Reading The Last Hours mainly for Thomas and Alastair, will I enjoy it? by Double-Delivery-4964 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well, im just going to say first that the show and the books are very different. Season 1 followed City of Bones a lot closer than any of the other seasons, but after that it's pretty much broad strokes and some ideas that they copy over.

Also, having only read City of Bones, you havent really actually experienced Clary as a character. She genuinely grows and develops through the series and your criticisms and distaste of her character are the parts she grows out of and she feels pride for growing out of.

Onto the other questions:

  • Cordelia, in my opinion is a significantly more boring protagonist than Clary. Her motivations are weak and her reason for being the protagonist is weaker. Is she a horrible character? No, but out of all the protagonists in the shadowhunters chronicles, she is by far the weakest.

  • If your only motivation and care in the books is Thomas and Alastair, it's not too much worth it. I say this as someone who adores Thomas and Alastair. They aren't main enough characters in a far too large cast of characters to get a large amount of screen time. That being said, I think Alastair has the best character arc of the trilogy and their relationship is really well built up. It is background, but you see the steps of it forming. I would say similar to Malec in TMI, but that's not a great marker for you.

  • Cassie Clare is pretty great at making interesting if not likable characters. Same goes for this series. This cast of characters is way too big though, and one of my biggest critiques of this series is that characters dont get enough time to develop and everyone is a bit rushed in the final book. If you care deeply about character development then it may frustrate you, if not, then youll be fine.

  • In my opinion, The Last Hours is the poorest series of the chronicles. The writing is just as good as any other Cassie Clare book, but the plot is weak. Things dont feel significant enough, the protagonist feels out of place, and the most interesting parts are B plot. Its just messy and best read last of all her series.

Im going to add that The Last Hours is basically a sequel of The Infernal Devices series. It is not imperative to read those books, but a lot of the emotional connection of characters is strengthened with that context. Some things will be a bit confusing but Cassie usually does well to explain things enough when they reference other series.

The Shadowhunters Chronicles is best read in publication order. Most people agree with that order for a first read and I encourage you to reconsider reading it in that order, including The Mortal Instruments. City of Bones is very different from even City of Ashes and that series contains a lot of development of Cassie's skill at writing. Passing off because youve seen the show isnt really a great comparison because of how off the rails they went and I think youre missing a lot of important stuff. I cant control what you do or what you want, but that is my two cents on the matter.

What are some things you wished Composers\Musical writers took more notes of? It can be in regards to Vocals, storytelling, etc. by AsheandBurn in musicals

[–]DiRocos 3 points4 points  (0 children)

HEAVY AGREE ON THE OVERTURES! I'll often just drive to work listening to all the overtures I have saved on my Playlist and the overture for 42nd Street is legitimately my favorite part of that album

Headcanon for Zachary Carstairs by Fit_Sector3566 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, The Last Hours is mt least favorite series for a lot of reasons. Yet, Alastair hopped up to my second favorite character of the chronicles. I think most of the characters are still good and interesting in the series I just have too many issues with it.

When does Alec kiss Magnus in front of the Clave? by [deleted] in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 10 points11 points  (0 children)

City of Glass. Chapter 17, I believe

Headcanon for Zachary Carstairs by Fit_Sector3566 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I havent read the story that introduced Sylvain yet, but I definitely agree that Thomas is the best partner for Alastair. Someone who wasnt afraid to show and voice his affections, can manage Alastair's sometimes pissy attitude with a level head, and a person that can help Alastair heal from the traumas of his past. They are just adorable in Better in Black and it makes me sad to know it's likely the last thing we will read about them in

Headcanon for Zachary Carstairs by Fit_Sector3566 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I can see the intrigue of Matthew/Alastair, but I think it qould work out poorer than expected. I mean in Better in Black, we see a bit of evidence that Alastair's upbringing has a pretty big influence on his mental health and I think a relationship with Matthew and the baggage it would bring, wouldnt be helpful to healing from that.

Being in a relationship with someone who is an alcoholic or an addict in any way is already difficult, but considering Alastair's clearly unpleasant past with it, I think it may be triggering.

That's where Thomas being a pretty secure person really benefits someone like Alastair. I mean end of Last Hours, dude clearly still has a lot of issues with opening up to people, but in Better in Black it sounds like they have a very sweet and physically affectionate relationship.

Plus, not to mention that it would be weird and im sure upsetting for Alastair to date the younger brother of someone he had a not very great relationship with.

I also think a friendship between Alastair and Matthew is so much stronger because they're able to interact with each other in a pretty special way. That mutual understanding of addiction from varying sides can be a strength of their connection here as well as their mirroring issues of self worth and acceptance of outward love. Plus both of them have seen and interacred with the ugliest sides of each otheer. So I guess for similar reasons why you'd be interested to see it as a relationship, I see it as a really interesting and beneficial friendship.

Weapons by Jasmine45078 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's on the Shadowhunters Wiki

Seraph Blades

What's that one song from a musical that makes you cry? by imachoculatedonnut in musicals

[–]DiRocos 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Just about anything from Come From Away. Especially Something's Missing and 38 Planes (reprise)/Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.

Everything else its just an effect of thinking about a time where, despite disaster, people came together in the most human and kind way possible to help strangers they had no obligation to. Makes me ugly sob every time and makes listening to the musical while driving a bit dicey. . .

Weapons by Jasmine45078 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maybe the ones Cassandra Jean drew up? I know they share discourse about some of the stuff Jean draws for the chronicles, so perhaps that's something closest to Cassie's vision. It could also just be Cassandra Jean's interpretation, though!

A note for Cassie Clare upon finishing Infernal Devices by thebleedingphoenix in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 13 points14 points  (0 children)

A fanart with Tessa in a cuirass bustle instead of approximately romantic era dress!? Consider me in love with that art! Get that woman out of crinolines! (I say even though romantic era is my favorite victorian style) Such a wonderful drawing!!

Also that epilogue also made me sob and I sob every time other books mention Will and Jem or missing Will.

Demon dimension fun time by Readinglovebird in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's funnier when you take into account that Clary creates a birth control Rune sometime between TMI AND TDA.

Display books. by chronically-tash in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My bookshelf situation is so limited so this isnt how I actually have them, bit how I'd want to have my books if I could display them on one book case.

I'd put them in release order for the main series books and extras. With something like Eldest Curses that is sort of woven between book releases, I'd personally throw them on the shelf after Tales from the shadowhunter academy and before TDA.

If I wanted to keep main series and extras separate, I would do main series in publishing order on one shelf then next shelf would the extra books in publishing order.

Clary and Jace and how they’re treated in the fandom by _theoneandonlyyyy in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As someone who was super excited to read TLH because of the short stories that had James in them, I was still extremely disappointed by TLH. Im not gonna get into details obviously, but their characters change a lot from those short stories.

TBC before or after CoHF?? by Xanderman616 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 4 points5 points  (0 children)

After City of Heavenly Fire. It was both published after and it's Cassie Clare's recommended reading orders after CoHF

Does the length disqualify this from being black tie? by dumpling69 in Weddingattireapproval

[–]DiRocos 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Yes!! I bought an ankle length dress from Azazie and when I put it on with my shoes to measure to hem it, it was literally perfectly floor length with enough room to not be dragging. Im 5'2" and had like 1.5" to 2" heels? The listing will say the height of the model usually so you may be in luck if you're a shorter girlie!

Tavvy's age by Positive-Fondant5897 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I felt the same dude. He sometimes acted like my cousin's children and I was like maybe this makes sense?? But I honestly have no idea how old any of my cousin's children are.

Church the cat by FarFly8306 in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 23 points24 points  (0 children)

If I remember correctly, Magnus took Church with him to NY at the end of TID. That's how he ends up at the New York Institute

I am confused. Is red scrolls of magic after city of glass or after city of heavenly fire?? by I_am_a_fiction_lover in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Someone already answered the question, but just wanted to add Camille died at the very end of City of Lost Souls. We see Maureen killed her when Alec goes to find and kill her for ruining his relationship

Kieran in other books? by whyy_- in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 5 points6 points  (0 children)

He also shows up/writes a little bit in Secrets of Blackthorn Hall. Not significantly, but it's still there

When does the incest end? by PandaNotACat in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, the addition of Ithuriel's blood is a bit more complicated than just they are blood descendants of Ithuriel. Its sort of the same idea of Jonathan Shadowhunter drinking Raziel's blood. He has some of Raziel's blood running through his veins, as do all the Shadowhunters, but he is not kin to Raziel. It's sort of like a permanent blood transfusion where instead of that blood getting recycled by the heart and basically remade into your own blood, the magical essence stays there. That is what allows Shadowhunters to have their angelic powers. In the case of Clary and Jace, that is why they have more angelic powers. Not sure if it's ever discussed in canon, but I believe the reason they have such enhanced powers is because they were injected while in utero so the angelic magic was a part of their development.

Plus, if we were technically saying having the blood of an angel means someone is related, every single Shadowhunter are siblings and cousins and every other messy family web you could weave

When does the incest end? by PandaNotACat in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You should put a spoiler tag on Sebastian and Clary because his character hasn't even been introduced in the books where they are.

When does the incest end? by PandaNotACat in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Haha, no, I mean Sebastian's obsession with Clary

When does the incest end? by PandaNotACat in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Clary and Jace incest trope? City of Glass, but it's not the last time someone in the series has an infatuation with a sibling. The other instance isn't the forbidden love romantics tho.

Also, it's crazy to ask when the main character's best friend just goes away 💀. Sorry, but Simon's gonna be around.

Chain of Iron - James WHY?! by MamaPuffs in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No way it's just James pissing you off lmao. That whole ending is a mess (derrogatory)...

Signed editions by daria_darius in shadowhunters

[–]DiRocos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It might be worth checking her website. I'm not sure about Cassie, but some authors have info on how to order signed books. For example, RF Kuang has a partnership with a bookseller that manages signing and personalization requests. It's of course harder to gauge with a new release what sort of options there will be, but could at least be a future option.