my-acotar-thoughts

[my-acotar-thoughts]

ACOTAR magic…

So I was thinking… in book 1, Lucien mentions how High Fae’s only disposition is to be in position of power, they are natural leaders unlike lesser fae with clear roles and inclinations.

So… if this is true, why would court magic exist? Or is it just High Lord specific magic? We haven’t exactly been shown much evidence of the everyday High Fae so is it safe to assume just because you’re from a certain court, doesn’t mean you’re going to have specific magic? It’s just individual and family line basis? As far as we know, no one else in Tamlin’s family is a shapeshifter. Is that uniquely his?

On a worldbuilding level, we want each court to be unique and their citizens be special but also High Fae nobility like to marry across courts for alliances so magic must mix, right?

Overall… I’m curious how individuals get their powers and how it’s determined. Can a fire user have a water user offspring? Is it about the individual or is it about breeding?

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Okay I... I thought I calmed down, but here I see the post about F/eyre becoming a HL and the comment below it that is OF COURSE says something rEaLlY hiLaRiOuS like “big fuck you to Tamlin”

I mean, there is some moments in his behavior we can argue with, but... THIS MOMENT IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!

Wasn’t he just stating a STRAIGHT FACT by saying there is no HL in Prythian? I can’t remember if he said F/eyre would never be one or she doesn’t deserve it... Oh wait he didn’t :\\\

I’ll refresh the memory of the ones that can process information:

the whole scene was about F/eyre being insecure about her title and stuff, and literally (of course, out of her biggest shyness) said:

And Tamlin was like,

I mean... You don’t want them to call you HL? They won’t! :) Problem solved! Tam is the perfect bf!!! Yaayyyy!!! :))))

But F/eyre wasn’t pleased, so she went saying,

And Tamlin explained,

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE????

He just stated a fucking fact. Didn’t know people get hate for it these days. Of course, if it only doesn’t come to draw a difference between the OBVIOUSLY BAD GUY (sarcastic spoiler: Tamlin) and the perfect one (sarcastic spoiler 2: Rhysand).

You know what? Tamlin was and still IS right. There is no High Lady in Prythian.

Even though there is someone (not sarcastic spoiler: VIVIANE) who does deserve it, High Lords still are chosen by magic. The REAL High Lords. Not ones that become them just to prove something to their exes. And, the main fact, just because they were chosen by their mates.

I’d even understand if she’d been chosen by the people in the Night Court (yes, the WHOLE NC, including the Court of Nightmares). That would’ve been fair, and epic, and cool, etc etc etc

But this... Just leave Tamlin the fuck alone - at least with this one.

Best wishes to anyone who had a nerve to read this post ❤️

[my-acotar-thoughts]

from what i remember tamlin’s and rhysand’s fathers were shitty people and ruled the court with terror

rhysand chose to continue to rule like his father

he calls it a “mask” but lets be real, look at the conditions of 2/3 of his court, he is a tyrant

most of his court despises him and tries to revolt against him. he has to negotiate with the armies of his court -darkbringers and illyrians- to have them fight for him

he dreams of a better world but has yet to do anything to make it happen -illyrian women being allowed to fight isn’t equality ffs- and discriminates

but tamlin chose to not continue to rule like his father

he chose to be kinder -not only to his people but other court’s people who came to spring court as well and during amarantha’s reign they got to celebrate festivals in sc

his people and his army were loyal to him -loyal enough to willingly die to break the curse- even when he started to work with hybern. that is how much trust they have in their high lord

he dreams of a better world but he does try to make it a reality and doesn’t discriminate

there’s more stuff to compare but 99%, if not all, isn’t in rhysand’s favour

worth mentioning;

even after feyre’s petty revenge and tamlin loses his people, he still pulls his weight -when one could argue he didn’t need to. not when rhysand and feyre, who destroyed his court, are the ones asking for everyone to come together- and does what a high lord of a court should do

tanlin lost his people and he still does his duty vs rhysand who doesn’t do shit

side by side it’s such a crazy difference bc they had similar type of fathers and inherited power of the high lord around the same time and yet the difference in their ruling, the style of ruling they have and how their people are towards them as rulers is so vast

rhysand was his father’s heir and knew he would ruler after his father, meanwhile tamlin was the youngest son and had no intention to rule

mind you, rhysand is the endgame love interest, the “hero” as we’re told

tamlin got the first book and then sjm decided to make feysand the couple but why didn’t she explore rhysand as a ruler like tamlin and make rhysand better? it’s bc she’s a shit writer i know

[my-acotar-thoughts]

House of Earth and Blood…

Damn, I’m liking Danika but I want to see Hunt… But I know when I see Hunt, I’ll be crying about Danika. Damn you SJM for putting me through this emotional rollercoaster. I already know characters I’m going to get attached to are gonna make me cry but damn it, I have to get through these books.

Plus I bought nearly all the books in the Maasverse rn minus House of Flame and Shadow cause it’s only available in hardcover when my collection is paperback… so yeah, I’m committed to this torture now…

By the time I’m done, I better write some decent fanfiction or this will have been for nothing lmao

[my-acotar-thoughts]

As a Lucien girly this gave me LIFE

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Romeo and Juliet…

Tamsand gives Romeo and Juliet vibes. Hear me out.

Spring and Night, two courts on opposite sides of Prythian. Two courts locked in centuries of rivalry. Two powerful High Lords.

Here comes their sons, heirs to the throne, one known, one trying to hide his true potential. They become close friends enough that Rhysand claims to have taught Tamlin about women. Their families do not approve of this friendship but they persist.

Tragedy strikes as Tamlin’s father and brothers force a bloody betrayal causing Rhysand’s father to push for revenge. Rhysand, even with everything that’s happened, doesn’t want Tamlin to die. Instead of the two young males dying, their families are destroyed and they now carry on the curse of their families’ hatred but under the surface, that connection still holds a small thread because no matter what he does, Rhysand can’t fully let Tamlin go. Those memories, that friendship, they still carry it deep in their hearts.

Tamsand didn’t end in their deaths, but it did end in pain, bloodshed, and heartbreak that still lingers years later…

[my-acotar-thoughts]

tamlin didnt have time to heal from everything that happened in past 50 years, UtM and seeing feyre die

but his court needed him and as the high lord of spring court, he put his people first unlike certain someone

he knew there would be repercussions for him killing amarantha and for feyre so he was on guard and paranoid

sure, he should have found someone to help feyre and train but i think he wanted to let her be for a while and not make her powers known -i think he says that in dawn meeting?- bc then other high lords could come for her since she has their powers

he had his own trauma, why is his trauma swept under the rug?

everyone talks about him not being there for feyre but where was feyre for him? they were in a relationship

it didn’t help tamlin was in unknown territory with a newly made fae feyre, who wanted to jump first into things and couldn’t take a no for an answer

it doesn’t help a big part of his trauma was and is connected to feyre. seeing her probably didn’t help, being reminded of her dying in front of him, but he was worried about her to be away so it was a cycle they were stuck in

this is why tamlin and fae feyre were never going to work. their relationship died when human feyre did

tamlin had to watch rhysand do what he did to feyre UtM for months, so when feyre was taken to night court, it made sense why tamlin reacted like that

rhysand is the villain in everyone’s eyes, his own actions have backed it up

mind u, rhysand and his father killed tamlin’s mother so why would tamlin be okay with his loved one in rhysand’s hands?

most of the things tamlin did post UtM that makes sense once you see it from his pov

but tamlin doesn’t get the sympathy like rhysand does. tamlin isn’t forgiven for what he did to feyre but rhysand is

“rhysand did what he did UtM to protect and help feyre” actually, he didn’t have to do any of that!

at least tamlin apologised to feyre without making it about poor oh him

at least tamlin brought rhysand back from dead and wished feyre happiness without anything in return

if it was the other way around, i promise you rhysand wouldn’t have done the same

rhysand actions towards tamlin in novella proved he is anything but good

but tamlin is the villain. tamlin doesn’t deserve a book

he does but i don’t think sjm can write tamlin’s story -she couldn’t write for nesta nor she knows how to hold feysand accountable- but he does deserves a book and happiness

tamlin gave lucien a home. tamlin fought for his people, all of them and they were loyal to him until feyre destroyed everything

the spring court deserves to be flourishing again and so does their high lord, tamlin

[my-acotar-thoughts]

feyre’s love interests with her sisters comparison is funny ngl

tamlin gives the sisters- the archeron family money and helps them thrive back in society without putting them in danger -the most danger he caused was have nesta go crazy about feyre and trying to go to the wall for feyre

rhysand gives the sisters money but holds it over their head as his money, tells them how to live in the society and constantly puts them in danger -got them taken by hybern king, turned into fae, forced into war, their father died and all that trauma he refuses to feel for- and still they don’t get paid or have free will to do as they please

who fought hard to save nesta and elain when hybern king was forcing them into the cauldron? tamlin. not rhysand, the most powerful high lord

[my-acotar-thoughts]

doesn’t surprise me feyre doesn’t do her high lady duties and she only brings it up for her own interests bc remember how much she brought up tamlin not making her a high lady?

tamlin would have made her his lady, same duties now she is doing now except her title has “high” word in it

“tamlin never saw me as his equal” bc your not! you don’t even know the basics of fae world!

tamlin not seeing feyre his equal for position of ruling does not mean he didn’t love or value her

it’s most likely tamlin thought they had all the time in the world now and he would teach her as they’d go

and is like what’s wrong with that?? some self reflection would go a long way feyre

she isn’t educated

she knows nothing about the faes or lands

has no training in politics

has no idea how to behave at court

she knows nothing

feyre had no reason to believe she is worthy of being tamlin’s or anyone’s equal in a position of leadership over a court

all she did was free tamlin, who then killed amarantha

if she believes it should be bc of love like honey, that’s not how it works. again it shows she has no knowledge of the land, of fae and the world of power

if it was human lands and politics then it’d make sense, they don’t follow magic bound laws

does that mean kallias sees viviane, who was in charge while he was UtM, as weak? no

if feyre wants to hate tamlin for not teaching her anything like girl at first u didn’t care about it and then u were traumatised and whisked away to nc, when was he suppose to teach u??

even if we ignore magic choosing the ruler rule….

she married a high lord and got her title, but she hasn’t earned it

it would be one thing if she worked after getting it through marriage but she hasn’t. all she did was destroy a court, attack lady autumn, look down on her citizens like her mate and opened a paint studio like?? that’s not ruling

“i’m the high lady of night court, i can do as i please” but u can’t honey, that’s not how it works

it’s a title she shows off but she doesn’t do the job it requires, and i don’t see how she is respected for it- for being a high lady

feyre hasn’t earned the title of being a high lady

she hadn’t even earned a position of power or a position in a court

for nesta, i don’t believe she’s ready nor has earned a title of a ruler either, but she is educated enough to be a part of a court

nesta was meant to married for power but it’s feyre who actually did

looking back, it’s crazy how much tamlin not naming her a high lady bothered her and she did no self reflection on it

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Naming…

So I started Crescent City and one thing I’ve noticed about SJM’s writing is she is not creative when naming things. She uses a lot of random names from mythology. Like demons are from Hel as in the Norse underworld. Everyone except humans and normal animals are called Vanir, which is another Norse word for another race of gods in Norse Mythology.

She did this with ACOTAR too with Hybern and Illyrians. I know worldbuilding isn’t her strongest skill but at least make some new words that are your own.

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Smokehounds…

What sort of breed do you think they resemble? At first I imagined greyhounds but I feel like they’re something with a bit more bite to them but still very fast. I also imagine they’re big dogs that have slick grey-black fur and an ethereal smoke quality around them like they are made of smoke themselves at times. Kinda similar to Hellhounds but less demonic looking. They’re just as vicious though and will tear their prey apart if commanded.

[my-acotar-thoughts]

When you think about it, it makes sense that Rhysand only questioned his age gap with Feyre once through five books, because a vulnerable, traumatized 19yo is exactly the type of partner he can control.

She's never had the chance to get to know herself, barely known the idea of love, partnership and romance. She accepts resolving their issues through fleeting pleasure rather than words, never questioning his lack of accountability, justifying any wrongdoings, and falling for the manipulation thinly veiled as the illusion of "choice".

To someone who has never had basic respect and care, the bare minimum feels like a dream. He is her mate, the "one", so why would she question him… right?

Their relationship makes so easy to understand why Tamlin's mother was blinded by love, Feyre basically gave up her personality and became an extension of Rhysand when she accepted the bond.

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Orpheus…

So I know SJM intended the story between Tamlin, Feyre, and Rhysand to parallel the Hades and Persephone myth but honestly, it kind of reminds me of Orpheus. Here me out…

Orpheus is the son of a muse and blessed by Apollo. He’s basically a bard. Tamlin is an expert fiddle player and highly skilled at poetry, particularly dirty limericks.

Eurydice is Orpheus’s bride who is cornered by a Saytr and then bitten by a viper on her wedding day, causing her to be taken to the underworld. Feyre is put into a desperate situation while UtM and is branded by Rhysand, who could be considered a snake for the way he coerced her into the deal. Feyre is also taken to the Night Court on her wedding day.

Orpheus does what he can to save Eurydice from the underworld so they can be together. He ultimately fails and loses her forever. Tamlin desperately tries to save Feyre from the Night Court, ultimately failing and loses her forever. Eurydice was never the same from being in the Underwold. Feyre was never the same from being in the Night Court.

In the end, both couples were never meant to last…

Like sure, Feyre and Rhysand have the return once a month thing similar to how Persephone is in the underworld for half the year, but Feyre is no Persephone in my opinion.

Actually… if we’re being literal, Tamlin would be Persephone to Rhysand’s Hades because Tamlin is the High Lord of Spring and Persephone is the Goddess of Spring and Tamsand sure does have this whole Romeo and Juliet vibes going on, tragedy and all. But that’s another discussion lmao

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Collection Update!

I just got the Throne of Glass box set! Will be starting that once the dramatized audio is released too. Planning to get House of Sky and Breath soon too so I’ll have nearly all the SJM books in physical copy as I slowly collect the dramatized audios on audible. Hopefully having the audio and the physical copies side by side will help me get through the readings cause I swear, I can’t focus to save my life. Lmao

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Book Break!

Since I can’t stand Feyre and ACOMAF is too damn slow for me, I’m taking a break to read Crescent City. I hope I like Bryce more. I want to like one of SJM’s heroines cause I hate Feyre so damn much.

I also got the entire box set of Throne of Glass and the dramatized audiobooks are coming out starting in May so I’m excited. I wonder if they’ll release it in the romantic order or the emotional order. I will soon have all of the ACOTAR series on dramatized audio, just missing the last part of ACOSF and I just got part one of House of Earth and Blood on dramatized audio. I also have HOEAB as a physical copy. Looking forward to reading about Bryce and Aelin cause I’ve heard good things from friends. I just don’t want another Feyre. She sucks so much!!!! Nesta should have been the female lead, I swear!

[my-acotar-thoughts]

The Fae Homeworld…

From a worldbuilding standpoint, I’m trying to figure out how the courts function as a whole. Do the seven courts work like a EU situation or are they more connected than that? Cause as far as I understand, only the seven courts have High Lords and are tied to land magic and have to do certain rituals yearly like Calanmai to replenish the magic. But what about Hybern and the other faerie territories on the big continent? What does this mean for Prythian if the seven courts are the nexus of fae magic? What does it mean for the other faerie territories? How were High Lords created and why aren’t there any outside of Prythian that we know? Cause other places like Hybern or Cretea are ruled by Kings and Princes. What is Prythian’s relationship with the faerie territories on the big continent? Are they friendly or are they like Hybern? Do they celebrate the same fae holidays? Is Prythian, and more specifically the Middle, the faerie holy land for the entire world?

I just wanna know, Sarah… I just wanna know…

[my-acotar-thoughts]

Worldbuilding for Prythian…

Anyone ever think the placement of courts on the map makes no sense? Why is Summer touching Winter? What does that boarder look like?! One second you’re freezing and the next you’re stripping? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to put the Winter Court in the north, Spring and Autumn in the east and west, and Summer in the south since Spring and Autumn are more transitional seasons? And I know the Solar Courts aren’t perpetually in their time of day state but why is Day next to Night? Wouldn’t Dawn be more logical in the middle of them? I also wanna see what the Dusk Court’s boarders looked like in the past cause the Night Court is basically the size of 2 courts and they make the Dusk Court sound like it was just an island nation.

Also… am I the only one who finds it kinda fucked up that Hybern is literally real life Ireland since the map looks like the UK and Ireland. Hybern is even derived from an old name for Ireland, Hibernia. It’s too on the nose… does SJM have something against Ireland cause she made Hybern flat out evil. Not a single person we’ve seen from that land has even been neutral.

Overall though, the map is probably one of the most boring fantasy maps I’ve seen. Even the boarders are straight lines.