Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy - Book Review

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
This is probably a great book for most people who love the Shadowhunters books, but it didn't work for me.

I went into this read with two wrong assumptions: That this would be stories focused on students in a boarding school, and that I could handle a book full of Simon.

Yes, the Shadowhunter students live at the academy, but that's about where the boarding school experience ends. The academy is a mess and stays a mess. I was wondering why the students would stand for this instead of starting a rebellion. I also wondered how any of the students living in the cellars even survived for more than a week as it was a serious hazard to their health.

Then there was Simon. I didn't much care for him in the Mortal Instruments series and I can't say these stories changed my mind. There was one returning character in these stories I really liked, but we all know what happens to secondary characters who I like, so the less said about that the better.

The stories themselves were nice, but nothing special. I wanted training and boarding school stuff, but most stories used the school as a starting point for teachers and whoever else to tell stories about Shadowhunters and their past successes and failures.

This book won't be a keeper. I will try to read Lady Midnight though, to see if that one gets me back into the world of the Shadowhunters.

Why should you read it:
If you like the Shadowhunter world and Simon this book is for you.


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