#bc its able to use finding magic a millions times better than most humans

[mechawolfie]

omg i completely forgot to consider how animals in my world use magic........

[lightwormlol]

ACOFAS REVIEW -INC SPOILERS

4.5 stars.

Okay, so! This was the first book I was able to finish in 2021. I've kinda been in a reading slump, and struggling to get past the 30-50% of books. I think its because I took essentially 3 months off my normal (daily) reading schedule and have been prioritising other things (health, fitness, job applications etc) - I think it's a testament to how addicted I was to this that I finished and consumed this at the rate I did! I recently went back and added some things to my ACOWAR review. To briefly summarise, I feel that, at the time I read it, it kind of gave me what I needed, but it definitely isn't getting a re read - my love for feysand has definitely lessened over time, but honestly i'm not that mad at sarah for this, as I find that whenever I've passed the sexual tension part of relationships in books, I tend to get bored of the domestic bliss. Like, leave that shit for an epilogue and keep it at that? As someone generally averse to relationships, but there is definitely a grace period for how long I can actively be smitten with a couple... before it becomes sickly. Taking all this into account, I honestly was nervous for this book, its release date totally took me by surprise, and I read it on a whim. As a Nessian shipper (I mean we didn't really have a choice after acomaf but to delve into the world of fanfic to keep us going) - this book gave me most of what I wanted and needed from them! I think,(some) kudos to SJM, for not disappointing in their relationship. This was definitely a character > plot driven story. In terms of the plot, I wasn't really invested until around the 38% mark? I'm not sure if I was adjusting to the writing style (lots of dramatic. sentences. that. are. so. abrupt. Nesta Archeron. Death etc) - or if it was bc I hadn't read an SJM book since the novella, which I basically skimmed. I was obviously reading for Nessian, but I didn't really feel intrigued by the wider plot (death gods, the human queens? Given I had lost my previous obsession with the world/ have outgrown 'fandom' culture, that made me actively update my knowledge, I couldn't remember a lot!) I think its clear that SJM excels character driven stories, but I think her worldbuilding and execution is significantly better in the throne of glass franchise. Now, I did say this was a character driven story. This is mostly regarding Nesta, Cassian and Azriel. I loved pretty much any interaction they had! I love a good training montage. Ngl though, I think, unless you possess an ardent love for Nessian, you're not going to be particularly wowed by this, if you've read heir of fire, or even acomaf. I obviously am never going to be able to be objective, because I've loved nessian so much from 2017-now, but I loved the dynamic those two (and three - friendship wise between nes/cass/az). One of the highlights of ACOWAR for me was the snippets of Az, showing tenderness, and opening up to the newer members of the inner circle (and i'm excluding any hint of an Elriel ship because FUCK THAT LOL) For me, the tip with SJM books is: once you outgrow them/the particular mode of narrative style, is to not anticipate anything other than a character driven story, albeit one riddled with smut. I personally am a romance heavy reader, so I'm honestly deconditioned to it at this point, (like, when I see reviewers scandalised I'm like... wow, the amount of trash I have consumed in the last five years loool.) While I disagree with the fact SJM marketed this series as y/a (or maybe it wasn't her per se, but the key booksellers definitely did this for her) - I think its clear enough now she's descended into the adult/borderline erotica genre.(very mild imo). I personally like to adopt a policy of skimming sex scenes when I find the dialogue cringy (most the time it is lets be honest any talking is v second hand embarrassment). Cassian and Nesta were definitely better than Rhys and Feyre post chapter 55 though! I was so glad there weren't a million moments of Cass/Nesta betraying their arousal with their scents, in front of everyone (like feysand, the voyeuristic pda pricks they are). I found the slowburn ish nature of their relationship great, and I actually think if you're a virgo/emotionally stunted reader, you will be happy with their relationship dynamic. It contrasts with the daemati sexual snark of acomaf, but it felt right, and authentic. This book was a journey of personal growth, for Nesta. It is clear SJM loves books about strong women, and maybe thats what makes me love this book so much. I think, out of all the archeron sisters, I love Nesta the most. This is for my Rose Calloway fans, my misunderstood, somewhat cold/left out girls, who are less receptive to being vulnerable. If you're a slowburn fan, it's not Mariana Zapata levels of slowburn, imo it's the perfect combo. Addictive enough that I don't want to put it down, but not so fast moving that I couldn't believe it. I loved the sex without emotion relationship they had!! This is honestly never done in mainstream n/a fantasy, unless its a caricature of a 'slut' that normally rivals the main character, lmao. Even if their inner conflict was p transparent, this gave me everything I needed! I know this is vapid lol but I also love the physical dynamic between the two, they just look so good together, the amount of fanart I'm going to reacquaint myself with after this review!! I adored seeing Nesta grow, (even if towards the end I kind of resented her sudden acceptance into the inner circle, i get SJM loves her and just wanted a fluffy ending, but, as a Nesta like character, it's awkward and stilted on her end to adjust to the inner circle like this - i mean, hugging rhys, really??)

I think, if I had to compare this to any other SJM book, I would say Chaols book (though I obviously preferred this). That being said, I felt less attached to new characters in this book than I was in even Chaols book (and even then ngl I remember nothing?) Obviously I loved what it represented, as a trio of traumatised women. I just, didn't love this the way I loved other inner circle members! I get that they gave Nesta exactly what they needed, a family that doesn't hold the history of her sisters, who she doesn't have to worry about holding preconceived notions of disappointment. I loved this for her! Even then.. I just wasn't attached to either of them. I found their interactions cute - but boring. Towards the end, when their stories/pasts are revealed, I couldn't help but cringe slightly, I can't put my finger on why, but I just didn't buy it. Maybe it's the brit in me but I couldn't be moved by this slightly forced bonding moment.. which was so anticlimactic. My 'aww how cute' tolerance is defo deserved for characters whose tropes I love. Maybe they just didn't fit into this list. Maybe I'm just being a cow here?

Now, let's speak about the real star of the show.... A FUCKING MAGICAL HOUSE FRIEND??? YESSSSSSS. IF YOU ARE AN ILONA ANDREWS INNKEEPERS CHRONICLES FAN, U WILL LOVE! How was the animation of this somehow more touching than all of nesta's other friendships combined? Exactly what I ordered, thank you. This trope somehow touches more than any material bonding!! The cute witch x house dynamic (also maybe howls moving castle vibes?) I loved the trying to reach the target of 10,000 steps (a little Celaena HOF). I think this, heir of fire and acomaf are my favourite SJM books for this reason. Gripes: I definitely had some personal gripes with how other members of the inner circle treated Nesta (rhys i'm looking at you. Disappointed doesn't even cover it.) I inherently take offence to any elain scene, as i'm so over bland characters whose existence is reduced to wanting to fucking plant flowers?? like?? really? To go from moriel to that is such a downgrade, even if I fell out of love with Mor due to the way she snubbed Nesta (you're a 500 year old being and you can't see someone is clearly traumatised?). I adore Az so much, but if it aint polyamorous, I cannot see any pairing with Elain making me happy. (wouldn’t mind gwyn though) I think the whole mating bond that I do not want is a good dynamic, but I really hate that everyone has to be mates in this world. I don't think we were that surprised, but it would've been nice if the somehow, idk, developed a strong bond over time, without it being preordained? Like, even if they do not all actively stay with their mate, given how disproportionate mates are among the general population, what's the likelihood 6 members of the inner circle (including lucien) have mates?

My advice? Read this book if you love nessian and the acotar world in general, but don't expect the world building to be consistent with greater fantasy series'. This style of story is obviously what to expect. She writes what she likes, and if her fantasy is this - then who are we, as readers, to expect otherwise?

Final rating: 4.5 (no, i'm not objective, but objectivity does not exist if you are a real, human being, lol)

Original Characters: 5/5 (nessian/az/house wise) 1/5 (feysand - really over how they essentially take over the very end of the book - ugh, I wanted nesta's arc to be wholly separate from them) Writing style: 3.5 Cringe Scale: Low, with the exception of some dialogue. New Characters: 2 Plot: I went into it with a 2 and came out with a 4. Not in terms of complexity, but in terms of how addictive and enjoyable this reading experience was! (less)

[followmetoyourdoom]

Halloweening // Chpt 1 - Trapped

So imma do Iristo weekend as like one fic, with (hopefully) one chapter each day. Iristo isn’t too heavy in this chapter, but it’s there. Also, bc I know this is gonna confuse some people, this is set after season 2 episode 2, except it’s still October in universe. Yeah I know, but *gestures to canon* they put the random-ass Halloween ep in there okay, not me, I’m just pretending it happened two weeks before Halloween and that the rest of season 1 and the first 2 eps of season 2 happened in those two weeks. It’s a stretch, I know. Let’s just pretend.

So, without further ado, I present Day 1 - Princess/Knight

The twins decide to hatch their next plan on Halloween, using the town’s infamous Haunted House as the location for their next devious plot. But when the twins run into a problem, it’s up to Iris to be their knight in shining armour.

Read it on ao3 or below:

As dusk fell on a vibrant and festive Sunny Bay, skeletons on the sides of houses danced a jig in the cold october breeze, pumpkins grinned eerily out at passersby in costumes, and giggles and shrieks of children and teens alike echoed down the streets.

The girls were making their way towards the infamous Sunny Bay Haunted House, open to the public for Halloween. To those brave enough to enter that is.

There was, of course, nothing haunted about the house. It was simply old and decrepit, and perhaps had an issue with rodents. That didn't stop the mayor of the town using it to rake in money for his retirement fund, especially not when it was also the murder scene of a family back in the 1960s. Murder was good for business.

This time, however, a certain pair of twins were going to make sure its patrons got more than what they paid for.

"Urgh, do we have to wear these tacky costumes, Mephisto?"

Her brother grinned, "C'mon, Prax. They're not all that different from our usual outfits. Besides, I like the teeth." He smiled again, showing off the razor sharp incisors the two twins had magicked onto their own teeth. "Besides, pretending to be ghosts won't work. So vampires it is."

Praxina curled her lip. "Ah yes, perfect pretty Princess Talia with her ghost vision. Please."

"Ew, did you just call Talia 'pretty'."

"No!" Praxina said defensively. "I meant it in an insulting way." She whacked her brother on the back of the head when he started chuckling. "Let's just get this over with."

Mephisto nodded and peaked around the door frame, spotting the girls in the crowd. He squinted slightly. "Okay. Iris is in… red? Yes, that's Iris, blonde hair, okay. Auriana… I don't know what Auriana is meant to be, but she has white paint on her face and-"

Praxina elbowed him. "I'm not the one that mixed Iris up with some random human last time. Just get in the coffin before I give you a reason to be there permanently."

"Fine fine, relax, I'm going."

She thought for a moment, then grabbed her brother's arm last minute. "Make sure you don't get trapped or stuck in there like an idiot. We rigged them to open from the inside, but just make sure you don't mess it up or-"

Mephisto cut her off as he smiled, recognising her worry. "I'll be fine."

Praxina nodded. She knew she was asking a lot of her brother, having him lie in wait in a tight dark spot, but he'd assured her he'd be fine. The months of Gramorr torturing Mephisto and playing on his fear of the dark were behind him, he'd insisted. Besides, his paranoia only kicked in when he couldn't get out.

The girls finally got to the front of the queue and Iris paid for the tickets. The three girls entered the house, Auriana rushing forwards, grabbing onto Talia's hand and dragging her with her. The Xerin Princess gave Iris a look that meant something along the lines of 'save me' before she was pulled into the depths of the house.

Giggling to herself, Iris made her way slowly around, trying to get into the right mood. But she'd seen the house a million times over, surely there was nothing that could-

An ear-splitting scream shook the entire house and Iris jumped, covering her ears.

She didn't recognise the scream and after a while, it faded. Clearly there was something good further on in the house.

Iris hurried through the next door, ignoring most of the second room and passing into the third - she needed to catch up with Auriana and Talia anyway. But they were nowhere to be seen in this room either.

Then a soft wail, a murmur, thumps, and knocks, came to her attention. She cast her eyes around cautiously, about to brush it off as sound effects when her necklace began to glow.

The banging started up again, coming from behind the next door and she hurriedly pushed through it, expecting to find resistance. But the door gave way easily and Iris tumbled to the floor, dust flying up everywhere and getting in her nose. She sneezed a couple of times and squinted through the dust, trying to see what the problem was.

"Hello?" she called out.

"Iris?" called out an unidentifiable voice, but it seemed heavy and thick with tears.

The Princess wandered over to the source of the voice, coming across two coffins lying side by side, various pieces of furniture tossed carelessly on top of them - more than likely the haunted house workers making some last minute touches to the interior.

Her name was called again and Iris' eyes went wide as she recognised the voice. "Praxina?"

"Yes!" she snapped. That was Praxina alright. "Release us from these death beds so we can attack you."

Iris frowned down at the coffins. "Is Mephisto in the other?"

"Well I'm not using the royal we!" Praxina snarled. "Now get us out before he starts freaking out again. "He needs help," she added after a pause.

So that had been Mephisto's scream.

Iris nodded to herself and used her magic to remove the furniture from the top of the coffins, Praxina bursting out of hers as soon as she was able to, then angrily turning and blasting the offending wooden box to smithereens. Without sparing Iris a glance, she tugged open the other coffin.

"Mephisto, Mephisto you're free, get out. Mephisto! Get out, stop fooling around… Mephisto? Mephisto, come on!"

But the Ephedian teen made no attempt to move and, when Iris walked over and stooped down to look, she found he was curled as small as he possibly could in the space allowed, eyes shut tight, his entire body shaking.

Praxina continued to shout at him, her demands turning to pleads as she tugged at his sleeve.

But he wouldn't budge.

Eventually, Praxina gave up, and hung her head, mumbling apologies. Iris didn't know what to do, she'd never seen this side of the twins before, this vulnerable side that reminded her that Praxina and Mephisto weren't that much older than her. That they were just child soldiers like she was, except they were on the wrong side of the war.

"Mephisto," Iris said softly, reaching in to pull his hand out, "Mephisto look." She used her light magic to illuminate the room, almost blinding herself and Praxina who fell back, shocked.

Opening his eyes at the light, Mephisto blinked and glanced around, roughly pulling his hand out of Iris' when he realised she was holding it.

He looked up at her like a deer trapped in headlights, the fear fading slightly as he processed what had happened and where he was. "You… saved me?" he asked, unsure where this was a good thing or not.

Praxina made a noise of disgust.

Iris nodded and magicked one of the glowing pumpkins towards the three of them so she could let her magic fade but still have light.

Mephisto thought for a moment, then shakily got to his feet, stepping out of the coffin. "Then thank you, Princess. That's the second time you've helped me." The vulnerability returned to his eyes as he looked at her, searching for an answer. "Why?"

"You needed help," Iris said simply.

Praxina had had enough and pulled her brother away. "We don't need some knight in shining armour or, well, Princess, to help us everytime we mess up," she snarked, hands shaking, but not out of anger.

"Prax… You weren't… well you were there but you weren't-"

"I know what happened," she snapped, "you told me. Then praised the Princess' fighting style for about an hour afterwards. It made me sick."

Iris blinked at this information while Mephisto laughed nervously.

"It's not funny," Praxina muttered, crossing her arms. She let out a puff of air and turned on her heal, trying to act like her old self. "We'd love to stay and chat, Princess. But we have evil plans to put into play."

"Are you sure you're both okay? You're still shaking."

And indeed they both were.

Iris smiled sadly. "Surely even villains deserve a break? Why not spend the rest of the night with us? Call it a Halloween Truce. We can go trick or treating later, there's free candy."

Mephisto's eyes lit up at this, his paranoia settling at the talk of candy. "Can we, Praxina?"

After a few seconds of pursing her lips and looking back and forth between her hopeful brother and Iris' kind features, Praxina caved. "Fine. But this first truce thing had better be the last."

Iris wasn't sure she could promise that.