The Lost Book of the White
Page 35
Sammael ignored this. “I failed not because I lacked power, and not because the realm of Diyu was unable to serve me. I failed because I did not account for the power that a group can have, working together and having each other’s back.”
The other Princes of Hell exchanged puzzled glances.
“I really found it quite inspiring,” Sammael said. “And so I come to you with a proposal, dear brothers.
“Too long have we gone it alone. If we are ever to truly achieve our larger goals, we must recognize that we are more alike than we are different. We must put aside our old grievances, forget them, and work together.”
Asmodeus looked astonished. “You mean—”
“Yes,” said Sammael. “I want to talk about Lucifer.”
Acknowledgments
I WANT TO THANK NAOMI Cui for her thoughtful read of the manuscript. Otherwise, this acknowledgments section is a little different from most. Ordinarily, I use this space to thank my friends, my family, and my cowriters and editor. While I am deeply grateful to all of them for providing a nurturing community for The Lost Book of the White, this time I want to use this space to acknowledge my readers.
Dear readers, thank you for sticking with me and Magnus and Alec and all their friends. Thank you for sharing stories, adventure, and magic with me. Your enthusiasm and affection for the inhabitants of the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders never ceases to amaze me. I am so fortunate to have readers who are as thoughtful, joyous, and delightful as you. Thank you for being a part of my story. I couldn’t imagine it without you.
—C. C.
I’M NOT SAYING THE ELDEST Curses put a spell on me or anything, but before I worked on this series, I had zero children. We welcomed Hunter to the world while I was working on The Red Scrolls of Magic, and then my second son, River, while working on The Lost Book of the White.
Coincidence? Mayyyyyybe.
I’d like to think that this has less to do with correlation or causation, and more to do with the fact there was just an abundance of joy and love in my life during those Eldest Curses years. It came from my growing family, and it came from my work writing Magnus and Alec’s (and Max’s!) adventures. It was especially entertaining to witness Magnus and Alec go through the same growing pains we went through raising a family. How else do you juggle bottle-feeding, daycare, and (writing) magical battles all at the same time?
So, above all else, this book is dedicated to family—my family and families everywhere—as we balance love, happiness, and the incredible adventures of raising these magical creatures we call children. To my lovely wife, Paula, my partner, for helping raise two wonderful boys. To Hunter, my inspiration and teacher of patience, I will forever be your DJ and dance partner. To River, my joy and faith in humanity, you’re going to conquer the world one day. To the rest of my extended family, thank you; you are my tribe. To my agency family at Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary, for always having my back with their unwavering support. To the family at Simon & Schuster, for producing this amazing book the readers are holding in their hands.
A special shout-out to Cassie, my writing family. Thank you for allowing me front row seats to witnessing your creative genius.
Lastly to the Shadowhunter family: you are the reason we tell these stories. Thank you for your love and trust.
A final thank-you to Magnus and Alec and Max. Congratulations on your amazing family. We should totally hire a babysitter for the kids and double-date sometime.
—W. C.
More from The Eldest Curses
The Red Scrolls of Magic
Book 1
Explore the World of The Dark Artifices
Lady Midnight
Book 1
Lord of Shadows
Book 2
Queen of Air and…
Book 3
Explore the World of The Mortal Instruments
City of Bones
Book 1
City of Ashes
Book 2
City of Glass
Book 3
City of Fallen Angels
Book 4
City of Lost Souls
Book 5
City of Heavenly Fire
Book 6
Explore the World of The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel
Book 1
Clockwork Prince
Book 2
Clockwork Princess
Book 3
More from the Authors
Chain of Iron
Chain of Gold
Ghosts of the Shadow Market
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
The Bane Chronicles
The Shadowhunter's Codex
The Dark Artifices, the Complete Collection
The Mortal Instruments, the Complete Collection
The Infernal Devices
About the Authors
CASSANDRA CLARE is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Chain of Gold as well as the internationally bestselling Dark Artifices trilogy, Mortal Instruments series, and Infernal Devices trilogy. She is the coauthor of the Eldest Curses series with Wesley Chu; The Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson; Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman; and Ghosts of the Shadow Market with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Kelly Link, and Robin Wasserman. Her books have more than fifty million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages and made into a feature film and a TV show. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.
WESLEY CHU won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His debut novel, The Lives of Tao, earned him a Young Adult Library Services Association Alex Award and a Science Fiction Goodreads Choice Award Top 10 slot. He is also the coauthor of the Eldest Curses series with Cassandra Clare, the first book of which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/teen
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Cassandra-Clare
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Wesley-Chu
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Simon & Schuster, New York
ALSO BY CASSANDRA CLARE
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS
City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angels
City of Lost Souls
City of Heavenly Fire
THE INFERNAL DEVICES
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
THE DARK ARTIFICES
Lady Midnight
Lord of Shadows
Queen of Air and Darkness
THE ELDEST CURSES
With Wesley Chu
The Red Scrolls of Magic
THE LAST HOURS
Chain of Gold
The Shadowhunter’s Codex
With Joshua Lewis
The Bane Chronicles
With Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
With Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman
Ghosts of the Shadow Market
With Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Kelly Link, and Robin Wasserman
We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook.
Get a FREE ebook when you join our mailing list. Plus, get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster. Click below to sign up and see terms and conditions.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read. You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox.
MARGARET K. McELDERRY BOOKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publi
shing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text © 2020 by Cassandra Clare, LLC
Jacket photo-illustration © 2020 by Cliff Nielsen
Reverse jacket illustration © 2020 by Anne Lambelet
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
MARGARET K. McELDERRY BOOKS is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event.
For more information or to book an event, contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Interior design by Mike Rosamilia
Jacket design by Nick Sciacca
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Clare, Cassandra, author. | Chu, Wesley, author.
Title: The lost Book of the White / Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu.
Description: First edition. | New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, [2020] | Series: The eldest curses | Audience: Ages 14 up. | Audience: Grades 10-12. | Summary: Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood must recover a book stolen by warlocks Ragnor Fell and Shinyun Jung, who are being controlled by a Greater Demon.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020004037 (print) | LCCN 2020004038 (ebook) | ISBN 9781481495127 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781481495141 (ebook)
Subjects: CYAC: Warlocks—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Cults—Fiction. | Demonology—Fiction. | Gays—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.C5265 Lq 2020 (print) | LCC PZ7.C5265 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004037
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004038