#elain critical

[dippedinmelancholy]

Is it weird if I say I think I might have found Elain a bit more endearing if Feyre was right, and she really was just kind of . . . dim witted? Didn’t think enough to think she could actually help? Not cruel, not exactly stupid but just . . .an airhead from a life of being coddled by her entire family? Glenda (Wicked) is endearing, for this exact kind of reasoning.

It could have been interesting, see her thrust into the cauldron, into the war, into the world of the fae and suddenly gifted as a seer, struggling with what could come to pass, forcing her to actually think about her actions and their consequences, and everyone else’s. Air headed isn’t an insult imo, it’s a character flaw that could have led to some interesting things and character development.

Instead ACOSF makes it so clear she’s not an airhead, she sees a lot of things and always has, and just . . .hasn’t cared as long as it didn’t negatively affect her. It’s a special kind of cruelty, one that is really passive and honestly really common in the real world. Elain kind of has that southern american aura of, it’s fine if you’re miserable and falling apart and borderline suicidal behind closed doors . . .as long as you’re presentable, faking interactions with your family, and maintaining a respectable reputation, regardless of the truth. Don’t embarrass your family or upset the social balance, no matter the cost to your soul and mind.

Unfortunately that makes it really hard for me to care about her beyond “I don’t want to see this character expressly hurt, but she honestly sucks.”

[wingsdippedingold]

My rapid fire ACOTAR hot takes that y’all will hate:

I pray the pros don’t find this

I don’t ship Elriel or Elucien because I ship Elain with singleness and just traveling Prythian to learn about different plants and then settling down somewhere to become an apothecary. Is she aromantic and suffering from comphet in my head? You’ll never know

Nesta would not have eaten Lucien alive, I think she’d be tentative at first but then realize he’s not a threat to her then grow to enjoy his presence. They could have had a great romance that actually helped her grow as a person, unlike Nessian.

Nessian is a mutually destructive relationship. Cassian is too insecure to date someone who he thinks looks down at him. Nesta needs an emotionally supportive partner.

There was ZERO need to actively SA Feyre publicly to make her look subservient or as if she had a “claim” laid on her. The reasoning is weak, and SJM an Rhysand fans need to admit that they only defend it because they thought it was sexy, or because they self-insert and can’t make Rhysand actually look bad.

Tamlin isn’t a bad leader, but it doesn’t suit him. He’s much more of a people person than someone who would like to be removed from them and working on laws and politics.

Tamlin should be walking around the SC as they rebuild and see a woman directing townspeople on how to do so. Tamlin would admire her for being able to connect with people but also being able to govern well. They would have a romance and that woman would eventually become a lady and help Tamlin govern because she wants to make a difference and is good at that stuff. They eventually get married 💥

Canon Elain is my least favorite Archeron. I think she’s manipulative and worse than Nesta in her cabin behavior because she wasn’t upfront about it. She let Feyre think she was useless and kind, to later only throw her under the bus. Nesta is the one who went to the wall for Feyre, and Elain didn’t gaf about Nesta caring for her the second is stopped benefitting her. Elain even acknowledges all that Feyre did for them, and yet she still didn’t do anything

BUT to append to that, I totally get why she’s that way. It’s her only means of survival because since childhood she was treated as a doll with noice of her own. She can’t be upfront like Nesta because she won’t get taken seriously, so her only way to get what she wants is to manipulate people and use her niceness as a mask.

Nesta and Feyre have a closer relationship than Nesta and Elain solely because they were constantly arguing. Nesta “favored” Elain, but it was still distant, but she actively watched Feyre and treated her like a whole person even if it was poorly. I think this is also exemplified in their appearance. Feyre and Nesta look very similar, while Elain doesn’t look like them as much.

You can’t argue that Feyre’s childhood was traumatizing (it was) but then say that it had no negative effects on her development and ability to socialize.

Feyre is NOT good at reading people despite what y’all like to argue. She can barely read Nesta, a woman she’s known for 20 years.

She suffers from hubris and has a savior complex. For example, when the debtors came to cripple her father she notes that they only left after SHE cried and soiled herself. In her perspective she will always be the hero because that’s how she makes herself fell good.

Arguable my hottest take: I don’t think Nesta and Feyre had a power imbalance in the cottage to make their relationship abusive. In fact, I think Feyre held more power over Nesta, Nesta just didn’t acknowledge it/was mean so it didn’t seem like it. Feyre was their father’s favorite, was the breadwinner, and technically dictated whether they would get to eat. Feyre held control over her family’s survival, even if she didn’t want it, and they all knew this. It is specifically why Elain sucked up to her (a character know to jump to whoever has the most power at the moment and would protect her the most)

Feyre doesn’t act how she wants to, but rather as she thinks a good person would. She doesn’t want to hunt, but she does so because she thinks she has to. Many of her acts are “selfless” but are often shallow. She also thinks everyone wants to the helped the same way she would want to be.

To add to this, she doesn’t love her sisters. She doesn’t love them for who they are, but because of proximity. She even says to Nesta when trying to get her to come to solstice “but you’re my sister”

Feyre did not know love and it did not know her, and thus made her latch on to whoever gave her affection and she deemed as her own savior (Tamlin and Rhysand). Should she finally ever feel suffocated by Rhysand (though he has ensured she won’t), I wouldn’t doubt that she would run to another.

Feyre has 0 healthy relationships. ZILCH

By adulthood, Feyre’s illiteracy is no one’s fault but her own. As a child she didn’t want to ask Nesta, but she didn’t ask Elain or her father either. Even then they fell into poverty at like 9 and she still didn’t learn much so that doesn’t make sense. She refused Tamlin’s help and Rhysand literally had to force her to learn.

Rhysand’s character makes 0 sense when you consider her upbringing, family, friends, personality, and powers, and is just a product of SJM trying to write the morally grey ultimate love interest.

I’m on the fence about him being a master manipulator towards Feyre and the IC. I doubt Sarah meant for him to come off like that, but if he actually was it would be a masterful story and make his character feel more cohesive.

HOWEVER, if he was a manipulator I don’t think it would be that impressive for him to manipulate Feyre. She is naive and new to the world of fae, and she switches her opinions like night and day. She would be the perfect target. Again, this comes about from her upbringing and her own hubris.

The series should stuck to being a trilogy. Insert it drags on and makes new problems that aren’t even properly addressed

This was not rapid I fear

[youareatragedy]

I feel like no one talks enough about how Elain did Lucien so dirty in that bonus chapter by trying to make out with another guy when Lucien visited, because if it were the other way around, people would be furious at Lucien.

If you say Elain doesn't owe Lucien anything, you are wrong. She has had enough time to understand mate bond, and if she doesn't know enough about the bond at this point, it is due to her lack of effort to understand. She just doesn't want to. Selfish, isn't it? She could definitely just reject Lucien if she doesn't want him, and then freely hook up with Azriel, but no, I guess she just wants to keep Lucien as a backup. As an assurance that she won't be alone no matter what, because Lucien is gentleman enough to not reject the bond without legitimate reason. And just because Elain avoids him, I don't think Lucien can just reject something so sacred as long as Elain doesn't outright say it. So I think being in the good graces of the IC means no one can hold her accountable for anything then?

It's so easy for people to still like Elain and justify her when she treats her non-IC mate like shit, but there's an uproar because Nesta didn't immediately smile and nice to Cassian, because Cassian is a member of the IC.

(Example number infinity of ACOTAR fandom only favoring women who aren't a bitch to Rhysand. Nesta = Bad. Elain = Needs time bc she's young and doesn't understand much.)

[extremely-judgemental]

Forget the title. I still can't get over Archeron sisters, who were mortals only months ago and didn't know shit about faerie lands, as High Lady to rule centuries old immortals.

Nesta shows some promise since she was trained in politics so that she could marry a prince one day, and learns about Prythian history from Amren. Still, let's face it. She hasn't accepted the fae life completely.

Feyre can't even find the borders of her city if she couldn't winnow. She knows nothing about Prythian or politics. Every court she visits becomes her enemy. She's a soldier at best and she is exactly that only with a fancy title.

And Elain? She can't even be a gardener in Prythian. She doesn't even know what kind of plants grow in the magic lands and you want her to rule Spring? She went comatose when her fiance rejected her and didn't even check on her sisters who were in a fucking battle. You expect the welfare of the people to depend on her? Come on.

[fenrysmoonbeamswife]

"We all have our opinions. I love Cas so much♥️ Nesta would have eaten any other male alive. Cas acted as a mirror for her and Eris or whoever else wouldn't have been able to be that for her. Remember how her sisters tried the soft love method first and failed. Iron sharpens iron"

an actual comment that I got on instagram😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 my head is going to explode

it's honestly amazing to see the absolute shit people will come out with to excuse abuse

"Nesta would have eaten any other male alive." Please be so for real, Azriel treats her somewhat decently and she has never been anything but decent back to him. Nesta is the definition of you get the energy you give and Cassian acted like a predator from the moment they met:

"Cassian's face went almost feral. A wolf who had been circling a doe. . . only to find a mountain cat wearing its hide instead."

"Cassian acted as a mirror to her." If anything she reflected his behaviour, he never even gave her a chance. It's genuinely scary to see the victim blaming mentality that's so prevalent in society come through in the way people view these characters. Especially from women. The way they will come up with any nonsense to paint Cassian as the good guy and Nesta the difficult woman who needed taming.

"Eris or whoever else wouldn't have been able to be that for her" I have no interest in Eris for Nesta but my post was about how Lucien, Fenrys or Hunt would have been so much better. People say this a lot, nobody else but Cassian could "handle" Nesta and like how the fuck do you know? SJM could have written her mate to be the kelpie and you people would be like he's the only one who's right for her 🥺

"Remember how her sisters tried the soft love method first and failed." I'm sorry through all the sisterly love that just overwhelms me in this series, I must be forgetting this soft love method that was tried?? Anyone care to enlighten me?

"Iron sharpens iron." I just don't even have words for this one other than gag

[queenofqueensarcheron]

One thing that always irked me in acosf is how easily Cassian is reporting to the IC about Nesta. But especially when Nesta and her friends are learning about the Valkyries. It was their little secret project to enjoy and be excited about. To learn and revive together but the moment Cassian puts his nose in their businesses he runs to his little family and report it. And what do they do….

THEY FUCKING JUDGE IF ITS A GOOD OR A BAD THING.

“ So I’m very pleased to hear of this Valkyrie business. I’m happy that Nesta finds interest in something again. And might channel all of … that into it.”

“That, Cassian knew, meant her rage, her fierce and unyielding loyalty to those she loved, her wolf instincts and her ability to kill”

-ACOSF CH.44

You sent her to train and are surprised that she’s training. Elain makes my blood boil in that book. I hope her book will help me understand her a little bit more because right now she can choke.

And the rest of them as well while we’re at it

Now Nesta has to share it with people who have no issue disregarding her feelings or boundaries and people who wouldn’t bat an eye if she died.

[hugevanserrass]

the amount of times nesta is told by her sisters and cassian how she "isn't trying" to get better is kind of ridiculous especially considering how all of them behaved after their own traumas. feyre was wasting away in acomaf and couldn't get out of bed, elain wouldn't eat and was basically in a catatonic state throughout acowar, and cassian admits it took him years to get over the aftermath of battles/war. nesta is the only one who isn't allowed to fall apart. and the worst thing about this is that nesta takes their words to heart, internalizes them and then hates herself even more after every single one of these interactions.

[azrielsfavoriteshadow]

Elain was to wed for LOVE and beauty….. Nesta is the one who was groomed for conquest. Someone getting to wed for LOVE is not being used as a bargaining chip.

It’s literally spelled out right there who was used for what between Elain and Nesta. Being used to seduce and move the Archeron’s up was on Nesta. Not Elain.

Love being in the equation means Elain (the girl who never had a choice 🥺🖕🏼) has a choice.

[gwynrieldreams]

No, I don't hate Elain because I ship gwynriel. No, I don't hate Elain because I ship her with Lucien. No, I don't think she's evil or manipulative. No, I don't hate her because she's soft and feminine. No, I don't hate her because she's quiet and not the stereotypical badass warrior female character. I don't hate her in general.

My problem with Elain stems from the way she treated Nesta in acosf. Nesta would kill anyone who dared touch Elain. She protected her from Tamlin, guarded her from Lucien and spent everyday by her side when she was catatonic. But when Nesta refused to be locked up in a house, she physically could not leave, along with Cassian, Elain follows Feyre's orders and packs her bags. She didn't take into account her wishes, she didn't protect her from Feyre and Rhys, she didn't even volunteer to go with her. No, I don't care that Nesta pushed her away and cussed her. It was obvious she was pushing everyone away and didn't really mean it. I just think Elain in a way owed Nesta for taking care of her all those years and the moment Nesta needed her, she wasn't there.

Moreover, what she did in the bonus chapter isn't right, even if her stans don't like to admit. Yes, she has no obligation to Lucien but at least don't kiss another guy, while he's in the house. At least take his feelings into account and don't rub it in his face, especially when you haven't even officially rejected him. Yeah, Nesta was fucking other guys but Nesta didn't even know about the bond and wasn't in the same house with Cassian. I just think in Elain's case the time and place was wrong and if you disagree, just think of Lucien doing the same thing to Elain. People would riot.

Lastly, I hate how everyone keeps infantilising her (even the readers). "Elain is Elain," the fuck does that mean, this is demeaning to Elain. Of course, that's not her fault and I love how she slowly owns up to her mistakes, takes up responsibilities and wants to be more active.

Aside from that, I don't have anything against Elain. I still like her, I just don't think she's as perfect as her stans tend to describe her. I'm looking forward for her book, so I can understand her more. In the feysand bonus, Feyre asked if she's stifling Elain and I think a lot of the characters do. I would love to see Elain getting out of her comfort zone and having space to be more bold. I believe she has immense potential and is much more complex than people give her credit for.

[ladydeath-vanserra]

kinda frustrating that Nesta was always compared to an animal, or a queen, or saying she was "something different all together" or she was "born on the wrong side of the wall". kinda FRUSTRATING she wasn't allowed to acknowledge the grief of the loss of her HUMANITY. kinda FRUSTRATING that they all just wanted her to get over her trauma bec she was being an embarrassment. Kinda FRUSTRATING that Cassian threw a fit about Nesta not wanting a mate. Kinda FRUSTRATING that Nesta just is never allowed to be. She's an animal, she's a queen, she's something all together different. but she isn't just. a regular girl.

she's just a girl. as a human, as fae. she's just a girl.

Let her be one

[pinksunshineee]

it's the middle of the night so this isn't a comprehensive post but I've been thinking about how defensive and weaponizing e/riels and toxic elain stans are, especially in comparison to other characters and stans, and I think it has something to do with white women's tears, and white feminism as a whole, exacerbated by the rise of traditionalism.

but thats just a theory, a game theory.

[wingsdippedingold]

I know a lot of people point to Nesta using weaponized incompetence regarding chopping wood to say that she didn’t do anything in the cabin, which sure

BUT COME ON

ELAIN IS RIGHT THERE

Y’all never mention her when this is brought up???

Her entire life has been unintentional weaponized incompetence and infantilization

Weaponizing her appearance of a “simple” and immature girl is exactly how she survived and got what she wanted

And Feyre fell for it hook, line, and sinker

Nesta too, to an extent: she was just continuing to do what her mother did because she didn’t know anything else

Elain’s not an idiot bruh, she knew what she was doing when she laid on her sweetest voice. She used her mother’s treatment of her as a doll as an advantage later on, because it’s the only way she could get what she wanted

Elain has the most friends out of the Archerons and was the most social and somehow Feyre still took her for an idiot??

I hate how Feyre thinks about Elain, and then y’all have the gall to call her super observant and good at reading people

She cannot read either of her sisters of 20 years at all 😭

[youareatragedy]

This! This is exactly my stance. I think Elain is smart, but she's such an opportunist. She weaponizes other people to make her situation comfortable no matter the circumstances, hiding behind Nesta and Feyre whenever it’s most convenient.

When they were poor? She hid behind Nesta because Nesta was more level headed, "scary" and had the best potential to get them out of poverty. But the moment Feyre became a High Lord’s wife? Elain immediately sided with Feyre.

Elain is not stupid and people who criticize her know that. You know who doesn’t? Her so called “stans”. They keep infantilizing her, saying she’s so kind and can do no wrong. She act like she’s clueless. Ladies and gents, she knows what a mate bond is—she’s seen it with her own eyes for years.

I think Elain realized that this time, her sisters couldn’t handle things for her, so what might’ve been a “nothing” relationship for her became an opportunity. Azriel was an opportunity. Who knows if she even wants Lucien or not? She’s so used to ensuring there’s always someone ready to defend her. She clings to Azriel and uses him to make sure she’s not alone in this mate bond situation. That way, she has someone beside her in case things go wrong with Lucien.

When they were poor and she was constantly referred to as “the prettiest one” she probably could’ve found a rich man to marry, but she didn’t. She didn’t try to find Feyre either.

After that cauldron mess, she made Nesta suppress her own trauma and depression to take care of her. And when Nesta finally broke and couldn’t do it anymore, Elain abandoned her because “that’s not what she signed up for”

You know what Elain stans said? “Of course she left, because it was easy to take care of Elain, she’s not bitchy like Nesta. Elain doesn’t have to take Nesta’s abuse”. They’re so blinded by her ‘nice act’ that they keep excusing the fact that Elain has never shown the same kind of dedication toward her sisters as her sisters have shown her time and time again.

ELAIN IS CLEVER. Elain knows how to survive for herself. But Elain is NOT the nicest person. She’s an opportunistic person who prioritizes her own survival and sees the people around her as shields.

[extremely-judgemental]

Long Post

Every time I see the ‘let my girl be happy’ tag and the post is about canon Nessian, it infuriates me as much as it breaks my heart. Sometimes I wonder if those who romanticise Cassian’s toxic behaviours are speaking from a place of privilege or ignorance, because admitting that calls for addressing real-life abuse and misogyny they are forced to endure.

I’m an Indian living in a highly patriarchal, misogynistic society where women are still required to marry someone out of convenience for the sake of their families. This is not the cute arranged marriages you read about in books or watch in movies. Most women have to sacrifice everything they stand for to ease their families’ burdens. And let’s not even start with dowry or DV. Sure, our society has progressed in many ways, yet, this is the reality of most women when it comes to marriages. No matter how well-off you are, no matter how successful you are in your career. It’s more nuanced than you imagine; parents meddle with children’s lives at every step, and our lives are more intertwined with our families than in western society. So I simply can’t read Nesta’s story and delude myself into thinking she got a happy ending with Cassian or the Inner Circle. I keep my emotions out of most of the criticisms to help people see the situation objectively. That’s hard to do in this case, but I’ll try.

Nesta is the eldest child who ‘fails’ her sisters, though it is her father’s responsibility to care for three young girls. Having been groomed to be a housewife all her life, she contributes in the only way she knows—by doing the chores and nurturing her family. She seeks help from relatives and friends, while the ones in position to do so ignore her. And when the time comes, she finds a way to be of use to her family by marrying Tomas. Despite all this, Nesta is considered a failure of a sister, simply because Feyre made a choice. Most of these only come to light in Silver Flames, and even the few instances where Feyre realises this, there’s no real appreciation for Nesta’s efforts. Instead, they are dismissed or only mentioned to highlight Feyre’s empathic tendencies and her awareness of her sisters’ plights, rather than uplifting Nesta’s character. None of these are acknowledged as they don’t fit the typical masculine ideals glorified throughout the series.

As Nesta navigates her life as a newly transformed fae, she partakes in a war in which she has no part in. She has no obligation or need to risk her life for the Night Court, or any other court, or even the mortals. These are the same acts that made Feyre a hero in the first book. But when it comes to Nesta, and she rises to the occasion, her actions are downplayed as she grapples with PTSD from her death, the Cauldron, the toll of war, and her father’s death. None of her sacrifices or her attempts to protect her sisters are given an ounce of importance or respect they deserve. Instead, it’s framed as Nesta’s duty as the eldest sister or the sister of the Night Court’s High Lady.

When she deals with her trauma, everyone takes great pleasure in controlling how the situation unfolds. She goes as far as living alone to spare her sisters. Yet Feyre and Elain, who have the choice of when and how to regulate their emotions, fail to grasp the concept of personal space. Her actions are self-sabotaging at best and have no real consequences on any of the other characters. Still, they are amplified to an extent that it’s turned into a court affair. The reason for this is Nesta isn’t coping in the right way. Gambling, drinking and sex—common activities for the Inner Circle—become a question of their reputation the moment she engages in them in her pain, emphasising that these are only acceptable when done with them. Spending Feyre’s money on gambling may seem like a reasonable cause for Rhysand to interfere, but if we factor in how Nesta’s rightful wealth from Tamlin or her father was lost as a direct consequence of Inner Circle’s actions, along with the fact that she is still owed money for her contribution in the war, Nesta is deliberately stripped of any monetary agency to trap her.

If this isn’t punishment enough, she is locked in an inescapable tower with a man she wants no part of. When she objects to this, she is lied to about their laws and threatened being thrown among people who will consider her a threat. She has no interest in training to fight or working for the Night Court, but she’s forced to. She’s not compensated for any of this labour either. Nesta is known to starve herself after the war to the point that she’s nothing but ‘skin and bones’. Cassian, an established gym bro in the series, weaponises food against her when she refuses to eat what is offered or when. The moment she shows any interest in eating, he judges her for being picky and brings up her latent guilt that led her down that path in the first place. Later on, knowing she’s not fit enough, the Inner Circle insists on training her right away, in freezing conditions, without proper clothing. Nesta soon learns that she has no choice but to comply. She goes on to train with Cassian, work in the library, and accept the food the house gives her. This is the first step in breaking her.

Nesta has no one to rely on or talk to in the house except for Cassian. The relationship that develops between them is not circumstantial but a well-orchestrated one. Even for small talk, Cassian is her only choice. After learning Nesta was SA’d by the kelpie and on the verge of death, no one (including her sisters) cares for her as much as they should. The only person who checks on her is Cassian, and even he is so overcome with desire and lust that he has sex with her instead of comforting her. It is common knowledge that sex is a coping mechanism for her and that she has been SA’d twice—something only Cassian knows. This perpetuates the idea that even when a woman is hurting and in pain, she must be appealing, and her trauma should be sexually gratifying and desirable for the man. A woman can walk back from the doors of death, but she must look pretty while doing it. There is nothing empowering about that.

Then, there is Eris’s seduction. Feyre looks down on Nesta for contemplating selling her body to take care of her sisters. But the same is expected of her when she serves the Night Court. It is almost glorified and revered by Cassian himself. During their conversation in River House, he lets her believe that she has to earn both his love and her sisters’. Not once does he contradict any of her fears or insecurities. For the first time, Nesta has sex with him without it being an escape, and the next morning, Cassian abandons her, reinforcing the idea that she indeed earned the sex and love for what she did in Court of Nightmares.

When Nesta reveals the truth about Feyre’s pregnancy, her true feelings are swept under the rug by how she ‘failed’ her sister again. She has the right to expose Rhysand and his plans. Even if the situation isn’t the most ideal, she is locked in a tower and only talks to anyone when the IC choose, which limits her options. Besides, when will the timing ever be perfect for such a conversation? She is again vilified for being the only one honest with her sister. Her intentions are twisted to cover up others’ mistakes. Cassian, once again, is the one who punishes her for it.

At this point, Nesta is suicidal, and Cassian recognises the signs. He still insists on taking the hike, also using the silent treatment to enforce the idea that she is in the wrong. His interactions with Feyre prove none of them dwell on Nesta’s actions as much as she believes. While she is having a guilt trip, edging her closer to suicide, Cassian laughs behind her back with Feyre, almost enjoying her fears. At the end of this trip, Nesta finally opens up about her trauma for the first time, and Cassian swoops in with his own sorrows and how he overcame them. Instead of making her feel seen and heard, she is once again lectured on what she should do and how.

Lastly, Cassian and Morrigan have a mildly, if not completely, inappropriate relationship that Nesta is expected to accept. If she expresses jealousy or anger, it’s not because of the bond or their relationship, but will be seen as her inherent quality. She can’t fight it as everyone else has accepted it as a normal relationship. If she shows any displeasure, her past of sleeping with other men will be brought into the conversation, and she will be scrutinised. This is very similar to the ‘men will be men’ narrative—the man can flirt with whoever he wants, and it’s harmless, but the woman has to behave.

Throughout the series, everyone is against Nesta. Her family is her responsibility. She has a duty to protect and serve them, no matter the circumstances, no matter how much it costs her or how much pain she is in. Her own sisters side with her in-laws, saying it’s how things are and she ‘doesn’t have to be so miserable’. Her life is forever bound to a man she initially wanted nothing to do with and her everyday existence is dependent on him. She is trapped with him until she learns to accept her fate. He doesn’t lay a hand on her, but he psychologically and emotionally abuses her until she complies with his family and behaves to fit their image. He even gives her the silent treatment, withdraws sex/intimacy from her, leaves her alone in the tower, cuts her off from everyone she loves and cares about if she misbehaves. She has no financial independence, leaving her at the mercy of her sister and her family. Even when she’s hurting, she has no choice but to risk her life for them or go to war when they demand. She goes as far as changing her body for her future child. Her life is threatened by her in-laws, but no one bats an eye at that, forever leaving her fearing for her safety.

If you believe it’s just fiction and that all this is exaggeration of something in a fantasy book, you really need to look around you. This is a real nightmare for most women around the world. Your girl, Nesta, isn’t happy. She settled. She has accepted a life in which she is treated less than a dog and used as a weapon. She’s been beaten down until she learnt not to step out of line if she wants to live. She is still with Cassian because she doesn’t see a life other than that as an option and has come to accept whatever scraps her sister and her family have decided to throw her way. And I sincerely hope that if you ever come across a real-life Rhysand or Cassian, you have the wits to protect yourself and run the other way.

[fenrysmoonbeamswife]

IC stop referring to Nesta as an animal challenge

I have had it

[queenofqueensarcheron]

THE REASONS WHY I DISLIKE ELAIN ARCHERON (AS OF NOW)

Book 1:

It’s mostly when Feyre comes back from the spring court and she tells her that Nesta scares all of her new friends away. She must know that something happened between Nesta and Tomas. She was probably in the cabin with their father when Nesta came back with a ripped dress.

Nesta was also the only one in the house to not have suffered from the glamour. Meaning that for WEEKS Nesta was telling herself she wasn’t crazy and that Feyre wasn’t actually at their auntie’s house, but taken by the fae. And yet Elain probably never asked her how she felt, because it didn’t touch or revolve around her directly.

When she told Feyre that Nesta is scary for her new friends (bear in mind, everyone babies Elain, not just Nesta) nobody asked themselves what might have happened. And just left her there because we all know that tough Nesta doesn’t need worrying. 😒

Book 2:

When Rhys and co comes to the new manor and ask the sisters of they want to come to Velaris since the human lands are too dangerous for them. Nesta asked Elain what she wanted, since Elain was engaged to her fae hating man. But nobody asked Nesta what she wanted. Elain could be safe with her fiancé, but if the war were to come, nobody would come and protect Nesta.

Elain never asked to herself or out loud whether or not it would be good for Nesta to stay or should she go to Velaris. It was convenient for Elain to keep Nesta with her. She would have her sister AND her fiancé to protect her. But then again god forbid we wonder and care about tough Nesta. Because we don’t.

Book 3:

Elain did not do much in this book ngl.

Book 4

When Feyre asked Elain if it was worth the “trouble” getting Nesta for Solstice. And Elain had the guts to ask if Nesta was still a part of this family when Nesta herself is the one who was there for Elain when girlie was catatonic and suicidal. Nesta was going through a very hard time but she was definitely not against seeing her sisters from time to time. She just didn’t want to hang out with the IC who openly hated her (still do.)

Elain had the guts to tell Feyre that getting Nesta to attend is not worth the trouble.

Book 5:

[BUCKLE UP WITH THIS ONE]

Elain going behind Nesta’s back to pack her things when she was “given a choice” when it clearly wasn’t a choice. If it was truly a choice why did

1- Feyre told her that if they had to chained her, they would and

2- why did they send her clothes DIRECTLY to the house???

If it was truly a choice, would they not wait to get Nesta’s answer before moving her things. Like where would they actually move her things. Or would let Nesta move her things ALONE.

When Elain came and visit Nesta no matter how good the intentions were, she by far did not help. Elain has spent the majority of her life hiding behind Nesta. And yet acts surprised when Nesta who is HEAVILY depressed snaps back. And she snaps back because yet again, someone doesn’t respect her boundaries. Nesta states very clearly that she does not want to talk about their father, and yet Elain pushes.

And when Nesta lashed out, she went running to big protective Rhysand. Did she not understand how bad it could have been for Nesta?? It doesn’t take a genius to understand that Rhys LOATHES Nesta and would love to wash his hands of her.

You do that to the sisters was there for you FOR MONTHS when nobody else was. She was acting like the barrier between you and the mate you want nothing to do with. She protected you when you were catatonic, and this is how you treat her when she’s the one who needs a hand???? NASTY. JUST NASTY BEHAVIOUR

And when they were talking about the trove and Elain told everyone they would use her and Nesta refused, and Elain snapped(like I get it, you’re tired of everyone babying you) and says “all you are ever thinking is what my trauma did to you” EXCUSE ME NOW?!????

Miss girl take a fucking seat pls for my own sanity.

You are dumb to think the IC would risk your life when your very expandable sister is there.

When she scried for the second time after her nightmare, and Rhys FELT her trauma, was Elain there? No. Did anyone ask her or apologized to her? NOOO

AND THEN on top of that, when Nesta went to find the mask and got SA’d on the way. All these people were doing was judging and making fun of her. Elain wasn’t there, bby girl, your sister risked her life YET AGAIN and almost died and where are you???? Had it been the opposite, Nesta would have raged time and space to get to her. And yet Elain is unable to show a single ounce of emotion for Nesta.

Nobody came to visit her besides Cassian (also fuck him for what he did in that room)

NOBODY ASKED HER IF SHE WAS OK?? 😭

Then the whole thing with the pregnancy. Everyone hates Nesta for telling the truth to Feyre but no one bats an eye for the people who kept the secret WHILE LIVING with the poor woman. Nesta was depressed, angry, alone and very much stuck in the HoW. Sure she should have said f u Rhys, I’m telling my sister. But Elain was legit living with Feyre and told her nothing and pretty sure had to lie to her. Feyre would have had way more conversations about her baby with Elain, somebody she would see everyday compared to the sister they decided to lock up and only let out when she was needed for dangerous missions.

Elain probably lied and gave false hope to Feyre. Rhys and his IC decided to keep the truth away from her KNOWING Feyre asked to never be lied to and Rhys fucking agreed a promised.

During Solstice when Nesta arrived and Elain had to open her mouth so Nesta had to tell her to shut up. LIKE YESS! You can laugh, but honestly Nesta wasn’t invited to this part until like .243 seconds ago so take a seat and be happy your sister is doing better, because it’s certainly not because of you.

Nesta gets kidnapped and nobody besides Cassian has any reaction. Feyre is more interested in Eris than her own sister. BFFR. Elain is as usual nowhere to be found. Nesta comes back to a week of “Prythian’s Hunger Games” UNMAKE someone, saves the day and nobody asks her how she is? Nobody thanks her (besides Rhys) nobody is looking to see if she’s injured?? No fuck her. She’s tough she’s fine we don’t care.

Anyways thats the big lines on why I dislike Elain Archeron. And I’m excited for her book cause girlie needs to have a character arc and not just the word “pretty” following her.