Gretchen Powell Fox's Shadow and Son is out in the world as of 20 October 2026, and with it the Shattered Crown trilogy is finished. Three books, one realm-shattering conclusion, and a hardcover that looks rather good standing beside its siblings. The author is spending release week on the road, which is the proper way to end a trilogy.

What is Shadow and Son?

Shadow and Son is the third and final book in Gretchen Powell Fox's Shattered Crown trilogy, published on 20 October 2026. It follows Smoke and Scar and Splintered Kingdom, and the author has described it as the realm-shattering conclusion to the series.

The Shattered Crown covers have been illustrated in a matching style across all three volumes, each framed in gilt filigree against deep blue and black. The Shadow and Son cover shows an armoured man and a winged, lilac-haired figure facing one another inside that frame.

Which formats is Shadow and Son available in?

Shadow and Son is available in three formats at once: ebook, audiobook and a deluxe hardcover. The deluxe hardcover and the audiobook both come from Simon & Schuster.

The deluxe hardcover of Shadow and Son carries the ISBN 9798347116119. The audiobook edition carries the ISBN 9781668158890. Quote either number at The Bookclub Boutique or anywhere else that orders books and you will get the right edition rather than a near miss.

Where can you see Gretchen Powell Fox on the Shadow and Son tour?

Gretchen Powell Fox is touring Shadow and Son through late October 2026, having already celebrated in Austin and Milwaukee. Boston comes next, where she appears alongside Sable Sorenson (Annie) and Vasilisa Drake, with tickets available at the door.

New York City follows on 21 October, where Gretchen Powell Fox is in conversation with Shannon J. Spann and a limited number of tickets remain. The DC-area event takes place in Fairfax on 29 October with Sheila Masterson. All Orlando events are sold out, so if you were dithering about Orlando, stop dithering and look at the other dates.

What is the author asking readers to do?

Gretchen Powell Fox is asking readers who finish Shadow and Son to leave a rating or a review wherever they log their books. Ratings and reviews carry real weight for authors, and she has said plainly that it would mean the world to her.

It costs nothing and takes two minutes, which is a rare ratio in publishing. If you have been following the Shattered Crown since Smoke and Scar, this is the part where you get to pay the series back.

Shadow and Son: the details

Title	Shadow and Son
Author	Gretchen Powell Fox
Series	The Shattered Crown, book three
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	20 October 2026
Formats	Ebook, audiobook, deluxe hardcover
ISBN (deluxe hardcover)	9798347116119
ISBN (audiobook)	9781668158890

The Shadow and Son book tour, stop by stop

Frequently asked questions

What order should you read the Shattered Crown trilogy in?

Start with Smoke and Scar, then Splintered Kingdom, then Shadow and Son. That is the order Gretchen Powell Fox presents the three Shattered Crown novels in, and Shadow and Son is written as the conclusion, so coming in cold at book three means meeting the ending before the beginning.

Is there anywhere to talk about the books with other readers?

Yes. Gretchen Powell Fox runs a Discord server for readers and invites people to join it, and she is active on Instagram and TikTok as well. If you want to discuss the end of the Shattered Crown without spoiling it for the person next to you, that is where the conversation is happening.

Source

Based on material from Gretchen Powell Fox, received October 20, 2026. Written up for The Bookclub Boutique.