This illustrated history promises to give you a behind the scenes peek into your favorite Shadowhunter and Downworlder characters from Clare’s hit fantasy series. Which it somewhat succeeds.

I’ll admit the amazon summary may have oversold it as I was eagerly flying through the pages to see a complete Shadowhunter family tree as I am often confused by its many tangled branches. It was not in there so that was slightly disappointing.

The behind the scenes peeks are just little trivia tidbits like Camille Belcourt’s brief time working as a supernatural milliner or Jace’s talent at playing piano. Not much in new insights to the world or their psyches.

What really makes this book shine compared to the Shadowhunter Codex which provides a much more comprehensive guide and history to the world is Jean’s art.

Her flower cards inscribed with the flowers’ meaning that often has a symbolic relationship with the character associated are just gorgeous to look at. It’s the whole point of the book.

If you want more adventures in the series, this book will disappoint but if you want to collect them all and enjoy Jean’s art, this book is for you.