Saving Raphael Santiago

The Bane Chronicles #6

by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan

A Manhattan teen—Raphael Santiago—is missing, and Magnus Bane must track him down before it’s too late.

In 1950s New York City, a distraught mother hires Magnus Bane to find her missing son, Raphael. But even if he can be found, is Raphael beyond saving?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Short Stories, Paranormal, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Magic

40 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Cassandra Clare was born to American parents in Tehran, Iran and spent much of her childhood travelling the world with her family, including one trek through the Himalayas as a toddler where she spent a month living in her father’s backpack. She lived in France, England and Switzerland before she was ten years old.

Since her family moved around so much she found familiarity in books and went everywhere with a book under her arm. She spent her high school years in Los Angeles where she used to write stories to amuse her classmates, including an epic novel called “The Beautiful Cassandra” based on a Jane Austen short story of the same name (and which later inspired her current pen name).

After college, Cassie lived in Los Angeles and New York where she worked at various entertainment magazines and even some rather suspect tabloids where she reported on Brad and Angelina’s world travels and Britney Spears’ wardrobe malfunctions. She started working on her YA novel, City of Bones, in 2004, inspired by the urban landscape of Manhattan, her favourite city. She turned to writing fantasy fiction full time in 2006 and hopes never to have to write about Paris Hilton again.
Cassie’s first professional writing sale was a short story called “The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord” in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. Cassie hates working at home alone because she always gets distracted by reality TV shows and the antics of her cats, so she usually sets out to write in local coffee shops and restaurants. She likes to work in the company of her friends, who see that she sticks to her deadlines.

City of Bones was her first novel. Sword Catcher is her most recent novel.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Love did not overcome everything. Love did not always endure. All you had could be taken away, love could be the last thing you had, and then love could be taken too.”

My heart, my poor broken heart. This literally felt like torture to read after finishing City of Heavenly Fire. Raphael Santiago was also a character that didn’t hide his pain and anger; and I always respected that. But everything he had to go through? Man, oh man. I will say that this story got pretty dark and trigger warnings for kidnapping, murder, and maybe even pedophilia. Louis is for sure the most evil person I’ve seen in the Shadowhunter world yet. Basically, in 1953, Magnus is a private detective, and Guadalupe, Raphael’s mother, hires him to find her son. This story just made me feel every single emotion. I also enjoyed seeing Hotel Dumort start to become the vampire lair. But the shining star of this book was obviously Raphael and his mother and the unconditional love that a mother should always have for her child. Ah, I didn’t ask for these tears all over again.

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(I read this in The Bane Chronicles!) ✨

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sad peek into the world of vampires, but it surprisingly had its heartwarming and humorous moments.

[Athena ღ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Από πριν συμπαθούσα τον Ραφαέλ. Αφότου διάβασα την ιστορία του τον συμπάθησα ακόμα περισσότερο.
Η γνωριμία και η φιλία του με τον Μάγκνους με άγγιξε πολυ!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... This explains why Raphael is, like he is. I quite enjoyed it!

What Really Happened in Peru - 2 Stars
The Runaway Queen - 2 Stars
Vampires, Sconces and Edmund Herondale - 4 Stars
The Midnight Heir - 5 Stars
The Rise of the Hotel Dumort - 4 Stars
Saving Raphael Santiago - 4 Stars
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort - 3 Stars
What to Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything - 4 Stars
The Last Stand of the New York Institute - 4 Stars
The Course of True Love [and First Dates] - 4 Stars
The Voicemail of Magnus Bane - 4 Stars

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 shorty sweet stars

“Love did not overcome everything. Love did not always endure. All you had could be taken away, love could be the last thing you had, and then love could be taken too.”

Narrated by Cecil Baldwin, Jamie Bamber, George Blagden, Gareth David-Lloyd, Jordan Gavaris, Stephen Lunsford, David Oyelowo, Andrew Scott, Michael Trevino, Jesse Williams

Saving Raphael Santiago was one of the stories I was really looking forward too, at the end of the Mortal Instruments we were privy to a past we knew nothing about and now we finally do. Magnus and Raphael shared a special bond, somewhere between love and hate, fondness and exasperation and was such a treat to listen too. They are polar opposites in every way, but they had respect for each other because of it, they may not have agreed on who they chose to live their life, but it didn't matter in the end. The interactions between Rapahel and Ragnor Fell were hilarious, their torment of Magnus just added a lightness to the over all story. A sweet treat for those who are as curious as me :)

Six of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

[Lazaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this is it. I am so glad that we've finally gotten some backstory on Raphael, I've always liked and found him intriguing. It certainly is weird that he's just 15 and he's mature, and I don't think vampirism is what turned him into such a wise person. I liked the relationship he built with Magnus and even if none of them can admit to it, they're friends.

[★MC's Corner★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ragnor: Oh, Magnus.
Oh no, no.

Magnus: What?

Ragnor: No, you’re right, of course. I’m being silly. He’s a vampire. He only looks fourteen. How old are you? I bet you’re older than either of us,

ha-ha.

Raphael: I’d be sixteen by now,

Ragnor: Oh, Magnus!
That’s disgusting! How could you? Have you lost your mind?

Magnus: What?

Ragnor: We agreed eighteen was the cutoff age.
You, I, and Catarina made a vow.

Magnus: A v— Oh, wait. You think I’m dating Raphael?
Raphael? That’s ridiculous. That’s—

Raphael: That’s the most revolting idea I’ve ever heard.

Magnus: That’s a little strong. And, frankly, hurtful.

Raphael: And if I did wish to indulge in unnatural pursuits—and let me be clear, I certainly do not, as if I would choose him. Him! He dresses like

a maniac, acts like a fool, and makes worse jokes than the man people throw rotten eggs at outside the Dew Drop every

Saturday.

FAVORITE CONVERSATION EVER!


I love every Bane book that Cassandra and Sarah wrote!

@gleekidMC

[Grace (LovingDemBooks) Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buy this book HERE on Amazon

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). Finding about Raphael and Magnus's past together was pretty great. Poor Raphael and his mom ):

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

[crίѕтίŋα•●Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ●• · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Go to faeries for gossip about vampires, to werewolves for gossip about faeries, and do not gossip about werewolves, because they try to bite your face off: that was Magnus’s motto.”

* * *
“Love did not overcome everything. Love did not always endure. All you had could be taken away, love could be the last thing you had, and then love could be taken too.”
- Magnus Bane

[Christina Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An AMAZING story! I was always curious about Raphael Santiago, and if you've read the TMI series, you know what he is and can then infer what "saving" actually means.

There was SO much emotion, on the part of Raphael, in this story. I felt for him so badly. I cried when he cried. I was angry when he was angry. He just felt so much. And is such a strong & deep character.

When Magnus first finds Raphael in this story, I lose it. It was such an emotional and crucial encounter between the two. And it shed more light on how amazing a character that Magnus is as well. Of course, that's something that we don't need reminding of. There's a lot more to Magnus that is continuously being uncovered!

It's always so much fun to see how everything connects from the TMI series, and now this chronicle. To know that Cassie (and Sarah, whose voice is VERY prominent in this story) can remember every single minute detail that was mentioned in previous books. It makes connecting the dots so seamless and effortless.

I REALLY enjoyed this one. Raphael was always a fun character to follow, even for brief moments, in the TMI series. So it is nice to have a whole chronicle focused on him and how Magnus played a role in his life.

P.S. It's always fun when Ragnor is in the picture, as well!

[dia💋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

this part was better again and raphael is a great character

[luciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved to read about Raphael! I hope to see more of him in the future.

[Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo era de esas personas que odiaba a Raphael Santiago en la mayor parte de The Mortal Instruments, pero tras leer Saving Raphael Santiago todo cambia. Es increíble leer cómo Cassandra Clare nos cuenta el origen de la transformación de este chico en vampiro, su trasfondo, su familia, sus creencias y la personalidad de acero que tiene.

Este es de mis relatos favoritos de The Bane Chronicles no sólo por el humor, sino por la tenacidad de Raphael ante todas las circunstancias. Además, no tiene precio ver cómo Magnus y él interactúan, cómo se convierten temporalmente en compañeros de piso y cómo aprecia el Gran Brujo de Brooklyn el amor que ve en la familia Santiago.

"Love did not overcome everything. Love did not aways endure. All you had could be taken away, love could be the last thing you had, and then love could be taken too.
Magnus knew, though, how love could be a last hope and a star to steer by. Light that went out had still shone once".

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raphael was always such an interesting character, such great self-control despite his young age, his leadership skills are something to be admired... I always liked him in TMI series and really enjoyed seeing how he started life as a vampire and how Magnus helped him.

[Savannah Cieslak · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I thought that this was a good addition to the overall series. It was really cool getting to see Rafael’s origin story and how his and Magnus’s relationship developed and changed. Can’t wait to continue!

R.R

[Angigames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non avrei mai pensato che il passato di Raphael Santiago potesse essere così commovente, ne che dietro quella facciata arrogante e presuntuosa si nascondesse invece una volontà di ferro e un amore incondizionato.
La Clare mi ha premesso di rivalutare tutta la figura del vampiro capo clan di NY, questo nuovo Raphael affascina, emoziona e fa ridere.
Brava Clare!

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sort of like Saving Raphael Santiago. I don't recall being a fan of Raphael as he was presented in the other books, but I was definitely a fan of his mean remarks and his delightful habit of calling people stupid in the story. This is probably the funniest one out of those I've read so far, even though there were also some more disturbing themes in it.

[Beenish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raphael saved himself! I loved this story tbvh!

[Andre · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was bad. It contradicts itself and all the other books of the same universe. All attempts there were of saving Magnus were ruined; and in my eyes it is too late anyway. This is the 14th book he is in (the 6th where he is the protagonist) and we still know barely anything more of his origins than we knew in The Mortal Instruments. All his “adventures” provide nothing new about him as a character, only the amount of whining and self-pitying increases.

I will give the book credit for trying to make Magnus look mature and Raphael a three-dimensional character, but it was torpedoed by making Raphael more like a Gary Stu and Magnus act like an idiot, and of course every opportunity of Magnus whining was used as it seems. The book seems to try to make both look smart by having all others act so stupid I sometimes wondered whether they had brain damage.
And I doubt that the Raphael in earlier books would really be a 50 years older version of the one here.
Why were certain in-universe elements never mentioned although they would be crucial to the story, or at the very least noteworthy?
Basically the book seems to be there to make Magnus look like the hero, but it does that by ignoring so much from the established canon that he came along as a giant idiot. But since the end ignores what was previously done in the book his stupidity doesn't bite him in the ass.
The book doesn’t even get emotion across and all in all there is no real reason for Magnus or the other characters to be behaving the way they do apart from the plot saying so.

The writing was just as bad as it had been up to book 4. It seems book 5 was a fluke so far, because the weird stuff is back in full force. Also the series’ habit of saying stuff we should know sooner or having certain passages at totally inappropriate places is still there. Basically: several passages seemed hastily glued together without any transition between them.

As usual, I will go into detail in my spoilers section by using the books most obvious examples:


The presentation of emotions
Often we were told certain things when it was already the time to change them. For instance I didn’t know that Raphael’s mother (Guadalupe) was afraid until the book stated that she regained her courage. If she was afraid that her son might be dead why does she have her little speech about Magnus's world and how it had touched hers, about god-forsaken monsters, and then take a turn about the living room just to suddenly whisper Los vampiros? What sort of distraught mother wastes so much time? An actual person in such a situation would not tell the story (there was much more afterwards) she would state the job and give the information she thinks are crucial or the detective asks for. Because the most important thing for her would be to find her son before he is dead!!!
And if her challenging look had turned beseeching, it would have been nice to tell us that before it changed, the thin eyebrows (allegedly giving her a challenging air) don’t count, and the later shaking breath also doesn’t fit her earlier performance. When people get nervous and worried they often display certain ticks and quirks. Things a "master observer" (which Magnus claimed to be in book 4) would notice immediately. But there was nothing of that here.


What??????
Doesn't the sentence that Guadalupe wasn’t a blonde to make a bishop kick a hole through a stained-glass window imply that being blond is the epitome of beauty?
Now even the most hardened Downworlders didn’t like the thought of preying on children and Raphael seems to count as child, despite being at least 14 (in City of Bones he was slightly older than 17 year old Jace). So all the vampires in City of Ashes where the worst of the worst since they drank from Simon?
If magic is a known force in this universe and people pay warlocks to perform it, why is it hidden?
If Magnus can hear Raphael suck blood from across the room, why can't Raphael hear him? And if he was in the deepest shadows how could Magnus see a boy in the arms of a vampire?
Why was Raphael described with the teeth-rattling chill of someone so cold when it was stated in City of Fallen Angels that vampires don't feel the cold?
The girl Lily from City of Bones, not described as Asian anymore, is wearing a cheongsam (weird fashion choice since this plays in 1953 and they didn’t become popular in the US prior to the 1960s).
How can Magnus move fast enough to catch a vampire? He didn't cast a spell and The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices stated that vampires have increased strength and speed beyond any human, nothing like that was ever stated for warlocks.
After seeing Raphael and his victim on the sidewalk, it is suddenly stated that Magnus prowled forward, over his own rug. Are they back in Magnus's apartment? Is this some sort of figure of speech?
I know the gesture of fistbump might be around ever since the 1800s, but it is extremely weird that Ragnor (centuries old) and Raphael both know it?
Raphael’s skin tone changed due to hunger, a vampire fact never stated in any other book.
Guadalupe wanted so badly to believe what they were saying that she could not quite bring herself to trust them. How does wanting so badly to believe cause you to mistrust someone? Does she think there is some sort of hypnosis or suggestion spell going on? And did she know that Magnus and Raphael were coming and was endangering her children on purpose or are the two endangering them by not telling her?
Why are we told these things about what would happen between Magnus and Raphael in the decades to come when Magnus hears someone approaching him instead of at the end of the book?
There was no hint in any book so far that relations had always been strained between Magnus and the vampires of New York, Camille’s clan.


Raphael is special
Raphael is just so special that the older boys listen to him, he is as smart and strong as an adult, and his mother is sure that he is the one who would survive. The book states that it was extremely unusual for a new vampire to rise and overcome the hunger enough to think, or do anything else besides feed, and Raphael had surprisingly killed his maker, because he "surprised" him. We are constantly reminded of his high self control (holding a cross, feeding, etc.), and he accustomed fast to all the magic. Despite wanting to die all the time he only attempted suicide when Magnus was there, he managed to say the word "God" after a short way into the book, no idea how much time passed since we are only told towards the end that Raphael and Magnus spent months with each other.
He knows that vampire subjugates don't make the best conversationalists (either that or he was lying, hard to tell) and he tells the other vampires we see the most basic things that any average person in this situation would already know (see below). He even is Camille's second-in-command after only a few months and was calmly ordering around vampires hundreds of years older than himself.
Apparently neither Raphael nor Magnus had thought of the fact that vampires cry blood - idiots. Not that this ever happened here, although it should have since Raphael’s eyes were shining. If vampires cry blood and Raphael's eyes were shining than his eyes must have had blood in them already. But doesn't matter because Raphael ran into his mother's arms so fast that he was gone from Magnus’s side more quickly than a human could move.

Him saying: And if I did wish to indulge in unnatural pursuits—and let me be clear, I certainly do not,” Raphael continued scornfully, “as if I would choose him. Him! He dresses like a maniac, acts like a fool, and makes worse jokes than the man people throw rotten eggs at outside the Dew Drop every Saturday must be the most truthful thing anyone has ever said about Magnus ever since Imazu dumped him in book 1.

Despite being stated as so mature he was likened to a slapped child and instead of going to his mother he undergoes all those ordeals with crosses and all that seem to have no real point. It seems his "I am damned" was just there to make Raphael seem like he was generally desperate and broken and therefore acted "insulting" to others, even when his comments are justified. What is really frustrating is that this Raphael will be this hypocritical and paranoid idiot of The Mortal Instruments. I think much in this book was only there to have some "justification" for him being where he is later, since he joined Camille's clan, despite the risk of her being pissed because he killed her guest. And if he wants his mother to believe he still has a soul, wouldn't all this talk about training and having a soul be pretty suspicious?

PS. Which part of his family is he still visiting after 50 years and do they really believe he is a warlock despite only visiting them at night?


How can they be so stupid?
The whole neighborhood knew it was a vampire that was killing kids and all they did was praying, except for Raphael and his gang of teens? Everyone seemed to know where the vampire was and Clockwork Angel clearly stated that vampires burn to ash within mere seconds. So: get a lot of religious symbols (for protection) and set the building on fire. Some Hungarians could chase Karstein (the vampire) away but a neighborhood of Latinos can’t?
Why does Guadalupe think Raphael and his friends are just playing outside at night and no one is enforcing a curfew? And she tells Magnus that he will recognize Raphael by the small golden cross she gave him? No description of his looks, no specific character traits, no clothes, nothing but the cross that is later, of course, not on Raphael when Magnus finds it. The only "good" thing about this lack of maternal interest is that it is consistent with how she later just accepts Magnus's message to not disturb him with Raphael.

If Karstein is such an obvious security risk, the vampires of New York so careful and Camille as cunning as described in previous books why does she let him run around unchecked and even play with the dead bodies? There are several bodies in Karstein's room with arterial spray and bloody handprints and dark pools of human and vampire blood all over the place. It is a hot summer, there would at least be countless flies, maggots and rats already, possibly even vultures and crows, all lured by the powerful stench of decay. Not even the dumbass Shadowhunters would overlook that, (although they were so stupid to let vampires move into a hotel that was used as a demon portal in Oct1929; they apparently moved in the same year).
Why did Karstein think Raphael would help him if the regular new vampire can barely do anything but feeding? Was "help" referring to killing the humans in a blood rage or something? If yes, that is weird for a vampire that allegedly likes to play with his victims.
A trio of vampires feeding on a victim was discovered by the protagonists by hearing the sound of giggling, and the sound of sucking, and the whimpers of pain, which contradicts that vampire bites are actually pleasurable to the victim (stated in City of Ashes), so there should be no whimpers of pain. The three do not seem to realize that when the victim dies, the Nephilim kill them all. One of them was even described as almost pouting when Raphael talked back to him. Said vampire is allegedly very dangerous (never shown, just told, as usual). And this "dangerous" vampire is actually cowering away slightly from Raphael and seems to see no reason to be afraid of normal humans despite their extreme vulnerability to sun and fire. The book states that the Nephilim will kill every vampire they see, so what is up with them?

Magnus doesn’t even seem to question any of this stupidity. And wouldn’t those actions by the Nephilim go against the Accords? I thought they were already signed by this time.


Why does Magnus act like this?
Why go to a faerie to hear gossip about vampires instead of some low-live vampire? And he knows where vampires gather so why not go there first? Or contact the Praetor Lupus, they might know about it.
Why didn't he do a tracking spell? Mrs. Santiago must have lots of personal stuff of Raphael to use.
Having him be a detective was a stupid idea to begin with since this is the guy who took 20 minutes to notice that someone was shooting at a chandelier in book 4. And he was already paid for searching for stuff and solving problems in book 1 so what was new here? When he had barely started “investigating” and knew who the vampire was, he already said it seemed a more and more impossible mission. So he can’t handle a vampire?
And why was he not intend to leave a young boy in the monsters’ lair? In all other books Magnus seemed to have nothing against vampires, but here Raphael was described by him as a monster with the face of a Caravaggio angel. If vampires are so bad why did City of Fallen Angels claim him to have been in relationships with some and book 4 that Magnus didn't care what they were doing?
Why is it that Magnus could not magic blood into a body ? Later in the book, when Raphael drinks blood from a sleeping tramp, Magnus did perform a healing spell. Dying from a vampire sucking your blood means you die from blood-loss and if Magnus could not do it earlier why did he attempt it the second time? And despite the fact that the first boy in his arms might be dying, he does not try to close the wounds, or flee with him or anything. So the conclusion is that he let him die.
When Magnus finally has Raphael, he brings him to his home because he had not the faintest idea what else to do with him. At this, as well as other times, I asked myself why Magnus doesn't contact the Praetor Lupus. They were around in the 1950s, it's their job to look after new vampires and werewolves, and Magnus knew their founder, so why are they not even mentioned here or at least hinted at?
And for a guy claiming to look out Raphael he knows astoundingly little about what Raphael does.

When his crappy "plan" seems to fail he makes up this story about how he had to make Raphael an immortal sorcerer because his mother could trust a warlock and believe a warlock was not dammed. This practically ruins months of work and is also incredibly naïve for a guy that constantly whines about what an outcast he is and how his parents rejected him for his warlock status. Mrs. Santiago is Hispanic and so most likely Catholic and not fond of a warlock, a demon-spawn and magic user, and may have used him as a means to an end. While Magnus had no problem accusing his "friend" Will in book 4 of this, it doesn't seem to occur to him here. And why didn't he think of the warlock excuse before? How was the thing with the cross even supposed to work when the smell of burning flesh filled Magnus’s room and even tiny wisps of smoke filtered out through the spaces between his fingers and when Raphael ran across the sacred graveyard his skin was even boiling?
What was it about with all the "training" of Raphael to say the word "God" or enter sacred ground? Does it make him immune against its effects? If yes why does a cross still burn him even after 50 years (as evident in City of Bones)? And why were there no signs of the cross burning him towards the end of the book when he was presented to his mother? And why not simply use glamour to make a cross appear or hide his vampire nature? The only thing about this self torture that made actual sense was Raphael's desire to control himself even when he had not tasted blood in days.
And Magnus tells Raphael's family that it would take years for Raphael to do the kind of magic Magnus did, which he will never be able to do. So why does he come up with this extremely short sighted "plan?" It also includes that his family never had to know. But why not make Raphael some guardian angel of the neighborhood? Would have worked just fine.

Why does he think the footsteps chasing him belong to Raphael when it is clear that Raphael could move faster than Magnus's eyes could detect? And what is the thing Guadalupe is supposed to teach her children that Magnus speaks about? And why does he think Raphael saved himself when the kid clearly wanted to die at first?

His relationship with a woman named Etta (both fell in love very quickly of course) is used to have him whine again, like when we are told that they would dance together and she would fill the rooms with love and laughter, as she would fill his life with love and laughter, for a little while yet before she left him. This sounds as if she is just there to make him happy. He doesn't even seem to consider breaking up with her so she can find someone new with whom she could have a family. And here he could not blame Etta for anything (he had no problem blaming Alec). And he considers giving up his immortality, or maybe making her immortal, it is not entirely clear. And she seems to take the supernatural stuff way too easily and doesn't sound like a woman in her late 30s (and if Magnus looks 18-19 wouldn't that count as robbing the cradle?).

PS. Magnus had made a vow that eighteen was the cutoff age when it comes to dating and relationships and as every reader of The Mortal Instruments knows, Magnus broke that vow.
And he also stated twice, over 2-3 sentences that Raphael had promised not to do more than touch his foot to the "sacred ground", which makes him sound childish. Like Raphael has to keep his promise or little Magnus would be sad.


All the whining
Due to word count I will only use the most nauseating examples:
He hoped if he ever went mad there would be someone who loved him enough to kill him if necessary.
He whined that he knew the exact exquisitely cold feeling of being an outcast, so alone that he barely seemed to exist, while Raphael was about to jump into the sun.
Strange and painful reminders came to Magnus every now and then.
Constant whining about immortality is there again and how he and the ones he loved pay over and over for it. This time he whines how some of them had stayed until their deaths, no names or anything mentioned of course, and the series did it so often it got old a long time ago. Note: There are thousands of immortal warlocks and vampires in this world. And Magnus never found anyone among them?
Ragnor Fell is suddenly a perpetual enormous green thorn in Magnus’s side? In book 1 and City of Glass they were friends. He is probably only here for further whining and making Raphael and himself look like they are unjust to Magnus although they only highlight how shallow and childish he is and when Raphael rejects him he starts whining about how men begged to have him and dueled for his honor.
Magnus seemed to have willingly avoided thinking about how Camille fed. This is a pretty sloppy attempt of demonizing Camille even further and he knew he was dating a vampire so he should not act as some sort of victim.
And for a guy who would rather have the sun taken away from him than have love taken away he seemed to throw it away quite readily in both The Mortal Instruments and the Chronicles.

As usual, we get tossed only tiny scraps regarding Magnus's first years (his father wanting to kill him etc.) and some more (that he seldom prays, his stepfather forced him to repeat prayers until once holy words tasted bitter in his mouth, he had never been able to argue against his stepfather’s convictions regarding what God wanted or God judged.); all for the purpose of whining again.

[Wren (fablesandwren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS ONE is the one that I can get on board with.



I have a soft spot for Raphael (the book Raphael, not the TV Raphael or the movie Raphael), especially after how you learn how he became a vampire and how he got to the point that he is in now.

Raphael’s mom (there’s no way to get around that) goes to Magnus because her son as disappeared and she wants him back. There have been rumors and sightings of blood-sucking monsters and she was one of the defenders against them.

Later, Magnus learns about a horrible, scary, unbelievable monster that a past lover has welcomed to New York City with open arms…

I love learning more about Magnus’ past though. It explains a lot more of his personality and why he does the things that he does. He is probably the best character that Clare has wrote honestly.

Order to Read this Series:
The Mortal Instruments #01: City of Bones
The Mortal Instruments #02: City of Ashes
The Mortal Instruments #03: City of Glass
The Infernal Devices #01: Clockwork Angel
The Mortal Instruments #04: City of Heavenly Fire
The Infernal Devices #02: Clockwork Prince
The Mortal Instruments #05: City of Lost Souls
The Infernal Devices #03: Clockwork Princess
The Mortal Instruments #06: City of Fallen Angels

*The next two (The Bane Chronicles and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy) are optional. They are groups of novellas. I believe in reading novellas so you can pick up different things in the books that follow.

The Bane Chronicles #01: What Really Happened in Peru
The Bane Chronicles #02: The Runaway Queen
The Bane Chronicles #03: Vampires, Scones, & Edmund Herondale
The Bane Chronicles #04: The Midnight Heir
The Bane Chronicles #05: The Rise of the Hotel Dumort
The Bane Chronicles #06: Saving Raphael Santiago
The Bane Chronicles #07: The Fall of Hotel Dumort
The Bane Chronicles #08: What to Buy the Shadowhunter…
The Bane Chronicles #09: The Last Stand of the New York Institute
The Bane Chronicles #10: The Course of True Love
The Bane Chronicles #11: The Voicemail of Magnus Bane

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #01: Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #02: The Lost Herondale
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #03: The Whitechapel Fiend
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #04: Nothing but Shadows
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #05: The Evil We Love
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #06: Pale Kings and Princes
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #07: Bitter of Tongue
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #08: The Fiery Trial
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #09: Born to Endless Night
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #10: Angels Twice Descending

The Dark Artifices #01: Lady Midnight
The Dark Artifices #02: Lord of Shadows
The Dark Artifices #03: Queen of Air and Darkness

[Althea ☾]

I enjoyed this a lot especially since I've always loved Raphael and his backstory just made me love him even more.

COFFEE SHOP JAZZ AMBIENCE ROOM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0_ej...

1. What Really Happened in Peru - ★★★☆☆
2. The Runaway Queen - ★★☆☆☆
3. Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale - ★★★★★
4. The Midnight Heir - ★★★★★
5. The Rise of the Hotel Dumort - ★★☆☆☆
6. Saving Raphael Santiago - ★★★★☆
7. The Fall of the Hotel Dumort - ★★★★☆
8. What To Buy the Shadowhunter Who Has Everything - ★★★★☆
9. The Last Stand of the New York Institute - ★★★★★
10. The Course of True Love [and First Dates] - ★★★★★
11. The Voicemail of Magnus Bane - ★★★☆☆

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[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment, this one is fabulous because it gives an insight to Raphael and his first steps as a vampire... I just love Magnus and his role in history... love the whole idea of these chronicles!

[katia · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh so this is how magnus saved raphael’s life

[Ferdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers

Meh. I liked this more than the previous novella, but it still wasn't all that great.

-Magnus was as whiny and self pitying as usual. Any chance he got to complain, he did. Also, his obsession with clothes was annoying, in every novella he bangs on and on about his clothes. I get that it's a part of his personality, but it's an established part… So why waste sentences in an already short novella on something that adds nothing to the story or the series?

-Magnus as a private detective was laughable. It seemed like a random job for someone who was meant to be an all important-powerful-warlock.

-Raphael was a decent enough character, although he was rather cliched. I did like Magnus and Raphael's friendship, they were quite sweet together.

-I've lost count of how many times Magnus has been desperately in love. I'm starting to feel more and more sorry for Alex, it's clear that he's one in a long line of Magnus's many loves. I won't believe it if Magnus suddenly declares that he loves Alex more deeply than anyone else because that's just not true. He loves Alex the same as he's loved everyone else - Alex is nothing special. Why do so many readers think Magnus/Alex are some sort of epic relationship? They're not. Magnus's love for Alex isn't anything special or unique, it can't be when Magnus can fall in love with anyone as long as they're good looking. I don't know why Alex would be happy to spend his life with someone who falls in love so easily and frequently — he's not even second or third best, he's at the bottom of a very long list. After Alex dies, he'll be forgotten about as soon as Magnus meets another good looking guy. Poor Alex.

-The novella was set in the 1950s yet Magnus and the other characters spoke like they were from the present day. Also did people fist bump each other back in the 1950s?

All in all, not impressed. I really hate Magnus, Alex needs a new guy.

[nefeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love did not overcome everything. Love did not always endure. All you had could be taken away, love could be the last thing you had, and then love could be taken too.”

BUDDY READ THIS SANYAMM!!!


One of the best stories so far in The Bane Chronicles, this and The Midnight Heir!!

This book really explained better Magnus and Raphael's reltioinship and why Raphael behaves the way he does in TMI.

I LOVED Magnus in this one <333

“Magnus had often thought of getting a pet, but he had never considered acquiring a sullen teenage vampire. Once Raphael was gone, he thought, he was getting a cat. And he would always throw his cat a birthday party.”

“Go to faeries for gossip about vampires, to werewolves for gossip about faeries, and do not gossip about werewolves, because they try to bite your face off: that was Magnus's motto.”

“I see you're trying to distract me from the real point here," Magnus said instead. "You had a birthday - a perfect excuse for me to throw one of my famous parties - and you didn't even tell me about it?”

How he really tried to help Raphael and he didn't just abandon him once he found out he had turned into a vampire!!


Magnus and Raphael friendship dynamic is everything🤜🤛

“I think you're fairly strong," said Magnus. "And you have quite a lot of self-control. Look how you sternly repress all the hero worship you are longing to show me that you feel."
"It is sometimes an exercise of real self-control not to laugh in your face," Raphael said gravely. "That much is true.”

“Oh no, Raphael, please don't leave me," Magnus said in a monotone. "Where would I be without the light of your sweet smile? If you go, I will throw myself upon the ground and weep."
"Will you?" asked Raphael, raising one thin eyebrow. "Because if you do, I will stay and watch the show.”

😂😂😂


Also this line 👀

“I never get attached to Nephilim!" Magnus protested.
Ragnor coughed, and in the midst of the cough said something that sounded like "blerondale."
"Well," said Magnus. "Hardly ever.”

Excited to read the rest of the stories :)

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨ Dead Account; Not Coming Back · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly agree with Raphael's analysis of Magnus. He's ridiculous, obnoxious, and annoying.

Also, why is Ragnar's character literally whatever the heck Clare needs for any given story? Like, he literally has no personality, he's just a blank slate to be whatever she wants at the moment; sometimes he's bitter and cynical, sometimes he doesn't understand sarcasm, sometimes he likes cracking jokes. He's literally the worst written character in the world because he isn't even a character, he's a poorly executed plot device.

[stefansbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! I didn’t know I needed Raphael’s story, but now I’m grateful that I got a glimpse of his past! Who would have thought that Magnus would end up naming one of his children after him? 😂

[Anushka Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚. 𝙍𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛."

★★★★☆

[Mairéad (is roaming the Undying Lands) · Rating 3 out of 5]

{March 11th, 2015} MINI REVIEW

3 stars.

SPOILERS i guess

Pg 296.
This one was quite an interesting insider look to Raphael Santiago. Really liked how this one went. i seem to be going back and forth between what i liked and what i didnt here lol ALSO Magus Bane as a detective! Never figured he'd have the patience or sleuth ability to do so with all the glitter. Idk anymore. #baffled

This status updates summarizes my thoughts for this one quite perfectly. Magnus starring as a detective was certainly an odd feeling to me. I mean all the glitter he loves and breathes maybe im kidding a little bit here, who knows. The fact of the matter is that it features the origins of Raphael Santiago in the sense of how did he become a vampire? It's an age old question when dealing with vampires it seems.

[Claudia Lomelí · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this one so much. Raphael is such an interesting and funny character <3.