Review: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

Title: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

Stories in this collection: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8) | Born to Endless Night (#9) | Angels Twice Descending (#10)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2016

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. But the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. He knows he was friends with Clary, and that he convinced the total goddess Isabelle Lightwood to go out with him…but he doesn’t know how. And when Clary and Isabelle look at him, expecting him to be a man he doesn’t remember…Simon can’t take it.

So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. His new self. Whomever this new Simon might be.

But the Academy is a Shadowhunter institution, which means it has some problems. Like the fact that non-Shadowhunter students have to live in the basement. And that differences—like being a former vampire—are greatly looked down upon. At least Simon is trained in weaponry—even if it’s only from hours of playing D&D.

Join Simon on his journey to become a Shadowhunter, and learn about the Academy’s illustrious history along the way, through guest lecturers such as Jace Herondale, Tessa Gray, and Magnus Bane. These ten short stories give an epilogue to The Mortal Instruments series and provide glimpses of what’s in store in The Dark Artifices.

My rating: ★★★★★

When I first got this book I had still only read the first 3 books in The Mortal Instruments and probably The Infernal Devices, so I was not the biggest fan of Simon. But then I finally read the remaining of TMI and I fell in love with the guy! The way he sacrificed himself City of Heavenly Fire and lost his memory to save everyone from the demon realm... he’s such a stand up guy. How could I dislike someone like that? It made me so sad that this happened to him, but I am so happy we got more of his story here! It was such a great journey and I loved following him through his 2 years at the academy!

Review: Angels Twice Descending (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #10) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Angels Twice Descending

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #10

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8) | Born to Endless Night (#9)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon’s journey to become a Shadowhunter nears its end as his Ascension ceremony draws closer. One of ten adventures in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

Simon’s Ascension ceremony draws near in this brilliant conclusion to Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

My rating: ★★★★★

This is it. The end. After two years at the Academy, Simon is finally gonna go through the ceremony, drink from the Mortal Cup, and become a Shadowhunter.

Review: Born to Endless Night (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #9) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Born to Endless Night

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #9

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7) | The Fiery Trial (#8)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: What happens when Magnus Bane brings a baby home to his boyfriend Alec Lightwood? One of ten adventures in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

After a warlock baby is abandoned on the steps of the Academy, Magnus Bane rescues the child—and brings him home to his boyfriend, Alec.

My rating: ★★★★★

Guess who’s a guest teacher in this story? Magnus freaking Bane! Yes please, and thank you! Lol. We actually got a lot of him and Alec in this one, which I always appreciate.

Review: The Fiery Trial (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #8) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Fiery Trial

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #8

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6) | Bitter of Tongue (#7)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn become parabatai. Simon and Clary both act as their witnesses, so they can see what a parabatai bond forming looks like as they want to become parabatai as soon as Simon graduates — and because Emma asked Clary. The ritual goes unexpectedly...

My rating: ★★★★☆

The Fiery Trial... that is what the ceremony is called when two Shadowhunters become parabatai. And Emma and Julian are about to go through it with Clary and Simon as witnesses! How cool is that? But first, Clary and Simon have to go on a... trip. That’s the best way to describe it. Lol. It was very trippy, but there was a purpose to it all. Lol.

Review: Bitter of Tongue (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #7) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Bitter of Tongue

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #7

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5) | Pale Kings and Princes (#6)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: August 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: After Simon is kidnapped by faeries (why is he always kidnapped?), he uncovers rumors of a secret weapon Sebastian left behind for the faerie queen. He must escape the Fey, relying on his only ally, former Shadowhunter and Dark Artifices character Mark Blackthorn.

My rating: ★★★★☆

In this story, some students from Shadowhunter Academy go on a mission, a mission where Simon runs into freaking Mark Blackthorn! It was so sad! 😭 I hate that the Shadowhunters didn’t do anything to save him in City of Heavenly Fire. After the mission they then go to Helen’s wedding. Which, again, was sad because Mark wasn’t there and Helen is still in exile. And then seeing poor Juilan taking care of all of his siblings... it really pulled at the heartstrings 😭

Review: Pale Kings and Princes (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #6) by Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Title: Pale Kings and Princes

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #6

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4) | The Evil We Love (#5)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon has an encounter with Downworlders and is reprimanded for not following the rules for Academy students interacting with Downworlders. A story within a story: Andrew Blackthorn, while a student at the Academy, becomes enthralled by a faerie and has two children with her: Mark and Helen.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Our guest in this story is Helen Blackthorn! It was a nice surprise, but it was also awful because she’s still in exile 😫 I absolutely hate how they’re treating Helen! I’m glad she at least has Aline though, and they’re getting freaking married! 😆

Review: The Evil We Love (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #5) by Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Title: The Evil We Love

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #5

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3) | Nothing but Shadows (#4)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: June 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: All evil starts somewhere, and Simon Lewis learns how The Circle—led by Valentine Morgenstern—began.

The Shadowhunter Academy has only just reopened following the disastrous rise of the Circle. Now the faculty can finally admit to what happened when Valentine was a student.

My rating: ★★★★★

In this story we have another guest lecturer, Robert Lightwood aka Isabelle and Alec’s dad aka the Inquisitor! His story takes place in the 1980s and is about the Circle 😬 Valentine was so terrible, but we already knew that. We also got a little insight into Robert’s relationship with his parabatai Michael Wayland, Jace’s supposed dad before we found out who he was actually a Herondale. It was a very interesting, sad story. Robert said some terrible things and, just, ugh! I really liked Michael! I felt so bad for him 😢

Review: Nothing but Shadows (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #4) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Nothing but Shadows

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #4

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2) | The Whitechapel Fiend (#3)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: It’s hard to be a Shadowhunter when you’ve got demonic powers.

Simon learns about the school-time struggles of half-warlock James Herondale in this prelude to The Last Hours.

My rating: ★★★★★

Another Herondale story from Catarina!

“A Herondale? Another Herondale?” Simon asked. “Herondales without cease. Do you ever get the feeling you are being chased around by Herondales?”
“Not really,” Catarina said. “Not that I’d mind. Magnus says they tend to be a good-looking lot. Of course, Magnus also says they tend to be strange in the head. James Herondale was a bit of a special case.”

Review: The Whitechapel Fiend (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #3) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Whitechapel Fiend

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #3

Previous novellas in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1) | The Lost Herondale (#2)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: April 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon learns the truth behind the Jack the Ripper murders—“Jack” was stopped by Will Herondale and his institute of Victorian Shadowhunters.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I was VERY excited about this short story—A Jack the Ripper-inspired Shadowhunter story? Ummm, YES PLEASE! I love this serial killer stuff! Oh boy, that sounded morbid 😅 Anyway, I had recently read Stalking Jack the Ripper before this, and that book was super disappointing. I was SURE this short story was gonna be better than that, but I don’t know...

Review: The Lost Herondale (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #2) by Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Title: The Lost Herondale

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #2

Previous novella in this series: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (#1)

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Robin Wasserman

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: Simon learns the worst crime a Shadowhunter can commit: desertion of their comrades. In the early nineteenth century, Tobias Herondale abandoned his fellow Shadowhunters in the heat of battle and left them to die. His life was forfeit, but Tobias never returned, and the Clave claimed his wife’s life in exchange for Tobias’s. Simon and his fellow students are shocked to learn of this brutality, especially when it is revealed the woman was pregnant. But what if the child survived... could there be a lost Herondale line out in the world today?

My rating: ★★★★★

With the title of this story, I thought FOR SURE this was gonna be about Jace. I mean, he WAS a lost Herondale after all, having thought he was a Wayland for most of his life. BUT NO! It’s actually about someone else...

Review: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #1) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy

Series: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #1

Previous series: The Mortal Instruments

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: February 2015

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis: After living as a Mundane and a Vampire, Simon never thought he would become a Shadowhunter, but today he begins his training at Shadowhunter Academy.

My rating: ★★★★★

Simon is going to Shadowhunter Academy! We start the story off with Simon saying goodbye to the gang in New York, and omg did I love the banter! Jace being a jerk and messing with Simon, telling him about things that never actually happened... The Alec thing 🤣 I love him!