Review: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

WARNING!

SPOILERS!

If you haven't read City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6), you WILL encounter BIG spoilers for that book within this review and in the synopsis of Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy.

Please read City of Heavenly Fire first!

You have been warned.

Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy 

(Tales from Shadowhunter Academy #1) 

by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Format: eBook

Goodreads link: (click here)

What's it about?

Simon Lewis has been many things in his life. He's been a Mundane, a Vampire, a Daylighter, he's been invincible and he's even been a rodent (but that's not something he's all that proud of). Now, he's about to take on his biggest challenge yet. Simon is about to begin training to become a Shadowhunter. He no longer has any supernatural powers, but the fact that his bravery just recently saved the world should give him the confidence he needs to start this new phase of life. Well, that theoretically should help him, but there's one little problem, Simon doesn't remember saving the world. In fact, he doesn't remember much of anything because his memories were stripped while in the Hell dimension. He knows that Clary is his best friend and that Isabelle is his girlfriend, but right now they are strangers to him. He feels that this time apart while he's training at Shadowhunter Academy is what is best for everyone since his memories are slowly and sometimes painfully coming back to him over time. Right now he's remembering the losses and heartaches that he's endured, but he's struggling to recall the love and friendship that are still right there in front of him. Simon has heard stories about who he was, but that's not who he is anymore, and he's afraid that even after he gets his memories back he won't be able to be the hero everyone expects him to be. Along with his inner struggles, Simon has his Shadowhunter training to worry about. Nothing is easy for him anymore since he's lost his Downworlder powers. He's only a human, but he's not ready to give up. Simon Lewis is going to become a Shadowhunter...or die trying (probably in some horribly embarrassing way).

My Thoughts:

Bottom line: Is this worth buying? Do you need it?

Answers: YES and YES!

If you are a fan of the series and have read City of Heavenly Fire (which I assume you have or you wouldn't be reading this right now), you will definitely want to read this continuation of the series. Everyone is there and it takes place right after the events in CoHF and you are getting Simon's POV, which is a wonderful treat. You get to understand Simon's pain as he navigates a new life and grasps at pieces of his old one, all while keeping his sense of humor. In Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy, you'll see old friends (Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Magnus, Alec) and meet some new ones. The story does continue from the previous books, but Simon is most definitely the focus of this series of eBooks that is releasing monthly. There will be a total of ten books that release through November. After that, I'm sure they will all be bound in a hardcover, just like The Bane Chronicles were. I actually didn't buy all of The Bane Chronicles as they were released as eBooks, but I did buy a few and eventually purchased the bound book. I will be buying these every month though, since I'm really excited about the rest of the Tales From Shadowhunter Academy (if you read the descriptions, you will be, too). This series is a great addition to the world of The Mortal Instruments. I can't wait to read the next installment, in fact, I already pre-ordered book #2, The Lost Herondale, to be delivered to my Kindle on March 17th! 

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<3 Michelle