the red scrolls of magic – cassandra clare & wesley chu | review + discussion

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu

---

Series: The Eldest Curses #1
Published April 9th 2019 by Simon & Schuster Children’s UK
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBT, Romance

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Synopsis:

All Magnus Bane wanted was a vacation—a lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. But as soon as the pair settles in Paris, an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell friend from foe. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec will have to trust each other more than ever—even if it means revealing the secrets they’ve both been keeping.

Goodreads

Book Depository

༄༄༄

this review contains spoiler about events that happened in previous books. do read all of the books in the shadowhunter chronicles including the ghost of shadow market.

While Magnus is trying hard to make this trip romantic and perfect for Alec, Alec doesn’t even care about how extravagant or beautiful each place is. He just wants to be with Magnus. I love them so much. To Magnus, this relationship holds extra weight for him because he’s dating a shadowhunter for the first time, and it’s one of the relationships that he really wants to work. It’s heartwarming to see the both of them being incredibly in love. Alec is quite insecure about himself but is still determined to make things work.

Because of how dense the entire Shadowhunter Chronicles is, it can be difficult to focus on the relationships of side characters such as Isabelle and Simon’s or Magnus and Alec’s. Having this series, exclusively focusing on Magnus and Alec, gives long-time readers a deeper look into their journey together.

Through the book, I think we could really see how vulnerable and insecure he is. He haboured a lot of self-sdoubt and involuntary ideas that led to him feeling as if Alec wouldn’t love him as much because of his family background. Despite living for centuries and roaming around the world, experiencing all the worldly things, Magnus still have his moments of vulnerability which showed how much he cherishes this romance and connection with Alec.

Since The Red Scrolls of Magic was published only before Chain of Gold, which is the latest book in the Shadowhunter Chronicles, I didn’t know when this book was set. I assumed it was after The Dark Artifices series or after The Mortal Instruments war.

It seems like it’s set right after the battle at Idris with Sebastian which is between City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels when they went on a vacation, but had to be back at the institute because Camille requested to only speak to Magnus. There was a throwback moment to a novella in The Ghosts of Shadow Market as well. Cassandra Clare brought the stories into full circle when she linked all the different events together despite the scenes happening various books.

It had reminded Magnus of time long ago, the memory of Nephilim he had cared for once, and how very much they had cared for each other. Knowing the way Will and Jem loved each other had changed his feelings for Nephilim, and seeing Jace–calm, superior Jace–in pieces over Alec had made him like the boy much more.

malcolm fade | the dark artifices

• alec and magnus met malcolm fade at a party. AND MAGNUS TALKED ABOUT MALCOLM FADE’S LOST LOVE WHO IS ANNABELLE BLACKTHORN. WHHHHHHHAT. cassandra clare giving me all the feels as she links series to series using moments and details like this.

when your friends approve of your boyfriend

• after alec saved catarina from being crushed by rubble from a collapsing floor, she told magnus “finally, a keeper”. i know magnus probably doesn’t need this confirmation but it’s nice to know that one of his lifelong friends approves of his choice of boyfriend especially since he had so many doubts floating about in his mind these days.

“This is historic occasion,” Lily said. “The first time in fifty years Raphael has given someone his phone number at a party.”

• i’ve always liked raphael despite his cold demeanour. he has a softer version of himself hidden beneath this exterior. he clearly wanted to help magnus find out more about the crimson hand after knowing that magnus is in trouble. also he’s fiercely protective of the people he cares about but tries not to show it.

sassy alec vs grouchy raphael

raphael: hang on a minute.
*loooooooooong pause*
alec: raphael? some of us are not immortal. so we can’t stay not he phone forever.
*raphael growled in frustration*

Magnus said reluctantly, “But we do lose love, in the end. We both know that.”
“No,” said Tessa. “Love changes you. Love changes the world. You cannot lose that love, no matter how long you live, I think. Trust love. Trust him.”

I’m a Book Depository Affiliate! I get a tiny commission that supports my blogging journey. If you do plan to buy the book, just click on the Book Depository button up top.

Advertisement