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The Shadowhunter Chronicles #22
Better in Black
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!
672 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2025
1124 people are currently reading
19486 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Clare
200 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 557 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
December 7, 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 books 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 books lol 🤪🤫🤭
(a sneak peek at the wicked powers?!?. say less!)
Want to read
June 11, 2025You had me at Will Herondale
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.
December 13, 2025
3.5 Rounded up
December 3, 2025
ass. why does this complilation of LOVE stories not having THE BEST LOVE STORY this cursed franchise has ever produced.
so much of this read like out of character fanfiction with bad tropes.
will/tessa - i found them out of character and just the whole plot so stupid. tessa was acting like some blushing, feeble maiden for so many instances when she was with will. an occasional cute line between them would be killed by stupidity.
james/cordelia - skipped this. never cared about them as a couple and then the plot just was so idiotic.
luke/jocelyn - why are you in an epistolary format? no one cares about this couple as well. no one.
thomas/alastair - one of the best couples in the verse. nerfed by the fucking time travel plot with a character no one cares about? but, the couple had their cute moments. but, the time travel pissed me off.
kieran/mark/cristina - stupid ass couple. stupid ass plot.
anna/ariadne - what is this plot? and what’s worse is the influx of corny lines in this. shut.
julian/emma - bro, what is this. we didn’t need this insertion of a character from the alternate universe. just stirred up drama for no reason. stupid.
simon/isabelle - the drama was so stupid. please shut up. so much cringe as well.
jace/clary - i hate these two but why was this the best story out there… i liked the emotional family moments. i thought this would be the worst one but it cooked.
sebastian/the seelie queen - i didn’t care for this at all but it has plot significance for the next trilogy so okay.
such a waste of time. so stupid. probably the shittest full-length novel that this author has every wrote.
so much of this read like out of character fanfiction with bad tropes.
will/tessa - i found them out of character and just the whole plot so stupid. tessa was acting like some blushing, feeble maiden for so many instances when she was with will. an occasional cute line between them would be killed by stupidity.
james/cordelia - skipped this. never cared about them as a couple and then the plot just was so idiotic.
luke/jocelyn - why are you in an epistolary format? no one cares about this couple as well. no one.
thomas/alastair - one of the best couples in the verse. nerfed by the fucking time travel plot with a character no one cares about? but, the couple had their cute moments. but, the time travel pissed me off.
kieran/mark/cristina - stupid ass couple. stupid ass plot.
anna/ariadne - what is this plot? and what’s worse is the influx of corny lines in this. shut.
julian/emma - bro, what is this. we didn’t need this insertion of a character from the alternate universe. just stirred up drama for no reason. stupid.
simon/isabelle - the drama was so stupid. please shut up. so much cringe as well.
jace/clary - i hate these two but why was this the best story out there… i liked the emotional family moments. i thought this would be the worst one but it cooked.
sebastian/the seelie queen - i didn’t care for this at all but it has plot significance for the next trilogy so okay.
such a waste of time. so stupid. probably the shittest full-length novel that this author has every wrote.
December 4, 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.
November 29, 2025
If you know me, you’ll know Shadowhunters has had a special place in my heart for 12 years now. I grew up on these books.
This collection of love stories is a journey through time from scenes from the very beginning in Victorian England The Infernal Devices to Los Angeles in the 2010s with The Dark Artifices (and beyond).
Don’t pick this up if you aren’t up to date with every book in the Shadowhunter Universe. There are spoilers for each series. There are even hints and threads around the upcoming The Wicked Powers trilogy.
If you haven’t read the books, don’t read on as I will be naming the couples.
THE GOOD STORM - Will and Tessa.
A Parisian honeymoon and a wish gone wrong.
A soft story about grieving and honouring your pain.
THE BEAUTIFUL AJATARA - James and Cordelia.
Told from Lucie’s POV, this felt like a Cassandra Clare self-insert. What happens when a story comes to life?
This one was the most campy and bizarre.
She had noticed that everyone who'd read her book-everyone who'd read any book-thought they knew best what should happen next. It was a funny thing about writing: No one seemed to understand there was skill involved. practice required, hard work called for.
She called people OUT!
WHO THE WOLF LOVES - Jocelyn and Luke.
Ouch. This a letter Luke writes when Jocelyn is in her coma. You learn more about their past and their bittersweet friendship.
ZACHARY'S DAY OUT - Thomas and Alastair.
These two should not be left alone with a baby.
Again, another odd one. I’m not sure why the Last Hours series has more outlandish premises with less focus on the romance.
THE JUDGMENT OF KING KIERAN - Kieran, Mark, and Cristina.
These three have so much gentle trust but fiercer physicality. I don’t know whether to be scared or turned on.
This has some information which I’m sure will come up in The Wicked Powers.
Geraint looked honestly perplexed. "You said to put a pin in him. I assumed you meant..." He gestured at Finian's dead body, the broken spearhead protruding from his back rather like a gigantic pin. "Did I do wrong?"
A SURFEIT OF ANNAS - Anna and Ari.
A mystery bundled up with a jealous ex within the Helle Ruelle.
Again, I wish there were more character moments.
"Anna is not an easy one to tie down." Ari smiled sweetly at him. "I find tying her down isn't that difficult if she's in the mood for it."
BRED IN THE BONE - Emma and Julian.
This one HURT.
Maybe it’s because I recently decided to reread The Dark Artifices (RIP), but out of all the couples, these two have gone through it.
This touches on fragile trust, ruthlessness, and family.
Major information for The Wicked Powers.
CITY OF BROKEN HEARTS - Simon and Isabelle.
First of all, an incredible title.
We start off with The Mortal Instruments (Simon’s band) and get geeky with Star Wars references that resulted in the best love declaration.
"It's good news," he added quickly.
"Then why is your face doing that thing?"
"What thing?"
"The thing where it seems like it's trying to run away from your head."
THE TIME OF TWO - Jace and Clary.
An emotional chapter about the characters rather than the plot (until you get to the end).
I forgot how blonde Jace was probably a lot of people’s first book boyfriend (Will Herondale will always be mine).
Very important for The Wicked Powers.
"Clary, if tomorrow morning we got crushed to death in a trash compactor, it would still be worth it, for all the time we had. Every minute we spend together is worth a lifetime. And I would always, always choose you."
She squinted at him suspiciously. "That's lovely, but—a trash compactor? Simon and Isabelle made you watch Star Wars again, didn't they?"
TOO WISE TO LOVE - Sebastian and the Seelie Queen.
I was as surprised as you to see this pairing.
Told from Lady Nene’s POV, we get the origins and early years of Ash. Again, important for The Wicked Powers.
Finally:
SNEAK PEEK at The Wicked Powers.
👀Lips zipped… for now.
Physical arc gifted by Tandem Collective.
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This collection of love stories is a journey through time from scenes from the very beginning in Victorian England The Infernal Devices to Los Angeles in the 2010s with The Dark Artifices (and beyond).
Don’t pick this up if you aren’t up to date with every book in the Shadowhunter Universe. There are spoilers for each series. There are even hints and threads around the upcoming The Wicked Powers trilogy.
If you haven’t read the books, don’t read on as I will be naming the couples.
THE GOOD STORM - Will and Tessa.
A Parisian honeymoon and a wish gone wrong.
A soft story about grieving and honouring your pain.
THE BEAUTIFUL AJATARA - James and Cordelia.
Told from Lucie’s POV, this felt like a Cassandra Clare self-insert. What happens when a story comes to life?
This one was the most campy and bizarre.
She had noticed that everyone who'd read her book-everyone who'd read any book-thought they knew best what should happen next. It was a funny thing about writing: No one seemed to understand there was skill involved. practice required, hard work called for.
She called people OUT!
WHO THE WOLF LOVES - Jocelyn and Luke.
Ouch. This a letter Luke writes when Jocelyn is in her coma. You learn more about their past and their bittersweet friendship.
ZACHARY'S DAY OUT - Thomas and Alastair.
These two should not be left alone with a baby.
Again, another odd one. I’m not sure why the Last Hours series has more outlandish premises with less focus on the romance.
THE JUDGMENT OF KING KIERAN - Kieran, Mark, and Cristina.
These three have so much gentle trust but fiercer physicality. I don’t know whether to be scared or turned on.
This has some information which I’m sure will come up in The Wicked Powers.
Geraint looked honestly perplexed. "You said to put a pin in him. I assumed you meant..." He gestured at Finian's dead body, the broken spearhead protruding from his back rather like a gigantic pin. "Did I do wrong?"
A SURFEIT OF ANNAS - Anna and Ari.
A mystery bundled up with a jealous ex within the Helle Ruelle.
Again, I wish there were more character moments.
"Anna is not an easy one to tie down." Ari smiled sweetly at him. "I find tying her down isn't that difficult if she's in the mood for it."
BRED IN THE BONE - Emma and Julian.
This one HURT.
Maybe it’s because I recently decided to reread The Dark Artifices (RIP), but out of all the couples, these two have gone through it.
This touches on fragile trust, ruthlessness, and family.
Major information for The Wicked Powers.
CITY OF BROKEN HEARTS - Simon and Isabelle.
First of all, an incredible title.
We start off with The Mortal Instruments (Simon’s band) and get geeky with Star Wars references that resulted in the best love declaration.
"It's good news," he added quickly.
"Then why is your face doing that thing?"
"What thing?"
"The thing where it seems like it's trying to run away from your head."
THE TIME OF TWO - Jace and Clary.
An emotional chapter about the characters rather than the plot (until you get to the end).
I forgot how blonde Jace was probably a lot of people’s first book boyfriend (Will Herondale will always be mine).
Very important for The Wicked Powers.
"Clary, if tomorrow morning we got crushed to death in a trash compactor, it would still be worth it, for all the time we had. Every minute we spend together is worth a lifetime. And I would always, always choose you."
She squinted at him suspiciously. "That's lovely, but—a trash compactor? Simon and Isabelle made you watch Star Wars again, didn't they?"
TOO WISE TO LOVE - Sebastian and the Seelie Queen.
I was as surprised as you to see this pairing.
Told from Lady Nene’s POV, we get the origins and early years of Ash. Again, important for The Wicked Powers.
Finally:
SNEAK PEEK at The Wicked Powers.
👀Lips zipped… for now.
Physical arc gifted by Tandem Collective.
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June 12, 2025I will be there for Will Herondale and Will Herondale only
December 9, 2025
Every new shadowhunters book is an ABSOLUTE GIFT, especially now that there aren’t many left🥲
This series of short stories was enchantingly ridiculous in the best way. I absolutely loved the unserious concepts Cassie thought up and how she used each to share what day to day life can look like with someone you love (in a paranormal world, ofc.) This is my thirteenth Cassie Clare book of the year and her writing just gets better & better & better…♾️
Five stars for wessa and thomas x alistair! Their stories were my absolute FAVORITE. I always love catching up with TMI instruments characters as well because they are so deeply nostalgic for me. I was missing my perfect Alec & Magnus and cannot wait to jump back into queen of air and darkness so I can have more of them!!!
This was almost a 4.5 star rating for me, but I’m making it a 5 because I have been in a slump from hell and this came when I needed it most. I LOVE SHADOWHUNTERS!!!
ps. will watt who narrated the thomas and alistair story did a PHENOMENAL job. i love his voice!!
This series of short stories was enchantingly ridiculous in the best way. I absolutely loved the unserious concepts Cassie thought up and how she used each to share what day to day life can look like with someone you love (in a paranormal world, ofc.) This is my thirteenth Cassie Clare book of the year and her writing just gets better & better & better…♾️
Five stars for wessa and thomas x alistair! Their stories were my absolute FAVORITE. I always love catching up with TMI instruments characters as well because they are so deeply nostalgic for me. I was missing my perfect Alec & Magnus and cannot wait to jump back into queen of air and darkness so I can have more of them!!!
This was almost a 4.5 star rating for me, but I’m making it a 5 because I have been in a slump from hell and this came when I needed it most. I LOVE SHADOWHUNTERS!!!
ps. will watt who narrated the thomas and alistair story did a PHENOMENAL job. i love his voice!!
December 13, 2025
“I want all of it. The good and the bad. Love and loss in equal measure.” 🗡️🔮🤍
OBSESSED!!! give me a new shadowhunters book and i will eat it up every time!
this is probably the best novella compilation book in the entire shadowhunter chronicles. every single story was so beautiful and made me so happy. i love being back in the shadowhunters universe, and these characters mean the absolute world to me, so this book is probably one of my favorite new releases of 2025.
which story is my favorite? DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!!! they were all literally so good. i wasn’t ever bored! to be honest, i kind of wish this book had double the amount of pages that it does. i wanted the stories to keep on coming!
every shadowhunters stan needs to read this book NOW!!! i am so serious. do NOT pass this book up. it will make your day, your week, your month, your entire YEAR! i am not over-exaggerating. you seriously need to pick up this book immediately. it gets 6 stars from me!!!
OBSESSED!!! give me a new shadowhunters book and i will eat it up every time!
this is probably the best novella compilation book in the entire shadowhunter chronicles. every single story was so beautiful and made me so happy. i love being back in the shadowhunters universe, and these characters mean the absolute world to me, so this book is probably one of my favorite new releases of 2025.
which story is my favorite? DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!!! they were all literally so good. i wasn’t ever bored! to be honest, i kind of wish this book had double the amount of pages that it does. i wanted the stories to keep on coming!
every shadowhunters stan needs to read this book NOW!!! i am so serious. do NOT pass this book up. it will make your day, your week, your month, your entire YEAR! i am not over-exaggerating. you seriously need to pick up this book immediately. it gets 6 stars from me!!!
Want to read
June 12, 2025I apologise in advance for the person I’ll become when this drops 🙂↕️🙂↕️
Want to read
December 11, 2025OH MY GOD WHY DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?! MY BABIESSS THEY'RE BACK 😩💙💙💙
Want to read
September 29, 2025will and tessa....i haven't heard those names in years.....
i'm reading for them and only them. i haven't read these books in years but i will never forget the pain that clockwork princess gave me
i'm reading for them and only them. i haven't read these books in years but i will never forget the pain that clockwork princess gave me
Want to read
June 11, 2025464 PAGES?!?! CASSANDRAAAAA 😘😘😘😘
December 29, 2025
This was so cute and romantic. I love all of the couples in the series. RTC.
December 1, 2025
Cassandra Clare stop writing pointless novellas and release the wicked powers
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 29, 2025
ngl the first few were sooooo mid but it came together
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December 24, 2025As always, I loved returning to this world. Thank you once again, CC
November 20, 2025
I will be honest and admit that my review of Better in Black is tainted by my experience with the Seasons of Shadowhunters Kickstarter and the final product I received. Better in Black is absolutely riddled with typos and mistakes (I will be comparing my edition with the traditionally published edition once it releases). There’s multiple fully blank pages.
Most of the stories are fine or aggressively mid. They also serve as an excellent reminder of how long we’ve been waiting for the next installment in the Shadowhunter series.
The Good Storm (Will and Tessa)
The Good Storm follows Will and Tessa on their honeymoon in Paris. They’re looking forward to a quiet time away from the Shadowhunter world, but are pulled back in when they attend a mysterious show.
What was the point of this story? I was truly looking forward to spending some downtime with Will and Tessa, but instead I spent my time scratching my head wondering why Clare would make Will behave so out of character and why she thought readers would blindly accept it.
The Beautiful Ajatara (James and Cordelia)
The Beautiful Ajatara follows Lucie as she informs James and Cordelia that The Beautiful Cordelia is going to be published.
While The Beautiful Ajatara was a much better story conceptually, this was not a James and Cordelia story. This was a Lucie story starring James and Cordelia. Similar to The Last Hours, Lucie just got in the way.
Who the Wolf Loves (Luke and Jocelyn)
Who the Wolf Loves is a letter written by Luke to Jocelyn detailing their past and his undying love for her while she’s in the coma.
I loved the insight into their past as children then teenagers then young adults. I could probably read an entire novel from their perspectives.
Zachary’s Day Out (Alastair and Thomas)
A fun afternoon with Alastair and Thomas as they babysit Alastair’s little brother Zachary. This was fun and whimsical and exactly what I expected from these stories.
The Judgment of King Kieran (Kieran, Mark, and Cristina)
The Judgment of King Kieran is my second favourite story of the collection.
The Judgment of King Kieran follows Mark and Cristina as Keiran has to choose a new knight, but mischief is afoot. It was delightful seeing these three in action as they navigate their relationship with Kieran as king of the unseelie court. More please!
A Surfeit of Annas (Anna and Ariadne)
Anna and Ariadne’s relationship has always been the least interesting to me, however this story was beautiful.
Anna, still reeling from the events of The Last Hours, is withdrawn. A Surfeit of Annas follows Anna and Ari as they work through the meaning of their relationship and the stress that others, outside of the relationship, put on it.
Bred in the Bone (Emma and Julian)
Bred in the Bone is my favourite story of the collection. Emma and Julian and some of my favourite characters in the Shadowhunter world, so of course I was happy to see them.
Bred in the Bone actually moves the story of the Shadowhunter world forward rather than just being a fun mini adventure.
Bred in the Bone reminded me how much I love this world and these characters. Bred in the Bone also reminded me what happened in The Dark Artifices and how we’re still waiting on the continuation of this story. How long have we been waiting? Since 2018…
City of Broken Hearts (Simon and Isabelle)
I was never really a fan of Simon and Izzy together. This story was fine.
The Time of Two (Jace and Clary)
Another story to remind us how long we’ve been waiting for the next installment.
The Time of Two was okay. While it did move the plot along, there wasn’t enough Jace and Clary. The few moments of them together were slightly cringe. Clary waxing poetic about Jace’s chest. Sure. Jace and Clary may have aged, but Clare’s writing for them has not.
Most of the stories are fine or aggressively mid. They also serve as an excellent reminder of how long we’ve been waiting for the next installment in the Shadowhunter series.
The Good Storm (Will and Tessa)
The Good Storm follows Will and Tessa on their honeymoon in Paris. They’re looking forward to a quiet time away from the Shadowhunter world, but are pulled back in when they attend a mysterious show.
What was the point of this story? I was truly looking forward to spending some downtime with Will and Tessa, but instead I spent my time scratching my head wondering why Clare would make Will behave so out of character and why she thought readers would blindly accept it.
The Beautiful Ajatara (James and Cordelia)
The Beautiful Ajatara follows Lucie as she informs James and Cordelia that The Beautiful Cordelia is going to be published.
While The Beautiful Ajatara was a much better story conceptually, this was not a James and Cordelia story. This was a Lucie story starring James and Cordelia. Similar to The Last Hours, Lucie just got in the way.
Who the Wolf Loves (Luke and Jocelyn)
Who the Wolf Loves is a letter written by Luke to Jocelyn detailing their past and his undying love for her while she’s in the coma.
I loved the insight into their past as children then teenagers then young adults. I could probably read an entire novel from their perspectives.
Zachary’s Day Out (Alastair and Thomas)
A fun afternoon with Alastair and Thomas as they babysit Alastair’s little brother Zachary. This was fun and whimsical and exactly what I expected from these stories.
The Judgment of King Kieran (Kieran, Mark, and Cristina)
The Judgment of King Kieran is my second favourite story of the collection.
The Judgment of King Kieran follows Mark and Cristina as Keiran has to choose a new knight, but mischief is afoot. It was delightful seeing these three in action as they navigate their relationship with Kieran as king of the unseelie court. More please!
A Surfeit of Annas (Anna and Ariadne)
Anna and Ariadne’s relationship has always been the least interesting to me, however this story was beautiful.
Anna, still reeling from the events of The Last Hours, is withdrawn. A Surfeit of Annas follows Anna and Ari as they work through the meaning of their relationship and the stress that others, outside of the relationship, put on it.
Bred in the Bone (Emma and Julian)
Bred in the Bone is my favourite story of the collection. Emma and Julian and some of my favourite characters in the Shadowhunter world, so of course I was happy to see them.
Bred in the Bone actually moves the story of the Shadowhunter world forward rather than just being a fun mini adventure.
Bred in the Bone reminded me how much I love this world and these characters. Bred in the Bone also reminded me what happened in The Dark Artifices and how we’re still waiting on the continuation of this story. How long have we been waiting? Since 2018…
City of Broken Hearts (Simon and Isabelle)
I was never really a fan of Simon and Izzy together. This story was fine.
The Time of Two (Jace and Clary)
Another story to remind us how long we’ve been waiting for the next installment.
The Time of Two was okay. While it did move the plot along, there wasn’t enough Jace and Clary. The few moments of them together were slightly cringe. Clary waxing poetic about Jace’s chest. Sure. Jace and Clary may have aged, but Clare’s writing for them has not.
December 22, 2025
I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting, especially because this was a collection of short stories. I was surprised by some/most of the stories and what they focused on, but in a good way. It was nice to see old favorite characters again, and I’m tempted to reread the main books.
My favorite short story was “A Judgment of Kieran,” which was about the throuple. It reminded me of the Wicked Lovely series by Marr in the best of ways.
Bonus points for “The Good Storm” mentioning Mary Elizabeth Braddon, who I was reading recently.
Also, love a good amnesia plot.
Favorite quotes:
"I am a Shadowhunter," Will pointed out. "I could carry six of you over the threshold. Though if I had six brides, it would certainly be the talk of the Clave."
“I should be telling you how glorious you look half-clothed. Like the Venus de Milo, but with arms."
"A publisher wants to publish The Beautiful Cordelia!" she cried.
"Er, has he read it?" James asked.
"I told you London wouldn't be boring."
Sylvain appeared confused. "But she said no dalliances. How can that be more interesting than dalliances?"
My favorite short story was “A Judgment of Kieran,” which was about the throuple. It reminded me of the Wicked Lovely series by Marr in the best of ways.
Bonus points for “The Good Storm” mentioning Mary Elizabeth Braddon, who I was reading recently.
Also, love a good amnesia plot.
Favorite quotes:
"I am a Shadowhunter," Will pointed out. "I could carry six of you over the threshold. Though if I had six brides, it would certainly be the talk of the Clave."
“I should be telling you how glorious you look half-clothed. Like the Venus de Milo, but with arms."
"A publisher wants to publish The Beautiful Cordelia!" she cried.
"Er, has he read it?" James asked.
"I told you London wouldn't be boring."
Sylvain appeared confused. "But she said no dalliances. How can that be more interesting than dalliances?"
December 8, 2025
Thank you PRH Audio and Get Underlined for the gifted audiobook and physical copy.
I LIKED IT.
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I feel like I haven’t read a Shadowhunter book in a hot minute and it was fun to be back in this world with so many of my favorite characters.
Each novella felt like a mini story and brought a swoony edge each time. I think even some of them might be hinting at future things to come? [There’s another series coming right??]
I’m not sure I’d say this is 100% a necessary book to read but I do think you’ll enjoy it if you’ve been a fan of the Shadowhunters over the years.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance Collection
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: moderate
I LIKED IT.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I feel like I haven’t read a Shadowhunter book in a hot minute and it was fun to be back in this world with so many of my favorite characters.
Each novella felt like a mini story and brought a swoony edge each time. I think even some of them might be hinting at future things to come? [There’s another series coming right??]
I’m not sure I’d say this is 100% a necessary book to read but I do think you’ll enjoy it if you’ve been a fan of the Shadowhunters over the years.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance Collection
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: moderate
October 30, 2025
Meh! still better than Chain of Thorns tho 💀💀
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
December 19, 2025
So, reading SH book at the end of 2025 was not exavtly on my bingo card but here I am, happy.
I thought some stories were truly incredible pieces of writing from Cassie and some were really lacking.
I loved Luke and Jocelyn’s story, which was surprising because I have never been that interested in them as a couple, and Sebastian and the Seelie Queen’s story was beautifully written.
But the Blackstairs and Jordelia stories were terrible. Julian acted so OOC in Bred in Bone and I thought bringing back Thule Emma was weak writing when she had literally died in QoAaD. it’s so fucking bad I act like it doesn’t exist
The Jordelia story was told from Lucie’s perspective and seemed more about her than the couple themselves. I wish we got more about them and not something like a story within story! they are my current favorite couple.
and the Wessa story was also weird. The memory loss subplot was out of character and she had will sleep with tessa 30 seconds after thinking jem died. ://
overall, this book did ignite some of the nostalgia I had for this book, and I can't wait for the newest series in SH world.
I thought some stories were truly incredible pieces of writing from Cassie and some were really lacking.
I loved Luke and Jocelyn’s story, which was surprising because I have never been that interested in them as a couple, and Sebastian and the Seelie Queen’s story was beautifully written.
But the Blackstairs and Jordelia stories were terrible. Julian acted so OOC in Bred in Bone and I thought bringing back Thule Emma was weak writing when she had literally died in QoAaD. it’s so fucking bad I act like it doesn’t exist
The Jordelia story was told from Lucie’s perspective and seemed more about her than the couple themselves. I wish we got more about them and not something like a story within story! they are my current favorite couple.
and the Wessa story was also weird. The memory loss subplot was out of character and she had will sleep with tessa 30 seconds after thinking jem died. ://
overall, this book did ignite some of the nostalgia I had for this book, and I can't wait for the newest series in SH world.
December 8, 2025
i swear cassandra clare takes every opportunity to torture and remind me about the last chapter of clockwork princess
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.
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!
December 9, 2025
It's been a while since I read books from this universe. I'm happy that I haven't grown out of it. My only real issue was the fact that there was nothing about Malec in a book about Shadowhunter romance??? That's crazy even if there are five other books dedicated to them. Apart from that, this was great -- especially the preludes to The Wicked Powers, which I'm super excited for. I don't really have a favourite because I liked (kind of cute) and disliked (too dramatic and didn't really have a point) all of them. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's read all/most of the shadowhunters series (it's definitely fun and nostalgic) but it's unfortunately not the best book of the lot.
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