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The Shadowhunter Chronicles #20
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall
Julian and Emma are on their travel year when the Clave sends Julian a message: clean up Blackthorn Hall or ownership reverts back to the Clave. Amidst the clutter and disrepair they discover secrets that Blackthorn Hall has kept hidden for years... They find out something... or someone... else might be sharing the space with them. They’ll also entertain visitors like Jem, Tessa, Cristina, Mark, Kieran, Kit, Ty, Dru and more.
Emma and Julian of The Dark Artifices move temporarily to London to fix up the crumbling Blackthorn Hall... only to find that among the various objects that belonged to their ancestors, there might be a spectral presence that wishes them harm...
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall is an illustrated serialized epistolary novel by Cassandra Clare that was released online for free and now in print as part of the Seasons of Shadowhunters Kickstarter campaign.
The story takes place roughly starting in January 2014—about a year and a half after The Dark Artifices—and takes course over the span of a few months—ending about a year before The Wicked Powers. It centers on the characters from The Dark Artifices but also delves into the history of those from The Last Hours and The Infernal Devices through books and old papers found in the house.
For a better understanding of the story, please make sure you have read all of the Shadowhunter books released as of 2024, as there will be spoilers (TLH being the last book series released before this book.)
Emma and Julian of The Dark Artifices move temporarily to London to fix up the crumbling Blackthorn Hall... only to find that among the various objects that belonged to their ancestors, there might be a spectral presence that wishes them harm...
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall is an illustrated serialized epistolary novel by Cassandra Clare that was released online for free and now in print as part of the Seasons of Shadowhunters Kickstarter campaign.
The story takes place roughly starting in January 2014—about a year and a half after The Dark Artifices—and takes course over the span of a few months—ending about a year before The Wicked Powers. It centers on the characters from The Dark Artifices but also delves into the history of those from The Last Hours and The Infernal Devices through books and old papers found in the house.
For a better understanding of the story, please make sure you have read all of the Shadowhunter books released as of 2024, as there will be spoilers (TLH being the last book series released before this book.)
269 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2021
86 people are currently reading
5897 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Clare
199 books278k 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 396 reviews
October 4, 2024
that's literally my family idk what to tell you
July 9, 2024
No one can prove that I start to get emotional any time an Infernal Devices character (especially Will) is mentioned.
This was so good!
This was so good!
August 24, 2024
“Remember that you are of the steel and temper of those who have gone before you.”
i enjoyed this soo much and i think all shadowhunter fans should read it!!! the way this connected TDA witH TLH and TWP is so good!!
this was also a great example of how well cassandra clare can connect her series in subtle ways ugh so good!
yes i did cry more than once (it’s not a shadowhunter book if i don’t shed some tears).
also…… i need the wicked powers to come out ASAP. this came with a sampler of the first chapter and i’m going to read it, scream, then read it again. 2026 is too far.
“I believe in you, Emma. When I see you, I see Carstairs past; I see bravery, and the flame of Cortana.”
i enjoyed this soo much and i think all shadowhunter fans should read it!!! the way this connected TDA witH TLH and TWP is so good!!
this was also a great example of how well cassandra clare can connect her series in subtle ways ugh so good!
yes i did cry more than once (it’s not a shadowhunter book if i don’t shed some tears).
also…… i need the wicked powers to come out ASAP. this came with a sampler of the first chapter and i’m going to read it, scream, then read it again. 2026 is too far.
“I believe in you, Emma. When I see you, I see Carstairs past; I see bravery, and the flame of Cortana.”
Read
July 4, 2024I don’t think it’s really fair to give this a star rating but I have to appreciate cassandra clare’s commitment to writing fanfiction about her own characters
July 28, 2024
i fear that i missed my besties
August 1, 2024
I can’t hold this in my hands, but at least it’s still available for free on tumblr 🥹
August 4, 2024
never been so glad to have make poor financial decisions as i am after receiving this in the mail, my family forever
August 26, 2024
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall feels like coming home after an extended vacation. It’s fun and nostalgic as readers catch up with their favourite characters in a low stakes mystery about a ghost haunting Blackthorn Hall.
Told from letters, diary entries, and text messages, Secrets of Blackthorn Hall tells the story of Emma and Julian restoring Blackthorn hall with the help of their family and friends. While the story isn’t as fully fleshed out as I would have liked (though that is because of the medium), I had a great time catching up with the characters in this interlude before The Wicked Powers.
I never read this as it was releasing, so I backed the Kickstarter as soon as possible. The quality of the book is incredible with full colour illustrations on photo quality paper.
A couple minor criticisms: the use of the wrong its/it’s, missing spaces, double spaces, and the placement of a few illustrations was incorrect as the text would say something like “I enclosed a photo” then would start the next ‘chapter’ without the photo only for the photo to be at the end of that following chapter.
“Remember that you are of the steel and temper of those who have gone before you.”
Told from letters, diary entries, and text messages, Secrets of Blackthorn Hall tells the story of Emma and Julian restoring Blackthorn hall with the help of their family and friends. While the story isn’t as fully fleshed out as I would have liked (though that is because of the medium), I had a great time catching up with the characters in this interlude before The Wicked Powers.
I never read this as it was releasing, so I backed the Kickstarter as soon as possible. The quality of the book is incredible with full colour illustrations on photo quality paper.
A couple minor criticisms: the use of the wrong its/it’s, missing spaces, double spaces, and the placement of a few illustrations was incorrect as the text would say something like “I enclosed a photo” then would start the next ‘chapter’ without the photo only for the photo to be at the end of that following chapter.
“Remember that you are of the steel and temper of those who have gone before you.”
September 30, 2025
اعمامي و اعمام عيالي
July 13, 2024
Totally a future comfort read!
August 6, 2024
“Remember that you are of the steel and temper of those who have gone before you.”
Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles will forever be my comfort reads.
Every time, without fail, they take me back to 2013 when I made the decision to pick up City of Bones after years of not reading. I went to see The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones film at the cinema, not realising that my life was going to change for the better. So, over ten years later, I’m still loving everything about this fantasy world Cassandra Clare has created - and I wish it could go on forever and ever(although I know she deserves, as a writer, to explore new worlds/characters like she did in Sword Catcher)
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall was an absolute delight to read! I never did follow it when she posted it online, so reading this was entirely new. I loved the epistolary format - the diary entries and the letters alongside artwork done by the amazing Cassandra Jean. It felt so special to have this edition in my hands. I’d never used Kickstarter before, had no real idea how it even worked but I quickly learnt as soon as Cassie announced Seasons of Shadowhunters.
Loved everything about this and I’m insanely excited for the next three!
Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles will forever be my comfort reads.
Every time, without fail, they take me back to 2013 when I made the decision to pick up City of Bones after years of not reading. I went to see The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones film at the cinema, not realising that my life was going to change for the better. So, over ten years later, I’m still loving everything about this fantasy world Cassandra Clare has created - and I wish it could go on forever and ever(although I know she deserves, as a writer, to explore new worlds/characters like she did in Sword Catcher)
Secrets of Blackthorn Hall was an absolute delight to read! I never did follow it when she posted it online, so reading this was entirely new. I loved the epistolary format - the diary entries and the letters alongside artwork done by the amazing Cassandra Jean. It felt so special to have this edition in my hands. I’d never used Kickstarter before, had no real idea how it even worked but I quickly learnt as soon as Cassie announced Seasons of Shadowhunters.
Loved everything about this and I’m insanely excited for the next three!
November 18, 2024
2024 reads: 306/250
this novella takes place in the time between the dark artifices and the wicked powers, following the blackthorn and carstairs-gray families, as well as a few other characters. the dark artifices series has some of my favorite characters in the shadowhunter chronicles, so i really loved getting to see what they were up to! i enjoyed how this novella included prose, text messages, character art, letters, etc. this was also a nice set up for the wicked powers and made me even more eager to get my hands on that series!
this novella takes place in the time between the dark artifices and the wicked powers, following the blackthorn and carstairs-gray families, as well as a few other characters. the dark artifices series has some of my favorite characters in the shadowhunter chronicles, so i really loved getting to see what they were up to! i enjoyed how this novella included prose, text messages, character art, letters, etc. this was also a nice set up for the wicked powers and made me even more eager to get my hands on that series!
December 9, 2025
Sempre bello leggere tutti loro, Emma mi fa sempre morire dal ridere.
Adesso ho bisogno di avere il libro su Kit e Ty, tipo subito.
Adesso ho bisogno di avere il libro su Kit e Ty, tipo subito.
January 4, 2025
i will never be free from this series i fear
Want to read
November 14, 2025More content from Emma and Julian? That’s all I wanted.
Shadowhunter Chronicles:
1. Clockwork Angel ★★★
2. Clockwork Prince ★★★★
3. Clockwork Princess ★★★
1. Chain of Gold ★★
2. Chain of Iron ★★★★
3. Chain of Thorns ★★★
1. City of Bones ★★★
2. City of Ash ★★★
3. City of Glass ★★★★
4. City of Fallen Angels ★★★
5. City of Lost Souls City ★★★★
*. The Bane Chronicles ★★
6. City of Heavenly Fire ★★
*. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy ★★
1. Lady Midnight ★★★★
2. Lord of Shadows ★★★★
3. Queen of Air and Darkness ★★★★
*. Ghosts of the Shadow Market ★★
Shadowhunter Chronicles:
1. Clockwork Angel ★★★
2. Clockwork Prince ★★★★
3. Clockwork Princess ★★★
1. Chain of Gold ★★
2. Chain of Iron ★★★★
3. Chain of Thorns ★★★
1. City of Bones ★★★
2. City of Ash ★★★
3. City of Glass ★★★★
4. City of Fallen Angels ★★★
5. City of Lost Souls City ★★★★
*. The Bane Chronicles ★★
6. City of Heavenly Fire ★★
*. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy ★★
1. Lady Midnight ★★★★
2. Lord of Shadows ★★★★
3. Queen of Air and Darkness ★★★★
*. Ghosts of the Shadow Market ★★
December 3, 2025
The kit & ty story was like a punch in the gut. god when ty asked when he’s going to forgive him I choked on my tears.
November 10, 2025
4.5⭐️
Ho letto per la prima volta "I Segreti di Blackthorn Hall" ai tempi in cui Cassandra Clare condivideva il progetto su Tumblr settimana per settimana, ma rileggere tutto in cartaceo è stato ancora più bello.
Il mondo di Shadowhunters è una parte fondamentale della mia vita, sono legatissima ai personaggi creati dalla Clare, e leggere questa raccolta di lettere, pagine di diario e chat è stato come tornare a casa.
Ne avrò mai abbastanza di questo mondo?
Assolutamente no, anzi, ho bisogno del prossimo volume della saga adesso più che mai.
Ho letto per la prima volta "I Segreti di Blackthorn Hall" ai tempi in cui Cassandra Clare condivideva il progetto su Tumblr settimana per settimana, ma rileggere tutto in cartaceo è stato ancora più bello.
Il mondo di Shadowhunters è una parte fondamentale della mia vita, sono legatissima ai personaggi creati dalla Clare, e leggere questa raccolta di lettere, pagine di diario e chat è stato come tornare a casa.
Ne avrò mai abbastanza di questo mondo?
Assolutamente no, anzi, ho bisogno del prossimo volume della saga adesso più che mai.
August 12, 2024
I'm a sucker for Shadowhunter family moments and references to all the series, what can I say...
November 4, 2025
entrete, siento que me ayudó mucho a reencontrarme con el mundo y los personajes. Ahora recién me doy cuenta de la cantidad de lore que tiene el mundo y los personajes, porque a medida que iba leyendo se iban desbloqueando millones de cosas en mi cerebro jajaja
January 16, 2026
Per me la Clare è casa, in particolar modo se parliamo di Shadowunters. Forse dovrebbe smettere di scrivere a riguardo? Forse davvero sì, ma io la amo a prescindere e leggerò sempre e comunque tutto ciò che scriverà!
In realtà non avevo grandissime aspettative su questa raccolta perché la trilogia di the dark artificies è quella che mi è piaciuta di meno, l'ho sempre trovata piuttosto stiracchiata in parecchi accadimenti, però è indubbio che ci siano dei personaggi affascinanti e che ci siano le basi per la prossima serie, the wicked powers, che si prospettano essere scoppiettanti!
I racconti sono strutturati in forma di lettere o scambio di sms e ci narrano di quanto accaduto dopo la fine appunto della precedente trilogia, sono una sorte di ponte per quanto accadrà nella prossima. Sono pertanto scorrevoli, frizzanti, accattivanti e ci parlano di vecchie conoscenze, ci sono infatti moltissimi rimandi alla serie the last hours che ho davvero adorato 😍
Julian ed Emma hanno infatti ereditato la vecchia magione dei Blackthorn a Londra, una villa maledetta per quanto accaduto ai tempi di James e Cordelia, dovranno pertanto trovare il modo di liberare quella che sarà la loro futura casa dai semi nefasti della magia oscura che la fu Tatiana ci aveva nascosto per preservare (leggasi intrappolare) lo spirito del defunto marito.
Me lo sono proprio gustato, molto carino, da non perdere per gli appassionati della serie!
In realtà non avevo grandissime aspettative su questa raccolta perché la trilogia di the dark artificies è quella che mi è piaciuta di meno, l'ho sempre trovata piuttosto stiracchiata in parecchi accadimenti, però è indubbio che ci siano dei personaggi affascinanti e che ci siano le basi per la prossima serie, the wicked powers, che si prospettano essere scoppiettanti!
I racconti sono strutturati in forma di lettere o scambio di sms e ci narrano di quanto accaduto dopo la fine appunto della precedente trilogia, sono una sorte di ponte per quanto accadrà nella prossima. Sono pertanto scorrevoli, frizzanti, accattivanti e ci parlano di vecchie conoscenze, ci sono infatti moltissimi rimandi alla serie the last hours che ho davvero adorato 😍
Julian ed Emma hanno infatti ereditato la vecchia magione dei Blackthorn a Londra, una villa maledetta per quanto accaduto ai tempi di James e Cordelia, dovranno pertanto trovare il modo di liberare quella che sarà la loro futura casa dai semi nefasti della magia oscura che la fu Tatiana ci aveva nascosto per preservare (leggasi intrappolare) lo spirito del defunto marito.
Me lo sono proprio gustato, molto carino, da non perdere per gli appassionati della serie!
November 6, 2024
Honestly no author does it for me like Cassie Clare. My love for these characters runs so deep, I was choking back tears the entire way through. And the BEAUTY of this special edition printed version of SOBH… i’ll forever be grateful for this kickstarter project.
September 30, 2024
it’s good to have my family back i’m gonna km now
August 30, 2024
Plot a mess and a half, but you best believe I was lapping up those Wicked Powers crumbs!
October 24, 2024
Blackstairs and Backthorns are my family fr.
September 13, 2024
No sé ni cuántas veces me he emocionado con este libro🥹❤️. Me ha encantado que sean todo cartas y mensajes, las ilustraciones son increíbles, y el contenido aún más. Trae a prácticamente todos los cazadores de sombras de cada generación y me parece espectacular. La parte final me ha tenido aterrada, se nota que Cassandra estaba allanando el terreno para The Wicked Powers. Me muero porque saque esos libros ya, pero el miedo que me dan es demasiado.
November 10, 2024
How could I not love this? It was just a quick catch-up with all my favorite characters, including several mentions of my OG book boyfriend, Will Herondale. This was so fun, and I liked that all the chapters were written in letter format. It was also just a great connection to several of Clare's series, and I loved that so much. This was funny, light, and felt like coming home. I was so happy to see all of my favorites!!
December 25, 2024
Rating- 5 stars
(Physical Book)
Once again what a brilliant book 👏 I do not think there will be one book from Cassandra Clare I will not like. A brilliant start to the Kickstarter books. Can not wait for the rest of them. I really enjoyed it with all the mentions of the characters from The Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices etc. One mention of Will Herondale 🥹 and I was off. What a perfect way to spend my Christmas Eve last night
(Physical Book)
Once again what a brilliant book 👏 I do not think there will be one book from Cassandra Clare I will not like. A brilliant start to the Kickstarter books. Can not wait for the rest of them. I really enjoyed it with all the mentions of the characters from The Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices etc. One mention of Will Herondale 🥹 and I was off. What a perfect way to spend my Christmas Eve last night
August 18, 2024
five out of five for my children having adventures with ghost in london
August 4, 2024
4.5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 6, 2025
to quote the wise caleb hearon, "that's ohana, that's familia right there"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews