#it’s cuz sjm is writing her

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

“how can you gloat that nesta is in the crossover and be upset that she’s in the crossover” i contain multitudes, keep up

[lady-tortilla-chip]

It’s so funny reading people hate even the first book like yeah ok fair

[orphicauroras]

The sinking state of elriel becomes more evident as you take in the fact that all those so-called foreshadowing and romantic gestures culminated to only lust in the end.

Sarah had the perfect opportunity to give them more in ACOSF than whatever it is that she wrote. Like I don't think you guys understand how easy it was to include elriel. Instead we get all these scenes with Gwyn, their banter and these subtle hints towards their potential match.

It is even more evident in the bonus chapter (let's get real it doesn't matter much to Sarah if everyone has read or not, the point is she choose to write it and say she has spread all the crumbs in it). You have a ship that is building up for the past books reduced to nothing but lust. All Azriel questions is why the third sister can't be his mate cuz according to his logic she should be his. It would have been much better if he had at least said Elain's name Or phrased what he said differently so that he doesn't come off as he did. And you can say how Rhysand is bad for blocking them but it seems like he agreed with the many readers here. Azriel did come off as desperate for mate and entitled. The result can be viewed on Rhysand's reaction. Mind you Rhysand is the same guy who was ok with Feyre living with Tamlin if it meant her happiness.

Azriel can't even think of anything else other than the third sister bs and her skin. And that's the issue that many readers had. It's not about Azriel wanting to get down on Elain. It's that there's nothing else aside from his lust. For a ship building up for the past books you would expect more than just horniness. Compare it with Cassian's thoughts about Nesta and it becomes more clear. Again Sarah could have easily written it the other way. Make Azriel think and say anything other than what he did.

I'm not gonna go to the Gwyn part of the bonus chapter cuz the shift is clear as a day. But for people like me who went in with the assumption that we would get more elriel that was a wake up call. It doesn't matter how much build up a ship has, what matters more is the current state of it which is not good. Especially with an author like SJM.

[pollyaunt]

My thoughts on HOFAS

-> First and foremost, only SJM can make me violently react towards books even though it's been years since I've started reading and got into the Maasverse.

-> Ch 99 broke me. Literally. I was downright bawling so hard to the point I couldnt breathe especially with the Danika, Lele and Pack of Devils scene. And ofc, Jesiba. I love you sm.

-> Bryce is an absolute badass and I would agree that her and Hunt's relationship wasnt portrayed the best in this book in comparison to the first, but well, the first also focused on the Kristallos as the danger whereas in this book they were the allies. Suffice to say, the degree of change was ought to happen and supposed to be vast. I'm nonetheless very much happy with how both of them turned out to be in the end.

-> Lidia. She's more Aelin than Aelin herself. In this house, we absolutely ADORE LIDIA CERVOS. And her sons and ofc Ruhn. They carried the book most definitely.

-> The ACOTAR x CC crossover was done immaculately and Maas so not deserves the disappointment shes receiving over it especially because be for fuckin real, it had to be more about CC than ACOTAR itself. And I'm honestly very happy with how she portrayed those scenes while remaining true to the characters (besides the bonus chapter which was kinda meh)

-> Tharion Ketos most certainly made decisions that were not the best but dude, you've got to recognise that he was the most selfless one in the entire book all the while trying to keep himself alive. His determination and ambition were honourable. And ps: I havent forgotten how open ended his story has been left especially with Sathia gone abruptly (whom I LOVED) and I think it's kinda pointing at how he and Ithan might get their own novella or book after the next ACOTAR.

-> Last but not the least, Ithan. That dude was trying to the best always yall and lets be honest without him, I highly doubt they'd been able to 1. Get out of the Viper Queen's lair. 2. Been able to defeat the Asteri without that bullet. And they way Maas has left his story along with Ketos' incomplete for now has surely not escaped my notice. After all, we still gotta know what happened to Sigrid really and Sathia 👀

In conclusion, the two things that felt off to me throughout the book was:

-> Firstly, how the Quinlar relationship was written in certain scenes but also, to an extent I also sympathized with both of them given the extent of trauma both of them had been through. It was understandable but comforting myself with the thought that once stuff on Midgard got better, both of them must've discussed it at length cuz, that's what our Quinlar is really. So, I'm not that unhappy with their portrayal and love them equally.

-> Secondly, this one has bugged me a lot in the series: the wasted potential that was Fury Axtar. She could've been SUCH a vital asset to them and all over, one of the most badass character. But instead of explaining and exploring her, SJM made quite a mistake by off writing her mostly from the books. That could've been done better.

[nikethestatue]

Gwynriels don't realise how utterly boring gwynriel would be in a book. They don't have a bigger story to tell, they don't have any internal/external obstacles preventing them from being together, they don't even have mutual attraction or interest in each other. The next book is Elain's there's no doubt about it but if it were gwynriel's, I just know that 2 to 3 chapters in they'd realise how stupid it was to go crazy about this non existent crack ship. Cuz what is the book gonna be about? Azriel helping her heal from her SA with bdsm like gwynriel fanfics ? I need more than smut and bickering in my romantasy and the romantasy world to be bigger than bedrooms and training rings.

I truly believe sjm has Elriel planned since Acomaf. Unless she changes her mind under pressure that's what we're going to get next.

I never got the feeling that they had any idea for what the book would be about. Thats' why they keep saying it's going to be 'Azriel's book' because objectively, he has a bigger story than Gwyn. Because without 'Azriel's book' there is no Gwynriel since they know that there isn't a book to be had if it's just them as a couple.

Furthermore, that's why the relentless emphasis on the 'Illlyria plot', which...doesn't exist. As if SJM would ever write a book about some kind of national healing and Azriel hanging out with his Illyrian homies. It's one of the more bizarre things ever--especially when Cassian and Emerie exist.

Also, it's been hinted in the series over and over again that Azriel isn't fully Illyrian. Literally in ACOSF Nesta says 'But Azriel can winnow all the time' when Cassian tells her that lllyrians are unable to winnow, other than the commanders one time a year. And Cassian tells her outright 'Az is different in many ways'.

Bro is probably starborn or Made or both. Who else is Made and probably Starborn? Elain.

But GAs aren't ready for that discussion.

So yeah, a GA book would be a whole lotta nothing.

[nobibiname]

Ever wondered why the Elucien arguments pulling out Sarah’s 2016 interview and Facebook comment (yeah that one after ACOMAF came out) are SO annoying? 🙄

Ok so I ended up in a TikTok comment section today (yes I know that was my first mistake) and it occurred to me, we are once again not on the same page about some fundamental ideas on writing. The OP argued Sarah hasn’t changed her mind on the next books &elucien and that she said so in an interview after ACOSF.

Ok, but there’s a huge GLARING problem with that.

Basically, a writer makes promises in the text. I’m paraphrasing Sanderson here (I watch his lectures for fun, even tho I don’t write cuz I’m a dork) so he was talking about the first chapter and prologue of a book, or movie… but if you’re writing a multi-book epic, then you’re probably going to make promises about plots and characters of your future books, right?

So what are these promises? Basically what kind of book it is, plot&trope hints, the tone, goals, journeys and obstacles.

Ok back to SJM: why is the argument that “she said Elucien and hasn’t changed her mind infuriating? Because she made different promises in the books. And that is what Elriels mean when we say “set up”.

I mean just from the amount of interactions, Elriel have more than Elucien.. not to mention the warmth, positivity and thoughtfulness she put into their interactions over seriously 4 books. The promises are crystal clear: there is a romance that started as friendship==plot, but she has a bond w/someone else==obstacle, and Rhys forbade it in a moment resulting in her thinking he rejected her, but he didn’t == twist.

These promises need to be addressed, resolved, fulfilled. Is there something even CLOSE to this kind of story promise existing for Elucien?

I have seriously seen people claim that Elucien are both “friends to lovers” AND “enemies to lovers”…. These cannot both be true, like come on… you’re not even sure what kind of story they promise to be? You’re not sure what kinds of promises Sarah made about Elucien?

Why are you not sure? Because it’s not in the text. My personal view is that Elucien is neither… if they happen it’s kind of worse than either trope, they’re certainly not friends, they are at best indifferent to each other and at worst resentful. Mmmm … delicious “indifferent to lovers” 🫠

On a serious note, I don’t “hate” Elucien, but SJM hasn’t made a single promise in the text that I can quote in here that would make me excited about them. He gave her gifts that she didn’t throw away…. ?? Really?… she made a half step toward him… once… no, just no! And that’s how I feel, regardless if “Lulu deserves love”… sure he does, then write a love interest that brings out flirty firey fox boy from book1 and I’m on board 🫡 ….and don’t try to convince me after 4 books of a tepid nothing that all along it was Elain. Because. I. Don’t. Buy. It.

And my last point (I swear!) why did I get my panties all up in a twist… basically this: a writer makes promises IN THE TEXT, and if what you are saying in interviews directly CONTRADICTS your actual text, then you kinda have a problem. … at that point either you’re a bad writer, or you can’t blindly trust an interview from 7 years ago, it’s outdated!

The great GRRM himself said how often his “gardening style” of writing led to character arcs and romantic pairings changing… so why don’t we start treating Sarah as an adult author, and trust the text, and not an old interview?

It also comes down to trust. You don’t wanna be left feeling like “hmmm this doesn’t feel real, I don’t buy it” it takes you out of the text, and it happens when an author messes up promise-delivery . When an author foreshadows well, and sets up the story with their promises, still manages to surprise us while keeping the promises… well I trust THAT PERSON to tell me the most satisfying story.

[acourtofthought]

Not sure if you posted about this already. But what are your thoughts on the SJM interview when she said regrading the kiss doll scene

‘ I’ve planned for them to get together,…’

To my understanding, she was referring to the bonus chapter. Which is excellent, because I’m a gwynriel through and through

But she says that she planned to get them together … does that bother you considering elucien? Cuz that bugged me 

I don't think that was necessarily referring to the bonus chapter because the interview, from what it sounds like, says that when writing a scene where she planned on two characters getting together.

"sometimes I will write a scene where I planned for them to get together, and they have no - it's like holding two dolls and being like" now kiss". And like - they won't and it will only take one scene where it's like "wow, okay, this is not like - even in my head what I thought would happen."

It seems she's telling us as she has been gearing up to write a physical scene that she had planned for two characters she envisioned as endgame, or even begins imagining how the two will eventually come together, she suddenly finds they have no chemistry and had to scrap the entire idea. I think that's more in line with what she spoke of with Lucien and Nesta, where she had always thought they'd be together until she realized they'd cause one another more hurt. It was her plan for them until she realized that they were not well matched. And when she later talks of characters that lead her story and tell her where they want to go, I think she's referring to pairings like Nessian who she said had chemistry from the moment they sat down at the table together.

And I don't think, had she been planning on two characters ending up together only to find out they fizzled when it came down to it, those scenes would have made it through the first draft or been written down in the first place. I imagine she began writing their journey with the intent of something happening only to go back and remove the scenes that would have led to the planned scene of them together, the scene that ended falling flat. At that point I imagine she would have course corrected and written in new scenes or hints of who they were actually going to end up with. Since she tells us Elain and Lucien took her by surprise in book 2, I think she has known for a long time she's building toward their endgame as they are an example of characters telling her where they wanted to go and I think the near kiss between she and Az on Solstice was premeditated as something that was always being set up to fail. The E/riel rebound seemed intentional because the Elucien pairing took her by surprise and she needed something for Elain as a bridge between her failed engagement and the acceptance for her mating bond. As far as Az and Gwyn, I think it's clear that SJM is headed in that direction and the language she uses for them makes it seem obvious that she has (in her mind) gotten them to a scene where they'd "kiss" and the chemistry remained so she's been moving forward with hints to their endgame. But I'm not sure if Gwyn was pre-planned for him and the pairing stuck as she initially hoped or whether SJM thought he'd end up with someone else like Emerie but realized Emerie was possibly meant for Mor instead and Gwyn ended up surprising her for Az.

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[sad-scarred-sassy]

"Lol imagine if elriel is endgame and Azriel imagined another female (certainly not Elain) smiling and with her eyes glowing which sparked something inside of his chest which made him smile to himself without even realizing he was doing it, and he didn’t even know her that well…"

And imagine if sjm wrote it solely to show in the next book that it was an outside force influencing his thoughts? What then? Cuz sjm surely didn't write it in a way that seems natural. Clotho said/wrote "she deserves something as beautiful as this and i thank you for the joy it shall bring to her" and all of a sudden there's a spark in his chest and he can see an image of gwyns teal eyes? Even though moments ago he thought that he wouldn't consider gwyn a friend? And how did sjm word his thought about seeing the image? "For whatever reason... he could see it" doesn't seem like he naturally thought of her. If he did it wouldn't be "for whatever reason".

•His shadows, acted unusual. Did not sense gwyns present before he was there.

• His actions, not in his control. He had every intention to return the necklace to the shop but found himself standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening.

• His thoughts, seems to be under some sort of influence. Otherwise he wouldn't be like "for whatever reason".

That scene was not written to have romantic undertone. It was written to be suspicious and eerie. And sjm did her best on hofas to prove the gwynriel "mate bond theory" wrong. But y'all took it as parallel language/hints.

"Like if hes the man you want for Elain thats just sad honestly, this is a romance book, I want my male endgames absolutely smitten and invested in the fmcs, with NO turning back once it started, but I guess thats just me"

Lol Then why do you ship gwynriel ? Azriel has zero romantic feelings for gwyn.

I’m so happy you put this together! They actually serve as examples of how WHOLESOME that scene was.

I see literally zero evidence that all of this was because of Gwyn’s powers that we haven’t even had the confirmation of, and in no way it was written eerily. It was written to be wholesome. It was the perfect antithesis to the wrongness of the scene with Elain. I am so sorry that your ship sank.

His shadows were content with her. They skittered AWAY with Elain (this is a bad connotation in contrast)

“He found himself” is a term that is ALWAYS used when mates find themselves doing something they didn’t expect, he wasn’t being controlled, but believe what you want without any canon evidence. He found the necklace was going to give it back but thought someone might like it, so he found himself taking it to her.

“For whatever reason” is just a way to say he didn’t know why, not because it is eerie, if it was he at least would have SOME type of suspicion on it, but he just tucked the glowing spark in his chest away inside him, like how you tuck something inside of your pockets. He could have said “he shoved those weird thoughts away” but he didn’t did he…?

Look, this is a fantasy book, it’s not that serious but you gotta admit you’re reaching at some point. The scene was so obviously romantic in a way Azriel (nor us) were expecting it. And after that scene, we never got even a whiff of elriel while we got even more Gwynriel golden banter, and remember, hes the new ribbon ✨

If anything, even if Gwyn’s powers were “guiding him” which won’t happen because thats stupid and negates too much of Gwyn’s character, it will only add to their story, a parallel of them both thinking they’re monsters, but realizing they too are worthy of love, because what will not happen is Gwyn being evil/a villain, shes an incredible character, an SA survivor, part of Nesta’s incredible found family, SJM modelled her after one of her friends, think again.

Elriel sank by itself with his messed up thoughts about Elain, him just wanting to have one night of fucking her, saying he has not had ONE THOUGHT about a plan to be with her, did not correct Rhys on what’s his status regarding Mor, told her it was a mistake (could’ve used anything other than that), displayed toxic behavior that we know Elain is against (saying he will fight in a duel for her and kill her mate?) and even realized he had been RIGHT to stay away from her.

But yeah blame the “lightsinger” for all of this too i guess??

Also thats so cute shadowsinger x lightsinger make a beautiful parallel couple!

[shi-daisy]

Tamlins character assassination genuinely bothered me, to have his character turn abusive isnt inherently bad but having him get constantly shat on while ryhsand continues to be genuinely vile and horrid to feryre, tamlin just seems more sympathetic the more i pick apart why feyre and rhys suck ASS. sjm does not get to sit there and act like Nesta was evil and awful as she got constantly belittled and shat on for her COPING Mechanisms and that Nesta is the one who has to apologize to the inner circle despite the way ALL of them treated her and expect me not to think she just failed with tamlin as well, she keeps writing characters she wants me to think are bad while not acknowledging that the characters she loves ARE VERY BAD IF NOT MUCH WORSE.

Anon are we lost twins by any chance? Lol kidding, but you've just voiced the exact reason why Feysand (and by extension sjm who wrote them) piss me the fuck off!

Tamlin's story reads like a damn tragedy. Abusive father and brothers, a mom who loved him but couldn't do anything to protect him, he's resigned to not get the court and tried to go unoticed to stay safe then once he finally makes a new friend his family ruin that friend's life, he loses his mother due to the family fued, is forced to be the ruler of a nation when he has no idea how and still pulls through. Then gets hounded by Amrantha and cursed. Has to lose another friend to break the curse. Finally finds true love and even after attempting to protect her she nearly dies. He had to rebuild the court and support his fiance while still suffering from ptsd himself and so he fucks up royally, said fuck up costs him his relationship, his bestie and his court and now he has nothing.

And I'm supposed to cheer for this? I'm supposed to accept this as a fitting end to my favorite character? Nope, not gonna happen. Not when Rhysand can commit multiple war crimes and treat people like shit and Feyre can ruin a court and half of another cuz she mad at Tamlin and wanted to girlboss. (Girl stop acting like an edgy 13 year old, people are dead and you have the intelligence of cabbage head.)

Oh and yes the way they treated Nesta was worse than anything Tamlin ever did yet we're supposed to think they healed her? Tamlin locked Feyre up cuz he was irrationally afraid of her getting hurt. They looked Nesta up cuz she spent 0.000001% of their wealth and calls Rhysand an ass to his face. Guess who I'm gonna side with?!

Sarah is too into Rhysand and so anyhting he and Feyre do is justified but anyone else can go choke. It's the reason I dropped the books after ACOFAS (Tamlin's scene there had me crying and I had to yeet the book away)

Tamlin needs a redemption, but written by anyone other than SJM. She will ruin him like she did Nesta.

[rosanna-writer]

ok hello im from that CHARMED post

totally agree that their personalities don't match of course, but the sole idea that 3 sister witches stayed together still works!

Phoebe's and Elain's powers match more, yes, but also if I remember correctly Phoebe is very flirty and outgoing and Elain MIGHT have been that before turning fae but after not really

PRUE IS SO NESTA I'm glad we all agree with that, I believe if somehow it happened that both of Archeron parents died at the same time Nesta might have stepped up, and in that case it would've been a very good match

Piper gave a very mom-like vibe taking care of everyone which honestly reminds me more of Katara from atla, I love her really, and I feel like Feyre kind of became like that when she became a mom (and a side character give me my babe 😭😭😭😭)

Men uhhh

I honestly only liked Cole and well, Leo was fine but I hated him in that arc with those whatever avatars or something idr anymore, personality wise Lucien would be a very bad guardian angel 🤣🤣 or like the one that constantly gets into trouble lmao, but he would shine!

Cassian could be another demon cuz well, brothers with Rhysie and I honestly don't remember if Prue had any love interest or not :<

so all in all if someone was interested in the idea to write about it would work, but yes me thinking sjm took something out of it - nah I just got overly excited

ANYWAY thank you for letting me explore this it was really fun to think about it during the bus trip

HIIIIIIII

Tbh I also love the idea of Elain getting an advice column like Phoebe did! When I wrote a charmed-ish AU for Elucien week, I almost made that her job.

Prue had Andy and they had the whole "I can't tell him I'm a witch" angst thing going on (and did he die? I feel like he also died????)

But yeah tbh I could totally see SJM doing a bonkers Nyx from the future plot in ACOTAR, which is part of why Piper always reminds me of Feyre. Like Ms Maas WOULD absolutely have another next gen kid time travel and move into the House of Wind to make sure Nyx doesn't grow up evil or whatever

PRUE IS SO NESTA CODED IT'S INSANE!!!!!!!!!! Her whole art dealer job feels like a bookish/nerdy job where she'd meet Gwyn!!!!!!

[shadowqueenjude]

although i am definetly elucien,i want to put one thing out there-elucien is not confirmed,neither is gwynriel or elriel for that matter because i honestly feel like miss janet will just go with the most popular ship at that point of time for the next book, and the reason why sooooo much ships even exist is because she has no idea wtf she is doing and just does whatever for aesthetic,cuz she has a huge cult- i mean fanbase who will buy and support whatever peice if shit she writes.....like idek what is going on at this point,we satrted with tension b/w cas,az and mor, cuz cas hooked up with his so called bff's crush loooooooooong ago in their 500 years of useless life,then he gives a long winded explanation in acosf of why he had to "kill" any sort of feelings for mor,but for some reason she still "takes his breath away" and he gifts her lingerie for christmas.....i am not even opening that can of worms,then we have this tension b/w az and mor but turns out mor is gay for some reason,then elain has a beatuful,hot,intelligent and tortured mate but we have tension b/w a cardboard cut out az and elain......sometimes there are scenes b/w them that indicate they can end up together(a nightmare really,but it might possible since sarah thinks it's important that every family member live in the same city) but elain never really rejected her hot mate and some scenes show she might actually care about him and then we have az who has this mentality of a 10 year old who wants the the same toys as his friends(three brothers,three sister mentality) and suddenly we have tension between him and another girl who he trains.......did i miss smth??like what even is going on here!!!! it's as if she wants got level complicated relationship,though she could never even in seven lifetimes ever pull off smth like that cuz she doesn't have that level of nuance or creativity,it's obvious she was not going for that but it smh ended up being like that which just shows the level of this author's impulsiveness and lack of intricate thinking........it's just indian soap opera minus the mother in law

SJM is really weird about making chosen families, especially in ACOTAR. I don't know why she made everyone into each other. That Mor being gay thing was a retcon and makes very little sense to me. I think it would make more sense for any of the Archerons to be gay, or even Gwyn and Emerie, but that's what happens with straight white authors sometimes. They make the most random characters gay for "representation," but they have no idea what they're doing. As for that bonus chapter, I do think it was a little bit of fan service to include the "elriel" part as well as convenient for her plot to push Azriel into Gwyn's arms and Elain into Lucien's arms, because after ACOWAR she had compared Elain and Azriel to siblings, but someone must have told her about the popular elriel ship and that was her response. Before ACOFAS, Elriel wasn't even a possibility in the author's view. I still think it's a very low possibility based on how the BC was arranged, but it could technically happen, in which case I will never pick up a SJM book again. But...not to give SJM a ton of credit or anything, but she tends to go in whatever route she wants to go regardless of who the loudest fans are. She gave Chaol a book in a time when Chaol was highly unpopular in the fandom (not for me, I never stopped loving that man) and it turned out to be her best written book ever. So I don't think Azriel being super popular or Elriel fans being the loudest (not the most popular) will have an impact on the next book's ship. It makes little to no sense to me for her to go in the Elriel direction, especially after she made Lucien think Jesminda was his mate for so long, then was initially going to make Nesta his mate, only to have him wind up with a different Archeron sister. After all that, plus everything she put him through, to give him a rejected mate? Bah, not happening. Lucien is her Jamie Fraser inspired character, she loves him regardless of what certain fans in the fandom might think. And she has always been a fated mates writer. I am crying at the Indian soap opera comparison because ACOTAR does feel like that at times with the cringey drama and sexual tension🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I do think ACOTAR is too heavily romance focused which is why TOG is SJM's best written series.

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

you know what’s so crazy interesting? how in 13 fucking pages, rhys didn’t say sorry, not once. his entire monologue was essentially just “look at how tragic i am, don’t you feel bad for me feyre.”

t h i r t e e n pages 515 - 528, and not a single apology. he even admits that he hurt feyre!

still does not apologize!

buuuuutttt guess who said sorry when she hurt feyre. nesta fucking archeron

no excuses, no sob story. she’s just truly sorry.

oh but it’s nesta that’s irredeemable.

it’s nesta that doesn’t deserve forgiveness.

it’s nesta that hurt feyre the most in her entire life.

it’s nesta that hasn’t done nearly enough to earn her sister’s love.

it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nesta, it’s nes—

it’s you that should shut the fuck up

[thecatsaesthetics]

The today show interview is super interesting. But Of course she gives Nesta the shoutout…… SJM is turning the ACOTAR books into the Nesta show……. She might as well just say that she doesn’t want to write about Feyre anymore.feyres probbaly going to be sidelined for the rest of the ACOTAR series and the four more additional novels cuz Sarah can’t get over her “Nesta is still healing and still growing” ugh. I am excited to read HOFAS but it will make me stop reading if I have to read four more books about Nesta and her healing journey with feyre only mentioned as “rhysands mate” and if what I think happens and it’s nesta that takes the lead im gonna be pissed. mignt as well throw away thenwhole first 3.5 books in the series sjm if you dont seem to care about your original main character

At this point I’m happy she’s not writing Feyre because the way she wrote Bryce in HOFAS was terrible. Nesta is just as bad.

I don’t want her to write Feyre in the same annoying way.

[bythenineshards]

i think the reason which makes me angry about acotar & its fandom as a whole is the double standard that exists in the fanbase. rhysand sexually assaulted feyre? 'it's a dark romance so you should go read your vanilla stories & also he did it for her own good'. but when someone says 'well, if it's a dark romance, surely we can have a tamlin redemption arc 'cause he & rhys are the same 'cause he was also protecting feyre 'for her own good'', they'll come at you with pitchforks about how feyre needs someone who is 'feminist' to have a 'healthy relationship' with. like WHICH ONE IS IT??

i am in the hannibal, killing eve & interview with the vampire fandoms. i do like me some mutually toxic relationships that makes you look through characters psyches & pick apart motives & themes.

but acotar goes for this weird stance in its own morality that it doesn't make an ounce of sense. it would've made sense if feyre had left tamlin even if they had a healthy relationship to go join rhysand & then the story could've had a darker turn there. that could've been the basis of a dark romance. or feyre & tamlin's relationship being built on the same lines of toxicity & feyre betraying/hurting tamlin to join rhysand because she wants more power. & tamlin be an equal adversary for them (not antagonist). then the story be continued from there. give me moral ambiguity so that i don't know who to root for. these kinds of things happen in adult high fantasies all the time.

but sjm chooses to compare two equally bad (or 'morally gray', as the stans love to call it) characters and be like 'see, this one is better!!' but if someone points out that they're equally bad you have to watch them do all kinds of unnecessary mental gymnastics & say 'b-but it is a dark romance with dark themes & it's adult!! and rhysand is MORALLY GREY!!! if you can't handle it don't read it!' or the argument of 'it's fiction & they're fae!! you can't apply real world morals to it!!' like sure but where is the CONSISTENCY???

Hey Anon! I could've sworn I answered this. But apparently I didn't.

I can't stand the justifying of Rhys' deeds. Dark Romance books don't feel the need to do that. The guy doesn't need the justifications and hero framing. The books are thrown around as feminist or empowering. The point is that the relationship is a toxic dynamic. Maas has said in interviews that she writes healthy romances. She views this as a healthy relationship.

You know what's funny? The road to hell is paved with what? Good. Intentions. The best villains are people who meant well but had evil methods to achieve that goal. Rhys did x______ because it was for....? Doesn't matter, still did it. Thanos (in the movies) killed half the universe because it would create more resources for those left. Good intention. Horrible idea considering he had the power to create more resources.

You're right that there were so many other angles this could've gone to make it better. Personally I believe the best idea would've been to just have them grow apart. Cuz that happens and it wouldn't have taken Tamlin being abusive to do. Feyre could've fallen for Rhys knowing what he did was wrong. I'm sorry but there was no excuse or justification for working for Amarantha. Rhys should've been punished. However that would mean more work than comparing a retconned Tamlin to Rhys and made Feyre actually flawed.

Ugh... this series... so glad I'm not buying anymore of her books. You know, it's so weird how easily impressed I am with books that do the bare minimum effort to be decent after reading these.

[sarahnotjmaas]

Here it is, my chaotic note taking as I experienced Queen of Shadows 4.5/5⭐️

I do not trust Arobynn. Why does this woman keep working with this man.

Who is with Chaol?? SHE!?!?

I heard the fandom is full of Chaol haters and tbh I don’t get it. I’m only on the 5th book but not seeing it yet

Chaol is kinda dumb haha and super sensitive and 5 books in has yet to prove he can fight like at all. He killed Cain but it was a single strike and that was like his first kill. Ever.

SJM wouldn’t write another tragic love story right!? Cuz Chaol is in need of character building and Nesryn and him are already giving me Dorian and Sorscha vibes.

Listen in SJM books endgame relationships are slow burbs. They have chemistry to quickly

HE PAWNED THE RING???

Kaltain has a collar too!!

Dorian battling for his life with that demon 😭

Aelin, we’re officially calling her Aelin now, is wasting her time with Arobynn she is capable without he’s gonna double cross her I know it

Her showing up to the shadow markets was dope!

When is Manon gonna for something cool. She has an awesome dragon puppy Abraxos and she’s doing nothing. Low key I love Asterin and she clearly has her back so demoting her was a bitch move

This book has more action, I like it

Sneaking into the party as a dancer, nice.

The smoke, very Harry Potter! I could see this scene so vividly in my head

Chaol is being a jerk a little bit. He acts like the whole rebellion isn’t for Aelin. When you start holding your own then you can talk, Mr. I’ve only ever killed one person, otherwise stop bossing Aelin around……

Oh shit Elide is a witch. So she’s in with the witches meaning when she links back up with her childhood homies Aedion and Aelin they will be a steaming pile of shit in the kings bed! Hell yea

When does Rowan come back 😭oh okay

27 chapters lol

I read pine and snow and my heart fluttered

No she made a bath for him with all her fancy soaps!!! BECAUSE SHE YELLED AT SAM FOR USING THEM!!!!!!

Gavriel is Aedion’s father!?!???

Oh no poor Aedion, the blood oath was sworn to him but also…. Why can’t she have both she’s the queen she can make her own rules

THE NIGHTGOWN!!!!! She better get a fucking good night gown i stg!!

My boy Chaol is BITTER! Damn he fucked up in the second book and is gonna be bitter the rest of the series. He’s giving big soft boy energy. #NiceGuysFinishLast lol but I low key still want the best for him. He’s loyal to Dorian at the end of the day. Period. However if he’s trying to free Dorian doesn’t he think giving him full access to his powers might help him beat that demon in his body… just saying

Rowan’s and Aelin are literally dating

Going to Sam’s grave. Having Rowan go with her😭 I’m welling up it’s too much. I fucking hate Arobynn and it better be the sweetest death cuz I hate him so much

So I’m definitely not a fan of the witch maternity prison ward that’s happening. Everything about that is uncomfy and I need it to end immediately. Asterin seems to be the only sane one.

Rowan wearing the almost oil, power move!

No, not the room where she saw Sam’s mangled body😭HE PUT THE RING ON HER FINGER!!! Is she faking it??I knew it lol wait but why did he say don’t touch me like that 😭well good for Lysandra I guess

This book is an emotional rollercoaster

There is something SO sus about her Manons grandma. She bowed to the king!?!?!? What’s in the trailer?? What did Manon see??????

Hold up!!! The King is just another victim!?!? No fucking way!!!! That’s a twist I didn’t expect

ALL THOSE CENTURIES, I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR YOU fuck me up Rowan 😭

Slamming the door on Aedion’s face was a little rude but his timing is awful. Wait Lysandra and Aedion???? Love that, that’s fierce pair

Still not a Chaol hater and the trio of friendship between Aelin, Dorian and Chaol is so sweet. Is Chaol ever gonna find a woman he lives as much as Dorian lol CHAOL IS PARALYZED!?!? He broke his promise to Nesry cuz he can’t walk! I’m screaming “Let’s have an adventure,Nesryn Faliq” okay cute but am I alone in thinking Chaol needs someone meeker?? Like someone softer because I think nesryn is too much woman for him…….kinda (don’t come for me)

I never know what part of an SJM book will make me cry but making Lysandra a lady and having Evangeline be her heir got me actually tearing up!

Manon and Dorian. MANON AND DORIAN!!!!!!

Crying again cuz Rowan smells like Terrasen!

[godsfavdarling]

i am back in my reading era and i know that probably none of you care but i want to write down my thoughts on stuff i read in a previous month <3 i'll probably forget to keep up with this either way!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJM ☆☆

A Court of Mist and Fury by SJM ☆☆☆

Bride by Ali Hazelwood ☆

My Husband by Maud Ventura ☆☆☆☆☆

A Court of Wings and Ruin by SJM ☆☆

Unfurl by Elodie Hart ☆☆☆

in march i started acotar, it was okay, a bit meh tbh. and looking back the first book seems more like a first chapter to the whole story.

acomaf was better and acowar just pissed me off and i kind of can't wait to read about nesta in the next books. i like her and i don't get the hate she's getting! she's so real! rhys… yeah… i'm giggling and kicking my feet but also ??? mf invented feminism and idk how he is treated like this incredible ruler while his court is divided in three and it's all a mess. i'm not gonna get into political side cuz obviously no one cares!

overall i just wanted to say that i get why people like this series but i do not understand how many people especially grown women can say it's the best thing they've ever read? doesn't make sense to me but go off! plus im happy my friend and i read it together so i have someone to complain to. if i didn't have someone to vent to i'd lose my mind.

me and my bestie also read bride by ali hazelwood… bitch… it was the worst thing i've ever read. so lazy and stupid and annoying! i hated everything and everyone in it! again i refuse to believe y'all love her books! i'm being constantly lied to by the booktok girls and goodreads reviews!

on a bright side i also read my husband by moud ventura! 5/5! really good! i'm a simple girl! i just love a book about a mentally ill woman!

this one is embarrassing but i also finished unfurl by elodie heart. it was just porn. with priest kink. don't ask. it is what it's supposed to be and i liked it! catholicism, sex club, virginity and all that jazz! so real!

that's it. now im reading happy place by emily henry (i like it a lot so far) and one dark window (so good! hope it won't disappoint cuz i thought i didn't like fantasy very much but turns out i'm a fantasy girl and i just want something actually good after acotar…)

my other wrap-ups, my goodreads