r/shadowhunters

Do you think Tessa TRULY didn’t like/love anyone romantically after Will passed? (before Jem was cured of his silent brotherhood) I don’t even mean like catastrophic love necessarily — just even a kiss with someone or something? 😭

ALSO. I wonder so much what she was like in the 50s-90s. Like, do you think she ever went to a Michael Jackson concert? Mundane things like that. Is there any content on Tessa in this era or is sort of just up in the air?

I am new to the Shadow Hunter world. The last king of faerie, which is said to be the first book in the final shadowhunter series, is being released this year. Do I need to read every other book before this???? pls heeelp

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.

Already distraught and don’t want it to end. I read all of the mortal instruments in middle school, decided to go back and do a complete read this go around. TID has completely ignited my love for the series again. I am SO SCARED for the rest.

When I finish, which direction should I go? Complete reread of mortal instruments then TDA?

P.S. Contains spoilers related to TID, so don't look behind the white curtain if you haven't read it!

Just came here to say that I AM STILL SHATTERED. I'm busy reading GOTSM and I literally couldn't get two pages into the chapter set in 1940, after >!Will's death, reading about Tessa's grief,!< without crying all over again. And that, after just reading a chapter where >!Belial shows Jem visions of a life he longs for but will never have.!< When does the heartbreak end???

Yes, yes, I know all's well that ends well and the story is beautifully crafted, but I can't help but grieve for Tessa already, again, knowing what's coming for her and >!her second chance with (newly mortal) Jem...!<

Uuggghhhh I'm gonna have to put even this book down for a bit and just take a breather for my poor heart 😂💔

I'm sure y'all get me...

Infernal Devices reminds me of Black Butler a bit and I’ve heard that The Mortal Instruments has been compared to Bleach a few times.

What do you think?

Hi all,

Since I have decided to reread in chronological order, I decided to start with the first three novellas in The Bane Chronicles (What Really Happened in Peru, The Runaway Queen, and Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale). I just finished those today, and I will also try to be posting my thoughts (or things I noticed) for each book at the end of each month.

If anyone wants to have a copy, I made a spreadsheet with the dates for my reread.

Onto Clockwork Angel now!

While I ultimately enjoyed this series, my eyebrow is stuck in a raised position and I refuse to tell anyone I brush my teeth. Here are my thoughts / insane hot takes on some of main cast, off the top of my head.

Lucy, seems to be the only one who is actually written as a child expecially when you contrast her with Cordiala. Like she literally starts the series with an "imaginary" friend who she falls in love with. Then most of her "heroic" moments is her literally begging ghosts for help and then fainting due to her delicate constitution. That said I did like her scenes with the Blackthorns as that was where she actually felt like she was her own person and loved the amount of lines she was willing to drive straight through to rescue the one she loves.

Cordiala, She had so much potential as a strong female lead but literally gets put on a shelf for way too long and when she finally gets back in action her literal role is to be protected until she can >!throw her sword!< to her man so he can save the day. Before she was given the debuff she was amazing and could literally be described as a warrior princess.

Anna, Is she literally the female version of Barney Stinson in the beginning? Like did we forget these books are set in the 1800s? Also alot of her most impactful plot and character development happens in GoTSm instead of these books.

Grace, She has to be the most complicated character its almost like she was ment to be an actual villain until she was reformed into something we feel bad for. Also the Gracelet has to be the most frustrating plotline ever.

Christopher, The Shadowhunter bloodlines are wild, I could be convinced that he and Mathew were somehow switched at birth by an intoxicated silent brother. Also the lab that he shares with Henry should have been in the basement of the institute, like there's no reason it needed to be somewhere else and whould have tied into TID way better. Also his EQ goes from zero to one hundred by the end of the series completely out of nowhere.

Alistair, one of my favorite characters and was absolutely fascinating to watch him climb out of a hole he written into by Tales of the Shadowhunter Academy and the first book. Definitely a great example of turning over a new leaf and being seen in a new light. Also disappointed he didn't get to beat up James to advenge Cordiala.

Mathew: Literally our AA character to show the struggle of addiction and is probably one of the worst parabatais until he gets dumped and sent to the rehab/detox dimension. Also him accidentally >!poisoning his mother and aborting her baby is super dark!<. Like It should have been an misunderstanding not something so crazy.

James, Bro has a gun with unlimited bullets, absolutely crazy and makes me glad Shadowhunters normally don't have guns. He is interesting once he recovers from his lobotomy bracelet but hate that it took so long. His relationship / scenes with Cordiala are definitely on another level.