Cassandra Clare - Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy.

Cassandra Clare – Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

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My review today is on a book I truly love. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare. I love everything Cassandra Clare has written. She is my favourite author by far so the amount I love this book should come as no surprise. Here is my full review and recommendation for it.

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 any more. 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. So when the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, he throws himself into a new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again, rediscover his relationships and ascend as a true Shadowhunter. But he soon realises that nothing is ever straightforward at the Academy. . .

A little about the author:

Cassandra Clare is an American writer who publishes mostly YA novels. She is most known for The Mortal Instruments series and has published a number of books based around the Shadowhunter world. Her most recent works being Chain of Gold and The Lost Book of the White.

A little about the story:

This Shadowhunter story follows our favourite human/vampire/human again Simon Lewis as he attends the newly re-established Shadowhunter. This is where Shadowhunters train, and where humans can train alongside them and then ascend to become Shadowhunters. Simon has to navigate the new environment he is thrown into, learning how to fight demons and monsters while dealing with the teenage drama that you would expect at a school. He is also trying to understand his life before he lost his memories, trying to get to know his old friends and girlfriend and understand where he stands with them now. Throughout the book there are numerous flashbacks of other characters such as Tessa, Will, James, Catarina, Robert Lightwood and Michael Wayland.

The main character in this book was Simon Lewis. This was his story, his journey. After everything he went through in The Mortal Instruments, he deserved this story to himself. The Mortal Instruments gang are all present at one point or another, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Alec and Magnus. Tessa Gray also makes an appearance to tell her story to Simon’s class at the academy. Another important character is George. Another human making their way through training to become a Shadowhunter. He becomes Simon’s closest friend at the academy.

The main characters in this story train to become Shadowhunters and that is as simply as I can put it. They go through rigorous training exercises and sit in classes teaching them about demons and monsters and Downworlders and Shadowhunter politics. Simon personally tries to remember his past life, his friends, his girlfriend, in an attempt to gain back what he once had.

One of the main problems (besides Simon’s memory) is the separation of classes within the academy. Those who were born Shadowhunters see themselves as more superior than those who were born mundane and are hoping to ascend. They also have poor views of Downworlders. This causes issues for Simon and George throughout the story.

My favourite character was honestly George. Simon comes in close second before I get lynched. I just love George. I love his loyalty to Simon, who he has known a very short period of time. I also love the fact he chose to go to the Shadowhunter academy. Regardless of reason this is a very bold and courageous thing to do. To take yourself out of your comfortable environment to join the ranks of the Shadowhunters, who are essentially soldiers. I loved him so much.

Simon is a very close second. He spends the whole book trying to figure out his life and who he was and the sacrifice he made that caused him to lose his memory. I loved Simon before I read this book, but even without the memories of everything he has been through, he is equally as wonderful.

I loved this book. I loved it. I loved how supporting TMI gang were of Simon. I loved the flashbacks, that allowed us to see more of our favourites from other series’. I loved the introduction of The Shadowhunter Academy. I loved it. Clare did great with this one, as she does with everything she writes.

My favourite part of the book was when Simon got himself moved to the dregs group and shortly after George followed him. I loved their friendship throughout this. It was so great to see who Simon was outside of TMI and who he is with other friends. It warmed my heart when George got himself moved to join Simon. It was a true show of friendship and standing up for what is right.

If I could change anything about the book it would be about 90% of everything that happens to George. He is an angel and must be protected at all costs. He deserves the world.

I recommend this book to lovers of fantasy, adventure and a little bit of romance thrown in there. Also for anyone who is a fan of Clare. This is a fantastic book and anyone who hasn’t read it is missing out!

That is my review for Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare. I hope I wrote something that you related to, or if you haven’t read the book – made you want to. I’d love to know what your thoughts were on the book!

Stay Curious!

J x