Early on, it is clear to see that Cassandra Clare and co’s side splitting yet emotional collection of tales (from the shadow-hunter academy). This is evident in a scene, where protagonist Simon has begun the physical side of his training; where he is “convinced all gym teachers were actually demons escaped from some hell dimension, nourishing themselves on the agonies of uncoordinated youth”. The moment readers get to this scene, they’ll fall in love with Simon, and his hilariously true and relatable antidote about p.e lessons. While the rest of Simons life at the academy will leave you crying with laughter.
This book acts as a concluding companion book to The Mortal Instruments, shadow hunter series, with prequel like flashbacks in some chapters with hints of what was to come in Clares next Shadowhunters series, The Dark Artifices.
It begins with the loveable, heroic but geeky Simon Lewis, who after losing his memories to save his friends, wants them back. The solution offered to him was to go to the Shadowhunters Academy in the Shadowhunter home country, Idris and become a Shadowhunter (half angel half mundane warriors) with the ceremony incoming drinking from the Mortal Cup. This will make him a shadow hunter and give him back his memories, and perhaps a shot at being the hero, everyone tells him he was.
One of the real reasons, Simon is there is to get away from the people he knows but can’t remember; like his best friend Clary or girlfriend Isabelle. Simons fame from he chose to lose his memories to save his friends from a demon in hell, he is put into the academy’s elite stream. Simon eventually finds his feet after demanding he go to the basic class, and learn properly despite his status.
Simon along with his roommate and new friend, George Lovelace, and warlock teacher Catrina, as he trains to be a Shadowhunter, in the hope of getting back a life he thought was gone for good and to see if he has what it takes to fight good over evil, despite not being born into it.
Simon’s characters development is something that can reinstate with us all. He goes from being unsure about who he was, and tries to be who he thinks everyone else wants him to be. At the academy, Simon learns to let go of other people’s expectations and give himself the time and space he needs to become the shadow-hunter he wants to be, while remaining his loveable geeky self. He comes to realise that people should “never let other people choose who you’re going to be” as Simon has to follow his own path now, starting from a mundane to a vampire and now a shadowhunter in training.
Aside from Simons journey, we see what happens to other characters. This includes the favourite couples Alec and Magnus and their family and Clary and Jace. Also, there is history given from the prequel series (The Clockwork Devices) to the Mortal Instruments regarding Warlock Tessa Gray, and another generation of Fairchilds, Herondales, Lightwoods and Carstairs. Not to mention, the brother-sister duo, Alec and Isabelle’s dad Robert with Clary’s mum Jocelyn and stepdads history with shadowhunter gone rogue, Valentine former circle. There’s also hints into parabati (magical bond for friends who are forever linked) Emma and Julian and their family as their story begins.
The unique perspective of this book through Simon, allows for a hilarious take on life in the Shadowhunter world, with both thrilling and heart-warming moments as he tries to regain his old life while embracing his new one, piece by piece. It’s a true statement on how far Simon is willing to go to go to become somebody new while trying to remember who he used to be.
Tales of the Shadowhunter Academy is the perfect book to pick up, after you have read the main series; but once readers delve into the Shadowhunter world, there’s no going back. The dark, gritty and magical world of shadow hunters is met with laughs and heart strings, as Simon becomes his ancestor into Simon the Shadowhunter.
the girl and the city of books 
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