The Red Scrolls of Magic

The Eldest Curses

By: Cassandra Clare, Wesley Chu

Narrated by: BD Wong

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

A number one New York Times best seller! 

“A rip-roaring adventure merged with satisfying romance.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“[A] swashbuckling launch to the Eldest Curses series.” (Publishers Weekly)

From number one New York Times and USA Today best seller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first audiobook in a new series full of “swoon-worthy romance [and] abundant action” (Publishers Weekly). The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.

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 before the cult can cause any more damage. 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. 

©2019 Cassandra Clare (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

OMG! I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!

So, to be honest, I was not sure about the audible version at first. I am rather picky about how the books are read, however, I am pleased to tell you that I enjoyed every last second. BD Wong brought Malec to life as he read and it was perfect. My only wish... was for the story to be longer! XD I could listen to this all and everyday.

The romance of shadows and light!

Through all our adventures with the shadow hunters and downworlders in Cassandra Clare’s fantasy world, the love affairs of Magnus and Alec and Helen Blackthorn and Aleen Penhallow have always intrigued me most. In this first installment of “The Eldest Curses” we explore the development of the prior and see the very beginning of the latter, all while another epic adventure unfolds and drags us deep into the underworld... and the Magnificent Bane’s carefully guarded past. Lovers of the shadowhunters’ previously told tall tales and new readers alike will find themselves caught up and whisked away. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

I enjoyed the book, but was confused...

I enjoyed this book very much, but the timeline confused me. I thought Simon was no longer a vampire after the war and that Helen had already been exiled. Even with my confusion, it was still a very sweet story peppered with suspense and action.

Add a Fabio cover

This book should change its title to "Alec tries to get laid" because that's what it's about. If you take out the make out scenes, I think you might be left with about a chapter of story. And the relationship parts didn't really give much character development so I didn't see the point.

This book desperately needs a new narrator.

It's a great story. However it desperately needs a new narrator. You can never be sure if it Alex or Magus speaking they sound the same. they both sou d very bland. Some of the other characters are sound nonsense. I had to stop and backtrack several times to try and understand what he was saying.

Horrible Narrator

This narrator pretty much ruined the book. He mumbles and has a lisp. Bad and unnecessary accents. Also the book was not what it was hyped up to be with all its anticipation. Pretty disappointed.

PERFECTION!!!

Beautiful, exquisite, hilarious, suspenseful, romantic, exciting, and so much more! Finally our moment with Magnus and Alec at center stage for their own novel has come and it is just PERFECTION. Loved every moment of it and will listen over and over again. DEFINITIELY my favorite novel of the Shadowhunter series so far and there will be more! Can’t wait! Malec forever!!

amazing job

I love the book it was completely and totally amazing. I cannot wait for the sequel

The good and the bad of it

I have been looking forward to a tale of Magnus and Alec for years. So, perhaps, it's possible I expected too much.

Don't get me wrong. Magnus was still Magnus - over the top and filled with a unique form of behavior. Alec was Alec. And the storyline was intriguing and kept me interested.

HOWEVER, the narrator, while easy to listen to, had very little in the way of voices. Most of the time I couldn't tell the difference between Magnus speaking or Alec speaking. That was annoying. Yes, he had a couple voices - most notably the enemy - whose voices were distinct, but the main characters? Nope.

The thing that truly disappointed me about the story? Being hit over the head with the love button. So many times it felt like being slammed with sickly sweet syrupy reminder that love conquers all. That got so old I started skipping forward. And don't get me wrong, I love a good adventure romance. But for the authors to have to make it so sickly sweet and keep hitting me over the head with it? Blech.

There were also a couple things in the story that didn't sound right from the original Mortal Instruments. And, I assume it was the sickly syrup, but it's almost like they've tamed Magnus in this book. He isn't the Magnus I met in City of Bones - I liked that Magnus... loved that Magnus. It's like Alec tamed him, which is kind of sad. Magnus Bane should never be tamed.

Disappointed... but still half in love with the High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane.

Not a fan of the reading

The accent given to one of the Korean born characters is both heavy handed and sounds Chinese. It’s not only distracting but borderline offensive.