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The Shadowhunter Chronicles #22
Better in Black
Not yet published
Expected 2 Dec 25Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 17:04:22
10 copies available
U.S. only
Ten original love stories by the reigning queen of romantasy, featuring fan-favorite couples from her #1 New York Times bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles—one of the most popular series of all time, with more than 50 million copies in print worldwide!
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
• Anna and Ari
• Emma and Julian
• Kieran, Mark, and Cristina
• James and Cordelia
• Thomas and Alastair
• Sebastian and the Seelie Queen
• Jocelyn and Luke
A love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
• Anna and Ari
• Emma and Julian
• Kieran, Mark, and Cristina
• James and Cordelia
• Thomas and Alastair
• Sebastian and the Seelie Queen
• Jocelyn and Luke
A love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!
464 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2025
13585 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Clare
161 books277k followersCassandra 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Want to read
June 17, 2025All of this is cute but Im here for the loml Will and Tessa, I'll take anything that's about them 🙏
Want to read
September 3, 2025Is it a reference to that line?? 👀
“'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234'.”
˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𖤍 ꒱ ˎˊ˗ if you know me, you know my obsession with these lol 🤪🤫🤭
(a sneak peek at the wicked powers?!?. say less!)
“'Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234'.”
˗ˏˋ ꒰ 𖤍 ꒱ ˎˊ˗ if you know me, you know my obsession with these lol 🤪🤫🤭
(a sneak peek at the wicked powers?!?. say less!)
Want to read
June 12, 2025hello? queen cassandra woke up announcing a new book!!!!!!! really finally i can meet jace and clary or tessa and will again 🥹. (also simon and izzy even if i truly HATE simon). i want december to be now.
Want to read
June 11, 2025You had me at Will Herondale
August 19, 2025
Cassandra Clare’s Better in Black is one of the most emotional and fan-satisfying releases in the Seasons of Shadowhunterscollection. With ten short stories centered on iconic Shadowhunter couples (and one legendary thruple), this anthology is basically romance fanfiction, but canon, and I’m here for it.
The title comes from an iconic Jace Herondale quote in City of Bones: “Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.” It sets the tone perfectly for a collection full of love, heartbreak, and well-dressed pain.
The theme is love in all its forms: romantic, painful, transformative. Better in Black is part of Clare's limited-edition Kickstarter series. If you missed the campaign, don't worry. A traditionally published paperback is coming from Random House (Knopf Books for Young Readers) on December 2, 2025.
There are two different covers for this release. The Kickstarter edition, illustrated by Jenny Zemanek, features a cast of characters including Alastair, Thomas, Tessa, Will, James, Cordelia, Mark, Kieran, and Cristina. The trade edition by Cliff Nielsen showcases Tessa Gray and Will Herondale.
⚠️ From here on, spoilers for each story ⚠️
🖤 The Good Storm (Will & Tessa)
We meet Will and Tessa on their honeymoon in Paris in 1879, and the story uses the amnesia trope. I’m one of those readers who actually enjoys the memory loss setup, so that completely sold me here, even though I’m not much of a Wessa fan. What really made it shine was how it let them process their feelings about Ella and Nate. It was bittersweet but satisfying, and a strong start to the collection.
🖤 The Beautiful Ajatara (James & Cordelia)
Cassie had hinted that this story was about James and Cordelia’s second wedding runes, but it wasn’t. This story almost made me cry at the end. It was such a beautiful, creative take that felt more emotional than I expected. The only thing that threw me off was how much it leaned into Lucie’s perspective, she sometimes felt like a stand-in for Cassandra Clare herself, almost as if the story was addressing criticism the fandom had after Chain of Thorns. That was a little distracting, but overall, this one really stuck with me. It wasn’t purely a James and Cordelia couple moment in the way Will and Tessa’s story was, but it was still gorgeous.
🖤 Who the Wolf Loves (Luke & Jocelyn)
This story wrecked me. It was so beautiful and filled with yearning. The emotional weight of Luke and Jocelyn’s relationship really came through here, and the simplicity of it, just that plea to “come back,” hit hard. Easily one of the most moving stories in the collection.
🖤 Zachary’s Day Out (Thomas & Alastair, ft. Zachary)
This one felt quirky and offbeat, but also a little odd. It wasn’t bad, I liked spending time with Thomas and Alastair, but compared to the emotional punch of the others, it didn’t leave as strong an impression.
🖤 The Judgement of King Kieran (Mark, Cristina & Kieran)
I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would. Kierarktina isn’t usually my favorite dynamic, but the story drew me in with its cold, eerie Unseelie Court atmosphere. It felt genuinely distinct from the Seelie Court we’ve seen before, like stepping into a completely different realm. The mystery element added to the tension, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is laying groundwork for The Wicked Powers.
🖤 A Surfeit of Annas (Anna & Ari)
Anna and Ari’s story had nice dialogue and some sweet moments, but it felt odd and ended very abruptly. It didn’t fully land for me. Arianna isn’t one of my favorite ships from that series, though they’re still undeniably cute together. I came away pretty neutral on this one.
🖤 Bred in the Bone (Julian & Emma)
This was a devastating story. It read like a haunting and brought in the whole Thule element in a way that was both morally gray and painful. The controversial part, of course, is Julian kissing Thule!Emma.
Julian knows she isn’t his Emma, but he kisses and dances with her anyway, hoping for information about Thule Livvy. From the outside, it looks like cheating, and Emma witnesses it that way. Even with the “mission” excuse, it crosses a line. The fallout was heartbreaking.
Thule characters always get to me, they’re painted as villains, but I can’t help feeling for them. This story captured that perfectly, leaving me sad and unsettled in the best way.
🖤 City of Broken Hearts (Simon & Isabelle)
I didn’t realize until this story that Sizzy weren’t officially engaged yet, so it was a surprise to see Simon propose here. Their dynamic is adorable and the story itself was super cute, with a fun connection back to The Beautiful Ajatara. I do wish there had been some indication of time, it would have helped situate the story.
That said, I loved hearing from the TMI gang again. The Ajatara and Krog subplot, a literal demon lover’s quarrel, was hilarious while still being ominous. I always enjoy when the demons are given over-the-top personalities but remain irredeemably evil. This was just a fun, warm story overall.
🖤 The Time of Two (Clary & Jace)
This might be the most complete and satisfying story in the book. It was melancholic and hopeful at the same time, with so many little setups for The Wicked Powers and The Black Volume of the Dead.
I loved that it gave us a deeper look at Maryse through her brother and her son. It highlighted Jace’s growth, how he shares Maryse’s instinct to push people away, but has reached a point where he wants to pull people in and strengthen his family ties. His trust in Maryse’s love for him and for Max was genuinely moving.
Clary and Jace’s dynamic was as strong as ever. Jace’s one-liners had me laughing, and Clary’s perspective on both the Shadowhunter and mundane worlds is so unique at this point in her life. Seeing them in their twenties, navigating something as mundane as suburbia, was both charming and surreal.
The Max Trueblood subplot was bittersweet, he chose love and lost everything else, but the love remained. That ache carried the story. And then there were moments of humor and warmth, like the funny pancake shapes, that balanced it perfectly. I loved this one.
🖤 Too Wise to Love (Nene, the Seelie Queen & Sebastian)
The standout of the whole book. Nene’s character is recontextualized in such a heartbreaking way. She spends her life trying to shield herself from pain, but familial love proves unavoidable, and in the end she embraces Ash as her son. That moment had me tearing up.
The Seelie Queen’s relationship with Sebastian was jaw-dropping. I assumed her feelings were calculated, but no, she was truly in love with him. Once he was gone, she even rejected her own child because she only wanted the “whole package.” I can’t stand mothers who behave that way, but it made Nene’s love for Ash feel even more powerful and real.
Seeing baby Ash here made me even more curious about his role in The Wicked Powers. His parentage is already the most dramatic of any character in the series, and this only raised more questions.
The traditionally published edition includes a sampler of The Wicked Powers after this story, and it feels perfectly placed. You finish Too Wise to Love desperate to know more about Ash, and then immediately get a glimpse of what’s to come.
⭐ Ratings out of 5 stars (Rankings favorite → least):
1. Too Wise to Love (5 ⭐)
2. The Time of Two (5 ⭐)
3. Bred in the Bone (5 ⭐)
4. Who the Wolf Loves (5 ⭐)
5. The Beautiful Ajatara (5 ⭐)
6. City of Broken Hearts (5 ⭐)
7. The Good Storm (5 ⭐)
8. The Judgement of King Kieran (5 ⭐)
9. Zachary’s Day Out (4 ⭐)
10. A Surfeit of Annas (3 ⭐)
📚 Overall: 4.7/5
Romance ✅
Drama ✅
Representation ✅
Shadowhunters being emotionally damaged but well-dressed ✅
Better in Black? It really is iconic.
The title comes from an iconic Jace Herondale quote in City of Bones: “Shadowhunters: Looking Better in Black Than the Widows of our Enemies Since 1234.” It sets the tone perfectly for a collection full of love, heartbreak, and well-dressed pain.
The theme is love in all its forms: romantic, painful, transformative. Better in Black is part of Clare's limited-edition Kickstarter series. If you missed the campaign, don't worry. A traditionally published paperback is coming from Random House (Knopf Books for Young Readers) on December 2, 2025.
There are two different covers for this release. The Kickstarter edition, illustrated by Jenny Zemanek, features a cast of characters including Alastair, Thomas, Tessa, Will, James, Cordelia, Mark, Kieran, and Cristina. The trade edition by Cliff Nielsen showcases Tessa Gray and Will Herondale.
⚠️ From here on, spoilers for each story ⚠️
🖤 The Good Storm (Will & Tessa)
We meet Will and Tessa on their honeymoon in Paris in 1879, and the story uses the amnesia trope. I’m one of those readers who actually enjoys the memory loss setup, so that completely sold me here, even though I’m not much of a Wessa fan. What really made it shine was how it let them process their feelings about Ella and Nate. It was bittersweet but satisfying, and a strong start to the collection.
🖤 The Beautiful Ajatara (James & Cordelia)
Cassie had hinted that this story was about James and Cordelia’s second wedding runes, but it wasn’t. This story almost made me cry at the end. It was such a beautiful, creative take that felt more emotional than I expected. The only thing that threw me off was how much it leaned into Lucie’s perspective, she sometimes felt like a stand-in for Cassandra Clare herself, almost as if the story was addressing criticism the fandom had after Chain of Thorns. That was a little distracting, but overall, this one really stuck with me. It wasn’t purely a James and Cordelia couple moment in the way Will and Tessa’s story was, but it was still gorgeous.
🖤 Who the Wolf Loves (Luke & Jocelyn)
This story wrecked me. It was so beautiful and filled with yearning. The emotional weight of Luke and Jocelyn’s relationship really came through here, and the simplicity of it, just that plea to “come back,” hit hard. Easily one of the most moving stories in the collection.
🖤 Zachary’s Day Out (Thomas & Alastair, ft. Zachary)
This one felt quirky and offbeat, but also a little odd. It wasn’t bad, I liked spending time with Thomas and Alastair, but compared to the emotional punch of the others, it didn’t leave as strong an impression.
🖤 The Judgement of King Kieran (Mark, Cristina & Kieran)
I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would. Kierarktina isn’t usually my favorite dynamic, but the story drew me in with its cold, eerie Unseelie Court atmosphere. It felt genuinely distinct from the Seelie Court we’ve seen before, like stepping into a completely different realm. The mystery element added to the tension, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is laying groundwork for The Wicked Powers.
🖤 A Surfeit of Annas (Anna & Ari)
Anna and Ari’s story had nice dialogue and some sweet moments, but it felt odd and ended very abruptly. It didn’t fully land for me. Arianna isn’t one of my favorite ships from that series, though they’re still undeniably cute together. I came away pretty neutral on this one.
🖤 Bred in the Bone (Julian & Emma)
This was a devastating story. It read like a haunting and brought in the whole Thule element in a way that was both morally gray and painful. The controversial part, of course, is Julian kissing Thule!Emma.
Julian knows she isn’t his Emma, but he kisses and dances with her anyway, hoping for information about Thule Livvy. From the outside, it looks like cheating, and Emma witnesses it that way. Even with the “mission” excuse, it crosses a line. The fallout was heartbreaking.
Thule characters always get to me, they’re painted as villains, but I can’t help feeling for them. This story captured that perfectly, leaving me sad and unsettled in the best way.
🖤 City of Broken Hearts (Simon & Isabelle)
I didn’t realize until this story that Sizzy weren’t officially engaged yet, so it was a surprise to see Simon propose here. Their dynamic is adorable and the story itself was super cute, with a fun connection back to The Beautiful Ajatara. I do wish there had been some indication of time, it would have helped situate the story.
That said, I loved hearing from the TMI gang again. The Ajatara and Krog subplot, a literal demon lover’s quarrel, was hilarious while still being ominous. I always enjoy when the demons are given over-the-top personalities but remain irredeemably evil. This was just a fun, warm story overall.
🖤 The Time of Two (Clary & Jace)
This might be the most complete and satisfying story in the book. It was melancholic and hopeful at the same time, with so many little setups for The Wicked Powers and The Black Volume of the Dead.
I loved that it gave us a deeper look at Maryse through her brother and her son. It highlighted Jace’s growth, how he shares Maryse’s instinct to push people away, but has reached a point where he wants to pull people in and strengthen his family ties. His trust in Maryse’s love for him and for Max was genuinely moving.
Clary and Jace’s dynamic was as strong as ever. Jace’s one-liners had me laughing, and Clary’s perspective on both the Shadowhunter and mundane worlds is so unique at this point in her life. Seeing them in their twenties, navigating something as mundane as suburbia, was both charming and surreal.
The Max Trueblood subplot was bittersweet, he chose love and lost everything else, but the love remained. That ache carried the story. And then there were moments of humor and warmth, like the funny pancake shapes, that balanced it perfectly. I loved this one.
🖤 Too Wise to Love (Nene, the Seelie Queen & Sebastian)
The standout of the whole book. Nene’s character is recontextualized in such a heartbreaking way. She spends her life trying to shield herself from pain, but familial love proves unavoidable, and in the end she embraces Ash as her son. That moment had me tearing up.
The Seelie Queen’s relationship with Sebastian was jaw-dropping. I assumed her feelings were calculated, but no, she was truly in love with him. Once he was gone, she even rejected her own child because she only wanted the “whole package.” I can’t stand mothers who behave that way, but it made Nene’s love for Ash feel even more powerful and real.
Seeing baby Ash here made me even more curious about his role in The Wicked Powers. His parentage is already the most dramatic of any character in the series, and this only raised more questions.
The traditionally published edition includes a sampler of The Wicked Powers after this story, and it feels perfectly placed. You finish Too Wise to Love desperate to know more about Ash, and then immediately get a glimpse of what’s to come.
⭐ Ratings out of 5 stars (Rankings favorite → least):
1. Too Wise to Love (5 ⭐)
2. The Time of Two (5 ⭐)
3. Bred in the Bone (5 ⭐)
4. Who the Wolf Loves (5 ⭐)
5. The Beautiful Ajatara (5 ⭐)
6. City of Broken Hearts (5 ⭐)
7. The Good Storm (5 ⭐)
8. The Judgement of King Kieran (5 ⭐)
9. Zachary’s Day Out (4 ⭐)
10. A Surfeit of Annas (3 ⭐)
📚 Overall: 4.7/5
Romance ✅
Drama ✅
Representation ✅
Shadowhunters being emotionally damaged but well-dressed ✅
Better in Black? It really is iconic.
Want to read
June 12, 2025I apologise in advance for the person I’ll become when this drops 🙂↕️🙂↕️
Read
June 12, 2025I will be there for Will Herondale and Will Herondale only
Want to read
June 11, 2025464 PAGES?!?! CASSANDRAAAAA 😘😘😘😘
Want to read
June 11, 2025Teenager me will never have enough of this, cause wdym I'm getting my biggest book crush ever, William Herondale, back?
This is one of those, "propagandas I'm falling for" case, and I won't even hide that
This is one of those, "propagandas I'm falling for" case, and I won't even hide that
September 1, 2025
2025 reads: 237/300
this short story collection follows ten different couples from the shadowhunter chronicles (tsc). we follow these characters as they battle demons and their relationship troubles.
as a long-time tsc fan, this was the perfect collection for me. that said, i skipped one book, careful of books (matthew’s story), thinking it’d be fine, but i was really wishing i’d read that first because of certain appearances and references. i had been planning on reading that one first, but i felt too much peer pressure for this one. anyway, this was still highly enjoyable. i loved each story, but i think i loved sizzy’s, blackstairs’s, and sebastian/the seelie queen’s stories the best. sizzy and blackstairs are some of my top tsc couples, and i could tell blackstairs’s story is setting us up for the wicked powers (though i don’t think it’ll be absolutely necessary to read that one before the wicked powers). sebastian/the seelie queen’s story, despite that being its label, was actually a great introduction to ash and his upbringing. overall, this was a lovely collection. i highly recommend this to other tsc fans. i’m so excited for the wicked powers!
this short story collection follows ten different couples from the shadowhunter chronicles (tsc). we follow these characters as they battle demons and their relationship troubles.
as a long-time tsc fan, this was the perfect collection for me. that said, i skipped one book, careful of books (matthew’s story), thinking it’d be fine, but i was really wishing i’d read that first because of certain appearances and references. i had been planning on reading that one first, but i felt too much peer pressure for this one. anyway, this was still highly enjoyable. i loved each story, but i think i loved sizzy’s, blackstairs’s, and sebastian/the seelie queen’s stories the best. sizzy and blackstairs are some of my top tsc couples, and i could tell blackstairs’s story is setting us up for the wicked powers (though i don’t think it’ll be absolutely necessary to read that one before the wicked powers). sebastian/the seelie queen’s story, despite that being its label, was actually a great introduction to ash and his upbringing. overall, this was a lovely collection. i highly recommend this to other tsc fans. i’m so excited for the wicked powers!
Want to read
August 15, 2025I was so excited for this, but now I’m so disappointed, that I barely have ANY hope for any good content in TSC. I mean, if the fan-service material isn’t serving the fans, then what else is there? I always wanted more books and content for this fandom, but after TWP, I really hope that Cassie just stops writing more for TSC and that she just leaves these characters and stories the hell alone.
Want to read
June 15, 2025ATTENTION MS. CASSANDRA CLARE HOW DID I NOT GET THE MEMO THAT WE ARE HAVING A NEW RELEASE SOON OMG
August 22, 2025
Reading this was like getting a warm hug!
August 6, 2025
i always feel so melancholic finishing a shadowhunters novel, like, for better or for worse, this really is my family. thank you so much to penguin random house for the arc.
Want to read
July 22, 2025YEEESSS!!! We are getting my first book boyfriend (aka Will Herondale) back, and I'm beyond excited! Keep all the Shadowhunter books coming Cassie because I will love them forever!!
June 11, 2025
WE FINALLY HAVE A COVER AND A SYNOPSIS!!!! AAAAAAHHH
Very excited to read this one! This new anthology will have 10 novellas about many fan-favorite couples from the Shadowhunters Chronicles.
Particularly, I'm beyond intrigued to read the story of Sebastian and the Seelie Queen. I was not expecting that one and I'm really interested in the new information it could provide.
Besides, there will be hints for THE WICKED POWERS!
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
Ten original love stories by the reigning queen of romantasy, featuring fan-favorite couples from her #1 New York Times bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles—one of the most popular series of all time, with more than 50 million copies in print worldwide!
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
• Anna and Ari
• Emma and Julian
• Kieran, Mark, and Cristina
• James and Cordelia
• Thomas and Alastair
• Sebastian and the Seelie Queen
• Jocelyn and Luke
A love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!
Very excited to read this one! This new anthology will have 10 novellas about many fan-favorite couples from the Shadowhunters Chronicles.
Particularly, I'm beyond intrigued to read the story of Sebastian and the Seelie Queen. I was not expecting that one and I'm really interested in the new information it could provide.
Besides, there will be hints for THE WICKED POWERS!
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
Ten original love stories by the reigning queen of romantasy, featuring fan-favorite couples from her #1 New York Times bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles—one of the most popular series of all time, with more than 50 million copies in print worldwide!
Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger.
Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp.
These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with:
• Anna and Ari
• Emma and Julian
• Kieran, Mark, and Cristina
• James and Cordelia
• Thomas and Alastair
• Sebastian and the Seelie Queen
• Jocelyn and Luke
A love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!
Want to read
June 12, 2025Ok I know I said I was done with Clare’s work, but this takes the CAKE!! 😂
August 30, 2025
I'm onto u Cassie Ik Clary, Jace, and Nene were setting up for TWP
August 3, 2025
Fanservice, of course. I'm probably way too generous with rating, but Blackstairs and Sizzy one was good.
August 18, 2025
I always love a little fan service so this was fun. My one complaint is that James and Cordelia’s story was hardly about them and more of a Lucie self insert which was disappointing. I thought Luke/ Jocelyn’s and Clary/Jace’s stories were particularly well written
Want to read
June 13, 2025i miss them your honor
Want to read
September 2, 2025UM HELLO????? Not Miss Clare dropping this out of nowhere 😭😭😭 More Will & Tessa content?!?! I am going to pass away
June 12, 2025
ohh i need this! shadowhunters was my obsession when I was a teenager
Want to read
June 11, 2025unfortunately this cover is hideous but i’ll still be eating it up
September 2, 2025
some stories are good but most are kind of unremarkable. much more plot-important than i thought! made me very excited for the wicked powers!!
August 17, 2025
Cassandra Clare stop writing pointless novellas and release the wicked powers
August 6, 2025
5 ⭐️ THIS WAS EVERYTHING.
i could write ESSAYS about each short story here — these little snippets absolutely devastated me in the best possible way. and more than that, there is so much groundwork/tiny hints to “the wicked powers” that i am truly pacing the halls of my house, desperately in need to read the next series.
seeing more of the characters beyond their stories/series was just *chef’s kiss* utterly immaculate. i love them all so much — i tried to read this one slowly and savor it and it still has me in a mini-slump/emotional spiral, my notes app is full of my essays/screams about each one, and i am truly about one (1) second away from rereading each one. perfection.
i could write ESSAYS about each short story here — these little snippets absolutely devastated me in the best possible way. and more than that, there is so much groundwork/tiny hints to “the wicked powers” that i am truly pacing the halls of my house, desperately in need to read the next series.
seeing more of the characters beyond their stories/series was just *chef’s kiss* utterly immaculate. i love them all so much — i tried to read this one slowly and savor it and it still has me in a mini-slump/emotional spiral, my notes app is full of my essays/screams about each one, and i am truly about one (1) second away from rereading each one. perfection.
September 1, 2025
While I had a lot of fun with this short story collection, it's definitely my least favorite of all the other collections in The Shadowhunter Chronicles and I think that is 100% because this just doesn't have the same framing devices the other three collections do. The Bane Chronicles is, shockingly, framed around Magnus Bane, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy is about Simon's training and subsequent ascension to become a Shadowhunter, and Ghosts of the Shadow Market is about Jem in his time as a Silent Brother.
This, however, just doesn't have that through line, so it felt more more like a mixed bag than usual. Even though the others have their highs and lows, the lack of framing definitely made the lows stick out a bit more here. That said, I really did enjoy it as a whole! It was so fun to revisit so many of these characters, especially the ones we haven't been in the heads of for so long.
The Good Storm [focuses on Will and Tessa]
While this was a harmless story to kick off the collection, I have to say this is probably in the lower half on a ranking of the stories in this book. Will and Tessa are second to none for me as far as couples go in these books, and perhaps even in any books, so I couldn't wait to read more about them. I didn't hate this one, but it just...I don't know, it didn't feel like Will would make such a decision without talking with Tessa first. He values and respects her and her opinions so much, and I feel like he's also smart enough not to make such a reckless wish. That said, this has a nice, if simple message and some lovely sweet moments between my faves.
The Beautiful Ajatara [focuses on Lucie, James, and Cordelia]
So, this one is probably my least favorite story of the bunch. I love James and Cordelia, so I thought this was going to be a winner for certain, but, alas, this just wasn't a hit. I think Lucie is probably my least favorite of the Merry Thieves and The Last Hours is my least favorite Shadowhunters series (at least that's finished...ahem, The Eldest Curses...) so since this story is actually about Lucie, not James and Cordelia, it didn't have much hope. I never cared for the passages from The Beautiful Cordelia in the series proper, and I enjoyed it a lot less so here. At the very least in the series proper, it's framed as this writing project Lucie has hung onto just because she's young, but in this story it feels like...Lucie, why are you still hanging onto this bad fanfic of your brother and parabatai? And why do we get almost nothing about James and Cordelia's relationship even though it's supposed to be about them?
Who the Wolf Loves [focuses on Luke and Jocelyn]
Honestly, I didn't think I would like this one as much as I did! I loved loved loved getting more of the story of the Circle. While I'm far more eager for The Wicked Powers, I'll never completely give up on the possibility of The Secret Treasons happening, but until that ever-so-unlikely book happens, I'm so glad to have this. With the first two stories not exactly being hits, too, this was the first story in the collection I got truly wrapped up in. It was also really nostalgic, hearing Luke's story in the first person just like the story of his past in City of Bones that he tells to Clary, and the fact that this is set during City of Ashes. Just...chef's kiss.
Zachary's Day Out [focuses on Thomas, Alastair, and Zachary]
Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about this one! I thought it was really cute, though, and I loved getting some downright sweet moments between Alastair and Thomas. I love them as a couple and it was lovely to get more of Thomas's POV!
The Judgement of King Kieran [focuses on Kieran, Mark, and Cristina]
Give me all the Kieran POV! I love me some The Dark Artifices content, as it has, over time, become tied with The Infernal Devices for my favorite of all the series, so it's a delight to catch up with some of the characters here, and in a way that surely, at least in part, sets the scene for The Wicked Powers, which I'm absolutely rabid for. I love these three and it makes my heart ache that Kieran has to sit the throne and be away from his loves so much. I can't wait to see where they all are in the forthcoming series but it was a treat to see them for now.
A Surfeit of Annas [focuses on Ari and Anna]
This was also one of my least favorite stories in the collection. As much as I care about Anna as a character, I just don't care for her ship with Ari very much at all. I think Ari is...fine, but it all feels just a little too typical for my taste, what with the womanizer finding their one true love and settling down just for them, and the girl the womanizer chose grew up sheltered with crushing expectations from her parents...I don't know, it just feels so overdone and then on top of that, the plot of this story is just silly, and not in a What Really Happened in Peru way, more in a, "Did Cassie actually write this one, or did she hire out help?"
Bred in the Bone [focuses on Julian and Emma]
Now, this one is my favorite of the whole collection. I felt incredibly lucky that we got more Emma and Julian in Secrets of Blackthorn Hall, so this just feels like an extra dessert after I already ate a whole cake....but there's always room for dessert! I love the way Emma's doubts challenge her and her security with Jules, not just because it serves the story, but also because it is extremely realistic. So many love stories end in happily ever after, but this story shows that relationships take work, especially when there is trauma and turmoil to overcome. And, just like with The Judgment of King Kieran, I was also really pleased with and intrigued by the setup for The Wicked Powers here. God, I love Emma and Julian so much. This was brilliant, worth the price of admission all on its own.
City of Broken Hearts [focuses on Simon and Isabelle]
While this one is also on the sillier side of things, I still really enjoyed it, even if the resolution of everything felt a bit rushed. Like with Bred in the Bone, this also showed that not all relationships in literature have to always live perfectly happily ever after. Adult relationships especially take work and compromise, and I think the conflict in this story shows that perfectly. I think this one probably made me laugh the most of all the other stories as well, which is always a plus, though I probably should have expected as much with it being a Simon POV. I've missed him (and Izzy!) and his sense of humor so much!
The Time of Two [focuses on Jace, Clary, and Max]
Yet another couple I just loved catching up with. I think one thing Cassandra Clare writes better than just about any other writer alive today (in my extremely humble opinion) is some good old fashioned yearning and that is why her love stories work so well. This extends to Jace and Clary's happily ever after and the fact that they've promised not to wed until the Clave is reunited and the world is at peace, a goal which seems so unattainable Clary can't fathom planning their wedding. She also captures Maryse's yearning for her brother Max beautifully and Max's yearning and regrets felt so sharp, so raw. It was so well done, I missed my own brother while reading. And, I'll say it again, and not for the last time, I loved all the setup for The Wicked Powers here, too. It's all breadcrumbs, but I ate them all up.
Too Wise to Love [focuses on Nene, Sebastian, Ash, and the Seelie Queen]
Man oh man, I knew there was going to be a story focusing on Sebastian and the Seelie Queen in this collection, but I couldn't have imagined we'd get it from the perspective of Nene, nor that it would actually be about Nene's love for Ash. God, what a gut punch. I never knew what to make of Nene in The Dark Artifices and I can't state enough how surprised and subsequently blown away I was why she was so distant to Mark and Helen, why she refused to make a connection. Absolutely wonderful and yet more breadcrumbs for The Wicked Powers. Here I thought I was excited enough for The Wicked Powers, but now I'm impossibly more stoked. 2026 cannot be here fast enough! I'm dying here, Cassie!
This, however, just doesn't have that through line, so it felt more more like a mixed bag than usual. Even though the others have their highs and lows, the lack of framing definitely made the lows stick out a bit more here. That said, I really did enjoy it as a whole! It was so fun to revisit so many of these characters, especially the ones we haven't been in the heads of for so long.
The Good Storm [focuses on Will and Tessa]
While this was a harmless story to kick off the collection, I have to say this is probably in the lower half on a ranking of the stories in this book. Will and Tessa are second to none for me as far as couples go in these books, and perhaps even in any books, so I couldn't wait to read more about them. I didn't hate this one, but it just...I don't know, it didn't feel like Will would make such a decision without talking with Tessa first. He values and respects her and her opinions so much, and I feel like he's also smart enough not to make such a reckless wish. That said, this has a nice, if simple message and some lovely sweet moments between my faves.
The Beautiful Ajatara [focuses on Lucie, James, and Cordelia]
So, this one is probably my least favorite story of the bunch. I love James and Cordelia, so I thought this was going to be a winner for certain, but, alas, this just wasn't a hit. I think Lucie is probably my least favorite of the Merry Thieves and The Last Hours is my least favorite Shadowhunters series (at least that's finished...ahem, The Eldest Curses...) so since this story is actually about Lucie, not James and Cordelia, it didn't have much hope. I never cared for the passages from The Beautiful Cordelia in the series proper, and I enjoyed it a lot less so here. At the very least in the series proper, it's framed as this writing project Lucie has hung onto just because she's young, but in this story it feels like...Lucie, why are you still hanging onto this bad fanfic of your brother and parabatai? And why do we get almost nothing about James and Cordelia's relationship even though it's supposed to be about them?
Who the Wolf Loves [focuses on Luke and Jocelyn]
Honestly, I didn't think I would like this one as much as I did! I loved loved loved getting more of the story of the Circle. While I'm far more eager for The Wicked Powers, I'll never completely give up on the possibility of The Secret Treasons happening, but until that ever-so-unlikely book happens, I'm so glad to have this. With the first two stories not exactly being hits, too, this was the first story in the collection I got truly wrapped up in. It was also really nostalgic, hearing Luke's story in the first person just like the story of his past in City of Bones that he tells to Clary, and the fact that this is set during City of Ashes. Just...chef's kiss.
Zachary's Day Out [focuses on Thomas, Alastair, and Zachary]
Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about this one! I thought it was really cute, though, and I loved getting some downright sweet moments between Alastair and Thomas. I love them as a couple and it was lovely to get more of Thomas's POV!
The Judgement of King Kieran [focuses on Kieran, Mark, and Cristina]
Give me all the Kieran POV! I love me some The Dark Artifices content, as it has, over time, become tied with The Infernal Devices for my favorite of all the series, so it's a delight to catch up with some of the characters here, and in a way that surely, at least in part, sets the scene for The Wicked Powers, which I'm absolutely rabid for. I love these three and it makes my heart ache that Kieran has to sit the throne and be away from his loves so much. I can't wait to see where they all are in the forthcoming series but it was a treat to see them for now.
A Surfeit of Annas [focuses on Ari and Anna]
This was also one of my least favorite stories in the collection. As much as I care about Anna as a character, I just don't care for her ship with Ari very much at all. I think Ari is...fine, but it all feels just a little too typical for my taste, what with the womanizer finding their one true love and settling down just for them, and the girl the womanizer chose grew up sheltered with crushing expectations from her parents...I don't know, it just feels so overdone and then on top of that, the plot of this story is just silly, and not in a What Really Happened in Peru way, more in a, "Did Cassie actually write this one, or did she hire out help?"
Bred in the Bone [focuses on Julian and Emma]
Now, this one is my favorite of the whole collection. I felt incredibly lucky that we got more Emma and Julian in Secrets of Blackthorn Hall, so this just feels like an extra dessert after I already ate a whole cake....but there's always room for dessert! I love the way Emma's doubts challenge her and her security with Jules, not just because it serves the story, but also because it is extremely realistic. So many love stories end in happily ever after, but this story shows that relationships take work, especially when there is trauma and turmoil to overcome. And, just like with The Judgment of King Kieran, I was also really pleased with and intrigued by the setup for The Wicked Powers here. God, I love Emma and Julian so much. This was brilliant, worth the price of admission all on its own.
City of Broken Hearts [focuses on Simon and Isabelle]
While this one is also on the sillier side of things, I still really enjoyed it, even if the resolution of everything felt a bit rushed. Like with Bred in the Bone, this also showed that not all relationships in literature have to always live perfectly happily ever after. Adult relationships especially take work and compromise, and I think the conflict in this story shows that perfectly. I think this one probably made me laugh the most of all the other stories as well, which is always a plus, though I probably should have expected as much with it being a Simon POV. I've missed him (and Izzy!) and his sense of humor so much!
The Time of Two [focuses on Jace, Clary, and Max]
Yet another couple I just loved catching up with. I think one thing Cassandra Clare writes better than just about any other writer alive today (in my extremely humble opinion) is some good old fashioned yearning and that is why her love stories work so well. This extends to Jace and Clary's happily ever after and the fact that they've promised not to wed until the Clave is reunited and the world is at peace, a goal which seems so unattainable Clary can't fathom planning their wedding. She also captures Maryse's yearning for her brother Max beautifully and Max's yearning and regrets felt so sharp, so raw. It was so well done, I missed my own brother while reading. And, I'll say it again, and not for the last time, I loved all the setup for The Wicked Powers here, too. It's all breadcrumbs, but I ate them all up.
Too Wise to Love [focuses on Nene, Sebastian, Ash, and the Seelie Queen]
Man oh man, I knew there was going to be a story focusing on Sebastian and the Seelie Queen in this collection, but I couldn't have imagined we'd get it from the perspective of Nene, nor that it would actually be about Nene's love for Ash. God, what a gut punch. I never knew what to make of Nene in The Dark Artifices and I can't state enough how surprised and subsequently blown away I was why she was so distant to Mark and Helen, why she refused to make a connection. Absolutely wonderful and yet more breadcrumbs for The Wicked Powers. Here I thought I was excited enough for The Wicked Powers, but now I'm impossibly more stoked. 2026 cannot be here fast enough! I'm dying here, Cassie!
September 8, 2025
1. The Good Storm (Wessa). ★★★★/5
Siempre puedes contar con que Will tome alguna decisión desastroza.
2. The Beautiful Ajatara (Herondaisy). ★★★/5
Por qué esta historia es desde el pov de Lucie???
3. Who the Wolf Loves (Lucelyn). ★★★★.5/5
Siempre me gusta saber más sobre El Círculo de Valentine porque siempre se descubren pequeños detalles. ¿Pero donde está el romance? Ya se sabía sobre los sentimientos dr Luke por Jocelyn, creo que podria haber sido una historia quizás desde el pov de Jocelyn o algo post TMI.
4. Zachary's Day Out (Thomastair). ★★★★★/5
¿Thomas y Alastair domésticos? Si, me encantó.
5. The Judgment of King Kieran. ★★★★★/5
Kierarktina siempre va a ser una de mis parejas favoritas.
6. A Surfeit of Anna. ★★★/5
La fe que tiene Ariadne en Anna que nunca dudó de ella, aún cuando podría haberlo hecho.
También leyendo esta historia me di cuenta que debería haber leído la historia de Matthew en Careful of Books antes de esta.
7. Bred in Bone (Blackstairs). ★★★★/5
Emma de Thule vino con su venganza, pero adelantó un poco de lo que se viene en The Wicked Powers.
8. City of Broken Hearts (Sizzy). ★★★★★/5
¿Podríamos haber tenido a Simon profesor? Hot.
Y me encantó que tuvimos su fiesta de compromiso, ahora como fue la propuesta. Manifestando la boda.
9. The Time of Two (Clace). ★★★★★/5
Clary y Jace yendo a buscar a Max Trueblood, ahora Max Travis, para que vuelva a reencontrarse con Maryse.
Y, ¿podemos hablar de cómo ahora Cassie metió una presunta profecía? Se viene con todo.
10. Too Wise to Love (Seelie Queen & Sebastian). ★★★.5/5
Cuando CC anunció que iba a escribir una historia de romance de estos dos pensé: ¿qué carajo? Quiero decir, ¿por qué ellos dos cuando existen otras parejas MUCHO más interesantes? Y todavía lo pienso.
Sin embargo, término siendo más una historia de Nené que de ellos dos, y eso si fue interesante.
Siempre puedes contar con que Will tome alguna decisión desastroza.
2. The Beautiful Ajatara (Herondaisy). ★★★/5
Por qué esta historia es desde el pov de Lucie???
3. Who the Wolf Loves (Lucelyn). ★★★★.5/5
Siempre me gusta saber más sobre El Círculo de Valentine porque siempre se descubren pequeños detalles. ¿Pero donde está el romance? Ya se sabía sobre los sentimientos dr Luke por Jocelyn, creo que podria haber sido una historia quizás desde el pov de Jocelyn o algo post TMI.
4. Zachary's Day Out (Thomastair). ★★★★★/5
¿Thomas y Alastair domésticos? Si, me encantó.
5. The Judgment of King Kieran. ★★★★★/5
Kierarktina siempre va a ser una de mis parejas favoritas.
6. A Surfeit of Anna. ★★★/5
La fe que tiene Ariadne en Anna que nunca dudó de ella, aún cuando podría haberlo hecho.
También leyendo esta historia me di cuenta que debería haber leído la historia de Matthew en Careful of Books antes de esta.
7. Bred in Bone (Blackstairs). ★★★★/5
Emma de Thule vino con su venganza, pero adelantó un poco de lo que se viene en The Wicked Powers.
8. City of Broken Hearts (Sizzy). ★★★★★/5
¿Podríamos haber tenido a Simon profesor? Hot.
Y me encantó que tuvimos su fiesta de compromiso, ahora como fue la propuesta. Manifestando la boda.
9. The Time of Two (Clace). ★★★★★/5
Clary y Jace yendo a buscar a Max Trueblood, ahora Max Travis, para que vuelva a reencontrarse con Maryse.
Y, ¿podemos hablar de cómo ahora Cassie metió una presunta profecía? Se viene con todo.
10. Too Wise to Love (Seelie Queen & Sebastian). ★★★.5/5
Cuando CC anunció que iba a escribir una historia de romance de estos dos pensé: ¿qué carajo? Quiero decir, ¿por qué ellos dos cuando existen otras parejas MUCHO más interesantes? Y todavía lo pienso.
Sin embargo, término siendo más una historia de Nené que de ellos dos, y eso si fue interesante.
August 22, 2025
Different than I was expecting. Some stories were far more plot driven than romantic; some stories were far better than others. But overall I enjoyed this. It was a great way to end the Kickstarter.
Will & Tessa: 5 stars
James & Cordelia: 3 stars (the focus felt like it was less on James and Cordelia and more on Lucie. I love Lucie but this wasn’t supposed to be her story)
Luke & Jocelyn: 3.5 stars (always felt ambivalent about this ship so neither good nor bad)
Alastair & Thomas: 5 stars
Kieran, Mark & Christina: 5 stars
Anna & Ariadne: 3 stars (enjoyed their relationship in the main trilogy but this short story just didn’t hit)
Emma & Julian: 4 stars (not my favorite but certainly not my least favorite. Still not sure how I feel about Julian kissing Thule Emma :/)
Simon & Isabelle: 4 stars (again, another ship I’ve always been ambivalent towards but this was cute)
Jace & Clary: 5 stars
Sebastian & Seelie Queen: 5 stars (unexpectedly loved this one!)
Will & Tessa: 5 stars
James & Cordelia: 3 stars (the focus felt like it was less on James and Cordelia and more on Lucie. I love Lucie but this wasn’t supposed to be her story)
Luke & Jocelyn: 3.5 stars (always felt ambivalent about this ship so neither good nor bad)
Alastair & Thomas: 5 stars
Kieran, Mark & Christina: 5 stars
Anna & Ariadne: 3 stars (enjoyed their relationship in the main trilogy but this short story just didn’t hit)
Emma & Julian: 4 stars (not my favorite but certainly not my least favorite. Still not sure how I feel about Julian kissing Thule Emma :/)
Simon & Isabelle: 4 stars (again, another ship I’ve always been ambivalent towards but this was cute)
Jace & Clary: 5 stars
Sebastian & Seelie Queen: 5 stars (unexpectedly loved this one!)
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