Navigating the Shadow World

Book excerpt: An exploration as well as a literary celebration of the fascinating young adult fantasy series, this companion guide takes readers deep into the rich universe of Cassandra ClareOCOs "New York Times"OCobestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles franchise. With intelligent yet accessible dissections of each volume of both the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series, Liv Spencer delivers the next best thing to a ShadowhunterOCOs codex with commentary on the books as well as their references to folklore, legends, and literature. The guide also recounts Cassandra ClareOCOs publishing story, from journalist and fan fiction writer to bestselling author; explores the cast and crew who brought the first book to life in the film "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," premiering in August 2013; and delves into the franchiseOCOs fans, a passionate community that is anything but mundane. From the Clave to Chairman Meow and demon pox to dastardly ducks, "Navigating the Shadow World" is both an insightful introduction to the world of Cassandra Clare and a satisfying companion book for fans."