I Don’t Have Links But I Really Want To Talk About The Last Hours Because I’m So Excited, So I’m

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City of Bones, page 62:

Jace was seated at the grand piano…She must have made some noise because he twisted around on the stool, blinking in the shadows. “Alec?” he said. “Is that you?”

Clockwork Angel, page 100:

A boy with a violin propped against his shoulder. His cheek rested against the instrument, and the bow sawed back and forth over the strings, wringing notes out of it, notes as fine and perfect as anything Tessa had ever heard. His eyes were closed. "Will?" he said, without opening his eyes or ceasing to play. "Will, is that you?"

Queen of Air and Darkness, page 19:

A door opened at the top of the steps, and light spilled onto the dark landing. "Julian?" Emma called. "Julian, is that you?"

Chain of Iron, page 383:

James was still pushing against him, stiff armed, but his movements were slower now, his chest no longer heaving. "Matthew," he whispered. "Matthew, is that you?"

Soooo.....The Charioteer? What did you think of it?

I thought it was great! I loved the use of subtext and the non-straightforward way it was written. I know from other Renault books I’ve read that she has a kind of writing style that isn’t always simple or easy, but I don’t ever remember it being this tricky. I had to go back and reread so many scenes in this one but it never bothered me. I thought it was so cool, especially the second chapter!

In terms of the characters, I loved Laurie although I didn't quite understand his relationship with his mother. But I did understand his love for both Ralph and Andrew, because I loved them both too. I think showcasing Andrew’s morals and also his moral-rigidity was an interesting angle and I really saw in him what Laurie did: a sweet young man whose whole life was devoted to notions of love, kindness and sacrifice. I understand why hitting Bunny would’ve driven him to London: he spent his whole life adhering to a very specific code of conduct, which is based on certain principles, and in a moment he betrayed them all. And through that betrayal, he discovered something about himself which drove him further away still... I don’t think Andrew will have a very easy road ahead for the foreseeable future, even if he outlives the war. I’m really happy Laurie gave him the Phaedrus and I can’t get the quote 'even the most exalted paganism is paganism nonetheless’ out of my head. I didn't dislike Dave at all, but now that I think about some of the conversation he had with Laurie and his own history, it makes me more worried about Andrew :( I loved Ralph! — he was someone Laurie could be open with completely, with whom he never had to hide. He was also just generally more suited to him. I remember when Charlot was dying, and Laurie thought ‘Ralph would understand’ after Andrew refuses to impersonate a priest: because he would! Ralph doesn’t see the world like Andrew does, he doesn’t think there is only ever wrong or right and nothing else whatever. He was a soldier, like Laurie and understands necessity. It’s true, he can be a little unkind in some places (like his annoyance with Sandy when he’s hurt himself) and also very snappish, but I think Laurie balances him out well by the end of the book. I think it's easier for him to be more vulnerable and openly kind when he's around Laurie. It was very sweet of him to come to the wedding, simply because Laurie mentioned being uncomfortable at giving his mother away. All in all, I can honestly say I was heartbroken when Laurie rejected Ralph and just as heartbroken when he accepts he will never see Andrew again. The ending made me happy though, and even though I know there’s still some years of the war left and some wrinkles in their dynamic, I envision an ultimate happy ending for Ralph and Laurie.

I'm sorry if this is a lot more than what you were asking for, but I'm so excited about this book and haven't stopped thinking about it! Honestly, I think I need to read it again to better take it in and understand it! There are lots of other elements and themes I want to revisit so I can more clearly get a grasp on their place in the story. But anyway, thanks for the question!

I don't think Belial will actually be stabbed a third time by Cortana; in the Ghosts of the Shadowhunter Market, Belial is still around (and if I remember correctly, he shouldn't be around for at least a hundred years if he gets stabbed) and Jem mentions some kind of debt Belial owes him that hasn't yet been paid. Maybe, Jem and the rest of the gang get rid of Belial by making a deal with him? He gets Cordelia out of her oath with Lilith and promises to go away, as long as they stop hunting him? Maybe this is why the Carstairs owe the Herondales?

“𝓘𝓯 𝓘 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮, 𝓘 𝓼𝓮𝓭𝓾𝓬𝓮. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝓘 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯, 𝓘 𝓼𝓵𝓪𝔂.” My copy of Chain of Iron hasn’t arrived yet 😭

(Cordelia Carstairs from “Chain of Gold” by @cassandraclare )

why couldn't it just be that jem saw Jessie get belial's marks stripped off of him and that's what he was talking about when he told Emma about it

maybe it's time for Thomas to stop ‘waiting for Alastair to look back’ and start going after him

hmm, is the title "The Beautiful Cordelia" a nod to Jane Austen's "The Beautifull Cassandra"

If the Last Hours is a retelling of Great Expectations and James is Pip while Grace is Estella - - does that make Cordelia Biddy and Matthew Joe?

It would honestly, in that context, make more sense for Cordelia and Matthew to be together and James to remain single 🤔🤔🤔

At the end of The Charioteer, Laurie lies to Ralph but feels the lie as if it's true. There's something that must be done, and only he can do it. He accepts this, even if he lies in order to achieve it.

Before, Ralph told Laurie he hates to stand by watching while there's pain or the possibility of it, and do nothing. It's not the way he's made, he says. This is a direct contrast to Andrew, who we see literally standing, watching and doing nothing when caring for Charlot. This is not because Andrew is unkind, it is because there is right and wrong and nothing whatever in between. Ralph is not like this: people need someone, he takes on that responsibility, even if it isn't his to shoulder. He acts like God, they say. He's the opposite of Andrew in this regard. Maybe the point is that Laurie isn't like Andrew either, although he loves him. It's also not in his nature to stand and watch people suffer; this is why he felt something ought to be done in school when Ralph was being kicked out, and why he feels it at the end of the book when he realizes what Ralph is planning to do. It's why he feels the pressing demand to deceive Charlot even as he knows that, in his right mind, the man would never want it. I got the sense the first time I read the book and now the second, that Laurie is much more generally suited to Ralph, and this is why.

I don't know if this makes sense, I've not gotten much sleep. Any thoughts? Do you think this is right, wrong? Am I overthinking it?