Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn, is more than 300 years old and has lived every moment of his long, glitter-filled life to the fullest. Although bits and pieces of his life have been hinted at in the various titles in the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series, none are as revealing as the 11 clever, touching, and hilarious short stories in this volume. Each short story starts with a brief manga-style comic highlighting the trademark wit of coauthors' Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan. The flamboyant, powerful, and kind Bane has long been a favorite among fans of Clare's titles, and elements of some of these stories are referred in previous volumes in the series, particularly in City of Heavenly Fire (2014), the final title in the Mortal Instruments series. Many of Clare's fans will be delighted to read a volume that is devoted solely to Magnus' (mis)adventures and romances. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans (and they are legion) who are mourning the end of the Mortal Instruments series will be desperate to get their hands on this.

This illustrated companion to the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series collects eleven short stories about fan-favorite recurring character Magnus Bane. Though the historical settings are intriguing and the stories shed light on the immortal warlock's fabulously checkered past, he doesn't grow or change here. The most interesting stories are those that develop Magnus's relationships with characters from the main series.

Gr 9 Up-While he does not have a starring role, Magnus Bane, Warlock extraordinaire, is one of the most popular characters in Cassandra Clare's " Mortal Instruments" and "Infernal Devices" series (both S. &; S.). His fabulous lifestyle, scandalous love affairs, outrageous parties, exotic excursions, and unique position with Downworlders (vampires, demons, werewolves), Mundanes (humans), and Shadow Hunters (half-angel demon hunters) are only briefly touched uponuntil now. Fans of Clare's books will eagerly devour the 10 short stories, which were previously only available as individual ebooks. The tales are organized chronologically, with the majority of them taking place during the Victorian-era "Infernal Devices" series; two feature Bane and Alec, including their hilarious first date. Every story is preceded by a quotation and a one-page comic, drawn in manga-style, highlighting an important scene. Clare has teamed up with authors Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan to flesh out the lengthy life of Bane, giving readers a unique insight into the characters and events they know from Clare's other books. At the same time, readers unfamiliar with the "Shadow Hunters" series will easily be able to pick up this book and enjoy it without much confusion. The stories are equally engaging and are organized well, seamlessly building on one another. An essential purchase for any library that has a Cassandra Clare following. Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Known to fans of Cassandra Clare's series The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, Magnus Bane is an immortal warlock straddling the line between good and evil. The son of a powerful demon, Bane often finds himself coming to the aid of helpless mundanes (humans), as well as other Downworlders (werewolves, vampires, fairies) and even the haughty protectors of the world, Shadowhunters. A supporting player in Clare's series, Bane gets center stage in The Bane Chronicles, a collection of short stories about his past and present. As with most short story collections with more than one author, the writing is a little uneven and some of the stories are less interesting than others, but Bane's charismatic, over-the-top character is enough to keep one reading.While this book is just a companion to the two series and not a prequel or sequel, knowledge of the series definitely enhances the enjoyment of the book. The stories are mostly in chronological order, starting with Bane's friendship with fellow warlocks Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss in 1791 and following his exploits in mundane affairs (the French Revolution and the stock market crash in 1929). Fans will be most interested in the stories concerning Bane's connections with the Shadowhunters and his relationship with Alec Lightwood of The Mortal Instruments series.Jennifer McIntosh.