It’s now been over a month since Chain of Iron came out, and personally, I’ve been dying for new Shadowhunter chronicles content. I always find those first few months after a new book release to be especially painful, because you’re still recovering from the last book and the next one feels impossibly far away.
There is one good thing about this period of time, though, and that’s that there’s often lots of new fanfiction being written, and old fanfic to rediscover. This fandom may not be able to boast quite as much fanfic as some of the bigger fandoms on the platform, but there are some gems out there.
Here are 10 fanfics that are helping us get through the break between Chain of Iron and Chain of Thorns.
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by digorykirke
Summary: 1977.
There’s nothing Alastair Carstairs loves more than making music with his sister, Cordelia, and his friend Ariadne. So when Alastair and his band enter a band competition, the prize being five thousand pounds— enough to record their own album— everything seems perfect. Only, there’s a catch. His long-time rival from boarding school, Matthew Fairchild, is back in town with his own band, The Merry Thieves, to enter the competition. Only Matthew’s lead guitarist, Thomas Lightwood, is ridiculously— no, just tolerably handsome.
Why you should read it: Accurate characterization, a cool premise, and frequent updates!
Love Never Dies (A Natural Death) by ohcoolnice
Summary: Cordelia thought college would be simple: hanging out with Lucie, her best friend, cramming the night before exams. What she did not expect was all of this. Her roommate is hiding a wanted accused murderer in their apartment, Cordelia herself is in a fake relationship with the boy she’s in love with, her brother won’t talk to her, and Christopher Lightwood keeps blowing things up.
Why you should read it: A really fun modern twist on the Last Hours Series, complete with lots of James pining over Cordelia! Plus, it was written post-COI, so the characterization is excellent.
it’s hard to love with a heart that’s hurting (but if you want to go out dancing I know a place) by alastaircarstairs
Summary: “you have made quite a name for yourself anna, as someone who does not believe in love.”
in which anna and ariadne realize that maybe love is worth the fight after all.
Why you should read it: This is my favourite Anna/Ariadne fic out there. If only things had worked out this well in Chain of Iron.
the way you see me by heronxdaisy
Summary: The two times James Herondale kissed a girl at a party and every chance encounter in between.
Why you should read it: Realistic College AU, and really good characterization of James and Cordelia.
In Paris, One Can Forgive the World by limealive
Summary: Post-Chain of Iron
James follows the two people he loves most in the world to Paris, seeking forgiveness.
Why you should read it: The fix-it fic we all so badly needed! I only hope things resolve themselves this nicely in Chain of Thorns. They won’t, but we can all hope.
Popsicle Stick Homes and Construction Paper Hearts by GinnyRose
Summary: Made the guardian of a newborn child at just nineteen, Alastair has done his absolute most to be the best parent he could for his little brother. He got through sleepless nights with an infant, mastered diaper changing and bottle feeding. He survived potty training and managed to get through all of his brother’s preschool classes without murdering a single other parent. Year One should have been a breeze.
That was, at least, until Alastair met the patient, kind-hearted, and unforgivably attractive teacher, Mr. Lightwood. Alastair knows the teacher is absolutely, 100%, completely, unquestionably off-limits. But he has also never been known for sound dating decisions. And Mr. Lightwood truly is stupidly handsome.
Why you should read it: This is probably my favourite Last Hours fanfic of all time. I’ve read it more times than I can count. The characterization of baby carstairs is adorable, and the slowburn between Thomas and Alastair is infuriating in the best way possible. The author’s other TLH fics are all amazing too.
10 Things I Hate About You by brightwoods
Summary: Cordelia Carstairs isn’t allowed to date until her older brother does. Alastair is in a secret relationship with Charles Fairchild, but can’t tell anyone that he’s dating him. So, at Charles’ suggestion, and to give his sister any chance at dating, Alastair reluctantly decides to go on a date with someone else. It’s supposed to be just one date and mean nothing, but things get complicated and Alastair starts to question his real relationship.
Why you should read it: The summary sounds a bit silly, and the story certainly lives up to it, but it’s a really fun and addictive fic that will certainly satisfy your craving for Thomastair content.
Scythes and Stories by Star_Fangirl_Forever
Summary: Fantasy/Villain/Assassin AU
Enemies to lovers, based off a prompt a friend shared with me.
Anna is an assassin, tasked to kill Princess Ariadne. Whatever could go wrong?
Why you should read it: Enemies to lovers and Anna/Ariadne. Need I say more?
you’re my best friend, i’ll love you forever by abigneignenn
Summary: “You’re my best friend, Lu,” Matthew whispers softly, intertwining their fingers when there is no one but stars over their heads. “You know that, right?”
And, truly, she does. She feels it in her bones every time he looks at her with gentle, gentle eyes and nothing but affection on his face; she feels it when he calls her first thing in the morning to tell a joke he saw on the net and thought of her or when he anticipates her moods better than anybody else.
Lucie knows they are best friends, Lucie knows they are forever — what Lucie doesn’t know is that when did these words stop bringing her any semblance of joy.
or modern best friends au
Why you should read it: I don’t even ship Matthew/Lucie, but I still loved this one. A really accurate depiction of Lucie and Matthew’s friendship, I think, and it’s a testament to the author’s writing abilities that I was so invested in this fic despite not liking the main pairing.
Songs from the Shore by takethetrain
Summary: The year is 1717. The British port city of Alicante is under siege—sea monsters, typically scarce and reclusive, have begun to appear in droves, terrorizing anyone who ventures out into the ocean. Desperate to bring the situation under control, the British Navy sends every young man they can find on dangerous hunting expeditions.
Captain James Herondale and his crew of hooligans answer the call, but they have their own ideas about how the situation should be handled. Thomas Lightwood, their level-headed navigator, worries. He worries they will be caught between conflicts in the sea and on the shore; he worries about James’s increasingly mysterious behavior; he worries, most of all, about the benevolent creatures he knows hide beneath the treacherous waves.
Hoping to escape the dangers of the deep ocean and begin a new life with her children, Sona Carstairs relocates her family to Alicante. Quickly, she realizes her mistake—the once-safe waters are no longer, plagued by monsters and Navy ships willing to kill sea-dwellers indiscriminately. With nowhere else to go, Cordelia and Alastair must act quickly to find safety. But in these strange times, safety on any terrain may be hard to come by.
Why you should read it: This one is super interesting and well-written, a bit off the beaten path from what you normally see in fanfic. Just read the first chapter and see how quickly you fall in love with this AU.
What are some of your favourite The Last Hours fanfics? Let us know in the comments or on social media!
