Review: The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses #1) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

The Red Scrolls of Magic
(The Eldest Curses #1)
by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

April 9, 2019

368 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new trilogy featuring the centuries-old High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood after they survive the Mortal War.

Magnus Bane, a centuries old High Warlock, has taken possession of one of the great relics of the supernatural world, a powerful spell book of dark magic known as The Book of the White and there are many who want to claim it for themselves.

After the Mortal War where the part-human and part-angel Shadowhunters teamed with the part human-demon Downworlders to fight against the incursion of an army of demons, Magnus and his new lover, the mortal Alec Lightwood celebrate their survival and victory by escaping the supernatural battlefield of New York City by touring the world, but the world won’t leave them alone.

The first adult novel set within #1 New York Times bestselling author Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter series, The Lost Book of the White, written with award-winning science fiction author Wesley Chu, is a fantasy thriller that will give new readers a great way to enter the Shadowhunters world and give the millions of readers across the globe answers they’ve been looking for in this start of The Eldest Curses trilogy.
 

Review

Everyone who knows me knows Cassandra Clare is an autobuy/must-read author for me. Her Shadowhunter Chronicles gives me life and I was so excited to learn she'd be giving us Malec stories!!

As much as it guts me to say this I didn't love Magnus and Alec's story as much as I hoped to. Mainly because of how slow the story was in the beginning. For the first half of The Red Scrolls of Magic my interest just wasn't peaked. But as a hardcore Malec shipper I soldiered on. I am happy to report the latter half of the book is wonderfully fast and action-filled.

In The Red Scrolls of Magic Magnus is his usual self. However, alongside his flamboyant demeanor and always sarcastic retorts we got to see his vulnerable side. Our beloved warlock goes through the emotional ups and downs like any other mortal. I loved seeing inside Magnus's head. He was no more confident than Alec was in their budding romance but they were together in figuring it out. Alec's unwavering trust and loyalty to Magnus was especially touching. I love what they mean to each other and am so excited to see them grow as a couple!

Though I had to keep reminding myself of the timeline The Red Scrolls of Magic was set in, I absolutely loved seeing appearances of characters from the newer books. The little details that were never shown before were heartwarming and super fun. They're not to be missed by Shadowhunter fans!

That epilogue is killer! Anyone who's invested in the Shadowhunters Chronicles will have gasped at the revelation. I know I did. Though I believe if you've read Queen of Air and Darkness then this wouldn't have been a surprise. Since I have not yet read the third book in The Dark Artifices I cannot confirm it but still, props to Cassie Clare for dropping this bomb. I look forward to seeing how she'll expand and explain Ragnor Fell in the next The Eldest Curses books!

Despite not 100% loving The Red Scrolls of Magic I do think the series is off to a great start. Malec's first solo adventure was full of doubts and nerves but no less intriguing and important. For diverse readers, this will be a book to read.

 

*I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. All quotes were taken from the ARC I received.