#If you can't tell. I made her in part because I think that Varian needed a friend his age. & someone to defend him when he was sent to jail

[merkerlers-fairytales]

Okay well. I don't get to talk about Zodi enough on here, so here's her backstory:

She grew up in a place called Mayweather Bay, a town by the seaside in a small corner of Corona. She was orphaned when she was about 9 years old. Her parents (Fabien and Lylette) were obsessed with an ancient magic source- The Celestial Tear. And they died in a landslide trying to find more information on it. They were archaeologists. Zodi was on her own after that. And she made as decent a life for herself as she could, being alone at 9 years old. An old woman regularly checked in with her, made her food- just generally made sure she was okay. At least, until the incident.

See, losing your parents at 9 years old and being alone, that does a number on a person. And her parents were so passionate about the Celestial Tear. She wanted to continue their work, make their deaths have some kind of meaning. So she did. And she found out that her parents had moved to Mayweather Bay because that is where the next Celestial Tear was approximated to fall. When it did, she knew what it was. It was like a comet falling to earth. But somehow, it didn't create TOO much damage when it fell. And she went to retrieve it.

When she did find it....the conditions for this tear were....well, unconventional for the artifact. It had turned into powder upon impact. Unfortunately...this really is an ancient magic, with much about it being unknown and misunderstood. It's dangerous. And it's powerful. Perhaps even sentient, in a way. She tried to pick it up. And...it stuck. So instead of keeping it, preserving it, keeping it out of the wrong hands, and being able to study it....it fused to her, became one with her and in a way, possessed her.

When she woke up from the black-out, she had found that she had practically demolished her entire village. And of course, the people here didn't KNOW what had happened. They just knew that she seemed possessed, volatile, and was flying through a jealous rage. The tear...it feeds off of jealousy, come to find. Unfortunately jealousy is one of her biggest problems. And it did of course, start when her parents died. In the midst of the yelling and being chased off, she learned that she had been targeting households of children who still had their parents. Of course, she ran away. And changed her name. This is when she took on the name Zodiac (and later on, Zodi- of course her parents didn't name her Zodi, they named her Celeste. Can you guess why?)

What is a young girl to do when she has no home, no family, no friends? When she is so ashamed of her actions and her own existence that she can't bear to face another human being, let alone forgive herself? Not to mention the energy toll that the Celestial Tear takes on her when it flares. To much of that, and surely, she would be to ill to take care of herself. Fleeing Mayweather Bay was hard after the whole ordeal...

She still has to survive. So, petty thievery it is. She still has to survive. She takes down notes, names, and faces of those she steals from. She develops a keen interest in botany, and entomology so that she can make medicine. A young thief in the woods needs to know how to doctor a cold. Those interests turn into a passion. But still, she's made a name for herself as a theif. Petty thievery turned into full jobs, missions, pairing herself up with other thieves that didn't always have her best interest at heart (who knew Flynn Rider was a real person? And that he would be willing to actually defend her against other criminals that tried to take advantage of her? Truth be told, aside from her father, this was the first man she felt truly safe around. To bad she didn't stick around to see him turn into Eugene) And it feels impossible to turn back. Until the age of 14 she had somehow managed to become one of the most well-known and elusive theives of Corona. She's too smart and quick for her own good. You top that with no one really suspecting a small, unassuming girl (she hits a growth spurt later of course) and you have the recipe for one of your more frustrating theives.

Thank God for the Captain of the Guard having a forgiving heart and a soft spot for orphaned girls. He caught her when she was 14, and, much to her surprised....somehow, could sense how deeply troubled she was. And he actually WANTED to help her. Talk about a lucky break. He made an appeal to the king, and Fredric....actually agreed. But if she messed up, it would be on the Captain's dime.

And so, she became a stable girl. She changed her name again, from Zodiac, to Zodi. Now at first, she was closely monitored. But slowly...over the course of about 2 years, she was able to gain their trust. The Lost Princess returned, and, boy did she at least try to bring some light into her life. Zodi got paid a small wage, stayed in the servant's quarters and....now that she had some time to reflect on her past, her wrongdoings, how deeply she wanted to correct what she'd done wrong (and she was saving every penny possible to be able to at least start to try to repay the people she had hurt, there was a reason she kept record of those people), and was given an actual chance to be a stand-up member of society....it was all to obvious to see how empty she felt. How deeply lonely she was.

She had no real family. Sure, the Cap had took her under his wing but...honestly, while he was a good mentor. She had trouble viewing him as any sort of father figure. She craved a father figure. A mother. A friend, a family. Cassandra was the closest thing she had to a sister, and she was so standoffish. She'd take her to spar sometimes though, and she appriciated the company.

Eventually, a horse had a baby. A very, very sick foal. It wasn't expected to make it, and it was to be left for dead. After all there is no point in wasting precious resources on something guaranteed to die. Seeing the poor foal broke her heart- her skill with animals was almost unbelievable. I mean, she had lived a significant part of her life in the woods, and had dealt with a variety of creatures. So, being the most brilliant doctor that corona would come to know some day, she asked, "Can I try my hand?" and since the poor thing was considered dead anyway, she was told yes. Should she be able to save the baby, the horse could be hers. She'd have earned it, if she brought it back from the brink.

She named her Penelope. She was her first real friend. And it was her first real public display of brilliance outside of just thievery and mischief.

It felt good. And she loved Penelope.

Some time after she turned 16, she got word that the king needed a courier- just for a simple message to Old Corona. The man who would normally deliver messages was out sick. It wasn't important enough to dispatch guards to send though. It was simple communication to Quirin (truth be told, I don't know what is in the letter- the contents aren't as important as where it makes her go). And Cassandra had recommended her. She'd proven herself trustworthy, and the only other thing she had to do with her time was muck out the stables. So of course, she accepted the opportunity. And that, of course, is how she ended up meeting Varian.

Now imagine being 16, having been alone since you were a little girl, never being able to make or keep many friends- and even if you did find someone you got along with you had to move on before you could really get close. Then upon finding some semblance of stability, you were to busy to really try to meet people your age. To ashamed of your past, to scared they'd find out who you were. Plus, none of them shared any of your interests anyway, on the off chance that you WERE able to find someone your age to befriend. They didn't share that scientific curiosity, get grossed out by your insect collection, you can't really talk to them about the things you're passionate about. And then you meet someone....who is your age. Who does enjoy those kinds of things. And not only that, but he's kind of a legendary theif fan-boy. (He enjoyed the Flynn Rider stories, and the stories that- well they were about you, but he doesn't have to know that).

To top it off......he's so sweet! He's friendly, empathetic, intellectually challenging. They become rather fast friends. His father is accepting, warm, and kind. She could see him as some kind of father figure, for sure! Maybe, just maybe...she doesn't have to feel so alone? Maybe she's found her family.

Granted, Varian has no idea how important this friendship is to her, at first at least. She is kind of a standoffish and distant person- not that he'd really be aware of that because her bitter, angsty teenage personality didn't come out around him, he brought out the best in her. How bright she can be, when she lets her guard down a bit. He only really comes to realize how important they are to her the same day that his dad becomes encased in amber. That's also the same day he learns...a bit more about her history. The one she was keeping secret from him. Because she actually cared enough to go with him. But he had no idea that she possessed a power like the Celestial Tear- at least by this point she learned how to control it better. She was willing to reveal that secret to try to save his father. And it's crazy that it couldn't do much against the amber. It's crazy that it hurt her so badly...

And it's to bad she had to watch her best friend spiral.

She couldn't bear to lose her family again.

[originaldisneydescendants]

Adding in, because of the events of "Rapunzel and the Great Tree" Cassandra possibly also didn't mention any of this to Rapunzel prior to "Destinies Collide" because she didn't believe Rapunzel would listen to her and would just try to touch the moonstone anyway.

Cassandra has always been guarded and generally not the most trusting, but I believe there is a reason why she was particularily suspiscious of Adira when she came along mysteriously and said that she was there to help.

"Look Adira, you might have sold my friends on being the 'wise but kooky old mentor' but I'm not buying it. I'm watching you."

-

"You know what I think? I think you're playing us! I think you led us here on purpose and for some sick reason you wanted Rapunzel to find that incantation and read it!"

"Come on Cass! Listen to yourself!"

"Rapunzel, I am telling you right now we need to get out of this tree but more importantly we need to lose Adira before she gets us all killed!"

"I can't do that, Cass."

"What do you mean you 'can't do that'? Of course you can! Are you that obliviously naive that you can't see--"

-

"I don't get it, Eugene. I have never seen Cass act like this before."

"Yeah angry, brooding, impatient. I'm stunned."

"You know what I mean. Ever since we left Corona she's been... different."

-

"You know it's not just about Adira right? I mean she's a jerk and I can't stand her it's just since when did you stop trusting my judgement?"

-

"Cass is gonna be devastated when she finds out the truth about Andrew!"

-

"I knew you were a fraud from day one. You misspelled 'bibliophile' in your letters, Bonehead."

-

"We collectively are going to figure it out, but I need to know that I can trust you."

"You can count on me."

-

"...You're smart, you're compassionate, you're unique!"

I believe when the episode "Rapunzel and the Great Tree" opened, Cassandra was already feeling a bit insecure about her own judgement of character because of how things went with Varian and Rapunzel's words/actions in the episode inadvertently caused that insecurity to grow to where Cass felt like she had to prove that her judgement could still be trusted. Here is just an example of what I imagine some of the dialogue in season 3 could sound like as far as addressing the origin of Cassandra's suspicion:

Rapunzel: Varian? What does Varian have to do with any of this?

Cassandra: Open your eyes, Rapunzel! His dad was part of the brotherhood! He had the first piece of the scroll! He must have known all along about the sundrop, the moonstone, the Dark Kingdom, the rocks, everything! He wanted the power for himself and he conned us with the whole 'sweet kid' act!

Eugene: For the record, I knew there was something off about that guy from the get go.

Rapunzel: But before the storm, he came to me for help and at the science expo, he wanted so badly to impress you...

Cassandra: He was faking it! Ugh! It all makes sense! I'm your bodyguard! He couldn't get to you without gaining my trust and he knew it! I was nothing but an obstacle in his way to get to you! It was his dad's job to keep people away from the moonstone and you know what? I bet Varian trapped his own dad in that amber on purpose so he couldn't stop him! Even more so you'd feel sorry for him then willingly hand over your power and when you didn't, he showed his true colors and tried to take it by force! You said he told you that he didn't care about Corona, so why not do it during a storm when everyone else's lives were in danger?! Do you think he cared?! I heard the rumors about him, I knew he was dangerous but I underestimated him so I led you right in through his front door and we all payed the price for it! To think, I actually set aside my big chance to live out my dream and be a royal guard just to help him clean up the mess made while he was trying to win me over! Well, I promise you, I'm not going to make that mistake again!

Rapunzel: Cass, I think you might be feeling a little too hurt to see things clearly right now.

Cassandra: Believe me, Rapunzel, I see everything just fine and I'm not hurting. I don't feel anything.

Basically my prediction for the first half of season 3/the midseason "Cassandra's Revenge" is going to be when this particular conflict comes to a head before building up to Zhan Tiri in the series finale.

For those who missed my earlier observation video that I shared after the S2 finale, here is a link. Note: In the video I mention that they would be in the same age groups as Belle and the Beast but a more accurate comparison would probably be to Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty.

[books--andt]

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas Review and Spoiler Discussion!!!

Hey everyone!! Raise your hand if you read and devoured ACOWAR and loved every stinking minute of it! *raises hand 1231434241 times*

Ahh the long awaited ACOWAR, the third and final book in this trilogy. But have no fear! SJM has announced that she will be writing more books set in this world, just not from Feyre's perspective. I CANNOT WAIT YOU GUYS.

To give some thoughts for my non spoiler readers... Sarah J Maas is a queen. Her writing is liquid gold. The way she describes courts, weather, clothing--everything was just beautiful. The character development, for not only Feyre and Rhys, but for other characters as well was through the roof and truly, honestly, makes you wish these characters were real because they FEEl real. They feel like they are your own friends and family and I ended up caring deeply for every one of them. And don't even get me started on Velaris. I WISH I LIVED THERE!

Read this book. This series. Read EVERYTHING by the queen- SARAH J MAAS!

***SPOILER TALK AHEAD***

Hey spoiler peeps! SO! Where do I even begin?? Feyre begins her story trapped yet again in the Spring court. I have to say, I really, really despised Tamlin all throughout this book. The fact that he didn't understand that he wasn't making Feyre happy, that he was trapping her, and that she left on her own FREE WILL made me so angry. It wasn't until the end of the book when I actually was like, ok, he's learned, he sort of redeemed himself. We'll get more into this later.

Once Feyre and Rhys were back together my heart grew three sizes. They are just perfect together. They spoke a lot more with their minds, being Daemati, and I thought this showed just how close the two of them are.

I freaking love Nesta. I feel like if you were to tell someone this who has only read ACOTAR they'd be pretty confused, but her character development, and Elain's too was just stunning. I love how Nesta has this tough attitude about her. She's the kind of person who would say, "you can say mean things about me. But insult my family and friends? You're dead."

And don't even get me started on her and Cassian!!!!!!!!!!! I SHIP!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! I was dying at the end of ACOMAF when she was being forced into that cauldron and Cassian was crawling for her, and calling her name. And then I was bawling YET AGAIN when the same thing was happening at the end of ACOWAR, when Nesta is about to kill the king of Hybern, having summoned the cauldrons powers, but is stopped short when the king breaks her fathers neck, killing him, and her powers are snuffed out. Meanwhile, Cassian is laying at her side, crawling towards her, his wings snapped and broken, telling her to leave him, to run, and she tells him that she CAN'T leave him. Oh my heart. When Nesta positioned herself in front of Cassian and he held her back, I was CERTAIN that Hybern was going to kill them and I was NOT ready. I was nearly bawling at this point. But thank the Mother!!! Elain!!!! She is exactly as SJM describes her as; a flower child, with flora in her mind and a hobby for gardening. But then she comes up behind Hybern and BOOM! Stabs him in the throat-- with the blade Azriel gave her nonetheless! This just proves how she isn't just a bystander, how she has faced trivialities, and hardships, and losses, and it has shaped her into who she is. I'm not trying to say that you need to kill someone to prove your strength, god no, but it was just SO SATISFYING when she stabbed the king and then hisses into his ear, "Don't you dare touch my sister." I DIED. And of course, Nesta gives the final twist of the blade that severs the kings head from his body. Just fulfilling that death promise that she made with her vulgar gesture before being fully submerged in the cauldron in ACMOAF. Loved it.

When Amren betrayed Feyre I was pissed, but only because I didn't understand what Amren intended to do. For a second I thought Amren was going to completely turn on her, and say she was fighting with Hybern, and had been this whole time. But then we realize that she just figured out the only way to stop him and his army is if she is transformed into her original body, the one that would make her forget who Feyre, Rhys, and the others are. It was a sad reality, but one they couldn't risk not having.

AND RHYS. OH. MY. GOD. When he died.... I think all of us readers died a little inside too. But it didn't actually hit me as hard as when I thought Cassian and Nesta were going to die. And that is simply because I didn't believe that SJM would kill Rhys off like that. She's a dreamer, and a lover, and I just couldn't accept that she would leave Feyre to live her immortal life without her mate! Where as for Cassian and Nesta... It just seemed like that could actually happen. Thank the Mother it did not!

The part that really killed me was when Feyre realizes Rhys is dead and is shouting, begging, for the other High Lords to do something to, "BRING HIM BACK." I was a blubbery mess. Until Tarquin, the youngest of the High Lords, steps forward and says to him, "For what he gave. Today and for many years before." And he is the first to give him an ounce of his power. This was so touching to me because Tarquin had sent them blood rubies, had thought them to be liars and thieves. But he then sees that it is not who they are, that they want peace just as he does. When all the other High Lords gave their powers I was really holding my hopes high, that Rhys would indeed survive. But then Tamlin... I was afraid he wouldn't give up his powers to Rhys, and poor Feyre Darling was begging him saying she would give him anything. And then my heart just broke further when he said to her, "Just be happy, Feyre." This is where he redeemed himself for me. That he FINALLY sees that Feyre is indeed happy with Rhys, as High Lady of the Night Court. And while he is still bitter about it probably, and is a real man-bitch to Lucien, I'm happy he at least accepts what Feyre desires now, and helped her to continue her happiness. I also thought it was neat to see the High lords give their powers to Rhys, gently pouring a bit of their magical light onto his bare throat. We didn't see this in ACMOAF since Feyre was dead so it was neat. But one thing that I'm questioning is just the whole process...If the seven High Lords can bring back the dead, why don't they do it all the time? I understand for a mortal they would be giving away their powers as they did to Feyre and they don't want that, but for a High Lord... Well, Rhys didn't steal any of their powers. So basically, if they can do this, the High Lords can never die and will always be able to come back to life, so long as they all agree upon it...Interesting. Unless there are some rules about this that we do not know of yet.

When Rhys awoke and Amren too was returned to them- that shocked me! I was-and still am- surprised that not a single one of the inner circle died or was sent back to where they came from. I'm not saying I wanted any of them too, but it all just seemed so... perfect to have them all end up back together. While Amren no longer has her abilities she had before, she is now High Fae and can maybe learn to train and fight as they would- if she even needs it. I also have to admit, that while I adore the little romances, I kind of prefer Amren on her own. She is just so independent and bad ass, so while I liked her with Varian, I'm not sure I want them to be mates.

AND MOR!!! Tell me that scene where she comes out to Feyre didn't kill you on the inside, splitting your heart into 1000 tiny pieces???? It all makes sense. Why she did what she did with Cassian to avoid being married to Eris, why she could never let herself be with Azriel because while it would mean close to nothing for her, as it had with previous men she'd been with, it would mean a lot to him. It just made my heart grow. And what made it grow even more was Feyre's reaction. She let Mor speak, and gave her the absolute most respect, understanding, and acceptance. I especially loved that she told Mor she wouldn't tell anyone, not even Rhys, which is SO important, because a gay or lesbian person should have the full right to declare the time and manner of when and to who they come out. I love that SJM incorporates this kind of diversity in her books. We also have Thesan, High Lord of the Dawn court who is gay and mated to his captain. Then there's Helion, High Lord of the Day court, who is bisexual. I adored these characters and loooooved learning about the courts more and meeting their High Lords. I really loved the descriptions of the Winter Court; the white foxes wearing little vests, the white bears, the long blue overcoats with white rabbit fur at the trims. And of course, Kallias and his wife Vivianne. I really adored them too.

And then we have those three beautiful monsters. The Bone Carver, the Weaver, and Bryaxis. I was SHOOK when Feyre realized that the Bone Carver was being seen to her as her and Rhys' possible future son. SHOOK I TELL YOU! And when Rhys quietly asked what he looked like and Feyre showed him with her mind... *heart breaks 1213344123 more times*

I was sad when he died, surprisingly. I was never attached to the Bone Carver but... Just when Feyre said that she wishes that he goes to wherever it is he imagined, since he was so fascinated by death, and she sent a prayer to him... That part got me.

When Stryga, the Weaver died... Well I was sad but only because she was fighting for the good side. I think that character is so fascinating and creepy and just... That scene in the Weavers cottage in ACOMAF is one I'll never forget for sure. And when Feyre goes back there in ACOWAR, luring Ianthe and that other guy with her, omg SHOOK AGAIN!! Feyre knew not to close the door, knowing well it would lock, and pinned Ianthe inside while telling the Weaver she brought her dinner. What a vicious, deserving death for Ianthe. Good riddance.

And that poor Suriel... I wonder what it's name was. Feyre is honestly like a disney princess, having all the woodland animals like her and get along with her. She was so respectful to ask for Helion's cape and lay it overtop the Suriel. I feel like it is a debt that no other Suriel will ever not know of or forget. And their father!!! When he came with those ships, three of which were named after his daughters my heart was aching. It just bound their bond a bit tighter, since well, there wasn't really a bond between the four of them at all before. It showed that he is sorry for not being the father he wished he could be, but that he loved them dearly, and was now trying to make things right. He was not away on merchant business as they had thought, but had heard of the betrayal of the mortal queens and sought to find Vassa and Drakon and Myriam who Lucien then brought to the battle. When he died... I mean, I wasn't super connected to him, nor were his three daughters I have to say, but it was indeed sad, just because he was there, fighting for them, loving them even as they were Fae.

And Jurian?? Thank goodness he was on the good side. I'd like to learn more about him as well as Drakon and Myriam. Their stories weren't the most interesting to me, but still I'd like to know more!

While this book surely closed some ties- more so with Rhys and Feyre. I am SO happy they live happily together, laying over Velaris. Although I'm sure they will be facing a little more turmoil in the books to come. What with the mortal queens never showing up to war and all.

Gawd I wonder what's in store for us next??? I'm hoping we see more from the inner circle. I want to see Mor happy with a girlfriend, to have her father either accept it or just be completely thrown out of the picture (good riddance again) and to have Azriel know so that he doesn't think anything is wrong with him. MAN I loved him in this book. He's so shy and mysterious and just... *heart eyes* I also hope he finds a lover-not that you need a lover to be happy but... you know. I kind of like him and Elain together... Anyone else?? I mean, he gave her his SWORD!!!! TRUTH TELLER!!! I know that Elain and Lucien are mates and all, but I said in my review of ACOMAF that it seemed to come out of now where, and it certainly didn't seem to click into place in this book. Elain did not accept the mating bond, nor did she make him food, and she hardly ever spoke to him. If anything, I think they could be friends. Perhaps this will be an example of how the mating bond is not always right, since it's somewhat connected to bearing the strongest offspring, but there's waaaaaay more to a relationship than that of course. Maybe Lucien will find some other lover/mate? I've heard others thoughts of him possibly being with Vassa?? I wonder if Feyre will free her of her firebird curse; Firebird by day, normal female by night.

I also want to see what happens with Nesta and Cassian. Because I SHIP IT SO HARD, MAN. I also want to see if Amren and Varian do end up together or not. It did indeed break my heart when Varian was pleading with Feyre and Amren saying no to her going into the cauldron. But still... Amren is so strong and sassy she can be a bad ass High Fae all on her own without any man.

AND UMMM Lucien is related to Helion!!!!!!!!!!! It all makes sense... He doesn't look like any of his brothers or his father, and this would explain why his fathers and brothers hate him so much. His mother had an affair with Helion, who doesn't even know that Lucien is his son!! How will this play out??? Will Lucien find out somehow? Will he be told? Will Helion discover it?? ORRRR!!!!! Will Helion die, and then boom the new High lord of the Day Court is Lucien and he didn't even know.... THAT would be a shock for him to say the very least.

Also can we talk about the glorious fan art???? It's basically exactly as I picture the Inner Circle to look. Charlie Bowater is seriously talented. Her recent work has Cassian in a man bun-- Like Guys COME ON!!! *heart eyes x 1000* I seriously need the colouring books now, both ACOTAR and ToG. I neeeeeed themmmmmm.

And speculation on an ACOTAR movie??? I mean HELL TO THE YES but the casting would need to be spot on AND it would have to be really, really true to the books. Not holding anything back just to make it suitable for all audiences. War is bloody. War is brutal. It can't be toned down. And for the sexy time scenes well... Maybe it would be sort of like an HBO show ;)

WELL. That was a long one. I love Sarah J MAAS' books. I always thought I loved Throne Of Glass so much more... but now they are pretty even. I can't wait for the next instalments, although it is going to be VERY difficult to wait all the way until 2018 for them. In the meantime... Guess I'll just be rereading them and reading up on some theories for the latter books! What are yours??? I've read some theories for connections between the ToG and ACOTAR universe and it's mind blowing guys, mind blowing.

1000/5 Stars on glorious Star Fall in Velaris. *sighs* Now on to bingeing all the ACOWAR reviews, and perhaps buying an ACOTAR universe themed candle, while I remain in what may just be my largest book hangover yet.... although EoS did give me a huge one too.

What are your thoughts on ACOWAR? I'd LOOOOOVEEE to know and talk all about it! Send me a message or reply to this chat!

As always, thanks for reading.

- T