My Bookish Heart

I post what I like, and what I like is reading fantasy and sci-fi novels. Pleaseeee feel free to message me or send me asks! I love talking to people who share my interests:)

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Updated list of my fantasy and sci-fi loves :)

• Harry Potter

• Miss Peregrine series

• Hunger Games trilogy

• Divergent trilogy

• The Last Hours series

• Maze Runner series

• The Inheritance Cycle

• Chronicles of Narnia

• The whole Percy Jackson series (Heroes of Olympus included)

• Grisha verse

• The Dark Artifices

• The Folk of the Air

• The Infernal Devices

• Six of Crows Duology

• Inheritance Games

[babswings]

Parabatai love: platonic, romantic ou something beyond?

You know, there’s something that’s been bugging me ever since I joined the TSC fandom in 2017, which is the way some fans get outraged when someone ships parabatai as a romantic couple. I know there are high controversies of what exactly the parabatai bond is all about, so I decided to give my opinion on it.

First of all, I’m not here to force you to like them romantically (because I myself am PASSIONATE about platonic connections), but rather to try to understand together how their bonding works. 

There is a law that forbids them to love each other romantically, as old as any other Shadowhunters’ law. And where there is a law, there are reasons. Jem explains a bit in TDA about the reason, and that the connection that exists between parabatai unleashes a man-made power, with no direct relation to the angels, which makes parabatai magic dangerous. In this case, it gives the pair such incredible power that it can turn them into either true nephilim (giants) or great mages. But since there is the corruption, in both cases where this happened there was chaos and destruction. 

But while reading all of Cassandra’s sagas, we come across at least one parabatai duo, from Robert and Michael to Emma and Julian. Several examples, several couples, and the most common thing about them is that one of them falls romantically in love with the other. Not in all, but so far in most cases.  For me the reason is simple: the parabatai connection involves both platonic and romantic love. 

Almost every time, it is mentioned that the connection is soulful, as if a part of their soul intertwines with their partner’s, creating a kind of bond that simply does not exist in the world of men, mortal or immortal. It was a rune created by David and Jonathan with the intention of binding their souls to each other through the love they felt. A soul love is something beyond what we know. 

Imagine loving a person so deeply, loving them more than you love your own soul to the point that it is impossible to compare even with lovers and children? Imagine feeling the presence of this person as a part of you that lives outside of your body and brings you peace and happiness? The way Cassandra wrote both Will and Jem and James and Matthew shows that deepness, that overwhelming affection. It is a love that blends the platonic and the romantic, where the characters love each other not as brothers, but beyond that. 

So for me it is natural to read the books and feel the platonic affection that made us fall in love with the parabatai bond (and many of us, like me, have someone we consider our parabatai in real life) and also feel the vastness of the romantic love that exists between them. They love each other both ways and are not ashamed to admit it, it is so clear and at the same time a kind of love that those outside the parabatai bond would never understand in the TSC universe.

They love each other more than they love their own souls and that, to me, is the most beautiful kind of love there is. 

So yes, do ship them romantically if you want, ou platonic if you prefer. By all means, the parabatai is just the BEST thing Cassandra Clare ever created in the TSC word, so enjoy it the way you want!

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Wonderfully written ❤️

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This may or may not be a controversial opinion, but the CHoT epilogue was…not good.

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James, in Cordelia’s room: 🙂

Cordelia and Matthew: 😘💋💋

James, flicking on the lights: 🥲

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My reactions to the Chain of Thorns art:

I flipped to the first artwork, it was a mistake, and I was immediately scandalized. (I would switch places with Cordelia, tho.)

Loved it. It added a visual to a scene that I was really invested in, and it captures their personalities so well.

I swooned and had to close the book. MY PRECIOUS BABIES

They look like an old married couple (😭). Also, CHRISTOPHER IS HOT

Eh. Not the scene from them I would have had the artwork focus on.

No comment here. This is just *chefs kiss*

Their whole relationship/dynamic in this book absolutely rocked it. Alastair and Thomas were far from my favorite characters in previous books, but this one really made me change my mind 🥰

Powerful. That’s all I have to say

Love them. Incoming controversial opinion: this book took their parabatai relationship to a new height. It’s better than Will and Jem’s at this point.

Eh. No opinion really

[dreamofmysoul-tsc]

“The bottle requires me.”

“I require you more.”

I require you more

I REQUIRE YOU MORE

I! REQUIRE! YOU! MORE!

I’m gonna scream

[dreamofmysoul-tsc]

“James wanted to close his eyes. He knew that behind them he would see two boys running across a green lawn in Idris, one fair haired and one dark.”

Devastated doesn’t even cover the sorrow I am feeling

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This broke my heart 💔

[saturnnm]

chain of thorns

I really started to think that cassie f*cking killed Matthew. And I'm f*cking scared to read more.

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All I’ll say is, keep reading!

[petalsofaflower-shutupthomas]

MATTHEW REDEMPTION ARC HOW I LOVE YOU SO

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I NEED ALL DETAILS. MY COPY ISN’T COMING TIL FEB 2ND !!!!!!!!

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Y’all remember that terrible time where we all thought it was very possible that Matthew was the ghost?

Yeah, me too and I’m scarred.

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Anyone with ANY CHoT spoilers, regarding Matthew, James, or Cordelia please PM me. I need to know anything I can 😭

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Hey guys.

I just wanted to let you all know that I am not ready for CHoT. I have never, in my life, been this anxious for a book. I send e-hugs to everyone else dealing with these emotions 😭😆

[rinadragomir]

I NEED you to come up with the most random TSC ship that actually makes sense/would work/just sounds fun

Like Matthew/Cristina

Thomas/Ty

Gabriel/Emma

Jessamine/George

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Cordelia/Julian

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Please please tell me I’m not the only person who watched Wednesday that didn’t like Enid at all 😭

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I don’t appreciate the Percy slander in The Mark of Athena 😂 Jason and Piper have it out for him sometimes

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A note from when I first read The Mark of Athena 😂😂 (obviously a joke)