#reading acotar for the first time

[storieschats]

First ACOTAR reaction: Wolves, Fae, and Cursed Masks!

Hey everyone! This is my first time reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, and I'll be posting my reactions to the entire series, so join me on this journey! Feel free to comment, reblog, and talk to me about books anytime—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Where I am: Book 1 Page 102 of 419

What's happened so far: So our story begins with a girl called Feyre who is very poor and has to hunt to survive. Feyre hates her family, which is fine because her family hates her too. Her family is horrible.

Anyway Feyre is hungry and Feyre's sisters called Nesta and Elain are also hungry and since Feyre promised her mum who died when she was a kid (she didn't like her mum either btw) that she would look after the family, we decided to go hunting in the woods Katniss style. Hunting in the woods is dangerous because we live near the border of the faerie world, which governs the northern part of the world leaving mortals with the southern part. And then we get lucky and find a deer or elk or something but oh no a wolf will eat the deer... So we kill the wolf. And we take its skin and sell it at the market along with the deer skin to a cool mercenary who tells us about her fights with faeries. Ah also there's a father somewhere but don't worry about it.  But oh no, a wolf/lion who says he's a fae breaks down the door of the hut where we live with our sisters (and that dad) and says that we killed his friend and now we have to let him kill us or go live with him in the land of the fairies for the rest of our lives. No third option. Easy choice. We're not going to fairyland.

We go to fairyland and they treat us well and feed us and clean us and stuff but we want to run away because the family needs Feyre to survive because they're useless. But hey, we don't need to run away after all because the lion/wolf/fae who kidnapped us turns out to be a human-looking fae man with pointy ears and he promises that he's looking after our family and we believe him because everybody knows fae can't lie. Ok but there's trouble in the fairy kingdom, a magical disease is spreading across the land, our kidnapper called Tamlin and his friend Lucien and our maid Alis are cursed to have to wear masks (ahahahahh what the hell) and the evil fairies who used to be afraid of the lords that Tamlin and Lucien are, now aren't afraid of anything and hang around our estate (good for them, go queens).

What I think so far: I like it! I've never read anything with fairies even though it's a super popular genre these days so I'm having fun.

Positive points:

I like the world, the fairies and the vibe of the descriptions of the woods and the village. It's giving me medieval fantasy vibes and I like it.

I like Lucien, our captor's friend.

I like the different types of fairies.

I like the part of the story where a poor girl is taken to a palace and given food and luxuries! I don't know if that's a trope but if it is it's one of my favourites!

Negative points:

I think I like this style of writing better than Fourth Wing, but it's still not my favourite.

The story is a bit slow, at least at the beginning, but I'm enjoying getting into the world. So far I feel the story is slow but not boring.

The fairies seem too human, I wish there was a more supernatural or eerie feel to them, but I don't think this is that kind of book.

Stars: ⭐⭐ but going for 3.

Prediction: I feel like this is going to be a Beauty and the Beast kind of scene where she needs to fall in love with him to undo the curse of the masks or something.

What I knew before reading: I knew it was about fairies (lol) and I knew she didn't get with the guy from the 1st book... so I know she doesn't get with Tamlin. I don't know who the guy in the 2nd book is, but I bet when he shows up I'll realise it.

After this reaction in conversation with my friend I found out that Lucien was going to be a love interest of one of the sisters and that it was a beauty and the beast retelling which even thought it was obvious made me feel very smart to being able to catch.

[blacktreacle22]

Shut up this was so funny sad!! It made me go back to when I started reading and hated them

Elain: Why does Feyre always come home so loudly after hunting?

Nesta: So everyone knows that no one helps her out in the house.

Feyre, in the distance: *slams the carcass of a deer onto the table*

[jahelyden]

ACOWAR Cassian would have killed ACOSF Cassian.

ACOWAR Cassian would never have let ACOSF Cassian treat Nesta how he treated her.

ACOWAR Cassian would have stand up for Nesta every time in ACOSF.

[browneyedartist01]

I like how Freye just assumed Ryhsand didn't touch her anywhere else but her waist, even when she saw how he could magically fixed the paint in seconds of touching it.

[highladyjane]

The assault at Sangravah happened in early ACOMAF (before Elain's existence even came into picture for Azriel - 3 days before he even got to meet Feyre)... So I don't get how G and Az are supposed to be mates when he's had all that time to feel something?

There's the parallel of Rhys' father feeling his mating bond snap into place the moment he met his mother being assaulted.

"One look at her, and he knew what she was..." (ACOMAF, ch. 16)

Or Rhys himself feeling the bond when Feyre was being tortured by Amarantha...

"And I knew as I picked up that knife to kill her... I knew right then what you were. I knew right then that you were my mate." (ACOMAF, ch. 54)

Or Cassian simply meeting Nesta. "Say what I've guessed from the moment we met" he breathed. What I knew from the first time I kissed you. What became unbreakable between us on Solstice night." (ACOSF, ch. 62)

Bonus from Nesta: “‘From the moment I met you, I wanted you more than reason. From the moment I saw you in my house, you were all I could think about. And it terrified me. No one had ever held such power over me."

Or even Lucien after Elain was Made and maybe even while being thrown into the Cauldron... I don't even need a quote for them, but even Lucien knew and has tried seeking Elain out after the incident.

It's stated in the books and shown again and again that it's the males who are deeply affected by the mating bond. That they can know from the moment they meet. They all in one way or another sought after the females. Even Nesta and Feyre felt something before they knew or opened themselves up to it. And since they all met - They. Couldn't. Stay. Away.

But there's like... no hint of it from Az after stumbling upon G? Like he just literally stumbles upon her - never actually even actively seeking her out through all those years? He hasn't even actively tried to stay away? He's just... *crickets*

It's been Gwyn making noises and attracting his attention through all their scenes together. It was Gwyn asking for dagger lessons. It was 'Gwyn' making Az the new ribbon (whatever that means). And it's Az's shadows reacting to Gwyn, not Az himself. But there's no real hint that Gwyn feels anything romantic for him. There's barely any interactions between them without linking it to her assault in Sangravah and her growth from it.

Besides Az's shadows reacting to G, and that ribbon moment that everyone deems so pivotal when Az realises what it means for the Valkyries (that he's had a hand in training) and maybe even reflects upon Gwyn's character development and therefore what the ribbon means for Gwyn - which made me feel proud too, and that's how I interpreted it - but I can't see an undeniable sign of it being a mating bond anywhere.

I thought at first that mayhaps he was giving her space because of the assault, but then the BC came and he went "It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running," and then "He wouldn't go so far as to call Gwyn a friend,". (ACOSF, Azriel's Bonus Chapter)

Let's not even mention the part where Gwyn was actually in danger (no matter how capable she was at that point), while Cassian was going ballistic at Nesta being in danger, but Az is all like "Let's go save Eris". Eris who both he and Cassian hates. Eris who Az himself nearly killed during the HLs' pre-war meeting (before he exhibited actual mate behaviour and sought and risked his life to save Elain who's not even his mate). But no, he gave just as much or even less action and reaction about Gwyn as Tamlin gave when Feyre was UTM.

And I was like...

How are they mates? Where's the mate behaviour every male - mated or not - in Prythian has exhibited throughout the books? Why did I keep seeing things about them being mates and endgame?

The only hint between them that I could even begin to consider it from is the second to last sentence in Az's BC.

"But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly."

But I basically have the same interpretation about that as this post from @merymoonbeam. (Although I'm still neutral about the lightsinger theory, it's the most interesting take.)

Because again.

Why hasn't Azriel felt/shown anything or actively sought her out or even actively stayed away if he's known Gwyn since Sangravah?

If they're mates, shouldn't he have felt and shown something - like that glow - and Gwyn be the one to snap him out of his 'love' for Mor before he even had the chance to meet Elain? If he's just lonely and jealous of his brothers having mates then... Why has he barely noticed or sought out Gwyn who's supposed to be his mate?

What, he had to wait until his shadows reacted to her to even think about her?

I'm not an expert at analysing things - I wouldn't even say I'm good at interpreting things especially when I've got my rose-tinted glasses on, so/but I'm always open to being wrong and changing my mind accordingly.

But/so convince me with actual canon and not just your biased opinions, delusions, self-insertions, or ships.

[fourteentrout]

Listen I get that tamsand is mainly a crack ship but what I can't get over is that like Rhys does almost have like...not an obsession with Tamlin, but like an inability to let him go or something. He is on the opposite end of the continent. Why does he take it upon himself to be the one to visit Tamlin consistently to try to get him to be an active ruler again. Like of all people, why did he have to be the one to coordinate the Summer Guards being sent to Spring, why is he the one always visiting, even if nobody else would think of it, why couldn't he just get someone to do this stuff for him. Like given their history and their actual physical distance it just is a little odd, I guess.

[galaxyofstars]

honestly the debate about whether feyre was qualified or not to be high lady wouldn't be such a big deal if the story stopped trying to frame her as the best at everything. it's ok if the only reason she is initially made high lady was to make her rhys' equal in the sense that he does not hold more power over her, and technically, legally, cannot command her, or force her to do anything. she's his mate, so he feels comfortable doing that very early on into the relationship. it's a statement of his love and trust of her, or rather, his respect of her as her own person. but as @ofbreathandflame elaborates on here, it doesn't actually say anything about feyre herself, and to claim that she has done something to earn being high lady causes problems and conflict, because, well, she didn't. she didn't earn the title at all. there are qualities she possesses that may give her the potential to be a good leader, but she is not there already.

and then of course there's the problem that even if the story focused on rhys 'making feyre his equal', there's still confusion, because she fundamentally is not his equal. and it's never elaborated on because sjm can't without highlighting the contradictory nature of it all, but rhys did not arbitrarily become high lord because he earned the support and was sworn in. it's not clear when a high lord begins his reign officially, but it's implied that it starts when the magic 'chooses' them. the magic chose rhys, not feyre, and that fact will always mean that he holds some level of power over her. and that's a whole other topic with no real solution, but i don't think it would be as much as a problem if the story didn't try so hard to insist that that dynamic did not exist at all.

and to be clear im not trying to criticise or shit on feyre, this is more in defense of her than anything. girl deserves better than being lied to.

[velarisdusk]

i would give anything in the world to have the Nesta Eris dance animated…… i need to see it

[acourtofquestions]

“To the stars who listen, and the dreams that are answered.” “Still the image haunted his dreams; a lovely girl gazing at the stars, and the stars who gazed back.” “You could rattle the stars, if only you dared.”

credits: art Jana Runn (JanaRunneck), quotes Sarah J. Maas

[storieschats]

My ACOTAR Reaction Journey Begins!

Hello! So, I’ve finished posting all my reactions to Fourth Wing, which you can check out [here]. Now, onto a new series... ACOTAR! That’s right—come along with me on the magical journey of a girl who (apparently) falls in love with an ultra-ancient fae king or something like that!

If you’re new here, here’s how this works: every Sunday night, I post a reaction to about a 100-page block of whichever romantasy I’m reading, sharing with you my initial thoughts, predictions, and impressions. I just wrapped up Fourth Wing, so if you want to see my thoughts about that it’s all posted, and now it’s on to ACOTAR! Each post includes a quick recap (if I remember to do it), along with what I thought, positive points, negative points, and wild predictions about what might happen next.

I should probably mention that, although I tend to be a little snarky, I do have a good time with these books and I take them with the joy and fun that they are meant to be taken. I always find something in them which to enjoy... and something to be a little judgy about. So, if you’re a fan of ACOTAR, or if, like me, you’re addicted to seeing other people’s reactions to the books you enjoy, feel free to follow along! Just check out storieschats each Sunday (or follow me) for my latest update on the world of ACOTAR. Happy reading!

ACOTAR BOOK 1 REACTION PAGES 0-102

[roselensedeyes]

the tension between feyre and rhys, nesta and cassian, and elain and azriel before they get together makes me go insane

[browneyedartist01]

Me the during the Ryhsand explaining what happened between him and Tamlin

Forgive me for trusting a fae to tell the whole truth,

Granted, there is some truth in lies, but I find it funny how anti tamlin fans think he was tricking freye the whole time, while Ryhsand has proven time and time again that he is willing to do anything to keep his ⅓ of his kingdom safe, including lying to Freye.

I believe Tamlin's family fridged killed Ryhsand nameless mother and sister, I believe Tamlin was forced to tell his father and brothers (after all we know he was younger most likely in his 20's) and was forced to go with the family... But other than that?

Everything Sarah has told me up till this point tells me that Rhys probably didn't care if Tamlin's mother was also killed that night and they just were't able to reach Tamlin before he was awake, and the only reason why he didn't try to finish the job, after Tamlin killed his father, was because Rys knew he had to stay alive to protect the ⅓ of his court and starting fights with Tamlin wouldn't end well.

Ryhsand isn't noble, he drops his morals like Freye drops her critical thinking.

It's sad freye just jumped to the conclusion that Tamlin murdered Rhys family (though he did have a part in the mattered) It's almost as if she never actually knew him or she didn't care to learn.

[samhatch]

ACOMAF Chapter 1 - 5 Thoughts

First time reader here!

The algorithm has fed me down the pro-Tamlin pipeline, and while I'm not mad about that, I will try to be objective when giving my thoughts!

Chapter 1-5

So, I really feel bad for Feyre. She was so resilient in the first book, and now she is like a broken bird, and you just want to scoop her up and nurse her back to health. She seems to want to be useful, but with a simple human background, she doesn't know how to use her title or power to help with anything.

She still has an utter disdain for any faerie traditions or festivals. She finds the winter solstice a "rather odious ceremony" (page 10) and can't be bothered to remember ANY of the names of Tamlin's friends (page 37). It seems like the progress she made in the first book to accept fae culture still has a way to go. I wonder if she hates that she became fae and has some internalized feelings about that.

Her refusal to confide in Tamlin is a little frustrating, and even Lucien begs her to just talk to him (page 29). But Tamlin seems to be bottling things up as well. But he clearly loves her so much, and says "you are everything to me" (page 23) and Lucien points out that Tamlin has had to watch his family die, which is why he's so protective (page 29).

I'm also shocked that she hasn't contacted her family. Like, Nesta sent her off in the first book to save her faerie Lord, and still hasn't heard from her. She probably thinks Feyre is dead! I'm shocked Feyre would assume her family would hate her now that she's fae, even though Nesta was super supportive of her rescuing the fae realm.

Back to the conversation with Lucien, when he talks about watching Jesminda die, my heart really broke for him. He has had to endure so much pain, and it must infuriate him to see Feyre bottle up her feelings instead of talking to Tamlin, when Lucien would give a thing to talk to Jesminda again.

I was very confused by the village they went to, and Lucien says the villagers had spent 49 years under the mountain, but I thought it was established that all the Spring Court faeries were allowed to stay in Spring? It was just the other courts that had to go UTM? Someone help me make sense of this lol.

Lastly, Iantha. This lady is up to something 100%. Super suspicious. She definitely seems like the type to manipulate a fragile court and try to be a de facto leader. It was Iantha's idea not to let Feyre train her new powers (page 15) and Tamlin was just following her advice. She also convinced the other 11 priestesses not to attend the wedding (page 39), and I'm convinced she put red roses in the wedding on purpose to mess with Feyre.

That's the end of my thoughts so far! If you read all of this you're the best! How is my interpretation? Am I picking up on any foreshadowing? I hope so!

[starlightazriel]

guys what books should i read

[cillianate]

and actually fuck rhysand and feyre too

[tbookblurbs]

A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas

2/5 - Don't read if you're not willing to re-write in your head as you go or if you actually like well-written fantasy

I'll be honest, this was my second time through this book. Upon the reread, I had already erased so much of the plot from my memory that it was as if I was reading for the first time. Anyways ...

All the usual Maas problems are here. Weirdly written gay relationships (if there are any), oversexualization of bisexual people, transphobic undertones, retconning characters to being PoC (lucien) a la JK Rowling (or no PoC characters at all), misogyny, CRAZY levels of toxic masculinity, plot holes, etc.

This book is mostly sex and characterization retcons. I really enjoyed Nesta's character arc, the Valkyries, and sometimes Cassian and Azriel, but everything to do with Feyre left a bad taste in my mouth. Favorite scene, no question, was Nesta's dance with Eris in the Night Court. That was the first scene where I felt they actually gave Nesta skills and a personality beyond bitter alcoholism.

That said, the cons of this book far outweigh the pros. As always, Maas' writing is a breeze to get through just because it's not particularly difficult prose, but her insistence (in this novel and in other books) on using Female/Male and weird gender essentialism is at best irritating and at worst actively detracting from the novel. The entire pregnancy plotline could (and arguably should) be removed from this book. It doesn't add anything to Nesta's journey, paints Rhysand and Feyre in a really bad light, and is frankly an incredibly stupid plot choice. You have magic, can shapeshift, and have indoor plumbing but C-sections haven't been invented yet? Really? The whole scenario is incredibly contrived and I actively skipped scenes dealing with it if I could. The entire Inner Circle acts immature, judgemental, and unforgiving, despite their own insistence to the contrary. Elain also still has no personality. I was also confused by the whole "Maybe Rhysand should be High King of Prythian" subplot like ... huh?? Where did that even come from??

The book tops itself off by using one of my least favorite tropes in fantasy, which is when women, usually main characters, have to give up all their power at the end of the story. Maas is very fond of this plotline. She does the same thing with Aelin in the Throne of Glass series. Personally, I find this trope to be misogynistic and often evidence of poor writing to neatly wrap up the end of a story, regardless of whether the choices post-power-loss are in character.

The version of this story that I was re-writing in my head, which cuts the weird bitterness between Cassian and Nesta and Feyre's pregnancy entirely (she's 19????) while expanding on her powers and letting her keep them, is much more interesting. But alas, that is NOT the version on page. Unless you (like me) had it downloaded on your Kindle and an 8-hr plane ride to kill, I wouldn't bother if you're seriously interested in reading fantasy.