#except for nesta because i want her to kill someone. i just want her to do it. how the fuck does this end with her geting with cassian he

[anchoredgalaxy]

a court of silver flames gets the award for book where i've said "god i wish everyone in this book would die" the most

[acourtofthought]

Tamlin was the first one to try to stop the King of Hybern during the cauldron scene. Does that undermine what Lucien did?  Lucien thought Elain was in danger in the Night Court but he told Tamlin to “get her back” instead of trying to save Elain himself. Yet Sarah notes that this behavior is that of “a mate already going wild to defend what was his.” Lucien only left the Spring Court when Feyre was already leaving and he had to leave anyways for his safety. Does that undermine his actions? Mor was the first to offer to go search for Vassa. Does that undermine what Lucien did? Unlike Cassian, Azriel didn’t offer to go after the Valkyries at all when they were taken to the blood rite, even though this happens after the bonus chapter. He only said that they needed to get Eris. Does this mean he doesn't care?

No because Tamlin's actions were focused on the king while Lucien's were focused on Elain.

Even as recent as SF we know Tamlin is in love with Feyre therefore it's logical to assume that anything he does is about her. Protecting her, helping her, etc. Tamlin trying to stop the King doesn't have anything to do with Elain specifically so much as Tamlin trying to stop the Kings madness overall because this wasn't what he agreed to (something verified when he says "this is not part of our deal"). A deal which was made in order to break Feyre's bargain with Rhys and get her back.

But Lucien? He tried to step towards Elain before she was put in. Someone he broke free of the kings shackles for, someone who was then revealed as his mate. Lucien paid no attention to Nesta as she was put into the Cauldron, he was more interested in picking up Elain and holding her in his arms so she didn't have more of the Cauldron dumped onto her.

How can anything Lucien did for Elain be undermined when he had never even met her? They were complete strangers yet his instinct wasn't to stop the King but go to her.

This is Rhys after his bond snapped, after suspecting he had a bond with Feyre for months:

No, I don't think Lucien's actions, the "get her back" moment, means his bond with Elain should undermined. He was completely blindsided by the snapping of his bond. If Rhys nearly stole Feyre away but only managed to avoid it by winnowing then I think Lucien being out of his head and having no idea what he was doing or saying can be forgiven. How often do we see Lucien panting and snarling? He's usually quite controlled so it's clear he was a bit out of his mind. Also.... how exactly would Lucien be able to get her back from a High Lord in that moment? "Lucien should have gotten her back himself!". Except Rhys sent Mor in to Spring to retrieve Feyre, right? He didn't even go get his own mate so it's not really as simple as everyone claims.

No, Lucien leaving with Feyre after Spring's downfall doesn't undermine his own actions because Lucien wanted to get Elain back long before that:

End of ACOMAF:

Start of ACOWAR:

People need to remember Lucien is not yet a HL and definitely did not have the power to go against the most powerful HL of Prythian history at the beginning of ACOWAR.

Lucien isn't stupid. Getting himself killed trying to get Elain isn't going to help Elain therefore it was necessary for him to form a plan, not just storm the gates. He knew Feyre was playing him but he knew he had to play the game.

However he was ready to get Elain long before the Spring Court fell, it was just Feyre was finally done playing the game at that point which meant he could then demand his answers.

If another male had been the first to suggest going after Vassa than it might undermine Lucien's actions a bit more but girl power is a theme in Sarah's novels, just as much as the romance. However we also need to remember Lucien is not an Inner Circle member. He doesn't get to order the IC around and tell them how they should be operating, what soldiers they should be sending out, that he should be the one to handle the information accordingly. He rightly gave them time to work through the information as it was presented to the NC since he was only a guest, then spoke up. But either way, he was the only male who fought for her vision.

He was also clearly stunned by everything that had just been revealed:

What happens to Elain also affects Lucien and I think people forget that. Just like her depression caused him actual devestation. I think people need to give the guy a few moments to process the information since she's literally the other half of his soul, whether they accept the bond or not.

Once again, people forget a mated male struggles to react rationally.

In SF, Az was not a mated male. Even if he has a bond with Gwyn he's got no clue, just like Rowan didn't seem affected by Aelin's multiple near death experiences at first. Because of this Az was able to logic that entering the Rite meant her death. I don't think Az would have cared about his own safety but when the laws clearly state she would die too, that it would guarantee her death and he at this point in time was level headed enough to remember that in the way a newly mated male could not, I think it makes sense why he wasn't overcome by emotion to the point it would risk her life.

But Az showing zero concern for Elain when Elain was put into the Cauldron? Az being second to Cassian in offering Elain a dagger? Az not believing in Elain's ability to handle the Trove? Az not feeling Elain's vision was worth pursuing? Az putting Elain's life at risk for both Feyre and Briar simply because he wanted to be the hero who could do it all? Az avoiding Elain at her lowest and only looking into her riddles after Feyre asked it of him? Az looking at Mor with lust while Elain sat in the room with them? Az never giving her credit for her bravery during the war? These things do undermine the supposed feelings he has for her.

[wallflowers-in-the-wind]

Funny thing is, I would have been more of a fan of Cassian if he treated Nesta better or at least with some common decency. At first he came across as an interesting character wouldn’t have mind exploring. I was genuinely interested in his character and the fan base around him. Would have been fine with the animosity between the two as witty banter.

Then Nesta saves him again and again. Didn’t mind that but figured he would have the chance to return the favor or something.

Yet that all changed in ACOFAS and ACOSF when he throws a hissy fit when she doesn’t immediately fall head over heels for him, and proceeds to treat her like the dirt beneath his boots, not to mention his stunt with making the Valkeries a target for fae who think clipping women’s wings and SA is ok.

Their whole relationship and eventual choice of mating together was built on her being in a confined space with no other options or males to talk to besides him and Azriel’s occasional visit.

And that’s just barely scratching the surface. You wanna talk about character assassination to fit your narrative Cassian has been treated almost as bad as Tamlin except SJM likes Cassian so she would never hurt one of her bat boy to the point of self isolation. Though it’s suspicious how many times he has had his wings torn to shreds. I’m surprised he even flies at all anymore without fearing someone will shoot him down again or begging Rhysand for a protection spell just for his wings.

Speaking of Rhysand, I can understand loyalty to a brother in arms but this is straight up one sided devotion. Are we sure Rhysand and Cassian haven’t been a couple in the past? Also is that a ship? Cause I can see it.

But back on topic the loyalty runs so deep he would have allowed Rhysand to kill Nesta if ordered to. Straight up no mercy doesn’t care if she is his mate or a civilian if Rhysand wants them dead he would allow it unless told to save them. Only to nearly murder them himself because Rhysand’s feelings matter more than his own or the feelings of the person he ‘saved.’

It’s way too twisted and the missed potential kills me inside.

[lovemyromance]

Stop Kicking Elain out of the NC

She doesn't want to go. She doesn't want to leave her family. The cauldron turning her into high fae was unfortunate, but in typical Elain fashion (my favorite quality of hers) she made the best of a terrible situation and adapted to her new home, her new body, her new life. She has friends. She glows with health. She is mending the relationship with her sisters. The male she loves is there.

Why would she want to leave?

And if anyone brings up the fact that Cassian said she couldn't pull off a black dress - I swear to god I'll be convinced you've never read a book before. Cassian, the Miranda Priestley of Velaris, declaring Elain doesn't look good in black does not mean she is being rejected by the Night Court.

Do people not read? Did you not read how Nesta had to stand out to be Eris-bait, and if Elain, gorgeous, sweet, with beauty-that-could-bring-a-king-to-his-knees Elain was done up like the rest of them, the chances of Eris following after Nesta would have been slim? They had to make her look muted, to purposefully fade her into the background. That is ALL.

Now let's get into the even worse arguments for booting Elain out of the NC. Specifically,

She belongs in Spring (with Lucien)

She belongs in Day (with Lucien)

She belongs in Autumn (with Lucien)

Do you see what all those have in common (other than being surface level awful arguments)? They all center around Lucien. Who currently, Elain avoids like the plague. But I'm getting ahead of myself, lets go one by one, slow and steady:

Elain does NOT belong in spring

Why is this a thing, even? Because she likes flowers and Feyre said "oh elain would like it here?" That's it? Are we reducing people down to their hobbies now? Nesta likes books, should she also move to Day? Mor likes...wine I guess, should she move into a tavern? Amren likes puzzles, ship her to Dawn? Azriel likes Elain, let's put him in the Prison??

Or, oh wait, Tamlin should lose his court and Elain and Lucien will rule? How. Genuinely, how? Lucien is already an heir to Day Court & Autumn Court. How would the magic pick him of all people if Tamlin somehow dies/gives up his court? Wouldn't it pick someone...of Spring Court descent?

P.S Flowers also grow in the Night Court.

Make it make sense.

2. Elain does NOT belong in Day

First of all, right now, nobody knows about Lucien's parentage except for Feyre/Rhys and LoA (maybe). Helion doesn't know. Lucien himself does not know.

For Lucien to become high lord of Day, y'all realize Helion would have to die, right? Why would you ever kill off such an icon? And even if he just casually lives there while Helion still rules...a lot of things would have to happen for this to occur, like: Lucien's parentage is revealed, Helion accepts him as his heir, likely a blood duel between Beron/Helion over LoA, If Beron wins THEN Lucien becomes HL of Day, but if Helion wins then Eris becomes HL of Autumn...all of this would have to be covered in one book before they can even think about moving to Day and living happily ever after. You know, if Elain ever actually gives him the time of...day.

Don't even give me the "but Elain needs sunlight"!!

P.S. The NC also gets sunlight

Elain is not a plant. She does not undergo photosynthesis and need to go to the Day Court to physically be alive. Elain does not need light she IS the light. What's not clicking folks? Her name literally means LIGHT. Some variations say fawn/deer, but mainly she is light.

3. Elain does NOT belong in Autumn

This argument is more rare, but I don't understand it either. Why would she go live in Autumn as the reluctant mate to the 7th son of the awful Autumn HL? Autumn court cannot be this interesting to y'all, that you would be totally okay with not hearing from feyre/rhys/nesta/cassian/any of the IC, just to read a story about Elain avoiding Lucien in different climate/setting? Autumn exists in the NC too, you guys. She can ignore him when the leaves change color there, just as much.

And all of this, is only centered around Lucien. Because if you just asked this sweet flower child what she wanted, I can guarantee you, her answer would be to stay right where she is: home.

If she weren't mated to Lucien, would you still be sending her away to Spring/Day/Autumn?

This isn't even a ship thing at this point, like...Lucien doesn't currently have a home right now? Why are we tearing Elain away from her home to go live with a mate she does not want? If Elucien ever did get together, it would make so much more sense for Lucien to just move to the NC instead. Because Elain sure as hell is not going to live in her ex-fiance's manor, far away from her sisters, with a mate she didn't ask for and his rude bestie who literally made a r*pe joke about her (yeah, not understanding the Jurian & Lucien friendship here either).

Stop kicking my girlie out of the night court. She's staying where she belongs. If she leaves, it will be her choice. Not because her mate lives somewhere else. Not because she likes flowers. If she stays, it will be because that is her choice.

I thought it was obvious.

[shesalittlelost]

I've noticed this that most Nesta stans treat Nesta less like a character and more like a vehicle that they can use to be as misogynistic as possible and live their own mean girl fantasy on the internet. And the saddest thing is that it's not just her fans who do it, the author did the same to her so I'm gonna talk to about the latter first.

Nesta in ACOTAR wanted to go out and carve her life on her own because the realisation that she still hadn't found a purpose for herself while her sister already did and that she owed her whole life to her chafed at her. That's why their reunion in the first book was so touching. I was so looking forward to see what Nesta does with her journey but she isn't allowed that. Fast forward to ACOMAF, she's just... a mean girl, unnecessarily poking at her sister for no reason at all. This scene is used as a way to start Nesta and Cassian's “banter” and “romance” (lol) and in order to do that SJM basically walks back and kills whatever little but extremely significant development Nesta had in book 1. Her concern for her sister that made her risk her own life is forgotten and instead she's made to be petty, antagonistic and stupid and incredibly shortsighted even (when in book 1 she was the only one in the family who listened to Feyre & understood the threat Fae posed to the humans) to Feyre for no reason other than to clash her with Cassian. And since then it's been like this. SJM keeps obliterating everything that made Nesta, Nesta. Her ability to resist glamour? forgotten. Her not wanting to become a warrior? LOL her whole personality is just being fandom's cookie cutter sword and armour girl now. Her being averse to casual sex? Well.... you see... she lavvvvsss sex so muchhh that she starts daydreaming about having a threesome with her bf and his brother to a point that her brother-in-law can tell that from her face and gets awkward (🤮). Her wishing to explore this world on her own? Yeah lol that's not happening. Like ever.

This girl really just got moulded into someone that Miss Maas can conveniently use to live her own fantasy in the ACOTAR world. Maas is known to not get along well with other women in the field who are as popular and successful (if not more) than her and allegedly called one an ableist slur. It's public knowledge that she was horrible to her other author friends until they cut her off. She now lives in her own bubble and picks some two or three new people, less popular than her to befriend, who just hype her up. Sounds familiar? Yeah. Nesta too can't ever get along with any other major female character who is as equally relevant in the story as her. Elain was her best buddy until she stopped being Nesta's side chick. Feyre, she was always jealous with, in her own words. She looks down at Mor for not being dressed modestly causing the men to laugh at that insult (Sara, you're very obvious). That scene where Rhys aka SJM gasses her up by calling her an illyrian (warrior) as a compliment while comparing her to Elain and implying Elain doesn't count coz she just isn't one. Like there is such a big “she's not like the other girls! she is ✨different✨” energy going on with the way she's written, especially her relationship with every other women in the story, except for the two girls who are written solely to be her hype girls, that I literally can't stand it.

It starts to make sense why she appeals to a certain kind of fans here who also suffer from the “i'm not like the other girls” syndrome. A lot of these people don't even like or care about Nesta's character or story that much no, they just latch onto her to hate on every other character, especially the female ones, that they can't self insert as. Calling Feyre the nastiest things, hating on Elain for apparently being a “selfish bitch” and Mor for idek what. Like these people are physically incapable of talking about her or praising her without comparing her with or bringing down other women in the series and it's genuinely nasty how they talk about every woman who isn't her or the ones who suck up to her. I wonder if they realize how crazy they look to others coz they are very transparent.

[maria-sand-22]

People angry with rhys for assigning cassian to nesta damage control and rehabilitation and angry with cassian for being to strict and harsh with her and not making excuses for her behaviours is insane

You really just want rhysand to release nesta into velaris when she took more power from the cauldron than she can handle so she can roam amongst the fae children of his court that she hates so much? If I found out that the leader of my nation released his drunken impulsive abusive racist against our race suster in law who is also overpowered and capable of k*lling us all I'd be rioting the next day.

For all he knew as well there wasn't anyone in his IC who wasn't in danger around her except cassian, he's her mate rhysand probably can't imagine any fae would be capable of harming their mate whether they want them or not.

And for the people thinking nesta wasn't that bad and wasn't a danger to the people of velaris feyre didn't mind killing a fae man she didn't know for the simple crime of being fae, nesta hated fae 50 times more than feyre with 50 times less compassion and Impulse control than her, and for all rhysand knew from feyre's memories she was the devil himself nobody was safe around her except the person she physically couldn't bring herself to hurt;

- she literally never cared about feyre's life when the beast came to take her she only protected elain while letting feyre get taken

- she would constantly verbally abuse feyre to the point of irreversible damage to her character and self esteem

“His snarl set the flames of the candles guttering. 'You aren't what I had in mind for a human- believe me.'

I could almost feel the wound deep in my chest as it ripped open and all those awful, silent words came pouring out. Illiterate, ignorant, unremarkable, proud, cold- all spoken from Nesta's mouth, all echoing in my head with her sneering voice."

"I needed new boots, but Elain needed a new cloak, and Nesta was prone to crave anything someone else possessed."

"[...] I glanced at Nesta’s stillshiny pair by the door. Beside hers, my too-small boots were falling apart at the seams, held together only by fraying laces."

“What do you know?” Nesta breathed. “You’re just a half-wild beast with the nerve to bark orders at all hours of the day and night. Keep it up, and someday—someday, Feyre, you’ll have no one left to remember you, or to care that you ever existed.”

She refused to help even though everyone was in danger. “Find somewhere else,” Nesta said again, straight-backed. “I don’t want them in my house. Or near Elain.”

On top of that, Nesta loves to read and she never wanted to teach her younger sister how to read, but there was no problem in encouraging Feyre to hunt while Nesta herself was sitting at home.

"The story is told from Feyre's point of view and she may not have interpreted it correctly." Yes, because there are really many interpretations for your older sister to leave you to die while hugging the other sister. Thank you, next.

If Nesta was a man he would've been an irredeemable monster after acosf, because for an abuser she never truly redeemed herself or expressed any true remorse through actions rather than internal thoughts

Remorseful abusers don't try to hurt their victims further by dragging their reputation through the mud when they take them into their new home

Remorseful abusers don't try to attack or alienate their victims support system

Remorseful abusers don't try to rationalise or excuse 5heir abuse

They simply accept that they F'ed up and live with and accept the consequences of their actions such as their victim struggling to trust them again, their victims loved ones disliking them or never forgiving them, etc..

[haveihitanerve]

i would like to point out- since many people tend to use this as a reason for why azriel and elain are meant to be together- recognizing someones power does not mean that they are destined to be together or that they are perfect.

beron was the one who realized luciens power. so did his brothers. they try at every turn to kill him. (except eris but that a different matter for a diff time)

rhys was the one who first noted nestas power

lucien and tamlin recognize feyres power

just because azriel is the one who recognizes elain is a seer does not mean he truly sees her.

we get an inside to luciens mind through feyre, when he comes to visit her in the library. his thoughts are about how shes so thin. and she needs to eat more. he has no bad thoughts aimed at her, not that i think azriel does but diff point again, and afterwards tells feyre she needs a healer. just to check. he has been through traumatic experiences before. he knows how mentally it can ruin you. he wants to help

when elain starts talking about the firebird, lucien offers help. he does not know her that well, she avoids him like the plague, but he asks feyre, her sister, if she needs something, if he can do anything. azriel cuts him off and says she does not need anything. then he says, we need.... a seer. he realizes what elains power is. yay. wow. good job bud! (no hate to az) lucien was concerned about elain. worried for her mentally and physical state. az was able to see from afar what her words meant, because he wasnt actually looking at her. he didnt truly see the gauntness, he cuts lucien off before he even realizes what elain needs, or if she needs something.

we learn in the bonus chapter az has a poor opinion of lucien. maybe because he is in love with elain, maybe because he was in love with mor, whatever the reason, he doesnt think highly of lucien. he didnt cut lucien off because he had a better idea of what elain needed, he cut him off because he didnt like lucien being the one to say it. (again not necessarily hate towards az)

literally just because az realized that elain was a seer does not mean he is meant to be hers. we can see/hear in the bonus chapter that az wants to claim elain. he believes he is entitled to her because lucien doesnt deserve her and his two brothers both have an archeron sister of their own. he does not deserve her just because no one else realized her power.

[obsessedwithallthingsbookrelated]

Everyone hates you

Chapter 9

I’m sorry it took so long to update! Life got in the way.

Standing in her small kitchen and looking out the window to the dark forest beyond, Nesta took a small sip from her herbal tea.

She felt.. not happy exactly, but peaceful. Content. The numbness had started to fade, the dark thoughts were still present but less frequent, and for that she was grateful.

It had been two months since she had come to her cabin, and everyday someone left food and supplies outside her door, along with a small knock. She never answered it, didn’t care too. She was perfectly happy not to speak to any of them ever again. But she knew it would never last.. which is why when her sister, Feyre suddenly materialised in the kitchen behind her, Nesta only startled a little.

‘’Nesta’’, her sister croaked, her voice was small, hesitant.

Nesta did not move. Neither did Feyre.

‘’How did you find me?’’, Nesta mumbled. Pissed her time in her sanctuary was likely about to come to an end. Pissed that he had probably given away her location.

‘’Please. I just wanted to talk to you for a mome-‘’

‘’You’re not here to drag me back?’’, Nesta spat, she stayed looking out the window but her shoulders were tense.

‘’No. Never. I understand that you likely never want to return home’’, Feyre said, her voice steady but somewhat sad.

Nesta snorted, ‘’Since when do I get the choice to do what I want?’’

She felt her sister still.

Here we go.

‘’That is not fair,’’ she stated, starting to fall back into her authoritative role as ‘high lady’. ‘’You were killing yourself. You were hurting us, hurting Cassia-

Nesta whirled on her sister, ‘’Do. Not. Say. His. Name,‘’ She said through clenched teeth, her hands fisted at her sides. Feyre took a step back and Nesta knew it was because her eyes were flashing silver. She quickly turned back to staring out her window.

‘’Fine,’’ her sister quickly composed herself. ‘’But you should at least know that he’s a complete wreck. He won’t come to the house anymore except to give reports, he looks awful Nesta’’, her sister paused, her voice soft yet stern. ‘’He looks like he’s barely slept in over a month.’’

‘’I do not care.’’ Nesta said, her hand tightening on her teacup. ‘’So, this is why you came then?’’ She laughed, ‘’Not for me, your own sister. But for one of them. I don’t even know why I pretend to be shocked anymore.’’ Nesta shook her head, she had accepted that they were sisters family. She even understood why, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t still pinch at something in her cold heart.

‘’Don’t be ridiculous, of course I wanted to see you! I need to see that your ok, but you’ve been hiding for two godsdamn months.’’ Her sister practically raged at her, Nesta could her pacing back and forth, working herself up.

‘’That is because, sister, you locked me up.’’ Nesta hissed and then turned slowly, watched the colour drain from her sisters face, watched her eyes dart to the floor, lips tightening.

‘’I know I did. I’m so-‘’

‘’Don’t,’’ Nesta interrupted. She didn’t want to hear it, wasn’t in the place too. She just wanted a couple of more days in peace.

‘’I get it,’’ Nesta practically whispered. ‘’We have to talk, but right now, I just want to have a couple of more days in my cabin. I haven’t been drinking. I haven’t been with any males. I just want to be alone, just for a little while longer.’’ She needed Feyre to hear her, even if it just this once.

Please. Show me you can let me be.

Feyres mouth loosened, her eyes softened and a look of determination crossed her features.

‘’I understand that you hate me Nesta, I do too sometimes’’, Her sister voice wavered. ‘’Please, just come to the town house when you’re ready, we would all so love to see you. For a quick visit of course, that’s all.’’ A sad look flashed in her sisters eyes, but also acceptance. With that, a flash and her sister, the high lady was gone.

A piece of paper appeared on her kitchen table with the message stating to simply write when she was ready and she would be winowed there and back.

Was her sister finally starting to understand that Nesta was not isolating herself as a punishment to them or him, but simply that everybody copes in different ways?

She herself, understands that what she was doing before was not healthy either, that her sisters were probably worried by her actions- but nonetheless it was still her damn choice!

Nesta shook her head to herself. But she had this, her little sanctuary. Her interaction with her youngest sister, although not exactly pleasant, was probably the most progress they had made since before the war.

For the first time, in a long time, Nesta felt it, a warmth in her chest, she felt lighter on her feet. Nesta Archeron was feeling hopeful.

@little-darlingo @kitkat-writes-stuff @aelinismyqueen @arson-frog @lady-winter-sunrise @cassiansbigwingspan

Sorry if I left anybody out!

[vidalinav]

Her hair is easily tuggable, Cassian decides, as he runs his gaze over Nesta’s back.  

She shrugs nonchalantly at Rhys, who juts his chin to the bows stacked on the racks that Nesta refuses to touch, and Cassian resists circling his arms around her waist. 

What can he do except pull her closer until she’s tucked tightly to his chest? Will he swipe away that hair and place a reverent, complying kiss to her neck or will he pull? Will he tug like his hands itch to do ever since she shows up, tying her hair haphazardly with one of this leathers? 

She takes it from his wrist and Cassian doesn’t even have time to call her a thief, before she’s bending to flip her hair forward, all of it getting tied tight. 

Easily tuggable, indeed. 

“It’s only right that I be the one to teach you,” Rhys argues, a little too petulant to be arrogant. Or maybe he’s not so confident that he’ll win this battle, after all Nesta is his biggest foe even if she is his greatest ally. She’s not so easily swayed and Cassian would smile at that if weren't for the ponytail that moves back and forth as she shakes her head. 

Are you sure you want to argue with me, that look means. 

Cassian’s only sure of one thing and it’s that he wants to bite. To feast. His palms want to reach for her, grab that soft golden brown... pull and reveal that perfect neck of hers that’s just begging to be kissed by his lips. To be bitten. 

Nesta, Nesta, Nesta. 

Poor Nesta, feasted upon by a feral fae. 

But Nesta pays him no mind, at all. Unaware of his thoughts. Perhaps, Rhys would have noticed too, if not for the fact that he looks ready to kick at the bows. Cassian doesn’t dare mention once more that Nesta already knows how to shoot. 

It isn’t the same, Rhys tells them. You teach to shoot and I teach how to make it another part of your body.

Nesta doesn’t quite care for his tone, and Cassian almost tugs then. Just lightly... with a gentle hand running down her hair to soothe, with just a little pull at the end. 

Because he can’t resist. 

Cassian doesn’t though and he doesn’t tell Nesta either that Rhys probably just wants to get closer to her. To crawl into the empty space that he thinks is meant for him. That older brotherly role, like Azriel has done. Someone to rely on. To trust. 

He won’t tell Rhys that it’ll take more than a perfect shot through a target’s heart. Nesta is well versed in murderous rage, silent killing, a swift arm and a tug. She pulls the arrow back as easily as it were her own arm instead of a bow, and straight through any man’s heart she shoots. 

Cassian’s sure been maimed. 

But Cassian doesn’t need to say anything, because Nesta refuses. 

She raises her chin, and her hair touches her waist like he wishes to do with his hands. He wishes to run them up her back and lean her over one of those tables. The ones littered with knives that need a fresh polish. As sacred as weapons are, they’re no match for how lovely Nesta looks bent over. 

Then he’ll tug, tug until her neck is exposed to his teeth and his tongue and she’s moaning so loud, the whole of Velaris will hear them. 

She’ll give him her haughty look then, too. In the training field, Cassian? Isn’t this blasphemous. 

“Everything I want to do to you is blasphemous, Nesta.”

 ...

To be continued. 

~

and yes he does say this out loud. @arinbelle

[nightlyteaandpaper]

Last post of the day:

I think it is ridiculous and irresponsible for the narrative of the series (SJM) to be more understanding of the emotional, sexual, physical, and psychological abuse that Rhysand (and the Inner Circle, by extension) inflicts on the rest of society because "reasons," however, the narrative of the series (SJM) does not lend the same understanding and listening ear to Tamlin, going so far to make everyone that Tamlin thought was a friend dislike him and suddenly be cool with Rhysand (with the exception of the Ice High Lord-dude, who still remembers Rhysand shattering the minds of an entire generation of children and is, yet, still described as being sort of a prick.) However, the difference between the two are the reasons:

Rhysand did not have to SA Feyre. He did not have to pimp her out.

Rhysand did not have to play this menacing figure to the CoN (who, as a concept, is problematic.)

Rhysand did not have to keep vital medical information from Feyre, then proceed to threaten Nesta for telling her (even if she was doing it for selfish reasons, Nesta still has loyalty to Feyre. No one telling Feyre about her possible death literally means she has no friends in that court but Nesta.)

Rhysand does not have to have sex with Feyre in a library full of SA victims.

Rhysand had no reason to not tell Feyre all those months that he could read her empty-ass head.

However, Tamlin did have "reasons":

He did not want to put Feyre in danger, therefore he did not allow her to train.

Tamlin had a reason for locking Feyre in the house: She was going to follow him into battle where she couldn't defend herself and she couldn't take no for an answer.

Tamlin insisted on Feyre staying on the manor grounds because the rest of the court has untamed beasts out for blood.

Tamlin wants guards following Feyre because she has powers she can't control, and people want to kill her.

Tamlin went after Feyre when he teamed up with Hybern because Rhysand allowed everyone and their mama to believe he was evil. It is not out of the realm of possibility for someone like Tamlin, knowing that Rhysand made Feyre make a deal with him to save her life and then kidnap her, to think that he brainwashed her.

And Feyre is so braindead that she can't read a room (or book) and know that sending a letter to your former lover saying you won't be back even though when you left, you couldn't read or write is not the smartest move. Or standing menacingly in a field with bat wings, talking about "when you have spent so much time in the darkness, you become part of it" with your "evil husband" in the back being equally as menacing does not look good.

Could Tamlin have gone with it a different way? Sure, but every action had a reason. And these are just some of the things I could think of off the top off my head.

[a-court-of-moonlight-and-ire]

yknow, a lot of people say that they wish SJM had just invented a new character to be Rhys' love interest for the Acotar sequel or paired him off with Nesta or something, but I actually think she shouldve gone further and just made Feyre get with a different high lord every book. Just imagine:

ACOTAR 1: Feyre/Tamlin, Feyre recovers from her childhood trauma but then oopsie, UTM happens and now shes got a bunch of new trauma oh noooooo

ACOTAR 2: Feyre/Rhysand, Feyre recovers from her UTM and also learns about feminism and how to fight good, I would prefer if instead of ignoring the part Rhysand played in her trauma like in canon, they actually leaned into it and made it so that Feyre reconciling with Rhysand and even falling for him was somehow symbolic for her reconciling with her UTM trauma

ACOTAR 3: Feyre/Tarquin, Feyre learns how to politics and maybe she learns about the injustices that the common faeries have to deal with as well, maybe there couldve been some seeds planted for this in ACOTAR 2 with the illyrians but she was too busy wth her trauma to deal with it at that point, but now shes ready

ACOTAR 4: Feyre/Eris, Feyre helps Eris with his political machinations culminating with her helping him kill his dad and become high lord, and its kind of a foil to the previous book where Feyre was doing like normal politics with a good guy but now shes doing fucked up and evil politics with a morally gray guy. Also, i havent met Eris yet but I do know that hes racist in canon so maybe we could have a subplot where Feyre helps him with that idk. helps him get over his racism i mean, not helps him to be more racist

I dont know enough about the other guys yet to come up with potential plots for their books, but in my perfect world they would all definitely get one

The final book would be Feyre getting together with one of the super powerful non-court fae like one of those freaks who lives in the middle like the weaver or something, except it has to be one of the male freaks because its a SJM book and we cant have a queer MC. So I guess that limits our selection to Koschei maybe? I actually dont know anything about that guy other than he exists, is he hot? cuz if hes not hot then we can strike him out imo. Then theres that demon-god that sent Nesta a horny vision in ACOSF I think his name was Lanthys, and I know for a fact that hes conventionally attractive so thats our first candidate. I actually quite like the idea of Feyre getting with Suriel and the way that would work is that it would be this reoccurring character that appears atleast once in each book when Feyre needs some information and she goes to catch it, and at the start of this last book shes just broken up with her latest high lord and shes like "that suriel has helped me so many times, I should do something kind for it" so she does that and theres this very fairytale-esque moment where it turns out this is the first time someone showed it a genuine act of selfless kindness to the suriel, and that causes it to transform into a really hot guy. And then Feyre and the Suriel start their grand romance

Also, I just realized if we wanted to keep with the theme of Feyre falling in love with a powerful fae* from a specific court, the capital p Prison island is described as almost being like its own court, so maybe Feyre could get with the Bone Carver which would be great because he can transform into like, the hottest of hot guys if he wanted to

So yeah, thats my pitch for an alternate ACOTAR Series. Would it be good? No. Would it be fun? Yeah, I think so. Certainly more fun than the series we currently have where we mostly just hang out in the same boring city with the same annoying guys

*the bone carver isnt a fae but you get what i mean

[ae-neon]

Nessian Rant part 3

First I wanna say the looneys in this fandom make it so unbearable to be here and just have fun. I used to post whatever I wanted without a second thought but now everything has to sit in the drafts for 3 days while I stress over how people might react.

Fuck that.

I'm gonna scream about what I wanna scream about and if you take it personally that's your problem. These are just characters, clock in to reality and stop acting like they raised you.

Now...

I always see my Nessian mutuals talk about acowar Cassian and trilogy Cassian as a whole being so great but...

To be clear I don't mean Cassian as a standalone character, he's literally amazing alone but in Nessian? Be serious

He's also amazing with every other woman he comes into contact with except Nesta... 🤦🏻‍♀️ can't believe yall stan this ship, stand up rn please 😭 lolol jk. This is just a rant, ship literally whatever the fuck you want, luv u 🫶🏼

I said in a recent answer that the key to enjoying SJM's books is abiding by the Sarah Says rule.

Listen to what Sarah Says even if you read with your own eyes that in canon that "character A got shot by character B", if Sarah Says "well actually B doesn't have fingers so he couldn't pull the trigger and A actually shot himself from 3 feet away being both the victim and the gunman" then that's that.

I'm gonna refer to the facts on paper as canon and what Sarah Says as the narrative and what fans think as fanon.

The thing with a lot of (anti Feysand pro Nessian) fans is they can break the Sarah Says rule only when they want to.

They see past the narrative and fanon to look at the canon and say "I don't like that/ I don't think that's healthy/ that guy sucks/ they both suck"

But then will say acomaf and acowar Nessian was great. What was sooooo great about it? I'm not gonna act like they don't have good moments but they definitely aren't as good as fanon or the narrative makes them out to be.

Let's look at their first meeting

Narrative/ Sarah Says/ Feyre's Mind: Cassian is looking at Nesta and Nesta is ignoring Cassian. There's a little back and forth. Nesta tries to ignore him, he doesn't like that. Do you feel some tension? I feel some tension

Fanon: Cassian was the only one brave enough to call Nesta on her BS and dish it back to her/ he got under her skin/ finally someone tells her off etc you know what I'm referring to

Canon: Feyre and Elain frequently challenge Nesta and she more often than not gives in to them. The IC are in the house because Feyre wants to be there and Elain said to hear them out. In that same scene, Feyre essentially tells Nesta she's living her best life and to fuck off. And power to her. That's just their dynamic.

But Cassian? Cassian is a stranger. He's in her house. He's asking for her help. His HL is asking for her help. So why was he antagonising her?

The narrative and fanon loves to act like Cassian is at best an equal and at worst below Nesta in some way and he's just stepping up to meet her energy but ???

Nesta didn't want them in her home. She worried that just working with them would put herself and others in danger. She didn't want to become Fae. She didn't want to share her story to garner sympathy for the NC. She didn't want to kill or use swords.

But all of those things happened anyway??

She's always the one backed into a corner and then treated like she was on equal ground just cause she's still got her pride? That single sin of not breaking is always punished again and again.

Do you see how you've bought into what Sarah Says?

Hybern and the Cauldron?

Cassian was twitching trying to reach for her, this was the moment we knew for sure they were gonna be mates omg

And Nesta? She was right. Everything she feared would happen did but even worse? She and Elain have been kidnapped and she doesn't know why they're being dunked like chicken wings but the fucking pot tried to kill her. She's the one who fell for an eternity and fought her way back to life.

No offense but not the greatest moment to base your romance on since you have to swivel the camera away from a woman in a traumatizing situation to point at a man and say look how seeing her hurt hurts him 🤕

And acowar??? The supposed golden era of Nessian?? Babe, that's just spray paint

It's Nesta who stands up for Cassian at the HL Meeting. You know what she also does? Recount her trauma to strangers, she isn't feeling well, she stands up for innocent humans and fae, she commands a room full of the most powerful men on the Continent.

It's Nesta who calls for Cassian, saves his life, and covers her body with his. These are Nessian moments yes but they are Nesta's actions. It was her who made Nessian shine.

Cassian? He promised her forever and then ignored her? Pulled away, got embarrassed or something who the fuck cares.

But this is your man - look at the canon - this is your man??

And you said yes.

That's why you got ACOFAS. That's why you got your 500 year old man telling a shell shocked, dying woman that he didn't know why her sisters loved her. That's why you got a leader of legions raging like a 14 year old league player. A whole r/AITA villain

And that's why he embarrassed y'all in ACOSF. That's why you got EIGHT HUNDRED PAGES AND NOT A SINGLE I LOVE YOU because you already accepted less than the bare minimum

Because you failed to apply the rule equally for both ships.

Cassian is also in a power imbalanced relationship with Nesta, he's also 500 years older than her so why suddenly have issue with him having control over her and using it to break her and reshape her how he wants?

Again. You can ship what you want. You can indulge in fanon all you want. I support that. Just hope you know that that's what you're doing.

Mutuals don't hate me 😭

[soartfullydone]

When did you go from loving Feysand and ACOMAF to hating everything after ACOTAR? I'm genuinely curious

Thanks for your question!

It was sometime after I had finished ACOMAF, maybe about midway through ACOWAR when I fully realized my feelings and acknowledged them.

I read ACOMAF in two days, which is wicked fast for any reading experience. So I was riding the highs the book was giving me without fully thinking them through. I remember being so excited that the characters I was shipping in book 1, Feyre and Rhysand, were actually becoming a real thing that I was ignoring all the things wrong with it. (Note: I shipped and enjoyed Feyre and Tamlin in the first book, too, along with Nesta and Lucien. It's not hard for me to ship things if I think it could be fun.) When I finished the book, I sat there, thinking over everything and kept asking myself, "They're together. So why am I so... unsatisfied?"

I didn't have these answers until ACOWAR, when Feyre was being so vengeful against a whole court because of her hatred for one person and treated Lucien like a toy after what he did for her UtM. When Feysand attended the war meeting with the other High Lords, a scene I had been waiting for for a loooong time in excitement, and it was like watching a middle school production of Mean Girls. Everything was so much... cheaper and poorly written than I wanted it to be. And SJM ripped off the Troy line: "The sun was shining when your wife left you." I came completely out of it at that moment because it felt like I was reading someone's OOC fanfiction, but nope. This was penned by the author in utter seriousness.

But subconsciously, the moment I began to hate ACOMAF, Feysand, the Night Court, the whole thing wasn't because of the sacrifice to Tamlin and Lucien's characters or even Feysand's characters. It wasn't the retconning and over-reliance on sexism and empty girl power as "themes." It was when SJM used Rhysand to say with her whole chest that the Night Court isn't actually a court that lives in perpetual night because he can't control the arc of the sun. That their nights are just somehow better than everyone else's, and I remember being so... disappointed by that. How weak sauce. How unimaginative. Because she has him say this, while fully ignoring that the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter courts each maintain their respective seasons despite the tilt of the earth. If they can maintain their court state because of ~magical reasons, why couldn't the Night, Dawn, and Day courts do the same?

I know it sounds like a small thing, but it is a perfect example of SJM's laziness as a writer but also a failure of characterization and world-building, which are all problems that plague the series from the second book on. And the fans wouldn't be dealing with so many of these problems were it not for that second book. ACOTAR sparked my imagination in incredible ways because of how full of possibility it was, not just for Feysand but for all characters and the world. ACOMAF killed that imagination because everything was flattened down and compressed into Feysand and Velaris, which were... boring.

It snowballed from there.

I hated how the Suriel's prophecy was changed from Feyre needing to stay with Tamlin to avoid UtM from happening to Feyre staying with Rhysand to... ??? Because the narrative impact just isn't there like it is for the first book. I hated how the Children of the Blessed became nothing. I hated how Calanmai, one of the few things in the book that made these characters fae-like, became irrelevant. I hated how Rhysand went from being a frightening and formidable villain whose motives you couldn’t quite read to being an uwu soft boi who’d been secretly in love with Feyre the whole time. I hated how the story went from Rhysand doing truly heinous shit (twisting the bone in Feyre’s arm, the body paint, the forced kiss) to suddenly Doing No Wrong (except sssh, he is, we’re just never going to address it as wrong ever. Quick, brush it under the rug, it never happened). 

I hated that it felt like I was reading about 15-year-old elves, and not at least the badly-behaving Silmarillion kind. I hated that Amarantha and Hybern had agents secretly infiltrate every court, and then that information totally vanished. I hated how humans didn't matter. I hated how "be glad of your human heart, Feyre" became utterly meaningless because Feyre became indistinguishable from Rhys and his Inner Circle. And to date, I hate the 500+ pages of trauma dumping for a measly 100 pages of action, if you’re lucky. I hate how none of the characters do what would actually be in character for them, but instead do what SJM wants them to do.

That's simply not engaging writing to me and why I walked away.

[acourtofthought]

I just saw some E\riels lamenting the idea for which SJM won’t break Elucien’s bond as that would hurt them both. And I’m honestly flabbergasted.

No one is saying that the pain of breaking the bond could impede Elucien from actually breaking the bond (except that you know, the bond can’t really be broken, but that’s another matter entirely), if that’s what they wanted. People are just saying that it’s hard to imagine SJM would go with that, considering that mating bonds represent the ultimate HEA for her. Especially to characters we know she really loves. And especially when breaking the bond would always make Elain and Lucien feel pain, as well as a connection to someone who isn’t their partner.

(E\riels also leave out the fact that Azriel desperately wants a Mate, and I don’t think he would ever turn them down for anyone).

And sure, having a couple reject the bond can happen—SJM herself has presented us with cases of this, but it’s not a pain she usually condemns her mains to. That’s what people are saying, nothing else. We’re aware that we’re not the author, and that all of this could actually mean nothing. Grow up.

Also, it’s hilarious how E\riels think that the Elucien mating bond is just a bump in the road for their ship, but they never even considered that Azriel could be just a bump in the road for Elucien. Coherence? Never heard of it.

If SJM wants Elucien to break their bond, they will. But....if that's what she always intended, why would she have told us that there will always be a tug and that it can sometimes drive the males insane?

Lucien is one of her favorite characters and a broken bond WOULD cause him distress. The author literally tells us that information so we're not making it up that a broken bond would be painful, we've seen him struggling already. And she didn't say, "some will feel a tug" she said, "there will always be a tug" so again, we're not making it up that even if Elain and Lucien end up with others, they will always feel drawn to one another and I don't think that's something the person they're with wants to deal with forever. Can you imagine how that would feel for someone like Az? "I choose you but just so you know, I'm forever going to share a special connection with Lucien and I'll at times feel drawn to him." That's only going to lead to jealousy and a constant need for reassurance.

You said it above but WHY would she do any of that to her main characters? Why would she have given Lucien not only a murdered love but a bond that will end up rejected? It doesn't make sense.

Why did she write it so that Lucien is still looking at Elain with disappointment and longing nearly two years after the bond snapped into place? Why did she have Cassian look at Az and have no clue why he started pulling away from Mor while then having Cassian feel sad for Lucien's suffering? Why did Nesta note the exchanged look between Az and Elain but think nothing on it while having her wink at Az when she told him he was Gwyn's new ribbon? Why did Az end up looking like a complete idiot, claiming Lucien isn't good enough and threatening to kill him while making Lucien still come off as the good guy who is respecting Elain and not forcing her to make a decision on the bond? Allowing her the space and freedom to figure out what she wants while still making it clear that he'd like to get to know her better.

Why did she write it that Az desperately wants a mate? He believed Mor was his mate and now he believes Elain should have been his mate because his brothers are with the sisters. It doesn't sound like Az really cares who he's with at this point, he just wants a mate and I don't think he'll ever be truly satisfied until he ends up with one. Now I don't think SJM is going to make it as simple as all that, I imagine he's going to suffer a little bit because he's been acting like a tool but I don't think his HEA will be complete without a bond of his own especially because I think if he did end up with someone else, he'd still be wondering if he had a mate out there somewhere. To Az, it seems a mate does represent being worthy (something he struggles with).

At the end of the day, that's not why Elucien HAS to be together and I don't think it's the entire sum of what any of us are saying. It's a piece to the entire argument but it's not everything. And because these are her characters, she can give them each what she has described as a bond so deep that marriage is insignificant in comparison.

Elain and Lucien don't have to reject the bond and be doomed to always feel a tug to one another. Lucien doesn't have to know that his first love was murdered and his mate rejected him. Elain could end up really getting to know Lucien and realizing he is everything and more that she could have never imagined wanting.

Az doesn't have to be with Elain knowing she has a bond with Lucien and wondering if he still has a mate out there. He doesn't have to always wonder why his brothers were given bonds while he wasn't.

This is where E/riels like to come up with the theory of two mates and fake bonds but to me those theories are farfetched and I personally don't imagine SJM going that route because it goes against everything she has ever written. I'm not saying it's impossible but I do find it unlikely.

So if that is unlikely than that leaves the scenario where SJM writes it so Elucien do end up really happy together and Az finds his own mate and is happy with her (possibly Gwyn).

[readingandrelaxing]

The High Lord of the Night Court

OPINIONS NO ONE CARES ABOUT: EPISODE 1

Rhysand is the talk of the town in both the book and outside the book. But I recently finished ACOSF and the Rhysand in there just blew my mind. There's such a huge difference between ACOMAF Rhys and ACOSF Rhys.

Bro changed from a man we all had a crush on to a first copy of Tamlin.

First of all, there are a lot of problems with the inner circle in general when it comes to ACOSF. I have no idea why but they all appear oddly disconnected from each other, Mor isn't even present for more than half of the book.

And then there's the problem of Rhysand. Let's set aside his treatment of Nesta for a minute. If we look at how he was treating Cassian, making him do something or be someone he doesn't want to be. Not trusting anyone even from his inner circle to not come close to Feyre when she was pregnant (he had Helion's shields up all around her), suspecting the fact that Nesta would try to harm their baby, they're all characteristics one would expect someone like Tamlin to show, not the Rhysand we all know.

He seemed over-paranoid for some reason, which is a huge shift from the way he was in ACOWAR and the books before that.

There's also Feyre we need to talk about. In ACOSF, she did not play a big role and could be classified as a minor character at best. I know that the book was not about Feyre, but if she had been the main character for the past four books, then her involvement in this book should have been much more than what she got.

Feyre's discussion is an entirely different topic, which is a story for another day.

Back to Rhysand.

His treatment of Nesta is disgusting and unsettling, to be polite. He wanted nothing to do with her, it was only because of Feyre that the whole 'House of Wind' thing took place. He would be more than happy to dump her back into the mortal lands for all we know.

Rhys was protective of his baby, and Feyre when it came to Nesta. Of course, anyone from the outside will have no idea how low Nesta could sink and whether she'd harm the unborn baby or not, but being so overprotective that he steps in front of Feyre every time Nesta comes into the same room is overkill. He's not only being hurtful towards Nesta but also undermining Feyre's capabilities.

In ACOMAF, it was always Feyre's choice, but in ACOSF she literally is locked inside a shielded wall for the entirety of the book. It is unclear what she feels about that except for annoyance, but dude, if we go back, Tamlin locked Feyre in his manor, at that time she had a panic attack. So when Rhysand keeps her caged in that shield-like thing, won't she feel the same way?

Talking about the baby, the fact that Feyre didn't know that the baby would kill her because everyone else hid it from her is simply ridiculous. Rhysand, who had promised to be all transparent and honest with her, wasn't willing to tell her this one simple thing? One important thing that could possibly take her as well as the baby's life, and if she didn't know how she might as well just die in vain.

It doesn't matter that it would disturb Feyre, or that she'd be nervous, or that she wouldn't remain as happy as before if she's worrying about the life of her own as well as her baby, she still has every right to know. It is her body, her life, no one has the right to hide such a big and important thing from her.

Besides, the entire Inner Circle promising Rhysand that they'd hide that stuff from her is simply ridiculous. I remember that there's a scene in ACOWAR, in which Cassian says to Feyre that there's a difference between being Rhysand's mate and being High Lady.

Since Feyre was their High Lady, then they were wrong in hiding that secret from her, since they were hers and she was theirs. They were bound to be loyal to her not only as Rhysand's mate but as her own person, as their High Lady.

Yet, they didn't tell her.

Also, the Feysand sex scenes. I mean, okay, we get it, but do you have to be so boastful about it? It's gross, to brag about how much sex you're having.

Now I'm getting to the treatment of Nesta.

First of all, let's admit that Nesta isn't the best character in the series. None of them can be classified as the best, and likewise, she has her own faults and also plus points.

For instance, her stubbornness is commendable, and her ability to start thinking quickly under life-threatening or stressful situations can prove to be life-saving one day.

But she hurts everyone around her, at least she used to. Even Elain. Yes, she went through a lot. But so did her sisters. So did everyone else in the book, and though no one will be able to get what she's feeling, her trauma doesn't give her a free pass to treat others like crap.

But this also doesn't give Rhysand the right to treat her the way he did. I mean, when she told Feyre that the baby would kill her, Rhys was like, "I'm going to kill her."

BUT FOR WHAT?

For telling your wife the truth she deserves to know? Or for telling your wife something your 'inner circle' should've told her 20 chapters ago?

Instead of reacting like a mature person, he reacted like that? Wtf? And I have no idea how the inner circle wanted him to be the Fae High King or whatever.

Now, I do know that Nesta didn't tell Feyre about the baby's secret because she cared for her, but because she wanted to inflict pain on her. If she truly cared about Feyre, then she would have told her as soon as she found out, but all the same, at least Feyre came to know.

Also,

BROTHER WHO TREATED HER WITH KINDNESS?!

When? When did Rhysand show so much kindness to Nesta that he earned the right to be like her brother?

I think Azriel fits that description more, since he got her a Christmas gift and all. Az also gave her a chance to open up to him and listened to her without judgement.

Seriously guys, Rhysand has issues. And we must acknowledge that.

[elidelochans]

I would love to hear your thoughts on Silver Flames!

Buckle up babes long ass response coming in.

*this gets ranty and I'm sorry!!. Excuse any typos or errors. I don't have my glasses on lol.*

So my controversial hot take about acosf, is that thanks to fan works (headcanons, theories, fanfic,etc) we all get these notions in our heads of how characters should be. When in actual reality they're just not like that. Everyone believed Nesta would be this all powerful bad bitch lady death. When in truth she never wanted power. Ever. All she wanted was to make the Cauldron pay. She never wanted magic in the first place. Even when she had it. She didnt care for it. Didnt care for what it did and how it took her over. In the end losing her magic didn't really matter. It's not like Aelin who loved her fire and missed it when it was gone. Nesta felt like her magic was a burden. And was grateful it was gone. I do think fmcs who love their powers should keep not lose them. But when they don't want it. When it scares them, they don't care for it whatever the case maybe then they should lose it. Nesta just wants cake, books, and sex no suffering magic required honestly good for her.

The same can be said for Cassian. Thanks to all the fan works we all believed he'd go to bat (pun intended) for her against Rhys and the IC and it rarely happened. Whenever it did, it barely lasted. I was waiting when Rhys told him to get Nesta out of Velaris or he'd kill her. I was waiting for Cassian to do something. What'd he do? Force Nesta to go on hike. Sir that's your mate. DEFEND HER. Tell Rhys for her sake you will but the next he threatens Nesta over something he shouldn't hide from Feyre will be the last. Get Nesta out and talk with her. Don't be dick cause Rhys says so.

Speaking of Rhys. Alot of people were unhappy with how he was portrayed in acosf. I wasn't. Doesn't mean he didn't piss me off. But I think for Manu the rose colored glasses came off. Acotar- acofas we view Rhys through the Feyre lens. So yeah especially acomaf and acowar we see him in a loving, caring sense. In Feyres eyes once she falls for him Rhys can literally do no wrong. As readers we believe it. It's why so many fell for Tam in book 1. But now in acosf we get him. The real un mate side of Rhys. We see the High Lord version. We see him through Cassian and Nesta’s eyes and it's not the best look.

The other issue I've noticed with Acotar fans and the hate is how slow and lore based it is. Yes, I agree that there's some parts of the book that are. So. Fucking. Slow. I just wanted to those parts to be done with it. The other side, the lore. For readers looking for smut and a little plot acotar is great. You don't have to think to much on the world and the lore it's only a sprinkle to move the story along. Nothing like tog or cc. Now with the crossover we needed a book with all this information to make it fit and have it make sense. And acosf became that book. For anyone who wasn't anticipating a heavy book this was a huge surprise. And kind of a snoozefest. Even when I first read it I was so happy to have this information but given what he know of acotar why Is it needed? Then hosab came out and it made sense.

Personally, I didn't think it was bad. I enjoyed myself while reading. I was disappointed we didn't get all those bodily fluids that Sarah claimed we'd get. Yeah, there was a little, but idk she made it seem like a lot more.

The intervention in the beginning pissed me off. The only people that should've been there were Feyre, Elain, and maybe Cassian. I know as someone who cares about her and is her mate he should he but in the same breath the topic of Cassian is very touchy to Nesta in that moment. So I think where he's considered it's a eh thing. Rhys would be the only other exception because it's his money she's been spending. But he should stfu and let Feyre handle it.

I don't like Mor. She pissed me off entirely throughout the book. Same as Amren. I use to like Amren alot. But this book made me turn off of her. Despite all of the growing Nesta does the only way she accepts and forgives Nesta is when Nesta grovels and kisses her hand??? Fuck right off.

Generally I loved all the lore, loved/hated seeing Rhys from a different pov, adored Nesta’s journey even her giving up her magic. I loved seeing Nesta form her bonds with Gwyn, Emerie and Azriel. Just wished Cassian stepped it up in the defending Nesta Archeron department.

I honestly think what I love about it. People hated lmao.