Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) – Cassandra Clare

Check out my reviews for Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows!

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 
Pages: 912
Release Date: December 4, 2018

Dark secrets and forbidden love threaten the very survival of the Shadowhunters in Cassandra Clare’s Queen of Air and Darkness, the final novel in the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling The Dark Artifices trilogy.

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.

The Dark Artifices is easily Clare’s best work. It’s full of incredible action, compelling characters, diverse representation, and world changing events.

Queen of Air and Darkness is Clare’s most relevant work in terms of its politics. It’s so surprise to hear that since the Clave has always been behind with their views about medicine, mental health, racism, etc. However, in Queen of Air and Darkness Clare takes it a step further. It so closely mirrors current events that it’s difficult to read at times. Without going into spoiler territory, I’m excited to see what comes next because the Shadowhunter world moving forward will be very different and sets up a lot of interesting future stories.

As a side note, after finishing Queen of Air and Darkness I’m a little disappointed that Chain of Gold is coming out next since I want what happens after the almost cliffhanger ending. Will I still read it? HELL YES! That cover is gorgeous!

Julian and Emma are the best aspect of this novel. Their intense connection and forbidden love sizzles off the pages. I didn’t think they could surpass Clary and Jace, but they did near the end of Lady Midnight. Emma is headstrong and determined while Julian is nurturing and merciless in his love and ability to protect his family. They balance and bolster each other.

Overall, Queen of Air and Darkness is over 800 pages long and it’s still not enough time with these characters. Clare has changed the fabric of this expansive world she’s created and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Have you read Queen of Air and Darkness? What did you think?