#kindgom of ash

[checkoutmybookshelf]

OH FOR PETE'S SAKE.

If even the book itself is calling out a writing decision as kinda unnecessary, then perhaps the author should listen to that subliminal voice and RETHINK THE THING.

I am on chapter 108 of Kingdom of Ash, and we did not just get a tearful battlefield reunion between Aedion and Gavriel only for Gavriel to walk a shield outside a gate that needs to be closed. And for Aedion to LITERALLY go, "Gavriel could have stayed. Could have stayed and pushed his shield back long enough for them to shut the gates. He could have remained here--" because, honestly? Aedion is CORRECT. That would have been reasonable and, by the magical laws of the world, entirely possible.

Someone check on Gavriel, because he just walked into a pack if enemy soldiers and FUCKING DIED for no good reason. Literally even the book didn't buy that decision.

[heroinetales]

I beat the fire temple finally and it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be but it was still confusing as all hell. Also Yunobo has the best character glow up I've ever seen. Just seeing his progression made me happy and he really grew into a strong and brave goron. I just love him so much and he has my whole heart

[sinvulkt-art]

Santa Lucia

Long ago in a faraway kindgom, there were white singing dragons pushing away the Darkness. For this, the white dragons were chained and placed along the border. As long as the dragons sang, the invading darkness was stopped. As long as the dragons sang, the kingdom was protected.  

The white dragons could not sing forever however. They whistled and whispered for hours, for days and night. They whistled and whispered until their voice broke and no sound escaped the broken throat. When that happened, the protection broke, and the Darkness entered— killing the failed singer.

This is the story of a small white dragon, raised to its mother’s songs amidst the clicking of her chains. Its mother sang and sang and sang; until the day she didn’t. Until the day the Darkness— and the creatures hidden in its midst— tore her throat away.

Confused and lost, the small dragon flew away. It flew beyond the kingdom full of chain, beyond the line of darkness. It flew until its wings had no strenght left to beat, and it crashed. The land beyond the darkness, it discovered, wss full of creatures similar to the ones that murdered its mother— dragons black as ink, eyes glinting crimson in the shadows. The black dragons, it painfully discovered, held no love for its kind.

The pure shine of its feather claimed it loudly as a singer, and so the dragon rolled itself into ashes until its fluff was more grey than white. It rolled in the dirt again for good measure, until its feathers were painted so dark no one could distinguish it from the local natural black.

Thus covered, the other dragons began to interact with more than beating and mean words. They welcomed it as one of theirs, unaware of its deception. That is, until one of them spotted a clump of white beneath its daily grim layer, and poured water over it to reveal its disguise.

Injured and betrayed, the small dragon flew away. Its body was too hurt to sustain it for very long however, and with a last flap it fell unconscious, crashing right at the doorstep of an isolated nest.

The nest belong to a powerful but excentric archdragon. Upon seeing the young, the black dragon took it in. The black dragon took no head of the color difference or the threat the young held, helping it hide the white fluff instead as it adopted the young as its own. Under its care, the white dragon learnt and grew.

As it grew, its power grew with it. More and more, the white dragon felt the temptation to sing, calling upon it its natural shield as it shone beyond the protecting ink covering its feather. It yearned to understand the place it had been borned to. It yearned to protect the land that hated its kind yet - through its mentor - cared for it until it had become the dragon it was today. No one knew what layed beyond the singers shield. No black dragon had ever crossed it.

So, when the opportunity arose, the white dragon said goodbye to its mentor and left for the border. Soon, it saw the soldiers of its country— black as ink, broadcasting defensive Darkness— and the slaves of their enemies— as white as the purest light, and singing, always.

Looking beyond the singers protection, the dragon saw a city. A dead city made of stone and bricks, devoid of the warmth of life. It was filled with small, bipedic creatures: men. As a singer, the dragon effortlessly passed the shield of its kind, investigating the curious buildings to its leasure. The ’men’ screamed and cried, too weak and small to bring it any harm. How had such creatures ever imprisoned its kind?

The answer was brought by ropes and chains, thrown accross its limbs and back until the dragon could barely move. It struggled and roared, but to no avail. It lost its war against the pulls of the binds. It was trapped.

The men led it to a pole, and tied it to its chains. The paint had rubbed off during the fight and its feathers appeared white again. It raised its head, and faced with an army of red eyes wanting nothing more than to tear its throat (an army made of its brethren), it found no other choice: it sang. It sang for its life.

With the song, its shield arrose. It was a weak, pitiful thing— a thin barrier against the cruelty that would inevitably avail. Each breath made it falter. Each silence made it flicker. And so the white dragon sang until its voice broke.  It sand as its throat began to hurt from the lack of water. It sang even as the air rubbed its lungs like sandpaper. It sang until sound refused to come out, and its shield failed.

The black dragons laying in wait wasted no time to jump on it, ready to finish it off. No bargain reached their ears. No begging stilled their claws. The white dragon readied itself and fought, teeth for teeth, despite the constraint of chains. Lacerations covered both it and is oponent skin. A metallic taste filled its mouth. Its whole body felt on fire, tensing, flinching, warping. It wasn’t enough. The black dragons were too many.

The white dragon was ready to give up when a dark shadow fell from the sky, roaring. Its mentor had arrived. Eccentric or not, under the full wrath of an archdragon, the army agreed to disperse. They gave them enough space for the young singer to take a staggering breath, and for the elder to free it. 

The chains fell, broken. The mentor pushed its youngling forward, rumbling soothing murmur, until it rose back on four paws, ready to fly. The two dragons left the kingdoms at war, not staying long enough to see the army’s next attack or the men mending of the border breach. The pair flew away from both cursed lands, and never looked back.

[chaoticallyfragmentary]

Cale x Alberu

“Did you know that I loved you?” Alberu whispers, his bloodied hand coming up, knuckles gently brushing over Cale’s cheek. Cale feels his breath catch, like it was him impaled with that sphere. He’s glad that he sent the kids away. He doesn’t think he can fake composure now.

It is the past tense that gets to him, really. As if his love would go away, fade as he takes his last breath. Cale thinks Alberu’s love would scald him long after he’s gone, as much a part of him as sinew and bone. He would rot with it.

‘Cale?’ Alberu murmurs, ‘you know the other life? the one where we could’ve been happy together?’

“Tell me something about it,” he whispers. "It can be anything. Anything at all. Just—"

“No,” Cale says, voice stern and eyes on him as his heart clenches and trembles in his chest. “No you stupid fucking man. It is this life. You will live and we will be happy in this life. Die and I will kill you myself.”

Alberu closes his eyes at the certainty of Cale’s voice. He feels warm, throughout his whole body, there is a slow warmth that settles into his very bones, his veins, each and every inch of him. Oh, he hasn’t felt so warm in so very long.

Maybe it is utter stupidity but he cannot help it. Maybe it is his own desperation but it’s everything he’s only ever longed to hear. They are the words he wants to reach out and pluck from the air to keep forever, spoken by the loveliest man he’s ever known.

“Keep him awake, don’t fucking let him sleep. We’re a minute out.”

“Sun of the Roan Kindgom,” Cale croaks.

Alberu hums, fingers moving gently over Cale’s hand. “I would want a house, with enough room for the kids and a few guest rooms for Rosaline, Mary and the other’s when they drop by. Our home will be warm, never absolutely spotless despite Ron’s persistent cleaning, Raon’s cookie crumbs littering the floor. It is never absolutely silent, the kid’s laughter cutting through the air, it will be modest and comforting in it’s simplicity. Somewhere we exist, without worrying if we’re doing it too loudly or not. Somewhere where we are just Alberu Crossman and Cale Heitenuse, just two idiots madly in love.”

Oh, fuck Alberu feels too full, so full of this want, this ardor and love—all for his idiot. He doesn’t know what to do with it, how to hold all of it because it feels like too much in him, too big to fit inside, like it will drown him from within. Oh fuck, he doesn’t want to die. Not when — not now, heart clenching with how deeply yearning hooks into him.

Cale feels like he is drowning, Alberu’s every wheezed out breath pulling him under. Fuck, he’ll pray, he’ll get down on his knees, offer up his life if it meant Alberu would live. The ancient powers are silent. You fucking God of Death! Take him and I will burn this world. I fucking dare you. Take him and I will reduce this world of yours to nothing but ash and bone. How the fuck is he meant to handle it all? He feels like all this pain and love is tearing him apart from the inside, echoing with grotesque pops of flesh that only he could hear. People aren’t built to feel the way he feels for him, his sun, his prince. Surely, it would crush even the strongest of them and Cale certainly isn’t.  

“I would tell you I love you, every single day. You will let me sleep for as long as I’d like, keeping the kids from waking me. Sometimes, you try making Kimchi Jjigae and it would taste so fucking bad—”

“HEY!”

“But I’d eat it all. Sometimes you write me these silly little notes in Korean that you learn in secret from Choi Han—” His voice goes tight, like he’s feeling too much, knees ready to buckle.

“Please, Alberu, crown prince, my sun, love please,” he dissolves into incoherent blubbering, pressing in and curling closer.

“Hey, Cale? I love you.” he confesses, releasing a hoarse laugh. What he wants to say is that he’d do anything for him, whatever he wanted.

A punched out noise escapes him and he goes really still, because that just sounded like a goodbye.

Alberu goes still in his arms just as Goldie Gramps lands with Tasha and a Dark Elf doctor.

[hlizr50]

After the Star Falls

This was supposed to be a part of my drabble collection, but it took on a life of its own.

Written as a part of my 600 follower celebration for @daevastanner, who wanted a drabble/oneshot based on a tiktok about Asterin reuniting with the Hunter in the afterlife.

Warning: Have tissues handy

Read on AO3

Here's a little tease:

Asterin had never feared death, had faced it willingly for the future of her sister-in-arms and the kingdom she would build. And perhaps this was why. Perhaps she had never been afraid because her Hunter had always been here. Waiting and watching over her.

@headcanonheadcase @vikingmagic33 @mystical-blaise @damedechance @ofduskanddreams @mercarimari

[starzablaze]

@faenet event: -> Alternate Covers Throne of Glass books 1-6 [Image courtesy: Pinterest, edited on Snapseed]

[pocthroneofglass]

poc throne of glass: pride pairings: aelin & ansel

One arrow, that had been her promise. But she’d also promised Ansel that she had twenty minutes to get out of range. She had fired after twenty-one.

happy pride! 

[illeanshadowhunter]

one of my favorite book cliches is the [insert character name here] never sleeps but omg look they fell asleep next to me thing

[books]

On October 23rd, we were honored to join 800 of Sarah J. Maas’ (@worldofsarahjmaas) biggest fans at the Symphony Space in New York City for the release of Kingdom of Ash, the final book in her Throne of Glass series.

Maas wanted to make this IRL good-bye to Celaena Sardothien was one she deserved—something as thoughtful and exciting as the rest of the series. The event included trivia, a photo booth, a mini art gallery filled with Throne of Glass fan art, and a pop-up bookshop of Sarah’s favorite reads. Fans were also encouraged to sign a copy of Kingdom of Ash for Sarah with messages of love for the series.

During the Q&A, hosted by Eliza Thompson, Sarah revealed a few gems about the series:

Aelin and Rowan are her favorite ship, with Manon and Abraxos in close second.

Manon Blackbeak was almost cut from the storyline itself, but she fought to keep her because of her incredible journey in Kingdom of Ash.

Her role models include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sailor Moon, both of whom balance femininity and badass-ness with ease.

Abraxos was inspired by the children’s book Ferdinand and her cousin’s dog Buddy, who was rescued from a dog fighting ring. Though Buddy experienced the worst of humanity, he can still see the good in it, just like Abraxos.

If she was stuck on a desert island, she’d want to be stuck with Dorian—he tans nicely.

Although the Throne of Glass series has come to an end, we haven’t seen the finality of its universe. A reference book is coming out in 2019 that will contain in-depth information about the characters, the world, and what happens after the events of Kingdom of Ash. How nice is that?

[ireferencedthatunderstood]

Aelin, reaching for a bottle of whiskey: hey, what if I put whiskey in my cereal instead of milk

Aedion, grabbing the bottle as he walks by: hey, what if you don’t

[midnightbluhm]

I’m begging you please help me : read below

I have been looking everywhere for this recording of the cat woman soulstealer launch event , and it’s driving me crazy... I know the link to it was posted on tumblr and the vid is somewhere on YouTube , but I just can’t find it... and it’s important because Sarah talks about Nesta and the nessian book more than she has anywhere else and I just need to hear it again so please if u know where it is or who posted it tell me🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[heroinetales]

Just finished the wind temple and all I gotta say is that Tulin is best bird son

[rem102]

I desperate need someone to draw Aelin and Manon’s crowns.

[more-or-less-obsessed]

Kingdom of Ash: *ends*

Me: *sobs*

[probablyhavingabreakdown]

Kingdom of Ash Spoilers

Is no-one else pissed that Aelin lost the majority of her magic??!!

[mystical-blaise]

ASITE Spoiler Chat Thoughts: Heartmates

Obviously, from the title, there be spoilers ahead!

Context: Okay, so, JLA said that:

- Atlantians are NOT godlings and that they are specifically the creation of the Heartmate trials.

- Atlantians are much younger than mortals.

- Lamont Mierel and Calliphe (Sera's parents) were Heartmates

Now, I've known this for a long time but it was confirmed in the chat; Atlantians don't know their full history. Parts have been rewritten or lost in time. Obviously, from FBAA, things they assumed were true were not.

Deities are NOT the children of gods (children of the Primals are still gods. Children of Mortals/gods are Godlings, which are the equivalent of demi-gods) Deities are basically descendants of gods with remnants of eather.

So, we have the original story about the deity who fell in love with his lover. (Again, Cas is telling this story AND they all believed Malec to be something he wasn't, so I'm taking the term deity with a grain of salt). Who in his story is definitely male. A male who fell in love with someone (gender isn't specified, just lover). THEY refused. Nyktos came and begged for the other god/deity/whatever to live. (Again, Cas doesn't know if Nyktos was involved or not and there are other things we learned in the chat that the Atlantians also have wrong about him). I'm thinking this is all WAY before ASITE. This has something to do with earlier gods/Primals. This could explain the whole reason that LOVE is considered a weakness when the deal was made with Roderick Mierel and the whole thing with the Ember and first daughter was set into play.

But THEN, it's said in Cas's story, after losing that son, the gods "underestimated the capacity for love" and then the next time this came up, they set up the Heartmate trials:

JLA said that Atlantians don't exist in ASITE. So, the heartmate trials are definitely afterward.

And by the time Malec and Isbeth were together, the gods were asleep already to answer their call for the trials (supposedly). But what's confusing is JLA also said there's LESS time than the Atlantians believe between ASITE-timeline and FBAA (several hundred years, but not the thousands and then some Atlantians believe).

But, Cas is 220ish, right? His parents have reigned for over 400 years. Jasper is ancient, but we're told we won't see wolven in the F&F series. Color me confused! So, are we talking 800-1000 years between? Because also in the book Poppy read in Solis, it said the first Atlantian Cillian Da'Something was 2,700 years old (granted it was a Solis book but...) Can anyone who listened to the damn chat clear this up?! LOL She also mentioned the Da'Neers are direct descendants of a Primal line. So are they descendants of the first Heartmate trials? And what god? Not me looking at every god listed with golden eyes as sus...

I swear to god, ASITE answered nothing, and made me more confused. LOL