the hands-down best thing in the Last Binding trilogy is how when you meet Edwin Courcey in book 1, he has the demeanor, self-esteem, and (total lack of) public regard of a runty mongrel cat that was birthed directly into a cold puddle and has been lying there ever since, hissing faintly every time itโs kicked (itโs kicked all the time) but never even trying to get upโฆ
Then by book 3, not only is the entire book just all the other protagonists continuously going, [Arthur Shappey voice] โEdwin will do something clever and it will all be fine.โ as they follow whatever plan he researched up this time, BUT ALSO the antagonists, including notably Edwinโs shitheel brother whoโs dedicated a significant amount of their lives to discounting and tormenting him, going, โUnfortunately, we must adapt our evil plans specifically to account for the fact that Edwin Courcey is the cleverest magician in the British Isles.โ Walter Courcey shouting, โEdwinโs up to something!โ like a tattletale sibling in the back seat on a road trip, you will always be famous to me (derogatory) (not calling him the nickname he hates now are you, fucker). (And then Edwin breaks his magical handcuffs, asks his hot & punchy boyfriend to cause a distraction, and channels an entire leyline until he shines like lightning and blows up/partially dissolves magician!parliament; you will always be famous to me (laudatory, exultant.))
