#anti rhysand club

[merwgue]

Everytime I see fanart of rhysand fingering feyre in Hewn city an angel dies

Yall do realise they FORCIBLY made a whole nation watch their high lord get off?? Yall do realise how traumatising it is?

Imagine if Biden rubbed one out on live TV and you'd be jailed for life if you don't watch

Imagine the children watching that...yea...

[arson-09]

sometimes i remember ppl justify rhysand keeping feyre pregnancy issues from her and i just cant.

If my husband, who’s supposed to be my equal and tell me everything, kept the fact my pregnancy was very likely to kill me. My ass would go get an abortion and then to the courthouse to file for divorce. Aint no way im letting such a disgusting violation of my autonomy go unpunished

[ennawrite]

every time i get reminded of Feyre Archeron’s age I’m just like “damn…my girl should’ve been at the club…my girl should STILL be at the club” 😭😭

[keepittoyourshelf]

Need further proof of SJM’s reductive view of womanhood?

Nesta is finally worthy of being accepted into the cool kids club once she stops drinking and whoring and settles down with a man and the possibility of babies in her future. She’s a good lil’ contrite breeder now, and worthy of her man and Rhysand’s respect.

The issue here is not that pregnancy is bad and anti-feminist. It’s that SJM has a track record of portraying it as the CORRECT choice.

If you’re dim-witted enough to imply otherwise, then continuing to read these books isn’t going to do much to help your mental acuity.

[nikethestatue]

I'm in the same boat as you with waiting for YEARS for our Elriel book, but I'd rather it take time and be good than the quickly thrown together mess that was HOFAS.

Speaking of which, I know people are mad that SJM has released 3 CC books and taking her time with ACOTAR, but genuinely she needed CC3 to come first to set up the overarching plot of ACOTAR 5 and beyond.

The fandom is tearing itself apart from the inside with all the ship wars, anti Inner Circle/Rhysand/Feyre talk, but it's all free publicity. SJM and BB have no reason to give anything away when booktok, online forums and book clubs are blowing up with theories.

I'm just saying I understand your frustration, but the best thing I did about a year ago was pull back a lot from the fandom and go into others (more lightly). It really helps and I have found some excellent series in the process. ACOTAR 5 will come out when it's good and ready, and our ship will get the story they deserve. 🤍

At this point, honestly, I pretty much made peace with this fandom. It is what it is. That's why I usually don't get involved in fights or arguments much. My position has been the same for years, my goalposts haven't changed, and it's pretty much the same stance I've always had. Nothing, in the past almost 4 years, has ever made me question Elriel, their romance, them being endgame.

The one thing I would disagree with you on is the need for CC3 being first.

Now, maybe whatever SJM initially had in her mind was something needed. However, what she put out, was crap. No one can ever say that Nesta, Az and Bryce wandering in some cave was necessary in terms of the crossover. We got a hologram and a sleeping Asteri that was killed in the same chapter. The same info could've been found by Nesta or Elain or Az under the Prison, and the author who wrote Mort the talking doorknob, could've very easily created a non-Bryce related scenario. Example: ELAIN SEES A VISION. Simple. Sets up the story perfectly. She sees a vision day in and day out, hears a voice that is trying to tell her something and she can't understand. She only knows she needs to go under the Prison. Switch Bryce for Elain. She and Nesta and Az go underneath and experience basically exactly the same thing that we've read in HOFAS.

Unless SJM is actually planning to bring back Bryce to rule Dusk, there was NO point to Bryce there at all.

It was a pet project of a spoiled author who doesn't hear 'no' very often.

[acourtofthought]

Just adding a disclaimer here since I recently got a harassing anon claiming I think I'm an expert on Az:

***I am not an expert on Azriel. This is simply my interpretation of the text and his character of which there can be many. Until SJM confirms or disproves things in her next book, my interpretation will only be as valid or as wrong as anyone else's. These are only my thoughts and opinions. If you are bothered with Anti E/riel posts than I encourage you to look away and seek out blogs that are more in line with your own thoughts***

WHY DOES AZ WANT ELAIN TO BE HIS MATE?

Because "the Cauldron chose three sisters."

Because "my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another "

Because "Lucien will never be good enough for her" (this is not fact but merely a comment born from Azriel's own insecurities. Lucien is a favorite of the authors, a character who has been around since book 1, and a character she's setting up to be a High Lord so he's obviously "good enough").

Because "she has no interest in him anyway"

Because she gave him a gift last Solstice but didn't get her mate one.

Because of the envy in his chest

Because Elain knows why he doesn't come to family dinners or why he didn't go near the fire.

In my opinion, those don't seem like valid enough reasons to want a mating bond with someone because those things don't speak of Elain as an individual outside of Az.

SJM is a romance author and if she wants readers to believe a male is in love with a female, she's not going have us fill in the blanks as to why he loves her.

Some claim Az wants to be Elain's mate because he truly loves her but nothing Az has said or thought has managed to convince me that's the case. He might love the idea of having a mate and being worthy of a bond, he might love the idea of being someone's protector, he might love the idea of three brothers and three sisters because of the convenience but what does any of that have to do with the person Elain is?

Feyre and Nesta could have had another attractive third sister named (XYZ) and those particular statements would still hold true.

If Elain had interest in Lucien then would Az feel the same? Or is it only because Elain doesn't seem interested that he latched on to the idea of the third sister being available so he could be part of the three bothers / three sisters club?

If she hadn't gotten him a gift last year, would he have become fixated on her?

He would have still felt envious of Rhys and Cassian even if Feyre and Nesta had no third sister.

Elain knowing why he hasn't been to family dinners is once again making it all about Az and he doesn't give her credit for how she knows. He could have said, "Elain was always so observant / perceptive and it was something that impressed him" (something Cassian actually acknowledges about Elain) but we don't get that even though he's got no issues thinking on Gwyns charming irreverence later in the series. That she's come a long way since Sangravah. That she gives a beautiful, precise blow with her sword. Why are his thoughts of Gwyn as an individual more poetic than those he has of Elain as an individual (outside of her physical appearance)? The thought of Gwyn's happiness sparks something in his chest but does he ever think of Elain's happiness?

What about Elain outside of Az does Az like? You should like someone for who they are and not only what you think they do for you.

Even as early as book 1, we get the sense that Rhys is impressed with Feyre outside of what Feyre has done for him:

A deep, elegant voice replied this time. “She’s building a trap.” Rhysand. “But the Middengard—” “Relies on its scent to see,” Rhysand answered, and I gave a special glower for him as I glanced at the rim of the trench and found him smiling at me. “And Feyre just became invisible.” His violet eyes twinkled. I made an obscene gesture before I broke into a run, heading straight for the worm.

“Yes, I’d say almost my entire court bet on you dying within the first minute; some said you’d last five, and”—she turned over the paper—“and just one person said you would win.”

Early on in book 2:

“You are no one’s subject.”

“You can be a pawn, be someone’s reward, and spend the rest of your immortal life bowing and scraping and pretending you’re less than him, than Ianthe, than any of us. If you want to pick that road, then fine. A shame, but it’s your choice.” The shadow of wings rippled again. “But I know you—more than you realize, I think—and I don’t believe for one damn minute that you’re remotely fine with being a pretty trophy for someone who sat on his ass for nearly fifty years, then sat on his ass while you were shredded apart—” “Stop it—” “Or,” he plowed ahead, “you’ve got another choice. You can master whatever powers we gave to you, and make it count. You can play a role in this war.

Even before Nessian's book, Cassian has a lot to say about Nesta as a person:

He’d left their frst encounter here not entirely sure where he’d stood, or who’d had the upper hand.

And, Mother damn him, in the past few weeks, he’d found himself turning over every word and look he’d exchanged with her, over and over.

“You’re ten minutes late,” she only said, moving toward the far end of theroom, wherea frecrackled against early springs chill. Where the sound of the flames might cover their voices. Clever girl.

His temper rose with dizzying speed at the words, the absurd perfection of her. A blade given form—that’s what she was.

The fire drew out the golden sheen in Nesta’s hair as she angled her head. A predator sizing up a worthy opponent.

And in those blue-gray eyes, he could see the thoughts swirling in her as if they were smoke under glass. The cunning mind at work behind that face

He’d seen that fire before—and the steel. He half wondered what might happen if the two of them ever met. What might come of it.

With Rhys and Cassian I can feel the respect they have for Feyre and Nesta and none of that has anything to do with what the sisters had done for them. In fact both Feyre and Nesta fought like hell against Rhys and Cassian at that time in the story, actively expressing their disinterest towards them, yet the males were still impressed by who the females were.

Shouldn't Az be thinking about how impressed he was that Elain stood up to Nesta? Shouldn't he admire her for wanting to help do something dangerous, encouraging her to follow through because he believes she can? Shouldn't he (and not Cassian) be commenting on how Elain saw everything Nesta was?

Instead it's "Elain got "ME" a gift" and Elain knows why "I" don't come to dinners" and "I" saved Elain after all (even though Elain saved Briar, Nesta and Cassian and stabbed the King which are all big deals yet he doesn't ever mention any of that). It's like he doesn't view Elain as anything outside of what she's done for him or that he got to save a damsel in distress. And sure, he lent her TT but that's so he could feel like he was doing something worthy after Cassian first tried to. Yes, he helped her with the potatoes but that's because she reminded him of his mother being a servant.

Why do we have both Rhys and Cassian remark on Feyre and Nesta's cleverness yet we've never heard anything remotely close to that from Az? Why did Lucien give Elain credit for killing the king yet Azriel never once thinks on it or mentions it to Cassian as proof that she is capable of doing the things that need to be done? What about Elain impresses Az? If we have no examples in his own words or thoughts of why he likes her outside of "she got him a gift", "she doesn't want her mate" and, "she's a beautiful female whose scent of arousal makes his eyes roll back in his head" then I'm standing firmly in my belief that he doesn't actually want Elain for Elain.

[dreaminginvelaris]

sorting acotar characters into hogwarts houses

idk why i decided to make this post but it was fun sooo...

lmk if y'all agree or disagree. Also please no hate, sometimes a post is just for fun and i don't need any negativity. UNLESS its hate for elain which by all means go ahead ;) (because of ppls sensitivity, this joke isnt an invitaion to go on a full blown elain hate rant just offer a few jabs, especially if you agree on the elain section and move on, if you wanna go on a rant, message me or submit a post and i'll response, all the love <3)

Slytherin: Ambition, Cunning, Leadership, and Resourcefulness

Rhysand: of course Rhys is Slytherin, the man screams Slytherin. We all know he's cunning, often coming up with plans to get what he wants, leader well duh, he's a high lord and loves it and is great at it, he's ambitious, he's a dreamer, so of course, he wants more, and he's resourceful, always being able to think on the spot. Rhysands second house would be Ravenclaw for sure though.

Eris: uhhh do I even have to explain? wants to be Highlord, boom ambitious. seems to be the one in charge of his brothers and has many responsibilities, boom leader. being able to achieve what he wants, boom cunning. resourcefulness...yeah I don't got an example for that one, anyways 3/4.

Azriel: daddy az is a Slytherin, I mean obviously this is the best house (is it obvious yet that I'm a Slytherin ;) but fr, I debated sorting him into Ravenclaw, but even though yes he shows Ravenclaw traits it's not the ones we see the most of or the ones that really shine through Azriel's reserved personality. The main traits azzy boo here has from Slytherin are Cunning and Resourcefulness, and imo these are the ones we see from him every page.

Amren: im putting amren here too, she's literally both!

Gryffindor: Brave, Courage, Daring, Chivalrous

Cassian: this one is self-explanatory, how many times has he put others before himself, how many times has he endangered his own life to save others. that's a Gryffindor soul he has. he always tried to do the right thing, he's brave as hell and reckless at times it seems from the little snide comments we've gotten from the books, he would have been a marauder no doubt.

Tamlin: I hate to do this I do because I love my lions, but I had to put this piece of shit somewhere and since he reminds me of peter Pettigrew bc of his cowardness, I'm sorting him in here. I'm so sorry guys ;(

Morrigan: helloooo, the house colors are red and gold??? obviously mor would demand this house, yes demand. but not just that she's crazy brave, at only what 18? i think, she stood up to her family, making a decision she knew could have her ending up in a horrible situation. but she always is brave, shes gotta when her evil family is still in her life.

Hufflepuff: Loyal, Kind, Patient, Hardworking

Gwyn: i choose my girl gwyn for Hufflepuff bc let's face it, she is the embodiment of Hufflepuff. She's loyal to her new friends, emerie and Nesta, and the priestesses. She's kind as we can see when she first met Nesta and when emerie and Nesta shared their stories. She's very patient never snaps at that bitchy priestess who idk the name of as well as patient when it comes to her and Azriel's tender new friendship and hardworking, always doing her job, running around the library, for her work, always researching more ways to help the Valkyries. i debated putting her in Ravenclaw, because of her intelligence, but i think she's a Hufflepuff through and through.

Elain: IT HURTS MY HEART PUTTING PLAIN ELAIN IN THIS HOUSE. but I gotta, the only trait this plant sniffer has out of all the houses is "kind and patient" EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NOT REALLY LMFAO. I've made a post on explaining why this dirt lover isn't as kind as the books make her out to be, and I would argue she isn't actually patient at all, I mean did we miss how she was basically frustrated Nesta wasn't getting better even though it had been like what 2 weeks, LMFAO. but yeah I mean she's not loyal unless you have food and money then oh yeah she'll be loyal and she's not hardworking bc I mean she never did jack shit and still doesn't, sorry to do this to y'all.

Note: some of yall are so soft. this is not an anti elain post. sorry i insulted her but hey its my post, and i have commentary on each character to explain why i feel they belong in a certain house. sorry i happened to insult your fav. but this isnt an anti elain post, just like its not anti tamlin or anti eris. its just a post about all the characters period, which is why i inculded all of them in the tags. hey, i even insulted Nesta a little bit, but I'm not gonna tag anti-Nesta bc it's not a fucking hate post. get off this post if it comes across you and you don't like what I say, it's not hard to literally just scroll, trust me I've done it multiple times especially when it's a hate post on my beloved characters and they didn't use the anti tags. it's not fucking hard, grow up.

Ravenclaw: Wisdom, Wit, Individuality, Intelligence

Feyre: I debated putting queen feyre into Slytherin, I mean she shows the traits for sure, but it's not really if she shows the traits it's what shines the most in her. Ravenclaws are known for their creativity (bae luna Lovegood <3) and feyres an artist, even in her darkest times she remained an artist, always seeing portraits in her mind, always admiring the beautiful colors of the world. We know she's intelligent, picking up reading and writing quickly, and we also see it when she's strategizing, with the inner circle. Feyre is so wise, she had to be, she had to grow up quickly, you often see her in the books giving advice, because even though she's only 21, she's lived a lifetime. and the whole book of acomaf can show you how witty she is, I mean its what made us fall in love with feysand.

Amren: tiny snowball amren is literally a slytherclaw, she has all the traits from both. but because of how well she is with coding languages and how she always reads and does puzzles i think she'd enjoy being a Ravenclaw.

Nesta: I thought about this for a while, really looking into where she would thrive, Ravenclaw is for her no doubt. She's herself, always has been even when that wasn't such a good thing... but she's witty too if you make sure to not count the "the book is about...a book" I'm sorry that line makes me laugh every single time. we haven't really seen much of her intelligence but I'm guessing she is. but really she would love to be in a house where ppl are themselves and read, i can already imagine her creating a book club where people can be themselves and enjoy smutty books like her.

Lucien: originally I was going to sort him into Hufflepuff but then I remembered how intelligent he is, how witty, and I remembered in acowar he talked about how being the youngest of what 7 heirs? he had the chance to really educate himself which he loved to do, to really learn about his court, idk this man just screams intelligence to me.

I left out emerie bc i honestly don't know where to sort her, i feel like i just don't know her too well or understand her enough to sort her, so feel free to lmk where she would belong :)

[thebestoftimes]

Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

The list I’ve compiled is all YA (my specialty) and meet the criteria I put in place in order to make this list: great book (duh), moves quickly, under 500 pages, not an overtly complex plot, and a writing style that flows. There are tons of amazing other books out there that aren’t on this list because they take a bit to get going (Clockwork Angel) (Throne of Glass), have a more complex writing style (The Raven Boys), hefty subject matter (The Book Thief), or are fast and fun books butl like... 600 pages (Lady Midnight). That being said, happy reading!

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue | Mackenzie Lee

A bisexual protagonist, witty women, banter, pirates, adventuring, drinking, slow-burn, travelling, and lots of meaningful eye contact.

The Cruel Prince | Holly Black

Faeries, enemies with sexual tension to frenemies with sexual tension (mayhaps more in the future aka the slowest of burns), morally grey mc, alcoholism, goblins, witty one-liners, princes and kings, merfolk, pixies, strong women, complicated familial relationships, the male faerie version of a vodka aunt, redcaps, swords, and MORE

Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell

Adorable, fanfics, books, twins, flannels, cute banter, friends to lovers, family, road trips, granola bars, miscommunication, college lyfe

Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo*

Gangs, guns, bisexuals, magic, ketterdam, powers, canes, suits, heists, sexual tension, hilarious, morally grey characters, cons, acrobatics, VERY slow-burn, flirting, pyrotechnics, prison breaks, band of misfits, tragic backstories galore, layered characters, intricate world building, card tricks, gloves, questionable morals, deals, no mourners and no funerals, crows, disguises, KICK ASS WOMEN

*a lot of people get stuck at the beginning. Make it past the first 50 pages and it should pick up very quickly from there

Daughter of the Pirate King | Tricia Levenseller

Pirates, more pirates, female pirates, sirens, sexual tension, slow-burn, badass women, cool fight scenes, gr8 banter, magiccc, LADY PIRATES GUYS

A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas

Beauty and the Beast retelling, magic, beautiful imagery, strong female mc, sexy, rhysand, court life, lords and ladies, seasons, epic battles and fight scenes, fun characters, tbh you just need to read this book so you can get to the REAL masterpiece that is its sequel A Court of Mist and Fury

In Other Lands | Sarah Rees Brennan

Absolutely hilarious, snarky, witty, magical, mermaids, faeries, warriors, classes, games, more sexual tension, slow-burn, strong friendships, feminist, change over time, unicorns, bisexual mc, the whole thing is an absolute trip but so fun

Stalking Jack the Ripper | Kerri Maniscalco

Victorian, mystery, strong female mc, witty banter, plot twists, detectives, forensics, science, adventurous, smart, “i can be pretty AND fierce”, petticoats, smoking, newspapers, cadavers, staring at each other’s lips, “partners”, compicated families

The Foxhole Court | Nora Sakovic

Lgbt representation w/ a demisexual mc, sports, DRAMA, cigarettes, fights, aliases, drugs, parties, practice, games, friends, some TRAGIC ASS backstories, mafia, epic call-outs and roasts, ”is your learning curve a horizontal line?”, ptsd, keys, complicated families, trust issues, foxes, grumpy coach / father figure, strong women

City of Bones* | Cassandra Clare

Angels, demons, magic, warlocks, lgbt representation, slow-burn, flirting, lots of banter, swords, dry humor, lots of sarcasm, “looking better in black than the widows of our enemies”, art, family, churches, everything-you-know-is-a-lie, werewolves, vampires, plot twists, shadowhunters, terrible band names, whips, more tragic backstories, glitter, clubs, shadowhunter Hitler, faeries

*if people would conduct one (1) Google search, read past the first two books, or construct a punnett square, they would know that the plot twist at the end is not true and the series would never be as successful as it is if it was.

Cinder | Marissa Meyer

Cinderella re-telling, androids, dystopia, fantasy, princes, robots, evil queens and evil step-families, poc, the moon, disease, fun plot twists, cute romance, mechanics, balls

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer | Michelle Hodkin

Spooky, murder??, NOAH SHAW, sexy, dark, mysterious, ptsd, hallucinations, possibly an unreliable narrator, powers, death, healing, best fictional siblings, art, mansions, fortune-telling, woods, blood, anti-psychotics, banter like you’ve never seen, token black jewish bi friend, protecc all the doggos, attacc all the evil spanish teachers, shady pasts, almost-kisses, noah shaw (he’s worth repeating)

The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins

Murder children, capitalism sux, SUPER STRONG poc female mc, a soft baker boi, alliances, berries, mockingjays, bow and arrows, hunting, hiding, bad ass costumes, interviews, fake-dating, slow-burn, art, sisters, probably a criticism of today’s materialistic and capitalist world view, the movies lowkey missed the point, vive le revolution, the girl on fire

Unspoken | Sarah Rees Brennan

Hysterical, curses, your hot imaginary friend... is REAL, shady families, amazing dad jokes, a hilarious and strong asian female mc, identical bros, slow-burn, more strong women, dark and dreary english countryside, small town, journalism, baby love triangle, brown leather jackets, legacies, magic, dark magic, sacrifices, bonds (not in the kinky way), friendship

[merwgue]

Its just so interesting how the inner circle is meant to be this support system, where you talk about your problems. Yet every single member is insecure, wants to die, and hates themselves.

I wish I had friends like that🥹🙏🏽

[merwgue]

The bat boys, particularly Rhysand, love to throw around the phrase "change takes time" like it’s some kind of divine mantra, as if the simple utterance of those words makes them progressive, thoughtful leaders. Now, I’ll be the first to say that change does take time. Anyone with a basic understanding of societal reform knows that creating lasting, meaningful change is a marathon, not a sprint. But come on, 500 years? Rhysand has had a literal half a millennium to improve Illyrian society and the mess that is the Hewn City, and what’s been achieved? Let’s check the scoreboard: Illyrian women are still grounded like chickens, and the Hewn City is still treated like some dark, festering secret Rhysand keeps locked up because, well, it’s too icky to deal with.

Here’s the thing: if you say "change takes time" while doing absolutely nothing about it, what you’re really saying is "I’m too lazy (or indifferent) to actually put in the work." And that’s precisely what’s happening in Prythian. The "change takes time" argument would be more convincing if we saw any evidence that Rhysand and company were even trying to instigate meaningful reform. Spoiler alert: they’re not. It’s like saying you want to build a house but never bothering to lay down the foundation. They’ve had 500 years—half a millennium—to take concrete steps to create lasting change, but instead, they’ve stuck to the "we'll get around to it eventually" approach.

Let’s Talk About Law and Enforcement: The Basics

In law, there’s a term for what Rhysand is doing, or rather, not doing—nonfeasance. It’s the failure to act when there's a legal obligation to do so. In this case, Rhysand, as High Lord, has a duty to create and enforce laws that would elevate Illyrian women, change the power dynamics in the Hewn City, and basically make Prythian a functioning society. But it seems like he's been practicing nonfeasance for centuries. Change does take time, but in legal and political terms, if you don't enforce new rules or provide any consequences for breaking them, you're effectively telling people, “It’s fine, carry on torturing and oppressing women, no big deal.”

Here's Law 101: Laws don't just exist in a vacuum. They require active enforcement. If you tell people, “Hey, you can’t oppress and mutilate women, but don’t worry, if you do it, nothing bad will happen,” no one’s going to follow that rule. That's why we have consequences. There’s a concept in law called deterrence—essentially, you punish bad behavior to discourage others from engaging in the same actions. It's basic governance, but Rhysand and the bat boys seem to have missed that day in Law School.

Let’s talk specifics: take the Illyrians. Rhysand knows they're mutilating their women’s wings, grounding them forever, and preventing them from flying or fighting. It’s an ongoing issue that has apparently been happening for centuries. What’s Rhysand’s solution? A strongly worded speech every few decades? An awkward scowl whenever he flies past an Illyrian war camp? We never see any meaningful enforcement of anti-mutilation laws or any effort to dismantle the oppressive structures within Illyrian society. There’s no widespread legal precedent being set, no institutional reform, no policy implementation—all of which are necessary to create systemic change.

Fear, Respect, and the Role of a Leader

Now, let’s get to another key concept in leadership: authority. As a leader, you need a balance between being respected and being feared. Respect comes from having a personal connection with your people, from showing that you genuinely care about their well-being. Fear comes from them knowing that if they mess up, there will be consequences. The problem with Rhysand is that he’s all about the respect and none of the fear. He spends so much time wanting to be liked and loved by his people that he’s forgotten the other crucial aspect of leadership: enforcing the law and maintaining order.

Imagine if Rhysand actually said, “Hey, if you continue to oppress and mutilate women, you will face serious consequences. We’re talking about jail time, or even capital punishment if the crime warrants it.” That would send a message. People might actually start to think twice before continuing with harmful practices. But instead, he takes the “please stop doing that, but if you don’t, no biggie” approach, which isn’t leadership at all. It’s passive, and it’s ineffective. In legal terms, Rhysand is failing to implement any kind of punitive deterrent, and that’s why nothing ever changes.

Hewn City: The Loch Ness Monster of Prythian

Then, there’s the Hewn City. It's treated like the Loch Ness Monster: terrifying, hidden away, and no one really wants to deal with it. The idea that this city, filled with morally corrupt aristocrats, has been allowed to continue its oppression and cruelty for centuries is baffling. Rhysand holds power over the Hewn City, yet he does nothing to reform it. He visits it occasionally, uses it for political leverage, but doesn’t make any lasting changes. It’s like he’s more comfortable letting it fester than actually facing the monster he’s allowed to grow.

Instead of taking control, Rhysand locks the Hewn City away like it’s some sort of dirty secret he can’t be bothered to clean up. If Rhysand really wanted to bring about change, he would dismantle the existing power structures in the Hewn City, implement new laws, and actually enforce them. But, much like with the Illyrians, there’s no real reform. Just the same passive acceptance of an unjust system that Rhysand could change if he chose to.

“Change Takes Time” Is a Cop-Out

Ultimately, Rhysand’s “change takes time” line is a weak excuse for his unwillingness to act. Yes, change does take time—no one’s expecting overnight reform. But 500 years of nothing? That’s not slow change; that’s stagnation. And it’s not because change is difficult, but because Rhysand isn’t making the effort. He’s content to maintain the status quo while telling himself that he’s a good leader, when in reality, he’s failing to fulfill his responsibilities.

If Rhysand were really invested in changing Prythian for the better, we’d see efforts towards societal reform. We’d see him using his authority to push through laws that promote equality, we’d see him punishing those who break those laws, and we’d see him actively working to dismantle oppressive power structures. Instead, we get 500 years of excuses, stagnation, and passive leadership.

So, to Rhysand and the bat boys: Yes, change takes time. But it also takes effort, and right now, you’re not putting in any. If you really want to be the progressive, morally upright leaders you think you are, it’s time to step up and act like it. You’re not just figureheads—you’re rulers. Start ruling.

[merwgue]

The anti-ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) fandom is not merely a group fueled by blind hatred towards Rhysand and the Inner Circle. It’s far more nuanced, rooted in thoughtful critique of the moral issues embedded within the narrative. The common misconception that anti-ACOTAR fans are wielding pitchforks against Sarah J. Maas or irrationally hating Rhysand fails to grasp the deeper concerns that they are pointing out—concerns about accountability, moral dissonance, and problematic portrayals of power and relationships.

The Core Problem: Cognitive Dissonance and Moral Blind Spots

Let’s start with cognitive dissonance—a psychological phenomenon where a person holds two conflicting beliefs, causing discomfort. In the case of the Inner Circle, readers are presented with a group of characters who are written as heroes but who consistently engage in morally questionable actions. Rhysand, in particular, is portrayed as a figure of justice and fairness, yet he perpetuates authoritarian behavior, often violating basic moral principles.

For example, Rhysand's actions under the Mountain, particularly his treatment of Feyre, included scenes of sexual assault, manipulation, and degradation. But where is the self-reflection? Where is the apology? Moral development theory suggests that as people (or characters) grow, they recognize when they have wronged others and seek to make amends. Rhysand never truly apologizes for the harm he caused to Feyre, which leads to discomfort for readers because the narrative tells us he’s the hero while his actions tell a different story. Psychologically speaking, this is a classic case of moral disengagement, where Rhysand justifies his harmful actions through the lens of doing what’s "necessary" for the greater good. He never engages in genuine introspection, nor does he attempt to change.

If They Were Villains, This Would Work—But They're Not

This brings us to a central frustration of the anti-ACOTAR community. If the Inner Circle—Rhysand, Mor, Cassian, and the others—were written as morally grey or even villainous characters, this would make perfect sense. In fact, many readers argue that it would make the story even more interesting. If Rhysand’s actions were framed as morally ambiguous, and if the narrative reflected that, it would add depth to his character. But that’s not what we get. Instead, these characters are positioned as champions of justice, as beacons of righteousness who never face any real moral consequences for their actions.

Let’s take the Illyrians as an example. Rhysand segregates them into warrior camps, a decision that reeks of elitism and classism. The Illyrians are portrayed as lesser beings in comparison to the fae of Velaris, and the way Rhysand controls them reflects a severe moral blind spot. Moral hypocrisy emerges when a character believes they are the moral authority but acts in ways that are deeply harmful. Rhysand’s control over the Illyrians—treating them like tools for war while never allowing them to integrate into Velaris—is an abuse of power, plain and simple. And yet, the narrative presents it as if he’s making a hard but necessary decision for the greater good. This moral justification makes him no better than the leaders of the oppressive systems he claims to despise.

Accountability and Apology: What’s Missing in ACOTAR

One of the key tenets of growth and development is the capacity to acknowledge wrongdoing and apologize. Apology, according to psychologists, is a critical step in maintaining healthy relationships, rebuilding trust, and achieving personal growth. When we harm someone, we apologize and strive to do better. The anti-ACOTAR fandom isn’t asking for perfection; they are asking for accountability. They are asking why characters like Rhysand and the Inner Circle never apologize for their actions, even when those actions cause immense harm.

Consider the contrast between Rhysand and Tamlin. Despite being portrayed as a villain later in the series, Tamlin is one of the few characters who attempts to make amends for his mistakes. He apologizes to Feyre, he reflects on his behavior, and he faces consequences within the narrative. Rhysand, by comparison, rarely faces any significant repercussions. His behavior under the Mountain is dismissed as a necessary evil, rather than acknowledged as abuse. And this is what leads to fan frustration: it’s not the mistakes themselves, but the lack of acknowledgment and the absence of true growth.

Imagine, for a moment, if Rhysand apologized for his actions under the Mountain—if he faced his moral failings head-on, admitted that he had been wrong, and worked to make amends. That would be compelling. It would humanize him. But without that, readers are left with a character who moves through life as if his actions have no real consequences. It’s a dangerous message because it implies that those in power can do no wrong, as long as they believe they’re doing it for the “greater good.”

The Inner Circle: Power and Elitism

This brings us to the deeper issue of elitism in ACOTAR. The Inner Circle consistently portrays themselves as morally superior, as the ones who know what’s best for everyone else. And yet, their actions—segregating the Illyrians, imposing their will on others—reflect the very behaviors that they claim to oppose. In authoritarian regimes, leaders justify their control by claiming it’s for the greater good, but this is simply a way to maintain power. Rhysand and the Inner Circle behave in much the same way. They impose their will on others without consulting those affected, assuming that they alone know what is best. It’s a deeply flawed form of leadership, and yet Maas writes it as if it’s heroic.

It’s not just Rhysand. The entire Inner Circle is complicit in this elitism. Mor treats the Illyrians as lesser beings. Cassian perpetuates a warrior culture that is both brutal and stifling. None of them truly work toward equality or justice; instead, they maintain a status quo that benefits them at the expense of others. Again, if they were written as villains, this would make sense. But as heroes? It’s deeply troubling.

Rhysand’s Moral Disengagement

Finally, let’s talk about moral disengagement again. This term refers to the ways individuals rationalize harmful behaviors to avoid guilt. Rhysand’s treatment of Feyre, the Illyrians, and even Nesta (locking her up with no professional help) are all instances of moral disengagement. He justifies these actions by telling himself and others that they are necessary for the greater good. But in doing so, he avoids any real accountability. This is what makes the anti-ACOTAR fandom uncomfortable: the fact that Rhysand continues to engage in morally harmful behavior while the narrative asks us to believe he is always in the right.

If Sarah J. Maas had written the Inner Circle with more nuance—acknowledging their flaws and allowing them to face real consequences—then the criticism would be less intense. But by framing them as untouchable heroes, Maas forces readers into a space where they must either accept this moral dissonance or push back against it. The anti-ACOTAR fandom is pushing back, not out of blind hatred, but out of a desire for accountability, for depth, and for a narrative that doesn’t gaslight its readers into believing that harmful actions are justified simply because they’re performed by characters we’re supposed to love.

In conclusion, the anti-ACOTAR fandom’s criticism of Rhysand and the Inner Circle isn’t about irrational hatred. It’s about recognizing the deep moral failures of characters who are written as heroes and calling for accountability, growth, and self-awareness. The critique isn’t that these characters are flawed; it’s that they never acknowledge their flaws. And that, more than anything, is why the anti-ACOTAR community pushes back so hard—because real growth comes from acknowledging your mistakes, apologizing, and striving to do better.

IN MY PSYCHOLOGY ERA??? SOMEONE GIVE ME LAW IDEAS I NEEEEEDDDD TO WRITE ABOUT LAWWW