TAG TIME: TMI vs TID vs TDA

Happy Sunday, everyone! Today’s post was supposed to be something completely different to celebrate my birthday but my brain just wouldn’t come up with 29 different things I loved so I figured I’d just focused on one thing I really love which happens to be the Shadowhunter Chronicles. 

Emma over at emmmabooks on YouTube recently did the TMI vs. TID vs. TDA tag on her channel and since I love the universe and (most of the) books so much, I figured I’d do this tag to celebrate my birthday. Plus, I’m super impatiently awaiting the release of Queen Of Air And Darkness and this was a great way to deal with it. 😀

QUESTION 1: Who Is The Better Main Character? Clary, Tessa or Emma?

I feel like if you’ve been following me for a while you probably know that I’m not Clary’s (book!Clary – we’re not including the TV show here) biggest fans because she’s quite immature in the books and embodies everything I don’t want to see in female characters I read about. 

Emma, on the other hand, is a much more likable character overall and one hell of a woman, honestly. To see her in this trilogy knowing where she came from and how much she’s already been through and is still going through – my god!

QUESTION 2: Who Is The Best Herondale: Jace, Will Or *SPOILER*?

Here’s the thing with these Herondales that Cassie writes: not only do they all resemble each other (which makes sense, right? Biology and all that) but they are also quite similar in their character traits? I noticed this even more during my rereads this year. Like, we’ll meet Will’s son and yeah, he’ll probably have similar traits to his father/parents (I have them too) but even GENERATIONS down the line, they’re still the same? 

And because of that, neither of them get a point. But also, the third Herondale that I will not name for spoiler reasons still has more time to develop and become more of his own person in future books, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him!

QUESTION 3: Which Is The Best Love Triangle: Simon, Clary & Jace, 
Jem, Tessa & Will or Julian, Emma & Mark?

We all know the answer to this right? Literally, whenever I’m asked about my feelings on love triangles I always say how much I despise them and that there is exactly one exception: Jem, Tessa and Will. 

Usually, if there is some sort of triangle, I have a clear favorite dynamic. With these three? Not really. I do really enjoy either of the dynamics (romantic and platonic) and I understand them. I feel with these characters and want them all to be happy in some way. 

QUESTION 4: Who Is The Best Villain: Sebastian, Axel Mortmain or Annabel Blackthorn?

This is going to be another question where I don’t really have an answer for you guys. xD 

I haven’t gotten to the point in my TMI reread where Sebastian is the actual villain yet and Axel wasn’t really much of one in my opinion? And since I don’t want to give this to Annabel by default, I’ll just refuse to answer. Good thing this is my post. xD

QUESTION 5: What Is The Better Thread: Dark Army, Clockwork Army or the Parabatai Curse?

We’re introduced to the Parabatai Curse and some of the things it does in Lord Of Shadows and we’re going to get a lot more of it in the final book, I assume. And the other thing that works in favor of TDA for me here is that we know Queen Of Air And Darkness will change the Shadowhunter world – for everyone. 

So, even though we don’t know everything about this thread yet the fact that includes so, so many people makes it the biggest thread in my opinion. It doesn’t just effect Emma and Julian, it also effects Jace & Alec and any other Parabatai pairing out there right now.

QUESTION 6: Better First Book: City Of Bones, Clockwork Angel or Lady Midnight?

Hands down, without any doubt: Lady Midnight!

I’ve said this before, but: Cassie’s writing really did get better with each book in this universe. Her characters got better and better (minus the Herondales, maybe), the storylines kept getting better and so did the books as a result. There’s not much world building to do in Lady Midnight as we follow someone who grew up as a Shadowhunter and has lived through the effects of City Of Heavenly Fire. 

QUESTION 7: Favorite Female Supporting Lead: Isabelle Lightwood, Cecile Herondale or Cristina Rosales?

To be honest, I’m kind of sad that I’m not including the TV characters here because in that case, Izzy would definitely win this one. I adore Clary and Izzy’s relationship in the show but not so much in the books. Plus, as far as I remember, Izzy doesn’t get as much of a storyline (I might be wrong, I haven’t read the TMI books in quite a while). 

And because Cecile doesn’t get as much time on the page in TID, I’m giving this to Cristina. I adore her. She’s an awesome friend to Emma, she has her own storyline going on from pretty much the beginning and I can’t wait to see where she goes in the final book!

QUESTION 8: Better Setting: New York, London or Los Angeles?

Now, this question is just rude. I’ve always, always wanted to visit both London and New York, so my choice is definitely influenced by that.

As someone who used to love Gossip Girl (we do not talk about the finale – that was just stupid) and has seen all the episodes New York is definitely quite high on my list of places I’d love to visit. And then with bookstagram and stuff, I’ve also come to really love the idea of London so having two diferent series set in those cities is awesome and I have to give both TMI and TID a point here!

QUESTION 9: Better Last Book: City Of Heavenly Fire, Clockwork Princess or Queen Of Air And Darkness?

Obviously I can’t really judge QOAAD for this question as we haven’t even read the book yet so this will be decided between TMI and TID and between the two I’ll have to go with TID (again, in part because I actually remember what happens there unlike TMI’s finale which I only read when the book came out…). I remember all the god damn tears I shed reading this book which has me quite worried for QOAAD, not gonna lie. 

QUESTION 10: Best Final Epilogue: City Of Heavenly Fire, Clockwork Princess or Queen Of Air And Darkness?

This is the easiest answer of them all: Clockwork Princess. Hands down. Without a doubt. 

I don’t often cry reading an epilogue. I actually can’t remember a single instance where I did. But this one? Good lord. You think you’ve been through most of it while reading the book right? And then you turn the page and the epilogue comes and it’s just all these feels? And tears. So, so many tears.

That’s also why I’m quite nervous about QOAAD, to be honest. Like, Cassie has had so much practice writing these final books and epilogues now – who knows what she’ll throw our way. But also, we know the POV of the epilogue and that just can’t mean anything good for any of us. 

Okay, wow. I did not expect this tag to work out the way it did? I knew TMI wasn’t my favorite amonst the three series but the fact that it only ended up getting one point? Yeah, didn’t see that coming. xD It basically ended up being a tie between TID and TDA which makes sense, I think.

I adore The Infernal Devices. Whenever I’m asked for favorite books that one makes the list every time and The Dark Artifices is just so, so much better than TMI in so many ways that I’m not surprised it’s taken such a high position overall! I can’t wait to see where the finale takes us and if it’ll change the odds here – it sure has the potential to do it!

What would you guys’ answers be? Let me know in the comments down below! I’m super curious to see where we differ!