on how she planned on toping it but she blew my expectations out of the window. Emma and Julian are very similar to Jace and Clary but so different and that's why I love them even more. The thrill this book holds is unexplainable. Honestly can't wait for the next ones, I know it will be an amazing series.

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

[Saturday, May 12, 2012] I added this cover a few weeks ago, it's fan made. I can't wait to read this. I know it's in 2015! But I'm glad Cassandra is still writing in the Shadowhunters world.

[billiebook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was privileged to receive one of a limited number of advance copies of this first installment in a new chapter of the Shadowhunters saga. I won't say anything about it other than to say that Clare's fans will not be disappointed.

[ilonita50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

**Some spoiler alert**I don't like the cover BUT it does fit the story.The very first page totally reminded me of Shadows of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Safon, the atmosphere , the attachment to the book - instant. However, it took me first 100 pages to get into the story and to remember what it all was about and how does this story makes sense. The plot itself was great and interesting, betray, feelings, oh, what feelings swirled between them two, glimpses of solving a detective and getting help from wrong parties, being sent to wrong sides, and somewhere in the plot some things was left out. That one particular line which was told on top of the roof at the Ava'a house to the arrow "sniper" was never brought back in the light. Yes, he come up as Diego, and even when they were revealing the situation and he was about to explain his actions, the sentence Emma said on the roof was never mentioned. As well, the story plot about Kit - whole book not a single line involved about him and then the very end rushed ending and "boom, bam" its supposed to be all clear.It doesn't matter how much I enjoyed the book, the writing style, its gonna be annoying to wait another year for the next book and then two more to the final. I mean, I understand the waiting and the process of writing but seriously it also kills the enjoyment.

[thegenreminx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

How do you write a review on a book that is near perfection? It is quite the challenge. This book is written so very well, A+ to the characters, the plot, the sub plots. All is fantastically done! So with this book what it comes down to is the little things but first the synopsis: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?Synopsis via GoodreadsReview: This book has been sitting on my shelf for three months. I have looked at it and looked at it. To read or not to read was my question. Well as part of my TBR for June I put this book on there because it forced me to read it. I know many of you are like “forced?” whhaaaat? Yes, forced because Cassandra Clare is an amazing writer but the storylines have elements that tend to drive me a little bonkers. I will warn you that there may be some spoilers below BUT I will try to keep them as generic as possible.Ok, I know this is a YA book and I get that but one thing that left me going hmmm was that CC has the most amazing attention to detail but when two characters entered into a sex scene I honestly had no idea. The scene was written as “her hand cupped the bare skin above his waistband of his jeans,” (notice above implying jeans on) then it goes on about his need yada yada and then something is happening, not quite sure BUT there is no mention of any clothes coming off. Ummm, what? When did he take his clothes off? Is she at least partly naked? I had to go back and read and ask myself “Did someone just have sex?” Honesty I am reading the scene again and I am still wondering were they just kissing?? I know they had sex because they remarked on it later, so ½ star off for scenes like this. I get it YA and all, but if you are going to have lots of M/F action, M/M action and then discussion about the sex going on, well make the scenes a bit more detailed so that I do not miss what just happened.Why the other ½ star off? A bazillion love triangles. Everyone had one; I think they were giving them away, two for the price of one. There were even love triangles being created artificially. Not my cup of tea, just too many triangles going on. The final part of my feelings on this book is that I was not in love with anyone of the characters. Yep, let the hate mail start now. After reading this book I was thinking about it and the only emotions I felt was disgust and resentment for how the story ended…nooooooo, say it isn’t soooooooo. I did not love a certain character so much that I had, just had to, read the next book in the series; there is no real drive to find out what else happens. The cliffhanger provided me with a really pretty view and it is beautiful. Unfortunately, the trip to get there was just long and I kept tripping over love triangles and missing turns because they were not marked properly.My final thoughts: An amazingly written fantasy with many well developed characters. The story will grip you and it is fast paced, hold on to your seat! This is going to be fantastic series with many die-hard fans! I recommend for anyone looking for a good fantasy series that has angels, fae, demons, and the occasional vampire.