Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader edited by Cassandra Clare

Title: Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader

Editor: Cassandra Clare

Publish Date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: SmartPop

Pages: 256

Buy the Book: Barnes & Noble

Rating: ★★★★★

Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013.

Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.

Authors Who Contributed:
Holly Black / Kendare Blake / Gwenda Bond / Sarah Rees Brennan / Rachel Caine / Sarah Cross / Kami Garcia / Michelle Hodkin / Kelly Link / Kate Milford / Diana Peterfreund / Sara Ryan / Scott Tracey / Robin Wasserman

Okay, let's get this one thing out there. I love Cassandra Clare's books and not just because I can. That was what really drew me towards this book because let's be honest here, anything with Cassandra Clare or the Mortal Instruments attached to it is bound to draw a lot of attention. So, getting to read these essays from popular authors about a series I adore was kind of the greatest thing ever. 

Fangirl moment: This cover is amazing, the essays are amazing, the authors are amazing. Okay, I think I'm good now. I've completed my proverbial happy dance and can now continue on with an actual review.

I think a major part of reviewing this book is looking at how I personally responded to the series as I continue to read each book. The honest truth is that I had been randomly walking down an aisle in the bookstore and came across the first two books (yes, I was in the dark for THAT LONG). I don't think I even waited to get home before I started reading the first chapter of the first book, City of Bones. The story itself is so enchanting, enthralling, and well developed that you can't really put them down once you've picked them up. At least, I didn't put it down. Do you want to know the benefit of waiting until a couple of books are published? You don't have to wait those dreaded periods of time between books. Currently, I am going through a Cassandra Clare novel withdrawal. Those of you who haven't experienced it yet, just you wait.

The best part of this whole thing? Getting to read other people's opinions, peeves, likes, hates, and ideas about the series I've come to love. And from authors I adore just as much as the books. A just one lovely ball of wonderfulness. 

I definitely can mark a lot of these essays, especially the one by Michelle Hodkin, as eye opening and awe-inspiring. These authors have put a great deal of effort in considering, developing, and writing these beautiful pieces of insight to the Mortal Instruments series. I had a lot of the "I thought that too!" sort of moments when it came to observations of characters. The writing was both formal and informal, each containing a sense of either humor or reverence. I found a lot of great one liners about the characters and some of the best ones were about Jace. 

There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that this is a worthwhile read especially for those of us who are attached (to say the least) to the Mortal Instruments and all of the characters in it. If you loved the Mortal Instruments, you will love this book too.