Books

Audiobook Review: ‘What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You’re Not Officially Dating Anyway)’ by Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan

The Bane Chronicles have been losing momentum for me. There are some high points, but for the most part, it’s dwindling down to something that sometimes feels forced or redundant. The main motivating factor for me to continue listening to them was that Jordan Gavaris was narrating this latest installment, What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You’re Not Officially Dating Anyway). Gavaris stars on the new, about-to-be-a-hit-show, Orphan Black. I’m kind of obsessed with this show, and Gavaris is so good in it. I knew that he would make a perfect narrator for one of Bane’s stories. And he was. It also helped that What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything was the most romantic of The Bane Chronicles yet in its simple plot and resolutely discovered and felt emotions. This is the most adoring Magnus Bane we have ever seen.

It’s Alec Lightwood’s 18^th birthday, and since his relationship with Magnus Bane is a secret, Magnus can’t spend the day celebrating with him. So he decides to take on a job summoning a disgusting, slimy demon, while trying to get advice about what to get Alec for his birthday from his other warlock friends.

As Bane tries to play it cool in regards to his new relationship, he can’t help but deny how strong his feelings are. He’s not sure if he can take heartbreak. But he spends the whole day thinking of Alec, what he likes about him, their times together and the difficult and tense relations between shadowhunters and downworlders.

For all those Team Malec fans waiting for something new that is both substantial and moving from those two, they will be immensely pleased by this novella. It’s beautiful, real, and Magnus is at his best when he thinks and learns about love. Also, the humor didn’t feel forced at all. With Gavaris’ insane accent skills, he made Bane’s latest story of love feel natural and magical.

Rating: 10/10

What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything (And Who You’re Not Officially Dating Anyway) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan is now available wherever books and digital audio are sold.

Book Info:

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (November 2013)
Length: Approx. 1 hour, 5 minutes
Series: The Bane Chronicles #8
Source: Unabridged Audio Download (Provided by publisher)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Completed: December 2013

Gabrielle Bondi

Gabrielle founded The Young Folks in 2010 with Luciana Villalba. Since then, she has served as editor-in-chief and oversees the staff and editorial content on The Young Folks. She recently graduated from Northwestern University and is now working on her master's degree at the Medill School of Journalism.