The Shadowhunter’s Codex

I read The Shadowhunter’s Codex all the way back in August (which really wasn’t that long ago but feels that way when the world has been shut down due to snow). It originally didn’t seem that exciting, but I saw some pictures of the inside and decided to read it after all. It was not like I expected. If you’re looking for something Shadowhunter to read while you’re waiting for Chain of Gold to come out in a little more than four months, you might want to check this one out.

The Shadowhunter’s Codex reads like a D&D Manual. It’s supposed to be the book that’s given to all new Shadowhunters. I know, that really doesn’t sound all that exciting. However, this book has been read (and commented in) by Clary, Simon, and Jace. That is what makes this book fun to read.

If you love the Shadowhunters books, then you’ll probably find the information on demons, Shadowhunter history, and the like to be interesting, but some of that might be review. Clary’s drawings and the three teenagers’ comments back and forth to each other throughout the book make this book worth reading though. They all have different handwriting, so it’s easy to tell who’s writing what.

Would I read The Shadowhunter’s Codex before I read any other books in the Shadowhunter’s universe? Absolutely not. The book assumes you know who Clary, Jace, and Simon are, and care about what they think. You could probably read and enjoy this book if you’ve read The Mortal Instruments. I’d probably read all of the main series before you read this one though. While it’s an enjoyable book, it doesn’t contribute to the overall Shadowhunter’s story arc and should probably be read after you’ve read all the main books in this universe.