Francesca Herondale

Francesca “Frankie” Herondale was born into one of the most well-known Shadowhunter families in the world. She is the daughter of a younger sibling of Will Herondale, making her his niece by blood and a younger cousin to James Herondale and Lucie Herondale. Though proud of the Herondale name, she grows up constantly aware of the expectations and comparisons that come with it.

Her mother comes from a respected Shadowhunter family (often associated with either the Fairchild or Carstairs line), known for steadiness and duty. Frankie’s childhood is shaped by both the prestige of her family and the pressure to live up to its legacy.

Her father was once a promising Shadowhunter—charming, intelligent, and skilled—but after a serious mission injury, he became dependent on opium. As his condition worsened, Frankie gradually began taking on his responsibilities. What started as small acts of help soon became leadership. By her later teens, she was effectively managing much of the household’s duties alongside her own training and Institute obligations.

To outsiders, Frankie becomes known for her effortless confidence, sharp humor, and reliability under pressure. She learns to lead, fight, and navigate London’s Shadowhunter society with ease, carefully maintaining a polished image so no one looks too closely at what she carries behind it.

Despite her competence, Frankie struggles with the weight of her name and role. Being related to Will Herondale and growing up in the orbit of her accomplished cousins means she is often measured against a legacy she did not choose. She loves her family deeply but quietly fears she will always be seen as “another Herondale” rather than simply herself.

Now active in London during the Chain of Gold era, Frankie is recognized as a skilled Shadowhunter and a charismatic presence in society.

The Shadow World exists hidden alongside the mundane world, unseen by ordinary humans. Its protectors are the Shadowhunters, also known as Nephilim—warriors descended from the angel Raziel, created to hunt demons and maintain peace among supernatural beings. Using a magical tool called a stele, Shadowhunters draw angelic runes onto their skin. These marks grant abilities such as healing, strength, speed, and endurance, making them formidable fighters. Besides demons, the Shadow World is home to Downworlders: supernatural races including warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and faeries. While some Shadowhunters distrust them, Downworlders are not inherently evil and often play important roles in maintaining balance. Shadowhunter society is governed by the Clave, which creates laws and oversees Institutes across the world. The Clave is based in Alicante, the capital of the hidden Shadowhunter homeland, Idris. Each major city has an Institute, serving as both a residence and headquarters for local Shadowhunters. In the Edwardian era of The Last Hours (1903–1905), Shadowhunter society is highly traditional. Family names, reputation, duty, and marriage carry significant weight. Prominent families such as the Herondales, Lightwoods, Fairchilds, and Carstairs are well-known throughout the Shadow World. Young Shadowhunters are trained from childhood to fight demons and serve their community. Many balance dangerous missions with social obligations, attending parties, dinners, and gatherings while navigating family expectations. Although Shadowhunters are raised to value honor and duty above all else, the world is rarely that simple. Conflicts between responsibility and personal desire, loyalty and love, tradition and change are common struggles. Beneath the glamour of London society and the prestige of famous bloodlines lies a world of secrets, sacrifice, and constant battles against darkness.

Amateur tailoring: -She doesn't make entire outfits, but she alters and repairs her own clothing. It's practical, calming, and gives her something to do with restless hands. -Card games She's ridiculously competitive. A demon attack won't rattle her, but losing at cards absolutely will. -Sketching people Not professionally—just quick little observations in notebooks. She likes studying faces and expressions. -Collecting ridiculous sayings Whenever she hears an unusual phrase, she writes it down. Her notebooks are filled with half-finished sketches, mission notes, and strange bits of dialogue. -Dancing Not because she's particularly graceful, but because it's one of the few times she lets herself enjoy being young.

Little Habits: -Taps her fingers when thinking. -Finishes other people's sentences. -Keeps spare hairpins and handkerchiefs because someone always needs one. -Falls asleep in chairs while reading. -Remembers tiny details about people but forgets things about herself. -Laughs when nervous. -Carries snacks because she frequently forgets meals.

What she secretly enjoys: -Being praised by someone she respects. -Quiet mornings before anyone else is awake. -Having her hair played with. -Being included rather than being in charge. -Sitting with friends and listening instead of leading.

Likes: -Strong tea with far too much sugar. She claims it helps her think. -Terrible penny novels and serialized romances. She pretends they're ridiculous while secretly becoming invested in every plotline. -Sunlight. She'll seek out the warmest spot in a room without realizing it. -Tailors' shops. Not because she's vain, but because she genuinely enjoys discussing fabrics and cuts. -Making people laugh. It's one of the few things that reliably makes her happy. -Horse riding. The closest she comes to feeling completely free. -Fresh pastries. Particularly lemon tarts. Gossip. Not malicious gossip—she just enjoys knowing everything that's going on.

Dislikes: -Being fussed over. The moment someone asks if she's all right, she becomes suspicious. -Opium dens. Even passing one can sour her mood because of her father. -Feeling useless. She'd rather be injured than sidelined. -Formal silence. Frankie likes rooms that feel alive. -People who mistake kindness for weakness. -Having to wait while others make decisions. -Receiving gifts. She never knows how to react and feels she hasn't earned them.

Francesca Herondale cuts a striking figure wherever she goes. Her skin is warm and sun-kissed from years spent training outdoors, a contrast to the pale elegance favored by many London ladies. Cropped blonde hair falls in soft waves around her face, rarely tamed for long, and storm-grey eyes gleam with perpetual amusement. There is something restless about her beauty, as though she is always on the verge of laughing, arguing, or drawing a blade.

Like Anna Lightwood, Frankie favors impeccably tailored clothing over conventional feminine fashions. She is most often seen in fitted jackets, crisp waistcoats, and sharply cut trousers, paired with polished boots and silver cufflinks. Where other young women might wear gowns to impress, Frankie dresses to move. Every piece is practical, elegant, and unmistakably expensive, carrying an air of quiet confidence rather than outright provocation. She wears her clothes with the ease of someone who stopped asking permission long ago.

There is little softness in the first impression she gives, but her smiles are bright, her laughter infectious, and when she turns her attention on someone, it feels like standing in sunlight.

Francesca "Frankie" Herondale is quick-witted, charismatic, and impossible to ignore. She meets most situations with a grin and a clever remark, preferring humor to vulnerability and confidence to uncertainty. Capable and fiercely independent, she's the sort of person others instinctively rely on in a crisis.

Years of carrying responsibilities beyond her age have made her practical, observant, and deeply protective of the people she loves. She notices when others are struggling long before they say a word, yet rarely admits when she needs help herself. Beneath her effortless charm lies a stubborn perfectionist who fears letting others down and struggles to separate her worth from her usefulness.

Though she appears fearless, Frankie is driven less by confidence than by determination. She refuses to be small, refuses to be helpless, and refuses to abandon those she cares for—even when it costs her. Her warmth, loyalty, and quiet acts of care make people trust her easily, but very few realize how much she keeps hidden behind her smile.