The New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling collection of short stories chronicling the adventures of Simon Lewis as he trains to become a Shadowhunter is now available in print with ten brand-new comic illustrations Simon Lewis has been a human and a vampire, and now he is becoming a Shadowhunter. The events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he … memories, and Simon isn’t sure who he is anymore. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. 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. At least Simon’s 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. Written by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, these moving and hilarious short stories are perfect for the fan who just can’t get enough of the Shadowhunters.more
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy follow Simon Lewis as he trains to become a Shadowhunter while struggling to reconcile who he was with who he is.
Filled with History
These are my two cents on The Mortal Instrument reading order: read the books in order of publication. I say this because even if you read The Infernal Devices first, there are so many easter eggs and hints of what will happen in The Mortal Instruments series. I love that, and I read online that many people prefer her other series to her original series, and I get that. However, her writing style, characterization, plot structure, and pacing have improved since she started.
I love being on this journey with Clare, watching her grow as a reader while I lose myself in her world.
That is part of why I love her anthologies so much.
Clare works with other authors to create these fantastic stories surrounding Simon Lewis. Simon Lewis lost all his memories at the end of the Mortal Instrument series but could regain bits and pieces here and there. Nevertheless, he struggles to reconcile all these memories, his true memories of who he was, with the false memories of whom he thinks he is.
Simon is no longer that same person, and it has affected many of his relationships, from his familial to his romantic. This has put such a strain on him, and it offers him a chance to explore who he is and whom he wants to be. It makes him question what he wants for himself, not what others may want for him or what he wants to be for other people.
Simon is learning to be himself, truly himself, and that also allows him to challenge those around him with narrow-minded, bigoted, and racist views. He brings so much to the table, and watching him evolve and grow throughout these stories.
Final Thoughts
I cannot stress this enough: I wish I had read these stories before reading The Dark Artifices trilogy. There is so much history here that relates to that series in a significant way. So let me say, no, it is not essential that one read this collection before reading that trilogy, but it does make things that much clearer. There are references to these stories; easter eggs dropped here and there that mean so much more to me as a reader know that I have read Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.
I will say that the pacing in these stories is a bit slower than in The Bane Chronicles, but the journey and history brought to life here is more extensive. In addition, I like the fact that Clare decided to create an anthology because it gives her more opportunity to tell these stories without distracting the reader from the overall plot if they had been included in the novels.
There is more opportunity to expand her universe by adding bits and pieces of history here, and Clare makes them optional to read. You do not have to read this series to read her main trilogies, but it gives them more depth and history-making these tales worthwhile.
There are so many great stories in this book and so much history. Tessa Gray makes an appearance and I loved her story. Tessa has always been my favorite character. Magnus and Alec are in a story together that has a surprise for everyone and it just warmed my heart. I really look forward to seeing this story line expand. This book also introduces the reader to a handful of new characters that I hope we get to see again.
The biggest disappointment for me was an event at the end. I was deeply saddened by this event, but I do see how it affected Simon and how it will stay with him forever and possible help shape him. I love the Shadowhunter name Simon chooses also. It’s a name that will bring back memories from this book every time I hear it.
This book also gives the reader insight into the Dark Artifices trilogy and I can’t wait to start it.
I’m really glad I read this. It was so nice seeing Simon’s journey and all his new experiences. Plus getting to see more of the gang is always good. Some of the stories were so heartwarming and so heartbreaking all at the same time. I didn’t love all of the different narrators, I felt like they blended together after a while. I will say, Sam Heughan can narrate anything and I’ll listen to it, who doesn’t love Jamie Fraser reading to you?!
Great wrap-up to the original Shadowhunter series!
Awesome book. Loved every page
This collection of stories from the Mortal Instruments world is at times hilarious, and at times heartbreaking. It’s a must-read, and really fills in some detail between the Mortal Instruments series and the Dark Artifices series.
I fell in love with the characters portrayed in the 6 novels included in the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series. I was really looking forward to reading more about them and so curious to find out what happened to Simon and his friends. I loved every chapter of this book!