The Laughing Listener
January 2020
Format: Audiobook & Hardback
Narrator: Various
Length: 13 hours & 3 minutes

Story Rating: 4.5 Stars
Performance Rating: 4 Stars (some better than others)
Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

At the time of writing this review, [b:Chain of Gold|17699853|Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1)|Cassandra Clare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571379245l/17699853._SY75_.jpg|19212510] is coming out in a little over a month. A MONTH. Needless to say, I very much cannot keep my chill and have gone into preparation mode reading all the Shadowhunter books I can before March.



And somehow I’ve lived my life thus far without diving into any of the short story books from the shadowhunter universe. Hey, don’t give me that look! [b:Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy|28954137|Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy|Cassandra Clare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454864103l/28954137._SY75_.jpg|46924845] is all about Simon, one of the most annoying characters in The Mortal Instruments, so I haven’t been too keen to read it. And for some odd reason, I’ve never been pulled to Magnus’ short stories and it’s hard to pinpoint why. I’m very secure with my adoration for Magnus and he feels like a very developed characters to me, so I’ve just never felt the need to read more about his history???

Obviously, that’s some bullshit the old me pre-Bane Chronicles would say because this book was DELIGHTFUL. And HILARIOUS. It’s no surprise that Magnus is the absolute best and I just love him so much?? But seeing him develop the amazing friendships we’ve already come to love gave me FEELINGS. My view of Camille is forever changed. I’ve also never realized how entangled Magnus and Raphael’s history really was and I have such a better appreciation for them now. And Ragnor!! Oh my god, I will never NOT call him my sweet pea pod now.

I also thought Cassandra Clare did a great job of capturing the feeling of decades passing by. That was something I was vaguely concerned about going in—that capturing the full scope of Magnus’ long life would be impossible, but I really loved it! All the descriptions of each time period were so cool and it gave me a sharper clarity of why Magnus is the way he is. Which is FABULOUS, obviously.

This was also my first glimpse at the characters from The Last Hours and I just—



HOW CAN I LOVE THEM SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE TO GO ON?!? I would do anything for Jamie’s happiness. ANYTHING. And I’m DYING to know what the deal is with him and Grace?????? Can I get some ANSWERS PLEASE??????? Also, is there anything better than adult dad Will?? I think not. *Swoons*

FINAL WORD

Loretta sat on this book for too long thinking that it wasn’t that important to the Shadowhunter universe. Don’t be Loretta. A CAUTIONARY TALE.