TL;DR: A low stakes book with a more diverse cast set in Edwardian London. I would definitely give this book a read, even though not much is at stake and the plot is quite dull this first book. Read it for the love mess instead.
I have to admit, Cassandra Clare writes books set in older setting much better than her newer settings. Her style of writing comes off as elegant in older setting novels. I went in not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. Props to Clare for having a much more diverse cast, with a middle eastern brown lead, and with gay and queer characters as well with a mix of strong male and female leads. The excerpt quotes also had more females included and the whole Persian tale interwoven with the story was beautiful. As for the plot, there wasn’t much to lose this first book, and I didn’t feel any pressure or anticipation of high stakes thrill this book either. As for the fantasy plot with the demons, it hasn’t hooked me in enough for me to keep reading. The last almost 100 pages were just a dragging epilogue to the mostly resolves plot line. Clare just keeps coming up with more creative ways to break my heart and break the main pairing’s heart as well. The direction the main pairing take in the end is very exciting, and it outshines the plot. I would continue the series solely to see what happens to them next.
I have to admit, Cassandra Clare writes books set in older setting much better than her newer settings. Her style of writing comes off as elegant in older setting novels. I went in not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. Props to Clare for having a much more diverse cast, with a middle eastern brown lead, and with gay and queer characters as well with a mix of strong male and female leads. The excerpt quotes also had more females included and the whole Persian tale interwoven with the story was beautiful. As for the plot, there wasn’t much to lose this first book, and I didn’t feel any pressure or anticipation of high stakes thrill this book either. As for the fantasy plot with the demons, it hasn’t hooked me in enough for me to keep reading. The last almost 100 pages were just a dragging epilogue to the mostly resolves plot line. Clare just keeps coming up with more creative ways to break my heart and break the main pairing’s heart as well. The direction the main pairing take in the end is very exciting, and it outshines the plot. I would continue the series solely to see what happens to them next.