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The Shadowhunter Chronicles #21.5
A Sea Change
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26Embark on a seafaring murder mystery from Greece to Constantinople with Matthew Fairchild, his loyal dog Oscar Wilde, and Sylvain Verlac, a captivating Parisian Shadowhunter.
Most travellers are running from—or searching for—something. But not Shadowhunter Matthew Fairchild and his loyal golden retriever, Oscar Wilde. No. Matthew is searching for himself aboard the Majestic, a grand 19th century ocean liner sailing from Greece to Constantinople.
Matthew wants nothing more than to mourn the death of a friend and peacefully enjoy his travels before reuniting with his friends James Herondale and Cordelia Carstairs at the London Institute of Shadowhunters—a secret society of angel-blooded humans who protect the mundane world from demons and Downworlders. But that’s interrupted when someone is murdered on the ship—and a vampire Downworlder lurks in the darkness.
Together with Sylvain Verlac, a mysterious and captivating Parisian Shadowhunter with a secret grief of his own, Matthew must find the murderer on the Majestic before death strikes again.
Most travellers are running from—or searching for—something. But not Shadowhunter Matthew Fairchild and his loyal golden retriever, Oscar Wilde. No. Matthew is searching for himself aboard the Majestic, a grand 19th century ocean liner sailing from Greece to Constantinople.
Matthew wants nothing more than to mourn the death of a friend and peacefully enjoy his travels before reuniting with his friends James Herondale and Cordelia Carstairs at the London Institute of Shadowhunters—a secret society of angel-blooded humans who protect the mundane world from demons and Downworlders. But that’s interrupted when someone is murdered on the ship—and a vampire Downworlder lurks in the darkness.
Together with Sylvain Verlac, a mysterious and captivating Parisian Shadowhunter with a secret grief of his own, Matthew must find the murderer on the Majestic before death strikes again.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2025
12 people are currently reading
974 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 35 reviews
February 9, 2026
Thank you Cassandra Clare and NetGalley for the eARC
I absolutely adored this book! It was short and sweet and I loved everything about it.
Getting to read about Matthew again brought me so much joy! It was nice that we got to see him getting better and fall for someone. The new characters were brilliant and hearing about old characters again warmed my heart!
The murder mystery was engaging and easy to follow. The balance between plot and romance was good and I thought the length of this short story was perfect as it got straight to the point.
I absolutely adored this book! It was short and sweet and I loved everything about it.
Getting to read about Matthew again brought me so much joy! It was nice that we got to see him getting better and fall for someone. The new characters were brilliant and hearing about old characters again warmed my heart!
The murder mystery was engaging and easy to follow. The balance between plot and romance was good and I thought the length of this short story was perfect as it got straight to the point.
February 5, 2026
How can a book that short be this moving? It really was everything. It’s perfect.
We got to see Matthew getting better.
We got to see our favourite shadowhunter dog, Oscar.
We got to see Will haunting the narrative.
We got to see a little bit of Christopher.
We got to see the love Matthew has for the Merry Thieves and his friends.
We got to meet new characters.
And we also had a little bit of romance.
What I did not get to see was the screen of my kindle at the end of the book because of my tears (though they weren’t sad tears, i promise). And with that thought i’d like to say that i 100% recommend this book if you love shadowhunters and read the last hours series, because you’ll love it (hopefully) as much as i did. Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me an earc of this book, i am forever grateful for this.
We got to see Matthew getting better.
We got to see our favourite shadowhunter dog, Oscar.
We got to see Will haunting the narrative.
We got to see a little bit of Christopher.
We got to see the love Matthew has for the Merry Thieves and his friends.
We got to meet new characters.
And we also had a little bit of romance.
What I did not get to see was the screen of my kindle at the end of the book because of my tears (though they weren’t sad tears, i promise). And with that thought i’d like to say that i 100% recommend this book if you love shadowhunters and read the last hours series, because you’ll love it (hopefully) as much as i did. Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me an earc of this book, i am forever grateful for this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A new Shadowhunter novella is on its way, this being a murder mystery on a ship to Constantinople. Matthew has been travelling for quite some time leaving the institute, his friends and family behind to go looking for something only wanting to return when he finds what he’s looking for. Under a fake name and having glamoured himself so the mundane folk won’t see he’s different, he hopes for a smooth time aboard, but that’s wishful thinking. There is another shadowhunter on board but also vampires and when a mundane gets killed, it's just another day in the office.
Want to read my full review on this novella? You can find it here; https://cindieslibrary.com/a-sea-chan...
Want to read my full review on this novella? You can find it here; https://cindieslibrary.com/a-sea-chan...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really fun and cute novella. It's fun to dip into the Shadowhunters world every now and then with these shorter stories. Matthew and Sylvain were adorable together and I liked the added element of danger and mystery with thw vampires. It was really nice seeing them both running from grief and find each other amid a murder mystery on a ship - genuinely a really fun setting.
It was a little insta-love for me but I also appreciate in a novella theres no time to have a slow burn.
Thanks Cassandra Clare and NetGalley for the ARC!
It was a little insta-love for me but I also appreciate in a novella theres no time to have a slow burn.
Thanks Cassandra Clare and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 12, 2025
As an Istanbulite, I genuinely enjoyed seeing the characters in my own city. It was fun and a bit surreal to have the setting so close to home. The story itself is light and doesn’t try to be anything bigger than it is, but I appreciated that cultural touch. A simple but pleasant short read.
November 13, 2025
Read the initial edition included in Careful of Books.
It was a very, very, short novella, I wish it had been longer. There were many things that felt rushed and cramped. Cassandra had been hyping up this story and ended up being such a short work!!! It need to be at least twice as long. The romance/erotic part was GREAT, like something Cassie had never written before. And it was nice meeting Sylvain, a new character Matthew meets and joins to solve the mysterious murder that happened during the voyage.
I just hope that this edition is corrected, cause the one in Careful of Books had typos and also mistaken information (like the fact that he mentions having a new sibling, when in fact he had TWO twin siblings, according to Chain of Thorns).
Objectively, I should rate it with 3.5 stars, but overall I did like it, so it's a bit more like 4 stars.
[Read in June 2025]
It was a very, very, short novella, I wish it had been longer. There were many things that felt rushed and cramped. Cassandra had been hyping up this story and ended up being such a short work!!! It need to be at least twice as long. The romance/erotic part was GREAT, like something Cassie had never written before. And it was nice meeting Sylvain, a new character Matthew meets and joins to solve the mysterious murder that happened during the voyage.
I just hope that this edition is corrected, cause the one in Careful of Books had typos and also mistaken information (like the fact that he mentions having a new sibling, when in fact he had TWO twin siblings, according to Chain of Thorns).
Objectively, I should rate it with 3.5 stars, but overall I did like it, so it's a bit more like 4 stars.
[Read in June 2025]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity of reading this ARC! All opinions are my own.
An exquisite and captivating short story of one of my favourite charismatic Shadowhunters, Matthew Fairchild. (I am, admittedly, extremely biased towards him, but that is all Cassie's fault, for writing such a lovely character.)
The short story is relatively simple and quick to read, the plot being quite straightforward and with no nonsense. Which is definitely appreciated considering the length of the story. The murder mystery is engaging enough to keep one curious, and while the outcome is somewhat predictable, it's not unsatisfactory. In the end, the length of it would not allow for more. It is, however, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's works' atmosphere and I appreciated that very much.
The meeting between Matthew and Sylvain was delightful and funny, and you could feel their chemistry from the very first scene they're in together. I particularly liked that Sylvain enjoys Matthew's sense of humour very much. Their relationship progresses relatively quickly, but they're so compatible with one another and have a lot in common, so it's not unnatural in any way whatsoever. Once they go into more depth, their process of mutual healing is very endearing and delicate in a very gentle and sweet manner.
"When you care for someone, the idea that they’d share their burdens with you is not something you dread. It is a gift."
The prose is well-adjusted for a short story; short sentences, to the point, and the descriptions are detailed enough for one to understand the atmosphere and visualise everything else. I will always be a fan of the manner in which Cassie writes the more passionate scenes, and she definitely did not disappoint this time around either. You can feel the fervour. Furthermore, I have especially enjoyed the fact that through the prose I could very clearly see Cassie had fun writing this short story. It is always a detail to notice when reading, if the author enjoyed writing this or not, and the fact that you can easily tell from the way it is written — it just adds so much more to the overall experience.
A little treat for me, I am deeply enjoying the introduction of a Verlac so close to a major character of one of the main families. Iykyk.
Overall, a very fun read, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed not only The Last Hours, but The Mortal Instruments as well. (Again, iykyk.)
Last, but definitely not least, a special shout out for our precious Cupid, Oscar Wilde.
An exquisite and captivating short story of one of my favourite charismatic Shadowhunters, Matthew Fairchild. (I am, admittedly, extremely biased towards him, but that is all Cassie's fault, for writing such a lovely character.)
The short story is relatively simple and quick to read, the plot being quite straightforward and with no nonsense. Which is definitely appreciated considering the length of the story. The murder mystery is engaging enough to keep one curious, and while the outcome is somewhat predictable, it's not unsatisfactory. In the end, the length of it would not allow for more. It is, however, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's works' atmosphere and I appreciated that very much.
The meeting between Matthew and Sylvain was delightful and funny, and you could feel their chemistry from the very first scene they're in together. I particularly liked that Sylvain enjoys Matthew's sense of humour very much. Their relationship progresses relatively quickly, but they're so compatible with one another and have a lot in common, so it's not unnatural in any way whatsoever. Once they go into more depth, their process of mutual healing is very endearing and delicate in a very gentle and sweet manner.
"When you care for someone, the idea that they’d share their burdens with you is not something you dread. It is a gift."
The prose is well-adjusted for a short story; short sentences, to the point, and the descriptions are detailed enough for one to understand the atmosphere and visualise everything else. I will always be a fan of the manner in which Cassie writes the more passionate scenes, and she definitely did not disappoint this time around either. You can feel the fervour. Furthermore, I have especially enjoyed the fact that through the prose I could very clearly see Cassie had fun writing this short story. It is always a detail to notice when reading, if the author enjoyed writing this or not, and the fact that you can easily tell from the way it is written — it just adds so much more to the overall experience.
A little treat for me, I am deeply enjoying the introduction of a Verlac so close to a major character of one of the main families. Iykyk.
Overall, a very fun read, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed not only The Last Hours, but The Mortal Instruments as well. (Again, iykyk.)
Last, but definitely not least, a special shout out for our precious Cupid, Oscar Wilde.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Sea Change is a novella which follows Matthew Fairchild, a young Shadowhunter, as he travels to Constantinople by boat when a murder happens on board.
At around 100 pages, this is a quick read that flows almost seamlessly from start to finish. It’s an accomplished story: prose, dialogue, characterization, pacing and the plot were all well done. I enjoyed being in Matthew’s headspace and I liked the love interest a lot. The connection between the two men was strong and they had great chemistry. Their conversations about their past and the grief each of them carried gave depth to what is, essentially, a fantasy adventure and provided some emotional moments.
One thing that jarred me was the first kiss. It felt abrupt; the timing didn’t make sense to me. Also, although the balance between plot and romance was handled well, I do think the book needed to be a little longer so that the romance could take a chance to breathe a little.
I’ve read several Shadowhunter books, but not the trilogy that this is a part of. However, that wasn’t an impediment. Although some familiarity with the Shadowhunter world would be a good idea, you don’t need to have read the Chain of Gold trilogy to follow the story. (Bear in mind, of course, that this spoils some events.) I gotta say, though, this novella has whetted my appetite for some Shadowhunting and I might seek the trilogy to see more of Matthew.
In short, this is a delightful read with the right balance of romance and adventure, perfect for a rainy afternoon or, in my case, a lazy Saturday morning in bed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
At around 100 pages, this is a quick read that flows almost seamlessly from start to finish. It’s an accomplished story: prose, dialogue, characterization, pacing and the plot were all well done. I enjoyed being in Matthew’s headspace and I liked the love interest a lot. The connection between the two men was strong and they had great chemistry. Their conversations about their past and the grief each of them carried gave depth to what is, essentially, a fantasy adventure and provided some emotional moments.
One thing that jarred me was the first kiss. It felt abrupt; the timing didn’t make sense to me. Also, although the balance between plot and romance was handled well, I do think the book needed to be a little longer so that the romance could take a chance to breathe a little.
I’ve read several Shadowhunter books, but not the trilogy that this is a part of. However, that wasn’t an impediment. Although some familiarity with the Shadowhunter world would be a good idea, you don’t need to have read the Chain of Gold trilogy to follow the story. (Bear in mind, of course, that this spoils some events.) I gotta say, though, this novella has whetted my appetite for some Shadowhunting and I might seek the trilogy to see more of Matthew.
In short, this is a delightful read with the right balance of romance and adventure, perfect for a rainy afternoon or, in my case, a lazy Saturday morning in bed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Hours is one of my favorite TSC series and Matthew is one of my favorite characters from that series. His journey in TLH was one of healing and of finding himself worthy of love and affection from his friends, who were of great support during Matthew's hard times. And Matthew did get back on his feet and at the end of CoT, it made sense that he would be by himself.
He had a lot of work to do, and during this year he's been aboard travelling with Oscar, he has been trying to be kind to himself and stopped destroying himself with alcohol. But yet, some grief remains. Matthew still hasn't reconciled himself with grief over losing his friend Christopher. He is still wondering what he needs to find because he feels sort of incomplete.
As a lover of ships (and shipwrecks, since the title is from The Tempest by Shakespeare), I adore this cover. It gives the idea of Matthew's healing journey - he is out in the sea, not quite there but almost. And while he's travelling to find himself, he finds Sylvain Verlac, a quite handsome shadowhunter who, like him, is on a trip by himself. I feel like Sylvain is the missing piece in Matthew's life. They seem to understand each other well and Sylvain seems emotionally available to love Matthew like he deserves.
This novella gives the closure that I had been expecting since the ending of CoT, and I'm glad it was written.
Thank you so much to DaphnePress for the ARC :)
He had a lot of work to do, and during this year he's been aboard travelling with Oscar, he has been trying to be kind to himself and stopped destroying himself with alcohol. But yet, some grief remains. Matthew still hasn't reconciled himself with grief over losing his friend Christopher. He is still wondering what he needs to find because he feels sort of incomplete.
As a lover of ships (and shipwrecks, since the title is from The Tempest by Shakespeare), I adore this cover. It gives the idea of Matthew's healing journey - he is out in the sea, not quite there but almost. And while he's travelling to find himself, he finds Sylvain Verlac, a quite handsome shadowhunter who, like him, is on a trip by himself. I feel like Sylvain is the missing piece in Matthew's life. They seem to understand each other well and Sylvain seems emotionally available to love Matthew like he deserves.
This novella gives the closure that I had been expecting since the ending of CoT, and I'm glad it was written.
Thank you so much to DaphnePress for the ARC :)
February 4, 2026
Note: the copy I read is the one due for release 28th April 2026 by Daphne press - an advanced copy (from NetGalley).
This book was a true treat! A Shadowhunter murder mystery vibe, on a ship with some epic characters? Yes please. Sign me up and throw away the key! It felt different from the other books but yet just the same with its central themes and characters we’ve come to know from other books.
I always relish a chance to venture back into the Shadowhunter world as it’s always so welcoming and exciting with its well woven stories. I loved the feel of this one and read it in pretty much one sitting! I will have fond memories of whipping this book out whilst I waited for an ophthalmology appointment - as I was dropped full of dyes, dilators and other likewise fun stuff and it certainly made the whole experience more enjoyable than having random goop shoved in your eyes ultimately would be. Thank you Cassie :)!
Little accompanying novellas like these I will always love and enjoy because they add more depth to other books and provide new opportunities to get to know certain characters as they get the spotlight. In this one, we follow Matthew on his travels and he finds himself in amidst a vampire theatre troop - surely nothing could go wrong right?
Absolutely loved and I enjoyed every page!
This book was a true treat! A Shadowhunter murder mystery vibe, on a ship with some epic characters? Yes please. Sign me up and throw away the key! It felt different from the other books but yet just the same with its central themes and characters we’ve come to know from other books.
I always relish a chance to venture back into the Shadowhunter world as it’s always so welcoming and exciting with its well woven stories. I loved the feel of this one and read it in pretty much one sitting! I will have fond memories of whipping this book out whilst I waited for an ophthalmology appointment - as I was dropped full of dyes, dilators and other likewise fun stuff and it certainly made the whole experience more enjoyable than having random goop shoved in your eyes ultimately would be. Thank you Cassie :)!
Little accompanying novellas like these I will always love and enjoy because they add more depth to other books and provide new opportunities to get to know certain characters as they get the spotlight. In this one, we follow Matthew on his travels and he finds himself in amidst a vampire theatre troop - surely nothing could go wrong right?
Absolutely loved and I enjoyed every page!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all, I want to thank Netgalley, Daphne Press and Cassandra Clare for letting me read this ARC, this is literally a dream come true for me.
In this novella we meet with Matthew once again, the poor guy has gone through a lot so he takes some time for himself to travel and recover from everything that happened in Chain of Thorns. This novella takes part in the final stretch of his travel before meeting with his friends in Constantinople. Matthew decides to travel by ship, and while in this ship he encounters a murder and an attractive shadowhunter called Sylvain Verlac.
First of all, I need to say that Matthew was one of my favourite characters of the Last Hours trilogy, I loved his personality and his sarcasm, and so I was really glad to reunite with him. The story felt super wholesome and cute, and I'm super happy for seeing Matthew try to get over everything while still perserving his amazing sense of humour and personality. The romantic plot felt a little too insta-love for me but I really don't care, because Matthew has gone through a lot and all I want is my baby to be happy. On the other hand, Oscar was just perfect, all Oscar-Matthew interactions were absolutely hilarious, loving that duo. Its also very good to see that there are good shadowhunters out there, if you know you know.
In this novella we meet with Matthew once again, the poor guy has gone through a lot so he takes some time for himself to travel and recover from everything that happened in Chain of Thorns. This novella takes part in the final stretch of his travel before meeting with his friends in Constantinople. Matthew decides to travel by ship, and while in this ship he encounters a murder and an attractive shadowhunter called Sylvain Verlac.
First of all, I need to say that Matthew was one of my favourite characters of the Last Hours trilogy, I loved his personality and his sarcasm, and so I was really glad to reunite with him. The story felt super wholesome and cute, and I'm super happy for seeing Matthew try to get over everything while still perserving his amazing sense of humour and personality. The romantic plot felt a little too insta-love for me but I really don't care, because Matthew has gone through a lot and all I want is my baby to be happy. On the other hand, Oscar was just perfect, all Oscar-Matthew interactions were absolutely hilarious, loving that duo. Its also very good to see that there are good shadowhunters out there, if you know you know.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This short story about Matthew was a great quick read. It was nice to see him again and to watch him tackle his guilt and grief after the events of the last hours. In the beginning we get to see him be his usual funny self but as we explore further, the layers start to peel off one by one. Sylvain is someone Matthew can be himself around and share his worries with. Together they solve the vampire case aboard the ship and come out of it feeling much lighter with a new sense of direction. They both manage to find what they had been in search of.
I love Cassie's writing and i had to binge-read this book in one sitting. I know i can just dive straight into the shadowhunter books without any problems. It was sad to be reminded of a certain character's death and made me miss the rest of the gang. The only reason i didn't give it 5 stars was because i felt like the relationship between Matthew and Sylvain was way too rushed/forced. But, then again, it is a short story so i guess it had to be rushed. Guess i love the slow-burns more 😂.
Thank you Daphne Press and Netgalley for the e-arc. "A Sea Change" comes out 28th April in the UK.
I love Cassie's writing and i had to binge-read this book in one sitting. I know i can just dive straight into the shadowhunter books without any problems. It was sad to be reminded of a certain character's death and made me miss the rest of the gang. The only reason i didn't give it 5 stars was because i felt like the relationship between Matthew and Sylvain was way too rushed/forced. But, then again, it is a short story so i guess it had to be rushed. Guess i love the slow-burns more 😂.
Thank you Daphne Press and Netgalley for the e-arc. "A Sea Change" comes out 28th April in the UK.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Matthew Fairchild is returning home from his travel year and finds himself at the centre of a murder mystery onboard a cruise ship with a dozen vampires and another Shadowhunter with a past almost as dark and tragic was Matthew’s.
Matthew was one of my favourite characters in The Last Hours trilogy so I was over the moon when I discovered Cassandra Clare had written a novella about his adventures after The Last Hours trilogy as I was always disappointed that his story was left unfinished. However, this story fell flat for me and with only one hundred and twelve pages to tell it, it felt rushed and the relationship between Matthew and Sylvain was entirely too insta-love for my liking.
What I did love about this book however was the journey Matthew goes on to heal after losing Christopher, a wound that is still festering, and how he inevitably ends up forgiving himself. Matthew deserves a bright and happy future and by the end of A Sea of Change, it is well within his reach.
Matthew Fairchild is returning home from his travel year and finds himself at the centre of a murder mystery onboard a cruise ship with a dozen vampires and another Shadowhunter with a past almost as dark and tragic was Matthew’s.
Matthew was one of my favourite characters in The Last Hours trilogy so I was over the moon when I discovered Cassandra Clare had written a novella about his adventures after The Last Hours trilogy as I was always disappointed that his story was left unfinished. However, this story fell flat for me and with only one hundred and twelve pages to tell it, it felt rushed and the relationship between Matthew and Sylvain was entirely too insta-love for my liking.
What I did love about this book however was the journey Matthew goes on to heal after losing Christopher, a wound that is still festering, and how he inevitably ends up forgiving himself. Matthew deserves a bright and happy future and by the end of A Sea of Change, it is well within his reach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Aclaración: leí la versión en la colección "Careful of Books" que fue parte del Kickstarter
Me enamoré de Matthew Fairchild apenas lo leí en las historias cortas (específicamente Cast Long Shadows) y me enamoré aun más leyendo The Last Hours, entonces A Sea Change se siente como un abrazo al corazón, y como un victory lap de un personaje que lo tiene bien merecido.
Es una historia muy corta (me habría gustado que fuera más larga) pero siento que cumple con su cometido: nos da un cierre más completo para Matthew, además de que nos permite explorar facetas que casi no vemos en TLH, como lo es un romance para él, su luto con lo sucedido en la guerra, el perdón que le ha costado encontrar. Disfrute mucho leerlo porque LO AMO SIEMPRE, y ahora verlo con Sylvain me dejó encantado y con ganas de más.
Lo bueno de los personajes de CDS es que lit son eternos porque siempre habrá donde volverlos a leer, y espero que esta no sea la última vez que tenga el gusto de leer a Matthew Fairchild, porque genuinamente es el amor de mi vida.
Me enamoré de Matthew Fairchild apenas lo leí en las historias cortas (específicamente Cast Long Shadows) y me enamoré aun más leyendo The Last Hours, entonces A Sea Change se siente como un abrazo al corazón, y como un victory lap de un personaje que lo tiene bien merecido.
Es una historia muy corta (me habría gustado que fuera más larga) pero siento que cumple con su cometido: nos da un cierre más completo para Matthew, además de que nos permite explorar facetas que casi no vemos en TLH, como lo es un romance para él, su luto con lo sucedido en la guerra, el perdón que le ha costado encontrar. Disfrute mucho leerlo porque LO AMO SIEMPRE, y ahora verlo con Sylvain me dejó encantado y con ganas de más.
Lo bueno de los personajes de CDS es que lit son eternos porque siempre habrá donde volverlos a leer, y espero que esta no sea la última vez que tenga el gusto de leer a Matthew Fairchild, porque genuinamente es el amor de mi vida.
Review of advance copy
**i read the version included in seasons of shadowhunters. I’m not sure if cc is expanding the story or just fixing some mistake from the version i read, we will see.
Original review:
This was not terrible, I did enjoy having matthews pov but it was simply too short and rushed. Dont get me wrong I did liked Sylvain and I liked the concept of him and Matthew. I also thought the mystery part with the vampires was entertaining enough, and I liked the small exploration of both matthew and sylvain's grief. I thought all the concepts and ideas were there but she did not develop anything enough for me to feel the connection or be moved by the story. Honestly the thing that pushed me here the most is my love for Matthew and wanting to see him finally be happy. I am sad because this should've been a full book of him, he deserved that. It is what it is. Also, her mentioning the popular theory of matthew becoming a vampire was funny, cc is so silly sometimes.
Original review:
This was not terrible, I did enjoy having matthews pov but it was simply too short and rushed. Dont get me wrong I did liked Sylvain and I liked the concept of him and Matthew. I also thought the mystery part with the vampires was entertaining enough, and I liked the small exploration of both matthew and sylvain's grief. I thought all the concepts and ideas were there but she did not develop anything enough for me to feel the connection or be moved by the story. Honestly the thing that pushed me here the most is my love for Matthew and wanting to see him finally be happy. I am sad because this should've been a full book of him, he deserved that. It is what it is. Also, her mentioning the popular theory of matthew becoming a vampire was funny, cc is so silly sometimes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Sea Change was a wonderful short story in Matthew's POV. I'm biased because I would read about Matthew Fairchild doing anything , even if it was just him painting walls but the story was great. I loved the murder mystery theme ( on a boat, which is even better). Albeit short ( due to the length of the story) Matthew goes through a journey of self discovery and acceptance. He deserves the best and his beloved dog Oscar was always by his side. We meet a new character Sylvain, which is a very nice addition to the shadowhunters family, he was charismatic and had baggage, so a perfect fit. I really enjoyed their journey and how they helped each other heal and their chemistry was instant but there was still yearning.
I highly recommend this!
Thank you to netgalley and Daphne Press for the arc
I highly recommend this!
Thank you to netgalley and Daphne Press for the arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"But grief could not be skipped over, like the dull part of a play. It rose as shock receded, all the bitterer for being made to wait."
Oh, I loved this so so much !!!! Im not always a massive fan of Novellas in general but I actually really loved this one.
Matthew, of course, as I feel he is for everyone, is one of my favourite characters in the Shadowhunter universe hes so tragic in his own way but is also full of so much love and protection for those around him. And, in this story it was no different I just love Matthew so much!!!
Also, I absolutely LOVED Sylvain please he was so so precious, I loved him from the moment he was introduced and absolutely bawled my eyes out when he was telling Matthew about Lucas I hope beyond hope we get more of him in future novellas.
My only one tiny thing was I just wish this could be a full novel but that's because I really loved reading it.
Oh, I loved this so so much !!!! Im not always a massive fan of Novellas in general but I actually really loved this one.
Matthew, of course, as I feel he is for everyone, is one of my favourite characters in the Shadowhunter universe hes so tragic in his own way but is also full of so much love and protection for those around him. And, in this story it was no different I just love Matthew so much!!!
Also, I absolutely LOVED Sylvain please he was so so precious, I loved him from the moment he was introduced and absolutely bawled my eyes out when he was telling Matthew about Lucas I hope beyond hope we get more of him in future novellas.
My only one tiny thing was I just wish this could be a full novel but that's because I really loved reading it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me a copy of this book.
I was so happy when I received this book and it was so good to be back in this world. This is a cute, short and emotional story and it was all so heartwarming and made me shed some tears. I do believe Matthew is a very good character and I’m happy we got a little good story for him after everything.
Cassandra Clare continues to be one of my favorite authors of all time. Her ability to write such beloved characters and relationships is just amazing.
I really do need to read Secrets of Blackthorn Hall and Better in Black and I just can’t wait for The Wicked Powers!
I was so happy when I received this book and it was so good to be back in this world. This is a cute, short and emotional story and it was all so heartwarming and made me shed some tears. I do believe Matthew is a very good character and I’m happy we got a little good story for him after everything.
Cassandra Clare continues to be one of my favorite authors of all time. Her ability to write such beloved characters and relationships is just amazing.
I really do need to read Secrets of Blackthorn Hall and Better in Black and I just can’t wait for The Wicked Powers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this jewel!
Saying that I loved this novella is not enough, I need more adjectives to describe the way Matthew and Sylvain made me feel. I definitely need more of them, the author did a magnificent job with this short story and I'm very happy I got the chance to read it before its release. Matthew Fairchild is one of my favorite characters of the Shadowhunters world, I was so excited to read this novella was about him and I'm glad he had his happy ending.
Saying that I loved this novella is not enough, I need more adjectives to describe the way Matthew and Sylvain made me feel. I definitely need more of them, the author did a magnificent job with this short story and I'm very happy I got the chance to read it before its release. Matthew Fairchild is one of my favorite characters of the Shadowhunters world, I was so excited to read this novella was about him and I'm glad he had his happy ending.
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January 14, 20264.5⭐
Me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba, a Matthew no se le dió el desarrollo qué se merecía en TLH.
Que bonito fue leer sobre su viaje para perdonarse y la manera de él y Sylvain de lidiar con la pérdida de una persona amada. Dolió porque esos sentimientos son tan ciertos, me pude identificar mucho con ellos.
Ojalá esta fuera una novela completa, con tal de conocer muchísimo más de Matthew y Sylvain.
Me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba, a Matthew no se le dió el desarrollo qué se merecía en TLH.
Que bonito fue leer sobre su viaje para perdonarse y la manera de él y Sylvain de lidiar con la pérdida de una persona amada. Dolió porque esos sentimientos son tan ciertos, me pude identificar mucho con ellos.
Ojalá esta fuera una novela completa, con tal de conocer muchísimo más de Matthew y Sylvain.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Sea Change by Cassandra Clare published by Daphne Press. A Sea Change is book 21.5, a novella, in the Shadowhunter Chronicles. Aquick read telling the story of Matthew, James and Cordelia. The three are friends, travellers and Shadowhunters.
A riveting story, exquisitly written by the author of City of Ashes.
This book deserves all the stars.
A riveting story, exquisitly written by the author of City of Ashes.
This book deserves all the stars.
Review of advance copy
I am normally no fan of short stories, but I always love the Shadowhunter shorts. I already read about Silvain in the book 'Better in Black', but I loved reading how they met. It would've been nice if the story had been a bit less rushed, but Matthew definitely deserves a positive story for once!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cassandra Clare always amazes with an amazing story. if it's 20 pages, 200 or 2000 you never get bored and you always want more. Matthew always made my heart hurt and I am so happy to see he got his happy end. I just wish it had many many maaaany more pages to read.,
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It was so nice to see Matthew grow and finally be happy. This was a quick read but it was a fun one. The relationship didn't seem forced and they do really work well together.
I'm so glad I got the arc for this one.
I received a copy of the arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
I'm so glad I got the arc for this one.
I received a copy of the arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
No entendí bien la historia en sí. Esto daba para libro más largo, no para una novella atropellada… Mat sigue siendo de mis pjes favs de todo Cazadores de Sombras :)
Review of advance copy
3,5 (διάβασα την ιστορία από κάποιον που την ανέβασε διαδικτυακά). Ήθελα λίγο παραπάνω λεπτομέρεια αλλά αγαπώ Matthew
January 30, 2026
Matthew Fairchild te amaré por siempre y para siempre!!!
February 8, 2026
they are so cute! it makes me very happy that matthew finally got his happy ending.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
review to follow
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