Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Shadowhunter spin-off loses momentum while fighting demons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE LOST BOOK OF THE WHITE, the book in question is stolen from Magnus and Alec's apartment by the warlocks Shinyun and Ragnor Fell. Magnus is less upset about the book being taken and more upset that one of his oldest friends, Ragnor Fell, is holding his baby, Max, as a threat during the heist. And before the warlocks leave, Shinyun runs him through the heart with an ancient demonic weapon. There's no pain, but the glowing in Magnus' chest is worrisome, and his magic is harder to control. They need that book back in a hurry. It could lead a Prince of Hell right into our realm. And they need to find out what's happening to Magnus' powers. Alec and Magnus drop off Max with Alec's mom at the Institute, track Ragnor to Shanghai, and pick up four very famous Shadowhunters -- Clary, Jace, Simon, and Isabelle -- before opening a portal to China.
Is It Any Good?
While the characters are worth following to any dimension -- especially Alec and Magnus, who are adorably sweet dads now -- this sequel suffers from a serious lack of momentum. This seems odd, considering how much time readers spend in a demon realm, how close Magnus is to turning into a possessed demon, and how close everyone else is to dying at the giant hand of a Prince of Hell. Some of the problem may lie in how laid back the characters are about their dangerous jobs. More is at stake for Alec and Magnus now, as parents who may not return to their child, but this is only briefly touched upon. Even the Prince of Hell, Sammael, is pretty blasé as he metes out punishment in what should be climactic scenes.
Readers who love the long-running series, though, will be thrilled to see their favorite characters in the mix: Clary, Jace, Simon, and Isabelle. They have their own side dramas in The Lost Book of the White and will remind fans why they have been following them for thousands of pages, to cities around the world, to fairy lands and werewolf lairs and vampire covens, and even to hell and back.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Magnus and Alec's family life in The Lost Book of the White. How often do you see gay dads depicted in books?
Lots of fantasy books and movies have immortal beings in them. How are warlocks here similar to, say, elves in Middle Earth, or vampires in every vampire series out there? How are they different?
Will you read more in this series? What do you think is next for Alec and Magnus? How old do you think Max will be in the next installment?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry
- Publication date : September 1, 2020
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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