Cassandra Clare

Jun 03

firstdreamofmysoul asked: Hi! Amidst all the Sebastian-burning-down-the-world-ness, I had almost forgotten that in the end of City of Glass the Seelie Queen tells Clary that there are still secrets that Jocelyn hasn't told her. Was this true and will these secrets unfold in HF at the same time Sebastian tries to burn down the world?

We will learn(most) of  Jocelyn’s secrets, yes. :)

Jun 02

unidentified snippet

“Oh, God, the lovebirds,” Magnus said, pulling the pillow off his face. “I hate happy couples.”

Jun 01

The lovely Zoe Marriott catches up with me in Sheffield and interviews me about Jace and Clary

May 30

I’m sorry I haven’t been around! I never can post much while I’m on tour. Also I’m trying to take the advice of the Avengers. Clockwork Princess is so very close to  being done …

I’m sorry I haven’t been around! I never can post much while I’m on tour. Also I’m trying to take the advice of the Avengers. Clockwork Princess is so very close to  being done …

May 28

unidentified snippet

“I don’t know why I ever helped you.”

“Because you like broken things.” 

May 26

samesjullivan asked: Awesome! So, that quote in Latin, "non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cynarae..." Google says it means "I am not as good as I was under the rule of ARTICHOKE." I kid you not. And I was wondering, well, /why/?

Machine translation from Latin to English is nearly impossible because of the issue of word order.

I mean, not that online translators are any good anyway, but for Latin they are specifically awful.

The thing about Latin, and almost every Latin phrase used in the TMI and ID books, is that these phrases are extremely famous on their own.  In this case the Latin comes from Horace, and Googling the phrase, in quotes or without, will instantly get you the source, the Dowson poem based on the source quote that Stephen is alluding to, and an entire breakdown of the poem, its format, its meaning, the translation of the Latin phrase, and even a discussion of artichokes.

UK signing

Clockwork Princess spoilers from my London signing. (Can you have spoilers from a signing?)

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City of Lost Souls on the side of a London bus!

City of Lost Souls on the side of a London bus!

May 25

parabatai

stripperwithaheartofgold asked you:
Hey! I love The Mortal Instruments, and I was wondering if parabati were always boy/boy or girl/girl. Like, could it be a boy and a girl? I was wondering because you’ve called them like sister or brothers, not siblings. Also, does every Shadowhunter have one, or just some? (By the way, I also love your story in the “Zombies vs. Unicorns” anthology. I have to say, it was one of my favorites. Team Zombies all the way!)

Parabatai aren’t like siblings — it’s a different sort of bond. They are partners who would lay down their life for the other. It’s an ideal of warrior comradeship that goes back a long time. The term parabatai comes from heniochoi kai parabatai, which just means “charioteers and side-men” (in Ancient Greek. I don’t know how to pronounce it either. I ran across it reading about hoplites and ancient battle formations for City of Bones.) The side-man wasn’t supposed to leave the charioteer. One drove, the other fought from the chariot. The one is useless without the other.

Julian and Emma in The Dark Artifices are a boy and a girl parabatai. Siblings can be parabatai. Cousins. Girls. Boys. Pretty much any Shadowhunters near in age since you both have to be under eighteen when you decide. Most Shadowhunters don’t have a parabatai. It’s like .. being left handed. Not weird but less common.
And, as we know, parabatai are not supposed to fall in love with each other. But more on that later!

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