Queen of Air and Darkness (Clare novel)

Queen of Air and Darkness

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	2018
Founder	Cassandra Clare
Products	Fantasy novel

Queen of Air and Darkness concludes The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, forming part of the larger The Shadowhunter Chronicles. Set in 2012, the narrative centers on the inhabitants of the Los Angeles Institute while reintroducing characters from earlier series. The chapter headings are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem The City in the Sea.

Plot

Picking up after Lord of Shadows, the Shadowhunters prepare to attend the pyres for Robert Lightwood and Livvy Blackthorn. The Clave falls under the control of the Cohort, a fascist faction intent on undermining Downworlders, who appoint Horace Dearborn as the new Inquisitor. Julian Blackthorn requests Magnus Bane to suppress the parabatai bond he shares with Emma Carstairs, which has been complicated by romantic feelings. At the funeral, Emma encounters her cousin Jem, who reveals Kit Herondale’s fey lineage and informs her about a warlock illness connected to ley lines. Jem provides Emma with a ring to communicate with his wife, Tessa Gray.

Horace forbids Emma and Julian from returning to Los Angeles alongside the Blackthorns, instead sending them to Faerie with orders to assassinate Annabel Blackthorn and retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. Upon arriving, they realize Horace’s true intention is their demise and confront Dane Larkspear, whom Julian kills before Seelie faeries escort them to their court. Julian exchanges a copy of the Black Volume for information on severing parabatai bonds using the Mortal Sword in Silent City.

At Scholomanche, Diego Rosales hides Kieran from Cohort agents but is unable to save Dane’s sister Samantha, who succumbs to madness. Diego persuades Kieran to flee; Kieran subsequently rescues Cristina Rosales and Mark Blackthorn from faeries during an investigation into ley lines. Alongside Jaime Rosales, they secure passage on the Eternidad to journey to Faerie but face obstacles involving Kieran’s brother Oban and Cohort member Manuel Villalobos. Cristina escapes seeking aid from Adaon.

Following the fate of the Larkspear siblings, Horace advocates for registering Downworlders; the Clave votes in favor. Diana Wrayburn escapes captivity with Gwyn ap Nudd, while Consul Jia Penhallow is imprisoned.

Nene offers Emma and Julian roles as escorts for the Seelie Queen to negotiate with Unseelie King Arawn, who is exploiting Ash—her son enhanced by Black Volume magic—to dominate the Seelie Court and exterminate Shadowhunters. After confronting Annabel and Arawn, Emma and Julian are captured along with Clary Fairchild and Jace Herondale but are rescued by Cristina and Adaon. They save Mark and Kieran; Arawn opens a portal to Thule intending to empower Ash further. During ensuing clashes, Kieran kills Arawn; Annabel escapes through the portal with Ash while the Seelie Queen departs alongside Adaon.

In Thule—an alternate future reality—Emma and Julian find a world ravaged by Sebastian Morgenstern’s conquest following Clary’s death. Shadowhunters are split between Sebastian’s Legion of the Star and a Resistance led by Livvy, who is alive in this timeline. They encounter an alternate Tessa, the last surviving warlock afflicted by Blight caused by ley lines. She explains that Blight can be counteracted using waters from Lake Lyn and believes Emma and Julian can defeat Sebastian wielding the Mortal Sword.

Emma breaks her communication ring to reach Tessa Gray, who supports their quest. After obtaining the Mortal Sword amid ambushes, Tessa sacrifices herself so Emma can kill Sebastian with Ash’s assistance. Upon returning home through a portal, Julian avenges by killing Annabel before rejoining Emma.

Back in their own world, they share knowledge of curing Blight using waters from the Wild Hunt. Horace announces false reports of Clary and Jace’s deaths to galvanize support before negotiating with Oban. Julian lifts his dampening spell and establishes "Livia's Watch," exposing Cohort propaganda during talks that escalate into open conflict. Dru frees imprisoned allies; Ty attempts Livvy’s resurrection ritual but only conjures an apparition visible exclusively to him and Kit. Kit discovers his descent from the First Heir; Shade reveals himself as Ragnor Fell.

During climactic battles, Zara Dearborn wounds Emma; their strengthened parabatai bond transforms them into formidable beings who defeat Horace but nearly destroy Alicante before being calmed by the Blackthorns. They awaken no longer bound as parabatai.

Kieran kills Oban and ascends as Unseelie King after Adaon relinquishes his claim, resulting in his separation from friends despite mutual affection. Kit moves in with Tessa and Jem in Devon. Dru learns from Magnus and Ty about side effects stemming from Livvy’s resurrection. Alec Lightwood becomes Consul following Jia's abdication; he leads anti-Cohort Shadowhunters out of Idris permanently. Alec and Magnus marry at Los Angeles Institute.

In an epilogue, Thule’s Jace visits the Seelie Queen, promising Ash as a bargaining chip for meeting Clary.

Principle characters

• Emma Carstairs – A Shadowhunter brought up at the Los Angeles Institute alongside the Blackthorn family. She serves as the Blackthorns' guardian, wields the ancestral sword Cortana, and is hailed as the most formidable fighter of her era, often compared to Jace Herondale.
• Julian Blackthorn – Emma’s parabatai and guardian of the Blackthorn siblings. Deeply devoted to Emma, he grapples with sorrow and the burdens of the parabatai curse. His unwavering loyalty is notable, and he shares a similar stature to Jace Herondale.
• Mark Blackthorn – Julian’s older half-fae sibling who was abducted by the Wild Hunt during childhood. He finds himself emotionally divided between Cristina Mendoza-Rosales and Kieran Kingson.
• Cristina Mendoza-Rosales – A Mexican Shadowhunter spending a travel year at the LA Institute, aiming to enhance relations between Shadowhunters and faeries. She experiences inner conflict regarding her feelings for Mark Blackthorn and Kieran Kingson.
• Kieran Kingson – A prince of the Unseelie Faerie Court and former member of the Wild Hunt, torn between his allegiances and his affections for Cristina and Mark. Distinguished by his dark blue hair and heterochromatic eyes.
• Tiberius "Ty" Nero Blackthorn – The middle sibling of the Blackthorns and twin to Livvy; he is on the autism spectrum. Denying Livvy’s death, he attempts to bring her back to life and shares a close friendship with Kit Herondale.
• Kit Herondale – A newly aware Shadowhunter and the last known descendant of the First Heir. He maintains a strong bond with Ty Blackthorn.
• Dru Blackthorn – The second youngest in the Blackthorn family, eager to demonstrate her maturity. She struggles with accepting Helen as her sister and harbors romantic feelings for Jaime Rosales.
• Helen Blackthorn – The eldest sibling in the Blackthorn family; half-fae who has recently returned from exile seeking acceptance within her family.
• Aline Penhallow – Helen’s spouse and daughter of Consul Jia Penhallow; fiercely protective of Helen.
• Octavian "Tavvy" Blackthorn – The youngest member of the Blackthorn siblings.
• Diego Rocío Rosales – Cristina’s former partner, serving as Centurion at Scholomance; engaged to Zara Dearborn as part of a political alliance.
• Jaime Rosales – Younger brother to Diego who escaped home to shield Eternidad from Dearborn influence; maintains close ties with Cristina and Dru.
• Diana Wrayburn – Tutor to the Blackthorn family, transgender, currently in a relationship with Gwyn ap Nudd.
• Magnus Bane – Brooklyn’s High Warlock loyal to Shadowhunters through his relationship with Alec Lightwood; aware of Emma and Julian’s secret romance but weakened by The Blight. Father to Rafeal and Max Lightwood-Bane.
• Horace Dearborn – Leader of the Cohort and manipulative candidate for Inquisitor, known for advocating anti-Downworlder policies; antagonistic toward the Blackthorns.
• Zara Dearborn – Daughter of Horace Dearborn, characterized by jealousy toward Emma and ambitious political motives through an arranged marriage to Diego Rocío Rosales.
• Jace Herondale – Renowned warrior from the Dark War period, enhanced by angelic blood. Seeks connection with Kit Herondale; has been engaged multiple times to Clary Fairchild; parabatai to Alec Lightwood.
• Clary Fairchild – Protagonist of previous conflicts with angel blood that grants advanced rune abilities; parabatai to Simon Lovelace; romantically linked with Jace but hesitant due to prophetic visions of death.
• Alec Lightwood – Skilled archer promoting cooperation between Downworlders and Shadowhunters; mourns his father Robert Lightwood; father of Rafeal and Max Lightwood-Bane; Jace’s parabatai.
• Isabelle Lightwood – Noted for her beauty and outspoken nature; engaged to Simon Lovelace.
• Simon Lovelace – Former mundane turned Nephilim; Clary’s parabatai; engaged to Isabelle Lightwood.
• Gwyn ap Nudd – Leader of the Wild Hunt; romantically involved with Diana Wrayburn.
• Jia Penhallow – Current Consul of the Clave opposing the Cohort; collaborates with Diana against Horace Dearborn; mother-in-law to Helen Blackthorn.
• Ragnor Fell "Shade" – Experienced warlock presumed dead after the Dark War; advises Ty against attempting to raise Livvy; close confidant of Catarina Loss and Magnus Bane.
• James "Jem" Carstairs – Emma’s distant relative and former Silent Brother; married to Tessa Gray; protector of the Herondale lineage.
• Tessa Gray – Warlock bearing Shadowhunter heritage, widow of Will Herondale, wife of Jem Carstairs; seeks a cure for warlock illness while preserving Herondale legacy.
• Annabel Callisto Blackthorn – Ancestor resurrected by Malcolm Fade in the initial book of the trilogy.
• Ash – Offspring of Sebastian Morgenstern and Seelie Queen, combining faerie, demon, and angelic bloodlines. His presence commands loyalty; shows interest in Dru Blackthorn.
• Adaon Kingson – Kieran’s brother once favored as heir to the Unseelie throne until abducted by the Seelie Queen who made him her consort.
• Unseelie King – Merciless ruler of the Unseelie Court responsible for historic murders within his family line.
• Seelie Queen – Cunning leader of Seelie Court known for her cruelty and manipulation.
• Oban – Kieran’s brother and designated heir apparent noted for his alcoholism and vulnerability to influence.
• Catarina Loss – Warlock healer working undercover as a mundane nurse; assists Diana in her transition and aids Cristina’s investigation into warlock illness.

Reception

Queen of Air and Darkness garnered a variety of responses from critics. According to Common Sense Media, it leans more towards a 'soap opera saga than fantasy tome,' with character conflicts taking precedence over the central storyline. In contrast, TMI Source hailed the book as an impressive conclusion to the series. Some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the open-ended conclusion, which aligns with Cassandra Clare's intention to extend the narrative in her forthcoming series, The Wicked Powers. In general, feedback indicates that enthusiasts of The Shadowhunter Chronicles will appreciate this entry.