#Which Courts do you think would support Queen Nesta?

[blackgrnger]

Aren't we all tired of reading how Nesta escapes the night court, marries Eris, and they live happily ever after?

Hotd au (almost)

Make this the start of a future war. Rhys is obviously preparing to conquer the entire kingdom and become King, Nesta knows this, and Eris probably suspects it. Years later, the political climate is tense and clearly divided, but there is not a single High Lord with enough power or willing to go against Rhysand in his inevitable rise to power. Eris is powerful, but he knows, Nesta, even though she is powerful, never reached her maximum, and only she would be capable. Nesta denies it, she has no desire to be Queen, she has children, and she has no desire to go to war again.

But again, the political climate is already set, whether she is the center of the war or not, Nesta is not an ally. And when one of Rhys and Feyre's children kills one of Eris And Nesta's children, she swears, she will make a crown for herself from the bones of Rhysand and his nephew.

[nikethestatue]

I wanted to write about something else, but as I started digging deeper, I didn't feel that my case was well-supported, and therefore, I won't write the meta.

Now, of course the investigation led me down the rabbit hole of ACOSF.

And my god, does it help to unlearn some of the things that we keep repeating and which aren't necessarily true, by actually reading the text 'raw'. Without any agenda.

Anyway, there are some very interesting things that stood out to me as I was reading the latter part of ACOSF today. First of all, I remembered how much I actually love it. I know. I know. Everyone is an ACOSF hater but I actually loved the book when I first read it and I apparently, still really like it. That aside, here are some of the more interesting things that jumped out at me, especially in light of HOFAS and the information that it offered.

To put the arguments down once and for all:

YES, there is a TRAITOR in the IC. Or, at least a potential traitor.

p. 722

"You kill me," Nesta gasped, "and you don't get the Trove. You'll never find it."

"There are others in your court as delusional as you are. They'll get it for me one way or another, with the right incentive. Granted, I'll need your blood to unlock the wards of the Trove."

What is interesting is that after Nyx's birth, Mor winnowed ALL THREE Trove items to their proper places. Which means that she can at least touch them.

There is also a drop of blood on Truth Teller for when Azriel nicked Nesta's finger to bind the Trove objects to her blood.

Interesting.

2. Both Bellius and Briallyn repeatedly called Gwyn a 'half-breed'. A half breed of what? And why would it matter? When it comes to her nymph blood, that seems like just a drop in a bucket, and therefore wouldn't make sense to call her a 'half-breed' just because she is a quarter nymph. Everything indicates that she is otherwise a normal High Fae. So, why does it matter, especially to Bellius, who is Illyrian? It really jumped at me that they kept repeating this 'title'. They didn't even bother with her name, not once. Just called her a 'half-breed'. So, what is the 'half' in Gwyn? The only other famous half-breed that I can think of is Rhys, who is truly half-Illyrian and half-High Fae.

3. It would seem that BOTH Rhys and Feyre are Starborn, as is Nyx.

"The baby, whom Rhys and Feyre named Nyx, was as beautiful as anyone could ever dream a baby to be. Dark hair, with blue eyes that already glowed with his father' and mother's starlight, offsetting the light tan of his skin." (p. 740)

4. Nesta could Make and Un-make things and beings. Without any Trove objects, but with the sheer power of her being. We, of course know, that she Made the House and all the weapons and the bracelets. But, she also UNMADE Braillyn. She didn't just kill her. She Unmade what the Cauldron Made Braillyn--which is a crone--she brought her back to her young and beautiful self, and then she destroyed her.

This raises the question of Elain's powers and whether she possesses something similar? Can she UNMake a bond? Can she Unmake a curse? Can she Unmake death?

It also raises the question of whether the sisters' powers equal those of the Cauldron?

5. I think that Nesta WILL BE Queen. Of what, I am not sure. However, I think that the two foreshadows (not to mention her title of Queen of Queens) is the vision that Lanthys showed her, of the two of them ruling the world made of pure magic, but also this exchange:

"You could've ruled the world with your power," he said carefully.

"I don't want to rule the world." Her eyes were unguarded in a way he had never seen. Mate, she had called him.

"What do you want?" Cassian managed to ask, voice rasping.

She smiled, and damn if it wasn't the loveliest thing he'd ever seen. "You."

"You've had me from the moment you met me."

She tucked a strand of hair behind an arched ear. "I know." p. 742

6. Which leads me to my final point.

Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who claims that Nessian would be broken apart, that they are not true mates, that Nesta doesn't like him, that Cassian doesn't love her are certifiably insane.

I think what people remember is the smut in ACOSF, but reading it closely, you quickly realize that it is a book of love and devotion. Of great love. Of love that doesn't need the words 'I love you' actually. This is a book of stunning emotions. And I wish people would reread it and get their heads straight.

Other things I picked up: Koschei can winnow others. Which means he can control the environment beyond the lake.

I think there are some other things that I noticed that contradict some long-standing opinions, but I'll leave it for another time.

[litnerdwrites]

So Nesta might also have second hand trauma...

+ Elain is a hypocrite.

“I went into the Cauldron, too, you know. And it captured me. And yet somehow all you think of is what my trauma did to you.”

This quote has rubbed me the wrong way since I read ACOSF for the first time. I reblogged and responded to a post by @simmanin where I discussed how Elain is a hypocrite for this line, since the IC have never considered what Nesta's trauma did to her. That was one of two thoughts I had regarding this quote, the second being how Nesta's reaction seems completely logical.

I think Nesta's response to Elain wanting to search for the Cauldron to be a form of real trauma caused, not only by her mother, her father's neglect, the cauldron, turning fae, the war and the shit ACOSF put her through, but also the trauma faced by Elain. This is a form of trauma called Secondary traumatic stress disorder.

Secondary trauma is most common in health care workers and mental health professionals, as well as others who help and deal with other people's trauma on the regular. This, to me, makes complete, logical sense. If you're exposed to so many traumatic experiences, even if it isn't directly, on the regular, then it makes sense that your mental health would also suffer for it.

There have been cases in which a person goes through trauma, and their family members, like siblings, develop secondary trauma as a result. Moreover, it's natural for any form of trauma to affect a person's relationships with friends and family, which we see happen to Nesta in how she distances herself from even Elain.

It makes complete sense that Nesta, who has set herself up as Elain's protector their whole life, and acts as more of a mother figure to her, would develop some form of secondary trauma when she almost loses Elain, or watches Elain endure suffering when shoved into the cauldron.

It wouldn't be far fetched for a parent/sibling to develop a form of secondary trauma after almost losing their child/sibling, in an accident or at the hands of another human being. So why is it that nobody considers that Elain's kidnapping caused even more trauma for Nesta.

While I'm not trying to say that it should come before Elain's trauma and experience, it also isn't okay to discount and overlook Nesta's just because her coddling of Elain is considered a bad trait. It isn't good that Elain is coddled like a child, but using it as an excuse to disregard the obvious traits of trauma that Nesta is showing is unfair to her, and just another example of Elain, perhaps unknowingly in regards to secondary trauma, thinking only about Nesta's trauma is doing to her. How she's upset by the way Nesta handles it, rather than considering that Elain's support is the one Nesta needs the most.

Nesta spend her whole life feeling like a failure. To her mother. Her grandmother. To Feyre. To Amren. To the court. Nesta grapples with feelings of self worth and views herself as a failure for being unable to protect those she loves so fiercely, which greatly affects her mental health and is a huge factor in driving her to want to commit suicide. The only thing she didn't feel like she failed at, was protecting Elain. Until the cauldron. Until Hybern. Until they were dragged into a war that Nesta wanted no part of, but got involved with because of Feyre's request and Elain's insistence.

Nesta tried to give to Feyre what Feyre gave to her in that cabin when she allowed her to use their home (despite Feyre's friends accosting her for issues that aren't theirs to address or comment on), and even then, she feels like she failed when the mortal queens turned traitor. Failed to make it up to Feyre, failed to protect her people, and when Hybern came, failed to protect Elain.

Now, for Elain to not only reinforce those negative feelings, but dismiss Nesta's traumas entierly, from the moment the war ended, is cruel. Elain is a hypocrite. She is a hypocrite who was quick to abandon the one person who's been in her corner for her entire life. While there are clearly issues between Elain and Nesta that need to be sorted through, especially in regards to how Elain is coddled and borderline infantilised by her Nesta, discrediting Nesta's trauma, the way she's accused of doing to Elain despite how Nesta sacrificed her own healing just to be by Elain's side and get involved in the war, again, at Feyre's behest, is not how you go about it.

Nesta appears to have a form of secondary trauma that stems from Elain's own traumas, and she's not the only one. I think tamlin's actions stem from a form of secondary trauma from watching how Feyre suffered and died under the mountain. It doesn't make what he did right. It doesn't excuse his actions. Nor does it excuse Feyre's, since one might argue that seeing her sisters dumped into the cauldron gave her a form of secondary trauma too (since Mor mentioned Feyre feeling responsible for what happened in acofs, and wanting to fix all their problems as a result).

However, it does explain them. Much like how Nesta's traumas, first and second hand, explain her actions. That's not to say that an explanation is an excuse. It merely provide a context from which to examine their actions can be examined and create a path to empathy and compassion. Whether they're forgiven and forgotten is entierly up to those affected by their actions (pretty much just Feyre and maybe Elain for the coddling), and in the case of fictional media, audience discretion.

Nesta has certain things she should apologies for (again, to Feyre mostly, and maybe a little bit Elain), I don't disagree with that. However, none of that can happen until Nesta is able to heal.

The quote above is the perfect example of Nesta being denied that, despite the delusion of the IC in thinking that's what ACOSF was about. Her trauma isn't considered valid by the Ic, or even her own sisters, which is why it isn't treated as such.

So to sum it up, yes. Nesta is thinking about what Elain's trauma did to her because it did have a very real affect on her. It caused real trauma that Nesta has to deal with. The dangers faced by Feyre and the entire court, cause her trauma. She suffers with the fear of losing those she loves so fiercely so that her mental health took a swan dive because of that, amongst other reasons. Yet nobody acknowledges that Elain's suffering, real and horrible as it may be, also caused Nesta pain. Hell, they don't acknowledge the pain Nesta's own suffering caused her, much less anybody else's.

Also Elain and the IC just prove that they have no empathy or compassion despite their own traumas being so similar to the hell they're putting Nesta through. Either their traumas weren't traumatising or the cycle of abuse broke the so badly that they can't even recognise the abuse they put others through.

[highladyjane]

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

Lol, you sneaky nonnie! I've seen this Ask all over my dash today yestereve (I fell asleep writing my response to this)😆 Thank you for letting me join in on the fun!

I've actually had a theory about this hiding somewhere in my drafts for a couple of months now, but I've been too lazy to dig into it because 1. Structured writing, and therefore theories, is not my forte 2. I'm a perfectionist but my mind's messy - so it's all a bit messy, 3. so I might sound like a loony... 4. and I'm too insecure about my thoughts at times to even post about what goes through it 😅

But since you Ask'd... Here's a "shorter" version of that draft, at least:

My theory is that Elain's book will have something to do with ✨️Vines✨️.

Like... A Court of ✨️🌿Golden Vines🌿✨️(which I'm leaning the most towards), ACO Twining Vines, ACO Tangled Vines, ACO Blooming Vines, ACO Shadows and Vines... etc. I'm still trying to figure out where to lay my theory 😅🤣

It may sound very Elucien or even Tamlain, but ✨️Vines✨️ are described as "a plant whose stem requires support and which climbs by tendrils or twining or creeps along the ground" which, if you read or search through the books, also hints and applies to the movement of Azriel's shadows in many instances... @wingedblooms absolutely brilliant post that I quite recently came upon, especially supports the 'Twining'... So I think it's the perfect title to confuse people about her endgame 😜

Anyways, to back up my guess/theory...

Elain's scent is of Jasmine (and Honey), which seems to be the bloom of the Night Court 👀, grows as climbing shrubs or ✨️vines✨️. But I'm feeling specifically strongly for the ✨Vines✨ because

Aaaaand because:

1. Ivy is a ✨vine✨ and Sarah has mentioned it in relation to Elain's book in an interview presented at the back of ACOFAS.

2. Nesta's drawer had flames🔥. Elain had...

🌿✨Twining Vines of flowers✨🌿

We often see the beautiful petals (Elain's softness & beauty), but we don't think about the strength, resilience, and foundation of the vines underneath and........ 👇

3. ✨️Vines✨️ symbolise:

Strength & hope & resilience = Elain's quiet strength.

Determination = Elain has shown determination to help in ways she can, but is yet to be given the chance to...

She also has shown a determined disregard and opposition to having a mate...

Connection = Goes well along with my guess on "Golden" or "Twining" Vines which are often used as adjectives in relation to bonds, threads, and even spells.

Also, Elain is an Archeron sister, Cauldron-blessed, and a Seer - connected to basically every plot and possible subplots in the books (The Cauldron ➡️ Ramiel in Illyria ➡️ Made Objects & People ➡️ The Middle & The Prison/Dusk Court ➡️ The Dread Trove ➡️ Koschei ➡️Vassa ➡️The Human Queens etc.🔁); not just for who she is and her Cauldron-given gifts and abilities, but also possibly through her LIs and family. She's the one sister left unexplored and it all leads back to her. She's basically at the beginning (She's the first sister mentioned by Feyre at the beginning of ACOTAR) and in the end (She's the last sister mentioned by Nesta at the end of ACOSF) of everything. So I don't know if that supports her book being next or last...

Life = the meaning of which also applies to her scent of Honey and "Golden" -the colour of (sun)light, honey, her eyes, her hair.

3. ✨️Vines✨️ are also mentioned/connected to the earthen powers described in CC3 that Sathia & Tristan Flynn + Bryce have, which I believe many has already theorised Elain to also have... I quite like those theories (can't remember exactly where I read them as of rn) and would like to believe that it's something the Cauldron has blessed her with since she's associated with gardening and life...

I also read somewhere in a biblical text (which I wasn't too keen to delve into tbh, so don't trust my word for it, but it's Googlable) where ✨️Golden Vine✨️was associated with Life, Rebirth, and Free Will... But if Elain turns out to be the next Messiah/Saviour/Prophet of Prythian, then it's quite perfect 🤷🏻‍♀️

So... that's sort of my take so far 🫣 Hope it makes sense to you, nonnie 😅

What's yours?

[acourtofthought]

When sjm said hofas would have hints for future acotar books, what do you think she meant? Gwynriels are taking it as confirmation that Azriel's book is next.

I think HOFAS does set up for future ACOTAR books but where those books actually fall in the lineup is up for debate.

ACOMAF set up Vassa's disappearance "Do not trust the others. The sixth queen was not ill."

ACOWAR set up Vassa's curse with Koschei and had Elain as the one who had visions of them.

ACOMAF gave us the first hints that Lucien was not Beron's son when he used light to break free of the Kings shackles.

ACOWAR confirmed that Lucien is Helion's son.

ACOFAS confirmed that Feyre still hadn't said anything about that fact to anyone but Rhys.

In ACOWAR we learn that Eris wants to take over as HL of Autumn and wants the NC to support him when it's time for the bid to the throne but we still haven't seen this happen.

So in books 2 and 3, SJM set up future storylines for Vassa, Elain, and Lucien and in book 3 she set up something for Eris but SJM still did not resolve these in SF. Though she confirmed in interviews that she left seeds for Elain's journey way back when, she still hasn't told Elain's story.

Some don't even think she she's going resolve them in the next book (if they do feel Gwynriel is next) so they must believe on some level that just because SJM hints at something in one book, it doesn't mean SJM will close out that plot in the very next one.

But when it comes to Gwynriel's book I have noticed that there is the mindset that because she introduced something in SF, it's definitely getting resolved in the next book. Or just because something was introduced in an entirely different series, it'll definitely be handled in the next ACOTAR book.

Could she decide to introduce the crossover stuff into the very next ACOTAR book from an Az POV and deal with the Valkyrie / Illyrian plotlines in it? Sure!

But could she also decide to first tackle all the plots that were introduced in books 2 and 3 and give us Elucien's book which could close out the issues in Spring / the continent / Beron and then move to the Gwynriel book at a later point which would deal with time travel and threats beyond their world? I think it's also safe to say "Sure!".

CC introducing future storylines into the ACOTAR world doesn't mean those storylines are to be handled in the immediate future.

SJM said when you get to the end of SF you'll know who the next book is about and some take that to mean Az because of his POV. But it was in Feyre's Bonus that we learned Elain is probably capable of more than they've been giving her credit for and perhaps they'll see a different side of her emerge. It was in Feyre's bonus that we learned Elain is still dealing with trauma which the others haven't been paying attention to and that while growing things results in something beautiful it involves getting ones hands dirty along the way. It was in Feyre's bonus that she thinks back on Lucien's gift to Elain and how if Elain had been wearing them nothing would have pierced her. It was in the book that Amren said not to underestimate Elain, that we learn the NC sucks the life out of Elain, that Nesta said Elain decided to grow claws and maybe she'll become interesting at last, that Feyre said Elain has Az beat for secret keeping, that Elain offered to search for the Trove which we all know to be a dangerous and scary thing, where Elain declared she was part of the court and would do whatever was needed. It was at the end of SF that Nesta "released" Elain's rose carving out into the world after first placing it next to a figurine of a goddess.

SJM has laid groundwork for the possibility of many characters having the next book. Hell, she put a lot of buildup into Eris in ACOWAR and SF which means if she wanted she could him a POV or could at least be telling us that Lucien is about to be getting a POV with Eris playing a main side character role in his book (as Eris and Lucien are brothers and Eris has shown a desire to reconnect with Lucien I think it's safe to assume anything we learn of Eris can be strongly connected to Lucien considering Lucien is still of Autumn Court descent through his mother).

We have many interviews saying many things and multiple books that can be used to argue in favor of our ship being the next POV and I think anyone claiming with certainty that theirs is the one who is confirmed is maybe too hyper focused on their own ship rather than looking at the bigger picture?

Whether Gwynriels turn out to be right or Eluciens turn out to be right when the next book is announced, I don't know that it's fair for anyone to say, "SEE?? THEY were the delusional ones for thinking it was going to be them!" It's really not that difficult to guess a coin flip accurately. I think it's only fair to acknowledge that both sides had really valid reasons for believing what they believed.

[darklove9314-blog]

ACOTAR Series Spoilers/Theory

Okay so I have quite a few theories on where the series is going. And I really wanted to share them.

So I’m convinced the next book is going to be Elain’s book, there’s just a lot more set up for a book about her then a book about Azriel and honestly I’ve already shared how I don’t think her and Azriel are endgame. SJM has talked about both their books as separate books. She’s referred to her future books as an Azriel book and an Elain book, but two characters she’s never mentioned getting a book despite us knowing a LOT of things about them and having a lot of set up for stories that may involve them are Lucien and Gwyn.

Honestly, Lucien has way too much set up surrounding him not to be a love interest in one of the future books. He’s not only a secret love child to one of the High lords of Prythian, but he’s also that High Lords sole heir. He has spell cleaving magic just like Helion and he’s friends with the band of Exiles, one of which is Queen Vassa, who not only has a spell placed on her that needs breaking but also is one of the very few people who was with Papa Archeron for his very last days along with you guessed it Lucien.

Vassian is also a ship I don’t think will happen. Despite the fact that Lucien seems at ease with Vassa. I personally see how SJM is setting up Vassa and Jurian to be Queen and King of the Human Lands, they both have a fierce devotion to the humans and work together all the time, (Not to mention SJM hinting at the fact how they’re always at each others throats gives me SJM enemies to lovers vibes) and it’s obvious to me that Lucien, despite feeling like he’s a part of this group also feels like an outsider of it as well. Just like how Elain is part of the Night Court but they tend to exclude her in a lot of things until she demands to be a part of them.

But another theory I have when it comes to Elain’s story is Kosheci. I’ve seen a lot of people discuss a big betrayal coming in the next ACOTAR book and I’m guessing it’s coming in the way of Papa Archeron. Going back to ACOWAR, Papa Archeron had to make a bargain with Koschei in order to release Vassa from the lake long enough for them to win the war, but things like that have to come at a hefty price, and so think that price comes in the form of one of his daughters hands in marriage.

Now I don’t have a lot to support that theory, but it doesn’t mean that it still can’t be a possibility. (I also have quite a few theories that I put in my fanfic Symphonia and how I think that Mama Archeron is also linked to Koschei. And how Nesta may be his daughter but that theory doesn’t go hand in hand with this one. This theory is just in case Nesta turns out not to be Koschei’s daughter.but if she does that would also be a big betrayal)

Also some other betrayals I think could be in future ACOTAR books is this thing with Eris. Now I’m not saying that Eris would betray the Night Court and go back on his deal with them, but there is something suspicious going on between him and Keir. Not only did Rhys allow access to Velaris for Eris, but he also did it for Keir as well. Now we all know that Beron has been trying to stir up trouble. But what if Keir is working with him?

I think Keir is playing Eris, making Eris think he is on his side when he still supports his father and is feeding information back to Beron. I believe that they are both waiting until Eris challenged his father to acknowledge that Beeon had known about it for awhile and I do believe that Beron will not only declare war on the Night Court for Aligning with Eris and planning to over throw him, but I think his strategy for trying to defeat the Night Court will have to do with aligning himself with Keir and the Court of Nightmares but also Illyria as well. ( We already know there’s plenty of unrest in both areas and how they feel like they don’t get the treatment they deserve from their High Lord. And both areas don’t like him nor Feyre.)

But those are my theories. Do you guys think any of this will happen? And what are some of your theories for how the future ACOTAR books will go?

[kingofsummer93]

Elain in black: a thesis

Not to cause chaos on this fine Saturday (she says, while stirring the shit cauldron) but can we discuss something real quick?

I saw an in-depth theory recently that basically declares that the reason Elain looked like shit in black is because the IC collectively agreed to use magic to dim her beauty in order to make Nesta appear more appealing to Eris. And I just…

Listen. I am fully aware that when your canoe is sinking you will try your hardest to patch up those holes with whatever you can get your hands on, but god damn I cannot let this one go.

What people are really saying here is that Nesta “I charmed a duke with one waltz” Archeron could not POSSIBLY attract the attention of a man with Elain standing next to her with her full beauty unleashed, because who in their right minds would go for Nesta over Elain? That’s what we’re saying here? No matter that all three Archeron sisters are described as being incredibly beautiful? No matter that it was ultimately the poise, grace, and elegance she showed on the dancefloor that impressed Eris, and not just her beauty?

You’re telling me that SJM, queen of the strong female leads, purposely wrote a narrative in which one girl is made to look ugly in order to make another one look appealing? In the middle of Nesta’s OWN BOOK?

You’re telling me that the IC all agreed to this plan? That NESTA AND ELAIN both heard this plan and were like, yeah sure that makes sense, let’s do it? Who do we think came up with this idea in the first place? Did they all sit down to dinner and someone was like, hey, Elain is pretty AF, we’re probably gonna have to dim that shit a bit, otherwise Eris won’t look twice at Nesta?

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

Maybe the IC kept it a secret from Cassian and Nesta, and that’s why it doesn’t get mentioned to the reader? No. You know why it doesn’t get mentioned to the reader? Because it didn’t happen, that’s why.

And THEN. Someone supported this theory by saying that Eris had previously “shown interest” in Elain when he mentioned her beauty at the High Lord meeting. This is so wrong on so many levels. FFS. He mentions her as a taunt to the IC and as a jab to Lucien, not because he’s interested in getting his dick wet. There is just absolutely no hecking way that Eris would ever be interested in Lucien’s mate. Elain could throw herself at him fully nude and I’m still convinced he would not go for it purely because she is his brother’s mate. You cannot convince me otherwise.

Our girl Elain looks like shit in Night Court black. Period. No, this was not some elaborate scheme. It's a hint that one of these things is not like the others.

Ship what you want to ship, but this entire theory is people squinting at a circle and declaring that it’s actually a square.

[offtorivendell]

what would you think the IC reaction would be to Elriel?

Hi anon, thanks for stopping by! This is a good one.

In a time of no intercourt or international political tension, then I fully believe that they would all be happy for Elain and Azriel's happiness together.

If you're asking my opinion on who would support Elriel pursuing a romance right now?

Support them now - Mor, Nesta

Torn - Cassian, Feyre

Against until later - Rhys, Amren

Mor is one I can't see as being in any way supportive of Elain or her mating bond being used as a political pawn. I get the feeling that she's one of the more romantic characters, but especially given her own history (and with the Autumn Court, to boot). She has almost certainly noticed something going on between Elain and Azriel (really, I think it's just Cassian who hasn't at this point), and I think that because of her romantic past - losing her mortal queen, first to the Wall, and then to old age - she wouldn't want them to wait, because really, nothing is guaranteed in this life. I think she would prioritise Azriel (and Elain, but she's been friends with Az for 500 years) feeling loved over the political risk.

Nesta I think will also see both sides quite clearly, but given what she said about just wanting to be husband and wife with Cassian (ugh I hated how that whole bit was handled, sorry, there wasn't any genuine resolution and Cassian owes her a massive apology, imo), she will bring a very human opinion to the table and see where Elain is coming from. For all the sisters are fae now, they are not fae at heart, and mating bonds don't mean to them what they do to those who are raised with that culture.

Cassian obviously loves his brother, but he has just gone through his own journey with Nesta and their bond, which he almost appeared to be waiting for (possibly unpopular opinion, but imo Nessian's bond made their romance less believable, and I ship them less now than I did in ACOWAR). But I digress... essentially, I think Cass is both a bit too "pro bond" right now to think straight - though I don't think for a minute he'd force Elain to give Lucien a chance, his mind is a bit muddied by his own pains when Nesta was functionally ignoring and rejecting him until very recently - and also aware of the risk to his Illyrian legion if Beron or Lucien decided to make a play for Elain (a powerful Cauldron Made Seer who would be viewed as an asset to any ruler).

Feyre is the original Elriel shipper, and she seemed to pick up on their potential back in ACOMAF, but I think that, as a High Lady, her loyalties are torn between her sister's happiness and the safety of her people. She and Rhys had discussed the very real possibility of Elain being used as a political pawn in ACOWAR, so I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a more active choice on her part in Elain's book. It's not pretty, but it's understandable.

Rhys loves his brother, but like Feyre, he's also responsible for the people of the Night Court. It's absolutely hypocritical of him to say he would have gone to war to keep Feyre from Spring without mentioning their mating bond trump card and not offer Elriel the same protection (because HE is the one who has twice now brought up Blood Duels and Beron/the Autumn Court, who could claim Elain by their antiquated customs), but the chances of war are far greater now than at the start of ACOMAF (a death god has entered the chat).

Amren is the wild card for me. She has picked up on something between Elriel, imo, but she is also the most likely to put logic and sensibility over emotions (we all saw her reaction to the news of Feysand's joint death pact in ACOSF). Like Rhys, I don't think she thinks Elain has to give Lucien a chance, but I do think she acknowledges that it would be much easier on their Court, and the dynamics between Night and whomever Lucien is tied to, if at minimum Elriel waited until after everything had settled to make their move; even better if Elain wanted to give Lucien a chance (though Amren being Amren, I don't think she'd be against Elain faking it, either).

Anyway, no hate to any of the characters mentioned - I don't like to do anti type posts, so this was just me word vomiting my answer about characters who may have complex thoughts on the results of Elain and Azriel pursuing a romance in their current political climate - so please stay respectful in the comments section.

Happy holidays! ❤️🎄❄️

[azrielsbaby]

I think it's time we all recognise and acknowledge that the reason why Nesta was cruel to Feyre and other people was because of her superiority/inferiority complex

Her mother raised her to be the best of the best, to get the prince, to be the shining child of the archeron empire because of the mother's own inferiority+superiority complexes. Nesta ever since she was young was basically groomed to perfection, she wasn't allowed to show weakness in fear of losing her mother's approval.

I say both inferiority and superiority complex because the two often go hand in hand. There are many instances where she displays herself to be superior to others and the way she reacts also reflects on how she hates being inferior such as:

1) when she looked down at feyre about her looks, illiteracy, relationship with Isaac and etc while living in the cottage. she hated that she was inferior to feyre in regards of supporting the family, their father couldn't do it but feyre who was the one that no one took notice of stepped up in ways the others couldn't. So Nesta hurt her by throwing Feyre's "shortcomings" to put herself above and feel better about herself

2) when Feyre and the bat boys visited the archeron estate that FEYRE got them, she pulled on her act that she was more highly than them by dismissing Feyre's replies and the bat boys existence - when cassian called her out, she just dismissed it too as her abuse to feyre was nothing. her inferiority complex came through a little when she asked feyre is she thinks she's better than them to eat human food because she's Fae now

3) after the war, she put herself back on a pedestal as a defense mechanism from her trauma - she uses her superiority complex to protect herself. when the IC or elain tried to help her, she refused. she took the night court's money just because she could - she knew feyre would just keep giving her money, that power over feyre fed into her superiority complex.

4) her inferiority complex led her to self destruct after the war, the fact that she couldn't save her father, saw feyre grow and become high lady, a wife and have friends, all the things her mother told her she would have probably made her act the way she did

5) the whole "you picked feyre" bullshit also stems from her superiority/ inferiority complex. she couldn't handle the fact that the people who she saw were her friends i.e. amren and elain are also Feyre's friends.

I never understood Nesta's treatment towards people, especially Feyre who faced the brunt of Nesta's abuse and actions. And this seems the only plausible reason as to why. Feyre was the unnoticed child while Nesta was the golden child but as soon as they lost everything, Feyre became the one that carried the family. And after everything, Feyre was the one rose above Nesta in things that their mother promised for Nesta. So basically Feyre is the evidence of Nesta's shortcomings and failures and it's also why she hated it when anyone spoke about Feyre (which is usually in high regard). She hurt Feyre because Feyre's love for her was still a leverage she got over her.

And I think the big part of nesta's healing journey should have been realising she isn't the best, embracing her shortcomings and failures, accepting that it's ok regardless. It would have been nice if Nesta openly acknowledged that and took action it rather than her being displayed as this queen that does no wrong and everyone falling at her feet, winning the blood rite with a few months of training and etc.

It would have also been amazing if she accepted that she needed help, worked on her powers with Amren, trained and studied. Rather than be thrown into fights and mission and miraculously come out alive and be presented as a desirable prize for so many male characters in acosf.

Anyway, this became too long and it's only my opinion and perspective, sjm still never gave us a solid reason for nesta's treatment towards feyre and other people and this post is just me throwing two cents of my guess in.

PSA this DOES NOT excuse nesta's behaviour, it was still horrible and feyre deserves better closure and so does Nesta tbh which neither will receive until Nesta openly accepts that her actions stemmed from these complexes and that Feyre was not at fault.

[kimsnnn]

Part 2

Disclaimer: This post is in favor of my ship, Elriel. No hate, just an opinion. This is what makes sense to me. If this isn't your cup of tea, and it came up on your feed, no worries just skip please. 

With all this in mind Elriel to me just seems so clear.

The enemy is Koschei and Vassa is the only one to be directly linked to and affected by him so she will be the one to defeat him, plan and give us insight from the inside because she is the one who is captive. She has a personal interest in defeating him and that victory and moment is rightfully hers to own.

She will get a book. Her being a firebird means nothing? why would people assume she won't have a conscious while in that form when Rhys, Tamlin and Helion do?  Why do people believe that a story cant be developed and moved along as a firebird? Has any one ever read a werewolf book? Im soooo confused. I mean why is that a end all? Even as a firebird she can see and reveal so much, and as a person even more.

The main original characters that have a direct link to Feyre from the very beginning before Hybern, Amarantha, and ACOWAR are Nesta, Elain and Lucien. Those are the characters that make the most sense to have their own book. Not Tamlin who is of no importance to Feyre anymore. Who is of importance and who where her first family Lucien basically becoming her first brother. She is always concerned for these people. If you take a look at all of Feyre’s POV in ACOFAS its always showcasing her concern or confusion for  Her sisters, Lucien and even Mor (possible novella).  These three individuals (N&E&L) are the ones she has an original relationship with and the most history, a shaky relationship that has room to be improved on. These are the wildcards, the ones who have wronged her in some way, the ones who’s stories NEED to be told. Three different people three different stories.

If you also take a look at Rhys’ POV in order, you realize he talks to or refers to 5 people usually:

Cassian, Azriel, Mor, Tamlin & Lucien

Each of these first 5 POV also directly touches on what issues exactly are pertaining to them or could be pertaining to them if that had their own book OR how they may contribute to the whole over arching plot.

If we conclude everything from those first 5 chapters ( I'm not including the rest because its too much, and they also include these 5 characters regardless) of importance this is what we have and what each book may touch on.

1st POV: involves

-Cassian - Illyrian dissent, inequality, Nesta, queen Braiylln, training female Illyrians,

-Cassian’s role

2nd POV: involves

-Azriel-shadows/powers strength, Az’s past, confusion on shadowsinger abilities, Illyrian dissent/hate, Human queens, Hyberns people, Human lands, Vassa’s situation,

-Az’z emotions (& concealing of emotions) on : Lucien, Elain, Possibly Az’s mom and her whereabouts (Rosehall).

3rd POV:

-Tamlin/Lucien-SC and Tamlin current state and down fall, alliance with Tamlin, peace/future, Lucien’s and Tamlin’s relationship, Anger/Hate/Remorse/Defeat/Hope/Empty, Feyre

-Feyre-Tamlin, Rhys’ actions and remorse

-Jeweler(Neve)-no jewels for Feyre, Neve’s background

4th POV:

-Velaris estates along the Sidra before and after hybern,

-Mor: Rhys and mor’s relationship currently, Kier/Eris/CoN

-The CoN people occupied the Velaris estates (they left Hewn City before the division of the NC)

-Kiers upcoming visit to Velaris in Spring (the hewn city’s containment and curiosity)

-Mor’s Mother/ desire to leave the NC

-Mor’s Role

Rhys’ 1st POV which included Cassian and Cassian’s following POV/Chapter was a foreshadow to ACOSF completely. Everything touched was basically addressed in ACOSF.  Rhys basically told Mor and Cassian to assume different jobs and roles (to lessen Azriel’s world load) in their chapters which came true in ACOSF.

A bond between Elain and Lucien does not mean they will have a book. If I'm honest they remind me a little of Nesyrn and Chaol who seemed like with time something could blossom between them but in reality just weren't for one another and were better off as friends. All that connects these two is an unwanted bond, a person they both have wronged yet care about (Feyre) and an incident that resulted in Elain’s trauma. Everyone thought Elain who is literally everything to Nesta, who Nesta would have sacrificed everything for, would be more involved, yet she wasn't even present in the majority of Nesta’s book, at least not as present as we thought she would be. But she was mentioned throughout ACOSF nearly in every chapter because Elain does and has impacted Nesta’s life completely.This is something I expect to happen for Elain’s book as well. Yes Lucien will appear but perhaps the purpose of his appearance would be to get closure and fill in questions left unanswered. If ACOTAR 5 is an Elriel book and not ACOTAR 6 then her book will also serve to set up for his book with Vassa.

Feyre’s relationship with the IC is fine and any issues can be resolved in the books of the others (like for example as Love interests) or in a novella.

Cassian had a POV, the second main role in ACOSF but.. ACOSF was Nesta’s story.

The same can be said for Elriel’s book as well as Vassien’s.

And yes a male can have a book like Chaol did but in my opinion it won't be Az with Gwyn being the second main POV. It will be Lucien with Vassa who has far more ties to the IC and to the over arching plot. Vassa at least has met Feyre the main character of the whole ACOTAR world.

Hypothetically speaking lets say Az does get a book and ends up with Gwyn and the plot is about the Illyrian camp. Their story would most likely be written as a novella if anything not an actual book, there is not many ties that Gwyn has so far to the whole plot at least not yet. But getting a novella still wouldn't make sense when we have characters, who are not only closer to the plot but also provide an opportunity to get info/support to win this war, like Mor who is spending time in Vallahan, and Tamlin who’s literal court is not only in shambles but unfortunately detrimental to the success of attaining peace.

I do think Gwyn is more important to this plot then most give her credit for but I dont believe that necessarily means shes due a book or a main POV especially over Vassa. And Emerie.

Vassa who has direct link to koschei the main issue, point and villain of the plot and Emerie who has a direct link to Illyria and its backward ways in everything most importantly on its stance of women and their roles.

SJM Set Elriel to be endgame because it just makes the most sense. Not only because of their connection, moments and relationship thus far but because that's what makes the most sense with this plot. There’s no spinoff in the works.

There’s no reason for Gwyn or ANYONE for that matter to be the one to defeat koschei over Vassa, no reason to have the hugest wedge between Elucien while building a bridge for Elriel, no reason to build and hint for Mor’s leave and put emphasis on Tamlin & the SC’s dire situation.

Has anyone considered if Lucien wants to even be HL ?

Lucien’s future as a highlord comes down to if he even wants to even become the Day Court’s High lord in the first place.

Lucien thought less of humans and was indifferent to them in ACOTAR yet now has found a home and friends among them. ‘

Truthfully the BOE’s work in the same way that the IC does and the Valkyerie.

Actually scratch that the Valkyerie work exactly like the BOE’s.

Yet can anyone imagine any of the Valkyrie leaving their group or be far from each other especially if one of their member’s is their possible love interest ?

They will choose each other and they will create a future where they are all together.

I don’t see lucien who has finally found stability and friends leaving the BOE’s to play high lord at Day court unless Vassa and Jurian decide to leave with him. Which seems unlikely. The only way I see that happening is if vassien truly becomes endgame resulting in Vassa going to Day court. But where does that leave Jurian.

I believe that after the Beron and AC issues are resolved, that Eris will ascend and become HL, Lady Autumn will leave to be FINALLY with Helion to be Lady Day 😍, and Lucien can enjoy his life in the mean time with his found family, stay as an emissary and possibly prepare to be Day’s HL down the line in the future.

[hellacioushag]

heyovivi said: I definitely feel like if SJM goes through the e//riel route we won’t be able to branch off into other storylines as easily. Hear me out. Gwyn is somehow linked to Autumn and Spring Court meaning that her story can expand into either Eris, Lucien, or Tamlin’s storylines. And if that happens, if we assume Gwynriel is going to be a theme in one of the up and coming books, then SJM will probably be able to build a better story that connects all the characters. Not only that but I speculate that... heyovivi said: ... A large part of the Azriel story is going to be around the Illyrian conflict which goes pretty hand in hand with Gwyn’s current position as a valkyrie training under the general of the Illyrian army. On the other hand I feel like if SJM is going to go down the e//riel route then it’s basically going to be about a book about stolen moments between the two in secret and them try to come to terms with coming out as a couple to their friends and family. I can see why people are so fond of this..

heyovivi said: ... but after the storyline I don’t see a lot of existing futures after this book. I feel as though Elain’s purpose is centered around her getting out of Night Court, and I think it was hinted a lot in ACOSF that she needs to stop being coddled by her family and instead needs to make her own as a person in Prythian. With the Gwynriel route I can just see multiple windows of opportunities especially ones that lead into a Elain/Exiles storyline.

i agree 100%. this was really well said.

if we go with the assumption that e/riel is endgame i don’t see how this would continue the story. my perspective on their relationship is that they’re enabling each other to continue bad habits, they are stifling each other from growing. so if they’re in a forbidden love it will further perpetuate that their relationship is unhealthy. this is why i genuinely hate all forbidden love tropes unless it’s specifically designed to further the drama and to show the destruction of the individual characters. 

i think it’s genuinely baffling when i see people claim e/riel would be the next book and they won’t have anything to do with the illyrian conflict. azriel’s entire persona is built on his trauma, on his prejudice for his own people, and furthers his own self-hatred. so please explain why you think azriel’s story would not confront that past and heal those wounds? he has this insurmountable pain he needs to work through and i don’t see how he can share that space with elain when she has her own. gwyn has already started her healing journey. she has survived with her trauma and is now starting to learn how to live again. so she’s in a perfect position to be a supporting role. do i want her to be? idk, i don’t really enjoy the idea of her possibly being expected to heal azriel. but if his healing journey is like nesta’s where he learns how to face his demons and find a healthy outlet without expecting her to take on his emotional baggage then i’m all for it. 

and then you look at elain, who is literally bursting at the seems to be seen and to have her own trauma acknowledged and not used to further someone else’s story... lucien is in the perfect position to be in a supporting role. they are in a position to conclude the fight with koschei, with the remaining queens, and @exiledelain‘s favorite bit the autumn court conspiracy. elain is someone who needs to be a main character because she’s been pushed aside for so long. she does not need to be the support to anyone. her journey, her pain, and her healing is worth the spotlight. she does not need to be overshadowed (lol) by azriel and his story. 

but hey that’s just my perspective. and i know i’m biased, but at this point i think we all are lol. i could be entirely wrong and sjm does end up with e/riel and then vucien as the concluding couple, but wouldn’t that be the most anticlimactic couple to end on? i mean ship and let ship, but i haven’t seen one vucien shipper who isn’t an e/riel shipper. 

[heyovivi]

ACOTAR 6? (MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ACOSF)

Okay! I just finished A Court of Silver Flames and absolutely love Nesta’s journey and this is coming from a person who didn’t really like Nesta from the beginning. Her journey of healing and finding herself was beautiful and her journey with Cassian was heart-wrenching and sexy and I just loved it all! But anyways, more on that later, I have some predictions for the next book. 

So I usually don’t go into anything without spoiling myself so before I even picked up ACOSF from a bookshelf at Target (don’t worry I was able to read both bonus chapters; meaning Azriel’s and the Feyre and Rhys’ chapters) I knew a little about ACOSF already. Now, ACOSF wasn’t deeply plotted and there wasn’t any world building like there was when we read the first three book--although it didn’t really matter to me I still enjoyed the book. ACOSF was all about Nesta and her journey and an insight to her thoughts and why she is the way she is and although I felt that at some points I hated Nesta I could still understand her frustrations and I could understand that she was deeply flawed as a character--which is fine. 

Now, even if ACOSF didn’t have a huge plot there were some key elements that will probably be very important in the next book such as Koschei, the remaining Mortal Queens, the Band of Exiles, Azriel’s journey, and Elain’s journey. But one key thing I noticed was Eris. Now he didn’t appear that much in the book and if he did it was during moments where his presence was essential to the plot (such as being kidnapped by Queen Brialynn and Koschei), but in that last chapter he appeared in it seemed like there was more to the story, to his story specifically. I think that maybe we might be getting a book on Eris. 

A lot of people say that ACOSF is reminiscent of Tower of Dawn from the Throne of Glass series, where instead of following Aelin in her quest to free her kingdom and stop Maeve, we instead venture into a Chaol-centered book where we kind of try to understand his point of view and character growth. So maybe, and this is just a theory or prediction, maybe we’ll get a similar thing with Eris. 

From that one little conversation we get with Cassian and Eris, it appears that Eris is kind’ve jealous of the Night Court and it’s relationships with the other courts in Prythian. A lot of people have already pointed how much Eris could be a lot like Rhys in the manner that Eris wants the Autumn Court to be seen not as the fiery court of rage and misery, but instead wants to be a beacon for those who dwell there. And you do see some parallels between Rhys and Eris and their upbringing with their fathers being very strict figures in their lives but with Eris there was an emphasize of abuse somewhere along the line. 

Now I’m not saying that Eris is getting a book or that his book even next, but I think that we have not heard the full story of what happened between both him and Mor, and I really want to know the entire story of what had happened in Eris’ life to make him seem like such a conniving person. But if I’m being honest I would much rather read a book about Eris’ efforts to lift the Autumn Court than a book about Mor--just my preference you don’t have to agree with me. 

Now here are my runner ups for who could be the possible voice of ACOTAR 6. 

Azriel

Elain

No, not Azriel and Elain, but Azriel or Elain. Now there were a lot of people saying that the book is either about Elain and Azriel, or Azriel and Gwyn, or Elain and Lucien--and I’m not going to shut down anyone’s theories but I’m going to share my own. Again, if you feel peeved about what sides or ships I support then stop reading when you get pissed because I can live with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with my theories.

First off, Azriel. 

I’m going to be honest, from what I read on Tumblr mainly I thought Azriel’s role in ACOSF was going to be way bigger, but I still enjoyed his dry humor and presence when he was there. Though when it comes to Miss Sarah J Mass we have to pay attention to every little detail in her books and if you caught onto his distance from Mor during the Solstice party or his reluctance to hold baby Nyx because of his scarred hands then I think it’s pretty telling that the next book could be about Azriel and his journey with coming face to face with his trauma, his past, and maybe his unsteady relationship with the Illyrians; not to mention his five century one-sided love with Mor. 

If you know me, or looked at any of my content, you should know that I am a hardcore Gwynriel shipper. I love Gwyn and fell in love with the ship almost immediately so much so that I’m embarrassed that I entertained the idea of shipping Azriel with Emerie or Clotho. I think that she might play a pivotal role in his journey to healing and that he might also play a large role in hers as well. Through his bonus chapter we can kind of see the sparks of something starting between them, I’m guessing it’s tied to theories that they are mates or to the theory that Gwyn could be a possibly lightsinger. All I know for sure right now is that Gwyn’s story is definitely not over with and I except see more of her in the future along with the other Valkyries as well. 

Finally, Elain. 

Now I don’t think the next book is about Elain but I do feel that out of all of the other characters her story is in the making? I’ve been told numerous times that Elain will be getting a book of her own, but we don’t know when and we don’t know what it is going to be about. Now, I’m not the hugest fan of Elain and it all goes back to her and Nesta just sitting around when Feyre was in the woods fighting for her life and there's as well. I know that she apologized and felt guilty afterwards but her excuse was “we gave up and she didn’t” just did not do it for me. 

It was in this passage from A Court of Thorns and Roses, where my distaste for Elain blossomed: 

The mercenary transferred the coins to my waiting palm, and I tucked them into my pocket, their weight as heavy as milestone. There was no possible chance that my sisters hadn’t spotted the money--no chance they weren’t already wondering how they might persuade me to give them some. 

...I felt my sisters sweep closer, like vultures circling a carcass. 

Like at least we knew Nesta was the “wolf” as she described herself. We knew she had a sharp-tongue and we knew she could be a bitch with her words. But Elain, she was described as innocent and nice, and yes when you paint her in a garden with flowers and frilly dresses she does just seem like some Cinderella-like character but after five books, especially after ACOSF my hate for Elain has just grown. Like after ACOWAR, I just thought she was boring--yes, she had a hand in killing the king of Hybern but that hype was kind’ve stolen away when Nesta ripped his head from his body. 

Since then, we haven’t really, really got a full look through with Elain and a large part of that is because we haven’t gotten her point of view, like not even in A Court of Frost and Starlight. From what we know about her, canonically, no theories or anything, she likes to garden, she likes to cook, her friends are Cerridwen and Nuala, she doesn’t want to confront that bond she has with Lucien, and she has an attraction to Azriel. But beyond that we don’t know anything--there were things that I kept out even though they were mentioned in ACOSF but there is also a lot of mystery around the things she said and claimed to do--even Cassian questioned them but didn’t approach her about the topic. 

I don’t think we have enough of a story to build up on Elain. For the most part I feel like her presence in ACOSF was mostly there to just piss Nesta off. Literally, in every scene she has with Nesta, she is pissing her off, setting her off, making her yell or scream, or making the silver flames ignite. And this is extremely out of character for Elain. Yes, we don’t get enough of her, but from what we can gather, Elain usually is not one to push buttons but I wonder why she did with Nesta. 

Here are a few passages that I just found beguiling while reading Nesta’s interactions with Elain: 

Elain stepped closer, brown eyes wide. Undoubtedly wholly convinced of her own innocence, her innate goodness. “It’s the truth. We did this because we love you, and we worry for you, and if Father were here--”

“Don’t ever mention him.” Nesta bared her teeth, but kept her voice low. “Never fucking mention him again.” 

Mentioning their father? A very taboo subject for Nesta. And Elain stans like to argue that Elain is quiet and docile because she is an observer. She takes things in and she tucks them away in her memory, but if she’d paid so much attention then why would she mention their father to Nesta? Feyre noted Nesta’s relationship with their father in book one, so there is no way that Elain herself didn’t know about it. 

Here is  another line from their conversation I thought were very weird to read about and I’ll explain why: 

Elain crossed her arms and said calmly, sadly, “Feyre warned me this might happen.” 

Bullseye. Nesta doesn’t like to be talked about, to be judged. We learned that in ACOSF and again if Elain was this person who sees and pays attention she should’ve known this or caught on. 

I think in this scene, Elain was purposely trying to set off Nesta. 

Nesta cleared her throat. “Cassian said it might be good if I came.”

Elain’s eyes flickered. “Did Feyre pay you, like last year?” 

“No,” shame washed over her. 

Elain sighed, glancing over Nesta’s shoulder to the open doorway across the entry. The party within, only for their small inner circle. “Please don’t upset Feyre. It’s her birthday, first of all. And in her state--”

“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked. 

Nesta was actually trying to get better at this point. She even risked going to a party despite not feeling welcomed just because Cassian told her it might be good for her to be surrounded by her family and for her not be alone on the holiday. You could even tell how by the way Nesta is keeping herself away she is still uncomfortable but the thing is she still showed up which is a sure sign she is improving. 

I don’t know why Elain started talking about the year before or about upsetting Feyre--literally wanted to slap the bitch in this scene. Like I just want to know why Elain pressed so hard. Then afterwards she waved it off as if she hadn’t just said what she said and acted normally. I can not tell you how mad I was at this--like especially for a sensitive character like Nesta who is ALWAYS In her thoughts and always takes things to a deep level. Like what Elain said could’ve just broken a vital part of Nesta and caused her to relapse. 

Anyways, I think Elain’s behavior in ACOSF could hint at the Evil Elain theory. Although I don’t think it’s going to come in the next book--it might build in the next book but at most I think Elain’s story will come to fruition in ACOTAR 7 or 8 and isn’t going to be about her journey or soul searching but maybe we’ll be getting the point of view of a villain. Like there were many mysterious hints dropped in ACOSF and the way I interpreted them is that Elain is planning something and if her behavior matches her actions, it’s something that could possibly affect her sisters. 

Plus, you have to wonder how Brialynn and Koschei knew everything. They knew all the IC’s moves and all of Nesta’s moves...but how? A lot of the time when Nesta was given a mission by Rhys it was in the River House and we also know that Elain has been getting better at sneaking around without being detected so it’s not too farfetched that Elain could be the spy. You don’t have to agree with me but I think it’s a pretty solid theory as far as they go. 

But do tell me your thoughts I would love to hear them. I’m sorry if I offended anyone in the end but we all have to just respect everyone’s opinion so no fights or slander, especially in my comment section. 

[bookofmirth]

Due to your love for Lucien, I figured you could help me out since you probably know more about him than I do. I'm trying really hard to grapple with how a Lucien & Vassa story would unfold. Let's entertain the idea for a sec pretty please.

We know Vassa has to return to Koschei at some point. In the meantime, she's cursed with turning into a firebird by day and human by night. Either Koschei has to be dealt with at the beginning, which doesn't seem likely if he's indeed the final boss or at the end, in which Lucien & Vassa will share their POVs with Vassa being in bird form half the time, unless Sarah opts to only share Vassa's POV when she's human.

Lucien has ties to the Autumn Court, Human lands, Day Court & Night Court. That's a lot to unpack in one book which means some of these issues need to happen in ACOTAR5 to balance everything out and leave room for Vassa and Lucien to become a thing as well. Though it pains me to say this since I believe this issue deserves Lucien's POV, but is it possible the Autumn Court business could be handled in ACOTAR5?

Vassa doesn't have anything to really do with the Day Court so it's weird to see why she would leave the human lands. I suppose if Lucien's true parentage is revealed, he could ask her to tag along to see if daddy Helion can break her curse.

Omg, I totally forgot about the spring court. Yeah, that needs to be handled too and I'm not sure how Vassa will tie into it unless she's there for support. Lucien will still be dealing with the aftermath of the mating bond rejection (I think it's important we get his POV on it). Ugh and there's the problem with Vassa's mortality.

It's all soo confusing I feel like I'm being played. I genuinely believe there are people who ship these two but man, writing this all down and trying to make sense of it hurts my head. 😅

Hi!

The major issues that I see Lucien needing to deal with are:

His paternity/learning he's heir of Day or becoming HL?

The mating bond

Reconciliation or an apology with Tamlin - at the very least he needs to hand the reins back over.

As a side thing, I think he will help Vassa get free. But since Koschei has much bigger fish to fry than just Vassa, her becoming free seems more like a free gift with purchase. A bonus on the side of everyone defeating the Big Bad.

I think what you are getting at, overall, is why/how would a vucien/vassien/whatever plot make sense. tl;dr - it wouldn't. Not with everything that you have shown still needs to be dealt with. Of course sjm could pull a 180 and change everything, but...

I don't have anything against people who ship it. Ship whatever, I don't care. I just don't think it's likely to happen in canon. People have been into it since Lucien smiled that one time in acowar, but it's never been a big ship. I don't blame people for jumping on it if they feel like it would fit what they want, I just don't think anything will come of it!

Vassa has little to nothing to do with anything going on in Prythian, in any court, and so if she were to get a supporting character/love interest POV, what would it be? Her cheering other people on, people who do have a larger stake in those issues? She's human. She's one of the mortal queens. She has something going on with Jurian, from what we can tell, and Jurian is surely fed up with the fae. It makes sense for her to stay on the Continent and regain her queenhood and break her curse. None of those things would fit with Lucien, who is High Fae and immortal and eventually will be a High Lord on another land mass. Could it happen? Sure. Will it? I'd bet my original acotar hardcovers that it won't.

Re: the Autumn Court, it's possible that the issue with Beron is dealt with in the next book. The issue with Beron is political, not necessarily personal. That means that Azriel could do his spy thing, helping Eris, perhaps working out his issues with the Illyrians in the meantime (much in the same way that Nesta had to deal with, or started to, her feelings about her father).

But as a result of all of that conflict, the truth of Lucien's paternity could come out.

All of the stuff going on in Autumn only affects Lucien peripherally because he has zero plans of becoming HL of that court. It's kinda like watching other family members squabble over an inheritance you know you have no hope of getting. Amusing and it will affect you somewhat, but at the end of the day your life won't be any different. Until someone spills the beans à la Gossip Girl.

So that's the part that most affects Lucien in Autumn, the fact that Beron isn't Lucien's father. To me, it that would make more sense for him to deal with that having the third person close narration focus on Lucien, rather than having it tell us how someone else is watching the situation. If it is revealed in acotar5, then in acotar6 (when I think he will be the LI), we would watch him deal with that information.

That would also leave Vassa/Koschei for the last book. It would make sense for the HL stuff to get resolved before they have to deal with Koschei because I get the sense that all the High Lords are going to need to band together to defeat him. That will be kinda difficult when you have Eris standing in the background plotting Beron's demise. Just kill him in acotar5, then have everyone, including Eris as new High Lord of Autumn, come together to cooperate in acotar6.

I still don't see Vassa being a big part of that book as one of 2 main characters because Koschei's plans don't revolve around her, just like Azriel's entire life doesn't revolve around Elain. Even if there was an entire book dedicated to taking Koschei down, like I said, Vassa isn't the reason why they are doing that. She is just one of his unfortunate victims. There are bigger issues, like... the Dread Trove and the destruction of Prythian. Bigger issues than one mortal queen who was betrayed.

I do wonder if - hear me out - while more stuff about Koschei is revealed in the next book, Vassa becomes free sooner? It was the mortal queens who traded her in on some bargain, right? And we still need to deal with the remaining three who are living. Perhaps we will learn what they want, how they are helping Koschei, and why they sold her out? I could see that happening like a secondary or even tertiary plot, sorta like the feysand pregnancy was in acosf.

I honestly have no idea if that answered your question haha! I haven't really put much thought into what will happen with Vassa because I don't see her as a major player in the future.

[queenestarcheron]

acomaf review

so i recently reread acomaf and i made a post about everything that i liked/didn’t like (more of the latter). i also started another one so some of that is repeated in here. i have referenced page numbers but they are all from the uk paperback edition so i don’t think they will be the same for everyone. it’s all chronological. there will probably be typos since i wrote this on a whim pls ignore them. this is quite anti rhys so if that bothers you just ignore this and pls don’t attack me for my opinions.

(pg. 24) feyre says "I don't know if I can handle them calling me High Lady." implying that she doesn't even want to be in a position of power in prythian. is that the trauma talking? tamlin also says that there is no such thing as high lady which makes no sense bc high lord power is hereditary so it should be able to go to women too. also this makes rhys making feyre high lady make no sense.

(pg. 29) poor lucien i cannot believe his brothers did that to his girlfriend

(pg. 48-49) feyre threw a shoe at rhysand and all im saying is that, if nesta threw a shoe at cassian, they would try and flay her alive

(pg. 73) rhys says there can be high ladies... but there never was one?? how does he know they can exist? it doesn't add up. again, if a person could just be given the high lord power, then what is the point of having the high lord bloodline

the 90 pages in between are just feyre getting upset and rhys saving her from the spring court

(pg. 163) i am diSGOSTED "You know I'm always happy to tangle in the sheets with you Amren ... I know how much you enjoy Illyrian-" seriously?? i don't think this is a normal friendship dynamic. also we hear about how dangerous amren is but cassian literally just made this comment and she did nothing. and we dont see her do anything to others at all. the only thing to suggest that she's a powerful being was the end of acowar

(pg. 169) amren calling the illyrians "barbarians" does not sit right with me

(pg. 209) "They might not be happy about it, but I'll make Nesta and Elain do it" you'll make your sisters risk their lives and status? to help the fae? the race that enslaved humans for centuries? okay feyre. everyone's right, youre a great sister

(pg. 215) rhys offers feyre sex with cassian? how are the nesta stans the ones that don't gaf about cassian when his own friend (who he considers a brother) says this about him? i don't think after 500 years of knowing him and liking him nesta would say any of this

(pg. 229) cassian gets mad at rhys for endangering feyre's life for no reason and then rhys says "you would do the same" like nO SIR NO HE WOULDN'T

(pg. 246) feyre says nesta looks older in her eyes. she's obviously been affected by her sister running away with the fae and her and elain even thought she was dead. don't try and tell me that she doesn't care bye

(pg. 255) cassian's dinner table speech about how feyre died for the fae and nesta should stop being a bitch. um, sir your people enslaved hers for CENTURIES? and you want to play the fucking victim? okayyy sure. have fun with that

(pg. 280) rhys doesn't make his people play the tithe but he lets them live in tents in snowy mountains? while he lives in comfort? and im supposed to support this guy? hard pass for me

(pg. 288) rhys stalks about keeping velaris a secret and says "My people do not seem to be suffering much from it." basically ignoring the people in the hewn city and illyria as his people? tehy are all hated by the rest of the courts and apparently rhys is just cool with that bc velaris is fine.

(pg. 326) all i want to say is that cresseida deserves so much better

(pg. 361) okay lol jurian was "obsessive" in his pursuit to free his people. why couldn't he just be chill about it? his people could wait you know. he didn't hav eto go batshit crazy. it's not like they were servants their whole lives and were being treated like they weren't people.

(pg. 377) okay so this is when cassian comes back from giving nesta the letter (wings and ember) and he says something about how the family is full of "bossy, know-it-all females" my mans you invaded HER PERSONAL SPACE and asked her intrusive and inappropriate questions. she literally did what any other woman would have done.

(pg. 386) rhys fully says "neither side is innocent" when talking to the mortal queens BOI THE FAE KEPT THEM AS SLAVES WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND STOP TRYING TO SOUND OPPRESSED OMG

(pg. 393) they are talking about how miryam and drakon fell in love when she was still with jurian and apparently it's jurian's fault bc he was too obsessed with liberating the humans? you can say what you want about them fighting for the humans but it's clear they really don't give a shit

(pg. 398) feyre hears mor's story and says that she understands why rhys can't forgive nesta. she actually just compared what mor's family did (trying to marry off mor and nailing a note to her body and leaving her at the autumn court) to what nesta did (was mean to feyre when their family was in poverty and didn't stop feyre from hunting). chilee wut

(pg. 415) the court of nightmares scene and all i want to say is DID ANYONE IN THE HEWN CITY CONSENT TO SEE THAT. also their high lord using women like objects isn't exactly sending his people the best message, especially the youthful ones. like if their ruler is doing it, then why shouldn't they? rhys is kind of making it worse for women ( at the very least he isn't helping AT ALL)

(pg. 443) mor says that she hates the illyrian mountains and says that they should be "burned to the ground", completely forgetting about all of the people there, the culture and the fact that she has 2 and half illyrian friends

(all of chapter 54) rhys tells us his sad backstory and a bunch of excuses but never apologises for his actions utm. am i supposed to excuse sexual assault because he was emotionally distraught? bc im not going to do that

(pg. 548-553) nesta stands up A LOT for the humans and tries to convince the queens to give them the book. we see a lot of her humanity in this scene. don't tell me she's just a cold bitch please read with your eyes and see for yourself. ALSO THE NESSIAN BIT ON PAGE 553 LETS GOOOO

(pg. 559) feyre talks about how nesta feels everything too much and i just want to ask where this feyre was in acofas when her sister was off in the deep end with her ptsd

(pg. 589) jurian is called a monster for literally no fucking reason omg give my guy a break

(pg. 606) lucien helps elain when she is fae and on the ground soaking wet. this is all before he finds out that she is his mate. this is why we stan <3

please feel free to comment on/challenge anything ive said. you can try and come for my favs if you want but it probably won’t change my mind. i might do acofas later. 

[illyrian-lover-flower]

The chosen forest keeper 4

      You were once a blooming flower in my heart  and all you left behind, as you went, was a  withered root inside me

 There was no sound, no scream, no sob, no whisper as he landed in the quite garden of her. Those soft flowers of hers smiling at him and his darkness.  

Beckoning him to come closer, to come listen as they sung in the howling wind -that cloaked him on this hour-long flight -back to these sad walls of the bright shining estate- his gigantic wings still numb to any touch, while his feet were well aware of the ground he stood on.  

His massive form a cloud of shadows as he allowed himself a last time in which he would admire the beauty of Elain’s work.  

All these soft, vibrant petals, painting his vision into a sea of pink, blue, violet, white, yellow and orange. It was a vibrating sea that danced to the wind -loved to swing their petite heads in those strong gusts as they seemed to move a last time for their lost flower.  

A flower that was more vibrant than he had ever seen. All those colours, she planted among the grounds of her sister’s estate, flowing through her very own blood. Making her the fairest of all the females he had ever met.

‘I was so blind!’ was all he could scold himself with, over and over again. Well aware that the awareness of that would never bring Elain back.  

Perhaps if he had truly seen her -not blinded by those vibrant colours of her happiness- he might have been able to save her.  

Might have been able to prevent her from this end she chose, might have been able to prevent her from painting the sea in the only colour she dreaded.  

Red.

Azriel never really noticed it, had never asked her, why she did not dare to touch a red petal. It should have been obvious. Her paling face, whenever she saw a strawberry or cherry should have spoken volumes to him.  

Perhaps it did, his shadows always raging in his ears when he left her to work with those red fruits, but he never listened. Never saw, until now, that no red bloom graced the grounds of her garden.  

It all made perfect sense.  

Those fearful eyes of hers, when he had gifted her this tool of bloodshed. As delicate and pure the hilt might have been -dainty lilac amethysts, arranged as small delicate Violets at the bottom of the haft of pure white jade, glimmering under the light that caught in the facets at the bottom of the hilt- it was still a tool of bloodshed.

No light gems, no blade -as grey as the clouds before a storm chased them around - engraved with soft vines till the tip of the sharp knife edge- could change this purpose.  

He should have known of her dread and yet he was oblivious to it.  

Only now were his dull hazel eyes able to see the truth she had hidden for so long - Elain was broken, hurt and destroyed.  

Azriel always thought of her as complete, without any fear as she overstepped the pain of her engagement. He always thought she never dared to touch a knife, a dagger, sword or any other weapon due to the respect of life.  

Those soft hands of hers having gifted it for so long.  

But they weren’t like he thought of them to be. He always thought they were strong-steady- as her hands gave life, only now did it occur to him that they were everything but that.

Elain had trembled. Trembled under the gazes of those she loved and yet no one saw her shivering.  

These soft flowers in front of him, that seemed to laugh at his stupid, bulky, form the only beings that were ever there to support her.  

In the wake of dawn, the bright song of day or the soothing lullaby of night - they were always there to listen, to calm her.  

While the rest of her family left her, occasionally spend hours with her.  

Small spell casting lessons with Amren and occasional hours of baking with Cassian the only change of her day when he had left her.  

Left her to bleed under those heavy fears, that still crippled him night for night and day for day.  

He was foolish to think that Elain did not suffer after her broken of engagement. Those genuine smiles of her, only a facade she kept up. Fooling everyone and most likely herself with them.

But he was too late.  

Only now able to hear those silent screams of her – that have long drowned in the sea.  

Yet he could not help but hear them.

Shrill screams flooding his ears as his shadows cloaked him, covered him in pain of this loud screech while they also comforted him. Azriel had always sworn he would never break down in front of them, would never allow his shadows to see the fragile parts of their master, but it was too late for that.  

They had long sensed the black gap in his heart, that dreaded to eat his whole being, as the spymaster had called out for a companion, a friend – that would never answer his call again.

And yet they did not destroy him, even seemed to caress these frayed edges with soft black tendrils as he was bared open to them.  

Welcoming him in a soft veil of shadows that kept him safe from the howling wind in the garden.  

Night having long settled above of him as the clouds hung the sky. As if even those vibrant stars cried for a soul that left too soon, the grey companions that covered them, embracing their friends as they covered their glittering tears.  

It was as if the Mother herself mourned over the end of a female, who would have been able to bring light into this empty world, letting the sky and nature hang low as she cried.  

Perhaps that was the only thing he would ever have in common with the mother.  

Tears for the seer, that could have been able to change the world – if only she would have granted herself more time, more freedom.  

But Azriel knew that Elain had ripped away her own time and freedom. If her heart would have been healed, having turned into a strong and steady, live giving tree, she would have changed everything. Would have been able to turn the world in anything she wanted to.  

Azriel knew of this strength, would have wished to see her bloom into it - showing her sisters, her family, the court, the world, of what she, the seer of the night court, was capable of - but she did not allow it.  

Elain having taken the higher chances, of a better world, with her - into a wet grave that promised her freedom.  

It was selfish of him, to not wish her this kind of freedom, to want her here again instead - but he was ready to make this selfish step, was ready to swear to the sad Mother above him, as the cold blade of Truth-Teller sliced open the crippled skin of his scarred palm.  

Blood dripping onto the live giving land, Elain had nursed, promising an eternal oath with drop, for drop, for drop, as the earth swallowed his red blood greedily.

Letting his hazel eyes bore past these dark clouds, seemingly looking right into the heart of the Mother, as this thin thread stretched between him and the sacred goddess. A bond, a wish, casted between them as the Mother took the prize, he was willing to pay.  

A memory for a memory.  

It was a lose try to find out who Elain really was - who she tried to be- but it was a chance. A crippled chance to know of her story from the blood that was shed in the sea, bound to stay in this world. And Azriel was ready to give his.

The red liquid dripping and dripping as he sat there in silence - hoping to find the first thing of the seer out- but there was nothing.

Nothing but the soft hue of golden light that caressed the dark realm of shadows around him. His brother and his mate sitting with hunched backs in front of the wide window to the sitting room, as he looked up to them through a clouded vision.  

Tears and shadows having created a black pond within the sea of flowers. Glittering under the soft golden stroke of light.  

Perhaps it was his imagination, perhaps his shadows, that shooed him back inside - letting light envelop him once again as his ears picked up for the first time, in hours, something different than the howling gust of wind or the ever-ringing words of Nesta Archeron in his head.  

It was a sob, a chocked sound that let his heart stutter once again as he entered the golden gleaming living room.  

Vassa and Lucien sitting, with hunched backs and founds as their eyes, opposite Feyre and Rhys that did not look verry different than the two red heads.  

Azriel knew from the many visits Vassa and Lucien had made, to see Elain, when he did not dare to speak with the bright seer. He had known of their burning hope, that Elain could see and detect what was precious to Koschei, but he also knew of their friendship that had formed.  

The fiery mortal Queen was by far no pleasant companion for most, but somehow, she had trusted the calm seer and grew friends with her rather soon. So, it was no surprise that her, always squared shoulders, sagged and shook from heart slicing sobs as she, too, screamed for the seer to return, to help them further, but she would not answer.

Not like the Queen wished at last.  

Rhys had left her, and a wide-eyed Lucien, some time before he cleared his throat. All the attention going to him as Vassa still tried to calm down -Feyre also trying to keep her feelings together and not lose them in front of a mortal, but there was no one that could have surpassed the tears as Rhys pulled out a letter, from between the worlds.  

It was neatly folded, a big cursive handwriting of black ink -that read ‘Vassa and Lucien’- covering the front of the yellowish paper.  

Azriel could not make it out clearly as he watched the situation from afar, the people in the room seemingly not knowing of his broad figure that stood in the doorway. As if he stood behind a mirrored glass, a stranger, an intruder on this moment.

But Rhys voice shattered the glass, made him step through the shadows and hide in a corner as he listened to his brother’s quiet words.  

“Nuala and Cerridwen had found this letter in Elain's chamber, do you wish to read it?”  

The Queen was still unable to speak, her body still wrecking from sobs, as Lucien answered for her - his normally strong, cheery voice nothing more of a saddened whisper: “Please, read it aloud.”  

His brother could do nothing but nod. Those bright violet eyes of his threatening to brim over with tears, once he broke the wax seal carefully, silently reading already over the last words of the middle Archeron.  

Azriel did not know how he should have reacted to the broken voice of Rhysand. He knew his brother was trying his best to hide it, but the bob of his throat, the slightly cracked voice at the beginning, gave him away.  

And even though he was drowned in sadness, just like his mate and the Queen, he pulled through and begun reading with shaking hands:

“My dear Vassa and Lucien,

it has been my pleasure, to get to know you two better in the last months. Though I do regret the circumstances of your visits - I do not regret a single moment I shared with you.  

Never will I forget these moments of laughter I shared with you, even in such a difficult situation, and never will I remember pain when I think back to or bond, Lucien.  

There will never course hurt through my mind, when I think of our parting. We parted in union and I am glad we did - your future had been bright to me, like your flames, for a long time now. I can’t express how long I had hoped for you to find your future and when you sought me out, and told me of your wish, Lucien, to break the mating bond - I was glad. And so unendingly happy that you finally saw your own future.  

I had hoped I could see it. See happiness coursing through your blood, like sunshine, but I guess my selfishness was bigger than this wish.

Though all I can give to you, as my last goodby and wish for you, is this: Love is a burning thing. One that blooms bright and brighter between two fires, that burn as one. A phoenix chasing between those bright flames as the rays of day will grant the bond of eternal love.

I am afraid that this is all I can offer to tell you. You will have to find the rest out on your own, though I hope a burning companion will stay by your side - all the way.  

And for you, Vassa, my dear friend - I can only tell you that I won’t be able to help you further. My life, like it was, having long ended when you read this. Freedom having already embraced me in a fierce hug, but I will give you what I know.  

My little knowledge shall be a salvation to your burning curse.  

‘Find his pulsing roots, red as blood do, they weave through the sacred grounds of his land. Hissing and burning will they try to chase you away. Spitting curse for curse at you, for every step, for every beat of your burning wings, you’ll make.  

But distraction, shall become your enemy. It’s luring song will be stronger than any curse of the heartless wizard, his evil laugh will lead you away from his cruel heart.  

A root, as black as a shadow, will lead your way. It’s song a loud symphony of screams and pain as you will find your way.’  

I sadly can’t help you more Vassa. I wished to be able to, but please understand that my powers are raw - untamed. Which made it difficult to see anything than darkness, but I hope darkness will not turn you.  

You are no coward; my dear friend and I wish for you all the happiness of this world as you will stand proud and tall against your greatest demons.  

With this I’ll say farewell.  

Perhaps the Mother will want of us to meet again someday.

Elain Archeron”

The Spymaster did not know what to do, how to react, as silence settled over their heads like a suffocating veil of dust, that just started to twirl and dance above their sulking figures, as Rhys rattled the sleeping sadness awake.  

But the veil was broken.  

Twisted and danced as it could not settle heavily on their shoulders – the Queen screaming, as if she were in pain, while Lucien and Feyre broke out into heavy sobs. A tear spilling from Rhysand’s eyes, while he, the always steady and strong Spymaster, fought once again for stance.  

Fighting a battle with his inner self, that just wanted to break and crumble to the floor, he was not able to breath properly, was not able to control the heavy darkness, that twirled restless around the talons of his wings and closed tighter and tighter in on him.  

Suffocating but also supporting him as he doubled over.  

It had hurt. Hurt to hear these words, hurt to know that Elain had forced the visions onto herself.  

Azriel knew that Elain wanted to help her two fiery friends as best as possible, which also meant abandoning her own health if only she could help them.  

But the worst was to know she had planned it. Had planned, long before she jumped off the cliff, to end things. To not give this new world, this new her, a chance.  

Up until this point the shadowsinger knew, that his family had hoped she did it unprepared and was unaware of her doing, but this letter proved well that she was ready, and willing, to go and leave her family behind like this.

Broken, crying, screaming, sobbing.  

“Elain, Elain, Elain,…" was all he heard over and over again in the veil of shadows as he held his heart, trying to stop the invisible bond- he just created with his blood- from suffocating his heart and ripping deeper into the hole that was already there. Little did he know, that this empty voice in his rounded ears, was his broken soul.  

Chanting the name of the seer – his friend- over and over again, in the hopes of her return.  

But he knew, deep down – his blood singing from it, that she would not return.

And so, did the rest of the room as they all sat as broken souls together. The Queen and the fox, her friends, sitting opposite her family, Rhysand and Feyre, while the Shadowsinger stood hunched in a corner – winnowing himself away as soon as he realized his brothers heavy gaze on his shaking form.

Letting darkness envelop, and carry him away, freely. Every place they would take him to better than these sobs and screams, that wrecked the proud walls of the bright estate. Though he did not think that his shadows would turn, to traitorous, their back at him and drop him off at the only place he dreaded to ever see – the cliff.  

The cliff that had helped the middle Archeron into her wet grave, but it could not be seen. All that he saw was a cloud of white fog, that only left some grass open to see – there was no edge, no end of the rock. It just seemed endless and full of freedom as it vanished into the white cloak.  

Though wind was howling, ripping fiercely at Azriel’s wings again, it did not drown out the beckoning call of the edge, but perhaps it was his shadows that had lured him in into stepping through the wet dust.  

Salty gusts of wind filling his nose thrills as he moved closer and closer to the edge – darkness, fog, salt and wind around him – while his booted feet moved with heavy steps on the wet grass.  

Though what left him baffled were the two figures sitting at the edge.  

Silence, as thick as the layer of shadows around them, cloaking their mourning forms while they tried to hide away under a violet and a pink blanket. It suddenly felt wrong to be here – to invade the twins' privacy like that- and he wanted to turn around and go.  

Wanted to let them mourn in silence, together, over their lost friend.  

No word came from their lips, yet they still beckoned him closer. Silently opening up the two blankets between them as they made space for their mourning master.  

It were no words that made them bind tighter in the wind and night, no, it was their shadows – that separated them from the world around them- who silently caressed the frayed edges of three broken hearts and forged them tighter together.  

No longer master and his students sitting, crying, on the edge, but a family of shadows that had just lost their light.

*******

“Elain! Thank the Mother, you are awake!” Elain could only groan in pain as she propped herself up on her elbows, Fersia’s loud voice echoing through the small hut and her pounding head.  

Soft golden hues illuminated the small space, while dancing to the soft gusts of wind that came in breezing through the window, as Elain rested a hand on her throbbing temple “What happened? And, where am I?”

“No need to worry, Goldenrod, you passed out – probably due to nervousness, Mother can be a bit too intimidating for some...”

But Elain only shook her head slightly, regretting it immediately as a pain, as heavy as the hit of a hammer, hammered down on her temple, remembering with awfully sharp senses the blood, the searing pain on her skin, the screeching voices, the darkness. It all came rushing back to her, making breathing once again a hard thing as Fersia rambled on about the effect of her Mother.  

“You did not notice?” was all she could say to interrupt the female Illyrian, that sat beside her bed. “What shall I have not noticed?” “The blood...” Elain could only breath the word as she saw the puddle again, singing at her in this screeching voice over and over again:

Drink up their blood – it's yours! Drink up their blood – it's yours!

A shiver wrecked through her body as she remembered it more and more. Panick and guilt trying to trap her once again, while she sat there on the large bed, that took most of the space from the chamber up. But this time Fersia was there – embracing her and caressing her back in soothing circles as soon as the shiver threatened to take over the seer's entire petite body.  

“It’s fine Goldenrod. You are safe, you are in my home, nothing will happen to you here – here is no blood.”

She wanted to believe her, wanted to trust the words of her friend, while her nose breathed in the calming scent of freshly fallen rain – it made her remember the forest, the greenery, the calming walks she had done outside of Velaris. This was pure salvation, she thought as she rested and calmed herself down in Fersia’s strong arms, though her traitorous heart could not help but to wish to smell cedar and night chilled mist. It was obvious to her that the seer would miss the shadowsinger, but still she decided to go.

Far away into the woods of an unknown land, for her, this fierce and strong female – that held her so carefully, tried to calm her so badly – being the reason of her entire stay. Being the reason for her bravery to go, but her cowardice how she left her family behind.  

It was too late now anyway, was all Elain could try to convince herself as she closed her eyes. Resting, for only a little amount of time, against the smooth leather plates on her shoulder.  

“Fersia?” “Yes?” “Can I go for a walk?”

Her friend’s green eyes bore worriedly into her brown ones for a moment, before she gestured to Elain’s belt; “You know how to use this dagger?” The seer nodded, hoping that she would not be in the need of using the tool of bloodshed, that was bound to her belt and covered under the layer of heavy fabric, before she passed out.  

Fersia only nodded in return, helping her to get up on wobbly feet and led her to the door. Letting her walk away on soft steps as the loud words of Fersia echoed, even deep in the forest, in her ears over and over.  

“Be careful and don’t move that far away from here – I told you it’s dangerous at night.”  

Elain could only remember these words as she stumbled over sticks and stones, in the hue of soft silver moonlight, a nervous hand always resting around the delicate hilt of her dagger – Fate seeker. She decided would be the name of the blade. It might not become a legendary dagger, but it would help her to seek the right path on her fate and would be by her side.

This dagger, the cloak and the memories, were after all the only things of her old life she dared to take with her into these new lands.  

These dangerous new lands she realized as howling, cooing of an owl and rustles, echoed through the night.  

The snapping of a stick to her right, close to her, but not too close as that she could have stepped onto it, making her draw Fate seeker. Pointing the delicate tip of the dagger at the rustling bush.

_____________previous chapter | next chapter__________________________ 

So, I am not entirely happy with the end, but I hope you can spare me for that😅, anyway I hope you liked it.

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I’m going to make a post, and it’s going to be one of those “Defending Nesta Archeron” posts. But I’m going to go about it in a way that will hopefully help the anti’s understand a bit more why the “Nesta Stans” feel she deserves better. But I’m not going to coddle her, and lift her on a pedestal either.

Also, this is going to be a REALLY LONG POST. Also also, I am NOT a Nesta Anti. Nesta is my favourite character and why will be explained at the end of this long post.

I’m going to start off by saying that, the anti’s are correct in stating that Nesta is not a “good” character in the fact thats she is a bitch. She isn’t nice, she has a lot to make up for and make right. But I feel like the arguments the anti’s use, they don’t try to understand why Nesta is the way she is.

I want to start in the first thing Nesta does in the series that gets hate. Letting Feyre, her younger sister, solely provide for the family. As well as having such anger at Feyre despite Feyre keeping her family alive.

This is the first reason of many, that would make the ACOTAR books so much better if it were not in first person, because we never fully get Nestas thought process and reasoning.

There is such a small amount to go off, to try and understand Nestas thought process. Feyre even flat out asked Nesta why, and Nesta was fully prepared to answer, before getting interrupted by (I think) the two ravens Hybern sent to capture Nesta.

But what we DID get was that Nesta was waiting for their father to step up and provide for his children, keep his children alive, and waiting for him so long, that by the time Feyre finally took action, Nesta had so much hate for their father for not doing anything that she also resented Feyre for stepping in, and letting their father get off with doing nothing.

This isn’t a good enough reason to be a bitch to Feyre, and I understand that. But we don’t even know the whole story from Nestas side, because again, just as she was about to explain and answer Feyre, they got interrupted.

But even then, after a point, if, or when Nesta did come to, and realize that Feyre should NOT be the one to provide for the family, and put her foot down and stop Feyre, it would ultimately be worse for the Archeron family, because by then, Nesta has no survival skills, hunting skills, or any skills to provide for the family, so it would be more beneficial to let Feyre keep going out to provide and keep the family alive, which could be another reason Nesta comes off so bitchy at the start. Because she would know that there’s nothing she could do, and she needs to rely on letting her youngest sister go out. People also use this as a reason to hate Nesta, yet I don’t see people holding Elain with the same weight of this crime, as she ALSO let her younger sister go out to provide for the family. But this post isn’t about Elain. People also seem to gloss over the fact that Feyre herself starts the process of forgiving Nesta when Tamlin sends her back home in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Nesta and Feyre end up talking.

Moving on to Nestas “sins” in A Court of Mist and Fury. This is another instance that shows that these books are lacking because of the first person limitations. Because being stuck in Feyre’s head, we know how crucial it is at this point that Feyre and the Inner Circle have that place in the Human Lands to meet with the Human Queens. We know what’s at stake. Nesta, does not.

And Nesta has every right to be cautious and wary of letting Feyre and the Inner Circle use her estate, because she grew up hearing the legends(albeit false) of the fae, and grew up hating the fae. Hell, even FEYRE grew up the same way, and we see this in just how long it takes for her to truly and fully open up and warm up to Tamlin and Lucien and the other fae in the Spring Court in the first book. Nesta, at that point, had every right to be hesitant.

Once this bump is passed over, Nesta even has her guests question her, and not kindly. Cassian at this point only knows what was told to him by Feyre and Rhys, and not the whole story, and jumps on Nesta the first chance presented for allowing Feyre to provide for the family.

Even with Wings and Embers, when, for the first time, we get to look through eyes that are not Feyre’s we see that it is Cassian instigating any tention between the two. While I love Wings and Embers, and the chemistry between Cassian and Nesta, you can’t say that Nesta starts any of their arguments. Though I may be wrong, but Nesta only ever responds to Cassian intently instigating her. She never comes to play nicely or fairly. But she only ever gives as good as she gets.

And Nestas hesitance, wariness, and caution against fae is proved, at the end of Mist and Fury, when her and Elain are kidnapped in the middle of the night, and forced into the cauldron, as a move against Feyre.

Moving on now to A Court of Wings and Ruin, you can’t deny that Nesta starts a redemption, albeit a small one, but it’s there. Just as the growth of forgiveness in Feyre’s heart.

You can’t deny it, especially when Nesta steps up, and actively helps, when she honestly has every reason to say no, and be done with it, and go on with her new Fae life. No one would have grounds to blame Nesta if she refused to help. But she didn’t. She agreed to train with Amren in figuring out her powers so she can find the hole in the wall, and close it. She agreed to go to the Court of Nightmares with Amren for this same reason. She came around and agreed to go to the meeting of the High Lords, and tell her story, after initially saying No. After the wall came down, she agreed to go with the Inner Circle to play her part in nullifying the cauldron. It was HER idea to lead the King of Hybern away from the cauldron so Feyre and Amren could do their thing with the cauldron. She is the one to cover Cassians body with her own against Hybern, despite Cassian telling her to run, she stays there, believing she will die. And when Elain stabs Hybern in the throat, Nesta is the one who ultimately finishes him off, cutting his head off all together.

You can not say that Nesta did not start her redemption in Wings and Ruin, because despite everything that’s happened, and having every viable reason to say no, and live her life, she does choose to help. Which is why reading about Nesta in Frost and Starlight is so heartbreaking and infuriating.

A Court of Frost and Starlight, I believe is the very book that so many people build their hate for Nesta on. She’s a bitch. She’s cold hearted. She’s distanced herself. She uses Rhys and Feyre’s money to feed her alcohol addiction. She has taken everything she’s built up towards in Wings and Ruin, and knocked it down.

To you I say, the reason is trauma. We learn in Wings and Embers that Nesta was sexually assaulted by Thomas. In Wings and Ruin, we learn that, because of the end of Mist and Fury, Nesta can’t take a normal bath because she’s brought back to the events of the Cauldron, and now in Frost and Starlight, we learn that Nesta can’t have a fire. She lives in the freezing cold in winter, because she can’t light a fire, because all she hears in the fire is her fathers neck being snapped right in front of her. This is not even mentioning the trauma of losing her mother at a young age, or having her father become a cripple and refuse to provide for his children. Nesta has so much trauma.

Nesta does not heal in the same way her sisters do. Nesta is pushing everyone away, because realistically, there’s no one who would stand by her side before anyone else’s. And why should Nesta keep the Inner Circle close when she is clearly the black sheep?

The only one to show Nesta any kind of respect is Amren, and that’s pushing it. And as much as I want to say Cassian does as well, I truly can’t, given that most, if not all, of their arguments were instigated by him. And to have him flat out tell her “Your sisters love you, but I don’t know why” or whatever the quote is, when all Nesta was doing was telling Cassian to go home, that she did not want his gift. This would also further show reason in her distancing herself.

Rhys makes no effort in hiding the fact that he doesn’t really like Nesta for letting Feyre be the one to provide for her family. Mor starts acting like a straight up bitch to Nesta in Wings and Ruin when Nesta actively starts showing concern and worry for Cassian. And you can say that it is because Mor is protective of Cassian and doesn’t want him hurt, but Mor goes out of her way to let her negative feelings towards Nesta known, even when Cassian isn’t around. Azriel and Feyre actually will use Nesta(and Cassian I guess) as the butt of the joke, when Azriel swoops in to “save” Feyre(for flight training) from Cassian and Nesta tension. Even Elain isn’t there to be a support for Nesta during Wings and Ruin, but I won’t blame her for it, because she’s also going through her own issues.

The reason I brought that all up, is to bring light to the fact that Nesta probably feels like she will be invalidated in her trauma with the Inner Circle. Nesta probably feels like they will not care, and thus pushes herself away, before that pain is added on. Nesta probably feels as if she truly has no one to turn to with her own traumas.

Nesta has trauma, and she’s dealing with it in her own ways. Are her ways the right ways to deal with trauma? Hell no. Not even close. And she probably knows this. She probably sees two paths of dealing before her. The right path, and the wrong path.

Here’s the thing though. Here’s the sad reality. So many people in our own world have so many traumas, and take that wrong path. So many people who have traumas, see the two paths before them, knowing which ones right and wrong, yet CHOOSE to take the wrong path to deal with their traumas because it’s easier. It’s not right. It’s easier. So many people, take their traumas and ALLOW it to shape them for the worse. Nesta Archeron, is one of those people.

The way Wings and Ruin ended left hope for Nesta to have a “happy” healing process. And I use the word “happy” extremely loosely there. Because Healing is not happy. It’s just made easier when you allow yourself to be surrounded by love and support. But SJM clearly didn’t choose that path for Nesta. The sneak peak at A Court of Silver Flames at the END of Frost and Starlight shows that SJM has a different healing path planned for Nesta and has from the beginning of Frost and Starlight I believe.

Nesta is my favourite character because the way she’s written, especially in Frost and Starlight, makes her one of the most realistic and human characters in the entire series, and the way she handles her trauma, proves that. I am excited to see her healing journey in A Court of Silver Flames.

Nesta is a bitch. She pushed everyone away. She let her trauma shape her for the worse. She has a whole lot to make up for, apologize for, and be held accountable to. But she needs to be given the chance to do so, before people write her off as an unforgivable character.

At the beginning of this post, I said it would be a long one, and it truly is. But despite everything I’ve said in this post, this next paragraph is where I will end this post. It is also the most important paragraph of the entire post, without question, so read it and understand it.

Trauma does NOT and should NEVER be an EXCUSE for shitty behaviour. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to allow it to excuse shitty behaviour. That being said, it can, and often does EXPLAIN why said shitty behaviour is shitty. Excuse and Explain are two completely different words with very different meanings. So do not let the explanation of shitty behaviour EXCUSE said shitty behaviour.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading.