~ No spoilers are in the following review ~
4.0 Stars out of 5.0 Stars!
Magnus Bane is an empathetic, adventurous, and fashion-fierce warlock who is easy to fall in love with! This collaboration of short stories has only made me love him more!
I recommend this read!
The Bane Chronicles is a side novel highlighting Shadowhunter ally, Magnus Bane as he lives through a variety of decades and finds himself in a variety of sticky situations.
Clare, Johnson, and Brennan work together to present Shadowhunter fans with a detailed peek into the personal life of a character who plays a vital but secondary role in Clare’s original series, The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices.
Though each short story happens in a different decade (for example, the 1920s versus the 1970s) and some in different countries (such as America and Peru), the jumps in time are clear, concise, and effective in allowing the reader to journey alongside Magnus during some of his more engaging and enlightening adventures.
More often than not I struggle to maintain focus with short story compilations, however, Magnus’s empathetic and eccentric character captivated me. Not only that, I feel, even after finishing the book, that he is a dear friend that I wish to reconnect with in the future.
Another aspect I loved about The Bane Chronicles is the fact that in each story a familiar character appears, characters that have been previously established in Clare’s shadow hunter series. I was able to gain insight into their lives along with enjoy their interactions with Magnus. They felt a bit like celebrity cameos except for that I had a connection with each of them.
I’m still not sure about why each chapter began with a highlighted scene from each story, however I don’t mind that that was included in the novel. The graphic images that came along with each one were well developed and interesting to look at. Besides that, I think the only true negative to this compilation is that I want more!
Clare’s work always has me feeling satisfied and inspired! I can’t wait to read Chain of Gold next!
