Chapter 35: Whatever Gods May Be – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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

Cordelia and Lucie reach the outskirts of Idumea at dusk. Lucie struggles under the city’s oppressive atmosphere, so they take shelter in a makeshift cave formed by rubble. Cortana glows dimly, providing light. Inside, they have an emotional reconciliation: Lucie apologizes for lying about Jesse and Grace, and Cordelia admits she was too proud to share her feelings about James. Lucie reveals she stopped writing The Beautiful Cordelia and started a parody, The Wicked Queen Cordelia, which makes Cordelia laugh.

Meanwhile, in the London Institute infirmary, Thomas pretends to be asleep while Alastair reads Great Expectations aloud. Alastair confesses his love and fear of losing Thomas. Thomas reveals he is awake, and they share an intimate moment, declaring their love.

The next morning, Cordelia and Lucie cross the plain to Idumea. At Angel Square, they encounter a whirlwind of souls—the ghosts of London Shadowhunters murdered by Belial, including Elias Carstairs. Cordelia convinces them to let her pass by showing Cortana and vowing to kill Belial. The souls temporarily disperse. Cordelia and Lucie head toward the dark Gard fortress.

At the Gard, James kept Matthew alive through the night by drawing repeated iratzes. Belial arrives and threatens Matthew. James negotiates: he will allow Belial to possess him if Belial vows on Lucifer’s name not to harm Matthew, his family, or Cordelia. Belial agrees and James steps forward to be possessed.

Key Events

Cordelia and Lucie shelter overnight in a cave near Idumea; Cortana glows.
Lucie and Cordelia reconcile; Lucie reveals The Wicked Queen Cordelia, and Cordelia laughs.
Thomas and Alastair confess their love and become physically intimate.
Cordelia and Lucie enter Idumea and encounter the trapped souls of murdered Shadowhunters.
Cordelia persuades the souls to let her pass by invoking Cortana and her promise to kill Belial.
James keeps Matthew alive through the night using multiple iratzes.
Belial arrives and James negotiates possession in exchange for a vow protecting his loved ones.

Character Development

Cordelia Carstairs – Fully accepts her role as Cortana’s wielder and confronts her past with her father’s ghost. She shows leadership and compassion toward Lucie.
Lucie Herondale – Opens up about her guilt, her power, and her writing. Her insecurities about being “monstrous” are addressed by Cordelia.
Thomas Lightwood – Overcomes his hesitation and openly receives Alastair’s love. He takes emotional risk by revealing he was awake.
Alastair Carstairs – Admits his fear of losing Thomas and his belief that he didn’t deserve love. He grows by speaking his truth.
James Herondale – Demonstrates self-sacrifice and strategic thinking, bargaining with Belial to protect those he loves.
Belial – Shows impatience and a tactical weakness for possessing James, revealing his vulnerability to Cordelia’s blade.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Cortana’s Light – The blade glows in Edom’s darkness, symbolizing hope and the enduring power of the Nephilim against evil.
Ruined Idumea – The destroyed city mirrors Alicante and represents the cost of pride and the fall of a once-great civilization.
Trapped Souls – The ghosts of murdered Shadowhunters embody Belial’s cruelty and the theme of unfinished business; their temporary freedom shows that defiance is possible even in death.
Sacrificial Love – James’s willingness to be possessed to save Matthew and Cordelia echoes the chapter’s epigraph about an “unconquerable soul.”
Reconciliation through Humor – Lucie’s parody manuscript breaks tension and heals their friendship, showing that laughter can be an act of resistance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional and plot crescendo before the final confrontation. It resolves the rift between Cordelia and Lucie, solidifies the Thomas–Alastair romance, and sets James on a direct collision course with Belial. The encounter with the ghosts provides closure for Cordelia’s father and reasserts the power of Cortana. James’s bargain raises the stakes: his possession will make killing Belial far more difficult for Cordelia.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Cordelia convince the trapped souls to let her pass? She displays Cortana, states she has already wounded Belial twice, and promises to deliver a third, fatal blow that will free them. Her father’s ghost then rallies the souls to temporarily defy Belial.

2. What new understanding does Alastair reach about himself in this chapter? He realizes that his self-denial was based on feeling undeserving of love. By admitting he wants Thomas, he begins to treat himself as worthy.

3. Why does James agree to Belial’s possession? James sees no other way to prevent Belial from torturing Matthew to death. He extracts a vow on Lucifer’s name that protects Matthew, his family, and Cordelia, buying time and hoping Cordelia can still strike Belial.