Cassie's Writing Style

By: Annie (Edited by: MacNCheese)

We all love Cassie’s writing. But what is it that makes her writing so special? Why can we read her books for hours without getting bored? I’m going to be explaining some basic types of scenes that appear in her books quite often, and how she makes them interesting. Don’t worry, we’re going to stay far away from the technicalities. I’ve taken excerpts from Lord of Shadows and Queen of Air and Darkness.

#1

Action Scenes

Shadowhunters are half-angel, half-human. Their mandate is hunting demons. So, the action scenes need to be gripping, and amazing, right?

“Let it begin,” said the King.

Like a racehorse bursting out of the box, the knight rushed toward Emma, sword leaping forward. Caught off guard by his speed, Emma spun out of the way of the blade. But it was a late start. She should have raised Cortana earlier. She’d been counting on the swiftness of her Sure-Strike Rune, but it was no longer working. A sharp terror she hadn’t known in a long time went through her as she felt the whisper of the tip of the knight’s sword gliding inches from her side.

There is only one action that has happened so far in this scene. But Emma’s thoughts and feelings echo in this passage as the readers visualize the knight charging towards her. It’s incredibly clever. Instead of jumping into the next action, we get to hear Emma’s thoughts about what had just happened.

Let’s continue.

He choked and stumbled back. It was only a second, but it was enough; Emma slashed at his legs, one-two, and then his torso. Blood soaked his armored chest; his legs went out from under him and he hit the ground on his back with a crash like a felled tree.

The language is simple, not flowery. Short sentences with lots of pauses. What does this do? It hits the reader in short bursts, making the writing impactful and meaningful.

#2

Dialogue

Dialogue is a very important facet of any story.

“Oh, thank the Angel you’re here,” said Emma, “I mean, that you’re here, in prison, that’s bad, but—” She threw up her hands. “I’m glad to see you.”

The key to dialogue is making it natural. Emma doesn’t speak in a monotone, doesn’t sound rehearsed. This particular scene happens in Queen of Air and Darkness, when Jules and Emma are trapped in the prison of the Unseelie Court with Clary and Jace. The relief and happiness in her voice is evident, and she rambles a bit (which stays true to her personality).

The key to good dialogue is ease. Don’t force it.

#3

Kissing Scenes

She leaned up to kiss him, and his hands slid into her hair. She knew he loved to touch her hair, as he had always loved to paint it. He drew her into his lap, stroking her back. His sea-glass bracelet was cool against her bare skin as their mouths met slowly; Julian’s mouth was soft and tasted of salt and sunshine.

Romance is an important part of many stories. Love is such a powerful weapon—read Shakespeare if you didn’t know that. But how exactly do you write a kissing scene, a scene that shows the desires and the physical connection of your characters? Cassie has mastered it. Every scene is a careful curation and balance of the character’s thoughts, emotions, and the physical act of kissing.

#4

Ordinary scenes—just conversation, something relaxed.

Oh, the end already. I could have gone on for hours, but I’m keeping this article concise. In Cassie’s novels, (especially in The Dark Artifices) there are certain scenes in which there is not much going on. How does she master those, make them interesting enough so that the reader doesn’t get bored? Let’s look at the scene where they all sit in the library to talk and plan.

He picked up the sketchbook, turning it so she could see his work—a gorgeous rendition of a stone bridge they’d passed, surrounded by the drooping boughs of oak trees.

“You could sketch me,” said Emma. She flung herself down on her seat, leaning her head on her hand. “Draw me like one of your French girls.”

Julian grinned. “I hate that movie,” he said, “You know I do.”

Handy tip: Add humour. Humour takes out the staleness of any situation. It doesn’t need to be a ROFL kind of funny, just a simple quip to make the readers smile is enough.

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That’s all for now! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned for more articles coming next month! If you have any questions about writing, feel free to contact me on Discord at: Aamanya_07#8796