Scan barcode
A review by ashjreads
The Bane Chronicles by Sarah Rees Brennan, Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson
3.0
“If Jace was gold, catching the light and the attention, Alec was silver: so used to everyone else looking at Jace that that was where he looked too, so used to living in Jace’s shadow that he didn’t expect to be seen. Maybe it was enough to be the first person to tell Alec that he was worth being seen ahead of anyone in a room, and of being looked at longest.
And silver, though few people knew it, was a rarer metal than gold.”
This... is rough. This suffers from a few issues. For my friends who read these reviews and don't know, this book is a collection of short stories. The first half of these short stories were... just not good. Magnus was either horribly out of character or I just straight up didn't care about whatever the short story was. I spent most of this book SO. BORED.
For a book dedicated to the gays, there was a significant lack of gay. Kinda disappointing.
I liked a few of these short stories, don't get me wrong. It also feels weird to give a BOOK of short stories a star rating..... so here is a rating for each short story. You're welcome for how long this will be.
What Really Happened in Peru
2 stars. It was trying to hard to humorous and funny, and that didn't do it for me. It also didn't even tell me what got Magnus banned from Peru. The title LIES.
The Runaway Queen
1 star. Out of character and frankly? I just didn't care.
Vampire, Scones, and Edmund Herondale
2.5 stars. This one had a lot interesting perspective about how Downworlders were treated during this time by the Shadowhunters. I liked learning about how Will's parents met. It was just okay.
The Midnight Heir
4 stars. This one got me excited to read The Last Hours. I want to learn more about James Herondale and what he has going on! (Also, I missed Will. It was nice to see him.)
The Rise of the Hotel Dumort
1 star. I just didn't care.
Saving Raphael Santiago
4 stars. I really wanted to read this backstory and it really made me feel more connected to Raphael... rip king.
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort
1 star. "I don't care about these cocaine addict vampires" -Ash, 2024
What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway)
4 stars. This was very funny and I thought the demon he summoned was funny too. Isabelle is the number one Malec shipper.
The Last Stand of the New York Institute
3 stars. Interesting to see Magnus' perspective on the whole Circle business. I also liked the Jocelyn and Tessa interaction. Throwing a quote here that I liked from this one: "But you should choose whatever name seems right to you. I've always said there is a great deal of power in words, and that means names, too. A name you choose for yourself could tell you the story of what your destiny will be, and who you intend to become."
Tessa is a trans ally!
The Course of True Love (and First Dates)
4 stars. Poor Magnus and Alec, this first date was tough. RIP.
The Voicemail of Magnus Bane
3 stars. This is funny but also sad. It's too soon after the great breakup of 2012 (which I read in 2024, of course.)
This is mostly for Alissa to read, but I hope anyone else enjoyed this long write up too.
And silver, though few people knew it, was a rarer metal than gold.”
This... is rough. This suffers from a few issues. For my friends who read these reviews and don't know, this book is a collection of short stories. The first half of these short stories were... just not good. Magnus was either horribly out of character or I just straight up didn't care about whatever the short story was. I spent most of this book SO. BORED.
For a book dedicated to the gays, there was a significant lack of gay. Kinda disappointing.
I liked a few of these short stories, don't get me wrong. It also feels weird to give a BOOK of short stories a star rating..... so here is a rating for each short story. You're welcome for how long this will be.
What Really Happened in Peru
2 stars. It was trying to hard to humorous and funny, and that didn't do it for me. It also didn't even tell me what got Magnus banned from Peru. The title LIES.
The Runaway Queen
1 star. Out of character and frankly? I just didn't care.
Vampire, Scones, and Edmund Herondale
2.5 stars. This one had a lot interesting perspective about how Downworlders were treated during this time by the Shadowhunters. I liked learning about how Will's parents met. It was just okay.
The Midnight Heir
4 stars. This one got me excited to read The Last Hours. I want to learn more about James Herondale and what he has going on! (Also, I missed Will. It was nice to see him.)
The Rise of the Hotel Dumort
1 star. I just didn't care.
Saving Raphael Santiago
4 stars. I really wanted to read this backstory and it really made me feel more connected to Raphael... rip king.
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort
1 star. "I don't care about these cocaine addict vampires" -Ash, 2024
What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You're Not Officially Dating Anyway)
4 stars. This was very funny and I thought the demon he summoned was funny too. Isabelle is the number one Malec shipper.
The Last Stand of the New York Institute
3 stars. Interesting to see Magnus' perspective on the whole Circle business. I also liked the Jocelyn and Tessa interaction. Throwing a quote here that I liked from this one: "But you should choose whatever name seems right to you. I've always said there is a great deal of power in words, and that means names, too. A name you choose for yourself could tell you the story of what your destiny will be, and who you intend to become."
Tessa is a trans ally!
The Course of True Love (and First Dates)
4 stars. Poor Magnus and Alec, this first date was tough. RIP.
The Voicemail of Magnus Bane
3 stars. This is funny but also sad. It's too soon after the great breakup of 2012 (which I read in 2024, of course.)
This is mostly for Alissa to read, but I hope anyone else enjoyed this long write up too.