The Lost World is the ninth short story in Ghosts of the Shadow Market, co-written by Cassandra Clare with Kelly Link.
Unlike the eight previous stories, this and Forever Fallen were not released as e-books and were only available in the print edition of Ghosts of the Shadow Market that was released on June 4, 2019.
Description[]
While at the Scholomance, Ty and Livvy test the limits of Livvy's ghostly powers, while Jem and Tessa prepare for the birth of their child.[1]
Plot[]
March, 2013
Ty Blackthorn has been at the Scholomance with the ghosts of his twin sister, Livvy for four months. They have been testing and recording the qualities of Livvy's resurrected state. Ty has been writing letters and postcards to his family, but he refuses to write to Kit. Ty and Livvy wonder if Livvy can get into Idris which has been sealed up from the outside and make a plan to test Livvy's limits. However, this plan is delayed when Livvy finds a Carpathian lynx kitten dying at the Dimmet Tarn and wakes Ty up. Together, they manage to save it and later name it Irene.
Eventually, Livvy tries to go to Idris by picturing Lake Lyn in her mind. However, she finds herself hovering above the Dimmet Tarn. When she tries again, she finds herself at the beach near the L.A. Institute. She becomes angry when she can't feel the warmth of the sun and ends up at the Dimmet Tarn again.
Livvy manages to calm herself down and tries using a different image to get to Idris. This time, she succeeds to an extent, ending up on the outside of the wards. She cannot see what is behind them but she can hear Manuel Villalobos and Zara Dearborn talking on the other side. She eavesdrops on them as they complain about how they're running out of resources and they have a plan to launch a surprise attack on the outside world soon while checking on the wards.
Livvy cuts her hand on a blade of grass, much to her surprise, and brings her hand to her mouth as she realizes that she can taste her own blood. She appears back above the Dimmet Tarn. Ty is relieved when Livvy returns as he feels discomfort when she's away, due to their bond. She tells him about what she heard at the wards. Despite Ty telling her not to go, she travels to the Los Angeles Institute. She sees Helen and Aline in the kitchen together and is suddenly overwhelmed by despair and envy. She accidentally causes a stack of dishes at the sink to crash to the ground.
Livvy flees to Dru's room and still overcome by emotion, she finds herself shrinking and contemplating if she should bury herself in her sister's eye. Suddenly, the television and the witchlights flicker out. Mark mentions that Tessa has gone into labor and that Magnus Bane is with her, reminding Livvy why she left Scholomance that night.
Livvy travels to Cirenworth and appears to Kit, startling him. He remarks that she seems a little off and tells her where she can find Magnus. When she finds Tessa, Magnus, and Jem in the old conservatory, she finds that all her attention is focused on Tessa's unborn baby. A familiar voice in her head tells her that something is wrong but she ignores it, overwhelmed by the thought that she could slip her soul into the baby and get a second chance at life. However, she hears the voice again and comes to her senses. While she doesn't possess the baby, she causes all the glass in the conservatory to explode outward. Magnus realizes what Livvy has done and sends her to go sit with Kit.
Kit and Livvy talk about how Ty is doing at Scholomance and the heron on a chain that Kit has. Livvy suddenly realizes that is hurting Ty for her to be so far away and tells Kit to tell Magnus to look for her before hurrying back. Ty has collapsed but quickly gets better with Livvy nearby.
Magnus soon appears and Livvy tells him everything. He gives her Kit's heron chain to pass to Ty as it can shield him from some of the side effects of the necromantic bond. Livvy asks Magnus about the Dimmet Tarn and he tells her that if one goes to the Dimmet Tarn and looked into the water for long enough, they would see something of their future. He also tells her that the future isn't set in stone and that one can always choose another future. Livvy makes up her mind to stay away from the Dimmet Tarn and to choose her own future.
Characters[]
- Livvy Blackthorn
- Ty Blackthorn
- Irene
- Magnus Bane
- Kit Herondale
- Manuel Villalobos (voice only)
- Zara Dearborn (voice only)
- Helen Blackthorn
- Aline Penhallow
- Dru Blackthorn
- Mark Blackthorn
- Jem Carstairs
- Tessa Gray
- Catarina Loss
- Anush Joshi
Gallery[]
Art[] |
International covers[] |
Trivia[]
- The title "The Lost World" is a reference to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel of the same name.[2]
- A title initially shared for the installment was "Ghosts of Old Loves" – another Conan Doyle reference, taken from a quote in Sherlock Holmes: "Of all ghosts, the ghosts of our old loves are the worst."[3][2]
- The inscription Livvy finds is not a connection to The Last Hours—though the year is similar—it is simply meant to be commentary on being a Shadowhunter. However, there is a possibility it may be touched on in The Wicked Powers.[4]
- This story is solely told from Livvy's point of view.
References[]
- ↑ Cassandra Clare's January 2019 Newsletter
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "... now titled The Lost World (still a Conan Doyle reference.)" Cassandra Clare on Tumblr
- ↑ "... the titles are Ghosts of Old Loves (”of all ghosts, the ghosts of our old loves are the worst”–Arthur Conan Doyle)," Cassandra Clare on Tumblr
- ↑ "We never discussed that piece of writing as connecting to Last Hours or anything else - it’s meant to be a commentary on being a Shadowhunter, more than anything; it’s possible Livvy may come across the ghost of whoever wrote in in TWP, though!" Cassandra Clare on Tumblr