Tuesday Reviews: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare

Title: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

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

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date: November 15, 2016

Rating: Five Stars

Description from Goodreads: 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.

If you're reading this, and you haven't read The Mortal Instruments series, as well as the Infernal Devices series, the door is below. Please see yourself out and come back when you have become an expert on all things Shadowhunter.

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If you HAVE read all of those books, including CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE, then WELCOME. GUESS WHO THIS BOOK IS ABOUT. SIMON FREAKING LEWIS. 

After COHF, I really needed some Simon. It was hard enough having to dive into LADY MIDNIGHT without reading the short stories (curse you ebook-given migraines), so when the book finally came out, I snatched it up, and I couldn't be happier with what I read.

Not only do you get new characters like George Lovelace, but you also get cameos from some of our beloved-- Clace, Malec, Izzy, Wessa, Jessa, IT IS ALL THERE. It's so wonderful.

What's great about this book is that it's short stories, right, but together they're one big story. It starts with Simon's entering the Academy and follows him all the way until his moment of... well, you'll see. 

Each of the plots were intricate and delicate and reading this was almost like watching one of those episodes of your favorite show when the main character gets these flashbacks from their past. Except this time, you're just living them out with the character, and watching as the plot of the whole book is exposed just as the plot for each mini story comes alive.

Cassie writes so beautifully, too. Being immersed back into the Shadowhunter world is literally like no other fandom. The way she weaves the stories like webs and makes you feel things even from the side characters... It's rare, and real, and I can't ever and will never get enough of it.

I have a favorite story, but I will tell you nothing of it. Instead, I want to hear YOUR thoughts. Tell me what you loved, because I loved it all. Tell me everything. Let's fangirl out together.

Happily,

Stephanie

Thursday Thinks: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments

As I'm sure most of you know, Cassandra Clare's beloved Mortal Instruments series was rebooted as a television show for Freeform (Formerly known as ABCfamily) and the pilot episode aired this past Tuesday night.

There were a lot of mixed feelings about the fandom for this reboot- most of them positive, but there were some (like me, if I'm being honest) who didn't want to see the series have the possibility of becoming one of THOSE shows. You know the ones. The cliche teen shows that start out with a halfway decent season, and then either never get renewed, or get renewed infinitely, until the show no longer has an allure. Until it becomes something that no one wants to hear about.

I have to say, I've been pessimistic about this tv-show-morph since we first found out about it. I loved this series with all of my heart, and we already watched it adapt into a movie, which didn't do so well. I know a lot of people love the TMI movie, but I am not one of those people. It feels too much like what they did with the Percy Jackson adaptation-- not enough of the plot followed, details missed and overlooked, the actors were nearly all too old, the acting was... iffy, and then with the ending that completely skipped over a majorly important part of the books-- I do own the movie, and I don't mind watching it, but it will always be one of those movies where I point out the book-to-movie flaws every time I catch them.

But then we got a cast. And I like this cast a lot more than our movie cast.

And then I started to see videos, interviews, etc. with them, and I could see how they meshed.

The thing that really sent me sliding over to the positive side was the special Beyond the Shadows: The Making of Shadowhunters, where I was able to get an inside look at parts of the series, how the actors thought in terms of the Shadow world, their characters, and the inter-character relationships that are oh so evident throughout the series. Of course, getting to see clips from the show helped, and I looked at January 12 as a day to be excited for.

So I waited, and the day finally came.

I have to say, I was extremely nervous watching the episode. I knew it wasn't gong to follow the book directly, so I tried to keep an open mind, but this series being as dear to me as it is, I was practically biting my nails the entire time.

When the episode ended, though...

I didn't hate it.

I didn't love it. But I did not hate it.

Yes, there were differences. The plot is not the same as it is in the books, the characters are a bit less like they were at this point in the book (Jace less sassy, Izzy more pleasant, and Alec less possessive). And yes, it's a bit cheesy corny, but it was fresh, and definitely Shadowhunter-y, and I enjoyed it. I think this pilot pulled us out of the shadow of our movie and really gave us a fighting chance at showing the non-reading world what the Shadowhunters are about.

I have the second episode right here, on standby, so as soon as I publish this post, I can hit play. Because I do want more. I want this series to be everything we need and want it to be. Everything we deserve as patient and forgiving and loving fans. 

So if you've been waiting, unsure whether or not you should watch, I say give it a shot. It wasn't perfect, but it is definitely something that (At this point in the show) I approve of. Things may change, but as of the first episode, I think I can call myself a fan.

Also, it's Steph PSA time.

If you watched Shadowhunters and DID NOT like it. Please, I beg of you, don't send any hate to Cassie. She doesn't have as much control over this as you think she does. ABC has the rights to her series, they can adapt it however they please, and you are allowed to have your opinion but you should not punish someone for things that they cannot control. Be kind. Think before you type. And remember, this series is her baby, too.

Did you watch? What did you think?

Happily,

Stephanie