Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dreamy tales ideal for fans of all four Shadowhunter series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BETTER IN BLACK: TEN STORIES OF SHADOWHUNTER ROMANCE, stories feature ten different partner pairings from the four main Shadowhunter series. Will and Tessa honeymoon in Paris in "The Good Storm," and run into trouble with a warlock's unique wedding gift. In "The Beautiful Ajatara," James and Cordelia are thrust into Lucie's book and must appease an angry greater demon. In "Who the Wolf Loves," Luke professes his lifelong devotion to Jocelyn in a letter while she languishes in a coma. In "Zachary's Day Out," babysitting duty goes very wrong for Thomas and Alastair when Alastair's baby brother messes with a faerie mirror that turns him into a whiny grownup. In "The Judgment of King Kieran," Mark and Cristina are summoned to Faerie to help King Kieran and discover demonic powers hiding within the court. In "A Surfeit of Annas," after Anna declares herself off the market, one of her past conquests tests Anna and Ari's relationship with a bit of Downworlder trickery. In "Bred in the Bone" Emma isn't fooled for a second when Julian's caught kissing another girl at a dance club. In "City of Broken Hearts," Simon and Isabelle must stop a jilted Ajatara from ruining the love lives of everyone in New York City. In "The Time of Two," Jace and Clary invite a grieving ex-Shadowhunter to their wedding. And in "Too Wise to Love," a healer in the court of the Seelie Queen vows never to love, but can't resist a cute baby. Included with the ten stories is a sneak peek of the fifth Shadowhunter series, The Wicked Powers where Drusilla runs into trouble at the Shadowhunter academy.
Is It Any Good?
For rabid Shadowhunter fans who have pored over fifteen books from four different series, there's no better present than this sprawling, fun collection of stories. For casual fans who've read a Cassandra Clare book or three, you will be lost. Here's the test: if you don't know who Clary, Cordelia, Emma, and Tessa are, bow out now. Or if you know three of the four romantic leads, just read stories with characters you recognize and avoid the others because of spoilers. Still here? Great. Despite the book's title, not every tale is focused on romantic love, and the best of the bunch includes some good old fashion demon butt-kicking. "City of Broken Hearts" is the most fun with witty banter, Jace and Clary cameos, and a jilted greater demon messing with everyone's love lives. Some demons need slaying, some need couples therapy. The sweetest story is "Zachary's Day Out," where Alastair finally bonds with his baby brother. And the darkest tale comes from Faerie. "Too Wise to Love" combines Sebastian's unsettling presence and the tragic history of a faerie healer's family. The most romantic is "Who the Wolf Loves," which is a feat because the werewolf's love is in a coma. All stories are worth a read if you know and love the characters, even "The Time of Two," though the trip to Costco seemed a lot less necessary than the long-hidden prophecy. Clues about the fifth and final trilogy, The Wicked Powers, may or may not be peppered throughout before the true sneak peek at the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about romance in Better in Black. Which partners get tested the most? Which partnerships are the strongest with the best communication? Which stories are more about love and empathy for family?
The Shadowhunter series includes many LGBTQ characters. Are these love stories different than the love stories of straight characters? Do you root for partnerships that match who you are, straight or not, or do you just root for partnerships between great characters?
The ending of this book includes a sneak peek of the fifth Shadowhunter series, The Wicked Powers. Were you more interested in the short stories or the series teaser? Why did the publishers include this?
Which story is your favorite? Why? Which is your least favorite?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Adoptees and Foster Kids , Dads , Siblings , Single Parents ) , Fantasy ( Fairies , Magic , Monsters , Vampires ) , Friendship , Royalty ( Queens )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : December 2, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 464
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 15, 2025
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