#Sjm can you please announce the book

[bright-side20]

Guilty as a sin

This is a scene of Elain inspired by the song 'Guilty as a Sin.' I hope you enjoy it ❤️

Elain stood alone in her room at the townhouse. She often preferred to spend time here for some privacy. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a glow across her delicate features. Her heart ached, a deep pain that seemed to echo the loneliness of the night. Her thoughts were a mix of desire and doubt, all centered around one person: Azriel.

She leaned against the window frame, her fingers tracing the cool glass as she gazed out into the garden below. The flowers were bathed in shadows, the same garden where she had spent so much time with him, sharing comfortable silences. She often wondered how his rough, dark warrior features contrasted with the garden, yet he seemed to fit perfectly in it. Her mind replayed every stolen glance, every brush of their hands, every moment where their eyes met and spoke a thousand unspoken words. She missed him... missed their little conversations, his understanding, gentleness, and sense of humor that matched hers. She hated how they had just pretended nothing happened that night and how their relationship had become so formal.

Elain shuddered at the memory of that night: the way his eyes had darkened with hunger, the way she couldn't do anything but yield to his touch, the way he had made her body react. Heat spread through her as she recalled the memory. She longed to feel his hands on her skin again. What would have happened if they had kissed? Would they have stopped there or craved more, done more? But did it really matter? It was a mistake, he had said.

She belonged to Lucien. The bond that tied her to him was undeniable, an unbreakable thread by fate itself . What she felt for Azriel, what she wanted to do with him, was wrong. It was unacceptable. It was a sin. She should feel guilty, shouldn't she? What would the others think if they knew she was aroused by another male in the family room while her mate was sleeping upstairs? Shame.

Why? she wondered, her heart aching with anger and sorrow. Was it her fault to be bound to a stranger she had no feelings for by a bond she neither wanted nor asked for? Was she even allowed to cry? It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t chosen Lucien, the Cauldron, or whatever cruel twist of destiny, had decided to bind her to him without her consent. She was a pawn in a game played by forces beyond her control.

"I'm no one's property," she whispered fiercely. "I have the right to fall in love, to give my heart to whom I choose." She looked up at the sky, as if it held the answer, as if someone were witnessing the battle in her mind... the Mother, perhaps.

In a moment, she was in a different place, under a starry night in a field of roses and violets, standing in front of Azriel, who was dressed in one of the suits he wore on special occasions. 'Sorry? You're sorry? It's not about apologizing. I thought you understood me!' she said, her voice breaking. Azriel looked at her with a pleading expression. She couldn’t bear it anymore. 'I didn’t choose it, and it doesn’t define me. I thought you, of all people, would understand that,' she said, frustration filling her voice. 'I want you. I want to be with you. And I thought you wanted the same, but it was a mistake, wasn’t it?'

"Elain, you don't really understand," he said, his voice tight.

"No, you don't understand!" she shot back, stepping closer, her heart racing. "I have spent too long being told what I am and who I should be with. And you..." She shook her head, "You have no right to stand here now and act as if I misunderstood."

He closed his eyes, his jaw clenching as if he felt offended. She turned her back to leave, but then he grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. She gasped at the contact of their bodies, the heat of him sending shivers through her. He looked at her, his gaze so intense she could see the different hues of his eye color under the moonlight. Then he grabbed her jaw, leaned in, and captured her lips in a burning kiss, all the anger and desire, the time they had spent holding back, resisting, poured into the act. It was consuming, almost punishing, but she met him with equal fervor, standing on her tiptoes and holding his neck as she pulled him closer. The kiss was a delicious clash, as if each of them were trying to prove something to the other.

Azriel buried his hand in her hair and pulled it until he broke the kiss, causing her to open her eyes and whimper in protest. 'You think I don’t fight myself every damn day?' he growled. 'You think I don’t dream each night about you, about touching you, holding you? You think I’m not dying each day for not being able to spend time with you, to talk to you like we used to?'

Why can’t you? she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t voice anything at the moment. "You think I wouldn’t fight the world, damn the Cauldron, just for a taste of you?"

"Is that what you want, Elain?" he whispered softly, his breath hot against her mouth, his cedar scent filling her lungs. "To be consumed by this? By us?"

She scanned his eyes, searching for any sign of what he was feeling, she saw a storm of longing and desperation, a deep ache that mirrored her own. There was a a raw intensity that spoke of how much he yearned for her, and a hint of resolve, as if he was finally allowing himself to act on his feelings. "Yes," she breathed, her voice barely audible. She saw a flicker of relief in his eyes before he leaned in and deepened the kiss further, his tongue exploring every inch of her mouth. She arched against him, her breasts pressing into him as his hand gripped and kneaded her ass possessively. Then he pulled up her dress parted her legs, gripping her thighs as he lifted her. She immediately crossed her legs around his waist, careful not to touch his wings.

Gods, she could feel his arousal pressing against her core. She broke the kiss and looked at him, her breath quickening. He smiled at her, his eyes so luminous. At that moment, She was lost in him, she didn’t know where she was or who she was, all she knew was that Azriel was claiming her, and she was gladly surrendering her heart. This was everything she desired, no one else could ever make her feel this way. She only realized she was biting her lip when his teeth replaced hers, and she moaned into his mouth as his tongue soothed the sting. Shadows gathered around them. Would they lay here in the grass, or was he taking her to his bed?

Elain blinked and came back to reality, frustration washing over her. She was alone in her room. Her legs shook with need, her skin felt unbearably hot, and she could feel the silkiness between her thighs. Why did it feel so real? His touch, his scent, the kiss... Was it a vision or a dream? Was she losing her mind? Her fingers tightened around the window frame, her knuckles white with the effort to hold on to her sanity.

"What if I'm just being selfish?" she wondered, guilt stabbing through her. "What if I'm hurting everyone around me by wanting something that isn't mine to have?"

But another thought rose defiantly. "It's my right to choose my own happiness. What if the bond is just a cruel trick, and I deserve to find love where my heart truly lies?" She held her head, trying to concentrate for a moment, then made her decision: If she was doomed to be shackled for the rest of her life to someone she didn’t love, she would at least let herself live the desire consuming her. How could she be guilty as a sin when she wasn't even touching Azriel?

She turned away from the window and crossed the room to her bed. She lay down on her back, closed her eyes, and placed her hand on her throat, gently stroking it with her thumb while recalling how Azriel had done it that night. She remembered exactly how it had felt, never forgetting the way her knees had trembled with desire and how he had easily made her soaking wet. She moved her hand from her neck to her breast, squeezing it until she gasped, imagining it was Azriel instead. She began slowly pulling up her nightgown with the other hand until it reached her stomach, drawing lazy circles around her belly button. She could feel the pressure building in her core as her heels dug into the mattress.

Her hand reached her underwear. She slipped two fingers underneath it and audibly moaned,oh she was ablaze, then rolled onto her stomach. She had never dared to say his name out loud, but here she was, screaming it into her pillow: "Azriel, Azriel, please," she whimpered. She could vividly picture him moving inside her, her hands gripping his arms, her nails digging into his biceps, drowning in his eyes, his glorious wings spread behind him and moving with each thrust. He growled, "Come for me, Love," and waves of pleasure crashed through her as she whispered, "You're mine, Azriel."

He was hers, even if it was only in her mind.

She opened her eyes, breathing heavily and sighing. Her cheeks and chest were flushed. She was still unsatisfied, but deep down, she knew the answer. What if Azriel reciprocated her feelings? What if what she saw earlier was real? Even if it was just a dream, it was a dream that made her feel alive and gave her hope. She had always been a quiet dreamer, hadn’t she? If there was even a small chance that this forbidden love could become a reality, it was certainly worth the risk. Maybe, just maybe, dreams could come true. And if they did, no matter the cost, she would choose him… Religiously.

[nikethestatue]

I feel like BB is one of those companies that is successful, but you definitely are left scratching your head wondering why. They cosign or even instigate multiple articles about their biggest seller writing a new book and then publish their financials stating that book is basically over a year away still? What a waste of drummed up excitement. They basically just nuked any real online engagement (their favorite free marketing) until the actual announcement. I don’t think many people can rehash the same Elriel stuff again and again. Or other ships for that matter too. I mean, ive been around long enough to see people re discover Az waltzing for the third time. Third. There are posts pointing that out from 2021. There is no way that their online presence isn’t picking up on fandom burnout. Or, maybe they are just that company that succeeds despite questionable practices.

I am hoping that there is SOME logic to what they are doing. I know thye've been doing February releases, but maybe they want to do something new?

I don't know and don't keep up with other big authors and their release dates, but perhaps they are looking for a time slot that's not crowded? Like, I dont know when Yarros is publishing the next book, but perhaps they want to carve something out for SJM that doesn't have 12 other big releases at the same time?

I know there is a BIG difference between the emotions of the fandom and the financials of the shareholder meeting. Shareholder don't care about shipwars and Gwynriel vs Elriel. So yesterday's meeting was obviously about money and performance, and didn't center around SJM.

I personally think that the challenge for them and for SJM right now, is how to sustain interest in ACOTAR past the next book.

And I don't know who it will happen. So whatever she is writing right now, needs to have a 'hook' for the continuation of the series. Because once we've ran out of Bat boys and Archeron girls, then what?

(My suspicion is that she is gonna end it with Aelin arriving or someone going to Erilea). But SJM needs to build all of it out.

She wrote herself into a corner with CC x ACOTAR. And I think BB know that readers werent pleased with the crossover and the book in general.

So maybe they are making her take the time and produce something decent for once?

[koriandrprincessoftamaran]

@glossamerfaerie

Thank you kindly for this. 💜💅🏽

I’ve been saying Elriel has 0 plot/appeal atp in the series. forbidden love, fake bond, & rejected bond are tropes/plot devices not plots. would be messy & not in a good way… There’s a clear divide in stories/ plot lines.

SJM would give us an aneurysm attempting to fit Elriel in all those plots/storylines. She has to CLEARLY define the magic, the mother, the caldron, & reaffirm mating bonds whilst pairing up the others & tying in everything from CC3 if “…the caldron was wrong.” If you finished CC3 & think anything the asteri or daglan do would fw the mating bond.. read the series again.

No. Even with 2 books it’d be awkward & forced. *cough like she said in that interview cough*

Elain is going to show up & show out. Just not in Illyrian leathers & that’s okay bc that’s not what SHE wants.. Azriel is going to need to confront his hatred for the Illyrian’s & in turn his self hate… his shadows aren’t the problem for those that say he hates his shadows.. a joke fr.

I cannot with the hoopla! 😂 SJM went & connected ✨ Gwyneth Berdara ✨ to 6 plots/ plot devices in the books…

Sangravah & the Caldron leg

Calanmi

Autumn Court

Spring Court

The Library under the HoW (literally an ancient library… SJM’s favorite plot device)

The Priestesses/ the Mother

Then she went & created more ways for Gwyn to be back in the story.. I could list them tho I’ll digress bc iykyk.. SJM is not subtle with her mate pairings, please be serious. Atp in her series it’s CLEAR who’s gonna end up with who.

What we should be talking about is the freaking important shit, like how the hell the “fire wielders” got to Prythian??? How many different types of fire does Lucien have in his arsenal??? That lady did NOT just make him an enchanted eye that can see glamours & spells.. cmon. These are the real answers we all need.

I’m not humble about this if it wasn’t obvious so yeah... I need SJM & her team to cut the check & announce the next book.

Anyyway, thank you again. 💜

Found this comment on Reddit. Couldn’t explain it better than this.

“It’s clear from Mist and Fury that the original ships were: Feysand, Nessian, Elucien, and Mor/Azriel. Like it’s so obvious the way she wrote Mor and Azriel; Mor even seems vaguely interested/torn about Az. Looking at interviews, SJM even talks about Elucien as a couple (eg where would they like to travel together, etc).

Flash forward to ACOWAR. For whatever reason (lack of chemistry with Az, wanting more diversity) SJM has Mor say that she prefers women. This time the Az-pining-for-Mor is more desperate/feels like a zero chance of being requited. SJM also introduces Az as a potential love interest for Elain because she loves throwing a wrench. Just because Elucien are mates doesn’t mean they’ll have it easy; SJM’s whole thing is angst. She had to throw in a love triangle to make it uncertain. This is the first couple where mate status is confirmed upon meeting.

But there’s a problem now. If Az and Mor are no longer endgame, who will they end up with? is it not suspicious that the two new characters introduced in SF (Gwyn and Emerie) just HAPPEN to be potentially be good partners for Az and Mor? Like it’s not a coincidence that Emerie looks at Mor and blushes, remarking how pretty she is. It’s not a coincidence that Az and Gwyn have so many interactions in the text. It’s not a coincidence that a “random side character” shows up in a bonus chapter.

When SJM created Gwyn and Emerie, it wasn’t just to give Nesta friends. These characters clearly didn’t exist when she wrote MAF. SJM wanted new characters that would solve her retcon of ending Az/Mor. She wanted to solve the Mor/Az retcon so bad that she created a NEW RETCON of Az going to Sangravah. Like why bother to add that detail if it’s not important.

Also: poor Lucien. His endgame heroine was supposed to be Nesta until SJM realized they would be terrible together and that Nessian had better chemistry. So she gives Elucien the mating bond. Like is she really going to fuck Lucien over TWICE? She loves him as a character and has put him through the wringer. Yes, I agree that SJM can change her mind and maybe is open to mate rejection, but Lucien has already switched love interests from Nesta to Elain! Who else is he going to switch to, considering that Jurian and Vassa are “at each other’s throats?”

Finally, please think about the number of books left. Ignoring novellas (which are probably gonna be fluffy ones like ACOFAS where nothing happens), there are two main books left. Two couples.

Option A:

• ⁠Gwynriel (Valkyrie growth, Illyrian rebellion, exploring Ramiel, Gwyn’s autumn heritage and maybe lightsinger?? powers)

• ⁠Elucien (Helion secret baby, defeating Koschei, freeing Vassa, fixing spring court)

Option B

• ⁠Elriel (mate rejection storyline, potentially some stuff above)

• ⁠?????

Literally WHO is the second book in this equation? Lucien and Vassa?? We barely know Vassa and there’s barely any connection to Night Court. And Lucien’s book is going to be depressing as fuck dealing with mate rejection; does anyone want to read two heavy books of rejection? Jurian and Vassa: again, we barely know them! At least with Tower of Dawn, Chaol had been a main character for a long time with POV. SJM will not do a full-length Emerie/Mor book as much as I would love for one. She’s very cognizant of criticism re: Mor bi rep in the past; she doesn’t want to open a can of worms and be accused of writing bad sapphic rep. If anything, I can see a fluffy Emerie/Mor novella with little angst (or them getting together in the background of other books).

So from a meta structural level, I don’t understand who the second couple will be if Elriel is endgame. Lucien/Vassa is the most plausible answer, but 1) we barely know Vassa, 2) she’s human and Lucien is immortal. So are we going to toss her into the Cauldron to make her immortal? Serious question, and 3) I don’t want TWO books about mate rejection, it’s depressing as hell. I can see one but not two.

But with Gwynriel and Elucien, you have enormous fan and audience interest in ALL FOUR CHARACTERS. They’re directly tied to Night Court and SJM so far has no intention of staying away from the core group.”

[leiawritesstories]

As I Am, 12

Summary: London, England, 1816, early spring. The opening of the Season is every year’s most anticipated event in high society, especially among the young ladies. This Season has been predicted to be one of the most promising yet, given that the debutantes include Miss Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, Misses Nesta, Elain, and Feyre Archeron, Miss Elisa Selvari, Miss Elide Lochan, and many more. Not to mention that His Grace Rowan Whitethorn, the newly ascended Duke of Doranelle, shall be in town with his companions. Where shall the Season lead? We have yet to find out, but as with all Seasons, there will be parties, promenades, dancing and dining, a profusion of flowers in each young lady’s parlour, and of course, scandal.

STORY WARNINGS: language, arranged marriages and other 19th-century problems, eventual fighting, eventual smut

Inspired quite a lot by Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice. Unknown chapter count. Characters are from Throne of Glass and ACOTAR, as well as various other characters from various other authors. I’ll credit them as they appear, and if anyone is unfamiliar, please go check out their books!

CHARACTER LIST                 MASTERLIST

Word count: 2.1k

Warnings: arranged marriage talk, implied naughty joke

A/N: there is a new character, that is all I shall say. Character belongs to SJM. I had a lot of fun writing this one. Also! Tuesday update because I’ll be traveling later this week and probably will have zero time to post stuff. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Elli! Hurry up! We haven’t got all day!” Aelin called as she hurried down the hall. 

“I am right behind you, Ae!” Elide returned, buttoning her gloves. “Do calm down, we have more than enough time to ride to the hall and find good seats.”

“I know, I know, I am just overthinking.” Aelin descended the front stairs and stepped up into the small carriage. “I have been waiting to hear this speaker since it was announced that she would visit London.”

“All of us have been,” Elide agreed, settling herself opposite Aelin. “Her book and her essays are phenomenal, I cannot wait to meet her.”

When they arrived at the hall, Aelin and Elide walked in together and found all three Misses Archeron sitting in the middle section, a handful of rows back from the stage. She waved to Nesta, who beckoned them over to that row. 

“Fancy seeing you here,” Aelin quipped.

“I would not dream of missing this day,” Nesta grinned. “Believe me, notes will be taken.”

“Your father shall never stand a chance once he has Mrs. Athalar’s arguments to contend with,” Elide smirked. 

“That is my hope,” Nesta agreed. “Even Father cannot refute what she says.”

“Nor can he claim to be benevolent while at the same time forcing an unwanted marriage upon his youngest daughter,” Feyre grumbled. 

Aelin’s head snapped to Feyre. “What?”

“You had not heard?” Feyre’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Father, in his great loving kindness, has decided that I must marry Lord Tamlin, and soon.”

“Tamlin?” Aelin’s eyes widened. “The blonde one who dresses like an American dandy?”

“That’s the one.” Feyre’s face was expressionless.

Aelin shuddered. “I do believe you have me beat for terrible arranged marriages.”

“You as well?” Elain gasped. “But I thought Viscount Galathynius was under no, er, external motivations to marry you off.”

“As far as I am aware, he is not. But Perrington, the slimy bastard, may well have blackmailed him. I would not put it past him.”

“Perrington?” Elain looked horrified. “That man is old enough to be your father.”

“Indeed. That has not stopped Father, though.”

“Stopped your father from what?” Elisa’s voice broke in. She seated herself next to Elide. “I hope I am not intruding?”

“Of course not, Elisa,” Aelin replied. “We were merely discussing the nastiness of being married off to oily old men. You are fortunate that you have not been thus afflicted.”

Elisa’s mouth dropped open. “I was not aware that you were betrothed, Aelin!”

“Certainly not of my own doing,” Aelin griped. “But yes, my father has arranged my marriage to the Duke of Perrington.”

Elisa flinched. “Dear God in heaven.”

“And my father has arranged my marriage to Lord Tamlin,” Feyre added. 

“Dear God in heaven!” Elisa repeated. 

“Exactly,” Feyre and Aelin murmured. 

The sound of someone clearing their throat turned all attention back to the stage. A middle-aged lady dressed in a simple navy skirt suit and hat clapped her hands twice. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you to this address. Our speaker is renowned around the learned world for her thoughts and writings upon the rightful education of young ladies. She is here today to speak to this point, and I am most heartened to see so many young ladies in attendance. I hope you will take her advice to heart. Without further ado, please welcome Mrs. Bryce Athalar!”

Vigorous applause greeted Mrs. Athalar as she walked onto the stage. A tall, elegant woman with rich auburn hair and golden-hazel eyes, her dress was stylish and her smile was genuine. 

“Thank you, thank you. Please, do not think you need to applaud for this long.” She took a stance at the podium, shuffling a set of notes. “Thank you so very much for inviting me to speak today. As I am sure most of you know, my name is Bryce, or professionally, Mrs. Bryce Athalar, and I speak and write on the education of young ladies. Our times are changing, our world is changing, and our young ladies must know how to advance in a  world that is evolving before their very eyes. Merely being viewed as docile little homemakers is a concept that we must move past in order to progress. Yes, making a home is a worthy calling, and ladies, if you feel called to do this, then by all means devote yourselves to this task. However, as we continually move into the future, we see more and more women with an ardent desire for education. Gentlemen, think not that this means women will usurp all of your long-held positions, for that is still decades, perhaps centuries, from occurring. What this does mean is that ladies are beginning to act upon the inmost desire of every human--the desire to know. 

“We must not shut our young ladies into a box when they express a desire to learn. We must not force them to learn only parlor skills. We must allow them to develop the flower of their minds, and this means providing a complete education. Literature, history, fine arts, and foreign languages have been accepted as subjects for every young person’s education for years; now, it is time to introduce more. Our young ladies need knowledge of the sciences, of mathematics, of commerce, of deeper subjects to properly form their minds.” Her eyes scanned the audience, noting some ripples of discontent. “For if they are unable to understand the factors driving society, however will they understand their family’s troubles?” she continued.  “However will they make intelligent, impressive conversation with their father’s or brothers’ or husband’s associates? How can we continue telling our sisters, daughters, and friends that they must be credits to society without offering them the means by which to become true credits?”

As she continued to speak, her voice rising and falling passionately, Aelin nudged Nesta. “Perhaps you might have your chance to go to a proper school yet.”

“I am afraid even Mrs. Athalar will not say outright that ladies ought to be allowed to study medicine,” Nesta murmured back. “’Twould be too controversial.”

“And what of marriage?” Mrs. Athalar questioned. “What do our young ladies deserve in a husband?” She paused for a moment. “The very best, of course. Each young lady deserves an equal, a partner who will support and bring out her many gifts and talents rather than squelch them. If this means a longer courtship, so be it. It is far preferable that a young lady turn down a suitor while she is courting than marry too soon and discover after the wedding that her husband is not her equal.”

“This must mean that she does not approve of arranged marriage,” Feyre whispered. 

“Why do you not ask her after her address?” Nesta asked. “I am sure she would love to discuss that point with you.” She tossed her youngest sister a small smile. “After all, you do have much to say about it.”

“What a wonderful idea!” Feyre impulsively squeezed Nesta’s hand. “I shall do exactly that.”

The young ladies listened to Mrs. Athalar finish her speech, applauding rousingly when she was done. And indeed, she said that she would be available for discussion following the speech. Feyre and Aelin moved into the queue of people waiting to speak with her, plotting what, exactly, to ask Mrs. Athalar.

After quite some time--and quite a number of people leaving the queue because “it was too long”--they reached the renowned speaker. They were at the very end of the line.

“Are you the last?” Mrs. Athalar asked. 

“We are,” Aelin said. 

“Oh thank goodness,” Bryce muttered. “Please do not take offense, I did not mean to be rude.”

“None taken.” Feyre smiled. “We just wanted to ask your opinion on arranged marriages, Mrs. Athalar.”

Bryce’s eyes lit up. “I had hoped someone would ask. What would you like to discuss?”

“Well, ma’am--” 

“Please, call me Bryce. I am not too much older than you, I don’t think.”

Aelin grinned. “Very well, Bryce, both Miss Feyre Archeron here and I are being married off and we do not like it.”

“And you are?”

“Aelin Galathynius.”

“Ah, the viscount’s daughter. And you are Baron Archeron’s daughter?” She turned to Feyre.

“Yes, the youngest of three.”

“How sad, the youngest sold off first,” Bryce mused. “Well. I cannot speak publicly about arranged marriages, for I would surely be cast out of polite society. I believe arranging a marriage to be outdated and horribly unjust, yet it persists. Have either of you spoken out against this?”

“Yes,” Aelin and Feyre chorused. 

“I have been pleading with Father not to let this go through since he and Mamma sprung it upon me.” Aelin took a deep, calming breath. “As of yet, nothing has been made public, but they are planning to publicize the news in two weeks, and I do not know what to do.”

“And I have been trying to help Father see that Lord Tamlin may seem admirable in public, but is in reality a disreputable, nasty piece of work,” Feyre added.

“Goodness me, whatever is the world coming to?” Bryce murmured. “I am sorry that I cannot offer you much consolation, but I can say a few things. Firstly, do not let up. If you do, you will seem to be accepting it. Secondly, you are both beautiful young ladies who are recently out, correct?” They nodded. “Well then, use that to your advantage. Dance with as many others as possible, speak with as many others as possible. Perhaps you can find someone who is willing to play the devoted suitor and make an irresistible offer to your loving but stupid fathers. And thirdly?” Bryce smirked. “Never, ever underestimate what a lady’s maid can do.”

“Whatever does that mean?” Feyre’s brows scrunched.

“It means, Feyre, that we have all the spies we could want at our homes.” Aelin was grinning. “The staff knows everything that goes on around the town; no piece of gossip would escape them, particularly not one concerning a suitor of one of the ladies.”

“So enlist their help,” Bryce said. “The best plans often happen largely out of sight, and who better to extract damning information than your very clever staff? Have the mothers or sisters or aunts or other relatives to tea. Have dinner parties. Any excuse to bring their staff and yours together and thus to find out just what skeletons live in their closets.”

Aelin grinned widely at Feyre. “Well, Miss Archeron, I do believe we must invite the Duke’s aunt and Lord Tamlin’s sister over to tea.”

“I do believe we must.” Feyre matched Aelin’s grin. “Thank you so very much, Bryce.”

Bryce nodded and waved away their praises. “It was my pleasure.” She watched them walk away and rejoin Nesta, Elain, Elisa, and Elide. “I wish you all the best in your takedown of terrible marriages,” she hummed, half to herself.

“Terrible marriages? Now that is simply unkind,” purred a smooth, deep male voice to her left. 

“I was not referring to ours, dearest, and you know it.” Bryce frowned up at Hunt Athalar, her husband of three years, who patrolled every one of her speeches for troublemakers. 

“Of course not, my love,” he smirked, linking his arm with hers, “the only thing terrible about our marriage is your hectic schedule leaving so little time for our…recreation.”

Bryce swatted him, laughing. “You are insatiable, Athalar.”

“Only for my ridiculously talented wife.”

~

“Mamma?” Aelin tapped on her mother’s sitting room door.

“Yes, Fireheart?” Evalin looked up from her desk. “What is it?”

“I was wondering…could we invite Perrington and his aunt to tea?”

Evalin raised a brow skeptically. “Why?”

“What do you mean, Mamma?”

“Fireheart, you loathe the idea of this marriage, and we know it. Why do you suddenly want to have not only the man, but also his aunt, over for tea?”

Aelin sighed. “Because I wish to see if his aunt knows any information that might help me end this ridiculous betrothal before Father makes it public.”

“Or if his aunt’s maid knows anything,” Evalin added.

“Mamma!” Aelin was utterly shocked. “However did you guess?”

“’Tis one of the old tricks, my dear. The best information comes from those who know the workings of the house.”

“Does this mean you approve?” Aelin inquired, daring to hope.

Her mother nodded. “More than that, I even want you to do this. If you had not, I would have.”

Aelin was astonished. “But I thought you supported Father’s decision?”

“Not when I began to suspect that Perrington had a motivation to get married quickly.” Evalin embraced Aelin. “We shall find out if he is using you, my Fireheart, and we shall free you.”

~

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[aldbooks]

I’m not reblogging the post because I don’t want to get pulled into the drama, same reason I don’t use certain tags.

But I can’t help but wonder why we (the fandom as a whole) keep having the same arguments over and over again. It’s very clear no one wants to concede and you’re not going to convince anyone no matter how much “canon evidence” or quotes from SJM you use.

It all comes down to this- we all have the same amount of information, which we’ve all interpreted our own way, and it’s not objectively enough to determine anything conclusively. So until SJM announces it herself - which doesn’t seem likely for a while - or we get the next book, no one knows what will happen next.

We can continue to speculate but why bother arguing? It just breeds more hate in an already toxic fandom. Just please, agree to disagree, ship and theorize as much as you want but stay in your lane, and when the next book comes out we’ll have answers

[violetasteracademic]

This! I know people are starting to wear thin. There's a lot of people gaining attention and views pretending they have information on when the book announcement is happening. Live your life, but be mindful of the content you consume. Take note if someone has repeatedly put out false information or gotten others riled up and ask yourself if you want to avoid it or join in. It's your call, but if it is affecting your mental health or joy regarding the series, or causing you to feel personal feelings or dehumanization towards the author, it might be time to hit pause. But here's some helpful info!

Standard publishing practice is announcing a book six to nine months before the book release. Sarah's team is pretty consistent in months:

House of Flame and Shadow:

Announced March 2023

Released January 2024

(9 mos)

House of Sky and Breath:

Announced May 2021

Released January 2022

(7 mos)

A Court of Silver Flames:

Announced June 2020

Released February 2021

(7 mos)

House of Earth and Blood:

Announced April 2019

Released March 2020. The initial announcement was January 2020, so this was a longer stretch. It's common for release dates to get pushed a month or so, but this one went a little longer for sure!

I know these ship wars have gotten personal, and it is affecting the wait a bit more intensely. But Bloomsbury will likely not change their operating schedule just because the fans are behaving in unacceptable and unhinged ways.

Some fun behind the scenes info (I'm crediting where I can but don't remember who found what info, feel free to let me know if I need to update!):

The Bloomsbury investors meeting that took place yesterday confirmed Sarah's book will *not* be released before February 2025, the end of the fiscal year:

Credit to @faeprincesswarrior for this find!

A few days ago, Sarah J. Maas got a new Brand Development Manager:

I'm blocking out names for privacy though the info is publicly available to you if you'd like to find it! But please respect these people and do not go harass them.

Bloomsbury UK is also making a major change in distributors April 2025. Again @faeprincesswarrior found this!

So, a lot is happening behind the scenes!! Publishing is a massive business with lots of moving parts. Not only is SJM the largest earner for Bloomsbury, but her team and distributors are getting overhauled.

If (and this is a big if, it is not my intention to suggest I know enough to assert this so please know it's the most vague of speculation) they want to have their next big release with the new distributor, it won't come out until May 2025. May is also the old Acotar release schedule! In that case, an announcement may not come until August or so. And a super gentle, tender reminder that there was almost a whole year between the HOSAB and HOSAF announcement.

Please receive this virtual hug! Breathe. Take a break if you need a break. Bullying each other online will not make the announcement come sooner, nor will harassing the Bloomsbury team. Stay kind out there and be mindful of where you get your information!! Keeping my usual Elriel tags so I don't wind up in the cross hairs 💜

just wanted to remind everyone not to get too upset about the bloomsbury update! based on previous announcement/release timelines, if there were going to be a january or february release, it likely would’ve already been announced, so they weren’t really saying much anyway 💖

[gwyns]

LOLS there’s a part in either the first book or in the cc2 spoiler (I’m not sure which one I didn’t care to check) that says something along the lines of “all the shadows left Ruhn as tension drained from him” and e🥔riels are shoving it into everyone‘s faces and shouting that it’s a confirmation that gwynriel will never happen since shadows = tension and azriel’s shadows like to hang around gwyn 👩‍🦯

Uhm firstyyy, those “shadows” were purely metaphorical (but I’m willing to let that slide because I know e🥔riels just don’t have the brains to understand that) second, azriel didn’t invent the word shadow, and third *drumroll please* ITS A WHOLE. DIFFERENT. SAGA. You know what? Why don’t they just scour through the entire tog series, or better yet just queen of shadows✨🦇🌺 and look for more proof? Gosh every time I see the word “shadow” in sjm’s books my stomach bottoms out in dread because I know the potatoes are going to be make a whole documentary about it

Those soggy french fries really have to bring their gag worthy ship into every single book. I already heard about how one of the characters in hosab talks about the “true✨mates” thingie and I also heard about the whole Bryce confirming the krusty rusty dusty court theory or whatever, and fine e🥔riels can delude themselves and pretend it’s a confirmation for their ship. But trying to drag in other ships and create strife is just obnoxious and taking it too far. It’s like they’re purposely trying to provoke everyone just because they can. Ugh

Anyway sorry for this rant. I just want to enjoy hosab in peace but the rotting potatoes always find some way to make every single book ALL ABOUT THEIR SHIP. The day they realize the world doesn’t revolve around their sinking ship that never even left the mf dock I’m going to swim naked in a pool of sharks and spend a year on snake island

first off let me applaud you anon for your brilliant word play in this ask bc it made me laugh deeply a couple of times.

moving on. I'M SO SICK OF THOSE GREMLINS INSISTING EVERY SINGLE THING SJM WRITES EVER IS SOMEHOW ABOUT THEIR STALE, BLAND ASS SHIP. IT'S NOT.

it's frustrating that we can't even enjoy a book in another series without them horning their way in and insisting they're right. as you said, i just want to be able to read hosab and have fun but i see we can't even have that bc they like to suck the life out of this fandom much like the night court does to their fave.

sarah has already CONFIRMED (putting that in caps since they love to throw this word around loosely) that we will see and learn more about az's shadows in the future. his shadows don't relate to his tension jesus christ they're dense. his shadows are actual semi sentient beings, they're not a sign of one of his emotions, and as he said himself: he IS a shadowsinger, it's not just a title. his shadows are an integral part of who he is.

it's funny bc i got an ask saying i'm blind but which group of people is completely ignoring the fact that azriel has never ONCE indicated his shadows are bad for him? or that they even care about his well being? bc i sure as hell know it isn't me or any other gwynriel.

i'm not up to date on the whole dusk court thing but uh...... doesn't that relate to bryce more than anything? bc i assume the fae that made the crossing from prythian resided there. that's just my theory however and idk if it was confirmed in the spoilers bc i don't want to look for them considering it's just a couple of hours until the book releases but isn't there a whole ass prophecy about the fae returning to their homeland once the horn is restored? aka bryce?? aka she'd be the key to EVERYTHING???

i'm so ready for this stupid ship war to be over but knowing them it won't even be over once sjm announces whoever is next, they'll keep it going until the earth implodes.

[bookofmirth]

hii! it's me again, the respectul anon lol. that's an interesting theory ab elain fooling around w az and then bonding w luc, but i just don't see the "evidence" you're talking ab, and i just reread all the books and fully studied them, and there were so little elucien interactions, in all of them elain was either ignoring him or not fully aware of her surroundings. i have, though, found plenty of elriel hints, that doesn't make them endgame, but they're def gonna be a thing. and at least the way i read it, they find comfort in each other and not in a brother sister way , the lust was mutual in the bonus, and it's obviously not just lust.

please don't think i'm trying to convince you to change your ship or anything, i just want to compare the two relationships but i didn't find enough elucien content, if you can tell me some scenes/chapters that'd be so cool!!

when that book is announced acotartumblr is gonna be WILD lmao

Hi! I can’t remember what kind of evidence I was talking about. Could be evidence for compatibility, or for interest, or for canon, idk! Between tumblr and Discord, I have talked about this book so much in the last six days 😅

I did make a post about elucien and interaction here. The tl;dr is that there isn’t evidence regarding their interaction because we haven’t had their POVs and it wouldn’t make sense for them to have a deep, meaningful talk when they are always surrounded by the IC. I go into more depth with it on that post, though. It’s quite long. I also discuss the way that people interpret her facial expressions on that post.

I understand why Az and Elain are a thing - at least, I understand how it became a thing after people forgot that that ship was born into the fandom due to fandom sexism. (Sexism that persists, btw.) One of my first ships ever was in this book, The Wind Blows Backwards, by Mary Downing Hahn. I was like 11 and omggggg I made my friend read it too and she also was squealing. Spencer was the dark, troubled, handsome boy and Lauren was the quiet, shy, bookish girl, and he had a dark past and she cared for him and - yeah, I get it. I understand the appeal of that aesthetic. 

But I think you used a telling word - hints. People say that “X thing in the book was obvious”. Well if it was obvious, why are we still disagreeing? There are tidbits here and there, and I totally get why people ship it, but I don’t understand how people think it’s obvious. I know @asilentfrenzy came into the fandom with zero idea that it was even a ship, and I’m sure others did too. 

Az’s POV was a pivotal moment that could have been used to establish that he has deep, romantic feelings for Elain. Instead, sjm decided to go a different direction. I think that’s telling! She used Wings and Embers to tell us what the relationship between Nesta and Cassian was or could be like. And now she gives us this to... tell us that he wants to have sex with Elain but quickly loses interest? 

Tumblr is going to wild, gah.... based on people’s reactions to her events yesterday when she explicitly said she won’t reveal that yet, and the way people clung to every nuance of her wording, yikes. 

[elriell]

Hii!! So I live for your theories and I’m 10000% Elriel! But I was wondering how you think SJM will announce this? Do you think she will say is an Azriel book - keep the romantic pair a secret - to please the fandom for a while a longer. Do you think she will say is an Elain’s book? Or she will - since she’s been saying one couple per book always - say is Elriel at once?

Love your posts!!

Heeeeeey bub!! Thank you so much ♡ Me too as you can probably tell hahaha

Well I would have said back in the day together like Nessian but there is a lot more cloak and daggers this time and purposeful secrets to build anticipation which I don’t get because lowkey its going to be years... I doubt holding it in will make much difference. 

Steph said she might be able to announce the next book with SJM in their next live I believe... Whenever that is. If I had to guess on the safe side, I would say she will say Elain because I think is pretty clear it is her journey but then to me at that point you might aswell say which couple...

I don’t think SJM cares to keep it a secret tbh I think it is completely Bloomsbury.

[theladyofdeath]

Rags & Riches {19}

Summary: An A Court of Thorns and Roses Fanfiction. 19th century AU. Based on the prompt sent in by @cat5313 All characters belong to SJM, I am just a fan with a plot.

Warning: Mature content strung throughout.

A/N: One more chapter (tomorrow) and an epilogue (tuesday!) left! Here’s 4000 words of....well, if i promise the last chapter to be a little lighter, does that make up for this one?....

Leave a comment to be tagged & tell me what you think! :)

Upon my Soul I can think of nothing else — The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you against the unpromising morning of my Life — My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you — I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again — my Life seems to stop there — I see no further. You have absorb’d me. - John Keats 

~~

“Wake up!”

Rhysand’s eyes opened, his vision blurry. He was staring up at a soldier he had never seen before, could barely make out the sound around him. 

Everything was muffled.

Everything hurt.

Rhysand tried to move but he cried out. A pain shot through his leg, down his spine. 

“Stay still,” the soldier ordered. “They are coming to get you, to get you help.” 

Rhysand’s heart was racing, his mind reeling.

Then the thought hit him, nearly knocking his breath away. 

“Cassian,” he said, but his voice was quiet, raspy. “Cassian.”

The soldier blinked. “Do not fear, they are coming-”

“Cassian,” Rhysand repeated, eyes wild. “Where is he? Where-Where is Cassian?”

His voice sounded far away. He could hear himself, but it was as if he was under water.

“Cass-Cassian!” Rhysand yelled, his voice hoarse. “Where is Cassian?”

Rhysand tried to pull himself up, once more. The pain was overwhelming. He made it to sitting position before vomiting, not that anything was in him, he was surely dehydrated.

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve before looking around him, frantically. With every second that passed, his vision grew clearer.

Men were everywhere. 

Scattered across the battlefield.

Very few were moving.

“Cassian!” he screamed, his voice croaking. “Where is he? Where is Cassian?”

“Soldier-”

“Where the fuck is he!” Rhysand cried, grabbing the soldier by the shoulders. “Find him, now!”

Rhysand tried to pull himself up, and screamed when he got on his feet. He pushed the pain away, his eyes wild and frantic. “Cassian!”

The nausea returned, his hands shook at his sides. Panic. He was panicking. Every face he saw, none of them were Cassian’s. 

“I need you to calm down-”

“Calm down?” Rhysand asked, with a deadly calm. “Are you fucking - where is he?! Cassian!”

Rhysand froze.

A few yards away was a soldier, lying on his side, blood soaked through his white shirt, through his torn jacket. His shoulder-length hair was tied back. He could not see his face.

“Cass,” Rhysand breathed, taking only a step before falling into the grass, over a fallen soldier. With a wail so gut-wrenching it could unsettle the dead that surrounded him, Rhysand pulled himself through the grass by his elbows, ignoring the pain that pounded through his body, until he reached the fallen soldier.

He pulled his shoulder, until the soldier fell onto his back.

Rhysand could not breathe. 

His hand shook as he reached to wipe away the dirt, the dried blood, the hair from his face.

His eyes were open. Hazel eyes, glassed over, staring up at the early morning sky. 

“Cassian,” Rhysand breathed, a sob shaking his body. “Cass-Cassian.”

Cassian did not move.

“Fuck,” Rhysand breathed. “Fuck!”

His voice was growing stronger, even within his mind. Yet, it did not sound like him. It was foreign, full of agony, full of anger, full of pain. 

“Cassian,” Rhysand cried, pulling himself over his friend. He patted his cheek, shook his shoulders. “Hey, Cass. Hey, it’s me. Wake up. It’s time to wake up. Okay? We have to go. We won. The war is over. We can go home now. Cass.” The taste of salt filled his mouth, and he knew he was sobbing, knew he was screaming, knew his voice was shaking and raw and broken. “Cass, it’s time to wake up. Time to wake up, Cass, it’s time to leave, it’s time to fucking go home. Alright? Time to fucking go home, Cass.”

Cassian did not move.

Rhysand took his friend’s face into his hands. “You have to get back to Nesta, Cass. You made a promise. You made her a promise, you fucking bastard, you made Nesta a promise, you have to wake up, we have to go.” 

Rhysand’s tears slid off his cheeks, onto Cassian’s, leaving streaks along the dirt and the blood that coated his tanned skin.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” Rhysand sobbed, gripping Cassian’s shoulders as if his life depended on it. “Help! He needs help!”

Rhysand screamed out so loudly that his throat ached, sobbed so horribly that the words were almost unintelligible. 

“Somebody fucking help him!” Rhysand wept, his face falling into Cassian’s chest.

There was no heartbeat.

“Fuck you,” Rhysand cried, fingers digging into Cassian’s jacket. “Stay together. We were supposed to fucking stay together. Come together, fight together, leave together. Stay together, Cass, I need you to wake up, you have to wake up, we have to stay together.” 

“Soldier,” a quiet voice came from behind him. “We have to bring you to medical, now.”

“I cannot leave him,” Rhysand cried. “He has to come, too, he needs help-”

“They will send him home,” the soldier said, taking Rhysand by the shoulder.

Rhysand pulled away, hanging onto Cassian’s jacket. “I cannot leave him. I will not leave him.”

“Soldier-”

“Fuck off!” Rhysand screamed, voice raw. 

“He is gone, soldier,” the soldier behind Rhysand said, gently. “He will be sent home, but for you to be alright, you need to go to medical.” 

Rhysand shook his head, face falling back into Cassian’s chest. “I will not leave him. I will not leave him!” 

A multitude of hands grabbed Rhysand and pried him off of Cassian. The distance between them grew, and no matter how much Rhysand fought, he would not win. His collar was soaked with his tears.

“Cassian,” he called out, voice fading. 

As Rhysand was dragged away, the soldier with a gentle voice reached over Cassian’s face and closed his eyelids.

As Rhysand was dragged away, kicking and screaming, Cassian looked as if he was sleeping among the bloodstained grass. 

~~~~~

It had been a week since the end of the war was announced.

Nesta, Feyre, Elain, and Azriel had not heard a word of Rhysand or Cassian. All there was left to do was wait, but the waiting was agonizing. 

There was not a day that went by that Nesta and Feyre did not stand at the window, awaiting any sort of news.

It was not until a week after the war was over that a carriage came down the drive.

“Feyre,” Nesta breathed, hiking up her skirts and scurrying from the room, Feyre close behind. They ran through the halls, down the stairs, until they were in the foyer just as Alis opened the door.

Two officials stood there. “Good afternoon, miss. We are here to see Feyre and Nesta Archeron.” 

Feyre and Nesta froze where they stood behind their maid. Nesta could not breathe.

Alis turned to face them, and curtsied, before stepping aside.

“I am Nesta,” Nesta began, stepping forward, heart pounding. “And my sister, Feyre. Come in, please.”

“We will only be a moment,” the older official stated, crossing the threshold. He met Feyre’s eyes and bowed. “I have a letter for you, from Rhysand Lunasa, your husband.”

Feyre nodded, unable to speak. She held out her hand, where an envelope was placed. She tore into it instantly, scanning the words before a sob broke from her throat. “He’s coming home. Injured, but coming home.”

Nesta wanted to hug her sister, wanted to tell her how happy she was, but no words came out. She looked to the officials. “You have something for me?” 

The younger official stepped forward. “Yes, my Lady. You were listed on Cassian Nazari’s form as his contact, this his home address.”

Nesta did not move, did not blink. She stared at the official with such intensity that she swore he balked beneath her gaze. 

From his satchel, he pulled out a smaller sack. At the sight of it, Nesta froze. 

“This is for you, my Lady,” the official said, voice soft, handing her the sack.

Nesta swallowed. “I do not understand.”

Feyre looked back and forth between the officials and her sister, down at her letter, then back up. Her face was ashen.

“My Lady, in the final moments of the battle, there were many explosions,” the official explained. “Cassian Nazari is listed among the dead.”

The official kept speaking, but Nesta could not hear him. Cassian Nazari is listed among the dead. Her hands shook, nausea roiled in the pit of her stomach. A ringing filled her ears, and before she could think to catch herself, she fell to the tile floor of the foyer. 

Everything after that was a blur.

She felt nothing.

She was hollow. Numb. Empty.

She did not remember going to her room, did not remember ignoring Feyre, ignoring the officials, ignoring Azriel or Elain. She did not remember taking the sack into her hands, did not remember locking her bedroom door behind her. 

She sat on the floor, her back against her bedroom door, staring at the canvas sack, covered in dirt. 

Cassian Nazari is listed among the dead.

The words rang through her mind, over and over again. It was not real. It could not be real. She was dreaming. It was all a horrible, meaningless nightmare.

With trembling fingers, Nesta grabbed the sack and brought it onto her lap. She untied the knot, and opened it up.

Nesta reached inside and pulled out his old, beat up copy of Keats. The binding was falling apart, the cover bent, as if he had read it a thousand times. Beyond that was the book she had given him, the poetry of William Wordsworth.

The cover was dusty, far more worn than it had been. Her note still stuck out of the middle of the book, and when she opened it up, that nausea returned. The note was crumbled at the corners. There was no telling how many times he had read it. Inside of her note was her picture, her body bare. You are a wild woman, one of whom I do not deserve, he had written her a month ago, after he had received it. A beautiful woman. A goddess.

There was more inside of Cassian’s bag, and with each item removed, Nesta could not bear it. There was an old clay pipe, a bag of tobacco, an old, dusty tunic. The last thing inside was tucked inside of an envelope.

An envelope addressed to her, still unsealed.

Nesta removed the contents, the letter, with shaking hands. 

After unfolding it, she read,

My Nesta,

They say the war will be ending soon, and nothing has ever brought me so much joy. I have endured hell, and with the end in sight, all I can think of is you. I made you a promise, one that I intend to keep. I cannot wait to see you. To hold you in my arms. To tell you how much I am completely in love with you. 

Never in my life had I imagined that I would find someone like you. You are unexplainable. A living contradiction. A woman so pure and glorious hidden behind a mask that is only lowered for me. I fell in love with you, Nesta, that first night you came down to the stables, asking me to take you into town. The request caught me so off guard that, even looking back, I cannot help but laugh. I fell in love with you as I watched you chug ale as if it were water. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you in a peasant’s cloak. I fell in love with you the moment I wrapped my arms around you as we rode into the village. 

And the first night we spent together at the lake….afterwards, Nesta, I knew I could never be with another woman, for my soul had connected with yours, and no other feeling would ever compare. 

The war is almost over. I am coming home to you soon. I made you a promise, Nesta, and I will keep that promise. I will come home to you and be yours, forevermore, if only you will have me.

I love you, Nesta.

When the world around me darkens over here, Nes, your voice, your touch, is my guide back to finding myself.

I will come home.

I promise.

Yours always,

Cassian

Nesta had not even realized that she had begun to cry until her tears fell onto the paper, blurring his signature. 

She slowly set the letter down beside her.

Slowly closed her eyes.

Then she picked up the book of Keats, and hurled it across her room. It hit the mirror in the corner, glass shattering all over the wooden floorboards.

A scream left her throat so loudly, so raw, so brutal, that it shook her walls, hurt her ears.

“You promised!” she screamed, grabbing a priceless, porcelain mare from her vanity and throwing it against the wall. “You fucking promised me, you bastard!”

She walked across the glass of the mirror, across the porcelain pieces, until she reached the book of Keats. She fell to the floor, feet splattered with cuts and blood, and tore open the book. She ripped out page, after page, after page. “I hate you,” she sobbed, her body shaking, her voice unfiltered. “I fucking hate you!”

She ripped out another page, and another, and another, until her floor was covered in the words of his favorite poet. 

“You liar!” she screamed, her throat raw, throbbing, burning. “You fucking liar, you promised, you promised, you promised.” 

The nausea took over her, the contents of her lunch being wretched from her body, atop her skirts.

Nesta wept, unable to grasp the reality she was now living. A reality in which Cassian was no longer.

She fell back, lying on top of the pages she had torn from the book, atop the glass. Her body shook, her head ached, her cheeks were wet, her heart broken and irreparable. 

Hours passed before her breathing evened, once she had cried so much that her eyes were dry and nothing was left. 

It was then that she picked herself up and undressed. She gathered his letter, his pipe, Wordsworth, and laid them on her bed before pulling his tunic over her slim frame. 

It still smelled like him.

Whiskey and tobacco.

She laid down on top of her blankets, not bothering to tend to the minor cuts on her feet. The loss of her blood was insignificant. 

After taking his pipe, and putting it, empty and unlit, between her lips, Nesta drifted into sleep. As she did, she prayed that when she woke, it would have all been just a dream.

~~~~~

They could hear Nesta screaming from her bedroom, down the corridor.

Elain wept, but Azriel did not cry.

He stood on the balcony for hours, staring out at nothing. 

Flooded with guilt. 

Cassian had saved him, but Azriel had left, and he could not save Cassian.

He did not understand loss, did not understand war, and he would not pretend that he did. He had no idea why some soldiers survived, and some did not make it back home. He did not understand why he was spared, when Cassian had not been. 

There was no point to it.

None that Azriel could see.

That night seemed to last a lifetime, a dark, endless pit filled with dread and uncertainty. The next week did not seem to feel much different. Elain and he had decided that they would go back to Illyria once Cassian returned home and was laid to rest. 

Whenever that would be.

Rhysand would be arriving soon, too, and Azriel did not want to leave without seeing his friend. 

They were walking through the pasture one morning, not long after sunrise. Elain’s arm was looped through his, her head rested on his shoulder, a hand lying protectively over her bump. 

Every minute Azriel did not spend mourning, he spent trying to soothe Elain. There was too much despair going on, and none of it was healthy for the baby. 

A cool breeze made Elain shiver, and Azriel was quickly shrugging off his jacket. “You should not be going outside without your cloak. Winter will be here before we know it.”

Elain stopped as he laid his jacket over her shoulders. “You should not be out here in only your shirtsleeves.”

Azriel raised a brow, looking down at his thin shirt. “Yes, well, I am not the one growing a human being inside of them, so my warmth matters not.”

Elain laid her palm against his cheek, eyes shining as she smiled, wistfully. The bruise on his eyebone had finally been fading, the bone reconstructing itself. His side still hurt like hell, as it would for some time. His arm was still tender. 

“What kind of world are we bringing a child into, Azriel?” Elain asked, quietly. “War and death and pain.”

Azriel pulled her into his chest. He did not have any words, because he had the same thought many times within the past week, since the officials came with the news of Cassian. Instead, he kissed her forehead. 

“If we have a son, I could not bear the thought of him going to war,” Elain whispered, against his chest. “If we have a daughter, I could not bear hearing her cry as we have heard Nesta cry.”

Nesta had hardly left her room, and when she did, she was a ghost.

Her eyes were empty, her skin pale, her cheeks swollen and red. She wore an old shirt of his.

“I do not know what the future holds,” Azriel said, truthfully, “but I do know that this baby will have two parents who are so in love with them, and that is more than some children have.”

Elain nodded, meeting his eyes and reaching up on her toes for a soft kiss.

As they began their walk, once more, a carriage was seen coming down the drive. They both stopped, and watched. It belonged to the officials.

“Is it Rhysand?” Elain asked, turning to head back toward the house.

“No,” Azriel said, staying put. “No, he would take a cab from the docks.”

Elain looked over her shoulder at Azriel. “Cassian, then?”

Azriel did not answer.

~~~~~

A soft, hesitant knock came to Nesta’s door. 

“Nesta? It’s Feyre,” the voice came, muffled through the thick wood. “The officials are here. They need you to go with them into town.”

Nesta pulled herself up from her bed and laid her hand against her bedroom door. “Why.”

A pause. “They...need you to confirm that the body they brought home...is Cassian.”

Nesta stared at the wood, unable to breathe. Breathing was a luxury, one that had grown difficult.

“I will be down shortly,” she said, words clipped.

Feyre’s footsteps sounded away and Nesta faced the mirror.

Cassian’s tunic reached halfway down her thighs, her hair was wild, tangled and loose. She did not look like herself. She looked empty. A ghost, whose soul had traveled to another world but forgot her body here on earth.

Nesta pulled a simple dress over the tunic, then her boots. After throwing on a black cloak, Nesta left her bedroom.

Once she arrived in the foyer, no one commented on her appearance, no one gave her a second glance.

“Miss Archeron?” the official at the door asked.

Nesta paid him no mind. She walked past him, out into the early morning sun, to the carriage that awaited. She helped herself inside and shut the door behind her.

A moment later, they were riding through town, the young official sitting across from her. He did not say a word to her, only looked at her with gentle eyes from time to time.

Nesta stared out the window, watching the world she had always known and never left pass her by. When they arrived in town, life was happening as it usually was. People carried on with their daily chores, their social calls. Such a life seemed so distant, so impossible. 

The carriage came to a stop and Nesta got out. She followed the official through a set of double doors, then another. 

They entered a large room lined with tables. Each table held a body, covered with a white sheet. 

The official whispered something to the coroner, who nodded and said, “This way, Miss Archeron.”

Nesta followed. Every step she took felt heavy, dreaded.

“Being Mr. Nazari’s listed contact, we ask that you confirm his identity, so that we may properly lay him to rest.”

Nesta tried to nod, although she was certain she did not. She followed the coroner to the furthest table, and when she stood by it, breath ragged, the coroner asked, “Are you ready, Miss Archeron?”

Nesta said nothing, but once again, she tried to nod.

The coroner pulled the sheet back.

Nesta finally understood the saying pale as death. His eyes were closed. It was Cassian, but it was not Cassian. No air filled his lungs. No bright, witty hazel eyes greeted her. That stupid little smirk he wore was no more. A long, deep gash went down his cheek. He was still wearing his shirt, which was soaked in dried blood. And peaking out beneath that shirt was a silver chain.

“Can you confirm, Miss Archeron?”

In response, Nesta reached to the buttons of his shirt.

The coroner took a step forward, “Miss-”

“If you stop me, I swear by the Cauldron that you will be lying on one of these tables soon,” Nesta spat.

The coroner took a step back.

She unbuttoned his shirt, halfway down, and sure enough, her locket laid against his skin, against his still chest, scratched and beaten, but perfectly intact.

He had worn it into battle. 

A sob shook Nesta’s shoulders as her fingers picked up the locket and she opened it. Nesta’s photograph on one side, Marigold’s on the other. She pressed her lips to the locket, then to Cassian’s forehead. 

She closed her eyes, her tears spilling onto his cold skin.

A moment passed, and the coroner said nothing more. He waited, patiently, silently. 

“I confirm,” Nesta breathed, voice so ruptured from screaming and crying, “that this is Cassian Nazari.” 

The coroner nodded his thanks.

“I am sorry, Miss,” the official said, stepping forward, “but I must escort you out.”

Nesta pressed her forehead against his one final time before unclasping the locket from his neck, and bringing it against her chest. 

She took a step back, and Cassian’s body was covered, once more. 

Nesta followed the official out, the locket clasped tightly in her hands. 

~~~~~

Rhysand had asked to be dropped off about a mile down the road from Archeron Manor. He did not know how he would face them all, not without Cassian.

He had written Feyre a letter describing everything, every moment he remembered from those final moments with Cassian. How he could not save him, how they could not stay together, and it was all his fault.

Cassian’s blood was on his hands.

And yet, with heavy feet, he walked that last mile. Every step was agonizing. His leg was in bad shape, his limp apparent. Shooting pains shot up and down his back every time his feet moved forward. When the Manor was in view, his chest ached. He swallowed. One foot in front of the other.

The dusty drive felt longer than it ever had. The only thing that kept him moving forward was the thought of seeing his wife.

And when he got to the steps, he climbed them, one at a time. And when he got to the doors, he knocked, three times.

Then he waited.

And when the doors opened, Feyre stood on the other side, eyes wide. She pulled Rhysand inside, into her arms.

Where Rhysand could no longer contain himself. He sobbed, angrily and violently, feeling like a child within Feyre’s arms, no matter how much his massive frame towered over her.

“I know,” Feyre whispered. “I know, my love, I know.”

They fell to the marble tile, Rhysand’s face crammed into her neck. She held onto him tightly, fiercely, as if he would break if she let go.

And perhaps he would.

His sob filled the manor, but no one came running, no one said a word. If they did approach, Rhysand did not care, he did not lift his head from Feyre’s shoulder.

They sat there, for a long while, Feyre holding onto her husband as he mourned the loss of his fellow soldier, his friend, his brother. 

Stay together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@throne-of-ashes-and-beauty @mariamuses @a-happybird @amusicalbookworm @manoncrochanblackbeak @alifletcher2012 @candid-confetti @fandoms-everywhere-united @mis-lil-red@littlehoneyybee @abillionlittlepieces @impossiblescissorspeachpaper @awesomelena555 @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter @tswaney17 @jemma-nessian-and-elriel @rhysandsrightknee @gendryaforthemasses @dayanna-hatter @thebluemartini @welcometothespeaknowworldtour @julemmaes @christiashadows @sleeping-and-books @itsme-malin @agnez312 @cat5313 @amren-courtofdreams @chemica @empress-ofbloodshed @islamonna @illyrianbeauty  @sleeping-and-books @queenofxhearts @sleeping-and-books @aedionashryver-wolfofthenorth @queenofillea1 @mynewdreamwasyou @levivlio @hellolenas @burritowithfeels @that-other-pineapple @girl-who-reads-the-books @raghad-50725@musicmaam @rowaelinforeverworld @negativenesta  @welcometothespeaknowworldtour @gloriouspaintercreatorbandit@sannelovesreading @nerdperson524 @ireallyshouldsleeprn @nerdperson524 @mariamuses @gorl-power @booklover242 @rowaelinforeverworld @regular-nessian-trash @izou1204 @aelin-rowan-whitehorn @opheliatheemerald @eversincebeirut @musicmaam @ladybookwrm​ @santas-dwynwen​ @starryandbooks​ @candid-confetti​ @avenrebekah​ @awkward-avocado-s​

[nikethestatue]

I mean this in the most genuine and curious way possible. Why the unhappiness/dissatisfaction with SJM Bloomsbury on the announcement? Why the “here’s the book, now STFU” interpretation?” Why do people think SJM is in over her head with the crossover? I know it’s annoying that SJM doesn’t communicate with readers. But the long wait was just because she had a baby. It was the same thing in 2019 when she didn’t publish anything. Not anything malicious. In 2019 they also put out a bunch of random covers and games and things to sell. They’re just making the most of a no-release year, partly to make money and maintain interest but also to give readers something fun at least. Their hands are tied, they have to wait until the book is almost done to announce something. All week people have complained they haven’t seen any official news and putting it on the website is lazy, but now they finally post it on her Instagram and people are still unhappy. SJM is probably more focused on her family life to make an Instagram post about it sooner. not all authors use social media and putting the links up a few days beforehand is pretty normal. And SJM wrote amazing plots in TOG, I believe she’s very capable of doing a good crossover. She’s clearly thought about it for a long while and I don’t for a second believe she’s “backed into a corner” so to speak. For years people wanted a crossover but when they get it, they complain that it won’t be good or it’s beyond SJM’s capacity. It seems like nothing can please this fandom and it doesn’t make sense to me.

I mean, to me, it's fairly simple.

SJM is an author and this is her JOB. However you want to look at it, she has contracts, she has an audience, we pay her, she produces a product. It's not glamorous to think of it that way, but her books are the same as an IPhone. You expect an IPhone25 and you expect news about it, updates, previews, etc. I don't see how it's different from what she is doing. Yes, she had a baby, and for that, she went on maternity leave. But she had her baby a year ago. Just like all women who go on maternity leave come back and go back to working. No one was expecting her to be writing during her maternity leave.

We live in a new world. This is not the world of 10-15 years ago. People demand information, this is Insta, this is TikTok world. This is not the world where it's okay to sit in silence for a year. Sorry, it doesnt work that way anymore. That's why people are unahppy.

She wants to be out of social media--fine. But then she is expected to have social media presence via BB or her own people. That's just how it is. And if she chooses not to, then she should expect a backlash.

I also think it's in bad taste to put an unannounced book out there, price it, and then make an announcement a week later. Also, price it INCORRECTLY on top of everything else.

It looks unprofessional, sloppy and just kind of slapped together, to shut the fandom up. Normal authors/companies will have some kind of countdown, announcements, build up of excitement. Here, it's just so assumptive, like 'of course they'll buy it!' attitude, which no one wants to experience.

People want to be appreciated. Fandoms are volatile and lively places. Always have been, always will be. No one wants to have their loyalty and interest taken for granted.

I think that's why people are upset about how everything has been unveiled.

About the crossover-- i can't speak to that--i am fine with it. I am sure some people arent too keen on it, but I am curious about it.

[goforwardgreenwriter-blog]

The Worm Reads: The Assassin’s Blade, Ch 1-2

Book: The Assassin’s Blade

Author: Sarah J. Mass

I chose to do this book because I’ve barely seen anyone critical of T0G talk about this book. I remember relatively liking it when I first read it, but I also liked Q0S on my first reading, so well. You all know how well that turned out. So let’s dive back into hell!

First, I wanna point out the cover of this novel uses the exact same model as T0G for Celery but throws a shitty purple cloak over her.

That’s totally not lazy at all! And it totally doesn’t add to my suspicion that The Ass’s Blade was rushed out to make a quick buck, nope nope! Also I only wish I could have a thigh gape that big, holy smokes Celery, eat some carbs.

This prequel book is made up of several short novellas before the events of the first book. The first one is Celery and the Pirate Lord.

Seated in the council room of the Assassins’ Keep, Celaena Sardothien leaned back in her chair. “It’s past four in the morning,” she said, adjusting the folds of her crimson silk dressing gown and crossing her bare legs beneath the wooden table. “This had better be important.”

Oh god, we’re back when Alien was Celery.... Well, tbh, they’re one in the same, Alien just splooges about herself more often. Who knows, maybe this book will change that.

“Perhaps if you hadn’t been reading all night, you wouldn’t be so exhausted,” snapped the young man seated across from her.

Love how Celery is a supposed badass uhmayzing assassin, but she stays up all night reading as opposed to... training? Getting some rest for missions? Anything that might not hinder you in your job?

[Celaena] ignored him and studied the four other people assembled in the underground chamber. All male, all far older than she, and all refusing to meet her stare.

Jesus Christ, it begins already. Of course they’re all older than her. Normally this wouldn’t bother me all that much but it’s SJM, so I’m immediately suspicious. Also Sam is in the room and he’s just barely a year older than her, how is that “far older than her”???

When Arobynn summoned you, you didn’t keep him waiting. Thankfully, her sleepwear was as exquisite as her daytime wardrobe—and cost nearly as much. Still, being sixteen in a room with men made her keep an eye on the neckline of her robe. Her beauty was a weapon—one she kept honed—but it could also be a vulnerability.

Just... this entire paragraph. I wish SJM would stop playing into the notion all men are dangerous rabid beasts who can’t control themselves and just wanna rape every woman they lay eyes on. It doesn’t even make sense here, Celery knows all of them and aside from creeper Arobynn, none of them have ever sexually harassed her so why is she suspicious? And gotta that lowkey sexism implying that all beautiful women are delicate flowers who can’t look after themselves.

“Gregori’s been caught,” Arobynn finally said. Well, that would explain one person missing from this meeting. “His mission was a trap. He’s now being held in the royal dungeons.” Celaena sighed through her nose. This was why she’d been awakened? She tapped a slippered foot on the marble floor. “Then kill him,” she said.

Man, Celery is... actually acting like an assassin? I mean, when you’re an assassin, the mission takes top priority. I wonder how long that’ll last, though.

She’d never liked Gregori, anyway. When she was ten, she’d fed his horse a bag of candy and he’d thrown a dagger at her head for it.

I mean yeah, that’s really sadistic. She’s a literal child and he tried to murder her? Granted SJM destroys what little sympathy I have by then explaining Celery caught the dagger and threw it back, giving him a scar on his cheek. Even when she was a literal child, she was the best assassin evah. Gag me.

“Kill Gregori?” demanded Sam, the young man seated at Arobynn’s left—a place that usually went to Ben, Arobynn’s second-in-command. Celaena knew very well what Sam Cortland thought of her.

Sam is the only other young character in the room so yeah, obviously he’s gonna be her love interest for this book. Henceforth, they do nothing but bicker for the first 70% of the novel.

The location of the Assassins’ Keep was a well-guarded secret, one she’d been trained to keep until her last breath. But even if she didn’t, no one was likely to believe that an elegant manor house on a very respectable street in Rifthold was home to some of the greatest assassins in the world. What better place to hide than in the middle of the capital city?

So you’re saying literally no one questions who owns this huge fancy elegant place? That the king never goes, “Huh, someone who has wealth to rival mine has a huge ass manor right in the middle of the Capital” and he never checks it out? Nobody questions it? Okay.... if you say so......

The firelight cast the smooth, elegant panes of Sam’s face into light and shadow—a face, she’d been told, that could have earned him a fortune if he’d followed in his mother ’s footsteps.

Considering that his mother is a courtesan...... gross. Stop sexualising your characters so much, please.

Turns out, Ben was also killed. Oh no, not the guy we literally never met before! Celery is pissy that they didn’t retrieve his body.

“If we’d grabbed his body,” Sam said, refusing to back down from her glare, “it would have led them right to the Keep.” “You’re assassins,” she growled at him. “You’re supposed to be able to retrieve a body without being seen.”

I mean, you should be able to retrieve a body given that you’re assassins, but eh, who am I kidding, I care little for the conflict of Retrieving Ben’s Body.

Since Arobynn is apparently the only mature guy in the room, he tells them to stop acting like children.

Sam kept his gaze on the floor as he strode to the far side of the council room. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the stone wall. She could still reach him - one flick of her wrist, and his throat would spout blood.

Holy shit, Celery, that’s murder!!! Like Sam just disagreed with you, that doesn’t warrant you imagining yourself slitting his throat!!! How the fuck are they gonna end up in love I have no idea.

Celery throws a pity party for herself and stomps off to retrieve Ben’s body. Sadly, she does not perish while doing so, and Chapter 2 begins.

Two months, three days, and about eight hours later, the clock on the mantel chimed noon. Captain Rolfe, Lord of the Pirates, was late.

Given that the actual Pirate Lord story begins here, the first chapter was, you guessed it, utterly pointless and could’ve been cut altogether.

Celaena, concealed behind a far-too-stuffy black cloak, tunic, and ebony mask, rose from her seat before the Pirate Lord’s desk. How dare he make her wait!

How dare the entire world not bend over backwards to accommodate Celery and her agenda! Fuck you.

“With every minute he makes us wait,” Celaena said to Sam, the mask making her words low and soft, “I’m adding an extra ten gold pieces to his debt.” Sam, who didn’t wear a mask over his handsome features, crossed his arms and scowled.

???? So why is she wearing a mask??? Does she have a pimple she’s embarrassed of??? Why???

Neither of them had been particularly happy when Arobynn announced that Sam would be sent to the Dead Islands with Celaena. Especially when Ben’s body—which Celaena had retrieved—had barely been in the ground for two months.

So how did she, a skinny sixteen year old, possibly carry a thirty year old man’s body and do it discreetly enough when the place was supposedly swarming with royal guards? How convenient that the first chapter ended so SJM didn’t have to explain this.

She raised her brows, but realized he couldn’t see. The mask and clothes were a necessary precaution, one that made it far easier to protect her identity. In fact, all of Arobynn’s assassins had been sworn to secrecy about who she was—under the threat of endless torture and eventual death.

Wait a minute, what the fuck? What the fuck... why...

Okay, I’m gonna do lay down for a bit, scream out my frustrations, the like. I’ll be back in a bit.

Alright.

What the fuck?? So you’re telling me she’s a famous assassin who uses her real name?? That her face is so recognizable she has to wear a mask??

THAT’S NOT HOW ASSASSINS WORK!!! The whole point of being an assassin is that nobody knows your real identity, you’re supposed to hide your name so you don’t get caught!!!! If you’re a famous assassin, you’re probably known by like, a cool nickname that isn’t your fucking name!! This makes no goddamn sense!! My assassin rebel leader from my dinosaur WIP is facepalming at what a dumbass Celery is.

All that the world knew about Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, was that she was female. And she wanted to keep it that way. How else would she be able to stroll the broad avenues of Rifthold or infiltrate grand parties by posing as foreign nobility?

So is her face a giveaway or not?? She can’t show Rolfe her face, but she can stroll down the street and go to parties without concealing her face? This is beyond fucking stupid.

Rolfe shows up, and Sam demonstrates that he’s the only character with a brain in this novel.

Sam stood, bowing his head slightly. “Sam Cortland,” he said by way of greeting.

Meanwhile, Celery just fires sarcastic and ‘witty” quips one after another.

Rolfe’s eyes gleamed with the challenge. “You’re in my city, and on my island.” Only a handbreadth separated them. “You’re not in any position to give me orders.”

Slay her Rolfe!!! I stanned Rolfe in E0S, I’m gonna stan him here, because he is as sick of Celery’s bullshit as I am.

With two deft flicks of his wrist, Rolfe sliced open both envelopes with a letter-knife she somehow hadn’t spotted. How had she missed it? A fool’s mistake.

Lmfao, what a noob. Maybe if Celery wasn’t busy stuffing her nose up her own ass, she’d notice important shit like that.

Rolfe reads the letter which details Arobynn asking Rolfe for some slaves, and at least Celery has the decency to be disgusted by that. Strange that she was the capacity to care about someone other than herself, but I’ll at least give her points for that.

[Rolfe] pointed toward the door. “I have two rooms prepared for you.” “We only need one,” she interrupted. Rolfe’s eyebrows rose suggestively.

I mean, gross to sexualise your characters even more, but Celery does realize saying they only need one room does sort of imply she and Sam are a thing, right? Like she gets so pissy that Rolfe interprets it that way, but like, it does lowkey sound like they’re an item therefore she doesn’t mind sharing a bed with him? Whatever, who cares.

Celery wants to punch Rolfe in the dick but doesn’t and the chapter ends. So begins another tidal wave of absolute bullshit.....

[fae-fucker]

Zenith: Chapter 27-28

Chapter 27

We’re back with Valen. It’s all dark darkness and vengeance will be his and he’s sad his sister is dead. That’s all his character is, really.

Has a dead sister

Is an Artiste

Dank darkness

Really wants vengeance

Is there anything else? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to smash that like button and subscribe to my channel for more tired witticisms. 

Valen hears a sound outside and:

With trembling limbs, Valen reached up and gripped the bars on his cell door, then pulled himself up so he could peer out through them.

So ... you’re telling me that ... the guards also sit in complete darkness? Just to fuck with the prisoners? Because Valen can’t wank on and on about the DAAHKNESS if this whole time there’s been a window in the cell unless the corridors outside are also completely dankly dark. 

Whatever. Valen sees Dex, whom he describes as a “star-covered man” because gotta get that SJM juice somehow and we all know SJM has a hard-on for stars. He then sees Andi, standing in the DAAAHKNESS with her super-duper high tech GLOWING CUFFS PLEASE NOTICE THE GLOWING CUFFS SHINSAY WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS HARD SCI-FI WORLDBUILDING. 

We get another predator comparison because Shinsay has the collective creativity of an old banana peel, and Valen describes Andi twice within 2 paragraphs, using pretty much the same words, because fuck you.

Andi slices the guard’s arm off with her cool electrical whip, and for a man who hates Andi, Valen sure takes his sweet time describing how cool and badass and dangerous she is. I mean, who cares about character consistency when you have a protag whose ego you have to stroke every five seconds? The reader is never smart enough to think she’s badass based on her actions, you simply MUST describe everything she does as badass!

Androma Racella wasn’t an angel.

She was death incarnate.

Ok.

Chapter 28

There’s an alarm and Shinsay uses the word twice within two sentences because get fucked. 

Valen doesn’t want to get out, because who cares about realism when your character is such a spooky scary space pirate that even torture victims would rather continue get tortured and dying slowly instead of getting saved by her?

It makes too much sense!

Apparently Valen leaves a trail of blood as he crawls backwards. How is he not dead yet?

He was a shadow of the person she’d once known, but he was still a Cortas—a living fragment of Kalee.

I’m pretty sure that’s not how genetics work, Androma. 

She uses this to motivate herself to save Valen, and it makes her feel like a Spectre again.

She knocks Valen out with a knock to the noggin so she and Dex can drag him out (obviously Valen’s already critical condition will not be worsened by blunt force trauma, because this is video games and research is hard when you’re a vapid booktuber and a mediocre YA author), while also doing cool combat against six armed guards, because Dex taught her one-handed swordfighting that one time. Insert Skyrim+masturbation reference here. 

I mean yeah. Sure. Whatever. At this point I’m too tired to even say anything. 

I will, however, mention that Valen smells “rotten.” Are we absolutely sure he’s not dead?

She gripped her short-whip tight, imagining it was one of her swords, already seeing the way she’d slice it through tendons like a blade carving through raw meat.

Hey, uh. Not to spoil your fun or anything, but I’m like 99.99% sure that using a whip is uuuuuh completely different from wielding a sword? But what do I know, I’m not a ko0le spays pie rut. 

They sprang, their two bodies moving in one single motion, Valen still between them.

Hey, uh, sorry to interrupt again. Just a quick note: Can you maybe put Valen down to dispatch the guards and then pick him up when you’re done? Since you’re such COOL BADASSES, wouldn’t it be quicker to just kill the guards first and then get Valen, instead of ... carrying the guy between you, severely impairing both of your abilities? 

Then again, I guess neither Dex nor Andi have to suffer any sort of consequences and any handicap just makes them stronger, so hell, pick up the other two guards you killed. Carry three dudes! Fling them around like a flesh-tornado! 

Andi’s whip flashed in a glorious arc [...]

Uh-huh.

Andi does some Cool Flips and then a bit of her hair gets singed, which sends her into a murderous rage, because priorities.

Andi gets stabbed in the shoulder and barely reacts before yanking the knife out (fucking dumbass) and charges blindly at more guards, blinded by more murderous rage (she’s like, on her third layer of murderous rage at this point), leaving Dex and Valen alone and defenseless, apparently. My eyes were rolling over as I read this so I have no idea what happened. 

Dex decides to throw Valen’s unconscious body at the guards. 

...

...

...

Honestly, the fact that I’m still reading this fucking book is an insult to my intelligence. I should be doing better things. I should be writing. I should be enjoying an episode of Aggretsuko. I should draw yet another OC of mine.

Instead, I’m reading about a bounty hunter who just threw his unconscious, heavily bleeding, heavily damaged ward who most likely has a serious concussion down one flight of stairs. 

But hey, at least it’s not twenty flights of stairs, right? No, that’s literally in the fucking book.

The guy was unconscious. No harm done unless he died on the descent—it was only one flight of stairs, not twenty.

Obviously, being unconscious makes people invulnerable. Unless they die. 

I don’t want to insult the authors, but either Lindsay and Sasha are extremely fucking stupid, or they think you are. Pick your poison.

Also I just noticed. Each and every chapter has big letters announcing which POV we’re in at the beginning, but they’re rendered completely useless when we switch POVs mid-chapter anyway, without anything but context clues telling us who we’re following this time.

Top-notch editing, lads.

Anywhoo, they fight through the guards and meet up with Soy. 

Who promptly shoots them both.

I wish she shot them to death, but even if the chapter ends all dramatically and we’re supposed to be shocked, this is just chapter 28, and I remember Soy mentioned she can bring people back to life. 

The end is nowhere in sight, fuckos! 

[robiok]

TOP 5 Settings We Would Like To Visit Pick #4: PARASOL PROTECTORATE SERIES i.e. SteamPunk Paranormal Victorian London

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ME:

1.  I’m a history buff: when you ask me WHERE I wanna go I reply ‘you meant WHEN right? As in Time Travel options right?

So, expect this historical thing to come back.

Case in point: this pick.

WHY DO I WANT TO VISIT THIS SETTING?

Parasol Protectorate is a 5 books series by Gail Carriger that takes place in Victorian time, most times in London (mostly, not necessarily)  in a world where the paranormal is first REAL and second PUBLIC.

Once again I can’t go deeper into the magic system but know that in this books some lords are humans and some are werewolves and vampires. There’s also Ghosts and of course, Alexia Tarabotti.

If you are a fan of the Regency-Victorian eras, with their fashion, society and mentality I would say this series is an excellent choice. The author has great knowledge of the time in all the above mentioned areas and a style that beautifully lends to the illusion you are actually reading from the perspective of someone living in this time.

Alexia is a character that slowly grew on me, I adore the romance and Lord Maccon (not in book 3 at least until the end…Blameless is my least favorite in the series and I could have done without it but now that it’s out of my way I have great hopes for the next 2 books in the series!)

It’s a series that’s full of irony, humor and representation and on this topic: if someone is capable of give me representation in a Victorian book, regardless of the paranormal element I may add, what excuses have those author that pretend it’s impossible in their much more flexible fantasy? Just casually looking at some undeservedly revered authors…yes I’m shading SJM.

And I’m so right.

 So, this is why it’s a great place (and time) to visit: the fashion, the drama and the paranormal. What can you ask more? And the love interest is a SCOT! Imagine his sexy accent! I am, and drooling.

But…

WHY IS IT A HORRIBLE IDEA TO VISIT?

Well, first: I’m italian and we were not appreciated in England at the time apparently. Alexia is only half italian and yea, it’s not easy.

Second, werewolves and vampires?

Also weird scientific cults.

Oh, and corsets. In general I’m a woman and that means that it’s always gonna be the wrong time period for me but mostly, corsets.

Here goes the synopsis for book 1, Soulless:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations.

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire--and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

IMPORTANT LINKS

My Goodreads

Thelma’s Goodreads

My Soulless review

My Changeless review

My Blameless review

My The Strange Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t review (Novella 0.5)

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PLEASE CHECK #BOOKDRAGON’S TOP 5 AND #BDT5 FOR MORE!!

[haleyfury]

May fortunately brought plenty of books, bookish happenings, and some of my all-time favorite blog posts! I’ve been officially done with my sophomore year of college for about 4 weeks now, so it’s been really fun to devote more time to all the bloggish things and of course, reading.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli | 4/5 Stars

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman | 3.5/5 Stars

Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman | 5/5 Stars

A Court of Frost & Starlight by Sarah J. Maas | 4.5/5 Stars

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella | 3.5/5 Stars

the witch doesn’t burn in this one by Amanda Lovelace | 3/5 Stars

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo | 5/5 Stars

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | 4/5 Stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid | 4/5 Stars

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith | 5/5 Stars

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian | 5/5 Stars

I’m happy to have read 11 books this month. I did find some new favorites this month, including Girl Out of Water, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Stay Sweet. It was also fun to jump back into the ACOTAR world with ACOFAS. While I didn’t dislike any of the above books, I admit that I was let down by a few. For example, I had trouble connecting to Gayle Forman’s I Have Lost My Way and I found myself dragging through Obsidio a bit. However, I’m still happy about this reading month, especially since I read a lot of books that have been sitting on my TBR!

A Quiet Place- It’s an understatement to say that I am not a scary movie fan. Give me all the movies with Reese Witherspoon or Julia Roberts, please. However, my sister, a big horror movie fan, and Twitter as always convinced me to go see A Quiet Place. I can now officially say that I have a favorite scary movie because I loved this one! While it was scary, I’d classify A Quiet Place as suspenseful instead. I loved the use of sound and the cast, as expected with Emily Blunt and John Krasinski alone, was phenomenal.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine S3-5- As you might be able to tell from what I read, coming home for the summer allowed me to reunite with my local library. This meant that I could finally borrow seasons 3 and 4 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and continue on watching one of my new favorite TV shows. I am now all caught up with Brooklyn Nine-Nine (yes, the wedding was adorable, but why isn’t anyone talking about Holt’s cliffhanger), and I am so excited for this show to continue on NBC!

Reviews

Empire of My Tears: Empire of Storms Reread Discussion

College YA Meets 90s TV: Finding Felicity 

Tower of Feels: Tower of Dawn Review

Leah on the Offbeat Review ft. Unique Blogger Award

A Court of GIVE ME MORE: ACOFAS

If I Went to Nebraska: Girl Out of Water

The Way I Love This Book: The Way You Make Me Feel

Top Five Wednesday

Making My TBR Bigger

Current Non-Bookish Favorites

Authors I Need More From

Books as Summer Events 

Other Fangirl Fury Writings

Escaping the Hype: How to Find Non-Blog Book Reccomendations

Monthly Reccomendations: BookTube Made Me Do It

I’m a Moody Reader and Proud: Monthly TBR Discussion

Book Con Survival Guide for the Best Weekend

Where’s My New Bookshelf? Most Anticipated Summer 2018 Releases

My Beach TBR

I had the pleasure of writing a guest post over at Literary Sea this month! Jeanine and I are both huge SJM fans, so it was fun to talk about Throne of Glass on her blog:

BUT THEY’RE ALL MY FAVORITE: Throne of Glass Ranking

Sarah J. Maas’s first adult fantasy series-It seems that 2019 is going to be another amazing year for SJM and her fans, as Sarah will be coming out with her first adult fantasy book in a new series, Crescent City. One of my best bookish friends and I will read anything SJM writes, and you better believe we were both freaking out with this news. We actually both sent each other SJM’s announcement post around the same time before having the following conversation:

I bought my first book sleeve- Since I’m doing a bit of traveling/commuting this summer and you know that this reader never goes anywhere without a book, I figured it was time to get my first book sleeve. I live in fear of damaging my books in my bags, especially when I was moving out of my dorm this year, so I already love the added protection of book sleeves. I ordered mine on Amazon (I quickly fell in love with this fox and floral print), and it holds “average” and even some XL size books. Gettingbookish candles and pillows is definitely next on my bookish swag list, and I definitely want to check out more sleeves from Book Beau and other retailers at Book Expo and Book Con.

Book Expo and Book Con 2018- Speaking of Book Expo & Book Con, it’s highly likely that as you’re reading this post, I’m running around one out of these conventions. This week I’ll be attending my third Book Con and my first-ever Book Expo! Book Con is truly one of my favorite weekends of the year, and I’m fulfilling one of my bookish dreams by getting to attend Book Expo. Expect experience posts within the next two weeks! If you’re attending Book Con or any conventions this summer, be sure to check out my survival guide above!

What did you read or watch this month? What are your bookish plans for the summer? Share in the comments!

Reading, Writing, & More Reading: May Wrap Up May fortunately brought plenty of books, bookish happenings, and some of my all-time favorite blog posts! I’ve been officially done with my sophomore year of college for about 4 weeks now, so it’s been really fun to devote more time to all the bloggish things and of course, reading.

[nikethestatue]

Do you think SJM will chicken out in Elriel because of all the hate that ship gets online? Like it’s so dumb because I feel like those “fans” don’t even actually care about the plot making sense. They just want their perfect, quirky little Gwynnie to get Az. Even though he’s apparently too fucked up to be with Elain, but Gwyn is perfect and will fix him. Sometimes I get worried that part of the reason the book hasn’t been announced yet is because SJM is switching the book up and making it either an Elucien or Elriel book and trying to make the plot work with what’s been set up outside of Elriel (which isn’t a lot).

No, not at all. And nothing will be announced. BB absolutely do not care about any announcements and seeing how little they are doing to promote CC2, it will be even worse for ACOTAR 5.

CC2 has virtually no promos and SJM herself is only doing one pre-recorded Q&A, where you can't even ask questions. That's all. That's all that's been announced. Why? Because BB doesn't need to spend money or effort on promoting SJM since they know she'll sell like crazy.

With ACOTAR 5, she can copy the phone book or rewrite 3 Little Pigs and people will still massively preorder and buy it. There is absolutely no need for BB to hurry with any announcements, because they already know that the interest is there. They won't confirm anything, because why bother? They are making hand over first on licensed art and other stuff.

SJM doesnt need to do anything and certainly not sit there and rewrite the entire planned story. She already did it with Nessian (changed the setting, but obviously not the couple), and she is not going to go through that with Elriel. There is also a personal challenge for her to make all the antis fall in love with Elain--you better believe she is going to do it. And you are right--the 'fans' don't give a shit about the plot. They just want Gwyn with Azriel for whatever bizarre reason. And SJM is not going to be like, OMG, I need to make Gwynriels happy, so I'll just scrap everything that I planned for the past 10 years, so they are pleased with me. Right.