In the last post, we saw all the similarities between The Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger and The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare.
We based it on different criteria like theme, setting, characters, plot twists, storyline, etc and they ALL were similar; but the thing is, one of these series is written so much better than the other. Which one is it?
The setting - The settings in both series' are of the same quality, considering they are almost identical.
Characters - TMI/TDA certainly did better on this one. The characters are just more detailed, more real than in KOTLC. Shannon failed to give enough detail about the characters and hence they appear surreal, and makes it hard for readers to imagine and sympathise with them.
Storyline - TMI/TDA again takes the lead. While both stories revolve around the same plot, KOTLC's storyline somehow makes it repetitive, with the same plot twists and the same events over and over again. TMI/TDA has new surprises at every turn and it makes a huge difference.
Powers - In both, the hero/heroine has unique abilities. KOTLC once again went overboard and gave Sophie all the powers imaginable. TMI/TDA did better by giving enough focus to the abilities of other characters as well.
Love Story - Both series once again deviate from the main plot a lot to focus on the romance. I hate to say, neither of them did a very good job. A little too much attention was given to romance and not enough to the story. I feel the stories would have ended much sooner without the love. TMI/TDA did a better job here in the sense that they advertised TDA as a love story where Julian and Emma find their love, while KOTLC is supposed to be a fantasy novel and the amount of romance in it deviates it from its genre.
Overall, Cassandra Clare definitely did a better job with the series. It is just more detailed and gives a better image of the story while KOTLC at this point seems shallow.
TMI/TDA wins!
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