Amari and the Night Brothers

The final chapters constitute the climax and resolution of the plot. Plot twists introduce new challenges for Amari to grapple with. Notably, Amari and Magnus learn that Moreau was never really captive, and in fact, he is in possession of the Black Book now—furthermore, Moreau reveals he already has the Black Key. While stopping Moreau’s plot has been the objective for a while (in conjunction with rescuing Quinton), this revelation creates a heightened urgency, and the pace increases to match the higher stakes.

The plot twist of Dylan’s true allegiance positions Dylan and Amari as firmly opposed, despite their similarities. This is what it truly means for them to be foils. Before now, Amari believed Dylan to be her friend. While that friendship was no lie, as Dylan insists on the strength of their bond, his goals have been entirely different from Amari’s the whole time. Amari has never once wavered from her goal of rescuing Quinton, reinforcing the Bonds of Family Loyalty that have always kept her motivated. Meanwhile, Dylan has been serving his own bitterness and hatred toward everyone who has wronged magicians. This sharply contrasts Amari’s choice to have Hope in the Face of Prejudice. While she sympathizes with Dylan’s frustration with how magicians are treated in the supernatural world, she connects it to her own experiences in Chapter 1, when she shoved her prejudiced classmate at Jefferson Academy. While Amari felt justified in the moment, she no longer feels that way (387). She cannot justify hurting others, even if they have hurt her. Thanks to Amari’s experiences with characters like Elsie, Ranger Alford in Chapter 25, and the audience in Chapter 28, she now believes that showing people who they really are will challenge their preconceived notions about magicians. There is no need to harm others to achieve the respect they seek. Dylan, on the other hand, is so embroiled in bitterness that he forsakes his own bonds of family loyalty, treats non-magicians with cynicism, and lacks hope for change. Even his powerful connection to Amari, which drove him to defeat even Moreau to protect her, cannot sway him away from his anger at the injustice magicians have faced.

The novel’s climax occurs when Amari faces off with Dylan in Chapter 32. At first, Amari feels that her “fair” magic is no match for Dylan, who has both his own magic and Moreau’s. But just as she is on the verge of giving in to foul magic, Amari has a realization: “I’m not the girl who gives up. I’m the girl who tries. The girl who fights. The girl who believes” (391). Following this, she realizes, “I’m unstoppable” (391). Her magic responds to her by producing an army of illusion Amaris which defend her from Dylan. Using magic as a vehicle, the author demonstrates that self-confidence and embracing a strong sense of self are the keys to Amari unlocking her power to triumph. There is tragic irony in Amari’s defeat of Dylan: Dylan was the one who taught Amari that she needed to have confidence in herself, lest her magic fail her. Had Dylan chosen to believe in Amari and turn to hope instead of hatred, the two of them would have made a powerful team. Instead, he forced Amari to use the skills he taught her against himself.

In Chapter 33, themes reach their culmination. Amari’s commitment to Bonds of Family Loyalty pays off when she achieves her goal of bringing Quinton home, and her whole family reunites when Mama is invited into the supernatural world. Amari carries the self-confidence she found during the climactic battle into the final scene of Chapter 33. She is able to reunite with her brother as a new person, one who has reached the potential he saw within her from the start. Amari herself makes use of this confidence: She uses her belief in her own ability to help Jayden the same way Quinton helped her.

Chapter 33 resolves the conflicts but leaves openings for the rest of the series to expand on. A major focus of Chapters 32 and 33 is the bond that Amari shares with Dylan; this suggests that their relationship will be an important part of the rest of the series. The introduction of Maria and the League of Magicians also leaves the door open for future development on the role of magicians in supernatural society. Likewise, Amari’s nomination of Jayden for the next year’s summer training camp opens the door for Jayden to join her in the supernatural world, hinting that he may become a more significant character later on. Ultimately, Amari demonstrates that she has transformed her self-perspective and has recognized her capacity to help others—through her magic, through her compassion, and through the strength she gains from the love of her friends and family.