The cure of saints refers to the process of canonization in the Catholic Church. Canonization is the official declaration made by the Pope that a person is a saint and worthy of veneration. The process of canonization involves several steps and usually takes several years, if not decades, to complete. The first step in the canonization process is the investigation of the person's life and virtues. This is usually initiated by the local diocese where the candidate for sainthood lived or died. A thorough examination of their life, writings, and any miracles attributed to them is conducted.
I think The Red Scrolls of Magic had the perfect balance between light-heartedness and seriousness. Cassie’s The Dark Artifices was a pretty dark trilogy, and while this book has its serious moments, which were definitly important, it’s much more cheerful and plain cute. I laughed a lot while reading.
I m so glad that Cassie was finally able to write about this particular couple and I m crossing my fingers that her LGBTQ readers in particular will love this book. 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.
A thorough examination of their life, writings, and any miracles attributed to them is conducted. This investigation aims to determine if the person lived a life of heroic virtue and if they have performed any miracles. If the investigation confirms the person's heroic virtue and any miracles attributed to them, their cause for canonization is presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
Book Review: ‘The Red Scrolls of Magic’
For many years Malec shippers – and Casandra Clare herself actually – have been waiting and wished for a book that focuses on Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as the main couple and today is finally the day where fans can dive into exactly that book!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this much-anticipated book so here are my spoiler-free thoughts! A note of caution: there will be spoilers for every single other Shadowhunter Chronicles book that Magnus and Alec have appeared in, even Queen of Air and Darkness.
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 and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, 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. (x)
The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu is a delightful rom-com that I enjoyed immensely!
A lot has happened to Magnus and Alec over the years and their relationship is stronger than ever with two adorable children and a recent marriage.
The Red Scrolls of Magic takes us back to the beginning of Malec, though. They have just had their big moment in front of Shadowhunters and Downworlders alike, they won a war, but also suffered losses so it’s now time for them to relax. It’s time for Magnus and Alec’s first holiday as a couple!
Unfortunately, they aren’t really able to have some R and R because Magnus might have founded a demon-worshipping cult, which we all have to admit is probably worse than being banned from Peru.
So Magnus and Alec embark on trip through several cities in Europe to figure out who really is responsible for the Crimson Hand.
Of course this trip isn’t without its sudden demon attacks and a bad guy – the action in The Red Scrolls of Magic was fast-paced and enjoyable to read. Alec and Jace are a great team, but Alec and Magnus fighting together was just as impressive.
We already had some insight into Magnus’s past in The Mortal Instruments and The Bane Chronicles, but this first installment of The Eldest Curses shines a new light on Magnus and I’m sure it’ll make his fans fall ever harder for him. Magnus is just so damn lovable and an overall amazing character.
Seeing Alec as the other main character in The Red Scrolls of Magic was a real treat. He was thoughtful, badass and a true protector, just like we’ve come to know him from the first three The Mortal Instruments novels.
I’m so glad that Cassie was finally able to write about this particular couple and I’m crossing my fingers that her LGBTQ+ readers in particular will love this book.
Several characters we already know and love from The Mortal Instruments show up in Red Scrolls: Raphael, Lily and more. I was particularly happy to see Raphael again. He is as grumpy as ever but one conversation with Alec reiterates that he is asexual and aromantic. The words aren’t mentioned on the page – most likely because Raphael doesn’t know they exist back in 2007 – but it’s still an important scene for one Mr Raphael Santiago (and probably some of Cassie’s readers). I certainly hope we’ll get to see more of him in the next two The Eldest Curses novels.
Lily is as outgoing as ever and I’m happy we get to see how Helen and Aline meet for the first time. It’s definitely not a meet cute, but it’s still memorable and made me laugh.
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows in scenes with Helen, Aline and also Alec, though. Some scenes show how each character has to deal with insecurities and also different forms of prejudice, but luckily readers from The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices know that everything will get better – thank Raziel for that. 😊
I also really liked all the nods to Clary, Jace, Izzy and Simon. It was nice to see glimpses of them and they definitely didn’t distract from the main story.
One revelation about Jace actually made me go ‘aw’ and there is one scene that mirrors a scene from the end of City of Fallen Angels which was so perfect ♥
Alec and Izzy’s brother-sister relationship was very sweet in Red Scrolls, there is so much trust between them and I’m crossing my fingers for more sibling love in The Lost Book of the White.
I think The Red Scrolls of Magic had the perfect balance between light-heartedness and seriousness. Cassie’s The Dark Artifices was a pretty dark trilogy, and while this book has its serious moments, which were definitly important, it’s much more cheerful and plain cute. I laughed a lot while reading.
There is one thing I am unsure about but which I still have to mention in my review: the ending of the book is a very positive/happy one for Magnus and Alec, but I feel like this doesn’t 100% fit the Magnus and Alec we saw in City of Fallen Angels. Yes, both characters have doubts and are insecure about their relationship in The Red Scrolls of Magic but to me everything feels more serious in CoFA.
I also would have liked the book to be longer. 😉
I would love to share some truly incredible quotes from the book, but ARCs unfortunately cannot be used for quotation so you will just have to trust my word (or maybe I’ll tweet some quotes from the actual book in about a month). Some quotes will definitely make you squeal, swoon or both!
Although we know what is going to happen to Malec in the future I was still at the edge of my seat during one certain scene near the end of the book and actually feared for a character’s safety. This was truly great writing!
I’ve been reading The Shadowhunter Chronicles for almost a decade now, I’ve read and reread Cassie’s books many times so I know them very well, and when I read The Red Scrolls of Magic, I couldn’t really tell whether I was reading Cassie’s voice or Wesley’s. The writing felt very organic and seamlessly, which I really liked.
The Red Scrolls of Magic was an amazing YA romance and a great start to this new series; it was cute, Magnus and Alec were adorable together, and it just gave me warm fuzzies!
I can’t wait for The Lost Book of the White to be published, I know this book will be even more cute with Magnus and Alec as parents. 😊 Four out of five stars.
Have you read the book yet and what did you think?
Don’t forget to check out our release day post – we’re giving away one signed US copy of The Red Scrolls of Magic!
I also really liked all the nods to Clary, Jace, Izzy and Simon. It was nice to see glimpses of them and they definitely didn’t distract from the main story.
One revelation about Jace actually made me go ‘aw’ and there is one scene that mirrors a scene from the end of City of Fallen Angels which was so perfect ♥
Alec and Izzy’s brother-sister relationship was very sweet in Red Scrolls, there is so much trust between them and I’m crossing my fingers for more sibling love in The Lost Book of the White.
This congregation consists of theologians, bishops, and other experts who review the evidence gathered during the investigation. They then present their findings to the Pope who makes the final decision on whether the person should be declared a saint. Once the Pope approves the cause for canonization, the person is declared "venerable." This means that they are recognized for living a life of heroic virtue. However, they are not yet considered a saint and cannot be publicly venerated. The next step is beatification. This is when the person is declared "blessed" and is allowed to be publicly venerated in certain locations, such as their local diocese or religious community. Beatification usually requires the verification of a miracle attributed to the intercession of the person being considered for sainthood. A thorough investigation is conducted to ensure that the alleged miracle occurred and that it cannot be explained by natural causes. If the miracle is confirmed, the person is beatified in a special ceremony presided over by the Pope or his representative. After beatification, the person is granted a feast day and is allowed to be publicly venerated in a more widespread manner. The final step in the canonization process is canonization itself. This occurs when a second miracle, obtained through the intercession of the person, is verified. Once the miracle is confirmed, the person is declared a saint and can be universally venerated by the Catholic Church. A canonization ceremony is held, and the person is given a feast day that is recognized by the entire Church. The process of canonization is a rigorous and lengthy one. It requires extensive investigation, the verification of miracles, and the approval of the Pope. The purpose of this process is to ensure that the person being considered for sainthood truly lived a life of heroic virtue and is worthy of veneration by the faithful. Saints serve as models of holiness and inspire believers to live virtuous lives..
Reviews for "The Psychology of Saints: Understanding the Minds of Holy Figures"
1. John - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "The Cure of Qaints". The story was incredibly slow-paced and lacked any sort of excitement or tension. The characters were also very one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with any of them. The writing style felt dull and uninspiring, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. Overall, I found the book to be quite disappointing and not worth the hype.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "The Cure of Qaints" was a major letdown for me. The plot was confusing and disjointed, with unnecessary subplots that added nothing to the overall story. I found it difficult to follow the different narrative threads and eventually lost interest altogether. The characters were also poorly developed, with no depth or nuance. I was expecting so much more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell far below my expectations.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I found "The Cure of Qaints" to be pretentious and overrated. The prose was overly flowery and full of unnecessary metaphors, making it difficult to understand what was actually happening. The story itself was convoluted and never fully explained, leaving me feeling confused and frustrated. The characters were also unlikable and lacked any sort of personality. Overall, I struggled to connect with this book and would not recommend it.
4. Emily - 2.5 stars - While I appreciated the unique concept of "The Cure of Qaints", I felt that the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of nothing happening. The author seemed more focused on descriptive passages than advancing the story or developing the characters. I also found some of the dialogue to be cliched and unrealistic. Overall, I thought this book had potential, but it just didn't deliver for me.
5. Mark - 1 star - "The Cure of Qaints" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was confusing and lacked any sort of coherent structure. The characters were shallow and uninteresting, with no growth or development throughout the book. The writing itself felt amateurish, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. I regret reading this book and would not recommend it to anyone.