#thomastair deserved better

[im-out-of-it]

I’ll forever love that whole “IM IN LOVE WITH ALASTAIR CARSTAIRS AND IM GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH HIM” moment

because Gideon is seriously like “I didn’t even think you liked Alastair, not much at least” because he’s actually genuinely confused 😭 he’s not being homophobic and he’s not angry but he’s like when did my son start liking this boy he previously hated? what am I missing here?????

and Eugenia is so protective of her brother that “if anyone condemns Thomas for who he is or who he loves, he and I will renounce the rest of you as my family”. she’s so proud of her brother and misguided as the attempt is, (I’m giving her all the points) she’s prepared to leave the family for him. like what a wonderful sister Eugenia is. she’s so underrated and we don’t get many moments with her 🥹

then Sophie is all “no one here is going to condemn Thomas” PROTECTING AND LOVING HER SON

and Gideon says no like the fuck Thomas, you think your father would be ashamed of you???? 💀

“Thomas, my darling, we love you and we want you to be happy. If Alastair makes you happy, then we are delighted. Although it would be nice if you introduced us. Perhaps you could bring him to dinner?” Sophie 😭

I do wish this scene was longer and we could’ve seen a whole chapter of the dinner and the lightwoods bonding but I will admit- I like this page. Eugenia and Thomas think their parents won’t accept Thomas being gay and they’re both just confused why Thomas never introduced Alastair lmao WE NEED AN AUTHENTIC PERSIAN DINNER PLEASE (I’d love to see Thomas cook for him)

in a way, I feel that Gideon secretly knew because what kind of man stalks someone to make sure they aren’t getting murdered and then when that person is accused of murder, they go and defend that person and say HEY HE KILLED NO ONE AND I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE SECRETLY BEEN FOLLOWING HIM BUT JUST AS A FRIEND FOR MY SISTER NOOOOOO OTHER REASON

so I feel that Gideon just KNEW. but Gideon and Sophie are both confused because why haven’t you introduced us yet???????? WHY HAVENT WE HAD DINNER WITH HIM THOMAS? it’s just so cute and wholesome. Gideon is one of my favorite characters and he doesn’t get the treatment that he deserves so I feel robbed that we don’t get to see him parent all that much 🥹

[im-out-of-it]

SOMEONE PLEASE LET ALASTAIR JUST VENT OR SOME SHIT LIKE MY BOY WAS GOING THROUGH IT AND MATTHEW NEEDS A SHRINK SO BAD IM SORRY MATTHEW BUT YOU DO AND MY POOR GABRIEL AND GIDEON LIKE IMAGINE KILLING YOUR FATHER AND ALSO WILL NEEDS TO BE HOSPITALIZED ALREADY LIKE ALL OF THEM ARE SO FUCKING TRAUMATIZED

SOME OF THEM AND IM NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES (jace, will, I’m sorry math) BUT NEED TO STOP USING TOXIC COPING SKILLS AND NEED AN HOUR LONG THERAPY SESSION

(just a side note, I hate how none of them can work through their trauma at all like ???????)

(but it’s also the writing because they can work through their trauma and still have a very compelling story and be fun)

[rinadragomir]

My thoughts on the couples included in Better in Black for those who care

I expect you to write down yours so work work

📍Wessa

You know, as a dedicated Jessa stan I wanna say that it's okay~ Because these two were together for 50 years or sth, there's still some things to add. We might watch them in their 30s, 50s, 60s. I guess at this point both camps have around the same amount of content. Plus I'll have Jessa in twp so I'm in peace 🌱

📍Clace

All my first thoughts are over here. I'm a Clace defender, I'm their oldest stan, I'm a veteran👩‍🦳 So I feel like I have a right to say that...it was kinda unnecessary. We've witnessed every step in their relationship so far, beginning of it in TMI, gentle transition to adulthood in TDA and Tales of Shadowhunter Academy, adulthood in SOBH and proposal. So if the story isn't about their wedding then WHAT THE HELL IS IT ABOUT REALLY? And we know that they won't get married until twp.

📍Anna & Ari (Arianna!)

Hey🥺that is nice, we've seen so little of them in chain of thorns and I've loved them since their debut in 2018 in that short story. I'm very biased when it comes to TLH, cause I'm their mother. So YAY🌱they have a long way to go, Anna still needs to change a tiny little bit for them to be healthy, so I'd love to witness it

📍Jordelia

We all have known about it, because Cassie kinda promised us their story a while ago. Wedding runes scene, honeymoon, kids, mortgage etc. Go kids, slay, serve, eat and so on, I'm excited for u!

📍Sebastian & Seelie Queen

🤨🧐🤔👁👁

Yeah... That famous Sebastian &Fanbase. Like... I'm conflicted, because it's useless and doesn't make any sense even tho it might slay. Listen up, I'll show you.

Lots of people defend it by saying that it might be important for Ash's background in TWP. But... No it's not. Because this is exclusive book made for few people who were lucky and financially stable enough to get it. It won't be posted online. So most people won't read it unless someone leaks it. So there's no point for that story to be important for the plot, therefore it has nothing to do with it.

And it's definitely not "one of the most beloved" couples. BUT LIKE... WHAT IF IT SLAYS? Toxic, unhinged romance, what if I'll love it? 🤡

📍Jemma

So you see the problem? Because it's the same as Clace. What else might she add, because there's nothing. SoBH ended like yesterday. We know exactly where they live rn, their daily routine, their plans. So there's nothing to add between SOBH and twp. What will it be about? Hard to say, but I hope Cassie will come up with sth interesting for them.

📍Thomastair (why did Cassie say Alistair instead of Alastair, I'm lost help me)

Yay🥺slay, serve, eat and leave no crumbs, go, kill it idk you're doing great boys, there's so much to add and explore because they've just started dating. I'm so excited ^-^

📍Kierartkina

That is fine. No matter what I think about their relationship, because in my point of view Cristina and Kieran fell in love because Cassie said so apparently, I still don't mind them being there. Because there's also lots of things to discuss and explore. I hope the story will be soft and warm☀they've just started their advantage so it definitely makes sense

📍Sizzy

Even though we've had lots of them in TMI and Shadowhunters Academy I still think they deserve to be here. They are famous (I guess? 👁👁) and I'd like to know more about their plans for future. Simon was still a teenager in the stories collection and now I'd love to see him as a grown man being in relationship with the woman he loves.

📍Luke & Jocelyn

👁👁🤨🧐🤔👀

Well... That was... Unexpected. I guess... I've just never met their fandom but I hope it's huge af, because I don't know why else would they be here. Sophideon, Gabrily and Charlotte with Henry were supposed to be here, let's be honest. But since they're here, I do think Cassie is able to make a decent story. I expect it to be bittersweet, angsty and somehow heartwarming. I think there's nothing to say except let's wait and find out.

OVERALL I think it's pretty fine. Maximum 7/10 from me. I was ready to face the worst, but it turned out to be... Fine. So it's fine☺🌱

[the-merry-thieves]

TLH Couples as Taylor Swift Songs

Because I wanted to connect two things I love :)

Cordelia & James: "You’re Losing Me" (throughout CoG and CoI) and "Lover" (end of CoT)

You're Losing Me: Cordelia had to pretend that she was fine and didn't love James for so long, and thought she needed to endure it alone. She gave James her "best mes", "endless empathy", until she couldn't anymore. Seeing James embrace Grace at the end of CoI was the final straw after years of slowly "losing" her because of Grace's spell

Then I threw in Lover because after all the emotional turmoil they've been through, they deserve a cute little love song now that they're finally happily married for real

Cordelia & Matthew: "Wonderland"

This song just captures the mood of their lil spontaneous Paris getaway - trying to escape reality by throwing themselves into the wonderland of Paris (also, Cheshire cat smile and green eyes; come on, this song was made for our favorite charming, tortured-soul green-eyed boy)

Thomas & Alastair: "Begin Again"

This song is Thomas giving Alastair everything that Charles could never, and helping Alastair see that he is worthy of love and deserves the world (someone please give me more Thomastair x Taylor Swift suggestions, I could definitely do better but I can't think of more rn)

Lucie & Jesse: "Enchanted"

Every time I hear this song I think of the scene where Jesse tells Lucie to command him to dance, and then they dance together, and "the night was hushed, enchanted". One of my favorite Ghostwriter (do people use this ship name) scenes. Truly only the very first page; Lucie was determined to see him (*alive*) again...

Grace & Christopher: "Mine"

Because Grace & Christopher deserved to live in happiness together and we can just pretend the last 200 pages of CoT never happened! I think of this song as their story that *could* have been. It represents how Kit brought out the best in Grace and forgave her past wrongs, and how Grace didn't think she could have true romantic feelings for anyone ("wondering why we bothered with love") until she met Kit

Anna & Ari: "Untouchable" and "I Can See You"

I imagine Untouchable as Ari talking about Anna and how she's this emotionally guarded, beautiful but unattainable figure; in CoI she describes Anna as "hard and bright as a diamond. Untouchable" & "like starlight... it seemed warm and radiant and near, but was in truth uncountable miles away". I think this song depicts how Ari sees Anna so perfectly

As for I Can See You, the sensual, clandestine romance in this song is so Anna & Ari. There's just something inherently sapphic about a secret love

(Bonus?) Tatiana & Rupert: "right where you left me"

No explanation needed for this one...

---------------------------------------------------

Give me all of your favorite Shadowhunters-inspired music suggestions!

The blue text is quotes from the songs and the purple text is quotes from the books, if anyone cares

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

okay, i lied. in addition to a thomastair novella in better in black, i'm also manifesting one about matthew and his new love interest in basically equal measure. i really want to see them together more because i know matthew's going to bring it in a relationship and idk i think i deserve to read more about him being happy and healthy. i'm hereby declaring that i'm distributing my manifesting efforts 50/50 between thomastair and matthew/LI. but like, the 50/50 is actually 100/100 because i've charged a lot and get to cast the spell as powerfully as possible

[dreaming-in-alicante]

Thoughts on Chain of Thorns

I've had a few days to process now and I think the word to sum up my thoughts on the book is simply underwhelmed

A lot of this has been said already by others, but my own two cents:

I think Cassie should have either 1) taken more time to write or 2) kept her original ending

There was SO much to tie up and I feel like it was done in the most inefficient way possible. She spent half the book resolving Jordelia in the most painfully drawn-out way, then the other half actually defeating Belial.

Not to say it was all bad though, which is most frustrating because that means it was possible for the rushed parts to have been better! Matthew dealing with his alcoholism, Matthew and James getting back in sync, the clever way Lucie and Cordelia got rid of the Cordelia-is-Lilith's-paladin problem - all really good!

But there was just so much I was unhappy with.

1)Too many things felt rushed:

the 'Charles was with Alastair' reveal - I expected something dramatic but Matthew just casually drops "oh I knew about everything" in like the 5th chapter, even though there was no sign of him knowing before? We did get that hilarious scene with the four guys all together, but then later on it's just 'oh and Charles told the Clave everything and it's fine'

Thomastair getting together - they had like 2 conversations and suddenly Alastair was over all of his reservations?? Cassie should've saved some of the tension she used on Jordelia and put it towards Thomastair

Arianna getting together - same as with Thomastair! Ari leaves home, has like one conversation with Anna, and boom they're together

Matthew telling James and then later his parents about what he did - this is a devastating secret! It has separated Matthew from his loved ones for years and driven him to alcoholism!! Yet all we get is a page of him telling James and James giving him a quick reassurance, then a short paragraph about telling Charlotte and Henry and they're just like, 'oh glad we know, we forgive you, also we're having another baby surprise'. Where is the emotion? The catharsis?!?

Lucie and Cordelia becoming parabatai - we just don't get even a paragraph of the ceremony? Just a mention in the last chapter that they're parabatai now

2) Christopher dying

One of my biggest grievances is Christopher's death. I thought maybe I was just biased because he's one of my faves but after looking at other posts, I see it's not just me! It feels like Cassie killed him off solely because she thought 'well someone has to die' - and that's just not a compelling reason! What was the purpose? To show that Tatiana was evil beyond redemption? To show that the stakes were high? We already knew both those things!

Also to my point #1, the reactions to his death felt rushed. We got one short scene with Thomas and one short scene with Anna that were actually emotional, then a moment with Grace. Other than that it was like - 'wow I can't believe Kit is dead, I miss him'. Where's the emotional weight??

3) Then there were the things that just didn't make sense to me

Grace and Jesse. Oh Grace my poor girl. Again, she's one of my faves so I recognize I'm biased but - she deserved so much better, especially from her own freaking brother. This post and this post put it way more eloquently I can.

Cordelia killing Tatiana - I feel like it was mainly to explain the "paladins blade can heal wounds made by it" plot point but - it just didn't make sense?? Literally the second Tatiana has done all the plot-related things she needs to, poof she's taken out of the equation. Also. One of Cordelia's strengths, something we see over and over, is her kindness. I mean, despite being wronged the most besides James by the gracelet, she is one of the kindest to Grace after the fact. I expected some moral crisis for her after killing Tatiana. Yes, it was forced by Lilith and yes, there was a lot happening at the same time - but she still killed someone! And there's no exploration of those feelings!

Lucie and Cordelia's friendship - if they need prompting from a demon in the latter half of a final book to truly reconcile? Then they're NOT besties, I'm sorry. Not that they aren't friends, but I was not convinced they were on the level of friendship that would make them good parabatai

Overall I think my issue is at that too many points, it felt like Cassie ticking off the boxes of events that needed to happen, rather than letting us experience things through the characters.

[boredfangirl16]

Thomastair: -making out in a carriage-

Christopher: -literally dying-

[thepictureofsdr]

if i wasn’t so attached to thomastair i genuinely wouldn’t mind if the series ended with alastair fucking off to some random country and never speaking to anyone in london ever again none of them deserve him

[a-dream-dirty-and-bruised]

Probably a very unpopular opinion but Alastair deserves way better than canon Thomas

[im-out-of-it]

there’s a small thing that bothers me about chain of iron and it has to do with Grace

so everyone knows who has read the book that there are little sections into grace’s childhood to I don’t know, maybe feel sympathy for her? I don’t know what the fuck CC was trying to achieve

but it’s very poorly done. if you want us to feel bad for Grace (which most of us don’t) then you need follow through. she tries to show us grace’s past but I didn’t see any changed behavior from Grace. I get abusive parents more than I wish I could but the problem with CC’s writing is that she has people go through trauma with zero growth or processing. (they really needed a shadowhunter and downworlder trauma therapist on standby) I can’t feel bad for a character who doesn’t process anything or change (how jace and Will are terrible people and everyone seems to excuse their actions because poor fake curse or poor childhood trauma)

another problem with Grace and her development is that chain of thorns for at least half the book is spent on Matthew Cordelia James triangle. when it could’ve been focused on the upcoming war (kinda a war) and developing the other characters and actually showing some process. the characters who go through actual shit don’t seem to process it

Thomas loses his sister and best friend all in one year and we never get to see him process anything

Jesse spent most of his childhood as a ghost and having a psycho mother who had a hand in him dying but we don’t get to see that

Alastair had a deadbeat daddy who ruined his childhood but we don’t see him process any of that, of the racist remakes made towards him, how Cordelia treats him even though he’s always been there for her

I understand you can’t feature every single character and I went off a tad bit but if you’re going to make us suffer grace’s childhood, at least make it pay off

I would have preferred to have it be thomastair content at least. if you’re going to show the past, CC should’ve resembled it to chain of gold so we could have had more character growth and pov. I personally would have loved to see more of Matthew and Alastair’s relationship (literally anything other than grace) so we could have had that pay off and then actually have them mend their shit and grow from it. y’all can disagree but both Alastair and Matthew were the problem and I just wanted to see that develop

I could have gotten behind Grace as a character if it paid off well. I sympathize with the toxic adopted guardian angle but if you don’t show us anything or show us any growth, it’s literally useless

and yes it does irritate me more than it should how chain of thorns was written because we could have gotten spotlight on other characters. it angers me that Thomas and Alastair’s trauma gets overlooked just to have it be James and Cordelia show. also James trauma seems to get overlooked and his main concern is being Cordelia’s boyfriend. he was controlled by that bracelet and violated but CC doesn’t focus on any of that

it’s irritating how these books were formed when I know it could’ve been better

[drowning-in-deadlines]

You know that feeling? Where you really really wish some fictional characters were real? 

Just so you could push them into the mud and pour a can of worms into their hair and clothes.

Yes, this is about Charles Fairchild. 

[littlx-songbxrd]

Booktok: Alastair should just get over himself and accept Thomas jaja hes being so dumb

Me:

[rinadragomir]

Hi, I know you're taking a break from the fandom rn, but feel free to answer this ask whenever it suits you (no negativity I promise!)

I finished COT, and I felt like it gave off different vibes from other books (not just COG or COI - CC's books in general). I feel like it was darker in the beginning, what with James being sullen and Matthew being withdrawn and Cordelia being exhausted. And the part with London being all dark and silent and lonely and the Watchers going around - that kind of aura, I don't think anything like that was prevalent in other books.

I was just wondering what you thought about that? Did it feel kinda different from the usual too? The tone of the book, especially in the beginning, seemed to give off despair and used hope, though that could be due to James' gloom and all the miscommunication and cracked relationships-

What are your thoughts on the vibe of COT, especially compared with the other books in the series and in general?

HIYA! Oh it's alright ~ for you I'm always available🤗

Yeah the first half was really dark. Golden trio was in their Twilight New Moon Era

You're absolutely right about James's perspective but I'd also add Cordelia's. Everything seemed really dark through their eyes till chapter 23, I haven't felt this level of depression and hopelessness for a long time.

Oh oh I should mention that I absolutely loved the "Dark London" part with everyone losing their minds. Downworlders clapping for so long their hands start bleeding, mothers singing lullabies to empty prams😳

Yes, I certainly feel the same about the different vibe. Some of the chot scenes seemed more.... mature? comparing to her other books. The way the whole Matthew's alcoholism situation was handled, Grace's regrets, Cordelia's depression, Thomas trying to find the healthiest ways to build his relationship with Alastair, Charles's fears and lack of confidence in himself and everything around, James and Matthew's moments in Edom. The way it was written feels different, but I like this particular change.

And for some reason this book feels shorter than the first 2. Maybe it's because my personal favs had less pages than something else, but it's just me. (Arianna deserved as many pages as Thomastair, MAYBE EVEN MORE I SAID WHAT I SAID). And maybe since I'm reading pretty fast, especially when it comes to Cassie's books, I can finish this whole book in a day. I'll be completely satisfied the day Cassie's books have around 1200 pages ☝🏻or more😡

So, about the "mature" part. Years pass, Cassie's audience grows and I'm really happy that her books sorta "grow" with us? Dude idk why thinking in English is so hard😞 if it was a Russian platform, I'd slay😤So! Cassie added mature topics before, some of the TMI moments were really dark, but the way these topics are written/handled is just getting better. My personal opinion is that TLH characters just feel more real than others and this is the result of Cassie developing her writing. I feel like she's still in the process of trying new things/ways to describe and create sth. And this is why the books have a different vibe.

It can be confusing sometimes, but I'm actually glad these changes happen. I understand that writing one series for decades can be exhausting and I know Cassie has big plans for the additional TLH content, TWP and stuff, but I was so afraid one day she can just give up on it (+ all the hate she received after chot release 😒). So knowing that she's still trying new things gives me hope cause it means she's still invested in this series. So I'm really looking forward to her future TSC project👀+ I'm continuing sending her nice asks

I'd write more, but I wanna eat and I'm lazy☺️

[anarmorofwords]

Look I HOPE I'M WRONG, but I'm hella worried about Matthew's arc in ChoT and Alastair's Issues™ not being properly addressed on-page (Elias, bullying, Charles) and basically, yeah

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

1, 10, 11, 12, 21 for the fandom asks!

 list 3 positive things about your current fandom(s)

I did this already but I'll pick more things!

DBDA, I love the fic writers. We have some of the most creative people out there in the DBDA fandom, and about half the fics I've read in this fandom are better than most published novels.

For TLH, honestly it makes me so happy how everyone is happy to become friends with each other and connect on a deeper level with others in the TLH fandom. We're a small people, but I think I know the real names and something personal about everyone who's currently actively posting about TLH.

The love that Cordelia currently gets. She used to be overlooked or even hated, and I was not pleased with that climate. But now I feel like pretty much everyone is open to adoring her as she deserves.

a blog (mutual or one you follow) that has made your fandom experience brighter

Besides you? And besides people I'm actually friends with outside of the fandom context? Okay. First person that comes to mind for TSC is @helenofblackthorns, I love their ideas and opinions so much. Also, the love for Clary! Yes! For DBDA, the first person to immediately ping in my brain is @sasakisniko. Such a sweetheart honestly and lots of love for Niko and Edwin.

if you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

Hands down A Ribbon of Dream is my favourite of my own fics. Thomastair + movies + travel + a ton of love + growing old together. Everything I like. I reread this - my own fic - pretty frequently, actually.

compliment someone else in your fandom

@vwritesaus, you are the best writer I know. Your work is far better than anything I would find in a bookstore, and I will gladly read anything you write in the future. I'm glad we latched onto the same two idiots in love.

a fandom you're not active in anymore but that you still really like

This is HARD because I don't get into fandoms easily but when I do they tend to stick. The only fandoms I think I've ever really been active in are TSC, DBDA, Supernatural, and NHIE. I suppose Supernatural best fits the bill because I do have some positive memories of it! But the fandom is way different than it was in 2015 when I was active. Still, great fanart in there!

[jemsbitch]

Alastair dying in Thomas’ arms will be my villain origin story