#he literally just did because he wanted to make Tamlin mad

[acourtofthought]

I just saw an Elriel post that highlighted the "mating bond is a bridge between souls" line and then showed Feysand quotes to emphasize the point. They then showed the Elriel quote, "the only bridge of connection between them...that knife" and a quote that says how Lucien had "done nothing to bridge the gap between them" 

I find it ironic that they used that specific quote for Elriel since it literally says that the ONLY bridge of connection between Elain and Azriel is truth teller, and then Elain gives truth teller back. Meaning there is no more bridge connecting them.

Also, I will never understand how they bash Lucien for apparently not trying hard enough to connect with Elain, but as soon as he does try anything, they scream that he's possessive and taking away Elain's choice. So, what exactly do they want from him?

Also, there is a quote from Lucien where he literally says that the bond between him and Elain is real, "it's a read thread." So, is there an emotional gap between Lucien and Elain right now? Yes, which is completely understandable. But is there also a mating bond, a bridge between souls, between them? Also, yes. 

To your point at the end, it is ok there's an emotional gap between Lucien and Elain. I don't want them connecting in someone else's book, I don't want Elain's feelings to be evident for him where I'm not getting to experience it all from her POV. I don't want a flashing neon sign proclaiming "they're in love!" rather than seeing it happen in their story. SJM left me enough hints to feel confident while still looking forward to their romance playing out in real time. Also, this wasn't in the novella for shits and giggles: "Stay out of it. She's not ready, and neitehr is he, no matter how many presents they bring." "Let him live with his Band of Exiles. Let him deal with Tamlin in his own way. Let him figure out where he wants to be. Who he wants to be. The same goes with her." "Just be patient. It'll sort itself out. It always does." "I want them to be happy. All of them." "They will be" She said the simple words with such unflagging conviction that I believed her. That covers it all. The reason Elain and Lucien are currently at odds, the reason Lucien still has not attempted to bridge the gap. Neither is ready, they still have too much of their own problems to figure out before they can turn to romance. Elain needed to accept becoming fae, needing to consider the possibility of actually being with a fae (and not jumping right into an intense mating bond), Lucien needed time to really think about what he wants from his future, where he wants to live (it's not going to be the human lands forever), how he wants to deal with his relationship with Tamlin. Now that SF has ended they've had 16 months to do exactly that and there's a good chance that Mor's prediction is about to take off. The funniest thing is they'll destroy Lucien's character for keeping his distance from Elain while applauding Az for doing the exact same thing. Lucien can't stand being near Elain because he sees her current distance and it hurts him. It's evident he still thinks about her, he asked Feyre how she was doing, brought her a present, asked if she still mourned Graysen (which means he is respecting the love she had for someone else). We know an unfulfilled bond can drive males mad and that is another reason it's a strain for him. Az avoided Elain because he can't stand the scent of her bond. Did she ask him to stay away? Did she ignore him? Lucien is doing what he's doing because he's respecting Elain's clues for space and time though it pains him to do so. Az is doing what he's doing for his own selfish reasons. Elain could have used a support system in the NC over the past year but Az chose to focus on his own needs instead of what would have been best for her. The scent of her bond isn't going anywhere and he chose to make that the driving factor of whether to spend time with her or not which means he'll never spend time with her unless the bond suddenly disappeared. That's not a worthy male. And yes, "the ONLY bridge of connection, that knife." Which means, after Elain returned TT, there was no remaining bridge of connection. Sure they were willing to make out but the author is LITERALLY telling us there's nothing to support their pairing long term. The one thing that seemed to connect them is not the foundation that true love is built on. It makes me laugh when this line is used romantically but when the other hints that are used throughout the series also receive the blinder treatment, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Like Elain and Az outside, his leathers SO AT ODDS with the beautiful garden. Or Elain with spring blooming behind her and death on the other side. Elain sitting in the sunniest windows, as if "any bit of darkness was abhorrent", Elain in black, "no matter that she declared herself part of this court, it sucked the life from her."

A near kiss and a few glances mean nothing when the author is continually feeding us line after line about how Elain is not where she's meant to be and she's not ending up with the guy who is completely at odds with her in every way despite her efforts to distract herself from her problems by engaging in a crush on him.

#pro elucien #elucien #anti e/riel

[lunamond]

While I'm not at all a fan of Sjm (I only read Tog, Acotar and dnf'ed Acomaf) and overall strongly dislike almost everything I know about her and her writing, I do have a strange fascination about the Acotar series in particular, partly because despite the bad writing there is so much untapped potential in this series.

One of the things I've been thinking about recently is how easily Sjm could have fixed a lot of the issues with Feysand, while still indulging in her super fucked up SA kink with one simple tweak in book 1.

Instead of having Ratman Sa Feyre "for her own good" Utm, just have Amarantha order him to do this as a way to further punish and humiliate Feyre. This immediately shifts the coupability onto Amarantha (the actual villian) while giving the opportunity to explore Rhys' guilt and the ways in which his actions under duress Utm impact his reputation as a bad guy.

It would also give us sth more concrete to explore as far as Rhys sexual trauma goes compared to canon where Sjm only uses his trauma to shield his character from any sort of criticism.

It would also change the very problematic "romantic" dynamic between Feyre and Rhys from victim/abuser to 2 people with shared traumatic experience (Yeah trauma bond).

It would also make the switch between love interests much more compelling and allow for actual nuance.

But instead we got Feyre being handed off from one hot immortal fey highlord who kidnapped, gaslight, and locked her up to a totally different hot immortal fey highlord who kidnapped, gaslight and locked her up but it's ok because this time he has dark hair and batwings.

#anti sjm #acotar critical #anti feysand #anti rhysand #this of course wouldn't fix everything #but if sjm really intended to make ratman endgame from the beginning this is such a easy fix #it would literally change zero plot #like I even remember reading acotar when I was 16 #and I already could tell the bat would end up a romantic rival based on his description #so when the SA happened I was like obviously this is Amarantha's doing #but nope #the text literally specified that Amarantha didn't like that Rhys was bringing her to the party #he literally just did because he wanted to make Tamlin mad #and Sjm has the audacity to then turn around and say the the Riceman is the better romantic option

[stargirlie25]

Me through reading all the ACOTAR books.

ACOTAR: Ew Nesta and Elain are so annoying. This is going to be the best series, Feyre is such a baddie! Awww feylin so cute! DAMN LUCIENNN. I know she ends up with Rhysand but im not vibing with him......how can ACOMAF excuse this?

ACOMAF: Ohk feysands kinda cute but i dont think we can justify all that....Oooooo Cassian and azrielllllll! Awww i hope Mor and Azriel gets a book! *Goes to tiktok and finds out mor is gay* damn Azriel.OMG I LOVE NESTA NOWW PERIOD POP OFF SIS MY QUEENNN. Elain is there too. Ooooo Nessian. Elain and Azriel? I mean as long as its not mor! NAHHH GIRL DONT U DARE BLAME LULU BLAME TAMLIN! OMG ELAIN AND LUCIEN???

ACOWAR: Feyre isnt really feyre-ing any more :(.OH HELL NO SCREW IANTHE NO WAY YOU DID THAT TO MY MANSSS!!! MY POOR LULUUU Why feyre lowkey being such a bitach?

Awww Elucien is so tender! LUCIEN AS A MATE AWWEEEE. Damn Nessian making me sqeual. Lucien went away to find the queen from elains vision! OMG. CASSIAN IS SOOO FINEEEE, elriel is lowkey getting boring....Why is she disrespecting tarquin? He has ALL rights to be upset. Ok tamlin in the HL meeting is being pretty annoying and doing nothing but feyre did nothing as well but NESTA ARCHERON THE WOMAN YOU ARE!!!!! WTHHH HELION AND LUCIEN??????? OMG the war!!! NO THE SURIELLL. THE BONE CARVER NOOOO THE WITCH LADY I FORGOT HER NAME BUT NOOOOOO. THE ELAIN. THE FEYRE. THE NESTA. Omg i have no regrets in my life but this.Damn Nessian ur hurting me. NOOO papa arhceron diedddddddddddd. Damn Ok Elain and Nesta king slayers! Oh rhysand died........i know damn well he gonna come back......´´Be happy feyre´´ bawling. Omggg Lucien was besties with papa archeron???? THE ONLY FATHER FIGURE HE HADDDD DAMN WHY ISNT FEYRE TELLING LUCIEN?? Awww lucien and feyre hug! Cass and feyre are cute but i miss the og´s! Ok girl you flying.

ACOFAS: Snoring. YALL ARE CUTE BUT IM BOREDDD AS HELL. Ok literally no one asked for this Mor pov. Wait why did Elain invite lulu if she is uncomfortable around him? Her power? Elriel kinda gave me brother and sister but i guess elain likes him now.....HI EMERIE IVE HEARD ABT YOUUUUU!!! I just want my girl Nesta, feyre u are not feyreing.

ACOSF: I love nesta so much!!!!!!! Cassian is acting like Rhysands frikcing dog. I hate amren soo much. WHY is Elain acting like shes the victim like nesta told you to leave and now you crying?? Girl you are 23 years old! Ok respect azriel has never disrespected my Nesta. Aw nesta gwyn and emeries friendship is the best one yet!!!!!! Azriel is starting to show an actual personality.....With Gwyn? Okay Gwynriel is so cuteee *sees elucien and gwynriel theories* 100% on board with this!!!!! DAMN the Valkyries! I am so excited for all the other girls to tag along! Just imagine a MOB of nesta gwyn and emerie!!! Eris? HELLL YAHHHHHHH VANSERRAS FOR LIFEEEEEE!!!! YOU ARE TELLING ME CASSIAN DID NOT SAY I LOVE YOU ONCE? Of course nesta lost her powers and she obviously lost them for the sake of the main characters that im bored of :(

ACOA (A court of Azriel): You got her a rose flower......because she likes flowers??? Why is this man so insecure about his hands around her? That cant be right......MISTAKE? THANKYOU RHYSAND FOR STOPPING THIS MADNESS! Wow he just wanted to F**k her and thats it? WTH is Gwyn doing here? Ok creepy Azriel is gone and this new azriel is here? Aweee he is actually kinda cutie now and he is laughing? HE SINGS???? OMG SHE SINGS THO! His shadows singing and dancing with her??? Cuteeeeeee, Ok so he gave the necklace to clotho to give to gwyn, thats cute she does in fact deserve something beautiful like that but why Elains? Ig its the though that counts. SPARKED IN HIS CHEST???? THATS ROWAELIN/NESSIAN LANGUAGE!!!! HOW does her picture it proper?? Glowing and secret? Where the hell did he tuck the image bruhhh?

A thing of secret lovely beauty. AHHHHHHHH clotho and the shadows are team Gwynriel for sure! Gwynriel are sooo mates tho and i hate Elriel with every fiber in my being. How did azriel go from mr. creep to mr. melts my heart?

After finishing: Wow everybody on tiktok are elriels. They are so confident elriel is endgame? Hmmmm but none of their points make sense but i cant explain in a comment section! Maybe Gwynriel and Elucien isnt endgame :(

*Downloads tumblr*

Gwynriel and Eluciens on tumblr have their freaking masters degree DAMN

#pro gwynriel #pro elucien #anti elriel #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acosf #acoa

[ladydeath-22]

I never understood why people say Mor and Amren are the sisters Feyre never had. Or the IC was the family she never had. That makes no sense to me. The IC never really saw her has a “sister” or a “friend”.  

Yeah Mor, saved her from being locked up by Tamlin. But it is because Rhys told Mor too. And yeah, I know Mor said she saw herself in Feyre with the whole “being locked up” and Mor being born into the Court of Nightmares. But I call bullshit. Mor doesn’t care. 

She wouldn’t have cared for Feyre if she wasn’t Rhys’s mate. Cassian and Azriel wouldn’t have cared, and neither would Amren. 

You know how I would know? Because they do nothing for the other fae in their court. Mor talks about being a dreamer born into the court of nightmares. What about the other dreamers Mor? Are you going to winnow in, break the wards and save them? 

Cassian and Azriel talk about their horrid time being bastards in Illyria and how their mothers are treated. But they don’t help the bastards or the illyrian women. 

(They only helped Feyre cause they love Rhys and basically knew she was his mate. )

Yeah Rhys has his library for SA victims. But literally all the women there are priestesses.....so other women (& shouldn’t there be a separate place for men too assaulted??) can’t be in there. The women in illyria...or women in CoN...etc. 

And since Velaris is a secret city, I don’t think they would leave if they wanted. Maybe that is why Rhys & Co just drop the priestesses off and literally do nothing to help them. Like how Nesta was doing, to get them out of their shell.

The IC literally care about Rhys and by extension of being Rhys’s mate they care about Feyre. They only saw Feyre has Rhys’s mate and High lady. Cassian said, “as rhys’s mate you are his, but as high lady you are mine, and azriels, and mor’s and amrens...” (something along these lines). Azriel said “be careful how you speak about my high lady”. Like the IC never once defended Feyre cause she was their friend. Amren even said “go get your mate” when Feyre was in spring court. Not once did the word “friend” or “sister” come up. 

The word family did come up basically once, and that was when Rhys and Feyre bonded, but even then they bowed to her. So they see her has an extension of Rhys. 

Not to mention, the IC hated Nesta because Rhys hated Nesta. They didn’t hate Nesta for what she did to Feyre, (cause Elain did the same shit). They hated her cause Rhys did. Same way they liked Elain, cause Rhys did. 

Moreover, if the IC truly respected Feyre, they would have told her about the pregnancy. But no, they listened to Rhys and got mad at the person for telling Feyre. Like if they truly cared about Feyre for Feyre, they would have told her right away, but they didn’t. 

In all honesty, I feel bad for Feyre in this sense. She never branched out of the IC. And the one true friend she had (cough lucien cough) she allowed Rhys & Co to treat him like shit and then she treated him like shit driving him out. Feyre’s perception and how she treats people is based on the IC’s perception and I hate it. 

Rhys be like, I hate how he treated you UTM and done nothing to get you out from Tamlin....Tamlin is his High lord, Lucien listens to him Rhys....kinda like how your IC listen to you when you pull rank, even if it is something they don’t agree with. 

#anti mor #anti rhys #anti rhysand #anti ic #anti azriel #anti amren #anti inner circle #anti feyre #anti feysand #anti feyre archeron #anti cassian #anti feyre stans

[taylors-fourth-cat-meow]

Why do you like Tamlin despite everything he’s done? I feel like stans will take one look at people who still like that character and outright assume they’re an abuser apologist on sight lmao. So I wanted to know what you’re reasons for liking him are, perhaps to prove that his stans aren’t actually abuser apologists but people who just like a fictional character for perfectly good reasons.

And also because I’m curious. 🙃

Hi anon!!

Why I like Tamlin?....

Well, for starters, I fell for him in the first book. I mean who wouldn't? His character just seems so... Ethereal. The protagonist goes in the mystical land of the Fae and falls for their gorgeous king. I mean- u have to agree with me... Book 1 Tamlin>>> other sjm love interests.

He comes off as being kind and gentle and loving even after everything he has been through. He is struggling, evidently but that doesn't stop him from being what people need from him. Especially with Feyre. Oh how I love their chemistry in book 1. They understand each other and their pains. They have so much in common. And like- isn't Tamlin the dream bf every teenage girl wants? He's gorgeous, plays the fiddle, writes poem, takes you aesthetic dreamy places in his kingdom, says things like "don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy" AND THE MF LITERALLY HAS A CROWN OF SUNSHINE?!?

That being said, I loved Tamlin from the very start. So I obviously, didn't love how in acomaf sjm just went "PSYCHE!! Fck Tamlin u gotta love the sexual assaulter now cause I'm obsessed with his bat dick!!"

Like that just made me feel dumb for falling for Tamlin. And I resented that. Everything he did was so out of the blue, his character was up in flames and I was so mad at sjm for doing that to him. And goodness the narration was so whiney and annoying and self centred. It was so obvious that Tamlin was also struggling? That he also needed help. And attention and care. If Tamlin abuses feyre in way of neglect then I hate to break it to you it goes the other way round as well. The narrative that sjm and her stans spin is just so... Gross. Tamlin is the man so he shud suck it up and be there of his traumatized gf. But what about my man?! He struggling too. No one's there to help him! Feyre doesn't wake up in the night and talk to Tamlin when she sees him in his beast form? Then why is tamlin blamed for doing EXACTLY what Feyre is doing???

I absolutely hated that hypocrisy. That made me gravitate more towards Tamlin. The story and narrative itself blurred the line of morality. If Rhysie can be forgiven for SA then why can't Tamlin be forgiven for 2secs of abuse? If Feyre is the victim of Tamlins neglect then doesn't that imply the him too?

But the real reason why I love him is because he is the only character in the entire series that shows growth (positive growth i.e.) Book 2 Tamlin locks Feyre up (same like a certain someone did to her sister, so again line blurred.) and restricts her from making decisions about her own body i.e restricts her from training her powers. Which is reasonable but still, he should have explained the risks to her and then let her decide what she wanted to do. (This in my opinion is the only abuse he inflicted on her cause let's be honest, he said she couldn't go out to villages with him cause he would be distracted with her safety and that is very reasonable! He does not say anything about her going out with gaurds and u mfs be forgetting that a member of the royal family IS infact always under protection.)

BUT on the other hand, book 3 Tamlin, remedies all his mistakes. Feyre IS the queen of the spring court in those few chps of Acowar. She sits in on the meetings. She takes them to survey the wall the twice without tamlin being present there! Her therefore being the supreme authority. He trusts her! He's letting go of his paranoia and ptsd for her!! Like bitches homeboy actually changed himself for his girl like how can u not stan him 😭😭😭😭

AND after everything that bitch does to him Tamlin does everything in his power TO SEE HER HAPPY!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭

He risks his life to save her ungrateful ass in the hyburn camp.

Like "she deserves happiness even if it's not with me" vibes.

"Be happy, Feyre"

My man literally brings back the person who killed his family FOR HER!

I'm sorry but... Anyone who doesn't wear sjm manipulation glasses can see that Tamlin isn't evil. That he made mistakes. That people are not defined by their worst mistakes especially if they actually work hard and make up for them over and over again.

So yes, I think I speak for most tamlin stans when I say this... We don't love him because we hate Feyre, we don't love him cause we abuse apologists and misogynists. We love him for his complex character that sjm unintentionally created.

#anti sjm #anti acotar #tamlin #pro tamlin #tamlin deserves better #anti feyre #anti feysand #anti rhysand #anti sjm stans #anti acowar #anti acomaf #anon asks

[praetorqueenreyna]

I disagree with your take on men not being able to experience SA (even if Ianthe is a stupid character and its alarming that SJM only seems to villianize her female characters committing SA) but there's something to say about a group of people coming after you for saying men don't experience SA in the most unserious way possible when that group of people also unseriously support and romanticise the SA scene with Fey/sand.

its ACOTAR, a fandom rife with horrible SA takes and depictions but they can somehow set that aside to stan the whole entire series and all of its demeaning themes and characterizations. Its also not lost on me that this went from "you're not putting wlw ships in a survey" to a whole research session on your opponent to discredit the fact that they did do the survey twice and it was for petty reasons.

Once again I wish you hadn't worded your take on men and SA like that, but hey it's your space and we do curate our online experiences. If that person knew beforehand that you posted things like that, why do the survey? If they had to search your blog after the survey argument to put a weight on your general character to take away from the original argument? Still backhanded, still not very "curating your online experience". We're all 30+ years old on a website that is very unserious and has supporters of incest of all things. I'd like to think half the things we are into or say here are unseriously said/or not said at all out in our regular everyday lives.

SO I will fully admit that that post was poorly worded. It was a casual post that was never supposed to get any traction, just something to throw my opinion into the ether. Not a serious analysis of how SJM expresses power dynamics and sexual assault. Part of why it's so confusing is that I literally got bored halfway through the tags and just stopped writing things.

Of course men can experience sexual assault from women, regardless of anybody's sexuality or attractiveness. My point was that women in power do not systemically abuse men in the way that men do women. I'm tired of lukewarm liberal feminists (such as SJM) trying to make some point about how the true victims of patriarchy are men. And that online warriors like the people throwing a fit about this do literally nothing to help sexual assault victims of ANY gender, and think that attacking some random person over a random post counts as social action.

But I totally agree with you! SJM seems perfectly happy to show over and over again these villainous powerful women who are somehow skeevy enough to offput the horniest men in world, but are conventionally attractive and don't really do much other than aggressively throw themselves at men. Which ALSO was a point of confusion: that post was not about Ianthe and Lucien. Obviously Lucien doesn't want to have sex with Ianthe bc he's gay. It was about how Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel are all written as these shallow horndogs who bang everything with tits, but are somehow genre savvy enough to know that Ianthe is a Bad Female Character and are disgusted by her. It's not cohesive, it's just a way for SJM to villainize a caricature of a person and make her male characters (who btw are WAY more sexually violent than Ianthe has ever been) seem like good characters.

But again, this kind of bad faith interpretation and virtue signalling has nothing to do with real victims of anything. Because if it did, they would have had an actual conversation with me, rather than putting words in my mouth over what I did and didn't say. Quite frankly, they're mad that I'm a Tamlin fan, and so they're trying to tear me down however they can. Like you said, first it was "well she's lesbophobic bc there are no wlw ships on the survey." Then when I made my point about how the people who complain about that do NOTHING to actually contribute wlw content to fandom, it shifts to me doing something else. If I kept up the conversation and tried to defend myself, I would be accused of some other crime.

ANYWAY this is exactly the kind of conversation I do enjoy having, so I do appreciate this ask! It is so important to cultivate your fandom experience and try not to take this stuff so seriously, especially for a series as poorly conceived as ACOTAR. Not all of my posts have been winners, but the actual content of those posts doesn't matter. Because I like Tamlin, I'm always going to be a criminal of SOME kind to these people.

I fully admit I should have just deleted the original ask because it was not sent to open a real dialogue. It's a lesson I have to keep learning over and over again, but maybe someday it'll stick!

#asks #THANK YOU FOR THIS HUGS AND KISSES #the fact that that post got blown so out of proportion is insane to me #especially because it wasn't even ABOUT LUCIEN #ANYWAY I've blocked the main haters and hopefully they've all blocked me too! #never ceases to amazing that feysand and nessian stans will climb up my butt screaming about power dynamics and assault #when those ships are predicated on the men assaulting their partners in much more REAL ways than anything Ianthe ever did #but alas!!! this is the clown website for clowns

[spidersmiceandeverythingnice]

So I watched/listened to a plot synopsis of ACOTAR out of curiosity and wow. It's obvious SJM thought of a misunderstood bad boy halfway through her Beauty and the Beast retelling and then proceeded to make him *too* bad. As in, "drug and assault you for a month to help you not be traumatized" (really Rhys, was that the *only* way you could have "protected" Feyre? Are you sure?). I see why everyone's angry with how the book ended it's such a mess.

god, yeah. as much as it makes me mad when people skip book one, i totally get skipping book one because it is ABUNDANTLY clear that SJM published it without thinking about literally anything. She spends so much of the rest of the series retconning/reframing events so the guy that she made into a genuinely scary villain in book one is now a fucking saint who builds sanctuaries for battered women in his magic secret city of saints and artists - like, let's ignore the fact that he left a severed head on someone's doorstep as a prank, and the fact that he committed SA, and the fact that he violates peoples' minds/boundaries on the regular.

Like, the most charitable interpretation of Rhysand's actions UtM is that he re-enacted his own sexual abuse on Feyre, because he entered into the pseudo-relationship with Amarantha unwillingly, but believing that it would be the best way to protect himself and his family. The LEAST charitable interpretation of his drugging and assaulting Feyre repeatedly is that he was trying to keep her dazed, constantly in a state of sleep-deprived sickness, struggling to recovery, and thereby prevent her from solving the Super Obvious riddle - because again, he worked for the evil queen willingly. Even if his motivations were "good" he still actively terrorized the rest of the country in the name of protecting the one place and handful of people that Rhysand, personally, deemed most valuable. Like, dude, people DIED. Rhysand later spends a lot of time whining about how NOBODY FOUGHT OR SACRIFICED AS HARD AS HIM..... bro. I don't know how to tell you this but at least two of the other High Lords were running an active rebellion in Book One (the Winter Court confirmed; Rhysand later murders the Winter Court's children - and SJM desperately wants you to forget that this event happened/mattered; the Summer Court was implied to be assisting) and if Rhysand hadn't interfered, Tamlin probably could have used Feyre to break the curse's stupidly complex conditions on his own.

But also!?!? None of this fucking matters, because the canonical actual reason that Rhysand gives for - and I cannot emphasize this enough - DRUGGING AND SEXUALLY HARASSING/ASSAULTING FEYRE, THE GIRL HE CLAIMS TO LOVE MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF, REPEATEDLY - was that he was jealous.

He says this, to Feyre, on the fucking page. Rhysand did not like that Tamlin and Feyre were clearly in love, that their relationship seemed strong, and he wanted to make Tamlin angry and jealous - by hurting Feyre, and using her as an object with which to taunt him.

Rhysand never apologizes for this, by the way. He just gets sad and says that he regrets it, and Feyre feels sorry that she upset him by bringing up her trauma, which he caused. Fucking CHRIST.

And later, according to SJM's narration, I am supposed to revile and condemn Tamlin for getting angry and being upset/traumatized by having witnessed someone he loves he dangled in front of him like a toy by a guy who wants to hurt/kill him and is capable of destroying people's minds!? I'm supposed to be upset when he tries to rescue Feyre from Rhysand later!?!? HELLO!?!? We can talk about Tamlin's character flaws but first of all, he's never sexually assaulted anyone, and second of all, he's against slavery for no reason than because slavery is bad.

No, actually, this is relevant, because Rhysand later tries to "both sides" fucking SLAVERY.

Anyway rant over, fuck ACOMAF especially.

#anti sjm #anti rhysand #i'd tell rhys to go fuck himself but he'd enjoy that so - no he doesn't deserve the pleasure #tamlin #ya know what fuck it this post is pro feyre she's an annoying bitch but she's MY annoying bitch #every day i mourn for feyre's character and the agency she was robbed of because sjm decided that rhys was king

[bookofmirth]

I’m a strong believer..that Lucien deserves better than Elain who didn’t not once consider that he was upstairs in her home asleep before she’d almost made out with Az..I tried to forgive her for it but it’s hard anytime I re read the scene and put myself in Lucien’s shoes..If my LI did that while I was upstairs asleep i’d be thoroughly offended. A part of me hopes Lucien overheard Az and Rhys’ conversation just for him to not be some oblivious weakling desperately awaiting her attention, which all of this is making him look like.

“Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet sent. He’d beg on his knees for a chance to taste it. But Azriel just stroked her neck again, Elain shuddered, drifting closer. So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest. she looked up at him, her face trusting and hopefull and open..” At least Feyre didn’t do this under the same roof as Tamlin out of a little respect for him, Im not his fan or anything but that made me admire Feyre for how much she cared about that situation, how guilty and aware she was, how considerate. Elain just…didn’t care. He was right..upstairs.

I get where you are coming from, but I guess I don't really care if she wasn't thinking about him? She was hurting him but I'm not sure that can be avoided, even if it weren't due to the bat. sjm said they'd have tension, right? And she gave us that in acosf.

I think it's pretty complicated, because as a person, Elain doesn't owe Lucien anything. She can be with who she wants, they don't interact very much, they don't know one another very well, she has been mourning her fiancé and her father, etc. Elain can reject the mating bond and go about her life if she wants and no one would stop her.

And all of that is exactly why Lucien has been leaving her alone, except for when he gets awkwardly invited to family holidays and everyone stares at him thinking "oh poor Lucien, oh is that a new Tamlin BruiseTM?"

BUT. As his *mate*, Elain does owe him a conversation. People who scream about this being unfeminist or whatever can shut the heck up because feminism irl doesn't account for ~magical mating bonds~ in which people are literally, irrevocably, magically tied to one another in a way that impacts the rest of their lives and can make one of them insane. You can't talk about consent and what people are owed in this situation in the same way that you can talk about it with any other couple who doesn't have a mating bond. The entire scenario is different, and we can't draw the same lines in a mating bond situation that we can in a regular non-magical ship situation, no matter how much people want to scream and wave their feminist flags around. And I consider myself a feminist, have forever, and that's why I have critiqued the whole idea of mating bonds a ton, because of how they inherently take away that choice. But that's a problem with the trope, not with any ship that adheres to that trope. If people have a problem with mating bonds as a trope, they shouldn't read sjm because they will just be looking to be mad. ANYWAY...

just for him to not be some oblivious weakling desperately awaiting her attention, which all of this is making him look like.

This part I 100% agree with. I get being respectful, and Lucien is doing that, but my god. This is why I think it would be cool if *he* were the one to go to *her* and be like "nah, no thanks". Then Elain's "but I'm pretty and nice" privileges would cease to work and she'd have to like... deal with shit.

I do think there is a big difference between Feyre and Tamlin/Rhys and Elain with Az/Lucien. Feyre and Tamlin were engaged and had verbally (and physically) committed to one another, so they owed each other respect in that sense. Elain and Lucien have no such thing. The thing that's making it so that her actions cause him pain is out of her control.

I would write more but my cat just got in my lap hehe

[tamlinsimp]

I hate it that just because Tam said there's no high lady, he's sexist. Like if he is sexist, why would he appoint 1anthe to be his advisor instead of Lucien? If he is one, then why is he not mad when feyre fights off the monsters when she encountered suriel? Like his stance that time was she is human and he's surprised humans can kill that far!

You know, I personally do not feel Tamlin is sexist. Book 1 Tam respected that she was much comfortable in pants than dresses. He also allowed her to hunt because that was what she was used to in the human land. He didn't even assume that because she's a woman, she should be pure and innocent, or caring and nurturing. Tamlin knew about Isaac Hale and didn't condemn her for it. He also did not expect her to clean, cook, or anything domestic to make up for her living there. Instead, he encouraged her to do whatever she wanted. He's never held her to a standard of ladylike behaviors. He's never made any comments based on her gender or appearance, rather than it was based overall on her humanity (I.e., he didn't think humans would be like her). There weren't any indication that he treated her as his subordinate other than the whole fae/human relationship. Hell he didn't even expected her to be submissive. He understood that she was feisty, vocal and independent by nature. Book 2 Tamlin was a huge retcon. Aside the fact that the guy got massive PTSD from UTM watching her die and worrying about REAL threats, such as Hybern, Rhysand, monsters in SC, anything else he exhibited was out of character for him. His concerns weren't crazy or paranoia either, they were logical, and we eventually see these later on when Feyre was hunted by the Attor and captured by Hybern. The fandom argues that since he protected her so much, he was sexist. But they damn him for not protecting her enough UTM when he flat out admitted he cannot protect her there. It was her decision to go and they crucified him for it. They argue that he didn't give her a title. He asked, she said no. The story never got to the point of him even enforcing it if he wanted to. They argue that he is sexist for not wanting to train her powers. But do consider the overall timeline and situation when Feyre asked. He was in the middle of cleaning up and rebuilding SC, worrying about Hybern going after Feyre, and he also had to worry about Rhysand, who violated and assaulted her, popping out any time to collect that bargain. It is still her decision to train whenever she wanted, but I guarantee that had Tamlin allowed that and she got hurt in the process, the fandom would still criticize him for it. The guy cannot win. They reason that Rhysand allowed her to train. Rhysand also did not have monsters roaming his court. He didn't have to rebuild the only part of his court he actually cared about, because they were protected and ran by his governing bodies. He had better circumstances. 

And let's talk about that he also put her in danger numerous times: the Weaver trip, she literally could have died and there was nothing he could do about it due to the "laws" the prevent HLs from intervening with the weaver; the prison, it triggered her PTSD; the training - he used her as a bait to see who'd go after her. And before those three incidents, Feyre told him that she didn't want to be lied to and she wanted to be fully informed. Rhysand did the opposite of that. So tell me, is this somebody who saw her as an equal, somebody who valued her life? Did they make Feyre stronger? yes. She learned lessons along the way. But the difference here, Tamlin never had time to provide her with those, Rhysand did. Tamlin would have probably also done it differently without risking her life. That is something he wouldn't gamble with after what he witnessed. BOTH MEN are overprotective of her so that argument is moot (Rhysand later on). 

And you're right, why have a woman as an advisor if he did not trust her decision-making skills, authority, etc.? It doesn't make sense. Just to clarify, too, Feyre said so herself that it was Ianthe who wanted her to wear pretty dresses and breed little HLs. Not tamlin. Ianthe. 

Point is, they pin all these what if scenarios against Tamlin as him being sexist when we never got to a point that he showed us that other than the little excerpts of Feyre whining because she couldn't think rationally given their situation.

#anti feyre #anti rhysand #anti feysand #acotar #acomaf #tamlin #pro tamlin

[notawheelwalker]

I feel like the “context matters!!!” People that defend Rhy UTM also need to give Tamlin the same consideration. Ignoring the fact that he was willing to doom his people for Freyre not once, but twice, think about what he saw and experienced UTM.

Y’all forget that the abuse that Rhys suffered (and willingly walked into for rights and privileges, which doesn’t diminish it, but call a duck a duck ya know) is what Tamlin was resisting giving into. That was eventually going to be his future enslaved UTM, because he wasn’t actually going to be able to “resist” once his oppressor decided to stop waiting for his consent. You’re mad he “just sat there” UTM? Literally what was he supposed to do to protect Freyre? He already did everything in his power when he sent her away and was willing to doom all the high fae courts to eternal slavery. He doesn’t have rights and privileges to move freely UTM like Rhys did, he’s kept on a short leash.

In this time, he watched what Rhys claims he did to “protect” Freyre. Like, imagine watching someone that you have a gnarly personal history/bad blood with going out of their way to drug, grope, and humiliate the woman you love. That had to feel like retribution. Rhys pretty much admits that the only reason he didn’t r*pe Freyre while she was drugged was because he didn’t want to fight Tamlin.

Side note, I know Tamlin didn’t know this, but do y’all remember that Freyre described Rhys pinning her to the wall so hard she felt her bones grinding? She described the kiss as him forcing himself on her and washed her mouth out 3 times afterwards. The music Rhys sent to Freyre only cheered her up because it made her think of Tamlin.

So, after they get out of UTM, he discovers that his enemy used his partners imminent death from infection to force her into a bargain with him? After UTM, why wouldn’t he be scared of what Rhys would do in private considering what he did in front of all the courts?

It definitely seems like Rhys went out of his way to humiliate him with the dramatic entry into their wedding. If I were Tamlin, I’d wonder why he hadn’t fulfilled his part of the bargain to take Freyre for one week during the 3 months prior to the wedding.

He also has his full powers back after 50 years. Freyre is described as shattering doors and bending cutlery unintentionally, is it really that unbelievable that he would not have full control of his powers immediately again? When he destroys the study, he wasn’t directing an attack at her. He immediately is trying to make sure she’s okay afterwards. He’s guilty and it’s clear it wasn’t intentional. Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a fight with your partner? Imagine if you had untold power that was tied heavily to your emotions and think about how hard that would be to keep contained while you’re feeling overwhelmed in a fight with your partner that’s going nowhere.

In ACOTAR, Tamlin isn’t shown to be a very well spoken person. He isn’t shown to be someone that has an easy time talking about feelings or hard topics. If Freyre wasn’t bringing up her PTSD or talking about it, why would he feel comfortable broaching that subject? He seems to want to get “back to normal” asap, which is fucked up, but I can’t blame him for that.

When he sent her away for her own protection, she disregarded his effort for her safety and ended up UTM trying to “save” him. He watched her get tortured for months because she disregarded him trying to protect her in the past. Freyre had a savior complex that can’t be denied. She doesn’t know what’s going on in the world, which he could help her understand, but she’s also fucking 19. Genuinely what would she have done other than get in the way or martyr herself again? She doesn’t understand war, isn’t educated, and doesn’t even fully understand the fae yet. Why wouldn’t he ensure she stay in place for her own safety?

It’s fucked up, don’t get me wrong, but not so fucked up that Freyre doesn’t turn around and do the same shit to her own sister in ACOSF.

If you’re willing to bend over backwards to consider the context and motivation of a 500 year old man abusing and manipulating a teenager, then consider the motivations of a man who was willing to betray his entire country to protect her. Because why the fuck wouldn’t he see Rhys as a threat to Freyre safety after UTM?

#acotar #tamlin

[invisibleanonymousmonsters]

i just read the newest chapter of gust and flame! and i always fall deeply in love with your writing!! i have been consuming your writing for a couple of years now and i just wanting to thank you for doing gods work and giving us free content! always will be appreciative of that 🧡

"I meant what I said," Eris finally spoke when they stood outside the door to their bedchambers. "About what?" She asked for clarity in a soft voice. "You are not a prisoner here."

i love how eris keeps reassuring reader because the lack of autonomy that she has & he doesn’t want to make it seem like he is upholding the very structure that is hurting her.

"Of course," he answered, as if it were obvious. "You arrived with almost no belongings." Only his cloak and the weapons he had gifted her.

king shit 👑!! mans is so thoughtful.

Eris voice was low as he slowly said, "I would like to know who in this life made you ever believe that you are undeserving of clothing.?

honestly love a man who gets mad for you! also it’s literally a basic necessity to be comfortable

His head tilted closer to her. "You should be gifted anything you have ever wanted. You... He paused. "You should be worshipped, YIN."

i am on the ground for this man. i will gladly have him as my worshipper.

Lucien had snuck them into the kitchens that were bustling with energy and cooks. There was a little nook in the corner, out of everyone's way. It was just big enough so two could eat together discreetly.

honestly love the friendship between lucien and reader! they both deserve someone to talk to & be there for one another!

YIN carefully placed the two puppies in Eris grasp and only looked at them as she answered, "I would like to eat dinner alone in my rooms, if that is alright.? "O-Of course," was all Eris could manage to say back.

What would he do instead? Force her to have dinner with him? Is that not what Tamlin did when Feyre was imprisoned in Spring Court? Or at least, that is what Eris had heard.

i really love how eris is desperate to be around but yet still realised that she needs time to herself. thank god he doesn’t force her to eat dinner with him!

ALSO! love the doggos! animals make everything better

Thank you so fucking much 🥹😭

[thekissingsun]

Books that booktok convinced me to read:

Part 1

ACOTAR series edition

Please note I read the first few books a while ago and as such my opinions may be tainted and I may mention certain events in a book they did not take place in or in a different order

Will include ratings, my opinions and any other bs I feel like adding so enjoy!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

4/5

Feyre was the first female MC that didn't piss me off completely. Granted, before I found booktok I had been reading Wattpad stories but I really liked Feyre still although I was perturbed that her name began with "Fey" and the book was about Fae. Anyway... I stanned Nesta from book 1 page whatever page she was introduced. After Tamlin took her to the Spring Court (and I don't know if this is just my toxic side taking over but) I was hoping Feyre and Lucien would just get together. There's something about side characters that are just * chefs kiss *. I liked how everything made sense and by that I mean the names of characters, how they looked and acted. It was all just perfection to me. And while Amarantha was bad I can honestly say that if my sister were involved and I was her, I would have gone mad as well (not justifying, just acknowledging that there was reason). As for Rhys, loved him, but that was because I thought he was morally grey but Lucien remained my favourite.

All in all, an eye-opener to me that Faerie smut was the piece missing in my life. Loved the book, thought the plot was great and nothing pissed me off *that* much.

A Court of Mist and Fury

4/5

Loved the smut. Firstly.

Secondly, Mor is fantastic. She is just so stunning I can't. Amren was immediately my favourite character (AND SHE REMINDS ME SO MUCH OF EDNA MODE which is probably why I love her lmaoo). Cassian and Azriel are beautiful. Feyre is a bit self-righteous throughout the plot but whatever she's Fae now she can be. Unfortunately, I was so in love with the first book that i started looking up memes and things and so her and Rhys being mates was spoiled for me but loved it nonetheless. The Suriel is a baddie.

Rhys making Feyre HL doesn't sit right with me for reasons that will be explained in the ACOWAR review

A Court of Wings and Ruin

3/5

Feyre and Rhys began to piss me off. I can't put my finger on why, it's not them individually but their relationship is aggravating to me.

In the HL meeting when he said he made her high Lady bc he loves her, her powers have nothing to do with it. LIKE?? The nepotism is strong and she is useless. Literally a lesser fae in Velaris would have been more suited to the position. And then she thinks her word is law like girlie I would not take you seriously.

The Night Court is pretty embarrassing. I mean they can't control themselves in the meeting and attack almost everyone. Pls. Immature. If anything Kallias would have reason to attack and because Rhys actually did something that wasn't saying a few mean words to him.

Nesta is amazing as usual, I feel so sorry for her. Elain can choke.

Was a bit sad that Rhys had to live but anyway

And also what was the point of Amren losing her powers now she's just rude with nothing to back it up like ew

A Court of Frost and Starlight

3/5

The IC piss me off. Just a bit. But enough that I roll my eyes when Rhys talks.

Cassian is just a big heap of love. I've always loved him. I wish Elain would give Lucien a chance he's honestly so precious.

And yes, Feyre, having a child when you know war is breaking out is splendid timing it's not like you have eternity to make a baby. I understand she wanted a piece of Rhys blah blah but like im a bit tired of them.

A Court of Silver Flames

4/5

First of all, would just like to say:

NESTA = PERFECTION

no debate.

The IC can mind their own fucking business. Rhys and Feyre can shut up. I don't know who Elain thinks she is. Amren, literally just go ride Varian and keep your trap shut you have been meaningless since ACOWAR. I don't hate Mor, but she gives obnoxious vibes and I don't like how she treats Nesta.

Rhys is such an arrogant cunt.

Eris has my heart. He can literally rip me apart and I'd apologize.

I've always thought the Autumn Court males were hottest since book 1. There is just something about them that makes me wanna get on my knees.

I didn't like how Nesta didn't touch the stone on Ramiel or whatever it was called. But stan Gwyn and Emerie. Although I don't understand why people ship Em and Mor so much. Unless I'm not remembering something, Em called Mor beautiful or something once and they never properly interacted. Like I think lots of women are beautiful doesn't mean I'm in love with them?? However, I do think Emerie deserves better. Nesta deserves better than Cassian. And Gwyn deserves better than Azriel.

Cassian really disappointed me.

I know my views on characters in SF are explicitly related to how they treat Nesta and despite their being mates he was horrendous.

Always looking for a reason to be angry at her. Always agreeing with everyone's negative opinions on Nesta.

Mor saying she belongs in the CON was despicable and it made me dislike her completely. Like literally shut up. Especially since it's clear we don't know the entire story regarding what happened with Mor and her family and Eris. I'd love to know the full truth because despite "truth" being her power, I feel like she's hiding something on purpose for no other reason than she might look bad. At least that's how Eris made it seem. But really how reliable is he anyway.

In short, tons of questions unanswered that have me craving the next book, tons of characters I now hate. Nesta should never bow down to a bitch like Rhys and Feyre needs to take it down a notch. She is not all that.

Despite the characters pissing me off, I love the story and the plot and how it's written. I do hope the books still coming are in third person POV I like it much better than first person.

I do want more Elain content. She upset me so much when she said she remembers Feyre and Azriel going to save her and not Nesta. Like girl how can you throw the women who loves you more than anything and would die for you under the bus like that. But i feel like there's tons more to her that I can't wait to hear about.

Ask questions below and leave your thoughts but be respectful

Mwah <3

#acotar #feyre #pro feyre #acomaf #rhysand #anti feyre #anti rhys #pro rhysand #acowar #pro nesta archeron #pro eris #eris vanserra #neris #acosf #acofas #autumn court #night court #lucien vanserra #a court of silver flames #autumn court heir

[vidalinav]

Is it just me or does it feel like Nesta’s anger tends to be overdramatized or misunderstood as rude behavior instead of just the accurate response to the situation?

Because like... when is Nesta’s anger not in direct relation to the situation at hand? Like she doesn’t want fae in her house so she’s mean company. They’re literal fae. She’s a fucking human. 

When she tells Feyre and the rest, she’ll rip out their throat if they ask Elain to help them, she feels threatened. Nesta just turned fae and they’re like ehh no big deal you should help us and Elain is still a zombie of who she used to be, and she’s surrounded by people she doesn’t even know who are asking her to tell the high lords of a time that is depicted similar to an assault. 

When she gets mad at Elain at the library, Elain literally acted like it was no big deal and there was no reason why Nesta should really be mad when they kicked her out of her house and sent her away, no matter their intention. No matter the perspective, Elain did not connect those dots that Nesta might not feel happy about the situation??? 

In Wings and Ember, Nesta starts hurling insults at Cassian, when he is towering over her, asking personal questions, when he is in a room alone with her. 

At solstice, they literally don’t talk to her, and just have her there awkwardly and then she leaves, and Cassian gets mad because of what??? And then Nesta does what??? 

And I cannot stress enough, that Nesta’s coping was not hurting anyone but herself! So, why was it treated like a wound to everyone, as if she punched and kicked them herself. 

Like it makes no fucking sense!!! At this point, they’re just ignorant for no reason! You cannot be this blind, this stupid. Like are they meant to be portrayed like that??? Because it only is with Nesta and people who are antagonistic, lIke Eris for example. Like someone who directly threatens the “peace” of their happy family, even when they’re really not doing that much. 

I know Nesta has the choice to respond more pleasantly, but.... she doesn’t have to and her not responding well in these situations is rightfully so. So, I don’t understand why I sometimes still see posts about Nesta being a mean, bitchy sister or that the inner circle responded accurately or whatever. Like... Are we reading the same book? 

Nesta inspired Feyre to go back to Tamlin, and go save her love. Nesta went to the wall to try and get Feyre. Nesta, no matter how much Elain says she coddles her, took care of her. You don’t think the love Nesta only showed Elain made a difference? Feyre wanted that, so it definitely did. And when Elain was at her lowest, who was there? Nesta fought in a war, told the high lords what the IC wanted about what was done to her, and consistently showed that she cared A LOT about Cassian. When did she insult people? Kick a baby? Burn a city down? Like the balance in this book is atrocious. The response and the actions that facilitate this response are wildly disproportionate to the situation at hand.

Now that I have read from her POV and go back and read Feyre’s POV, and the rest of the POVs in ACOFAS, I’m like uh..... was Nesta ever even that bitchy? Like where is this asshole character? 

#nesta archeron #cassian #nessian #acosf #elain archeron #feyre archeron #acotar #acosf spoilers #anti inner circle

[icedflames]

The Progression of Elain and Azriel’s Relationship.

Let me preface this by saying this is LONG. 

After a second read through of ACOSF, I really think it’s clear that Elriel will be featured in the next book. Sooo, book by book, I’ve complied excerpts that show the progression of Elain and Azriel’s relationship and why I think the next book will feature them. I’m not going to be adding a lot of commentary, just my general interpretation of the scene. The excerpts speak for themselves. 

A Court of Mist and Fury

Chapter 24 - Elain meets Azriel at the Archeron Estate

"A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel’s mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silent...”

“Elain said, ‘It’s all very disorienting.’ ‘I can imagine,’ Azriel said. Cassian flashed him a glare. But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.”

“Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, ‘Can you truly fly?’ He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, ‘Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind.’‘That’s very beautiful,’ she said. ‘Is it not—frightening, though? To fly so high?’ ‘It is sometimes,’ Azriel said.”

“Rhys chuckled, Cassian’s wrath slipping enough that he grinned, and Elain, noticing Azriel’s ease as proof that things weren’t indeed about to go badly, offered one of her own as well.”

At their first meeting, Azriel’s attention was on Elain and she labeled the idea of the Illyrian’s flight as beautiful. Feyre notes how Elain and Azriel are similar and says they are “perhaps the only two civilized ones.” Polite and kind. 

Feyre notes that Elain’s shoulders loosened when Azriel offered her a polite smile and after noticing Azriel relax, she offers a grin. Azriel probably noticed Elain’s discomfort because of her fingers tightly grasping the fork and tried to put her at ease. In return, Elain felt relaxed based on Azriel’s cues even though they had just met. 

Chapter 50 - Feyre distracts Rhys by talking about her sisters

“And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet. I smiled at the thought—at how handsome they would be together. If the warrior ever stopped quietly loving Mor. I doubted it. Azriel would likely love Mor until he was a whisper of darkness between the stars.”

Feyre again notes their similar temperaments - how they are both introverted and would appreciate each other’s company in silence. The second part, about Azriel loving Mor forever, now sticks out given what we know from A Court of Silver Flames. I’ll get to that later. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin

So at this point, Elain and Nesta have been forcibly turned fae against their will. I didn’t include that portion because it’s more relevant to Elain’s self-journey, rather than her relationship with Azriel. 

Chapter 24 - Nesta and Elain move to the townhouse

“Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elain’s golden-brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders. He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door.

Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. Azriel smiled faintly. ‘Would you like me to show you the garden?’ She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once.

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, ‘Beautiful.’

Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.”

Elain is traumatized from her experience with the cauldron. She’s withdrawn, she’s quiet, and she’s scared. Azriel carries hers through the front door, rather than just setting her down outside. To make her more comfortable with the house, he offers to show her the garden. Feyre likely made mention of Elain loving flowers so this was a sweet gesture on Azriel’s part. 

Most significantly, Elain (likely) called Azriel’s scarred skin beautiful - his trauma ingrained into his skin and the history of his abuse... She sees it and calls it beautiful. And Azriel blushes. 

“But Lucien’s attention went right to the hallway toward the back, his nostrils flaring as he scented Elain’s direction. And who she’d gone with. A low snarl slipped out of him. ‘Relax,’ Rhys said. ‘Azriel isn’t the ravishing type.’ Lucien cut him a glare.”

Oh Rhys, Azriel definitely is. 

I thought it was interesting. Yes, mates become possessive. But why include that? Why wouldn’t Lucien snarl when Elain was with Rhys or Cassian? Just a thought. 

“Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports—likely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once he’d sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.”

I really love the juxtaposition of Azriel clad in black, sprawled in the gardens with Elain, so full of light, sitting there with them. It’s unlikely that the morally grey spymaster (who literally tortures people for his profession) and the sweet girl would have struck up a friendship. But there they were, in the garden, enjoying each other’s silent company. Exactly what Feyre predicted in A Court of Mist and Fury (“Elain would probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet”). 

“‘Why not make them mates?’ I mused. ‘Why Lucien?[...]What decides it? Who decides it?[...]You said your mother and father were wrong for each other; Tamlin said his own parents were wrong for each other.’ I peeled off my dressing robe. ‘So it can’t be a perfect system of matching. What if’—I jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—“that is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn’t?’

‘A mating bond can be rejected,’ Rhys said mildly, eyes flickering in the mirror as he drank in every inch of bare skin I had on display. ‘There is choice. And sometimes, yes—the bond picks poorly sometimes the bond is nothing more than some...preordained guesswork at who will provide the strongest offspring. At its basest level, it’s perhaps only that.’”

The conversation between her and Rhys is very important. Up until this point, we’re led to believe mates are the end all be all. Mates are soulmates. Now, we have a scene directly suggesting that the mating system is flawed and a mating bond could be broken. And it’s Feyre talking about Elain and Lucien’s bond, using Azriel as an example as who Elain might choose over Lucien. 

At this point, Elain and Azriel’s relationship starts to progress and they slowly start to become acquainted with each other. 

Chapter 27 - Elain has a vision

“‘I saw young hands wither with age. I saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.’”

“Mad. Elain might very well have gone mad.”

So here, Elain spouts a vision and Feyre, Nesta, Mor, and Azriel are taken aback. Feyre remarks that her sister may be going mad. They don’t understand what’s going on with Elain and why she is espousing such creepy things. 

“I faced Azriel, exposing my palms to him. ‘What does that mean?’ Azriel’s hazel eyes churned as he studied my sister, her too-thin body. And without a word, he winnowed away. Mor watched the space where he’d been standing long after he was gone.”

Azriel had an expression of concerned and then winnowed away without a word, leaving Mor gaping. Why? Why was she gaping and staring at the spot Azriel had been? Could it be that she sees something Feyre doesn’t?

Chapter 30 - Azriel and Cassian visit Elain and Nesta

“The two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still.”

We know that Nesta and Cassian are mates. Cassian stilled at the sight of Nesta. Azriel stilled at the sight of Elain. Hmm.

“I dragged a hand over my face before going to Elain and touching her too-bony shoulder. ‘Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.’ ‘I can help her,’ said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing from his fingers as he extended a hand.”

Azriel stepped in and said he could help Elain get to the garden. A bit of a pattern. He wants to keep her company, and perhaps, wants to have her company. Even more significant are that his shadows are missing. We know that the shadows disappear around Mor, who he’d been pining over for 500 years. Now they’re gone around Elain. Maybe it’s just to make her more comfortable or maybe it’s because he’s developing an interest in her. 

Chapter 32 - Azriel discovers Elain is a seer

“Elain’s brows twitched toward each other. ‘The queen—with the feathers of flame.’ The shadowsinger angled his head. Lucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, ‘Should we—does she need …?’”

‘She doesn’t need anything,’ Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly.

‘We’re the ones who need …’ Azriel trailed off. ‘A seer,’ he said, more to himself than us. ‘The Cauldron made you a seer.’”

Azriel, as observant as he is, realized Elain wasn’t going mad. She was a seer.

Lucien thought she was going mad or she was ill. As did Feyre, Mor, Nesta and everybody else in the Night Court. This is mentioned in prior chapters when Lucien suggested to Feyre that Elain see a healer. 

However, Azriel looked at Elain and figured it out. Which is important to Elain. When speaking to Lucien about Grayson, Elain said, “No one ever looked - not really...He did. He saw me. He will not now.” Azriel looked. Azriel saw her. 

Chapter 50 - In the townhouse, winnowing to the Illyrian Camps

“Mor took Nesta and Cassian by the hand, readying to winnow them to the camp, while shadows gathered around Azriel, Elain at his side, wide-eyed at the spymaster’s display.”

Azriel’s shadows are gathered around him, likely in response to brewing war and because Feyre just made a deal with Bryaxis. Elain is staring wide-eyed. I don’t interpret this in fear but in awe. 

“Then Azriel, gently taking Elain’s hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt her.”

The gentleness Azriel exhibits towards Elain is just sweet.

Chapter 62 & 63 - Hyburn kidnaps Elain

“But Azriel asked softly, ‘What about Elain?’ Something cold went through me. Nesta was just staring at Azriel. Staring and staring.”

“From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, ‘I’m getting her back.’

Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows.

Nesta said, ‘Then you will die.’

Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, ‘I’m getting her back.’”

Azriel is the first person to realize Elain is missing! Not Nesta, not Feyre, not Amren. Azriel.

His eyes glowed (an indication of powers at play), with rage in his stare. Azriel is angry, he’s upset, he will get Elain back. Nobody asked Azriel to rescue Elain. Nesta even told him he would die. But Azriel doesn’t care. He’s getting her back. 

This really shows that perhaps their friendship developed further than Feyre realized and Azriel had formed a connection with Elain. A connection strong enough that he would risk dying to get her back.

Chapter 65 - Azriel and Feyre rescue Elain

“My mouth went dry as that scream sounded again. I couldn’t bear it—to let it go on, to see what was being done. Azriel’s shadow-hand grasped my own, tugging me closer. His rage rippled off his invisible form.”

Feyre and Azriel both thought it was Elain screaming in Hyburn’s camp. Rage was rippling off his invisible form. Azriel, stoic, brooding Azriel is so angry because he thinks Elain is being hurt that Feyre remarks on it. 

“Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. ‘Are you hurt?’

She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. ‘You came for me.’ 

The shadowsinger only inclined his head.”

Again, Azriel is so gentle with Elain. 

Elain devoured the sight of him. Elain didn’t believe Azriel would save her. But he did. “You came for me.” 

“The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest.”

“Nesta rounded a tent, skidding to a halt in the mud. She let out a sob at the sight of Elain, still in Azriel’s arms.”

“Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, ‘We need Helion to get these chains off her.’ Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.”

Azriel is wounded but he’s still cradling Elain to his chest. He doesn’t have to but he doesn’t let go. Almost like if he goes, she’ll disappear again. And then Elain kisses his cheek? Too cute. 

Chapter 69 - Truthteller

“Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option. ‘This is Truth-Teller,’ he told her softly. ‘I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.’”

Azriel is still injured and was being stubborn in wanting to fight, despite Rhys telling him he couldn’t. Azriel didn’t relent until Mor begged him with tears in her eyes. Since he can’t fight, he’s offering Elain one of his knives... 

“Elain’s eyes widened at the obsidian-hilted blade in Azriel’s scarred hand. The runes on the dark scabbard. ‘It has never failed me once,’ the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. ‘Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.’ He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. ‘It will serve you well.’”

Again with the gentleness.

“Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade. Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade.

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife.”

So Azriel didn’t offer Elain just any knife. It’s Azriel’s most prized possession to the point where no other person, not even his brothers or Mor, had ever been allowed to touch it. Yet here he was lending it to Elain. His relationship and connection to Elain is strong enough and deep enough that he would give her his beloved dagger.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The lovely fawn standing before death. In ACOMAF chapter 57, the Book of Breathlings said (in pertinent part), “Rot and bloom and bones...Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn.” I think the choice of words is intentional. Death and a fawn? Hmm.

Further, when Majda described the mating bond to Elain she said, “The mating bond. It is a bridge between souls.” Now Feyre says - the only bridge of connection is Truth-Teller. Why use the words describing a mating bond to describe that moment?

Chapter 74 - Elain Kills Hyburn

“Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, ‘Don’t you touch my sister.’”

Elain, using Azriel’s dagger, stabbed Hyburn in the neck. The trembling fawn snarled in the king’s ear and killed him to protect Nesta. 

Stepping out the shadow seems like a significant parallel. In Chapter 62, “Azriel stepped out of a shadow.” Azriel’s symbol is the shadow. Elain stepped from a shadow, Azriel’s symbol, and exhibited a display of strength, despite being traumatized for most of the book...

A Court of Frost and Starlight

Chapter 2 - Rhysand thinks about the War

“Cassian was near death and Nesta was sprawled over him, shielding him from that killing blow, and Elain—Elain—had taken up Azriel’s dagger and killed the King of Hybern instead.”

Elain, of all people, killed Hyburn with Azriel’s dagger and that imagine is important enough for Rhysand to think of it again. 

Chapter 4 - Feyre asks Mor about Truth-Teller when gift shopping

“‘You honestly think he’d ever give up Truth-Teller?’

‘He gave it to Elain,’ Mor said, admiring a moonstone necklace in the counter’s glass case. 

‘She gave it back,’ I amended, failing to block out the image of the black blade piercing through the King of Hybern’s throat. But Elain had given it back—had pressed it into Azriel’s hands after the battle, just as he had pressed it into hers before. And then walked away without looking back.”

Just as Azriel had pressed the knife into Elain’s hand, Elain pressed it into his when she finished. Gently. 

Chapter 7 - Rhys and Azriel discuss gifts

“‘Az ran a hand through his dark hair. ‘Are we …’ Unusual for him to stumble with words. ‘Are we supposed to get the sisters presents?’ 

‘No,’ I said, and meant it. Az seemed to loose a sigh of relief. Seemed to, since all but a breath of air passed from his lips”

Interesting how Azriel is stumbling over his words when he asks if he needs to get Elain (and Nesta) a gift. What could be making him so nervous to give her a gift? A crush, maybe?

Chapter 12 - The Inner Circle has a Family Dinner

“Elain’s voice was colder than usual. I glanced at Nuala and Cerridwen, the latter giving me a shake of her head as if to say, Not a good day for her.”

Elain has befriended Azriel’s spies to the point where they tell Feyre, Elain’s sister, that it’s not a good day. 

“‘Don’t,’ Elain said flatly, starting once more into a walk, veils of steam drifting past her shoulders from the roasted rosemary potatoes in her hands, as if they were Azriel’s shadows.”

Interesting choice of words. 

“Azriel emerged from the sitting room, a glass of wine in hand and wings tucked back to reveal his fine, yet simple black jacket and pants. I felt, more than saw, my sister go still as he approached. Her throat bobbed.”

Handsome Azriel walks in and Elain goes still. Her throat bobs. Elain is totally crushing on Azriel.

“But I strode to my seat—nestled between Amren and Mor—in time to see Elain say to Azriel, ‘Hello.’ Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me.”

Why would Mor tense up (again)? 

“But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, ‘Sit. I’ll take care of it.’ Elain’s hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them. With a blink, she lowered them, and noticed her apron. ‘I—I’ll be right back,’ she murmured, and hurried down the hall before I could explain that no one cared if she showed up to dinner covered in flour and that she should just sit.”

Elain was so shocked that she kept her hands up and then ran off to make herself look presentable. She has it bad.

“One moment, his hand was spearing toward the serving spoon. The next, it was stopped, Azriel’s scarred fingers wrapped around his wrist. ‘Wait,’ Azriel said, nothing but command in his voice. Mor gaped wide enough that I was certain the half-chewed green beans in her mouth were going to tumble onto her plate.”

“Azriel didn’t let go. “Wait until everyone is seated before eating.” 

Azriel telling Cassian to wait for Elain to come back before they started eating. How sweet! And again, Mor tenses, gapes, etc. because of Azriel and Elain. Why does she keep doing that? Is it because Azriel is maybe moving on? Is she jealous? Or is it something else? 

“Elain swept in, apron gone and hair rebraided. ‘Please don’t wait on my account,’ she said, taking the seat at the head of the table.”

She got all fixed up. Aweee.

“‘I’d feel bad for the mice,’ Azriel muttered. Mor and Cassian howled, earning a blush from Azriel and a grateful smile from Elain—and no shortage of scowling from Amren. But something in me eased at that laughter, at the light that returned to Elain’s eyes.”

After Amren bluntly told Elain that there was no going back to being human and Elain was visibly upset, Azriel told a joke to lighten the mood. Elain shot a grateful smile and Feyre’s was so happy to see a light return to her sister’s eyes.

Chapter 16 - Rhys speaks to Cassian and Azriel

“Azriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below.”

Who could be in the garden Azriel? 

Chapter 18 - Feyre and Elain talk about Lucien

“‘He brought you a present.’

Those doe-brown eyes turned toward me. Sharper than I’d ever seen them. ‘And that entitles him to my time, my affections?’

‘No.’ I blinked. ‘But he is a good male.’ Despite our harsh words. Despite this Band of Exiles bullshit. ‘He cares for you.’

‘He doesn’t know me.’

‘You don’t give him the chance to even try to do so.’ 

Her mouth tightened, the only sign of anger in her graceful countenance. ‘I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male.’

Elain is mad. She doesn’t want a mate or a male. Yet some bond is forcing him on her. She doesn’t want Lucien. A gift isn’t enough to win her over. 

More importantly - he doesn’t know her. 

Chapter 19 - Winter Solstice 

“I made to move toward [Elain], but someone beat me to it. The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysand’s—the fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, “Happy Solstice.” Elain turned from the snow falling in the darkness beyond and smiled slightly.”

Azriel immediately made a move towards Elain to wish her a happy solstice. Again with the gentleness. 

“Watching Cassian especially, now standing with Az at the fire. He was the portrait of relaxed, an arm braced against the carved mantel, his wings tucked in loosely, a faint grin on his face and a glass of wine in his hand. He slid his hazel eyes toward my sister without him moving an inch.”

Azriel stealing glances at Elain.

“‘Oh, that’s from me.’

Azriel’s face didn’t so much as shift at the words. Not even a smile as he opened the present and revealed -

‘I had Madja make it for me,’ Elain explained. Azriel’s brows narrowed at the mention of the family’s preferred healer. ‘It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.’

Silence.

Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. ‘It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.’

Silence again.

Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous.”

Elain give Azriel a sweet, thoughtful, and funny gift that made Azriel laugh so deep and joyously. That rarely happens with him.

“Azriel mastered himself enough to say, ‘Thank you.’ I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. ‘This will be invaluable.’”

Feyre had never seen Azriel’s eyes so bright. Ahhhh. 

They’re most definitely friends by this point, with the other chapters hinting that the two are crushing on each other. 

Chapter 22 - After the gift giving

“Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea.”

Elain and Azriel stay behind, late at night talking about gardening. Even if it’s not of interest to Azriel, he wanted to be with her. So sweet! 

A Court of Silver Flames

Chapter 3 - Cassian tells Nesta that Azriel will be staying with them 

“Cassian said tightly, ‘He says he’d rather stay up here than at the river house.’ That made two of them. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t know. He’s Az. He likes his space.’”

Alright so let me start by saying Cassian isn’t as observant. And the readers have more insight. Who stays at the river house? Elain. Why would he want to stay at the house of wind? To avoid her. Why would he want to avoid Elain? Probably because he’s developing feelings for her. 

Chapter 19 - Cassian tells Azriel about Elain and Nesta’s fight

“‘Because of the shit with Elain?’

Azriel stilled. ‘What happened to Elain?’

Azriel stilled at the thought of something happening to Elain. Honestly, enough said. 

Chapter 21 - Nesta insults Elain

“‘Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.’

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike. Elain’s eyes brightened with pain.”

Azriel’s shadows were prepared to attack in defense of Elain. Sounds like somebody has feelings for Elain...

Chapter 22 - Azriel and Cassian discuss having children

“Cassian looked over at Az. ‘You think you’ll ever be ready for one?’ Ever be ready to confess to Mor what’s in your heart?

‘I don’t know,’ Azriel said.

‘Do you want a child?’

‘It doesn’t matter what I want.’ Distant words—ones that prevented Cassian from prying further.”

So Cassian still thinks Azriel is head over heels in love with Mor. And Azriel responds with distant words, saying it doesn’t matter what he wants. Could what he wants be Elain? The seer whose mate happens to be the son of a high lord? 

He could understandably be hurt over that. 

“He was still happy to be Mor’s buffer with Azriel, but there’d been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel … those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if he’d given up. After five hundred years, he’d somehow given up. Cassian couldn’t think why.”

Azriel rarely looks at Mor. There’s been a change. And Cassian has no idea why, after 500 years, Azriel has finally given up. 

Elain. Elain is the reason. 

Chapter 29 - Amren suggests Elain should look for the trove

“Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, ‘There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.’”

Azriel doesn’t want Elain to be exposed to that darkness. He’s acting protective over her. Like he really cares for her. 

Chapter 30 - Azriel and Cassian discuss Feyre’s pregnancy

“‘No. But we need to summon Lucien,’ Azriel said, just a shade tightly, as if he didn’t like it one bit.”

Why wouldn’t Azriel want to summon Lucien? Perhaps he doesn’t want anything to develop between Lucien and his mate, Elain? 

He’s jealous. 

Chapter 44 - Elain tells the story of how Nesta stole a Duke’s heart

“‘She made ballrooms into battlefields and plotted like any general. Like you two,’ she said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel. Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from.”

Elain is shy around Azriel, and quickly looks away from his smile. Sounds like a crush. 

Chapter 58 - Winter Solstice 

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.”

Elain is stealthy, quiet. So much so that Nesta remarks that Azriel or his spies himself may be giving her lessons.

“Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.

‘I was just checking on dessert,’ Elain explained as they approached the doorway and Azriel. Nesta met the shadowsinger’s stare and he gave her a nod. Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past...”

Azriel heard Elain’s laugh and wanted to see what caused it. 

They looked at each other and Elain’s breath caught - something charged in that gaze. It’s obvious now that the two have developed feelings for one another. 

“‘Why don’t you sit?’ [Nesta] leaned against the doorway beside the shadowsinger. ‘My shadows don’t like the flames so much.’ A pretty lie. She’d seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer.

‘Why did you come if it torments you so much?’

‘Because Rhys wants me here. It’d hurt him if I didn’t come.’”

“Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn’t stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn’t go near the fire.

His secret to tell, never hers.”

Elain and Lucien are by the fire. Nesta quickly picks up on the fact that it torments Azriel to see it. She understands why. She sees the pain in his eyes. Azriel is likely in love or close to in love with Elain and seeing her with a mate pains him. Knowing that he’s not her mate pains him. 

Chapter 59 - Post Solstice 

“He’d been replaced in training by a stone-faced Azriel, who was more aloof than usual and wouldn’t even give her a smile.”

What happened to put Azriel in such a bad mood? 

Azriel Bonus Chapter

This is where Elain and Azriel’s feelings towards each other are confirmed.

This occurs on Winter Solstice - which explains why Azriel acted the way he did and why he “more aloof than usual.”

I’m not going to go into the Gwyn part of the chapter because, in my opinion, it’s not relevant to Azriel and Elain’s relationship. 

“Too many razor-sharp thoughts sliced him any time he grew still long enough for them to strike. Too many wants and needs left his skin overheated and pulling taut across his bones.”

Azriel isn’t sleeping because of his desires...

“He was elated for his brother and yet... Azriel couldn’t stop it. The envy in his chest. Of Cassian, and Rhys.”

Azriel is jealous of Cassian and Rhys. Of their mating bonds and their connections. 

“The faelights gilded Elain's unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn. 

She halted, her breath catching in her throat. ‘I...’ He watched her swallow. She clutched a small gift in her hands. "I was coming to leave this on your pile of presents. I forgot to give it to you earlier.

Lie. Well, the second part was a lie. He didn’t need his shadows to read her tone, the slight tightening of her face.”

Elain’s breath catches when she spots Azriel. 

Azriel knows Elain well enough that he can tell when she’s lying.

“Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away. She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. ‘Here.’

Az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift. She hadn't bought her mate a present. 

But she'd gotten Azriel one last year-a headache powder he kept on his nightstand at the House of Wind. Not to use, but just to look at. Which he'd done every night he’d slept there. Or attempted to sleep there.”

Elain is so nervous to give Azriel his gift! 

Azriel looked at the gift she gave him last year every night... They both have it bad for each other. 

I won’t bother to quote it, but Elain gifts Azriel another thoughtful gift - ear plugs to drown out Cassian and Nesta. 

“He left the rest unspoken. Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldn't stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.”

This is what Nesta observed and understood. Azriel was so tormented by Elain having a mate that he couldn’t go near her. 

“Elain's large brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that. Just as he knew she was well aware of why Azriel so rarely came to family dinners these days.”

Understanding between the two of them. Like she knew he liked her but they wouldn’t act on it. Why though?

“Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.”

Azriel’s shadows always vanished around Mor, the woman he loved for 500 years. Now they do the same around Elain. 

“His head went quiet. But he took the necklace, opening the clasp as she exposed her back, sweeping her hair up in one hand to bare her long, creamy neck.

“He knew it was wrong, but there he was, sliding the necklace around her. Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin. Letting them brush the side of her throat, savoring the velvet-soft texture. Elain shivered, and he took a damn long time fastening the clasp.”

This confirms that there is sexual attraction and romantic feelings between the Elain and Azriel. She shivered. He savored the texture of her skin. 

18+ below!!!

“It had never gone this far. They'd exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. Wrong - it was so wrong. He didn't care.

He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue.

Azriel's cock strained behind his pants, aching so fiercely he could hardly think. He prayed she didn't peer down. Prayed she didn't under stand the shift in his scent.”

Azriel is so turned on. He needs Elain. Yet, the touching is wrong to him. Wrong because perhaps he doesn’t feel like he’s enough for her. 

“He had only allowed himself these thoughts in the dead of night. Had only allowed his hand to fist his cock and think about her then, when even his shadows had gone to sleep. How that beautiful face might appear as he entered her, what sounds she'd make.”

Azriel thinks of Elain at night and pleasures himself to him. 

“‘I should go,’ Elain said, but made no move to leave. ‘Yes,’ he said, his thumb sweeping in long strokes along the side of her throat. Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He’d beg on his knees for a chance to taste it.”

Eyes rolling, beg on his knees... Sounds a lot like how Rhys and Cassian react to Feyre and Nesta. 

“So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest. She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond his scars. Such terrible things that it was sacrilege for his fingers to touch her skin, tainting her with his presence.”

That’s why he keeps making self-deprecating comments - he doesn’t feel worthy that somebody like him (a man who tortures for his job) would touch her.

“Azriel’s hand slip up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elain's mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission. He nearly groaned with relief and need as he lowered his head toward hers.”

Elain and Azriel are about to kiss! That is, until Rhysand commands him to stop. 

“His stomach twisted as he pulled his hand from her hair and stepped back. Forced himself to say, ‘This was a mistake.’ She opened her eyes, hurt and confusion warring there before she whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’

‘You don't- don't apologize, he managed to say. ‘Never apologize. It's I who should...’ He shook his head, unable to stand the bleakness he’d brought to her expression. ‘Goodnight.’”

So Rhysand stops the almost kiss and now Elain feels rejected. Azriel is devastated for having to stop and see the hurt he inflicted. 

“Rhys's power rippled through the room like a dark cloud. ‘I’m talking about you, about to kiss Elain, in the middle of a hall where anyone could see you,’ he snarled. ‘Including her mate.’

Rhys is angry in this scene that Azriel may risk starting a feud between courts - the autumn court where Lucien is from (yes, Helion is his father but as of now, Beron believes himself to be Lucien’s father). 

“‘What if the Cauldron was wrong?...The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it’s possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters yet the third was given to another.’ He had never before dared speak the words aloud.

Azriel questions the Cauldron. Why were my brothers chosen? Why wasn’t I chosen? Why am I never chosen? Why can’t I just be with the person I want to be with? 

Azriel isn’t saying he deserves her or not. He’s questioning fate. 

He’s upset. He’s angry. He’s lonely. He’s heartbroken. 

“Azriel said nothing. He hadn't gotten that far with his planning, certainly not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to. Rhys growled, ‘Allow me to make one thing very clear. You are to stay away from her.’

‘You can't order me to do that.’”

Azriel doesn’t want to listen to Rhysand. Azriel made his feelings clear - he can’t be ordered to stay away from Elain because of his feelings for her. 

Then, Rhys again mentions the Blood Duel. That Lucien could invoke it should Elain and Azriel pursue something. 

“Rhys bared his teeth. ‘So you will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her.’”

Azriel snarled softly.

His snarl indicates there is way more than just lust between Elain and Azriel. 

So that’s it. 

Azriel and Elain went from acquaintances, to friends, to crushes, to almost lovers and the bonus point of view makes it clear that they have both romantic and sexual feelings towards each other. 

It set up the theme for the next book - a forbidden love story where Elain and Azriel must overcome fate itself to be with each other. 

#I didn't mean to make it this long #I had sooo many things highlighted I didn't even realize #elriel #elain #elain archeron #azriel #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acosaf #acosf #acotar theory #mine

[algumaideia]

SJM treatment of Tamlin and why it is wrong

You know, she treated Tamlin so bad that only because of that I became his stan. That is literally the only reason why I am pro Tamlin. Just that. 

First, Tamlin did abused Feyre and Lucien in the second book. This is a fact. So don’t say that I’m here trying to appologize an abuser because I’m not. Actually the story that I wanted for Tamlin is that Feyre kicks him and go do whatever because I don’t care about her, Tamlin feels sad then goes after her, she says how bad he was and etc, Tamlin feels depressed because he realizes she is right, Lucien brings the Tamlin out of his depressive state through the power of friendship, Tamlin tries to be a better person, Tamlin becomes Tarquin’s friend, they both rebuild their court together. You see, my character arc for him has a part where he acknowledge he was being abusive(something that Rhys never did cof cof).

Anyway let’s start with why SJM treatment of Tamlin was wrong. 

I don’t know if my post needs it, but just in case. TW: abuse, ptsd, trauma, depression, sjm bad writing.

Ptsd, trauma and abuse

You know, at the same time that I know Tamlin’s abuse was wrong and horrible I also want to ignore it because, besides the negligence, it was just bad writing. What do you mean by bad writing? Well, let’s compare Tamlin’s ptsd with Kaz and one of my main characters. Why am I going to compare ptsd when I am talking about abuse? I am going to do so because Tamlin’s abuse is caused by his ptsd. Other point, I know it is imature, but I’m very insecure about my writing and compare SJM writing with mine makes me feel better. I’m sorry about that.

Kaz passed through a horrible experience and because of that he has extreme touch aversion. But the trauma and ptsd didn’t change his personality, they weren’t responsables to make a good kid become a rough boy that is the leader of a gang. The circunstances did it (I haven’t read the second book yet, no spoleirs). Of course that the trauma changed the way he interacted with people but what made him change was the fact that he was a lonely child with a heart full of hatred and desire for vengence living in a place full of thieves and gangs. Now Jafari, my main character, also lived a traumatic experience. He has nightmares, triggers and intrusive thoughts. However, the “basis” of his ptsd is that he ignores and avoids his emotions, his grief and his trauma. He doesn’t like conflicts, he is passive, he doesn’t deal with things, he just let things solve themselves. And that’s why his ptsd is based on him avoiding dealing with what happened and trying to process what happened. 

Tamlin’s abuse and ptsd is based on three things: anger, neglect and being controlling. To be fair the neglect and controlling part makes sense, but I still have problems with them. Now the anger is so weird. I don’t remember Acotar pretty well but during all the time Tamlin was UTM he had control over his actions and feelings. Amarantha wanted to hurt him by hurting his love and his friends, she was also problaby sexually assalting him. Tamlin saw Feyre being tortured, suffering and being sexually abused and he never showed any reaction because he knew if he did that Amarantha would make everything worse for her. Considering that how his ptsd and abuse is he having no control towards his anger? It makes no sense. 

In the first book Lucien insults and makes fun of  Tamlin all the time and Tamlin has no problem with it. Not only that but his court has no ranks, not like Rhys’ court cof cof. But now Lucien can’t give him even a suggestion that he is almost killing his only friend who survived during Aramanthas reign? Sigh That’s my problem with Tamlln being a control freak. And I aslo have the feeling that SJM only put it so then Rhys could say it is your choice all the time. 

About the neglect, Tamlin was trying to rebuilt his court, was dealing with his trauma and there was also the fact that Feyre wasn’t safe since other High Lords would be mad with her for having their powers. Tamlin neglecting Feyre is logical. But people forget that Feyre was also neglecting Tamlin. As I said I don’t remember Acotar pretty well but I think that Tamlin asked how Feyre was at some point, but Feyre never did that. She was all: ohhh Tamlin knows that I am throwing up and having nightmares why he does nothing? Tamlin isn’t sleeping well too, but he never asks me how am I doing. You want to blame Tamlin for his negligence towards Feyre? Good, do it, you are right. But Feyre did the same thing. She NEVER EVER even thought to ask if Tamlin was okay, or acknowlegded that he was also suffering. 

At least Tamlin tried to communicate with her, Feyre never did that. For example he gave her paints so then she could start painting again. And this was good, Feyre was depressed and that is why she didn’t painted. One thing that depressed people do sometimes is to avoid doing things they know will make them happy. Feyre was doing that. And this was also Tamlin trying to communicate with Feyre and she just ignored it and then was angry because he didn’t know that she couldn’t stand the color red, but Rhys knew. This is so wrong.

1. Rhys only knew that because he invaded her mind and discovered something she wasn’t confortable talking with anyone.

2. She never told about her problem with the color red with Tamlin. She never talked with him. How was he supposed to know?

3. This was the perfect opportunity to talk about that with him, but she didn’t.

Tamlin's ptsd was ignored through the whole series, he was treated as the worst person ever when Rhys who did the same things was treated as the best person in Earth and his logical actions were treated as stupid.

Tamlin’s “illogical” actions

You know, there is a lot of memes that say how Tamlin was stupid to think that Feyre would like to come back to him after spending sometime with Rhys. Yeah, how dumb! Why he would think that he love of his life would like to come back to him after being kidnapped by the guy who sexually abused her for months, the guy who joined Amarantha for no reason, the guy who has been known for torturing people and having a court full of miserable fae. Hahaha so dumb!! She even sent him a letter saying she didn’t want anything with him, and he was stupid to go after her anyway. I mean, the guy known for being a psycho that kidnapped her was also able to control minds so why wouldn’t he believe in the letter? Hahahaha. *Sigh*

A lot of people criticize Tamlin for colecting taxes in Acomaf, like how could he? People first, where do you think all Rhys money came from? His work? Second, it was the first time he did it in 50 years and he postponed it a month. He was trying to get everything back to normal. Besides taxes are an important part of a governament, it is from them that the governament can make things, like hospitals, better streets(at least they were supposed to do so). SJM didn’t make it clear what a HIgh Lord job is. She said that Tamlin job is to protect the Spring Court, but in every other moment it is implied that High Lord are likes kings so I don’t know. Anyway this makes perfect sense, congratulations to Tamln.

Then he allies with Hybern and people act like he did that to take Feyre back form Rhysand. How dumb! Hahaha. He did that to save his people. The Spring Court was in a delicated position, he lost a lot of his friends during Amarantha reign and they were problaby responsable to protect the Spring Court. The agreement would protect this people, got Feyre back and made him able to spy Hybern. And this is more than Rhys did. He only tortured people to protect a hidden city, nothing more. 

In the war meeting he had the all the right to be angry, but it wasn’t nice to say that about Feyre. I won’t say anything more because I could write a whole post about how wrong this meeting was. 

And finally he helped to resurrected Rhysand and it was put as an amazing thing. But it was nonsense. Why he helped the guy who kidnapped his love and manipulated her? Why he helped the guy who sent his love to destroy his court? Why he helped the guy who allied with Amarantha for no reason? Why he helped the guy who is known for being a monster for years? Specialy condering that this guy could get his powers. And after that Rhys decieded to visit Tamlin and make him more miserable than he already us. But that’s ok because Rhys is the best male. Not only that but Rhys now is visiting Tamlin oftenly in Acofs apparently. This makes me so ANGRY. 

This was my messy post.

Best regards, 

Me.

Ps. Sorry for writing makes sense and its variations too much, but that is because I don’t know English that well so my knowledge is very limited.

#anti sjm #sjm critical #anti acotar #anti acowar #anti acomaf #anti feyre #anti rhysand #anti feysand #tamlin #lucien #lucien vanserra

[houseofhurricane]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

This is so fun! Thanks for thinking of me 🧡 Here are mine:

we could be anything (RuhnLidia, one-shot, AU set during HOSAB) My first Ruhn/Lidia fic and it really made me feel things. Usually I can maintain some distance as a writer but the end had my heart pounding because I didn't want to leave them, especially the way I had to leave them. I tend to love a fic a little extra when it makes me fall in love with the characters, and this one made me a diehard stan. Also, I loved writing their conversations, their push and pull, and building out their characters, especially Lidia's.

Rules for Spies (Gwynriel, multi-chapter, canon-compliant pre-HOSAB) Writing this fic just made me so happy. I loved building out Gwyn and Azriel's characters and their journeys. This was my second multi-chapter ACOTAR fanfic and it really made me feel like I could be a novelist, I knew what I wanted to do and I did it and that felt great. There are still things I would change (there's a subplot I would love to explore to the tune of 50k words), but I love Rules for Spies.

Bloom & Bone (Elain/Tamlin and Vassa/Lucien, multi-chapter, canon-compliant pre-HOSAB) Very few people have read this fic due to the pairings (I get it!) which honestly was good for me because I just did whatever I wanted with it. I'm really proud of the Tamlin redemption arc, Elain's whole journey (her powers here are genuinely cool, and I'm really proud of the way I developed her), the entirety of Vassa, actually making Lucien snarky and fun, and also figuring out how to write big plot, banter, and sex scenes. There's a smutty scene here with Lucien and Vassa that might be my pinnacle as a writer, and I'm okay with that... even if I'm always trying to top it for myself.

aren't you scared? (well that's just fine) (Gwynriel, one-shot, canon-compliant pre-HOSAB) I'm still mad that I couldn't figure out a better title for this one, but it's the fic that made me fall in love with Gwynriel. As someone who grew up in the Evangelical church with the purity gospel, I found Gwyn being this sex-positive priestess really compelling, and loved working through how her trauma and recovery might intersect in her relationship with Azriel and lead to her further empowerment. Their banter has been so fun for me to write from the beginning, and even though I think I've gotten better at writing them since I wrote this, it will always have a special place in my heart.

To A Nightingale (Gwynriel, modern AU, she's a journalist and he's a rockstar) Literally two days before I got the idea for this fic, I said I would never write a modern AU... and then couldn't not write this. (I should also note that I said I thought Gwynriel was kind of boring two days before I started writing them. Basically, the best way to get me to write something is to get me to say I will never write it.) I still can't believe that I figured out a way to write about music, Latinidad, and Gwynriel all in one fic, and that people are actually reading it! I was very nervous to start posting this one because it felt the most like sharing my original writing, and it makes me so glad that you all enjoy it 🧡

#asked and answered #acotar fanfiction #crescent city fanfic #house of sky and breath spoilers #hosab spoilers #ruhn danaan x lidia cervos #ruhnlidia #gwynriel #gwynriel supremacy #vassien #tamlain #i have actually written a lot of words!