u/HistoryDesperate

Hi everyone,

So I decided to write down my biggest TWP theories and dump them here cause I’m curious as to whether anyone agrees or arrived at the same conclusions. I’m dividing the theories according to magical paraphernalia, in-universe mythology, and TLS predictions. I won’t be including any theories about what will happen to the main characters. I think there are enough of those around.

Magical paraphernalia

• James Herondale’s gun will make an appearance. Obviously, Kit is the only one who can wield it. I’m curious to see what role it plays in the series. And we know definitively that it will on account of Kit’s First Heir powers.
• We’ll find out where the Black Volume of the Dead has been hiding all this time. I’m expecting the Lost Book of the White to play a role too.
• The Eternidad is supposed to play a role too.
• I always wondered where Mortmain and Valentine’s portal ring vanished to.
• Also didn’t CC mention that Will’s copy of the Tale of Two Cities would make a reappearance after Clary accidentally destroyed it along with Sebastian’s apartment? This would have been years ago.
• I imagine a lot of people have forgotten Madame Dorathea’s prophecy about Jace falling in love with the wrong person. Feels like it might be more relevant than we thought on account of Janus being around now. Also she did bring Dorathea back for a hot minute in BIB. Coincidence? I think not.

Mythology

• I’m fairly certain that the Nine Princes will be revealed as the titular Wicked Powers. Also the Shadowhunter Children’s Rhyme will have a lot more relevance to it than we previously imagined. The  line “Bronze to summon the Wicked Powers” begs the question as to what ‘bronze’ could refer to. The only time I can recall ‘bronze’ being of any relevance in the series was Lilith on account of the colour of her magic. It’s possible that the prophecy introduced in BIB ties in with the rhyme. Although, unless there’s information I’m overlooking, there’s nothing much to link the two up. We have no real information on the prophecy to go on.
• CC’s version of Lucifer is something I’m deeply intrigued with cause she’s been building up to it ever since Valentine first appeared. Besides the obvious references to Dante and Milton, she also borrows a lot from Mike Carey and Peter Gross’ comics. Not only does Valentine echo Milton’s Satan but descriptions of him align very closely to Carey and Gross’ depiction of him. Then there’s the Morgenstern name, the Sebastian arc, the appearance of Heopshoros and Phaesphoros, Malcom Fade’s brief talk about him, and dozens of other coded references to the OG fallen angel. CC has confirmed that we WILL meet Lucifer and that he’s not what we might expect. My running theory is that Lucifer isn’t a single angel, but the collective force of all Nine Princes amalgamated into a single Big Bad. Or he could be something else entirely. It’s even possible that he’ll be more human than we expect.
• Regarding the Princes, I’m very curious as to why Sammael felt wary of the tiger Isabelle rode in on in TLBOTW. It’s a tiny detail in the prose. But it’s significant that one of the most dangerous figures in the entire Shadowhunter universe felt guarded around it.
• Jonathan Shadowhunter will make an appearance. In COHF, the Edom variant of Jonathan Shadowhunter was the ‘First and Last of the Nephilim’. Ring any bells? Besides the fact that CC mentioned, some 11 years ago post COHF, that members from the first generation of Shadowhunters are still around, we know precious little about him. CC has been scattering hints about him all over the books. From his battle with Armaros (mentioned in CP2) to multiple little mentions across TDA and TLH. There’s also a remarkable absence of information about him that begs the question of what became of JS. The Codex is the biggest clue here because where a biography of the progenitor of the entire race should be, it has vanishingly little information about his life post-Lake Lyn.
• Abigail Shadowhunter and David’s fates will probably be revealed too. We never learn what happened to either of them. All we know of Abigail is that she became an Iron Sister. It’s highly likely that she’s still around.
• As for David, it’s mentioned in the Codex that the catalyst behind his decision to become a Silent Brother was seeing a demon perform a truly horrific act of violence. We never learn what that act of violence was. Or why it demanded such a profound response as transitioning into a Silent Brother. That information felt like a teaser CC wanted to expand in the future. I could be wrong. But it seemed important at the time. Also there’s been a long running theory that Brother Enoch is David. I’m very curious to see whether CC will confirm or deny this in future books.
• I have a hunch we’ll learn more about Wayland the Smith. The version we met in TLH raised questions as to what happened to the original Wayland on account of the one we met being Lilith in disguise. Mention of Wayland’s other swords keep popping up. Which begs the question of why CC keeps bringing him up. Also, the shattered Blackthorn sword from TLH practically screams a Narsil-to-Anduril reforging. And who better to reforge a sword than THE shadowhunter swordsmaster?

TLS predictions

• Okay, I’m including two predictions.

• The first one is part prediction part complaint. I’m really hoping CC concludes the series with a departure from her usual Deus Ex Machina gimmick. Cause it’s always a heavenly power that saves everyone or resets the status quo. Look, I get it, angels are arguably the most significant motif in the whole series. But their constant interference just doesn’t allow the characters any agency, accountability, or power of their own.

  • Infernal Devices – Angel – Ithuriel saves the day
  • The Last Hours – GOD – God literally intervenes
  • The Mortal Instruments (part 1) – Angel – Raziel kills Valentine
  • The Mortal Instruments (part 2) - Fair, this one breaks pattern. Clary disempowers Sebastian. Simon sacrifices himself. But Asmodeus (a fallen ANGEL) exports everyone out of Edom.
  • The Dark Artifices – ANGELFIED Jules and Emma save everyone. They’re not completely in their own right minds when they go about smashing everything up.

• My second prediction is that the entire series concludes with Jace and Clary’s wedding. Cause what better way to end the series than with the ship that set the Shadowhunter Chronicles sailing in the first place?

That’s it so far. I’m really looking forward to The Wicked Powers. As someone in their thirties who began reading the books at age 14 and used TMI as a gateway into a lot of different genres of literature, including studying Milton’s Satan for a Master’s dissertation, the Shadowhunter Chronicles will always have a special place in me wee little heart. Lemme know what you guys think.