#lidia RANTS

[jemdeserveslove]

⚠️HOFAS SPOILERS ⚠️

THIS IS ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE LIDIA CERVOS AND HER SCENES ✨✨✨

My favorite scenes in hofas, by far, were all of Lidia’s scenes!!

SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER!! Like, literally everything about her is perfect ✨ the layers, the flaws, how we know she actually did some terrible things, but is now trying to be better, HOW SHE’S A MOTHEEER too!! And her being a mother worked so well with character and everything we knew about her. She was already really complex and that added one more layer and it was just *chef’s kiss*

Her scenes with Ruhn (my favorite) were amazing to me! I liked how Ruhn was mad at her at the beginning and how she just expected him to understand her, but he was reluctant … all of that was necessary in my opinion and it just made their whole arc better. They’re my favorite couple in Crescent City and I just want them to happy!!! I could read a whole book about them just living together 😭 (with Lidia’s children too)

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT LIDIA’S BEST SCENES IN THIS BOOK

- The attack on The Spine and freeing Ruhn, Hunt and Baxian >>>>>>> THIS WAS EVERYTHING!!!!!!! I seriously felt like I was watching a movie. The tension? Amazing. The planning? Excellent. The vibes? Immaculate ✨

Lidia is just so amazing! And seeing her pov on her process to plan the whole thing was everything I needed (and I didn’t know I needed). Her tricking Pollux, making a deal with Queen Irithys, burning the witch, HER TALKING WITH RIGELUS TO GET THE QUEEN!!! HER CARRYING RUHN!!!!!!!! It was awesome. And the way the scene grew to the point she was jumping from that cliff into her death…

THAT’S CINEMA YOU GUYS! CINEMA!!

- My other favorite scene is when she and Ruhn were rescuing her children 🥲 I loved that whole segment! The way it contrasted with the Lidia from the previous scene, who was so scheming and in control of herself and, by consequence, the situation. I loved how she was a huge mess and couldn’t pull herself together, because we don’t expect people to be calm in a situation like that and liked that she wasn’t. She was very human. I mean, how FERAL she got with Ruhn, that was >>>>>

There is a rawness and an ugliness to that. And it’s so human and so filled with different emotions. The fear for her children, the anger towards Pollux, the anger towards herself for not being able to do more. And there were so many things on the line that day, but she was about to throw everything to hell just so she could save her children. I MEAN, WHEN SHE PULLED THE GUN ON RUHN I WAS SCREAMING (in a good way)

AND THE WAY IT ENDED WITH HER BURNING POLLUX???? CINEMAAAA

Thanks Sarah for making Lidia 🤧

[idfendyr]

Do people.

Not remember.

NESRYN AND SARTAQ.

GIVE THEM THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE. HOW DARE YOU IGNORE THEM. RUHN AND LIDIA HAVE HAD MORE ATTENTION IN THE LAST 2YEARS THAN NESRYN AND SATAQ HAVE HAD SINCE BLOODY 2017.

DO SOMETHING PEOPLE

[biggestqiblifan]

Ruhn watched her beautiful, perfect face. Watched as determination set her features.

No matter how much he tried to hate her, he was completely smitten.

He wants to so badly go after his girl...

The world seemed to hold its breath as the elegant doe walked up to Ruhn and gently, lovingly, nuzzled his neck. Ruhn didn’t so much as move. Not a blink as Lidia pulled away, those golden eyes lingering on his face—just a moment longer. Then she bounded off into the trees, a streak of sunlight that was there and gone. Like she’d never been.

Ruhn scanned the forest where Lidia had vanished, his hand rising to his neck. The skin there was warm, as if her touch still lingered. “Right,” Athalar grunted, stooping to reach for Ruhn’s legs. “On three.” Baxian tightened his grip under Ruhn’s shoulders. Wings stirred, and Ruhn stirred with them. “Lidia,” he croaked. But Athalar and Baxian jumped into the skies, both males groaning in agony, the world tilting—and then they were airborne, Athalar holding Ruhn’s legs, Baxian at his shoulders. Ruhn hung like a sack of potatoes. His stomach flipped at the dizzying drop to the arid ground far below. The mountain rising before them. The glittering blue sea stretching beyond. Behind them, shooting among the olive trees like a bolt of lightning, raced that beautiful, near-white doe. A hind. To reach the sea, she’d have to ascend through the hilly groves, and then right up the rocky mountain itself. Was there a way down on the other side? She’d only mentioned an aerial landing when she’d spoken to Dec. Not a sea rescue. Or a land rescue. Lidia wasn’t coming. The realization clanged through Ruhn like a death knell. “Oh fuck,” Athalar spat, and Ruhn followed the direction of the angel’s gaze behind them. A pack of two dozen dreadwolves streamed like ants through the forest. All headed straight for that deer. A wolf larger than the others led the pack—Mordoc. Closing in fast on Lidia as the hills slowed her. “Stop,” Ruhn rasped. “We have to go back.” “No,” Athalar said coldly, his grip tightening on Ruhn’s legs. Which was faster—a deer or a wolf? If they caught up to her, it’d be over. Lidia had known that, and gone anyway. “Put me down,” Ruhn snarled, but the malakim held him firm, so hard his bones ached. The wolves narrowed the distance, as if the hills were nothing to them. But Athalar and Baxian had caught an air current and were soaring swiftly enough now that Lidia rapidly shrank in the distance— “PUT ME DOWN!” Ruhn roared, or tried to. His voice, hoarse from screaming, could barely rise above a whisper. “Aerial legion from the east,” Baxian announced to Hunt. Ruhn looked up, following Athalar’s line of sight. Sure enough, like a cloud of locusts, soldiers surged for them. “Fuckers,” Athalar hissed, wings beating faster. Baxian kept pace as they swooped toward the sea. Farther from Lidia, who now neared the top of the towering mountain. That was the last Ruhn saw of her as they soared over the arid peak. Open ocean spread before them. Ruhn twisted, trying to keep an eye on Lidia.

[purrvaire]

Had a moment of self-reflection bc while scrolling, for some reason, tumblr suggested me the blog of my ex best friend (inactive for the past nine years btw) and idk. you spend so much time with a person, you think you know them like the back of your hand. there's many posts (yeah, I did a bit of snooping around) where she mentioned me by the nickname she used to call me with - that no one ever used after her bc it was an inside joke between us. like, at the time we thought we would be together forever as best friends do, especially being teenagers at the time. and now i haven't the faintest idea about what she's doing. if she's happy, if her family is okay, if she's got a job and whatnot. like... I don't miss her, not really. I'm just left wondering, I suppose

[room217prayer]

A fun theory thanks to Hosab and Lidia's tale

In Hosab Lidia narrate the tale of a Witch living in a forest to Ruhn and I know it served as a purpose for her and their story.

BUT! Hear me out... Because that story made me think about Tamlin (and when I don't? lol) and here are my thoughts on the matter:

“There was a young witch in a cottage deep in the woods, beautiful and beloved by her mother. She grew older and stronger but then a wandering prince passed by her clearing one day and wanted to take her as his bride.”

The young witch = Tamlin. The wandering prince = Amarantha and in a way... Feyre. I will explain, why.

“She didn't want the prince but he chased her through the woods, his hounds following. As she ran she pleaded with the forest to help her and it did. It transformed her into a deer, but his hounds caught up with her. So the forest turned her into a fish so she could flee down the mountain streams, but the prince built a weir to trap her. Then the forest turned her into a hawk so she could fly away, but the prince was a skilled archer and fired an iron-tipped arrow at her and struck her breast. Where her blood fell, olive trees sprouted. When her body hit the earth, she was transformed one last time…”

The prince that chased after the witch through the woods alias Amarantha cursing Tamlin to earn his love and devotion. The trials, the mask, the sacrificing of his men into turning them to wolves (other animals?) to be killed. Trying to catch him. The hounds? Mhm… Rhysand anyone? But why did I associate the wandering Prince to Feyre? Because the prince was a skilled archer who fired an iron-tipped arrow and struck the breast of the hawk... her heart. And once she hit the earth, she transformed one last time:

"The forest turned the witch into a monster before she hit the earth. A beast of claws and fangs and bloodlust. She ripped the prince and hounds who pursued her into shreds."

Feyre not only stabbed him in the heart. She destroyed Spring. His court, the forest could be an allegory to it, and once it went to ruin, into what did Tamlin change? Into his beast form: a beast of claws and fangs and bloodlust. His anger, his sorrow, that made him so.

“She remained a monster for a hundred years, roaming the forest, killing all who drew near. A hundred years, so long that she forgot she had once been a witch, had once possessed a home and a forest she loved.

But one day, a warrior arrived in the forest. He’d heard of the monster so vicious none could kill it and live. She set out to slaughter him, but when the warrior beheld her, he was not afraid. He stared at her, and she at him, and he wept because he didn’t see a thing of nightmares, but a creature of beauty. He saw her, and he was not afraid of her, and he loved her. His love transformed her back into a witch, melting away all that she’d become. They dwelled in peace in the forest for the rest of their immortal lives.”

Will Tamlin lose his identity of self more and more? Seeing himself only as a beast, an unforgiving monster (as... almost everyone is thinking of him? Has told him so? *yes, Rhys, I’m side-eyeing you…*) forgetting his role as the High Lord of Spring? As his real self? The caring High Lord who wanted to serve and help his people?

Will someone find him and see him for who he is, saving him from his spiral? Heal him with their love and break this curse?

In my delulu world, one that I may have a draft of somewhere lol, it’s Rhysand. Feyre break up with him, and travels the world with Nyx, Nesta and Elain, enjoying life and so Rhys ends up in Spring and boom. (Or could it be... Nyx himself? MHMMMMMMM the plot is thickening hahah)

BUT! Aside from my sillier theories... I can see, as a plausible “ending” for Tamlin, that it could be Briar who he ends up with. As a parallel to Feyre etc. (spoiler: I… don’t really like that ship, sorry, but Briar with Tamlin gngngngn isn’t for me, but it’s still someone who Sjm could choose for him) and re-using a similar plot like she did with Lorcan, where he becomes mortal/human and stay with her. Spoiler: it might be an unpopular opinion, but I hate the idea of Tamlin becoming human as much as him dying (the reason? Many, but essentially: pettiness. Yep haha)

And I know this tale could be used as a parallel for Elain (because of the deer, fawn, etc) but essentially is used for Lidia as an indicator of her story and then union with Ruhn. Still, I find that it’s fun to speculate and theorize its use for other characters.

[taegularities]

hope you know that despite us not being constantly present in your life we do love you and appreciate your existence a lot. i am glad you're here to share your little stories and things about your life because i honestly love to think that you're like a long distance friend hehe

(unnecessary rant i am so sorry why am i like this)

thank you so much for saying that, my sweetheart <3 life is jarring, but you all keep making me feel loved and i'll never be able to express my gratitude the way i want to :') you're my friend for sure, you are <3333

[funeralflow3rs]

Now that I've sat with HOFAS for a few days, my feels are still p much the same... It was just okay. I'm glad to have ticked a bunch of things off my bingo card sheet and I'm not mad about anything that happened. I LOVED some parts so much, especially the new ACOTAR lore which I was not expecting to get... But it felt so soulless outside of a handful of moments scattered throughout. I had no connection to the CC characters I love ( When I tell u I love Ruhn I literally named my dog after him ) and it didn't feel like they really went anywhere development wise or if they did it was such a fast speed run of it I didn't get to enjoy it before we were on to the next thing. Honestly it left me feeling really empty by the end, that's still lingering and not in the usual book coma kind of way. I wish she would have either split the book in half or slowed the pace down a bit and given the reader room to breathe instead of throwing huge revelation after huge revelation at us. I'm just so sad it fell flat for me when so many people I know are loving it, like what did I miss what am I personally not getting here 😭😭

[roseadleyn]

Lidia‘s SA was handled even worse. Sjm would have lidia fuck Ruhn in mind at the same time she’s getting SA‘ed by her ex. Lidia never received proper time to heal from that sh*t. The moment Ruhnlidia made up in the third book they had mf sex.

Nesta had sex with Cassian right after getting SA‘ed by that weirdo kelpie from the lake, and that other time when Lanthys made her see that vision in which he SA‘ed her too. The SA from Tomas was also never properly acknowledged.

At least Gwyn had 2 years to recover. Most SA survivors in her books don’t receive much time to at least process it all before fucking. You’re telling me Rhys is all cool with going down on Feyre after 50 years of SA? Feyre can easily forget the sh*t Rhys did to her utm? Great.

If Gwynriel is canon, Sjm will most definitely fuck up her trauma like she always does.

Sjm: „Oh you were touched against your will?“

Sjm: „Here have a cock. That will heal you quickly!“

Worst of all is that the sex is always so… rough? Specifically for Nesta. At least worship her and make her feel safe instead of dicking her down like she‘s a good one night stand. Poor girl.

ya i'm just realizing that gwyn is at least not as bad as nesta or feyre or lucien or rhys or lidia. i haven't read any other sjm books but i know abt lidia and that's insane 😭 it's like she doesn't know how to write intimacy. it's like she thinks emotional connections only exist in sex.

it was insane how feyre only rescued lucien from being raped because she remembered her darling rhys and not because lucien is her first friend and also it's just the MORAL THING TO DO

( also why is it that everytime a couple fights in sjm's novels, they always have sex when they make up? i get that angry makeup sex is soo hot etc but like can no one have a conversation? can she not show how sometimes issues are talked out not fucked out? )

do NOT i hate how she wrote nesta i hate everything abt it. nesta was assaulted by tomas and when he found out he restrained her against the wall??? in the same manner tomas would have?? also i'm never going to forget how cassian tugged at the skirts of her dress and asked her 'what're you hiding under all this anyways?' without her consent, during a time in which they didn't like each other, and he was there on diplomatic purposes.

and i just checked but literally RIGHT after she was sa-ed by the kelpie, cassian not only had sex with her but he left her without any aftercare. bed still warm. rough sex as if she's a one night stand. she's sexually assaulted and then left wondering if cassian was 'punishing' her by leaving immediately. ugh i despise him i hate him.

and rhys? he literally has one (1) traumatic flashback to his trauma and whoop that's it yall we're done. and feyre wearing the same clothes she was wearing when she got assaulted for rhys, even though rhys was the one who assaulted her.

it pushes an extremely unhealthy narrative. very young girls (literally 15-16 year olds) read these books and they'll think these toxic, unrealistic, unhealthy dynamics are normal. it's so concerning and i hate the entire genre of dark romance for it but that's a story for some other angry rant

i hate the rough jackhammering sex. i fear she's gonna do the same shit with elain and lucien (😭). nesta deserves to be worshipped and praised and then given plenty of aftercare free my girlll

( for acotar stans who for some reason go into anti tags: do not interact u will be BLOCKED !!! okay bye 💋 )

[bookofmirth]

I think it’s very funny when ppl say that it’s obvious that Elain is next cause she is the last archeron and the only person who could hold a plot + Gwyn could never cause she is a secondary character WHEN:

Elain is - at this moment - more secondary than Gwyn cause what exactly we had about her? (Yeah I heard the theories that she can’t have a POV cause she is a seer and she would be a walking spoiler so her pov has to be hidden)

Lidia cervos only showed up on book 2 and baby girl stole the entire show while being secondary character? Yrene Westfall hellooo?

I was just ranting about this elsewhere so here we go haha!

"why would Gwyn or Az get a pov/book when Elain hasn't had one yet and when Cassian and Rhys never got one?" because these characters are not in line at the DMV? they didn't take a number at the deli counter?

The only thing that really matters in terms who gets a book or a pov is whether it makes sense to the story being told.

Sometimes people argue about these stories as if they are math, as if there has to be a certain order to the way things are told. But that's not how storytelling works? The characters aren't queued up, and this is not kindergarten - they don't all get equal time with the omniscient narrator. This isn't about what's perceived as "fair", but what will actually make sense for the story.

Chaol didn't get a book because he had been waiting patiently for it since ToG. Chaol got a book because his chapters were originally going to be part of EoS, but his story ended up being much bigger than originally planned. He didn't get a story because he "deserved" it for still being alive multiple books later, but because it made sense to focus on his narrative on its own. It was about what was organic within the story and what would be the best, most effective, impactful way to tell that story.

So yeah, Gwyn can become a main character, so can Vassa, so can Miryam and Drakon, so could Eris - it's literally Sarah's job to figure out what makes sense for the story and to bring us along for the ride. There is no "math" that is going to make a specific character "required" to be next. Certain things make more sense than others, but people are wayyyyy too stuck on the distinction between main character and side character and acting like the author is somehow limited. She's only limited by her imagination, my friends!

[katsum50]

Stupid crap I’ve seen today, and so I have to rant.

First that Elriel can’t happen because of Ruhn/Lidia. I mean what? They say the spy couple has already happened and that’s it.

Secondis that stupid old argument that Azriel was gross in the bonus chapter. That he only has lust for Elain or wants a mate and is lonely. Have we forgotten that he’s not some horny teenage boy? He’s a centuries old being that has shown maturity through out the books. He’s had plenty of lovers and could find another one at any time.

He doesn’t want any mate or just someone for sex. He wants Elain because he has feelings for her. People may not like it, and that’s their right, but you can’t ignore what the text says.

I’m done. I hope these aren’t grown ass adults with these arguments, but I fear they are, and I worry for their personal relationships.

[triviareads]

I like how I recced The Law According to Lidia Poët to my mother, who asked where in Italy this is set, and when I said around Turin, she IMMEDIATELY went on a rant about The Evils of That Firangi Sonia Gandhi And Co.

[nikethestatue]

I’m sorry if this is too negative, but how do you stay so positive? I read the bonus and don’t feel that good about it. I understand it makes clear that Azriel’s shadows react to music, not Gwyn herself but… why would SJM give a connection between Azriel and Gwyn, who is a singer? When I say connection I mean music and shadowsinger/lightsinger. She seems to be continuing that music connection. I guess I just feel defeated that Azriel has gotten nonstop hype from not only fans but SJM herself, and there hasn’t really been anything for Elain besides small tiny crumbs that we Elriels theorize. I feel Elain had the set up to be a main character after ACOSF, but it feels to me that with the crossover, SJM has shifted that all to Azriel-and potentially Gwyn, if the music and lightsinging is any indication-and hasn’t given Elain anything else yet. 3 bonuses in a row now have given something to Gwynriel (ACOSF, HOSAB Bryce and Hunt ending about shining secret joy in chest, and now HOFAS). I’m sorry to rant, I just feel upset over how this has been handled by SJM. I still feel confident in Elain and Elriel based on the ACOTAR text, but perhaps now that we are so close, doubt and intrusive thoughts have started to creep in lol 🥲

So let me ask you this. Suppose you are just a normal reader, who is reading SJM's books, read ACOTR and now CC. Say you have no idea about any shipwar. You are just an interested, casual reader.

On January 30, you get the book, which you ordered from Target. You read the book, you love it, you read Lidia and Ruhn's bonus, you love it too. You sit back and await the next SJM book.

Now, tell me, what's been 'set up' for that reader? And in what sense and capacity was Gwynriel set up?

For example, on a personal level, i've never read the Bonus with Bryce and Hunt for the last book. And I am not even a casual reader. I've never read ANY of the TOG bonuses. I've read the Feysand bonus once. I accidentally came upon Wings and Ember and only because i am an OBSESSED fan, not a casual.

So all in all, what do we think was set up? In any way, shape or form? NOTHING. Certainly not for Gwynriel. Not one thing. Now, for me, as an Elriel, not a whole lot has been set up either. BUT, i just know what Gwynriels have been claiming for the past 3 years about the Azriel Bonus (chest light, mate bonds, him falling in love with Gwyn, blah, blah). As an obsessed fan, all this Walmart bonus told me was he claims to be single and unmated and he is a metalhead at heart. That is it. It didn't set up anything for anyone.

Also, in terms of light and singing--one of my fellow Elriel is planning to write a post where they are gonna go over that imagery throughout SJMs books, which has absolutely nothing to do with any romance, any Gwyn, or anything else that people claim.

I am calm, because nothing's changed on paper. But I also am happy because everything, literally everything, that Gwynriels claimed didn't come to pass--like we suspected it wouldn't. There is no deeper or more meaningful connection between Azriel and Gwyn. We learn nothing about her--not like Nesta says 'oh, btw, Gwyn's been raving about all the private lessons you've been giving her, Az!'

If you step back and think about it rationally, the bonus gave nothing. You can read between the lines, but that space hints at Elriel, not Gwynriel.

So calm down, nonnie. It's all good.

Remember 'I thought it was obvious!'

[yazthebookish]

People continue to misconstrue what SJM said in her last interview when the host was expressing how much she appreciates the females being the lead and take action in Sarah's books, because it's always the heroes that get to do something in fantasy books while the heroines sit back at home where it's safe and do nothing or be just the damsels—that's the context.

Sarah never said she won't or doesn't write books for male characters (since she did for Chaol and she wrote a total of approx 13 Male POVs in all her series) so that statement goes against the facts. She did say there are scenes where she forgets to let the guys do something because she is focused on the females (which is a good thing and we know Sarah does focus on female empowerment in her books) but it doesn't equate to saying the guys are too insigificant in the books to be given a book or their own story. Chaol was too important to her she was inspired to write a book with him in mind and merged other characters into his story, but ultimately it was always known as Chaol's novella/book because there was so much going on with him she didn't want to dilute it to fit in Empire of Storms and added characters that complimented his journey alongside theirs and the overall plot.

Did I also mention that HOSAB had one female POV while there were 4-5 male POVs? Bryce and Hunt are still the leads but you also had other characters driving the story too. Ruhn's own arc is obviously important and there is a good chance he would get his own book and while Lidia will definitely kick ass, but do you think her own arc would be more important than Ruhn's? Her arc would probably compliment his.

To reiterate, SJM was responding to the host's praise who said she appreciates how the male characters in her books take the backseat to allow the heroines to take the lead (in terms of action and important scenes)—it wasn't about whether she only write books solely focused on female characters or male characters or about her answering a question if she writes books focused on male characters and her saying no, that's not the context.

It's also like the people who say the series is about the three Archeron sisters when it's not given that there are two novels and a novella left (with the potential of more based on her new contracted books) and she never even said that in one of her interviews, the EW article about the tv show doesn't count because it's likely not Sarah's words but what the journalist understood about the series and who will be featured in the show. What Sarah always said is that the spin-off books are about different characters and follows different POVs. Each book will feature a couple, so the spin-off books are about the characters in this world whose story was not told yet, it's not just the sisters (the screenshots below give better clarity so I'll leave it at that).

Back to my main point, If she does eventually write a book focused on a male character, then don't come here and complain about how she lied if she never said what you claim she said in that interview from the very beginning.

Not really a rant but it always confuses me how people take a piece of information when half of us were present during that interview and turn it into something completely different. To each their own thoughts I guess.

[mirandasidefics]

Hi! Omg Loved the latest chapter of "but home is nowhere." I feel bad for our main character, to be called anothers womans name? ouch this poor girl can not catch a break! I'm usually a hardcore Az girlie but I'm honestly starting to root for Lucian, he seems to be the only one really that respects her and want her for her IMO. I think Ruhn is still hung up with what happened with Lidia and honestly this whole group needs some serious therapy. I'm really interested in seeing if this "break" from Ruhn will give more space for Azriel to become more a support for her. But I do have a questions. And really our main girl asks it in Chapter ten. "“One good deed doesn’t guarantee trust,” You quickly turned away from him, damning your stubborn pride. “Trust takes time. And why does everyone care so much about who sleeps next to me?” Of course, the male had no answer for that. " Like why do they all care who is in her bed, sexual or otherwise? Is it solely because she is human? Like Nesta slept around before she accepted her bond with Cass (no judgment, just fact) and Eline was all over Az (and him her) and Eline has yet to accept the bond so like what is the deal? I guess Rhys admits to this in the bonus chapter about having a "half breed" and how it would "harder" on the fae after she does, but like why is everyone in the IC just up in arms about it. Seems rather sus to me.

Anyways that's my question/rant lol great writing! As always looking forward to the next chapter

Honestly, yes everyone in ACOTAR and Crescent City are in desperate need of therapy. Unfortunately, our girl is no therapist so she can't help on that professional level, but she is a good friend to those she cares for. Ruhn does have some processing to do if his and Reader's dynamic is to progress beyond the friendship they have now.

As far as why everyone is so preoccupied with her sleeping companions, the answer is complex. Most of the characters don't really care if she were to be promiscuous (which she isn't) as most of them have quite the high body counts themselves. Those that participated in the bet (Bryce, Nesta, and Amren), mainly just want to see those involved happy (Reader, Ruhn, Lucien, and Azriel). It is mainly Rhysand (and to a lesser extent Azriel) that have issues leading to their preoccupations with her sex life/sleeping companions.

Rhysand doesn't really care if Reader starts a relationship with Ruhn but does care if that relationship results in her leaving Prythian and then some shit going down. Rhys recognizes that Reader is in their world for a reason and is wary of what that reason could be. Rhysand also isn't concerned about Reader and Azriel as he just doesn't see that as an option at this time.

Rhysand does care if Reader were to start a relationship with Lucien. The main reason is that Lucien is a mated male. In addition to the Fae's belief that the mating bond is scared, Lucien is a beneficial ally for the Night Court to have. Lucien is only willing to even work with the Night Court because his mate is currently living there. Rhysand has already demonstrated that he doesn't want to lose Lucien (or anyone that Lucien is politically tied to) as an ally. So, ensuing that Lucien and Elain's mating bond is free to progress however it needs to, fits into Rhysand's personal agenda. He sees Lucien and Reader's relationship in much the same way that he sees Azriel and Elain's. Thus, if Rhysand says their relationship is an issue, it is only natural that his second and third in command would assist in making sure that it doesn't progress beyond a friendship. (Personally, neither Mor nor Amren really care, and wouldn't have interfered/commented if Rhysand hadn't instructed them to do so.)

Essentially, by appearing that he is worried about Reader's sleeping companions/relationships Rhysand can manipulate other aspects of the overall situation. It's all about him keeping control over a situation that he doesn't have any control over with the belief that it is for the good of his loved ones and his court.

Azriel's concerns and thus motivations for his preoccupation with Reader and her sleeping companions are different from Rhysand's. I won't go into too much detail here because they will be explored further in later chapters.

What I love about writing this story is the complexity of all the characters involved and their various motivations. There is so much beyond the romance aspect of this story that I have planned and I'm super excited to share that with you all in the next chapter!

[room217prayer]

Hofas spoilers and thoughts

Sooooo, yesterday I finished reading Hofas, and I have a lot of thoughts.

A lot.

Some bad, some good, some neutral, but nonetheless, here we go:

The first half of the book was better than the second half. Too many plots going on and it felt rushed. At some points and moments, the characters and story didn't even feel like themselves, lost in the writing that pushed the narrative.

I'm incredibly bitter about the Autumn King (I hoped for him to be a more Machiavellian villain instead of a linear one - and a pretty unclever one, which was a bummer) and even the Avallen King.

Cormac deserved more and Sjm fumbled him so hard. Instead of "killing" him in the last pages of Hosab she should have brought him in the third book, because all the time they were on the Island he would've been such a good asset. AND! HE SHOULD'VE HAD BEEN THE ONE TO KILL MORVEN IF ANYTHING!

Still bitter about him and his fate (spoiler: until I see his body I won't believe he's dead, if you want my Delulu theory: he is alive, he winnowed himself before the big explosion, but he's in a comatose state so that's why he's not present in the final battle uu) and overall he deserved better and if you're wondering: Am I really close to writing an AU where he's present? OF COURSE, I AM THAT CLOSE TO DO SO.

I love Lidia. I love Ruhn. I... don't really love them together. The way Sjm made them happen didn't make me enjoy them as a couple. In Hosab I was ready (even though my otp with Ruhn is with someone else haha) to fall in love with them, but Hofas failed to do so. Yes, I've read the bonus chapter and I still don't love love them as a couple. Yet I'm happy Sjm didn't go with the killing of the adoptive parents, which is what I was fearing she was going to do - especially since Pollux kidnapped her children and killed some people in doing so - buuut... I have mixed feelings. I wished it was an open-ended deal: Lidia began to focus on herself - finally being free from everything - and her children + their family before jumping with both feet in a marriage with Ruhn - since they too had their... difficulties, so to speak. This is only a personal preference, nothing more.

With that said: I preferred how Lidia character was handled in Hosab than in Hofas. Again, it's only a personal preference of mine. The same with Ruhn and other characters.

Ithan, baby, your plot was rushed too, and at the same time I did enjoy it, but I was still going gggggnnnn in certain moments, because, again, the last part of the book felt so rushed.

Bryce, oh Bryce. It was a Love/Hate relationship. Full of high and Low. More low than anything, but still. AND (rant about Hosab) SHE HAD NO RIGHTS in doing what she did with Emile. And Hofas didn't sell me one moment for her caring about him (now Cooper her "adoptive brother"). NOPE. NOT AT ALL. And again: Cormac should've been alive and be included in the whole plot. He had every right to at least have a chance to speak to him. To let them find a connection and growth together and be the ones to keep Sophie's will/memory alive.

Hunt, the "son" of Hel. That was something that I liked and at the same time: eh. Too rushed, but I'm hopeful for the fourth book. Even if it seems they closed that door. (Yes, I have mixed feelings for him too, in some moments I loved him in others... mmmmmmm)

Tharion, Flynn, Declan and Ithan best pack ever. I actually like Tharion with Sathia. I'm hopeful about that, but if he ends up (or Tristan) with Ariadne I won't be mad. Sigrid deserved better than what she got. (Her character at least).

Nesta, baby, I love you so much, you don't know how happy I was to be reading your chapters and your bonus ones (especially when she loves listening to the music) were my favorite to read. BUT. Be free from the NC, please. Azriel, you're on thin ice. Rhysand, you've fallen deeper and deeper. Cassian... eh. (Still, the moment Nesta said Bryce was worse than the Asteri/Daglan I was: yeah, and MMMMMMMMMMMM side-eyeing the IC) and do I want to dig deeper in this series? Yes. Is it that deep, who knows, I'll make it that deep.

What happened to Viktoria? Will we ever know? And what about the slaves and the "secondary" race/people. I guess the fourth book will touch that? Because... at the moment it seems like the big door is closed, but who knows.

I have more to say? Yes, but for now I will end this rant and rambling here, hahaha.

Overall: I liked it. It was a good read. Not great nor bad, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

[thirdwifeofriversong]

okay i need to rant incoherently about HOFAS (and the sjm fandom)

so if you don’t care or haven’t finished the book, feel free to ignore this

(to make a couple of things abundantly clear though, the general discourse in this fandom frustrates me to no end, no hate to anyone obviously, but i get real real tired of the ship wars - i literally don’t care - and of people not using critical reading skills… all/most of these characters are morally grey and flawed and imperfect and it literally does nothing to debate who’s good/bad based on one reading of a morally grey character. they’re grey. even the ones you like. even the ones you hate. that’s the point. also this is mainly aimed at the acotar fandom.)

anyway, some thoughts on HOFAS

i absolutely loved lidia’s characterization. one of the best parts of the book. we love a complex female character. we love a complex double agent who does horrible things and has to live with that. we love female characters who aren’t sidelined just because they have kids

speaking of

i have Feelings about the characterization of lidia as a mother and am still trying to figure out what those are exactly.

but my feelings certainly align with her absolutely demolishing ruhn with that line about her tragic female backstory. what an absolute QUEEN.

i’m not quite sure how to feel about the ruhn/lidia relationship. i love their dynamic, and i support her in her decision to choose ruhn because she did choose him

but also he was pretty sketchy/a little bitch to her at times. was pretty shocked when he shot her in the leg (it seemed out of character). not unforgivable, that’s for her to decide and him to atone for (reminder to the fandom in general) but yeah… interesting… and questionable

okay moving on from them

i do love an ensemble cast. it’s very enjoyable.

the firstlight being gone is a really interesting world building device

you could definitely see the extra emphasis this book on motherhood, through lidia and ember — interesting to see authors evolve and grow with their own lives influencing their themes

honestly, enjoyed the subplots a good bit

ITHAN AND THARION ARE SUPER HOMOEROTIC! i had hope for a little bit that we would finally see a queer relationship unfold. but no. one of them just got married off and now is attached? like bro this werewolf literally almost got himself killed and then murdered someone very important to him to rescue you from enslavement. but that’s totally platonic.

AGH I’m really REALLY frustrated with the lack of queer rep in the MCs in sjm books. like fine, i don’t care that much, at least you have some rep, but it really shows the limitations of comp het storytelling

was very much a guilty pleasure but the crossovers were a very fun touch

ALSO. getting very tired of the “males are all the same across the universe. such alphaholes haha.” BRO THATS NOT HOW PEOPLE WORK AND ALSO DEFINITELY NOT HOW GENDER WORKS. my little queer brain cells are dying here.