Chapter 36 Summary: Cristina's Reckoning with Magic and Sacrifice

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Desperate to free Aurora from her crossed state, Cristina turns to the spell book of her great-grandmother, Angeline Glapion. She finds a complex cleansing ritual that demands “a part of the conjurer’s heart.” Interpreting this as a symbolic sacrifice, Cristina burns her father’s last gift—a journal imprinted with her initials and the quote “Fly boldly in the pursuit of your dreams.” She collects the ashes, mixes them with moonlight to create azure flakes, and gathers other ingredients. Sneaking into Chateau des Saints at dusk, she prepares a ritual bath with Epsom salt solution, clearing oil, and the moonlight flakes. She recites Psalms 7:1–10 thirteen times while rinsing Aurora, then flings the bathwater outside at sunset. Aurora initially screams and convulses, but the spell ultimately succeeds: her eyes regain color and she thanks Cristina. Aurora demonstrates she can still wield magic by shattering the window with moonbeams. They escape as staff break into the room. Cristina thanks her ancestors, feeling renewed power and connection.

Key Events

Cristina finds the “Cleansing Ritual for Powerful Crossings” in her great-grandmother’s spell book and realizes it requires a piece of the conjurer’s heart.
She chooses to burn her journal—the last gift from her father—as the symbolic sacrifice, mixing the ashes with moonlight to create azure flakes.
Cristina assembles the other ingredients: white and black candles, Epsom salt and peace water solution, and clearing oil from her mother’s cabinet.
She sneaks into Chateau des Saints via the side entrance, using the same leaf she had wedged in the door earlier.
She prepares a warm bath with the solution, clearing oil, and moonlight flakes, then lights candles and recites Psalms while rinsing Aurora thirteen times.
After sunset, she throws the bathwater outside as an offering to Papa Eshu.
Aurora initially shrieks and convulses, her body suspended in midair, but then she stops, regains lucid eyes, and thanks Cristina.
A nurse pounds on the door; Cristina barricades it with an armchair.
Aurora uses moon magic to shatter the window, and they flee across the gardens to Cristina’s car.
Cristina acknowledges her ancestors with a fist held to the moon.

Character Development

Cristina transforms from a self-doubting young woman fearful that magic has forsaken her into someone who reclaims her power. She sacrifices a sentimental object (her journal) to fulfill the ritual, demonstrating emotional maturity and willingness to act boldly. After the spell works, she realizes magic is a part of her, not her identity, and that she can trust it again. Her prayer to Papa Eshu marks a return to ancestral traditions she had abandoned.

Aurora is revived from her catatonic state. Her immediate display of magic—harvesting moonlight and breaking glass—proves she remains a capable conjurer despite her ordeal. Her first word, “Thank you,” underscores her gratitude and hints at restored agency.

Great-Grandma Angeline appears only through her spell book, but her legacy underlines the weight of inherited knowledge and loss.

Clem is absent in the chapter, but Cristina’s mention of being left on read reinforces her isolation and the rift between the twins.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sacrifice and Transformation. Burning the journal—a symbol of her father’s love and guidance—represents a deliberate sacrifice to fuel magical power. The ashes become part of the moonlight mixture, turning into beautiful “azure flakes.” The transformation echoes the chapter’s idea that loss can create new strength.

Reclaiming Power and Balance. After being stripped of her magic by Oz, Cristina fears losing control. The successful ritual heals Aurora and reconnects Cristina to her heritage. She declares, “Magic exists in me, but it is not me,” establishing a healthier relationship with her abilities.

Light and Darkness. The ritual uses both white and black candles, moonlight, and sunset timing, emphasizing the balance of opposing forces. The “moonlight flakes” floating like bioluminescent lily pads, the absorbing candle flames, and the glare of the setting sun all reinforce the interplay of light and shadow.

Ancestral Connection. Cristina prays to Papa Eshu, an orisha, and thanks her ancestors after the escape. The spell book passed down from Angeline Glapion physically links Cristina to her lineage, and performing the ritual revives a dormant relationship with her roots.

Trust in Magic, Trust in Self. Cristina initially doubts herself because of the Scales of Justice failure. The ritual’s success restores her confidence; she learns to trust her instincts and the guidance of her ancestors rather than rely solely on her own will.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is a pivot point for Cristina’s arc and the broader plot. The successful uncrossing of Aurora provides a crucial ally who likely holds knowledge about Alexis Lancaster’s murder and the identity of the true killer. Cristina’s regained magical confidence sets the stage for her to confront Oz and Lenora. The chapter also deepens the theme of family legacy—in both the pain of lost grandparents and the power stored in inherited spellwork. Aurora’s ability to perform moon magic even after being crossed suggests that magical power cannot be permanently taken from a true conjurer.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Cristina decide to burn her journal, and what does this action symbolize? Answer: Cristina interprets the spell’s requirement for “a part of the conjurer’s heart” as a symbolic sacrifice. The journal is her father’s last gift, representing his lessons and love. Burning it signifies her willingness to let go of a prized possession to achieve a greater goal, and it demonstrates trust in magic and in herself. The act transforms her grief into fuel for the spell.
How does the author use light imagery in the ritual scene to reflect Cristina’s emotional state? Answer: During the ritual, Cristina notes that the candlelight does not reflect in Aurora’s eyes, which emphasizes the character’s emptiness. Later, after the spell works, Aurora’s eyes contain “streaks of mahogany, chestnut, and ocher,” vibrant colors that mirror Cristina’s renewed hope. The moonlight flakes floating “like bioluminescent lily pads” create a serene atmosphere that contrasts with the frantic escape that follows.
What does Cristina mean when she says “Magic exists in me, but it is not me”? Answer: She realizes that her identity is separate from her magical abilities. Earlier, she felt defined by—and betrayed by—magic. Now she understands that she is the one in control. The statement marks her transition from viewing magic as an all-consuming force to treating it as a tool she can wield, balancing faith with personal agency.