Review: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Bane Chronicles

Stories in this collection: What Really Happened in Peru (#1) | The Runaway Queen (#2) | Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale (#3) | The Midnight Heir (#4) | The Rise of the Hotel Dumort (#5) | Saving Raphael Santiago (#6) | The Fall of the Hotel Dumort (#7) | What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (#8) | The Last Stand of the New York Institute (#9) | The Course of True Love [and First Dates] (#10) | The Voicemail of Magnus Bane (#11)

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2014

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

Originally released one-by-one as e-only short stories by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan, this compilation presents all ten together in print for the first time and includes a never-before-seen eleventh tale, as well as new illustrated material.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book is all about Magnus Bane, which, yes, please! I adore my Jace and my Will and my sweet Jem, but out of all characters in this world, my absolute favorite has got to be Magnus freaking Bane. So I was extremely happy that he got his own book! Which was awesome! It spans a couple of hundred years, starting from about the 1700s to the present day. Magnus had a lot of fun adventures, but these were my top three favorite short stories in the book:

Review: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane (The Bane Chronicles #11) by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane

Series: The Bane Chronicles #11

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2014

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: The voice mail of Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn, in the days following a certain incident in City of Lost Souls.

My rating: ★★★★★

So here is your spoiler warning for things that happened in City of Lost Souls. If you have not read that book yet, avert your eyes!

Review: The Course of True Love [and First Dates] (The Bane Chronicles #10) by Cassandra Clare

Title: The Course of True Love [and First Dates]

Series: The Bane Chronicles #10

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2014

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood might fall in love—but first they have a first date.

When Magnus Bane, warlock, meets Alec Lightwood, Shadowhunter, sparks fly. And what happens on their first date lights a flame...

My rating: ★★★★★

Out of all the stories in The Bane Chronicles, this is without a doubt my favorite! Magnus and Alec go on their first date, but then everything goes wrong, and it’s somehow still super cute! Lol. I loved it!

Review: The Last Stand of the New York Institute (The Bane Chronicles #9) by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Last Stand of the New York Institute

Series: The Bane Chronicles #9

Authors: Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: December 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Magnus meets Valentine in battle as the Circle attacks the Downworlders of New York City.

In the time of the Uprising, Valentine’s Circle goes after Downworlders in New York...and the Shadowhunters of the Institute must decide whether to join him, or fight with Magnus and his kind. This is the first time Magnus sees Jocelyn, Luke, and Stephen—but not the last. It is not long before Jocelyn seeks him out...

My rating: ★★★★★

This short story takes place in 1989, back when the Circle was in full swing. Ugh. They suck. There was SO much bigotry from them I just... They are awful! And Jace’s real dad, Stephen Herondale, was such an asshole! He believed in everything Valentine did. Oh and then Valentine and his cronies wanted to rid the world of Downworlders no matter what, just because they had some demon blood in them. It was absolutely awful! The things they did to this werewolf family were despicable!

Review: What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything [And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway] (The Bane Chronicles #8) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything [And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway]

Series: The Bane Chronicles #8

Author: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Magnus Bane may or may not be dating Alec Lightwood, but he definitely needs to find him the perfect birthday present.

Set in the time between City of Ashes and City of Glass, warlock Magnus Bane is determined to find the best birthday present possible for Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter he may or may not be dating. And he’s also got to deal with the demon he’s conjured up for a very irritating client...

My rating: ★★★★★

This short story takes place sometime during The Mortal Instruments and Magnus is looking for a birthday gift to give Alec, but he just doesn’t know what. He asks his friend Ragnor for advice, but...

Review: The Fall of the Hotel Dumort (The Bane Chronicles #7) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Fall of the Hotel Dumort

Series: The Bane Chronicles #7

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: October 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: Magnus Bane watches the once-glamorous Hotel Dumort become something else altogether in 1970s New York City.

Fifty years after the Jazz Age rise of the Hotel Dumort, immortal warlock Magnus Bane knows the Manhattan landmark is on the decline. The once-beautiful Hotel Dumort has fallen into a decayed thing, a ruin, as dead as a place can be. But the vampires don't mind...

My rating: ★★★★☆

This short story takes place in the 70s and things are crazy! Vampires being reckless and just awful. There’s a vampire killer out there and the werewolves are worried that they might be found out by mundanes and that they (the werewolves) would get in trouble too by extension. So in order to avoid this, the werewolves were covering for those assholes! It was a mess! And Camille was awful in this. While I can see (from the Edmund Herondale short story) why Magnus would like her, in this one? No. She sucks. Lol.

Review: Saving Raphael Santiago (The Bane Chronicles #6) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Saving Raphael Santiago

Series: The Bane Chronicles #6

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: A Manhattan teen—Raphael Santiago—is missing, and Magnus Bane must track him down before it’s too late.

In 1950s New York City, a distraught mother hires Magnus Bane to find her missing son, Raphael. But even if he can be found, is Raphael beyond saving?

My rating: ★★★★★

So this short story takes place in the 50s, when Magnus was apparently a PI. Lol. Raphael’s mother comes to Magnus for help in getting her son back from los vampiros. So Magnus agrees to help and goes to the Hotel Dumort to find Raphael, the hotel which Camille has laid claim to.

Review: The Rise of the Hotel Dumort (The Bane Chronicles #5) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Rise of the Hotel Dumort

Series: The Bane Chronicles #5

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: August 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: In 1920s Manhattan, Magnus Bane hobnobs with the elite at a glamorous Jazz Age hotspot.

The immortal Magnus Bane is making the most of his time in the Roaring Twenties: He's settled into New York society and is thriving among the fashionable jazz set. And there is nowhere better to see and be seen than the glamorous Hotel Dumort, a glittering new addition to the Manhattan landscape. But a different type of glamour may be at play...

My rating: ★★★★☆

This short story takes place in the Roaring 20s and it’s basically an origin story of the Hotel Dumort. Aldous Nix was the High Warlock of Manhattan and he was into some really shady stuff. He lived in the hotel and basically what he wants to do was open a portal to return to where he “belongs” aka home aka the Void aka the demon dimension 😳 Yeahhh, have fun with that. So this guy has a bunch of mundane followers who are idiots and things go about as well as you expect. It was really cool to see Magnus in action though! I always love that!

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

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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!

Review: Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale (The Bane Chronicles #3) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale

Series/Collection: The Bane Chronicles #3

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: June 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: When immortal warlock Magnus Bane attends preliminary peace talks between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders in Victorian London, he is charmed by two very different people: the vampire Camille Belcourt and the young Shadowhunter, Edmund Herondale. Will winning hearts mean choosing sides?

My rating: ★★★★★

This short story takes place in the 1850s and it is about Will Herondale’s dad and how he met Will’s mother and why he stripped his marks. It was so sad, but also very interesting.

Review: The Runaway Queen (The Bane Chronicles #2) by Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Title: The Runaway Queen

Series/Collection: The Bane Chronicles (#2)

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Maureen Johnson

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: May 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: While in France, immortal warlock Magnus Bane finds himself attempting to rescue the royal family from the horrors of the French Revolution—after being roped into this mess by a most attractive count. Naturally, the daring escape calls for invisible air balloons...

My rating: ★★★★☆

This short story takes place in the 1700s, and, as the title suggests, Magnus basically helps a queen run away. There was a whole thing with an air balloon that is later mentioned in The Red Scroll of Magic, and it was just hilarious! Oh, and there’s also a bit of romance in this one.

Review: What Really Happened in Peru (The Bane Chronicles #1) by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: What Really Happened in Peru

Series/Collection: The Bane Chronicles (#1)

Authors: Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased hardcover

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Synopsis: There are good reasons Peru is off-limits to Magnus Bane. Follow Magnus’s Peruvian escapades as he drags his fellow warlocks Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss into trouble, learns several instruments (which he plays shockingly), dances (which he does shockingly), and disgraces his host nation by doing something unspeakable to the Nazca Lines.

My rating: ★★★★★

This short story spans over several hundred years. If you recall, either in CoLS or CoHF it was mentioned that Magnus was banned from Peru and I was VERY intrigued. Well, in this story, we find out what happened and why he may or may not have been banned from Peru... Well, sort of 😉