Books › The Red Scrolls of Magic
The Red Scrolls of Magic
400 pages
A glittering, demon-hunting European vacation where the greatest challenge isn't saving the world, but learning to trust your new boyfriend.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like stepping into a chaotic, glittering European vacation where magic and romance collide at breakneck speed. The atmosphere is a delightful blend of high-stakes urban fantasy and the tender, awkward navigation of a new relationship. It moves at a brisk, entertaining clip, propelled by snappy dialogue, wry humor, and the sheer glamorous spectacle of its magical underworld. Beneath the campy cults and demon battles, however, lies a deeply affectionate core. The narrative lingers on the quiet anxieties of vulnerability, asking what it means to share your darkest secrets with someone you love. It is a perfect escape for readers who want their action-packed magical adventures served with a heavy dose of queer joy, witty banter, and heartfelt emotional growth.
- Mood
- glamorous
- chaotic
- romantic
- adventurous
- Tone
- wry
- affectionate
- dramatic
- humorous
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- navigating first love · trust and vulnerability · the burden of past secrets · queer joy and survival
- The writing
- Snappy and dialogue-heavy, the prose balances dry, glittering wit with moments of earnest emotional vulnerability.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from the tentative, anxious excitement of a new romance to a hard-won, deeply rooted mutual trust.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour queer urban fantasy filled with witty banter, glamorous European backdrops, and couples fighting demons while trying to go on a date.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- demonic imagery
- cult themes
- mild peril
About the 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. It doesn't seem like too much for the centuries-old High Warlock to ask for. But no sooner have they settled in Paris than an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world.
Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Sand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if ti 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 have to trust each other more than ever--even if it means revealing the secrets they've both been keeping.
The first book in the Eldest Curses series from author Cassandra Clare and award-winning science fiction author Wesley Chu, The Red Scrolls of Magic is a fast-paced adventure bursting with magic, humor, and (if demons stop getting in the way) romance that offers a fresh look at the world of the Shadowhunters.
This description comes from the publisher. The Red Scrolls of Magic is the first book of the Eldest Curses; this is part of the Shadowhunter world, the first book of which is City of Bones.
Description from Open Library.
Books like The Red Scrolls of Magic
See why they match
The Lost Book of the WhiteWesley Chu and Cassandra ClareA thrilling plunge into shadowy magic and high-stakes adventure, anchored by a fierce, beating heart of queer romance.
Lord of ShadowsCassandra ClareA sprawling, heart-wrenching descent into forbidden romance and political betrayal that leaves you gasping for breath.
City of Lost SoulsCassandra ClareA dark, swoony descent into moral ambiguity where love and loyalty are tested against the ultimate supernatural corruption.
MagisteriumHolly Black and Cassandra ClareA shadowy, fast-paced magical adventure that asks whether we are defined by our origins or our choices.
Wayward SonRainbow RowellA chaotic, emotionally messy road trip through the American West that asks what happens after the Chosen One saves the world and loses his purpose.
The Blackthorn KeyKevin SandsA puzzle-filled, explosive romp through shadowy 17th-century London that balances dark conspiracies with the fierce loyalty of friendship.