Mab is more like the hero of Old Yeller, young Travis who has to put down a beloved family member before more damage could be done.  She took full responsibility for Murphy's actions.  She even guarded Murphy from retribution from Maeve's fae allies who might seek vengeance.

I'm very much curious whether the Redcap is still kicking around with a grudge, or Mab promptly offed him for his role as an enabler / possible Nemesis vector himself.

re: Jonas

I believe it's reds who have the backwards knees. At one point in a fight Harry bashes something in the knee and comments that it wouldn't have worked on a Rampire because their actual knees are backwards (though I'm not sure how the actual mechanics of passing for human work ... possibly they can flex either way?), and it would have just pissed off a Blampire.

As for the vampire courts corresponding to the seven deadly sins, I'm not sure I buy that one. Whampire = lust only works for the Raiths. Though two of the White Court noble houses do seem to feed on two of the three cardinal virtues. The Raiths feed on lust and are harmed by love (Amoracchius?) and the Skavis feed on despair (presumably weak against hope, embodied by Esperacchius). I wonder if a case might also be made that faith is the opposite of fear, thereby putting Malvora in opposition to faith / Fidelacchius?

I'm not at all sure the Black Court do have a choice.

My idea was that Harry called Elaine almost as strong as he is.  Harry is in the top 50 to 100 wizards worldwide for his age group.  So, I don't think it is possible Justin DuMorne could have found two apprentices that powerful by chance.

That was more like top fifty to a hundred overall, and that estimate was before a lot of the Council's casualties and Harry's own growth. He's probably at or very near the top if you look only at his age cohort.

On a slightly more on-topic note...  is there any WOJ, anywhere at all, in which Jim confirms that the Blackstaff is what Eb says that it is:  a secret role assigned by the White Court with carte blanche to break any of the laws?  I mean, no one talks about the Blackstaff other than Eb and Kincaid.  Kincaid, for about ten seconds, before Harry shuts him up.  And yes, Ebenezer's assembled band of gray-cloaked wizards whose identities are kept hidden from Harry do see it Eb using the Blackstaff...  but the Gray Council's knowledge does not necessarily prove the White Council's approval.

He's answered questions about the office of the Blackstaff without any indication that Eb was exaggerating his unilateral authority, albeit never explicitly addressed that as a possibility. And there was also the Eebs reference to how the "wizard of the black stick" slew Ortega to corroborate.

Evil Bob commented on Harry's worthiness in their encounter, but I don't recall anything else.

Corpsetaker's shade said something along the lines that it was unfortunate he rushed into a confrontation, as someone with his innate gifts could have become formidable if he'd been patient.

Besides, how would Cowl and Bob know Harry has a gift for necromancy before he did it?  (I may be misremembering when said statements were made)

Cowl didn't. As Kumori put it, Cowl thought he was somewhat impressive, but too rough to be useful.

Corpsetaker was somewhat impressed by his resistance to mental interrogation, but most of her comments and Evil Bob's assessment were during Ghost Story.

Also, let's not forget that things were very specifically arranged so as it'd be easier to do necromancy.  What Harry did was difficult, but not complicated.  I don't see raising Sue as being especially indicative of any particular talent.

Except Corpsetaker and Evil Bob have both commented that he does have a natural gift for dark magic.