Basically what it says on the tin: ten short stories set in the Shadowhunter Universe, each centered on one couple (or throuple, in one case.) They are as follows:
The Good Storm (Will Herondale/Tessa Grey, set during their honeymoon.): So trite, so overblown. Cassie, if you can’t write sex scenes that don’t read like they’re from a bodice-ripper, don’t have them at all. Also, maybe keep track of the ages of your characters; why did you write a fifteen year old sounding more like a five year old? And Jem Brother Zachariah either develops a personality again over the ensuing years, or he’s just huffy it’s Will and Tessa on their honeymoon, because boy does he come off as a pill. Quick cameos also from Madame Dot (what, is she the go-to morally ambiguous Warlock?) and a Warlock who will make another (equally annoying) cameo in a later story. Not my favorite (partially because I am a stalwart Will/Jem shipper); 2 out of 5 stars.
The Beautiful Ajatara (James Herondale/Cordelia Carstairs-Herondale, or so she claims.): This was more a “Lucie Herondale/her own wonderfulness” story than a “James/Cordelia” one. Having now read parts of “The Beautiful Cordelia”, I would recommend fire over publishing, or a rewrite once Lucie fully matures past six. Continues the inability James and Cordelia seem to have in actually having conversations. Thankfully is offset by a slight maturing of Lucie. Taken down by Cassandra Clare’s continuing saga of demons being blowhard drama queens (these ones, in fact, make a return cameo in a later story; why?) Does raise a good point that the end of the story is feared to be the end of the romance; 3 out of 5 stars.
Who The Wolf Loves: (Luke Garroway/Jocelyn Fray, set in flashback during City of Ashes.): Never my favorite ship. Nice revisionist history in so, so, so many things. Luke comes across as still a child, even as an adult, though he’s more aware and less self-delusional than Jocelyn. Does make me wonder if Luke’s utopia would have been a him/Jocelyn/Valentine throuple? Just meh; 2 out of 5 stars.
Zachary’s Day Out (Thomas Lightwood/Alastair Carstairs): My favorite in the first four stories. They are absolutely adorable together, and I love both Alastair’s growth and how good Thomas is for him. Actually has humor in it, something that has been lacking up to this point. (Yes, I know these stories are supposed to be a mix of humor and pathos, but Clare pushes “The Beautiful Ajatara” as also being a funny one; it really isn’t. Funny that is; it’s in no way pathos.) Does not shy away from as much (up to a point) that Edwardian Shadowhunter society may be accepting of homosexuality, English Society at large wasn’t. But Branwell Fairchild, really? 5 out of 5 stars.
The Judgment of King Kieran (Kieran/Mark Blackthorn/Christina Mendoza-Rosales): Another good story and relationship. You would think with three people in said relationship, and one of them not always able to be present this would be one of the tragic stories; it’s serious (and sets up for the final trilogy), and there is a small relationship bump (that is quickly and maturely handled; see James and Cordelia what talking can accomplish?), but these three have to have one of the healthiest relationships (along with Thomas/Alastair and Anna/Arati Bridgestock; apparently you need a same-sex component to have a decent relationship in this book). (Aside: Mark’s “Seelie” name being Miach makes sense being turned into Mark. But Alessa into Helen? If it wasn’t for the Blackthorn love affair with all things Roman-inspired, I would think that would go into Alice.) Kieran and Mark need all the hugs Christina can give; 5 out of 5 stars.
A Surfeit of Annas (Anna Lightwood/Arati Bridgestock) Well, we’ve hit three in a row of good stories; I had hope at this point. Again, trust and communication; as I said, same sex couples have it going on here (must be why she didn’t include an Alec/Magnus one, she might have broken her streak. I love them, but Magnus Bane will never win “100% fully emotionally committed and healthily communicating man of the year” awards). Though Alec and Ari would have a lot to talk about over being with partners who almost everyone else thinks are incapable of being monogamous. Glad to see Matthew Fairchild has gotten his life together; can’t say I 100% like him (after Cast Long Shadows, Charlotte and Henry must be Saints to let it go), but good for him. Cameos from Seelies appearing in previous books, all of who continue to show Clare’s belief that Seelies are the largest assholes of her universe; 4 out of 5 stars.
Bred in the Bone (Julian Blackthorn/Emma Carstairs, set after Queen of Air and Darkness and Secrets of Blackthorn Hall): And we’ve nosedived. Hated this ship in their own series, and this didn’t change that. Emma still physically strong, emotionally immature Valley Girl twit, Julian still manipulative sociopath. Girl, when you think that your man would cheat on you and lie to your face about it if he could justify doing so and you can never trust what he says, why are you with him? Find a time machine and go talk to Ari about trust. Also, Julian, you missing Tavvy in your list of loved ones there? Do you know something we, the readers, don’t? Yet another set-up to the final trilogy; 2 out of 5 stars.
City of Broken Hearts (Simon Lewis/Isabelle Lightwood): And we have the return of the demons from The Beautiful Ajatara, and they’re as annoying here as they were there. Heavy mash-up of Star Wars and Othello plot-wise. Am thankful that by the end of the story these two crazy kids had actually started communicating (I see the trait comes and goes in the Lightwood family), because if Simon had stayed secure in his inferiority complex and/or Izzy had stayed brittle, I would recommend them breaking up, not getting engaged; beteween 3 1/2 and 4 out of 5 stars.
The Time of Two (Jace Herondale/Clary Fray): More foreshadowing. More proof that the Clave is a seriously damaged and damaging Institution, as if we didn’t figure that out in any of the previous 25 books. What I did find surprising is that Jace and Clary join the list of this book’s most healthy, well-adjusted, and communicative couples; they may be a main ship, but they’re not one of my favorite ships. But someone needs to treat Clary for that fatalistic depression she’s manifesting. Remember that annoying Warlock from The Good Storm? Well, this is his reappearance, sounding like he’s wandered out of a Dashiell Hammett novel.
Hope Maryse gets that family reunion, even if the family member apparently was introduced for a plot device that I still don’t quite know how he got. And I don’t know how I feel about the statement that New Yorkers find Pennsylvania superior to New Jersey; 4 out of 5 stars.
Too Wise to Love Sebastian Morgenstern/The Seelie Queen): First off, why do we call this man Sebastian? His name is Jonathan: I don’t care if he wants to be called Sebastian; he’s the villain, why are we caring what he wants? This story shares something in common with The Beautiful Ajatara, which is that it’s told by an outside observer; this time being Helen and Mark’s aunt Nene. For a story about “Sebastian” and the Seelie Queen, they seemed more like guest stars in their own story than MCs. Did not think she ever actually loved him, but apparently I’m wrong. Tells the making of Ash; so thrilling. And yet more buildup to the last trilogy; 4 out of 5 stars for the narrator, 2 out of 5 stars for the couple.
Overall Opinion: It’s a Cassandra Clare book; she’s not the greatest writer, but she always writes mildly entertaining (if at times highly frustrating) books. At this point, seeing as there are only supposed to be four books left, I will probably finish the series, but I don’t I’ll ever read the series cover to cover again. I find it slightly telling that there are more couples I didn’t support in this book than ones I did; I can’t say they were horrible, but I ship quite a few characters with different ones than are canon. Sad to say that after reading the over 25 books she’s written that I still think Clare is a juvenile writer, but it is what it is.
So if you like Shadowhunters, I would recommend this book. It adds to the lore, fills in some info after the HEAs, and sets up some background for how it’s all going to end.
