Review: The Midnight Heir (The Bane Chronicles #4) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: The Midnight Heir

Series: The Bane Chronicles #4

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: July 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

Add it on Goodreads

Buy the short story on: Audible

Buy the collection on: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis: In Edwardian London, Magnus Bane discovers old friends and new enemies—including the son of his former comrade Will Herondale. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

Magnus thought he would never return to London, but he is lured by a handsome offer from Tatiana Blackthorn, whose plans—involving her beautiful young ward—are far more sinister than Magnus even suspects. In London at the turn of the century, Magnus finds old friends, and meets a very surprising young man . . . the sixteen-year-old James Herondale.

My rating: ★★★★★

This short story takes place before Chain of Gold and is about James Herondale, Will and Tessa’s son!

The boy was very, very lovely, but this was a beauty like that Helen of Troy might have had once, disaster written in every line.

Sounds like a Herondale if I ever heard of one. Lol. So James can turn into shadows, which is a really interesting power, and I presume it’s because Tessa is a warlock. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be doing well with all this. Poor James was being reckless—as Herondales usually are 😂—when Magnus first runs into him.

“What happened?” Magnus asked musingly. “Well, let me see. He stole a bicycle and rode it, not using his hands at any point, through Trafalgar Square. He attempted to climb Nelson’s Column and fight with Nelson. Then I lost him for a brief period of time, and by the time I caught up with him, he had wandered into Hyde Park, waded into the Serpentine, spread his arms wide, and was shouting, ‘Ducks, embrace me as your king!’”

This is particularly funny because all other Herondales hate ducks 🤣

Yeahhh, one of these things is not like the others 😂

“He also made inappropriate amorous advances to a startled grandmotherly sort selling flowers, an Irish wolfhound, an innocent hat stand in a dwelling he broke into, and myself. I will add that I do not believe his admiration of my person, dazzling though I am, to be sincere. He told me I was a beautiful, sparkling lady. Then he abruptly collapsed, naturally in the path of an oncoming train from Dover, and I decided it was well past time to take him home and place him in the bosom of his family. If you had rather I put him in an orphanage, I fully understand.”

I love sassy Magnus, and I just love what a soft spot he has for these characters. I am very intrigued as to why James is being so reckless when he has such a loving family. I’m also wondering who the heck Grace is because apparently...

James had given his heart to this girl, Magnus thought, and Magnus knew well enough from Edmund and Will what it meant when a Herondale gave his heart away. It was not a gift that could be returned.

Sounds just like Jace, too 🖤Anyway, I really enjoyed The Midnight Heir! It was really funny what with Magnus being our POV, but it was also heartbreaking because of whatever it is that James is going through. Reading this brought back so many memories from The Infernal Devices and I was trying so hard not to cry. Lol. I just love these characters and that series, okay? Lol. I’m excited to continue this story in Chain of Gold, though!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊