#reading acotar for the first time

[storieschats]

So ACOSF is confusing me, where is this book going?

Note: Check out previous reactions here. Feel free to comment, reblog, like and talk to be about books whenever!😊

Book 5 Page 106 of 757 damn this book has too many pages.

What's happened so far: So we learn that Nesta is suffering serious PTSD from basically her whole life but in particular about the war. She lives in a dilapidated building, and spends her nights drinking in bars and sleeping with strangers. Feyre, Rhysand and co. decide that the solution to this is to make her live in the house of wind, which is a house only accessible by 10,000 steps or wings and far from the city, and force her to train with Cassian in the mornings and work in the library in the afternoons. In the part where I left she's refusing to train and can't get down the stairs.

What I'm thinking: I'm very confused by this book. Depending on the direction it takes I think it's either going to be my favourite of the series or it's going to be like my biggest literary enemy in life.

Positive points:

I think Nesta's personality is so well done. Her insecurity, the way she pushes people away, the way she feels a loss of control in life and the panic attacks she suffers from. Genuinely well-written, she's an excellent character in this book. She's gone from a caricature of a mean older sister to someone I'm genuinely feeling very sorry for.

I'm very curious about her and Amren's relationship and about them getting upset with each other!

Lucien has almost abandoned the night court and found friends! That's nice, he needs something good in his life, the poor guy!

Negative points:

What the hell did I just read?! Wasn't the point of all these books that Tamlin was a horrible person because he wanted to lock Feyre up in a mansion for a few hours?! But locking Nesta up for a few months is completely fine?! And forcing her to work and exercise!!! And tell her exactly what she can and can't eat! Not just alcohol, everything! Feyre, you've been there, as you were saying, right? How about some empathy here, please?

OMG the scenes with her and Cassian are giving me a bit of an ick I won't lie. This whole relationship is starting to make me feel a little sick. Feyre and Rhysand for all their problems were so much better...

I feel so bad for Nesta but like genuinely bad! I think it's the first time I've felt anything other than amusement with this series of books and what I felt was like pity and disgust with Nesta's situation. So not good.

Stars so far: ⭐⭐

Predictions: I think Sarah J Mass has to know what she's doing and then since both Tamlin and Cassian are guilty of not respecting their partner's autonomy, maybe this book will be Cassian realising he's done the wrong thing and showing people how Tamlin should have behaved with Feyre?!! I hope this book is a good love story, I'm not a dark romance girlie (nothing wrong with that obv), when relationships start to go off the rails, I genuinely get an ick!!!

[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*

[geniemillies]

@tamlinweek day 2: dark spring

"and ance it fell upon a day a cauld day and a snell, when we were frae the hunting come, that frae my horse I fell, the queen o' fairies she caught me, in yon green hill do dwell."

SORRY IM LATE UHM... i think dark spring.. and think abt dark times with amarantha mhm mhm and i think mythology i thought of the ballad of tam lin more like folklore-and my first idea was TAPESTRY so i make... tapestry.. 🤲

[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.

[jegstarbrainrot]

I HAVE OFFICIALLY MET RHYSAND OMG HES SO CUNTY I LOVE IT

[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.

[romanticatheartt]

Lucien's color skin

Recently, I've been seeing discourse around Lucien's heritage/skin color and it seems artists in this fandom can't agree on one skin color and feature (like archeron sisters' hair color💀) so I wanted to give my two cent on this, based on canon and sjm herself.

Feature:

So back in 2017, which is the year acowar was released, Charlie Bowater was commissioned by sjm to do a coloring book for acowar, mentioned in this post that sjm imagined Helion as Persian/Iranian.

And normally Persian feature contain strong, straight nose and most of the time with a bump at the top of the nose, definitely tick, black brows (unibrow are a symbol for Iranians and if you look at their traditional art style most of women and men have unibrow), and cat like eyes or as Charlie said tilted eyes.

I've seen so many artist draw Helion/Lucien with Black feature, which are not the same as Persian feature.

note: In these arts, there is a huge chance that they have the wrong skin color due to the belief that lighter skin color, the better or more beautiful. The classic racism... This idea isn't that potent in Iran anymore.

This is what Helion looks like based on that post and how sjm pictured him:

Thick brows and strong nose. It was also mentioned in the books that he uses kohl for his eyes which imo gave him away as middle-eastern.

Skin color:

Now this is what we have on Helion's skin color in acowar ~ chapter 43:

A golden cuff of an upright serpent encircled one powerful bicep, offsetting his near-glowing dark skin, and a radiant crown of golden spikes—the rays of the sun, I realized—glistened atop his onyx hair.

Acosf ~ chapter 41:

His dark brown skin gleamed over the strong muscles of his bare thighs and legs, ... ... and the spiked golden crown atop his shoulder-length black hair.

And for Lucien which we're gonna use the description in acowar ~ chapter 47 and not the one in acotar since sjm has retcon it:

Look at him. The nose is the same, the smile. The voice. Even Lucien’s skin is darker than his brothers’. A golden brown compared to their pale coloring.

Let's see Persian's skin range color:

Helion being dark skinned can mean many range of skin color. But sjm saying he is a middle eastern, it narrows down his skin color pretty well.

White-passing?

I also wanted to address why he's not white-passing since there's no such thing as white-passing. Even if Lucien's skin were white as paper his feature would've been pretty obvious. Do you call a black person who has Albinism, white or they're white-passing? It is clear that they have black parents/heritage but because of their condition their skin might not be the same dark skin as their parents.

The same can be said about Lucien. If his skin was the same as his brothers', his face would've betray him anyway but still sjm retcon it and turned his skin to golden brown. All the more reason that Beron is aware of him not being is blood son.

note: people are free to have their own interpretations ofc but I tried to prove this based on everything we have at hand :)

[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.

[storieschats]

I don't like Cassian and Nesta's relationship....

Note: Check out previous reactions here. Feel free to comment, reblog, like and talk to be about books whenever!😊

Book 5 Page 211 of 757

What's happened so far: So Nesta went to a shop and met that Ilyrian girl who'd already appeared in the previous book, and then she met a priestess who's different from the others, who's more talkative and friendly, and they're becoming friends. Apart from that it was just training, training, falling down the stairs, training.

What I'm thinking: The story itself isn't bad, I suppose. I'm not bored but the romance is awful. Like genuinely awful. The other books were kind of ‘oh okay kind of cute’; I can see what people like in it even though it's not really my style. I don't understand what's so good about Cassian and Nesta's relationship so far, someone explain it to me please!

Positive points:

I loved Gwyn, I thought she was a super interesting character and I loved her interactions with Nesta. Honestly, Nesta making friends with people outside the inner circle was what this book was supposed to be about. That's why I thought we'd leave Velaris and give her a chance to have her own found family.

I loved the shop owner, I feel like she's going to appear more often and that's a good thing!

I loved all the scenes in the library and I love the fact that Nesta loves reading romance books with smut! It was cute of the author to write that, it made me smile.

Negative points:

Nesta and Cassian are a horrible couple. Like I'm sorry but they clearly don't understand each other's needs and I feel like they don't even like each other. Like seriously. All the scenes that are supposed to show their chemistry seem to come out of nowhere because all the rest of the interactions seem like two people who don't understand each other. And not in an ‘enemies to lovers’ I want to hate you but I want you so bad kinda way but genuinely these people should stay away from each other for their own mental health.

All the characters are pissing me off! Rhysand didn't annoy me in the other books, he's annoying me in this one. I've never thought about Elain in my life. She's annoying me in this one. I liked Cassian. He's annoying me in this one. The only reason Nesta doesn't annoy me is because I feel so bad for her.

Remember when I said I felt bad for Tamlin? I did, but it was like when you're watching an action film and someone takes a rock to the head and you go “oh he seemed nice anyway”. But for Nesta, I'm reading and I feel bad for her, like I physically feel pity for her not just logically! I think you'd have to be a murderer for me to think someone deserves to be imprisoned and forced to do what they're told and spend time with people who constantly treat her with contempt, when her thoughts are already like incredibly insecure and disturbed. There is leggings in this universe, get the girl some serious therapy. She need decades of therapy!

Stars: 1.5

Predictions: I don't know, she'll get the priestesses to train with her obviously so maybe my wish will come true and she'll get her own found family. I just wish she'd get another romantic interest or better yet no romantic interest at all honestly, if we weren't in a romance book it would be the best thing for her.

[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

[jegstarbrainrot]

HELLO BEAUTIFUL NAMELESS BLACK HAIRED BLUE EYED MAN IN THE SHADOWS WHO MIGHT YOU BE HIDING AT THE FAERIE SEX PARTY 👀

[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.

[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

[roselensedeyes]

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