#sjm books DESTROY me

[chichikoi]

hiraeth.

part II. synopsis: she watches as cassian falls for another, grappling with her own hidden affections and their newly snapped mating bond in the process. pairing: cassian x fem!reader fandom: a court of thorns and roses (book series by sarah j maas) genre: angst warnings: none a/n: house of balloons/glass table girls, this is his song... i love him. fluff part two coming up OBVIOUSLY, im not fucking ending it like this i cant do this to my #1 loverboy babygirl kitty princess beloved. @joyseuphoria hi <3

Cassian had always been the beacon of power and resolve, with a demeanor rugged and unyielding. But beneath the surface was vulnerability, and she knew that it was written in the stars for her to remain by his side as his closest friend and confidante, never to become one to uncover that side of him.

But it didn’t make it easier. Watching him as he fell for Nesta’s every glance, every touch, every word that escaped her mouth seemed to throw him deeper and deeper into a trance. And she was fine with that, and accepted it. Accepted that she would never be the object of his softened glances, his featherlight touches, his-

Her thoughts halted as Cassian stormed into the room, frustration radiating off him in waves. She glanced up from her book, her eyes immediately catching the tension etched onto his features. Without a word, she closed her book and shifted, making room for him on the couch.

Cassian collapsed beside her, his movements rough yet familiar. He stretched out, his feet finding their place on her lap almost instinctively. Y/N didn't flinch; instead, she settled into the comfortable silence, waiting for Cassian to speak.

"It's Nesta," he finally muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. "Training with her…it was like walking on eggshells. One wrong move, and she was tearing into me with those ice-cold eyes."

She listened attentively, her gaze soft as she absorbed his words. "It was like she was always testing me," Cassian continued, his voice growing softer with each word. "Pushing me to my limits, making me question everything I thought I knew about myself."

Her fingers instinctively started to massage his feet as he spoke. It was a small gesture, one born out of years of friendship and trust. Cassian didn't protest; instead, he leaned back against the cushions, allowing the soothing touch to ease the tension from his muscles.

As the minutes stretched on, their conversation ebbed and flowed, the weight of Cassian's burdens slowly lifting with each passing moment. Y/N listened, offering words of comfort when needed, but mostly content to provide silent support.

Cassian's breathing eventually evened out, his body relaxing against the cushions. Y/N glanced down to find him fast asleep, his features softened by the serenity of slumber. She smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection.

Suddenly, chains, bolts, and locks shifted, loosening, their weight growing just a little more tolerable. A soul peeked through. Broken, scarred, and trembling — with fear, she realized, but it stretched further and further. Yearning, searching.

It was as though a tether had snapped into place, an invisible thread binding her to Cassian in a way she had never felt before. Confusion flickered as she processed the intensity of the connection, the undeniable pull drawing her closer to him.

She was aware that this was not happening in the slightest. A mind trick. A dream, she thought. betraying once, the jolt of real-time that pushed through her. Burning her cheeks and stealing her breath. How the waking world slipped past the knobby parts of her fingers like a whisper, barely there, because dreaming was just a fancier word for getting lost. It held her there, suspended in imagination and for every second, it felt real. Like she could grasp the outlines and the textures. Like she could touch the weather, drink the clouds, and taste the sunlight.

The gods who had her in a chokehold withdrew.

Death feared her too, it seemed.

He was soaring in the air, and she was on the ground. She tried to reach him but he was far, far out of her reach. Seconds ticked by, and then minutes, and every thought that tried to sneak its way in, through this thick veil, bounced off and dissipated into thin air.

Because she then remembered… that beautiful things shouldn’t be broken. And she had a knack for breaking things.

The soft rays of dawn streamed through the windows of the House of Wind, casting a warm glow over the sitting room where she and Cassian had fallen asleep. As she stirred from her slumber, she found herself alone on the couch, the imprint of Cassian's presence still lingering in the air. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her mind foggy with the remnants of… dreams? Visions? She felt as though the very fabric of her existence had been torn asunder, leaving her adrift in a sea of uncertainty, but when has that ever stopped her?

So she stood on the ground and longed.

part II here >>

#WAHHH #MY FIRST CASSIAN FIC #i hope i did it justice man >< #stay tuned for part two maybe? #“maybe” lol i alrd started writing part two #its so mind boggling to write for book characters as opposed to writing for animanga characters #the fear of fucking up characterization #anywayd #clout tags coming up #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acosf #a court of thorns and roses #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin #a court of silver flames #a court of frost ans starlight #acofas #cassian #cassian x reader #cassian x you #acotar x reader #cassian imagine #cassian angst #cassian x y/n #sjm books DESTROY me #i need my animanga followers to know that mating bond is NOT an a/b/o thing. it is an acotar thing.

[nikethestatue]

Hi everyone, I am still going through all the asks. There are a lot, so it's taking me some time.

As I mentioned before, I am in the middle of reading HOFAS right now and I think that as I am reading, it's becoming clearer that any and all discussions around the ship war, around the possibility of Gwynriel have to stop. it's always been an absurd exercise, but the futility of these arguments has become even more apparent after HOFAS.

I understood what I always suspected--SJM is thinking BIG. HUGE. She is so far beyond any sort of silly ship that it's almost embarrassing that we've been worried about....Gwynriel? Gwyn is a tiny player or no importance. She is Nest'a friend. That's it and that was always her role. Now, to even CONSIDER her being a counterpart to Azriel, or even more incredibly, a counterpart to ELAIN ARCHRON, is just soul destroying.

There's never been any competition between Elain and Gwyn, in any manner, in any capacity. Elain, like Nesta and Feyre, is on a completely different level. She is being set up to revive dead Courts, use her starborn powers, probably travel to Midgard and Erilea.

At best, Gwyn is set up to fight as a Valkyrie in the final battle. Maybe. Unless she is an evil Lightsinger, and that is also possible. But whatever she is, she is NOT an Archeron sister, not Azriel's mate, not Rhys's best friend, not Nyx's favourite aunt, or anything even remotely in that vicinity.

I think all the questions about the ACOSF bonus chapter can now end. They've been answered. They've been explained. There is no mate bond, attraction, sexual tension, desire or even mild interest between Azriel and Gwyn. Nothing. It's about Elain and Azriel, and what they'll do together in her book.

There is not ONE point that Gwynriels have that they can play now. Nothing. SJM wiped it all off and the slate is clean.

So. Let's just wait for the announcement of Elain's book, which will be amazing, and enjoy the only logical, breadcrumbed, predicted and naturally unfolding relationship, which is Elriel.

#elriel #pro elriel #azriel and elain #elain archeron

[acotarfrustrations]

Acomaf feyre is turning into something that acotar feyre would absolutely despise and honestly it's so sad the way sjm sniped what SHOULD have been the main character of the series (bcus we all know rhys is the real mc). Like her mind raping tarquin to steal something that she could just ask for when he literally thinks they're friends.

The thing about amren making a meal of any guards that see them steal the book particularly bothers me because this should be the main book where we should see emotional consequences of feyre's actions utm and with andras. Killing an innocent fae for a stupid reason should be SOMETHING SHES VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO. ITS WHAT HER WHOLE ACOTAR ARC WAS BASED ON AND HAVING TO GO AGAINST THOSE MORALS DESTROYED HER MIND

NOw all of a sudden it's just another tuesday. Not to mention the things they're doing? WARS HAVE BEEN STARTED FOR LESS. Coming under the guise of diplomacy to a foreign nation to steal their precious artifacts, steal their jewels, and possibly kill their citizens if they see what you're doing??? Why didn't tarquin just kill them?? Those are blatant acts of war

It's so stupid because even Feyre acknowledges that what they're doing is dumb and makes no sense and asks why they can't just ask tarquin for the book. RHYS DOESNT EVEN GIVE AN ANSWER. He's just like "oh well Cresseida told me tarquin is ambitious so, uh, yeah we have to steal the book"

ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID????

It literally feels like rhys only wants to steal it because he's jealous and thinks tarquin wants to fuck feyre so he wants to steal it to not only prove a point but ruin any potential allies that feyre could have outside of IC. Anything to get Feyre dependent on him am I right?

And I feel like this would distress acotar feyre so much because she's not blinded by the rose tinted glasses of rhys' penis and she would be able to clearly see what was going on.

Rhys intentionally waited until feyre was in a very vulnerable state, forced her to come to his house, gave her things he knew she wanted and would benefit him, and uses his mind powers to cater to her every whim and give her what she wants so she can be on his side. Not because he loves her or she's his mate, because it's strategic and there's the added bonus of pissing tamlin off in the beginning. When shit hits the fan for feyre and tamlin, he immediately takes that opportunity to get her to work with him and induct her into the rhys circle jerk cult and now she's thinking like him.

He's so deep in her head that the reader is literally watching sjm change parts of a character's core values to mold her around her love interest and call it empowering feminism, using her trauma and her "darkness" as a justification.

And this "he's not 'dark' enough to be with me" thing particularly bothers me because it's actually a common mindset for traumatized people when it comes to relationships. Thinking that your trauma has ruined you for a healthy relationship and that it's something that you don't deserve so you should actually date evil people because they're the only ones who understand your trauma responses so you won't feel like a burden is a very real mindset and feyre is displaying it to a tee. And Sjm is romanticizing it.

Like yeah rhys might understand her dark side or whatever but that is because he is more evil than her. He sends her to the weaver in what feels like a cruel prank just to go get a ring, he uses her as bait, he shuts her ideas down for no reason, he only tells her what he wants her to know, he grooms her into being a tool for him instead of letting her explore her own personality, and he only shows her around velaris. The only time he takes her somewhere else, he and amren decided to be complete assholes to the summer court and pull a completely unneccesary heist to make feyre feel pressured to join in their schemes and cement this "it's the NC against the world" mentality to isolate her and prevent her from making friends

Like I just imagine book 1 feyre feeling horrified and disgusted at what she becomes and it's honestly so sad. At this point, I honestly only feel sorry for feyre but I think acowar is going to be the breaking point that actually pushes me into hating her. Like at that point, I think she actually becomes one of the IC, mentality actions and all, and idk I just feel so bad.

#anti sarah j maas #anti acotar #anti rhysand #anti sjm #anti ic #anti acomaf #anti feysand #pro feyre

[lovemyromance]

"SJM is a fated mates author she would never break up a mated pairing"

Actually, no. She is a "you always have the freedom to CHOOSE" author. Choice is the theme in her books, not mating bonds.

Rhys said it himself, if Feyre had chosen Tamlin, it would've destroyed him but he would have stayed away. He would've respected that choice.

Cassian knows Nesta is his mate, and still, he waits until she chooses him.

Tell me what about Elucien is screaming choice? They were declared mates to the chagrin of both Lucien and Elain. Elain is so uncomfortable around him. She doesn't think he is entitled to her affections. Lucien can't be in the same room as her.

If they do somehow get a book and fall in love and choose each other, fine. But to say they will end up together because they are mates and SJM is a fated mates author is not a solid argument.

Not to mention, it's not Elriels questioning the bond it's SJM writing it herself. Multiple characters have questioned the Elucien bond, multiple times in the text.

Not to mention, it is speculated that Elain's book is next and SJM herself did an interview saying she wants to explore the theme of rejected mates.

Has any character questioned the Feysand or Nessian bonds? Did Eris look at Nesta and ever voice "What if the Cauldron was wrong?" He was dead set on marrying her. For that matter, did Tamlin even question Feysand's bond? He was madly in love with her. And yet, SJM did not write any other characters questioning a mating bond. Usually if a couple has been declared mates, others back off. Seen by Tamlin. Seen by Eris.

Azriel KNOWS Elucien are mates. Has he backed off? No, he has questioned the Cauldron, his religion itself.

I'm just saying SJM writes things a certain way for a reason. She uses a ton of repetitive language and phrases, but when other characters are voicing similar thoughts without even communicating, don't you think it's important?

When the author herself says she wants to write about rejected mates and at this time in the series, we only know of ONE unaccepted mating bond, don't you think that's important?

But I thought it was obvious 🤷🏻‍♀️

#elriel #azriel #elain archeron #pro elain #acotar #elain x azriel #elain

[loonylooly]

at this point i'm wondering what sarah is thinking when writing her love interests, like ok it's clear she finds them hot but like....are they good people

Rhys:

UTM lap dance shenanigans

throwing Feyre into danger constantly (Weaver, destroying cauldron, getting the book from Adriata, etc etc)

Still not doing jack shit about wing clippings in Illyria?? Emerie is right there, Rhysand, go enforce your damn laws

Insulting his wife's sister constantly

Almost killed his wife's sister cause she dared give her important medical information

Locked Lucien (MY BOY!!) in the house of wind

Locked Nesta in the house of wind

Didn't give Mor any warning that time he made her face her abusers and she cried i think (ngl i forgot most of it)

Ignoring Hewn City even tho...Kier is like the only bad guy we've seen from there?? Surely there's decent people in Hewn City, don't gotta make everyone suffer

Nesta windhaven kidnapping intervention so she stops spending Rhys' money (if it was really about her own sake, they would've put a stop to it much earlier)

Seemingly alienates everyone in Feyre's life that could and would stand up to Rhys for Feyre's sake. Lucien? Nah, shoo. Nesta? Nah, shoo. Weird thought but Tarquin? Yeah, makes her steal his book.

And last but DEFINITELY not least; demon baby wife death

HE COULD'VE TOLD FEYRE... OR ATLEAST NOT THREATENED TO KILL HER SISTER FOR TELLING HER WHEN HE HOULD'VE TOLD HER IN THE FIRST PLACE??

THERE'S PROBABLY MORE BUT MOVING ON

Cassian:

Barely ever stands up for Nesta in the IC

Aids in kidnapping Nesta to Windhaven so she stops spending whysand's money

Laughs at Nesta when she falls down the stairs

Aids in punishing Nesta for daring to tell Feyre important medical info

Constantly going agaisnt Nesta's wishes and trying to "save her" when she doesn't want him to

That one time Azriel asked Nesta if Cass had pushed her down the stairs...Like are we gonna ignore that?? Personally I'd have a quarter life crisis if my closest friend, who is like my sibling and has known me most of our lives, seriously entertained the idea that i would physically assault the girl I like

general aggressiveness all of ACOSF

aids in bulldozing Nesta's apartment

Rowan goddamn Whitehorn (Who I've yet to see people bashing him somehow,,, HoF rowan was like if ACOSF cassian had a horrific murder baby

Left his pregnant mate alone during a war cause he wanted to prove himself....like..idk man if i had the choice between war and taking care of my pregnant wife i'd pick the wife (did he know she was pregnant? i've kind of forgotten by now)

Rowan's kid would've been hundreds of years older than Aelin.....just think abt that

Literally everything he did to Aelin during training in HoF

Their argument where he PUNCHED HER IN THE FACE

Threatened to whip Aelin...I repeat....Threatened to whip Aelin, an ex-slave....

Told Aelin it'd be better if she died 10 years ago (unprovoked?? bitch you met her like 2 weeks ago just cause she's getting on your nerves doesn't mean you gotta wish DEATH upon her)

Literally was relieved to find out she was only 19 because if she was a few years older she could've been THE CHILD OF HIS BEST FRIEND.

No issue with marrying the cousin of his best friend's child....Imagine if he hadn't met Aelin first.. If he'd met Aedion first, Aelin would've always been the relative of his friend's son to him

FOR THE RECORD i hate all of the SJM age gaps but rowan and aelin's specifically irks me because Aelin LITERALLY CALLS HIM OLD throughout the WHOLE SERIES

Literally tells Aelin he doesn't care about what she's been through and that she is nothing to him after she confronts him for leaving her

Puts Luca in danger by sticking him on to a frozen lake with a monster inside where he'll DIE if Aelin can't save him

Funnily enough, some of the only seemingly decent person guys in SJM 1. Are completely forgotten about in the books or 2. SJM had to make them violently unlikeable

Like we've got:

Tarquin, seemed like a pretty good guy, rightfully pissed that the IC stole his family heirloom, shows up like twice in the books (LET HIM COME BACK SARAH I LOVE HIM)

Tamlin, was pretty decent in book 1, was made violently unlikeable in book 2 onwards

Chaol, very strong morals, generally a good person, loves his wife, made violently unlikeable and boring in late CoM, HoF, and QoS (ToD is one of my favorite books in the series, will praise ToD till the day I die, my boy EARNED his own book)

Aedion, seemed like a good person, strong morals, spent years trading his dignity for the sake of Terrasen, loved his cousin above all else, made violently unlikable in KoA (even tho I think he was justified in being angry about it, i'd be SO pissed)

Sartaq, good guy, strong morals, Nesryn's chapters were some of my favorites in ToD, Sartaq is one of my favorite SJM love interests, i'll never forgive author lady for forgetting about him in KoA (tho i guess she forgot about everyone from ToD? Yrene and Chaol are the only important ones, she barely even mentions Nesryn even though Nesryn's BEEN an integral part of the gang since QoS, giving her the Suki from ATLA treatment)

#acotar #sjm #sarah j maas #throne of glass #tog #anti rhysand #anti rowan #anti cassian #anti nessian #anti feysand #chaol westfall #sartaq #tarquin #tamlin #aedion ashryver #nesta deserves better

[starsreminisce]

I'm know I've mentioned it before, but considering that Feyre and Rhys are both two halves made whole, Nesta's and Elain's books essentially mirror ACOMAF split into two. Nesta's journey parallels Feyre's healing from her UTM ordeal, with Rhys's full Illyrian counterpart. Meanwhile, Elain's exploration mirrors Feyre's ascension to reclaiming the High Lady title, with Rhys's full fae counterpart.

While SF may have faced criticism, Nesta had to heal through aspects that had never bothered her before, much like Feyre did, and Cassian has already worked through most of his issues, though he still acknowledges his self-worth issues. Their story seems complete, but ACOMAF hints more towards Elucien's story, especially when dissecting Rhys's chapter 54 alongside Lucien's journey throughout the books.

Though Rhys's and Lucien's experiences differ, there are enough parallels for me to draw connections. SJM loves her patterns, so it wouldn't be surprising if she continues this trend in Elucien's story as well.

Indents are from chapter 54 and orange is Lucien

He paused, swallowing. “I was chained in the mud, forced to watch as they battled. To watch as Jurian took my killing blow. Only—she slaughtered him. I watched her rip out his eye, then rip off his finger, and when he was prone, I watched her drag him back to the camp. Then I listened to her slowly, over days and days, tear him apart. His screaming was endless. She was so focused on torturing him that she didn’t detect my father’s arrival. In the panic, she killed Jurian rather than see him liberated, and fled.

A tight sigh. “His father had her put down. Executed, in front of Lucien, as his two eldest brothers held him and made him watch.”

And that night, when she kept turning her attention to me, I knew what she wanted. I knew it wasn’t about fucking me so much as it was about getting revenge at my father’s ghost. But if that was what she wanted, then that was what she would get. I made her beg, and scream, and used my lingering powers to make it so good for her that she wanted more. Craved more.

He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “She insisted. Tamlin was … Things were bad, Feyre. I went in his stead, and I did my duty to the court. I went of my own free will. And we completed the Rite.” No wonder she’d backed off him. She’d gotten what she wanted. “Please don’t tell Elain,” he said. “When we—when we find her again,” he amended. He might have completed the Great Rite with Ianthe of his own free will, but he certainly hadn’t enjoyed it. Some line had been blurred—badly.

But your final trial came, and … When she started torturing you, something snapped in a way I couldn’t explain, only that seeing you bleeding and screaming undid me. It broke me at last. And I knew as I picked up that knife to kill her … I knew right then what you were. I knew that you were my mate, and you were in love with another male, and had destroyed yourself to save him, and that … that I didn’t care. If you were going to die, I was going to die with you. I couldn’t stop thinking it over and over as you screamed, as I tried to kill her: you were my mate, my mate, my mate.

Lucien staggered a step forward as Elain was gripped between two guards and hoisted up. She began kicking then, weeping while her feet slammed into the sides of the Cauldron as if she’d push off it, as if she’d knock it down— “That is enough.” Lucien surged for Elain, for the Cauldron. And the king’s power leashed him, too. On the ground beside Tamlin, his single eye wide, Lucien had the good sense to look horrified as he glanced between Elain and the High Lord.

So Amarantha died, and I spoke to the High Lords mind to mind, convincing them to come forward, to offer that spark of power. None of them disagreed. I think they were too stunned to think of saying no.

Elain was still shivering on the wet stones, her nightgown shoved up to her thighs, her small breasts fully visible beneath the soaked fabric. Guards snickered. Lucien snarled at the king over the bite of the magic at his throat, “Don’t just leave her on the damned floor—” There was a flare of light, and a scrape, and then Lucien was stalking toward Elain, freed of his restraints. Tamlin remained leashed on the ground, a gag of white, iridescent magic in his mouth now. But his eyes were on Lucien as—As Lucien took off his jacket, kneeling before Elain. She cringed away from the coat, from him

When I went to leave you … I think transforming you into Fae made the bond lock into place permanently. I’d known it existed, but it hit me then—hit me so strong that I panicked. I knew if I stayed a second longer, I’d damn the consequences and take you with me. And you’d hate me forever.

But Elain was staring over Nesta’s shoulder. At Lucien—whose face she had finally taken in. Dark brown eyes met one eye of russet and one of metal. Nesta was still weeping, still raging, still inspecting Elain— Lucien’s hands slackened at his sides. His voice broke as he whispered to Elain, “You’re my mate.”

I heard you were going to marry him, and I told myself you were happy. I should let you be happy, even if it killed me. Even if you were my mate, you’d earned that happiness.

“My mate is engaged to a human male.” He spoke more to himself than to me. “I’m sorry if—” “I want to see her. Just once. Just—to know.” “To know what?” He hitched my damp cloak higher around us. “If she is worth fighting for.” I couldn’t bring myself to say she was, to give him that sort of hope when Elain might very well do everything in her power to hold to her engagement. Even if immortality had already rendered it impossible. Lucien leaned his head back against the rock wall behind us. “And then I’ll ask your mate how he survived it—knowing you were engaged to someone else. Sharing another male’s bed.”

“It killed me, Feyre, to send you back. To see you waste away, month by month.

Too thin. She must not be eating at all. How can she even stand? The thoughts flowed through his head, one after another. His heart was a raging, thunderous beat, and he didn’t dare move from his position a mere five feet away. She hadn’t yet turned toward him, but the ravages of her fasting were evident enough.

But I couldn’t … I couldn’t stop being around you, and loving you, and wanting you. I still can’t stay away.

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain x lucien #acotar mating bonds

[realfae12]

I don't hate your ships, I don't hate any ship at all but I hate the way you treat Elain like she's just there to help Men, very older men.

◎Now let's talk about Elain and Tamlin.

It's okay if you think they're going to be together. It's okay if you want to ignore the obvious. And it's totally okay if you believe she doesn't belong in the Night Court just because Cassian said she doesn't look good in a black dress (although that was the point; they had to make Elain look less attractive so that Eris would consider Nesta over Elain). Here again, you're giving preference to Cassian's words, although Elain herself said she wanted to be in the Night Court. But what's not okay is expecting that she'll heal Tamlin. Tamlin is a High Lord; he's 500 years old and has fought many battles. He knows what is right and what's wrong. If he wants to destroy himself, it's his choice. If he wants to isolate himself, that's also his choice. Why would Elain help him? Trust me, he knows what he's doing. Again, if Elain WANTS to help him, then it's her choice, and that's okay, but I doubt she would do that. He knows he has to completely let go of Feyre, and you expect Elain to help him do that? Do you even know how stupid that sounds? Just because Elain likes gardening doesn't mean she belongs in the Spring Court, period.

◎Lucien and Elain.

I don't love Lucien, but I don't hate him either. For me, he's just there; maybe SJM will write his story, and we'll get to see more of him. It's okay if you think Lucien and Elain are mates, so that's why they are going to end up together. It's okay if you want to ignore "what if Cauldron is wrong," which is repeated by all important characters. But what's not okay is expecting Elain to help Lucien somehow become the High Lord of the Spring Court; it's stupid. And mostly, I have seen the same phrase over and over again: "Lucien deserves happiness," "Lucien deserves his mate because he went through a lot," blah blah. It feels like you just want them together for the sake of it, just because Lucien wants to end up with his mate (which, again, I doubt because he can't even stand her for more than 2 minutes). If Lucien knows how to betray people, I'm sure he knows how to handle/help himself. He also knows what's good for him; trust me.

★Elriel.

For some Elriels, Azriel is a very old Fae male. He knows how to overcome situations. Yeah, he thinks he doesn't deserve anything good, but I think that will be the plot of their book: Elain choosing him. But it will be Elain's choice. HER CHOICE.

○And then there are Gwnr*yls, we'll talk about them some other time.

It's all about Elain's choice, not what we expect. She's battling her own demons, like Nesta; she was made Fae against her will. There are so many things we don't know, so stop assuming things. Y'all hate her so much for no reason. We don't have her book; we don't know about her, so at least give her a chance.

#pro elriel #azriel x elain #elriel #pro elain #acotar #Elain is strong

[sunnybyler]

so in light of some convos i’ve had on here today, i started thinking about if i’d be one of the people who would quit the series if the next book isn’t my ship. for reference, i’m an elucien girlie through and through (and i love gwynriel too). and my honest answer is….. maybe?? unfortunately probably, but not because i lost the ship war. oh no, that is something i am VERY acquainted with and can usually stomach. hell, half my ships are pulled out of my ass and never dated. i can lose and accept that and sometimes even learn to like the winning ship. no, my problem would boil down to one thing entirely: lucien vanserra.

lucien is my favorite character in the entire acotar series, has been since we first met him, and even with everyone shitting on his character in the last 4 books i never stopped loving him. and my main problem is this. i cannot fathom a happy ending for him if e/riel is endgame. so my problem isn’t seeing e/riel endgame on its own — even though the bonus chapter gave me the worst ick, i wouldn’t necessarily be FULLY opposed to read their story if lucien wasn’t in the picture. in fact i can see the appeal sometimes, i’ve even dabbled in some fics just for fun. but i just cannot see how sjm could pull that story off without destroying his character, ruining his life, or just straight up killing him. none of which i would ever want to read. (and do not even try and throw vassa at me, lucien’s happy ending is NOT going to be watching yet another of his lovers die). if someone new was introduced and his book was hinted at, i would probably read it honestly. though i cant say i’d be happy about it.

so, essentially what i’m saying is that if lucien is happy, or if it’s implied he will be in the future, i’ll read it. i would certainly not be first in line, i’d let my stronger lucien warriors read it first and decide if it’s too tragic or not. i try to have an open mind about these things despite having my own strong opinions, so i genuinely would try my best to read any acotar book that gets published, even if i lose. but i physically couldn’t make myself read about my favorite character suffering endlessly or turning evil out of nowhere, and that’s why i’m so hesitant to confidently say that i would give the book a shot.

#acotar #elucien #pro elucien #lucien vanserra #acotar 6

[works-of-heart]

"E/riel has plot!"

What plot? If they're already 'in love,' what's the plot for them to fall in love?

Oh Forbidden romance?

...You mean how Elain ISN'T FORCED AT ALL to accept this mating bond? How literally no one is forcing her hand one way or another and it's up to HER whether she wants to accept her mate or not?

How Rhys challenged Azriel to show he had ANY feelings beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to, but fell short?

Or how Rhys said that if Elain DID choose to reject it, that she would have their support? (Clearly Rhysand isn't standing in the way if Azriel's feelings for her were anything beyong "the fantasies he pleasured himself to." or could at least say with his chest he was over Mor.

Oh, you mean the tons of other 'theories' that e/riel has come up with that literally destroys all the character/ story build up she's been writing? Having an SA survivor be evil and luring men. Or having that character not be involved at all (Because you know, THAT plot threatens your ship.)

Oh riiight, the millions of different kinds of 'mate' theories. How ONLY Elucien's bond is the wrong one, but everyone else's? They're right! Even though, Lucien shares the SAME mating qualities that Rhysand and Cassian share. The longing stares, (Azriel had that for Mor too before Moriel got retconned. Don't worry Az, there's a fiery red haired beauty waiting for you!), the concern, the mate desire and the chant of "you are mine and I am yours." Sounds like Lucien's bond fits right alongside the others doesn't it?

The plots they claim would literally take Lucien's HEA away, despite SJM's OWN WORDS that there was 'someone special' for him, then making him mates with ELAIN. Then going on to say that there's a great deal of Tension, growth and HEALING for them( TOGETHER). Oh, look! That sounds like PLOT doesn't it? A plot of healing tension and growth! Something that SJM is known for in her books. Something Feyre, and Nesta got. Interesting.

Lucien is carrying the story in the Background. He has his hands dipped in Koschei, Vassa and Jurien, Beron and Eris, Spring court, Day court (finding out his true heritage), Emissary to Night court and Ally (As Rhys clearly explains).

Hmmmm. It sounds to me like Lucien has a TON of plot surrounding him. Elain being a seer, being said that Spring court was built for her. Her scent is the "Promise of Spring." (Who is currently stationed in spring court? Oh, Lucien, her mate! Look at that, it's already set up! =D) Even Rhysand states that we haven't seen all there is to Elain, and yet SJM is prepping her to go to spring.

Tell me, how does E/riel fit into spring? Do we need yet another contradicting 'plot/theory' to make it work?

The way Az's shadows don't run from Gwyn, they dance with her. They don't raise up alarm (which let's be real, if she was evil, his shadows would ABSOLUTELY tell Azriel to be cautious. Instead, they sit calmly at his shoulders. They're playful and sing.) Azriel not having to hide his scars, not having to think negative, degrating thoughts about himself while he's with Gwyn. The spark in his chest he got at the thought of her teal eyes lighting up. A thing of secret lovely beauty (Not a thing of deciept and magic). And no, he never got a spark in his chest for Elain.

The tie to Valkyrie and Illyrians, there's banter and laughter between them. Nesta being Gwyn's chosen sister, Cassian being Az's chosen brother. Think of the cute double dates they'd have!

If E/riel needs to make people who SJM have literally set up to have epic stories 'villains' or have them die, or not even exist for the ship to work, if their HEA includes ruining entire plots and stories, butchering characters, then it isn't very good now is it?

Meanwhile, Elucien and Gwynriel are set up to have intrigue, healing and growth for BOTH of the couples. I dunno, you can call the bad character breaking theories 'plots' if you want. If that helps you believe in your ship, sure? I rest easy knowing SJM isn't out here trying to rewrite her WHOLE entire story and throw out everything she wrote in the garbage, just to make ONE ship happen when she said there were clearly 2.

#elucien #pro elucien #elucien supremacy #elain x lucien #anti e/riel #pro gwynriel #gwynriel

[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

[animusicnerd]

Every time I read another fantasy book with faeries, I die a little inside and not in a good way.

Anyway, let’s talk about some faery lore I found and probably will incorporate into my Lilia story out of spite and because I like it and wanna see it more.

Faeries can’t lie.

I’ve only seen like two authors do this so far (Holly Black and Emily Lloyd-Jones). A lot of other fantasies authors like SJM didn’t include it which I think is a real waste in potential for how high the stakes could get. They take everything in a literal sense and one sentence can easily kill someone or destroy their if they’re not careful. You literally have to think before you speak and if you’re not used to speaking that way, it’s all the more dangerous especially if you’re a human in the faerie realm. Whenever authors talk about the dangers of the faeries, it’s usually just the creatures in the woods and deals being made which downgrade the danger for me, in my opinion.

Having Lilia and Malleus not being able to lie would just be really fun especially where I’m going with in my story 💀. More stakes, more danger is just exciting and challenging to write because I have to be careful since majority of the cast of this story are faeries.

Iron burns faeries.

Personally, I like to think that Malleus and Lilia wear gloves most of the time because NRC just has a lot of iron things and they can’t be bothered to always check twice before touching something. It becomes tedious to them so wow gloves?? Easy fix for them.

Also since faeries are immortal and not much seems to hurt them, I just think it’s neat that iron would be the go-to for hurting them for information, killing them off and the like on top of magic use.

Iron also burns Maleficient in the live-action movies so…

Faery food is dangerous to humans.

I have like one human character (not reader) so it probably won’t be present as much but I just think it would be neat. Faery food is dangerous to humans because it puts them in a trance-like state. It makes humans want to stay with the fair folk forever as long as it’s fed at regular intervals from what I assume. The magic does wear off but again, if fed at regular intervals, humans could possibly stay in that mindless state forever.

Faeries are ruthless.

Seeing as they like to mess around with humans for fun (example: leading travelers off their paths, stealing items, etc.), I don’t think people should be surprised they are.

Malleus himself already seems to have a short-temper (almost roasted magicam monsters, got irritated when Rook asked why he appeared after Vil OB) and takes pleasure in seeing some of the other students suffer. He talks about wanting to see Azul cry and wanting to see Vil’s breakdown. I’m a little fuzzy on the details but yeah. Lilia also likes scaring people so there’s that. They’re both sadistic in their own ways whether you believe it or not.

Faeries are expected to be treated with respect and if not, you will get punished in some way. In a lot of cultures that includes stealing your children or making you sick in some way. I know that for Filipinos and Chamorros, you always have to say excuse me before you do your business in the jungle or else shit happens to you so yeah. Sometimes, it seems as if they’ll straight up torture you if you piss them off enough.

They also won’t hesitate to backstab their own it seems because from reading up on a lot of lore and Fae fantasy based stories, it sure as hell seems that way.

So basically, faeries are hella petty and would get you back a hundredfold if you piss them off.

Faeries have a hard time conceiving children.

To be honest, I’m not sure if this is true??? So to speak. I say this because I mostly see it in fantasy books, not through actual lore.

However, I do like it because it gives reason why faeries would take human lovers or their children (though from what I see, it’s mostly for entertainment or to get more servants?). Also, if they have a hard time conceiving children, it means that they value their young very much.

So you know, imagine being the only heir to the throne with no other family members in sight other than your grandmothers.

Just imagine the levels of protecting that would be taken to ensure your safety 🙂

Names have power.

This is for my own entertainment mostly. Having a faerie’s true name would allow you to control them so as always, be careful with wording.

Meaning don’t say, “My name is….”

Saying, “You may call me…” or giving faeries a nickname would stop you from being under their control if you haven’t already done that somehow.

However, I do headcanons that more powerful faeries aren’t subjected to that because of sheer will and pride in themselves so it probably won’t be present as much either lmao

That’s probably most of the general lore I’m including for now. I’m no expert so most of this is just things I’ve learned from fantasy series or my own research! Also, I doubt most of these are canon in Twisted Wonderland anyway. Except maybe the iron one since that is canon in the Maleficient movies but who knows.

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #lilia vanrouge x reader #Lilia x reader #hahah more lore dump #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #I just think they’re neat #twst

[nestaismommy]

Die- hard acotar stans are so damn sensitive. It is no wonder why everyone outside of sjm thinks the same about them..

Someone on a tik tok comment section asked if acotar is worth it. Some people confused the person because, some said it's really worth it and others said it's not. I just explained to them that if they're there for only enjoyment with no braincells required it's worth it, but if they like worldbuilding exploration, characters development and good plots then acotar isn't for them. Another acotar stan disagreed, saying the books have good worldbuilding and good character development and when I told them no they started to get all pissed, complaining why I don't respect their opinion even though they don't respect mine. The conversation shifts to Rhys: When I told them the bs that he pulled such as lying, SA, hurting others etc. They laughed and said I'm delusional. Apperantly what he did wasn't SA and he "needed" to touch her in order to save her life. He "needed" to withhold important medical Information from Feyre because he didn't want her to worry. I very much made it clear that intentions don't f*cking excuse their actions, it's still not right.

They also told me I'm a hater and whatever, telling me that I have a problem because I read a book series that I hate. Apperantly we aren't allowed to critize a book anymore? Apperantly me saying the worldbuilding and character development in acotar isn't good is an insult to society I guess?

I can't deal with these stans. Sjm brainwashed them.

Hi Anon I’m so sorry it took so long to reply, I am just starting to get more active on here.

Trigger warning: SA

It is not a surprise that you’ll get attacked whenever you express an unpopular opinion.

ACOTAR is poorly written and not a lot of people see that. Sjm destroys her characters, there are many retcons, she can’t write about mental health, and don’t even get me started on the misogyny. Especially when it comes to Rhysand, his stans can’t accept any criticism about his character because he’s just so “perfect” and a “feminist king”. He “needed” to SA Feyre. But there will never be a valid reason to SA and abuse someone. They’ll call you delusional, they’ll tell you that you don’t understand the book, and that you should reread it. And that they don’t “think” it’s SA. And so on. At this point, I stopped trying to explain because honestly, they are the delusional ones.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, if you hate the series then there is absolutely no problem with that. ACOTAR fans need to get their heads out of there assholes and accept that not everyone will agree with them.

#anti sjm #anti rhysand #anti sarah j maas

[theshadowsingersraven]

Analyzing Blodeuwedd and What it May Mean for Elain's Character Arc/Romantic Journey (mainly Elucien)

Many people have attributed Blodeuwedd to Elain’s arc, as SJM had supposedly pinned it to her Pinterest before it was taken down and labeled it "Elain." And, generally speaking, it does seem to fit her.

Flower face? Elain is known to be beautiful and associated with flowers. Additionally, she's tied to a man by forces of magic beyond her control and is shown to want a man different than the one the magic forces designated for her. Lleu also means "light," similar to how Lucien means light. I've also seen people cite that the name Lleu itself translates to Lucien.

Now, here's what it gets interesting and parallels to Elain-Lucien-Azriel really come into play.

So, many people assume that Gronw Pebr is Azriel in this situation. Especially because of the whole Blood Duel debacle being a possible outcome. But I want to pose something different. Because here's what's said about Gronw on his own page.

An antagonist.

Now, to be clear, this isn't really a grand love story between Blodeuwedd and Gronw. It's almost comparable to Romeo and Juliet, but the main difference is that the antagonists in Romeo and Juliet are the families. The families are the ones who the narrative blames for them taking their lives. But thar doesn't appear to be the case with Blodeuwedd. Because here's what happens next:

Blodeuwedd and Gronw are blamed by the narrative. Gwydion (notice something familiar about that name? The ancient sword of Fionn? The Starsword?) punishes Blodeuwedd and turns her into an owl. (I don't anticipate this to be literal in the retelling.)

And then the last of the tale is below:

So, what does this all mean?

Incorporating SJM's hint that the next book will feature a betrayal, I think it's very possible that the traitor is Elain, but under specific circumstances. Again, assuming that SJM does maintain her statement about there being a betrayal. Especially because I personally don't see SJM killing off Azriel for trying to kill Lucien. As much as I want Az to get his desperately needed reality check, I definitely don't want him to die.

Hear me out:

What if "Gronw" is an emissary/ally of Koschei instead of Azriel?

Thinking of it this way, it's possible that SJM's adaptation would also tie in Swan Lake and the Death of Koschei the Deathless all in one.

In ACOSF, Cassian notes that no one really knows where Elain goes and that he believes her to be lying at one point when she says she's going to help an elderly faerie with her garden.

Given that the Suriel was aware of Elain scrying for him in WAR, I wonder if something similar could occur with her seeing Koschei? Or perhaps she scries in either the early part of her book or the novella should SJM decide to put a break between SF and the next novel, and that might be how we can get a more direct tie between them.

Either way, I don't think it's a coincidence that Gwydion from this tale is also the same origin name of the Starsword. Perhaps if Elain is magically manipulated in some way, Gwydion could be wielded to destroy that manipulation. Or Gwydion might be used to reveal "Gronw" as an owl/emissary of Koschei instead of "Blodeuwedd"/Elain being turned into an owl. Perhaps this "owl" could also be a reference to Maeve?

Maybe Lucien and Nesta work together to free Elain from this manipulation, thus how Gwydion as a sword could come into play. I also wouldn't be surprised that if this is the direction SJM takes, it could result in Elain being "punished"/monitored to ensure that there's no further manipulations still affecting her.

And since Madja even says that a mate will know what's wrong, maybe Lucien is included in that monitoring (especially if there was an attempt on his life)? Maybe she's put with him in a forced proximity way, like at the Band of Exiles' manor, and she spends time around humans and starts to heal the part of her that grieves her humanity. Maybe her "monitoring" is also focused on healing, and since Elain would have access to the world around her, unlike in the House of Wind, she might make her way to Spring as many have expected her to end up.

And maybe this might be where Vassa is called back to Koschei’s lake, though maybe not necessarily resolved fully in this book? Or maybe it could be, who knows!

I know very well that SJM doesn't do entirely faithful/one-to-one retellings, so who knows how it'll play out. However, I do find it interesting that this isn't the love story a lot of people seemed to expect for E/riel both on here and on Reddit. I don't see her turning Elain and/or Azriel into truly malicious antagonists. But that's also just me!

Let me know your thoughts. I'm also heavily biased towards Elucien, so def keep that in mind!

#pro elucien #elucien #elucien supremacy #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #anti e/riel #antielriel #anti vassien #acotar theory #acotar thoughts

[astrababyy]

it sucks how this book series refuses to allow feyre any sort of agency or consequences anymore. it really ruins the nuance to her.

feyre as a character in book 1 was something kind of special. in book 1, feyre overcame an intense prejudice against the fae — however justified her fears might’ve been considering the rumors that were spreading of faeries killing humans by crossing the wall.

and she didn’t just overcome it — feyre risked her life to save one of prythian’s high lords. she went through pain and torture and turmoil all for a faerie, because of love and loyalty and hope that they could have a future together. that’s actually really beautiful, and i genuinely despise how that’s destroyed in the later books.

feyre doesn’t get to have any agency from book 2 and on. she doesn’t get to have an emotional maturity higher than that of a teenager (which, in fairness, is kinda fair since she’s like 22 in the latest book), blaming other people for her own choices and decisions. feyre doesn’t get responsibility for her actions or a complex look at her suffering and pain.

feyre gave everything to save tamlin — and his court. she gave everything up for the male she loved, and that’s completely destroyed in acomaf by that book having the audacity to treat it as though feyre’s suffering utm was even a little bit due to tamlin.

the suffering has to be pinned on someone — and that someone can’t be feyre, despite her being the one to go down there. someone has to take the blame so feyre can keep playing the victim in a situation where only the victims survived and making jokes out of other people who faced hell all the same. there can’t be any complexity in her wondering if all her actions were even worth it. she can just blame the victims of the situation and move on with her life.

feyre’s the savior of Prythian, and she became that of her own accord. tamlin returned her to her old life, and she went back. she went back despite everything. she suffered torment, fucking death, and anything and everything in between. in the beginning, she hates Fae so much that she feels no remorse for killing a faerie, even if she wasn’t fully in the know of his status as a species. in the end, she’s willing to give up everything for one. that’s beautiful. it’s actually pretty profound and a very noble thing on feyre’s part that’s a real testament to her original character.

however annoying or irritating she was in the books, feyre was a much more balanced character in the first book, in my personal opinion. she had flaws, yes, but she also had skills and intelligence (on occasion) and a noble character to her that made her more likable.

it’s completely ruined by how the books just won’t let her be a person in favor of making her out to be saintly, even though that just makes her annoying asf. feyre destroyed the spring court to get back at tamlin? oh, let’s just pretend that all the lives she ruined aren’t important just ‘cause her feelings were hurt. feyre locked her fucking sister in the house of wind because she didn’t like how she coped? it doesn’t matter, because nesta got “better” anyway! feyre went willingly utm to be the characters’ savior, and makes herself out to be the victim a book later because “tamlin didn’t do anything”?? even though he’s the one that brought her back home where she’d hopefully be safer anyway?? really??

it’s just like… the fact that feyre’s character needed to be bent and twisted into something unrecognizable so it could seem remotely realistic that she’d ever get with rhysand is something so depressing ‘cause her character is ruined and reduced to a love interest to mr iM sO pOweRfuL aNd dEpResSeD LoOk aT mE. like, i’m sitting here wondering how sjm can call herself a feminist when this is how she ruins her mcs.

feyre’s just like- “hero gets saved from suffering by victims then goes back to save them anyway; blames them for not helping her AGAIN when their hands were all but physically tied behind their backs”. like, this is not okay. it’s such a lazy way to portray a character, and it’s really such an injustice to the actually decent personality and arc feyre had in the first book.

in other words: thanks, i hate it. 😃

#anti sjm #anti acomaf #anti feyre #ig #not really #actually not at all tbh #I spent this entire post singing her praises #which is rare since I don’t even like her #sjm critical #this one’s long sorry #anti rhysand #anti feysand #what a distasteful pairing like actually #pro tamlin #he’s not really a focus #but I’m defending him here so #tamlin #astrababyy #astrababyy ramblings

[charliespringsleftconverse]

I know I joke that I’ll die if SJM kills off someone from the Inner Circle. But legitimately, I think I might have to take off work to cry, contemplate, and maybe go to therapy if she kills them off in the next book. I’m not ready. And maybe this is a confession that they are my comfort characters.

It would destroy me. And I dont think I could pick up another ACOTAR book for a reread if they die.

Sarah, for the love of all that is good be so gentle with me. 😭

#a court of thorns and roses #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin #a court of frost and starlight #a court of silver flames #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acosf #Feyre #feyre archeron #Rhysand #high lord rhysand #cassian #azriel shadowsinger #nesta archeron #morrigan #amren #the inner circle #the night court #velaris #prythian #SJM #sarah j maas

[bloomingdarkgarden]

So, I'm a complete sucker for a good good romance. THIS particular elriel romance in WBITDG is my absolute favorite. And honestly? I'm reading other books to get the same feelings I get when I read your romance between Elain and Azriel, and they always fall short. They just don't compare, unfortunately. So thank you for taking the time to write this absolute beast of a fanfic and sharing it with fellow elriels as we wait to see sjm make a move on their story. I appreciate the hours/days/weeks you put into staring at your computer editing and wondering "Is this good enough?". Well, it's beyond good enough. Quite fantastic, if you ask me. I can't picture these two characters any other way.

Also, I'm so excited to read the full flashback of Elain and Az after the war. I look forward to more if it's in your plans.

Anywho, all this to say thank you.

This just made my week thank you.

The process is funny, it takes readers I dunno, 10-25 minutes to read an update. But each chapter takes me appx. 30 hours of writing / erasing / reworking / cringing / self loathing, rinse, repeat lol. This story has taken over my life this year. It's 520 pages long in novel format, can you believe?!

I know a lot of fandom writers write for themselves. But the deeply emotional nature of the darkgarden is not... fun. I am not writing it for my own enjoyment. I write for yall and so that Elain gets a love story that aches and burns and destroys worlds in the softest ways, no matter what happens in canon.

I frequently wish I had pursued something short, fun, sweet or sexy to try my hand at writing rather than taking on a full length angst+longing centric slow burn novel. but here we are 😂

Thoughts like yours really makes it all so worth it. All my love to you, honeybee.

Ch. 33 up on Monday ish!

#ehoney answers #darkgarden #elriel