The third anthology of the Shadowhunters universe, Ghosts of the Shadow Market, follows Jem through the years in the search for answers.

Storytelling

This collection of stories follows Jem Carstairs from the Infernal Devices series going through various Shadow Markets around the globe in search of answers to many questions. He seeks answers on Tessa’s demonic origin, the Lost Herondale, and more. It makes for a compelling narrative to follow him over time because Jem also makes some fascinating encounters on the way.

This anthology allows Clare to expand on the history of the Shadowhunter’s world in short snippets without dragging down the pacing of her trilogies. This allows her to explore more without distracting the reader, making reading the trilogies more enjoyable.

With the help of other authors, Ghosts of the Shadow Market follow characters mentioned only in passing, giving readers something new. Ghosts of the Shadow Market is an excellent read for fans of The Mortal Instruments series and the world. There are many callbacks and references that expand the world in such an impactful way.

Developing Jem

Jem has always been a beloved character, but something about how Clockwork Princess ended bothered me. It felt more like a cop-out to end Tessa with Jem. I love Jem. He’s a soulful character, but ending it like that was off.

This anthology took the bad taste out of my mouth. Jem is struggling not to use his humanity as a Silent Brother. But through the stories, the reader sees how deeply Jem loves Will and Tessa. This power behind it makes the friendship and love in the series more pronounced. And when we see his encounters with Tessa, it becomes even more pronounced.

Tessa is his connection to his humanity, his tether. There is more depth to their relationship than the ending of The Infernal Devices offered, which made me appreciate their relationship much more.

Final Thoughts

Ghosts of the Shadow Market is a must-read for any fan of the Shadowhunters universe. These authors put together amazing stories that give more depth to their relationship and insight into backstories.