The Shadowhunter Chronicles
| Company type | Media franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Publishing |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Cassandra Clare |
| Products | Novels, short stories, graphic novels, film, television series |
The Shadowhunter Chronicles represents a media franchise inspired by the creations of American young adult fiction writer Cassandra Clare. It encompasses six series of novels, three collections of short stories, five graphic novels, a feature film, a television adaptation, and additional related content.
The narrative unfolds in a world where mythological beings and fairy tale creatures exist alongside ordinary humans, known as mundanes. The central focus lies on the Nephilim, or Shadowhunters—humans infused with angelic blood—who are charged with overseeing the Shadow World. Their mission involves protecting mundanes from demons and Downworlders, which include warlocks, faeries, werewolves, and vampires. Governance is provided by the Clave, the Nephilim’s ruling council, which upholds a fragile peace through The Accords treaty with Downworlders, although compliance varies among factions.
Novels
The books are organized according to their chronological timeline.
The Infernal Devices
Although published second, this trilogy is set in London during 1878. It follows Tessa Gray, an American teenager who travels to England after receiving an invitation from her brother but is soon abducted by two warlocks known as the Dark Sisters due to her rare ability to shapeshift. As Tessa uncovers a sinister conspiracy orchestrated by "the Magister," she forms alliances with London’s Shadowhunters and encounters her two significant romantic interests: Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs.
- Clockwork Angel (August 31, 2010)
- Clockwork Prince (December 6, 2011)
- Clockwork Princess (March 19, 2013)
The Last Hours
Published as the fifth series in the franchise, The Last Hours acts as a sequel to The Infernal Devices. Set in 1903 across London and Paris, it chronicles the lives of James and Lucie—children of Tessa Gray—and their family friend Cordelia Carstairs as they confront political intrigues within the London Enclave alongside personal struggles.
- Chain of Gold (March 3, 2020)
- Chain of Iron (March 2, 2021)
- Chain of Thorns (January 31, 2023)
The Mortal Instruments
As the inaugural series that launched the franchise, The Mortal Instruments primarily takes place in 2007. It follows Clary Fairchild who discovers her identity as a Nephilim—a hybrid of human and angel—after witnessing a murder committed by Shadowhunters. The story is set in Downworld, a supernatural version of New York City inhabited by vampires, werewolves, and warlocks who frequently clash with Nephilim. Clary joins forces with Shadowhunters Jace Wayland, Isabelle and Alec Lightwood, along with warlock Magnus Bane to face dangers posed by Valentine Morgenstern and his son Jonathan that threaten the peace between humans and Downworlders.
- City of Bones (March 27, 2007)
- City of Ashes (March 25, 2008)
- City of Glass (March 23, 2009)
- City of Fallen Angels (April 5, 2011)
- City of Lost Souls (May 8, 2012)
- City of Heavenly Fire (May 27, 2014)
The Eldest Curses
The fourth trilogy released within the franchise, The Eldest Curses, centers on the relationship between Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. The narrative spans multiple periods within the franchise: during events in The Mortal Instruments, in the interval between that series and The Dark Artifices, and following The Dark Artifices. Co-authored by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu, this trilogy deepens key character arcs within the overarching storyline.
- The Red Scrolls of Magic (April 9, 2019)
- The Lost Book of the White (September 1, 2020)
- The Black Volume of the Dead (TBA)
The Dark Artifices
As the third installment in publication order and a continuation of The Mortal Instruments, The Dark Artifices is set in 2012, five years following the events of City of Heavenly Fire. The narrative focuses on Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs as she delves into the mystery surrounding her parents' demise, with particular emphasis on her intricate bond with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn.
- Lady Midnight (March 8, 2016)
- Lord of Shadows (May 23, 2017)
- Queen of Air and Darkness (December 4, 2018)
The Wicked Powers
Marking the forthcoming sixth and concluding series within The Shadowhunter Chronicles, The Wicked Powers will bring closure to the overarching saga. Set in 2015, three years after Queen of Air and Darkness, this series centers on the characters Kit Herondale, Ty Blackthorn, and Dru Blackthorn.
- The Last King of Faerie (2026)
- The Last Prince of Hell (TBA)
- The Last Shadowhunter (TBA)
Companion books
Several essential companion works enrich the Shadowhunter universe and deepen fan engagement:
- Released on January 29, 2013, Shadowhunters and Downworlders is a compilation by various young adult authors that explores different facets of the series' world.
- Published October 29, 2013, The Shadowhunter's Codex offers detailed terminology, lore, and additional content related to the series.
- The anthology The Bane Chronicles, comprising eleven novellas centered around Magnus Bane and co-authored with prominent YA writers, was published on November 11, 2014.
- This collection features stories such as "What Really Happened in Peru" and "The Course of True Love (And First Dates)."
- Featuring illustrations by Cassandra Jean, A History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld: Told in the Language of Flowers was released on February 18, 2016.
- Focused on Simon Lewis’s transformation into a Shadowhunter, the ten-novella collection Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy was published on November 15, 2016.
- This series includes collaborations with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman.
- The collection Ghosts of the Shadow Market, containing ten novellas following Jem Carstairs’s story arc, saw eight e-book releases monthly throughout 2018; two additional stories were published exclusively in print on June 4, 2019.
- Included are tales like "Son of the Dawn" and "Forever Fallen," co-written with Brennan, Johnson, Wasserman, and Kelly Link.
Film
In 2010, Screen Gems announced plans to produce a film adaptation of City of Bones, the inaugural novel in The Mortal Instruments series, intending to establish a film franchise. The movie premiered at Hollywood's Cinerama Dome on August 12, 2013, before its wide release on August 21, 2013. Although a sequel based on the second book, City of Ashes, was initially scheduled for release between 2013 and 2014, it was ultimately cancelled after the first film did not recover its production costs.
Television
On October 12, 2014, Constantin Film confirmed development of a television adaptation for The Mortal Instruments, appointing Ed Decter as showrunner. Martin Moszkowicz from Constantin Film remarked that a TV series would enable a more comprehensive exploration of the novels compared to a feature film. The production team expressed intentions to adapt the entire book series if the show achieved success. In February 2015, author Cassandra Clare revealed that the series would be titled Shadowhunters.
ABC Family (later Freeform) commissioned Shadowhunters as a straight-to-series order in March 2015; it premiered on January 12, 2016. The network renewed it for a second season consisting of 20 episodes in March 2016; this season debuted on January 2, 2017. A third season with another set of 20 episodes was announced in April 2017; its initial half premiered March 20, 2018. Despite cancellation after three seasons in June 2018, Freeform authorized two additional episodes to provide closure; these final installments began airing February 25, 2019.