#infernal devices

[abandonedrafts479]

some of you did not spend your formative years being emotionally raised by deeply damaged fictional characters and it shows

[clandestine-weepings]

I'm rereading the infernal devices for the first time in my adult life post-abusive relationship and post-acceptance of chronic illness and it is crazy what specific things I am noticing now that I've never noticed before.

Charlotte (a 23 year old woman) is running the Insitute in a time when women weren't even deemed societal appropriate if they wore PANTS

Tessa is intended by her brother to be the sacrificial lamb for his sins, and she recognizes the root of that before he even acknowledges it when she says that he was always babied and spoiled etc and has not seen consequences or issue with his actions prior to [present book time]

Jem is disabled. Jem is chronically ill and fucking disabled. He is also depicted as attractive as hell, charming beyond belief, and an incredible warrior. At no point does anyone discredit him because of his illness, and Cassie even takes the time to say that "if anyone thought it odd to see a boy of such a young age using a walking stick, they said no such thing." Outside of that, Jem's illness is depicted realistically, but it is never used as pandering or inspiration p0rn. It is so fucking pleasant that a main character is allowed to exist disabled, it can contribute to the plot, but nobody in the story is fucking weird about it. Also, his best friend opting to partner with him for life as fighting partners and blood brothers? Not letting Jem's condition change anything about how [Will] perceives him as both a fighter and a brother? Immaculate.

Period accurate societal expectations being addressed: Sophie losing her job because of her face being cut (pretty privilege, parlor maid pre-req being that you must be attractive to look at); Jessamine fighting so avidly against her training because it is unladylike and she fears it will prevent her from leading the life of a "normal woman" of the time.

TLDR - @cassandraclare you are STILL 1000000% That Bitch(tm)

[bookishbroadwayandblind]

Has anyone else thought about Jem's reports to the Silent Brothers at the end of his days like "Visit 1,132 to London Institute: William Herondale smashed his finger in the door and needed me specifically to kiss it better." And they're like "Brother Zachariah please"

[what-you-like-about-the-moon]

“are they lovers?”

“worse”

[longlivebookdragon]

the epilogue can't hurt you!

the epilogue in question...

[miraeluv]

just thinking…

I want to write Asakura Jo as Jem Carstairs…perhaps set in a different location than England…like a little adventure in China? And maybe the female lead Y/N actually deserves him in this one…I have so many thoughts

what do you guys think?

[iwaizumitski]

i think will, jem and tessa should just be a throuple. that would solve everything and those two boys already love eachother anyways.

[decaffinated-dreams]

yes its been five years but i am not over emma hallucinating that she severed all parabatai bonds while coming back from thule, just to turn and see jem bleeding as he asks "emma, emma how could you?" i mean WHAT a perfect scene to show how powerful the parabatai bond is. throughout tda the bond becomes an antagonist as julian and emma struggle against it, and its hard to remember that its actually a beautiful way to connect two souls. one of my favorite parts of the shadowhunters books is how cassie shows how powerful and overwhelming platonic love can be, and will and jem are the embodiment of that. the bond isnt just a symbol of their love but the physical manifestation of its endurance, and thats why the seelie queens proposal to break all bonds is so tragic. to take away that kind of connection is sacrilege, even at the cost of romantic love. one is not greater than the other, and thats one of the subtle but beautifully written themes threading through tda.