LET’S TALK SHADOWHUNTERS

READERS’ ROOM: LET’S TALK

Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles are the stories behind the 2013 film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and the 55-episode Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments. A Netflix/Disney/ABC production that premiered in 2016 and ran over three seasons. It is available for streaming on Netflix now.

I had never heard of the Shadowhunters before, but the title came up while I was searching for vampire stories. I googled the title and learned that there was a book series, a tv-series and a film – all with the same name. Well, almost the same. They seem to be covering the same story, with the difference that the film only covers the first book, whereas the series continues to follow the book storyline a bit further.

The Shadowhunters series is based in New York; and, just like Twilight and A Discovery of Witches, it deals with a situation where humans don’t know that there are creatures, like vampires, living in their midst. In this world, there are four major types of creatures: warlocks, fairies, werewolves and vampires.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments is based on the first six books in Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles. There are more than twenty titles in the Chronicles, but the ones that have been adapted for film and television are:

– City of Bones (2007);
– City of Ashes (2008);
– City of Glass (2009);
– City of Fallen Angels (2011);
– City of Lost Souls (2012); and
– City of Heavenly Fire (2013).

There are also five companion books:

– Shadowshunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader (2013);
– The Shadowhunter’s Codex (2013);
– Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy (2016);
– A History of Notable Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld (2016); and
– Ghosts of the Shadow Market: An Anthology of Tales (2019).

The story revolves around Clary Frey, and it begins on the night of her 18th birthday. And yes, this is when she runs into a mysterious guy who (surprise, surprise) just happens to be the love of her life. His name is Jace Wayland, and he is a nephilim in his early 20s. And a Shadowhunter. Half-human half-angel, the nephilim are tasked with the never-ending duty of protecting humanity from the demons who sneak into our world from other dimensions. That, and to police the Downworld, which is what the secret world of paranormal creatures hiding in our midst is called in this story.

Now, nephilim, if my memory serves me right, are a race of fierce warriors and/or monstrous beings that were, indeed, meant to protect humans. Sometimes referred to as giants, sometimes as fallen angels, and sometimes as the Sons of Heaven or Seth or Cain. I must admit I’m looking forward to learning what Cassandra Clare has done with these guys and how she fits them into modern-day New York.

I have no idea what the mortal instruments are, but I guess I’m about to find out. Something else I’m not sure about is what kind of timespan this story covers, and I don’t know how – or where – it ends. Just the way I want it.

On to Stage 2.

It’s time for a date night with Clary Fray. Are you coming?

//Linnea 🖤

CREDITS & COPYRIGHTS INFORMATION

Disclaimer: As We Write (AWW) is an independent, non-profit blog owned by Evalena Styf. AWW is not affiliated with Cassandra Clare, the Shadowhunter Chronicles, Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Walker Books, Freeform, Constantin Film, Disney–ABC Domestic Television, Netflix (International), Constantin Film Produktion GmbH, Don Carmody Productions, Unique Features, Entertainment One Films (Canada), Constantin Film (Germany), Mister Smith Entertainment (EMEA) or any other production or broadcast entities associated with Shadowhunters or any other titles mentioned.

Photo, Graphics, Audio and Video: Photos from Shadowhunters or any other titles discussed in this post are either screenshots or promotional pictures released by the distributor(s). All other pictures are from CanvaPro unless another source is mentioned. Any audio/video clips used in this post are strictly for commentary purposes. This usage falls under Fair Use according to US copyright law.

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