#anti jude

[unseelie-kaye]

you know, if I was forced to live on land away from my mother and home, out of my natural habitat and then I actually managed to make friends there and I fell in love with my best friend (so deeply that I was willing to murder the other girls he took to bed) and I broke his heart because we were both young and stupid but it was the biggest regret of my life and then some arrogant little wench kidnapped him and forced him to take the crown right after he watched his family (who had all rejected and abused him) suffer death right in front of him (in front of the entire court) but he decided to sleep with her (and then she forced him to seduce me and sleep with me for her own ends, though he didn’t want me) I would be a bitch too

[dmitri-smerdyakov]

JK Rowling is being a Holocaust denier now…makes sense now why in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, she wrote the villain as evil for wanting to prevent the Second World War - and by default the Holocaust - from happening 💀

[fenrysmoonbeamswife]

Listen I need people to realize you can dislike a female character without it automatically meaning you're misogynistic. I don't hate Taryn because she's soft or weak or a woman or she had different dreams or ways of survival.

I can absolutely 100% acknowledge that Locke was incredibly abusive and Taryn was his victim and I completely support her ✨murdering✨ him and I can acknowledge that everything she did was the equivalent to what Jude did and they were both trying to survive.

But I can also acknowledge that Taryn was an absolutely horrendous sister/twin. The Lost Sister is literally just pages and pages of her blaming Jude for her own actions? She has no loyalty, she betrayed Jude over and over again and then had the gall to guilt her into helping her get out of her own messes. Taryn used Jude and endangered her repeatedly and then blamed Jude for all of it. And Jude still helped her and she did it AGAIN.

I don't expect Taryn to be like Jude or want the same things as her, Vivi is my second favourite character in TCP and she is flawed, she wants different things in life but I still love her. But she has always supported her sisters, she has never betrayed them or used them and even when she didn't understand or agree with them, she was always there for them in as much of a capacity as she could be as a fae.

Jude also has flaws, it's what makes her so compelling, she can be ruthless, she can be ambitious to the point of causing harm, but she would never harm her sisters. She would never betray her sisters or use them for her own gain.

Taryn was betraying Jude from the very start, then she used her when things went wrong and blamed her for it all. Jude is a much better person than me because Taryn honestly should have been exiled with Madoc as far as I'm concerned

[siriuslyobsessedwithfiction]

Writing YA books about Faes/Faeries: Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas

I’ve started to notice this trend and discussions on how some hardcore SJM fans didn't enjoy The Cruel Prince, whereas the Cruel Prince fans tend to be critical of SJM’s work.

Some of it can be blamed on tiktokification of reading, essentially wanting to just read porn, which would be fine, if people would admit to it instead of shitting on good YA books and making them unpopular, which results in publishing of more mediocre smut with problematic undertones with no consistent plot, which in turn dumbs down the audience. There's no need to turn an entire age category of books into Wattpad fanfics.

I’ve seen ACOTAR fans on tiktok (before I deleted tiktok) say they “didn’t get” Cruel Prince or had to DNF because it was “boring” and "too much politics, no smut”. I had heard all of that before I read either Holly Black's or SJM's work so here's an objective take because I'm not a hardcore fan of either of them.

If you think The Cruel Prince has a lot of politics, you have been tiktokified or don't remember a book that wasn't romance or YA to begin with, so please go read one. It's good for you to broaden your horizons. It doesn't have a lot of politics even for YA. But I will say this: the pacing was slow and the romance was practically nonexistent. You'll have to really look into details and speculate. I wasn't digging it at first at all. I had to come back and reread it again after finishing the trilogy. I fell in love with Jude x Cardan only during the second reread. The Cruel Prince trilogy is not for smut seekers.

However, what some fans don't realize is that unlike SJM, Holly Black doesn't excuse Cardan's or Jude's actions to make them look like great people and leaders or forces the narrative and other characters' pov's to do that. Holly actually writes Fae as what they're supposed to be - actual different creatures from humans with different ways of thinking and feeling. I read somewhere that humans have black vs white morality they navigate, while the fair folk have orange vs blue morality. It's not the same for them, and yet, ones who are actually evil are easily distinguishable. Holly manages to pull that off beautifully. The writing in that regard is masterful. I would also say that Jude and Taryn have adapted to and adopted orange vs blue morality in their own ways. Which translates in them seeking security in the world that's not designed for them, as well as their ambitions.

SJM, on the other hand, writes Fae as way too powerful, constantly horny, conventionally hot people. There is no orange vs blue or even grey morality, they're just selfish people with victim complexes. Their backstories serve as an excuse, not as an explanation. Everyone yaps about how powerful they are but always need their asses saved. PTSD is written unrealistically and the author only whips it out when she needs it. Characters' grand gestures of growth feel shallow since they always go back on their words or ignore the actual root of problems. Faerie folklore is not properly explored, random mythology is tossed in, plot bends backwards to make the perfect ending for protagonists...I would call it porn with plot except the smut isn't even good.

SJM also can't write politics, so instead she feeds her readers propaganda so they won't question the rulers' incompetence and incapacity to make a change in centuries. The whole thing feels like a parody of making fun of filthy rich people. It would be at least somewhat clever if it was.

Lastly, a shout-out to Margaret Rogerson for writing the best and loveliest way I've seen about what it's like to give up humanity to become Fae and grapple with remaining humane in her book An Enchantment of Ravens. Fair warning though, the book is pure fluff, no smut.

[stargirlie25]

Random: Why do you dislike taryn duarte?

Me:

“I get why he chose her. I just wish she had chosen me.”

Thats it.

[nikalaeva]

It's easier for me to criticize than to praise, but I'll try. And to make it more interesting, I'll compare my favorite fantasy romances with most empty waste of my time.

Your Feyre became High Lady by marriage, devaluing the title of Cursebreaker. She had magic of seven High Lords, but it didn't help at all in most important war, and she has no friends or allies of her own.

My Jude became Queen of Elfheim because the land chose her, saving from death. She outsmarted her father, the most cunning and cruel general, ruled in secret as seneschal, and made advantageous alliances.

Your Rhysand is supposedly the most powerful, surrounded by strongest fighters, his army is the best of all, but he couldn't protect his wife's sisters, fucked up with Book of Breaths and almost lost the war.

My Cardan is a pathetic loser twink, very young and almost always drunk. But he is cunning as hell, saved the woman he loved from underwater captivity, avoiding the war, pal up with her allies while being their prisoner, and created an entire island.

Oh, Jude is still human. And Cardan is a true fairy, not just a guy with pointy ears.

Your Feyre left the man she died for in a fucking message and married her rapist. My Rose went to a strange, faraway country to save her man, but to kill him if she couldn't. Not to turn into a bloodsucking killer to be with him forever - kill him.

Your Rhysand thought for a second that age gap between him and his wife more than between her and their son. My Dimitri was going crazy and pushing away his love because he was her teacher just several years older. He is more responsible than 500+ years old ruler.

Oh, and despite being coolest, Dimitri became a monster. And Rose had an "alternative" - Adrian, who wasn't turned into an abuser and asshole, to show how beautiful love with Dimitri is.

Your Feyre hasn't done a damn thing for women (or anyone), her "feminism" is to be proud of role as a thief, saboteur and half-naked toy of a powerful man. My Vasya Petrovna (I'll die and rip anyone's throat out for her) dresses up as a boy and defends her right to be a witch, challenges ancient monsters, and saves everyone she can with her brains, courage and unbending will.

Your Rhysand chose to die with his mate, leaving his son an orphan, and at 500+ years old he's an infantile sexoholic. My Morozko, the ancient god of death and winter, make a deal with his enemy, a monster of chaos, choosing to be an eternal prisoner without memories about his love, saving woman that he loved as he could.

Whoa, Morozko didn't rape her in order to "protect" her. And it wouldn't be Vasya who would have to change - he would have become a mortal for her. One PG-13 sex scene was hotter than all the sex in ACOTAR series.

Why am I only comparing to Feyre? Well, she's the FMC, three books were enough to show her. I just don't believe Nesta would go to HoW with Cassian, and not decide to die in slums or run away. Elain is so side character that most of discussions about her will be fiction, not canon. Rhysand and Cassian were not even close to any of the men mentioned above. They are not otherwordly, old creatures, not morally gray, but only insulting to women whom they supposedly love more than life.

Romance in ACOTAR is vulgarity, violence and gaslighting, feminism is a mask and illusion, and the characters are too "cool" and therefore boring and flat.

Respect yourself. Read books where authors give a care about the plot, worldbuilding and development of unusual, fairytale love.

[1800naveen]

Jude Duarte fans

There is a clear difference between Jude fans on Tumblr and Jude fans on Tik Tok.

On Tumblr, people actually get Jude's character. They go more into her character and get/understand who she actually is. That there is more to her and how she's a selfless person that will do anything for the people she loves.

On Tik Tok, she's only a killer. That's it. She's just morally grey to them. I mean yeah, she killed people but she isn't the unhinged killer that TT fans perceive her as. The "You're not a killer, Jude" thing and how they go on saying, "then she kills Valerian!" Nah, Madoc means that she isn't like him. Jude is a killer but she's not a true killer. MADOC DIPS A CLOAK IN THE BLOOD OF THE PEOPLE HE KILLS. And they always use that fanart of her with blood on her head. I do like it but y'all stay using it, get something else.

The people who glaze Jude annoy me. The ones who think that she can defeat anyone because she's a human who has tricked her way and killed a couple of fae. If you tell them that there are characters who can defeat her, they go "NUH UH." FUCK YOU MEAN?

The slideshows where they put four characters and say who will win and people have the audacity to say "Jude will win." My girl is NOT winning this, I'm sorry. She's still human at the end of the day. It's only fair if you put her against other human characters like Kaz Brekker or Aaron Warner.

I saw a slideshow that had Jude, Feyre, Aelin, and Fang Runin. In the comments, someone said "They would just team up and be friends." Nah. Jude would be disgusted by Rin and her actions, Feyre and Aelin too. Rin committed genocide. And I don't think Rin is capable of making friends besides Kitay. Why would Jude be friends with a woman who committed heinous crimes like this?

The mischaracterization of Jude will never not piss me off.

[megumiifushiiguro]

cardan is so real for this hadfghjhgfd go away taryn!!

[bookbitchx]

Okay, but let's just imagine for a second that Nyx's price to coming back alive was all of his illyrian/High Lord's heir powers and all he's left with is the basics of a High Fae?

I mean, it's canon that everyone who comes back alive gives up something, and yet Nesta was the only one who gave up most of her powers to bring back Nyx and his parents...

I know SJM will never possibly take away anything from her favorite characters, but damn it, it would be a good ass arc for Nyx?

Imagine him useless, sort of like Cardan, and he falls in love with someone similar to Jude to bail him out of situations.

[highladyofterrasen7]

This post is dedicated to nothing but my hatred for Taryn Duarte

Reblog or like if you also hate Taryn Duarte!

[rabid-catboy]

Yeah okay good article

[thechildofshadows]

is it just me or does cardan from his own POV completely differ from how people see him from outside?

[justjudethoughts]

The older I get, the more I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people who just really, really hate joy. And the thing is, I don't think they realize they do. I think our culture has built them to be like that. I think it's part of the "Men Without Chests" thing C.S. Lewis talks about.

All you have to do is make a post about something you care about and watch the responses you get. No matter how innocuous what you said was, somebody is going to be weird and nihilistic about it. Of course, they have a right to respond. But that isn't the point. The point is that you could say something like "the memory of my great grandparents formed me as a person" and someone will respond "yeah, but you didn't know them, so—"

Say that you like Valentine's day and count how many responses like this: "I hate Valentine's day, it's stupid and made up" you get. Or that you like Taylor Swift. Or that you are moved by a certain tradition. Or that you think children's literature is important. Someone is going to pipe up for the express purpose of negating what you just said. They aren't getting anything out of it or contributing an experience of beauty to the world. They're just cutting down a spot someone else found and expressed beauty.

Have we really become so bitter that when someone shares a piece of their heart or their story our first instinct is to shut them down? Do we really hate happiness so much that we wish to dismantle anything we think we "made up"?

Gee, I'm sorry you think holidays are stupid and made up (wait til you learn where cultures come from). I'm sorry you won't listen to any music that's "too popular." I'm sorry that you don't think history is living and breathing and beautiful and matters today. I'm sorry you don't think anything matters. I'm sorry you think we are on a big rock of meaninglessness. But I don't.

And frankly, I think I'm having more fun than you.

[fenrysmoonbeamswife]

I have such an issue with characters that are portrayed as sweet and endearing when they're more ruthless and disloyal than anyone. Characters that are simultaneously judgemental and hypocritical. Characters that only accept another character when they do exactly what they want or need.

If a character is ruthless or takes issue with another character or uses other characters for their own gain, fine. But own the fuck up to it, portray them that way in the narrative and don't vilify other characters for their same behaviours or lesser behaviours.

There's literally nothing I hate more than a hypocrite. A character could be the nastiest skank ass hoe ever but if they own it then that's fine, you do you. But don't pretend they're a golden retriever, sweet little flower child while they're blatantly being an asshole in the text

[nikalaeva]

Mates, arranged marriages, from enemies to lovers, etc.

For a long time I didn’t understand why I don’t like relationships between FMC and MMC in various books. I mean, I looking for something, but find nothing but dissapointment. And one day I suddenly saw the light and was even surprised that I had not realized this before.

No matter how hard the author tries to show FMC as a strong, cool, independent woman (you know, in a la medieval society), she is always classically feminine in relationships. And if she is not, the author makes the man extremely masculine, a kind of wild beast that this girl tamed. If she is a poor peasant girl, he is a prince. If she is a princess, he is a king. If she is a queen, he is a god or ancient creature such as death, space or, idk, the primeval void.

I don’t mind reading about toxic, terrible relationships. I like possessiveness and jealousy in books IF IT'S MUTUAL. But in most cases (if not all) I see not hate/love, but the offender/victim. And the victim is a woman.

I guess that's why I almost idolize Jude and Cardan's relationship - they're both toxic. They both can hurt, use, deceive and frame each other, and they have successfully do it throughout story. Jude is considered even more dangerous than Cardan. And let's face it - marriage with Cardan doesn't change anything; Jude would have found a way to force fairies to recognize herself as the Queen if she had been obsessed with the throne.

Why can't a woman be powerful on her own? Why does her development and formation always happen thanks to a man? I don’t call myself a feminist, but I’m so offended when I want to read a story about a female character, her life, difficultes, doubts and worries about herself, but I see how she and the author jerks off to a man.

I already cringe when I see "enemies to lovers" trope in the annotation, because I don’t expect to see real enemies there, a confrontation between two vicious, cunning, powerful personalities. No, with a 95% probability FMC will be just a sassy hater of dresses, getting into trouble, and MMC will be Mr. Dark saving her ass so that he can first kick her and then fuck her.

Joan of Arc was young. Marie Skłodowska-Curie was married. Valentina Tereshkova, Clara Zetkin, Margaret Thatcher, and this list can be continued for a very long time - throughout history, women have climbed into male professions and achieved success. What, their lives and stories are not interesting, not inspiring, not amazing?

Can I have Mulan instead of Cinderella, Elsa instead of the Little Mermaid? Can I have a woman who is as dangerous to a man as he is to her? Can I read about a love where both partners are like mad dogs? Or am I asking too much?

[shiveringfrogspawn]