With an ever-expanding universe, Cassandra Clare has finally returned to close out The Shadowhunter Chronicles. I’m so excited to dive back into it, and I know many of you are, too. The Last King of Faerie is her first book in the final trilogy, The Wicked Powers, which was released on Nov. 3.
Whether you’re a fantasy or romantasy lover, a returning reader, or simply a curious book lover wanting to add one more book to your overflowing TBR (to be read), this is for you. Heads up, though: there’s a specific way to read the Shadowhunter Chronicles, and there are more than 20 books to read before this one, but you don’t have to read all of them.
Who’s Cassandra Clare?
Clare is a No.1 New York Times bestselling author who became known in the young adult genre because of her book series The Mortal Instruments, which features City of Bones, which is, in my humble opinion, her greatest book and the reason I got into her works.
She is also known for her movie adaptation called The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and her TV series spinoff, Shadowhunters. While I’m not a fan of book adaptations, both the movie and the series are the reason I fell in love with her books.
After writing The Mortal Instruments book series, she started writing other sets of trilogies. My favorite is the prequel trilogy, The Infernal Devices, which takes place before The Mortal Instruments. In the trilogy, we meet the ancestors of several main characters who appeared in later stories.
Before you enter that trilogy, beware: there is a contentious love triangle between the protagonist and two characters bound by soul but forbidden to fall in love. While I’m not a fan of love triangle tropes, let’s just say this one was entertaining, to say the least.
Delving into the Shadowhunters universe is a major undertaking. If you’re unsure whether or not you’ll like the book series, you should definitely check out the movie adaptation of the first book.
What Are ‘the Shadowhunter Chronicles?’
The Shadowhunter Chronicles is the official name of the saga Clare has crafted over the years. Within the chronicles, we have multiple book series, trilogies, a duology, and other independent stories stemming from the original plotline.
On top of all that, the franchise spans multiple centuries, with different family bloodlines. While it’s a fantasy franchise, the Shadowhunter universe features characters in New York, Victorian-era London, and Paris, depending on the book you’re reading.
The characters themselves can also range from various unique groups. Downworlders, for example, are supernatural beings, including werewolves, vampires, faeries, and warlocks. Some of the beings can even be part-demon or just magical.
The most important characters are the Shadowhunters. They’re very different from all other creatures, as they possess enhanced strength, speed, and agility. You can also tell a Shadowhunter apart from others, as their skin is burned by magical symbols called Runes.
According to Clare, the Shadowhunter Chronicles should be read in order of release dates, but some fans say that you can go by the book series timeline or by the historical timeline of the specific book. Regardless of your method, you’ll soon find yourself sucked into its universe and rooting for your favorite characters.
What We Should Expect
After almost 20 years of hard work, The Shadowhunter Chronicles is coming to an end. The Last King of Faerie is the first book of the fifth and final trilogy. The book will take place four years after the events of Queen of Air and Darkness. With a few returning from past books, we’ll mostly expect a brand-new generation of characters
Clare already revealed that we should expect four key characters who were introduced in The Dark Artifices. With Dru Blackthorn, Kit Herondale, Ty Blackthorn, and Prince Ash Morgenstern coming back for another adventure, I’m especially excited to explore the chemistry between Prince Ash and Dru.
Fan art has already been getting readers energized for the release, with works being featured by Clare herself on her Instagram. Based on the illustrations Clare posted, I’m pretty sure that Dru will end up falling in love with Prince Ash, and Kit and Ty will be forced to work together even though they’re still bitter from their fallout in Queen of Air and Darkness.
Why You Should Read It
If you can’t tell, The Shadowhunter Chronicles have a special place in my heart. However, the saga always has a place for old and new fans.
For those who’ve been here from the beginning, we get to see Magnus, my favorite character from The Mortal Instruments, Clary, Jace, Alec, and many others. The crossover I’ve been begging to occur is finally going to happen.
If you love dark court politics, betrayals, prophecies, and forbidden romance, this book will deliver and meet all of your expectations. It’s never too late to start the series.
As a returning reader and fan, I’m excited to get my hands on The Last King of Faerie. Clare is an amazing writer who knows how to take you through the story and make you experience different emotions you might have never felt. For those who haven’t read or heard about The Shadowhunter Chronicles, get ready to be immersed in an enchanting new adventure.
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