Scan barcode
blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
July 8, 2019
[re-read for Shadowhunter Summer 2019]
All my Shadowhunter Summer 2019 reviews may contain untagged spoilers for all the books in The Shadowhunter Chronicles. If you wish to read a non-spoiler review for this book, you may scroll to the review I wrote on October 23, 2017.
Since I have little else to say about this collection that I haven't already said, I'm going to do what I did with Ghosts of the Shadow Market and try to do some mini-reviews for each individual story instead!
What Really Happened in Peru Mini-Review:
I think you'll find it's a common theme with The Bane Chronicles and me that Sarah Rees Brennan writes the fun ones and Maureen Johnson writes the boring ones. Brennan worked on this one. It's the fable we've heard tell of in The Mortal Instruments and I don't think it disappoints. The best part is when Catarina tells Magnus of his night of drunken debauchery. This is a splendid kickoff to the book at hand, honestly.
The Runaway Queen Mini-Review:
And this is what I mean in that Johnson writes the boring ones. This is where this book hits its weakest point and, arguably, it's the weakest whole work in all of The Shadowhunter Chronicles. By trying to weave in historical figures, Clare and Johnson shot themselves in the foot and it kept Magnus from developing from the experience. All three times I've read this book, I dread this story. Enough said there.
Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale Mini-Review:
But just like that, we're back into a fun one! I always love meeting our main characters' legendary parents, be it Celine and Stephen Herondale or even meeting Cecily and Gabriel Lightwood again, this time as parents, and this story is no exception. Linette is endlessly endearing, and I love how we can tell Will and Cecily got their spirit from her and their bit hearts from their father. Excellent stuff, always.
The Midnight Heir Mini-Review:
Would you look at that, it's the best story in the collection! I have relished in each opportunity we've yet gotten to spend time with James Herondale but this is only the first time and it is fucking glorious. This only made me ache even more for the release of Chain of Gold and I expect my rereads of Nothing But Shadows, Cast Long Shadows, and Every Exquisite Thing to only make it worse. I can't wait.
The Rise of the Hotel Dumort Mini Review:
Uuuuggh. Not much to say. It isn't worthless, it's just Snoresville.
Saving Raphael Santiago Mini Review:
I've said it before, but my love for Raphael Santiago is such a surprising thing to me and this story is my second favorite in the collection because he is at last granted depth, character, desires, and it is absolutely brilliant. The only thing "wrong" with this story is we should have gotten this sooner. God I love my grumpy vampy boi and his relationship with Magnus Bane.
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort Mini-Review:
Nobody cares, Maureen.
What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway) Mini-Review:
This story has my favorite demon in the entire Chronicles thus far. He loves the Mac. I also loved seeing Magnus's dealings with one of his more typical clients.
The Last Stand of the New York Institue Mini-Review:
This story is the only reason I'm not kicking and screaming and throwing a fit to have The Secret Treasons in my hands. I still want it in my hands, but this story is the closest I may ever get. Also, Tessa's shirt at the end of the story is my favorite thing.
The Course of True Love (And First Dates) Mini-Review:
Magnus and Alec are fucking adorable here, but my favorite part is when Magnus is talking to Catarina Loss. Catarina Loss is the secret MVP of The Shadowhunter Chronicles, pass it on.
The Voicemail of Magnus Bane Mini-Review:
This story is fairly useless as it stands, but it's charming enough and the audiobook made it sound like an actual voicemail. The only issue with that, however, is that Molly C. Quinn reads part of it. At least her part is mercifully short.
October 23, 2017
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
I'm unsure whether it was because I read this book while I was playing The Witness last year, but my memory of this book as a whole could be summed up with four words: lowest possible reading comprehension. Don't get me wrong, I got the gist of each of the stories present here. Magnus was banned from Peru for a reason he never found out, James Herondale is reckless and heartbroken, as Herondales are, Marie Antoinette is involved in one of the stories, a demon Magnus summons really loves Fleetwood Mac...so on, so forth. Bits and pieces here and there. I think it's a little incredible just how much I still enjoyed this book the first time around because I didn't remember ANY of the bits and pieces of lore it either filled in (like Peru) or hinted at (like pretty much all of The Midnight Heir and its setup of The Last Hours) and still found this to be amazing.
I would normally try to wring more words and thoughts out of myself on the subject, but past-me actually has things covered in that department, even though she probably didn't even realize the main conflict of The Last Hours was introduced in one of the stories or that this book is fucking hilarious. Oh well, at least she came back around to become me and reread the book so all's well that ends well.
March 3, 2016
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. When they announced it, I was likely the most apprehensive person when they announced this project way way back in 2013. Let me just say, I love Magnus and I always have, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of jumping through all these times and places with Magnus as our only anchor; Magnus, to me, was always an absolutely fantastic side character, not a leading character. Honestly, that's where only half of my apprehension lay; the other half was the idea of having new authors come in to hodgepodge together a "story" over the course of a bunch of ebooks, all narrated by ten different people...I had similar reservations about Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, but after I read that last month, I realized just how wrong I was.
I'm really really glad I was wrong. Not only do both collections manage to tell compelling overarching stories, but they also have some of the most rewarding cameos I've ever had the treat of reading. They also both have a standout theme that acts as a thread to take us through the years and stories told within. While the theme of Shadowhunter Academy was prejudice and class wars, this collection's theme is simple yet just as powerful: love. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but when you're following a character who doesn't age, who is constantly seeking affection and connection, it's rather wonderful when we get to see him making real, human connections with Tessa, Catarina, Raphael, and more but it's so rewarding and absolutely heartwarming when we finally arrive in modern time and Magnus meets the man who is arguably the love of his very very long life.
This is a fantastic collection, as is Shadowhunter Academy. If you're as apprehensive as I was, then consider this my everlasting and glowing recommendation to read these short, sweet stories because if you love this Shadowhunter world, these stories only make you love it and its characters more.
[re-read for Shadowhunter Summer 2019]
"One can give up many things for love, but should not give up oneself."
All my Shadowhunter Summer 2019 reviews may contain untagged spoilers for all the books in The Shadowhunter Chronicles. If you wish to read a non-spoiler review for this book, you may scroll to the review I wrote on October 23, 2017.
Since I have little else to say about this collection that I haven't already said, I'm going to do what I did with Ghosts of the Shadow Market and try to do some mini-reviews for each individual story instead!
What Really Happened in Peru Mini-Review:
I think you'll find it's a common theme with The Bane Chronicles and me that Sarah Rees Brennan writes the fun ones and Maureen Johnson writes the boring ones. Brennan worked on this one. It's the fable we've heard tell of in The Mortal Instruments and I don't think it disappoints. The best part is when Catarina tells Magnus of his night of drunken debauchery. This is a splendid kickoff to the book at hand, honestly.
The Runaway Queen Mini-Review:
And this is what I mean in that Johnson writes the boring ones. This is where this book hits its weakest point and, arguably, it's the weakest whole work in all of The Shadowhunter Chronicles. By trying to weave in historical figures, Clare and Johnson shot themselves in the foot and it kept Magnus from developing from the experience. All three times I've read this book, I dread this story. Enough said there.
Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale Mini-Review:
But just like that, we're back into a fun one! I always love meeting our main characters' legendary parents, be it Celine and Stephen Herondale or even meeting Cecily and Gabriel Lightwood again, this time as parents, and this story is no exception. Linette is endlessly endearing, and I love how we can tell Will and Cecily got their spirit from her and their bit hearts from their father. Excellent stuff, always.
The Midnight Heir Mini-Review:
Would you look at that, it's the best story in the collection! I have relished in each opportunity we've yet gotten to spend time with James Herondale but this is only the first time and it is fucking glorious. This only made me ache even more for the release of Chain of Gold and I expect my rereads of Nothing But Shadows, Cast Long Shadows, and Every Exquisite Thing to only make it worse. I can't wait.
The Rise of the Hotel Dumort Mini Review:
Uuuuggh. Not much to say. It isn't worthless, it's just Snoresville.
Saving Raphael Santiago Mini Review:
I've said it before, but my love for Raphael Santiago is such a surprising thing to me and this story is my second favorite in the collection because he is at last granted depth, character, desires, and it is absolutely brilliant. The only thing "wrong" with this story is we should have gotten this sooner. God I love my grumpy vampy boi and his relationship with Magnus Bane.
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort Mini-Review:
Nobody cares, Maureen.
What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway) Mini-Review:
This story has my favorite demon in the entire Chronicles thus far. He loves the Mac. I also loved seeing Magnus's dealings with one of his more typical clients.
The Last Stand of the New York Institue Mini-Review:
This story is the only reason I'm not kicking and screaming and throwing a fit to have The Secret Treasons in my hands. I still want it in my hands, but this story is the closest I may ever get. Also, Tessa's shirt at the end of the story is my favorite thing.
The Course of True Love (And First Dates) Mini-Review:
Magnus and Alec are fucking adorable here, but my favorite part is when Magnus is talking to Catarina Loss. Catarina Loss is the secret MVP of The Shadowhunter Chronicles, pass it on.
The Voicemail of Magnus Bane Mini-Review:
This story is fairly useless as it stands, but it's charming enough and the audiobook made it sound like an actual voicemail. The only issue with that, however, is that Molly C. Quinn reads part of it. At least her part is mercifully short.
October 23, 2017
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
I'm unsure whether it was because I read this book while I was playing The Witness last year, but my memory of this book as a whole could be summed up with four words: lowest possible reading comprehension. Don't get me wrong, I got the gist of each of the stories present here. Magnus was banned from Peru for a reason he never found out, James Herondale is reckless and heartbroken, as Herondales are, Marie Antoinette is involved in one of the stories, a demon Magnus summons really loves Fleetwood Mac...so on, so forth. Bits and pieces here and there. I think it's a little incredible just how much I still enjoyed this book the first time around because I didn't remember ANY of the bits and pieces of lore it either filled in (like Peru) or hinted at (like pretty much all of The Midnight Heir and its setup of The Last Hours) and still found this to be amazing.
I would normally try to wring more words and thoughts out of myself on the subject, but past-me actually has things covered in that department, even though she probably didn't even realize the main conflict of The Last Hours was introduced in one of the stories or that this book is fucking hilarious. Oh well, at least she came back around to become me and reread the book so all's well that ends well.
March 3, 2016
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. When they announced it, I was likely the most apprehensive person when they announced this project way way back in 2013. Let me just say, I love Magnus and I always have, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of jumping through all these times and places with Magnus as our only anchor; Magnus, to me, was always an absolutely fantastic side character, not a leading character. Honestly, that's where only half of my apprehension lay; the other half was the idea of having new authors come in to hodgepodge together a "story" over the course of a bunch of ebooks, all narrated by ten different people...I had similar reservations about Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, but after I read that last month, I realized just how wrong I was.
I'm really really glad I was wrong. Not only do both collections manage to tell compelling overarching stories, but they also have some of the most rewarding cameos I've ever had the treat of reading. They also both have a standout theme that acts as a thread to take us through the years and stories told within. While the theme of Shadowhunter Academy was prejudice and class wars, this collection's theme is simple yet just as powerful: love. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but when you're following a character who doesn't age, who is constantly seeking affection and connection, it's rather wonderful when we get to see him making real, human connections with Tessa, Catarina, Raphael, and more but it's so rewarding and absolutely heartwarming when we finally arrive in modern time and Magnus meets the man who is arguably the love of his very very long life.
This is a fantastic collection, as is Shadowhunter Academy. If you're as apprehensive as I was, then consider this my everlasting and glowing recommendation to read these short, sweet stories because if you love this Shadowhunter world, these stories only make you love it and its characters more.
elisasworldofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say. It’s Magnus freaking Bane. What’s not to like? Magnus is forever my favourite character
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
4.0
Let it henceforth be known that Magnus Bane is perfect in every way, and that I adore him with all my soul... I could absolutely go on a mushy gushy rant about how he's one of my fave Shadowhunter characters, alont with Charlotte and Jem and Simon, but I think once I start writing about them, we'll be here for a looong time lol. I could also rant equally for my hatred of Jace but... I don't want to do that, for my own sanity. Let's just say that Cassie Clare and I have a... complicated relationship. The characters
kalyn_c's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sienna727's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kimpunk4ever's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
5.0
cobycoyle's review against another edition
2.0
Magnus is one of my favorite characters in the series, which is why I was disappointed with this. A lot of it droned on and was boring, it was hard to get through.
kevinthereader's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0