The Red Scrolls of Magic (1) (The Eldest Curses) Hardcover – April 9, 2019

Hope Alec is ready for some fun as Magnus does vacation his way. The vacation is cut short and it's back to a Shadowhunter life, hunting down evil and removing it. Only this time, the trouble started with Magnus joking around. The joke came to life and now they have to stop a cult before the cultists open a portal to a greater demon. What a vacation!

Book: The Red Scrolls of MagicAuthor: Cassandra Clare and Wesley ChuRating: 5 Out of 5 StarsI wasn’t sure how I would feel going into this one. I mean, I really didn’t like Queen of Air and Darkness and I thought I had outgrown the Shadowhunters. However, there was just something about reading Alec and Magnus’s story that made me preorder this one.Let me start out by saying that Alec and Magnus have been my favourite couple throughout this whole series. The only ones that come even close are Tessa and Jem. I was very disappointed that Alec and Magnus weren’t in City of Fallen Angels more; I wanted to see more of their relationship. These two are the first gay couple that I ever came across in young adult. To me, they are the ones who set up the standards for gay couples in young adult fantasy. Think about it. Without them, we may not have a lot of the diversity in young adult that we have now.I loved the humour. It made the most serious of situations amusing and, yes, it did fit. The things that Magnus said in the right moments, just made sense. I know a lot of people are annoyed with it and think that Magnus wasn’t taking the situations seriously, but look at Magnus’s character. Now, tell me that it didn’t fit. You really do need a little bit of humour to lightened up the darkest of books.The writing was okay. I did find myself wincing in a couple of places. I mean, you can tell that this book is co-authored and that’s fine. I do fully admire Cassie for giving up some control to someone else. It just shows how much trust she has in Wesley, who is a new author to me. I guess, what I’m getting out is that the writing felt drawn out in some places and too fast in others. I’m sure that as the series goes on, this will get better.What I really liked about this book was the depth we got on Alec and Magnus’s relationship. Now, keep in mind this book does take place during City of Fallen Angels. Things are still new for them and they are still in that getting to know you stage. I really enjoyed this. It seemed like their relationship didn’t get the chance it needed to develop; it was like Cassie was planning to write this book when she was writing The Mortal Instruments. Anyway, we just get to see why things are the way they are. Plus, we get to see just how much Alec and Magnus do rely on each other. Not only that, but Alec, not Jace, does finally get his chance to be in the spotlight and we get to see just what an amazing fighter he is.What I guess I’m getting at in this review is this is Alec and Magnus’s time to shine. This is all about them and they don’t need to share the spotlight with any other characters. I really do hope that the other books come out soon and still focus on these two-without Clary and Jace being around, who do steal the spotlight.

**Minor spoilers for The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices ahead.**Well kids, it’s finally happened. After a decade of wanting Alec and Magnus in the spotlight, our prayers have FINALLY BEEN ANSWERED. Malec has been my OTP from the moment I read City of Bones a decade ago (sorry Jace and Clary, I love you but…) and now they’re FINALLY getting their moment. This was the first LGBTQ+ relationship I ever read about as a teen and I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see it highlighted so spectacularly in this novel.I’m not gonna lie, it took me a hot minute to get into this book. It was SUPER weird to shift my mindset back in the shadowhunter timeline to the middle of The Mortal Instruments. Both Magnus and Alec were so unsure and hesitant with each other and it was just so odd! I’m so used to the current Malec being confident and strong in their relationship. I mean, they have two kids and just got married for god sakes. For the first several chapters, I had to remind myself of the events in City of Glass and remember they had literally JUST gotten together when this took place.HOWEVER. Once it gets going it was was easy to work out the kinks and get into the story. It was kind of like reading a little treasure hunt, picking out the things or people that eventually play a bigger part in this universe down the road. I absolutely LOVED all of the cameos and I think Raphael was my favorite. He is literally me at any and all social gatherings. Seriously, that boy is a #MOOD. And we get to see how Aline and Helen meet!!! Aline became one of my favorite lady shadowhunters during Queen of Air and Darkness and it was great seeing their relationship up close and personal.And Malec guys. Oh my god. MALEC. I can’t tell you how completely and utterly delightful it was to read about them. Soooooooooo many adorable moments.The arcs their characters AND relationship go through is awesome and I loved watching the transformation as they learned to trust one another. It’s also really interesting because this book adds a layer of complexity to their relationship that wasn’t there in the last three books of The Mortal Instruments. It all happened so quick during those novels and as devastated as I was over their break up in City of Lost Souls, they had only been dating a few months. It didn’t seem like THAT big a deal in the grand scheme of things. But after reading this, it’s obvious that they were a lot closer and more in love than I realized. Alec seemed so confident and sure of their relationship by the end of this book that it’s difficult to match it with who he becomes later on. I’m super curious to see how the next two books play out in this series.↬ FINAL WORDThis book is FREAKING ADORABLE AND YOU’LL LOVE IT!! Malec is the best and I didn’t think it was possible to love them any more, but HERE WE ARE. WOW.

It’s a present for my sister but looks like a good book

Started reading the Mortal Instruements series back in 2011 and I longed for a love story like this. After just recently discovering the eldest curses duology, I HAD to swan dive into it!*The story and how it was laid out was outstanding!*However, I felt like it lacked the typical depth that Cassandra Clare gives us which was kind of a let down. There was a lack of refinement and the cadence was a bit choppy. I think had the book been 150 pages more to add more depth and meat to the scenes I'd probably be able to give this a 5 star rating!Over all, I highly recommend this book. Good romance. Good action. Good humor. Good fun!!!

“I know warlocks and Shadowhunters are very different, and there is a divide between your worlds that can be hard to cross. But as someone once said to me, the right man will not care. You can build a bridge over the divide and find each other.”Once again, I’ve really struggled with another of Cassandra Clare’s co-authored books. The plot dragged and didn’t really go anywhere, the narrative often felt childish and flat and ultimately the book just didn’t add anything to the wider series.The Red Scrolls of Magic is the first book in a new spin off series featuring Magnus and Alec. I thought this would be great - I love both characters - and this would be their first adventure on a holiday together. Magnus’s humour and adoration for Alec, combined with Alec’s nervous first step into a relationship, should have made for a really fun read, but even the usual humour was lacking.The holiday goes from bad to worse as Magnus and Alec notice the downworlder footprint is much larger in Paris and Venice than it really should be. Something is clearly going on. They quickly learn, after their third inconvenient demon attack, that The Crimson Hand, a fake cult set up by Magnus years ago as a joke, is now a serious cult amassing human sacrifices for a Greater Demon, all in the name of their leader. People are dead because of Magnus’s joke and the pair are determined to stop the murders and clear Magnus’s name.The concept to me felt boring, one dimensional and often childish, although admittedly something stupid Magnus might do! I liked that the plot featured a couple of cameos significant to Magnus’s life, such as Raphael, Ragnor and Catarina (or Juliette, the werewolf girl featured in the Ghosts of the Shadow Market Anthology) but none of these actually FELT significant, rather they were just names dropped for effect. I did however appreciate the various nods to Tessa who helps Magnus bridge the shadowhunter-warlock divide, and to Helen and Aline’s initial meeting; it’s genuinely interesting to see more of how their romance developed.The writing is really disappointing in this book. The dialogue is dry and not compelling at all, in stark contrast to her usual work. It feels entirely underdeveloped and rushed. The plot drags along at a mediocre pace, with various sub-plots I just didn’t care about because it was so one dimensional, and the characters have even lost some of what makes them interesting. Maybe Alec and Magnus are just better when they’re amongst their friends, or maybe it’s a co-authoring problem, but this book really did absolutely nothing for me or for the series as far as I can tell.

I have always loved Cassandra Clare and her incredible Shadowhunter world. As someone who knows the world well in particularly the main characters in this book (and the side characters too) I have to say I LOVED IT!To hear Alex and Magnus’ story - a story that, after reading the acknowledgements, was a long and tough road to publication due to discrimination - means so much to all members of the LGBT+ community... representation really does matter!I was apprehensive as I don’t identify in particular with either character - I am neither male, nor attracted to males - but I am a true romantic at heart and this story really did grip my heart. I only hope that the cheeky snippets we’ve been introduced to with some of the side characters have the opportunity to grow in books of their own (ie. H and A). I have a feeling they will be even more enjoyable to me!

I’m a massive fan of the Shadowhunters books and the film and the TV show. Oh, look! I’m drooling. Magnus is my favourite character so of course I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this. The book lived up to every expectation. I also love Paris and love Alex and Magnus’s relationship. I liked the fact this book is set apart from the other Shadowhunters series and focusses on only a couple of characters. There’s everything you expect from a Shadowhunters book here including an evil cult (that Magnus sort of created), demons, exploding house and satanic rituals. Magnus is his usual glorious self. He’s such a whiny, vain little bitch but I can’t help love him. He spends much of the book in a sulk which is hilarious. I loved the scene where he’s freaking out about possibly dying when he’s surrounded by badly dressed people. Oh, Magnus! I haven’t read The Dark Artifices series yet so much get on it ASAP.

Many would say that this book is aimed at a young teen audience, but I genuinely believe any adult will enjoy this. If you are a fan of Malec, THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU THIRST FOR MORE! I could not get enough of it. The way the passion between the two was written, was just stunning.The story overall was amazing, thrilling and kept me at the edge of my seat numerous times. Totally hoping that there will be a second book! I need more Malec like this!If you are having second thoughts about buying this, don't. Just buy it! it will not disapoint!

We finally have a MALEC story of our very own. I know this pairing shot to fame due in part to the TV series. This story is but the first chapter in a 3 part saga and my only complaint is that it's not long enough.There's an awful lot packed into this book thou and Alec and Magnus are just as funny, witty, silly and fun as they have been, thats not to say it doesn't have it's share of darker moments and this story delves allot deeper into Magnus past and deal's with his fears and worries about exactly how much Alec will come to know about him and his past. That's not to say Alex doesn't share the spot light. We get a look into Alec and his own insecurities when it comes to his relationship with The High Warlock of Brooklyn and his fear's about where they will ultimately end up.I've tried to keep this review as spoiler free as possible. I must admit to reading this book all in one go on the day I received it and re-reading it. I can't wait for the next book to come out.