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mapetitetetefolle · 1 year

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Rating Sarah J Maas Male characters just because from the most green flag to de most red flag…

This is just my opinion… don’t take it seriously 👀

1. Rowan Whitethorn: I mean… for me he is the definition of all green flags in a mate, supportive, true to his feelings, honest (if he doesn’t like something he would tell you), he would never gaslight you, he respects you and considers you as his equal, he would do anything for you, he takes care of you, he would go to the end of the world for you and do whatever it takes to find you, he would let you shine and with him never is a competition, he would be your most devoted fan,he tries to control his terriorial fae bullshit (sometimes 🤣) so many qualities that I couldn't mention them all.

2. Hunt Athalar: first of all is a hot angel 😇. He could assume wrong things about you but when he gets to know you he will accept that he is wrong and once he does he will devote himself to admiring and adore you. he expresses his feelings directly and what he wants from you 😏, it can be a bit cringe but as kourtney kardashian says: omg is so cringe, guilty! he is vulnerable with you and he doesn't care that you see that side of him, he just makes him more attractive.

2. Cassian: For me, Cassian is in second place along with Athalar, I actually think that the three of them (Rowan, Hunt and Cassian) could be a first place, except that I am really in love with Rowan and for me he is always number 1. Anyway, Cassian It's too GreenFlag, besides knowing exactly what you want 😏 and when you want it and of course it will always wait for you to give it your consent. He cares about your safety even in those private moments 🤭. He does not hide the soft and vulnerable side of him. He has a sense of humor, with him you will always have a good time, He protects you from yourself, He will forgive you absolutely everything even if you are a damn bitch. He will be interested in your hobbies and will learn to do the things you like. He will always vote to tell you the truth.

3. Lorcan Salvaterre: He can be a total miserable and controlling bastard but once he realizes you're the most important thing to him he'll do everything for you, even cut his own clothes if it means you'll have period pads when you need them. He definitely has a soft side but he doesn't let others see it, sometimes neither do you, he can make hasty decisions that sometimes don't turn out very well.

4.Dorian Havillard: For many it may be questionable that I put him on this site but I consider that Dorian, despite the fact that I am sure he will make you have a great time, he is cute, he will give you a puppy, he will bring you your favorite sweets and he will snuggle with you when you have your Period, he's very fickle, I don't think he knows exactly what he wants, I think we've seen him in love so many times that I really don't think we (or even him) can trust his true feelings. I don't know, I think that as a friend and lover he is great but that's all.

5. Rhysand: I think it is not necessary to explain much, but definitely he makes quite questionable decisions regarding his love interest, I am sure that he will do whatever is necessary for your happiness and well-being, the problem is that perhaps his concept of well-being and happiness will not be the same than yours.he will totally gaslight you "for your own sake" (lie to you or hide some info if he considers it necessary for you to be okay). I think he is the one that definitely has the most control management problems. On the bright side he definitely knows how to make you have a good time and will encourage you in your hobbies. he definitely has a problem giving you your private space.

6. Azriel: I know half the internet is in love with him, but come on! we know almost nothing apart from a few actions that happen in the books, mentally he could be the most toxic and psychopathic of all... probably not but that only talks about how a pretty face and a few actions that could be interpreted as good (or questionable) are enough for us to fall madly in love with an individual.

7. Rhun: Let's face it, he's just a gorgeous and interesting fuckboi. definitely as an older brother I think he is the best! but as a love interest not so much, just like Dorian I think he's exceptionally attractive and he definitely knows how to do things, but other than the fact that you'll have an incredible time with him on a date, as a long-term relationship I don't think he knows what he wants either , he fell in love with someone he practically didn't even know and according to him he was so sure of that love that nothing mattered and suddenly he meets her and changes his mind 🙄.

Chaol: seriously this man is the definition of toxic masculinity. I really think that those who like him is because they haven't been to therapy...anyways he will only love the parts of you that are comfortable for him, despite the opportunities he has to change his toxic behaviors he won't. he will always blame someone else for what happens, when you have your period he will run away. his priority will always be his best friend. clinging to the ideas that he had even though time and circumstances prove otherwise. It seems that he likes strong women but he ends up complaining about them for whatever reason.

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bookishfeylin · 10 months

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Does anyone else think the Elriel/Gwynriel/Elucien ship war is due in part to Sarah’s habit of solving love triangles by making the losing love interest toxic and/or abusive so fans of <insert ship here> are forced to defend why the members of their preferred pairing aren’t abusive or toxic and are forced to call members of the opposing pairing toxic?

#acotar #from what I understand of TOG that chaol guy became toxic and well we all know what happened to Tamlin #So…

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leiawritesstories · 9 months

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stay a while, it's safe here

Rowaelin Month, Day 8: Single Parents

Word count: 3,070

Warnings: angst, references to past abusive and toxic relationship, big heavy emotions, few scattered swear words

A/N: I'm both apprehensive and ready to share this, because it is...heavy. it's angsty. it's not a fluff fic. it has been in the works for a while now, though, and being able to share it means the world to me, so thank you deeply if you choose to read :)

also, i'll be taking a few days off after this, partially because the fic drained me a bit and partially because i've just started a new semester of college classes and i have a big fat paper for constitutional law class that's gonna require hella research

You only feel it when it's lost Gettin' through still has a cost Quietly, it slips through your fingers, love Falling from you drop by drop

~ Hozier, "Who We Are"

@rowaelinscourt

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Night had fallen over Doranelle when Aelin finally pulled off the interstate and slowed down as she drove up the ramp and turned into the slumbering city. The streets were nearly deserted save for a handful of other late-night drivers, probably travelers like herself, their vehicles chugging quietly through the gentle drizzle drifting from the skies. The light rain dusted a soft sheen of crystals all over the city; the drops glittered faintly in the yellow hues of the streetlights.

After what felt like an eternity, Aelin turned into the parking lot of a simple brownstone building whose sign labeled it "Mistward Hall Bed & Breakfast -- Your Home Away From Home." She found an open spot, parked her car, turned off the engine, and exhaled a soul-deep sigh of pure relief.

For at least a snatch of time, she was safe.

She glanced into the backseat, eyes locking on the small figure slumbering peacefully in the bright purple booster seat that had been installed in the car after multiple screaming tantrums. Four-year-old Alanna Galathynius was fast asleep, her mussed blonde curls squished against the side of her head where she'd leant into the carseat's headrest, her little button lips dropped halfway open as she slept.

"Mama will be right back, my little love," Aelin whispered. Grabbing her purse, she ducked out of the car, locked it, and kept one eye on the vehicle for the whole of the three minutes it took her to enter the B&B, check in, and return to the car, which was conveniently parked right by the entrance. Lana was still there, still peacefully asleep.

"Come here, little love," Aelin murmured, carefully unfastening her daughter's seatbelt and lifting the small child into her arms. "Shh, lovey, it's alright, Mama has you." She cuddled her daughter close, whispering softly to her as she took the overnight bags out of the backseat, arranged them so she could carry both the luggage and her daughter, and headed inside.

It was only a short walk to the suite where she and Lana were staying for a few nights, and Lana was still fast asleep when Aelin unlocked the door, entered the room, and laid her daughter on the smaller bed. Gently, she unfastened and took off Lana's shoes and jacket, slid the barrette from her unruly hair, and decided not to try and change her into pajamas. "You're safe, baby, I swear it. Rest now, Lana love," Aelin murmured. She kissed her daughter's forehead and tucked her into bed. Within fifteen minutes, she too was burrowed into the comfort of a warm bed, and sleep claimed her almost as soon as she had closed her eyes.

It started with a collision and a smile.

Aelin was twenty years old, a senior at Adarlan University thanks to AP credit and accelerated courses, and she was walking back to the campus apartment she shared with Elide, Lysandra, and Nehemia when she collided with a body that had come out of seemingly nowhere.

"Oh god! I'm so sorry," she gasped, stumbling over herself, her feet, and her words as she picked herself up and scrambled to collect the notebooks she'd dropped all over the sidewalk.

"No, no, it's all my fault for not paying attention to where I was going." The guy she'd just run into--a few inches taller than her, standard athletic build, brown hair, brown eyes, khakis and a fraternity polo shirt--offered her a charming smile. "I'm Chaol Westfall, and I have no sense of direction."

That got her to crack a smile. "I'm Aelin Galathynius, and I really need to look at my surroundings once in a while." She shook his hand.

They exchanged idle chatter for a few minutes before Chaol flashed another of those polished, charming smiles and hit her with the unexpected, but not unwelcome, question. "Could I have your number, Aelin? I know we've just met, but I really want to get to know you better. Maybe coffee? Lunch?"

The warm, tingly feeling of being appreciated and asked on a date spread through Aelin's limbs. "I'd like that," she agreed, typing her number into Chaol's phone. "I have an insane schedule, but I'm always free on Tuesday afternoons."

"Tuesday it is, then." Chaol's parting smile stayed at the front of her mind until their first date. Which turned into another date, and another, and studying at his frat house, and visits to her apartment, late nights and exhausted crashes and everything.

His only potential flaw was how oblivious he was to when she was really, deeply struggling. But Aelin hadn't spent years fortifying the barricades around her mind and memory for nothing.

She graduated, and he was there for her, smiling his whitened smile and holding her close to his side, the perfect proud boyfriend. She got a job in the city, and he offered to let her move into his townhouse, even declined her repeated attempts to contribute to the rent. Let me take care of you, he insisted.

Being young and foolish and fancying herself in love, she'd acquiesced. Lost in the throes of young love, of first love, she hadn't recognized the warning signs until it was too late.

"What do you mean, I shouldn't drive myself to work?" Aelin literally couldn't understand where Chaol was coming from. "Babe, I've been driving myself around in this city for years, and everything has been perfectly smooth and safe and fine."

"You don't understand, Aelin, babe," he sighed, rubbing one hand over his face in what appeared to be worry. "The crime downtown, it's grown so massively in these last few months--there was a goddamn scene only a few blocks from your office last week!" He grasped her hands, running his thumbs soothingly over her knuckles. "I can't keep going through my days wondering if you'll leave work and find your car stolen or broken into or compromised and if you'll never make it back home." The anguish in his voice, in his face, was so convincing.

She stepped closer and looped her arms around his neck. "I can change my parking permit to one for the garage. It's not that much more expensive, and it's definitely safer than street parking."

He shook his head, pulling her closer as if in protection. "It's still not enough, babe. I...I need to drop you off and pick you up, otherwise I'm afraid I'll go fucking insane."

"Babe," she whispered, sympathy glowing in her still-innocent eyes, "is that the only way you'll feel safe?"

"Yeah," he murmured.

Aelin exhaled deeply, choosing to cede this battle. "Alright. You can be my chauffeur."

"Thanks, babe." He kissed her gently. "It's for the best, it really is."

For a while longer, she believed it.

A little over a year after she moved in with Chaol, Aelin went out with Lysandra and came home to an empty house, which made her stop for a moment. For as long as she could remember, Chaol had been home whenever she returned from going somewhere, or he'd been the one going with her, so he was there with her when she returned. So, the empty house threw her for a loop.

As did the lingering stench of cheap beer.

Still, like she'd become accustomed to doing, Aelin texted her boyfriend once she'd set down her purse. I'm home, babe. Simple and direct, the little heart punctuating the sentence a reminder that she was there and waiting for him.

He didn't respond.

It was late, later than she wanted to be awake, when he half-stumbled through the front door, the faint but unmistakable sheen of alcohol glazing his eyes.

"Hey, babe," she greeted him, tentative.

He blinked, slowly adjusting to his surroundings. "Aelin? Babe? Where are you?" His speech was clearly enunciated--perhaps he wasn't that drunk after all.

"Right here," she responded, coming to stand in front of him. "I texted you when I got home, just like you want."

"How long were you'n Lys out?" The question was casually asked.

She shrugged. "Oh, probably longer than we meant to be, but I haven't seen her in ages since we've been so busy, and I--ah!"

The sharp, burning sting of his palm across her cheek stunned her into silence.

He stared at her with huge, disbelieving eyes. "I'm so sorry, babe," he breathed, immediately folding her into his arms and spilling apology after apology. "I'm so sorry. I think I'm drunk, I don't know why I did that, god I'm so sorry, babe." He went into the kitchen and grabbed an ice pack out of the freezer, wrapped it in a towel, and settled it gingerly against the blazing red imprint on her cheek. "I'm so sorry," he repeated.

She believed him when he said that, too. She kept believing him the next time, and the next time, and the next time. He loves me, she told herself as she concealed the bruises with artistic makeup and stylish clothing. He isn't himself. He's drunk.

Are you sure he isn't himself? pushed a tiny little voice in the back of her mind. Or are you just believing him because he'll hurt you worse if you disagree?

She told that insidious, dangerously true voice to go fuck itself. Even if it was right, even if she was making excuses for a boyfriend who was a completely different man now that he was when she'd met him two years ago, he was still her boyfriend, and he still loved her. He said so himself.

Then she found herself pregnant, and everything changed.

Aelin had resisted telling Chaol she was pregnant for as long as she possibly could, both out of fear that he would react badly and out of her lingering worry that she had inherited her mother's fertility struggles and might lose the pregnancy. When she made it to the second trimester, though, she couldn't wait any longer, and she told her boyfriend. She was terrified, shaking with nerves the whole time.

Chaol was floored with shock, but he reacted surprisingly well. He swore that he'd clean himself up, that he'd stop going out to clubs and bars and parties with his old frat brothers, that he'd become the man and father he needed to be.

Pretty words. Empty lies, all of it.

At six months pregnant, with her heart just about ripping out of her chest, Aelin broke up with Chaol and moved out of his townhouse into Elide's apartment. He'd tried to sober up--for about two weeks, and then he'd chosen the party life over his girlfriend and unborn child. He'd come home wasted out of his mind. He'd...he'd hurt her, and he'd been completely callous to the horror that he could have hurt the baby.

So she left.

And he followed.

He followed her to work, where he cajoled her with pretty, plaintive words to come back home. He followed her to her new neighborhood, where he pleaded with her not to cut him off from the girl he loved. He followed her on her errands, where he listed all the reasons he was sorry and how he'd do better if she just gave him one more chance. He followed her to the doctor's office when she had ultrasound appointments, where he begged her to keep him in the baby's life.

It took Lorcan Salvaterre--Elide's huge, hulking, and honestly rather terrifying boyfriend--to convince Chaol to stay the fuck away from Aelin, who clearly didn't want to see him any more.

A month before Lana was born, Aelin left Adarlan for good, telling no one, and flew back home to Orynth. She changed her phone number, her email address, deleted her rarely-touched Instagram account, bought a new laptop and wiped the old one clean before discarding it. Her cousin Aedion gave her his spare room, no questions asked, and provided the steady, stable support she needed during the last month of her pregnancy, through her birth, and through her recovery.

Over the flurry of months that turned too quickly into years, Aelin found herself slowly healing, the cracks in her fragile heart repaired with the love of her family and friends and the all-consuming love she bore for her daughter. She grew more secure; she laid aside the tension and anxiety that she'd turn around one day to find Chaol behind her, ready to barge back into her life and steal everything she'd come to love.

She should have known that he would hold a grudge.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" The words spilled out of Aelin in a breathless gasp.

Standing opposite her in the parking lot of the grocery store, Chaol lifted his hands to placate her. "I'm not here to cause any trouble, babe."

"Like hell you are." Her vehemence came as a surprise. "I'm not falling for your bullshit lies anymore, Chaol. Why are you here?"

His face hardened. "You've kept my daughter away from me for years, and you have the fucking nerve to ask me what I'm doing?" He laughed coldly. "She's mine too, Aelin."

"She will never be your daughter," Aelin hissed. "You forfeited any claim you might have had when you...when you ab-ab-abused me." The last words came out in a halting rasp.

"Don't be dramatic," he condescended. "I admit I've had troubles with anger management, but I would never consciously hurt the girl I loved, and I'd certainly never abuse her."

Her jaw slacked in disbelief. "You are such a liar," she breathed. He isn't worth your time, her inner voice reminded her, and so she breathed deeply and ended the interaction. "Go home, Chaol. Don't you ever step foot in my personal space again."

Chaol followed her to Aedion's house, because he just didn't know how to stop or when to take no for an answer. He stayed outside the house, too smart to pull into the driveway and trespass on private property, but too stubborn to admit defeat.

"I'm terrified, Aeds," Aelin admitted after dinner, curled up in a tight, tense ball on the couch. "He just...he's not going to just disappear."

"He will if I make him," Aedion growled. "Bastard."

"Language," she chided, shooting a sharp look at Lana, who was happily throwing foam blocks around the living room. "That's all kinds of illegal, Aeds."

"Legal and illegal don't matter when your probably-psychotic ex is stalking you, Aelin."

She was quiet, knowing that her cousin spoke the truth. "I won't let him force me to run."

"But you want to leave, anyway."

"Yes." She nodded, firmly. "Only for a little while. It'll be like a vacation, just me and Lana. It'll leave you and your...friends...free to handle the Chaol situation."

He propped his chin on one fist and latched his solemn gaze onto hers. "Are you sure, Ae?"

"I am." Despite the deep-seated fear glimmering behind her veil of conviction, Aelin's voice was strong.

"Okay." Rising, Aedion wrapped Aelin into a breath-stealing hug. Just soft enough for her to hear, he whispered one word into her ear.

Doranelle.

The mountain city was just over 500 miles away. It had been on Aelin's vacation bucket list for years, and she'd never made it out there.

"Lodging?"

"Here." He scrawled a phone number on a piece of scrap paper. "One of my buddies always rattles on about this place."

"Okay." She gave him a hesitant but genuine smile and headed down to her room to pack and make a reservation.

Rowan had the night shift at the B&B that week, because he had stupidly gone and agreed to switch shifts with Enda. Lesson learned: never trust a man who says he prefers stay-home nights. Most guests came in and out during the daytime and early evening hours, though, so he didn't entirely mind the night shift. It was just a pain having to stay half-awake in case he was called to the front desk.

As if the thought had summoned it, the buzzer went off. Rowan suppressed a tired sigh and walked out to the reception desk, sliding a toned-down version of his customer service smile onto his face. That smile morphed into something damn near awe when he saw the impossibly beautiful woman waiting at the front desk.

He shook himself out of that highly unprofessional thought. "Hello."

"Hi." Through her exhaustion, the woman could barely muster a tiny hint of a smile. "I'm here to check in. Aelin Galathynius?" She held out her driver's license and credit card.

He typed the name into the computer and nodded. "Three nights, yes?"

"Yes."

"Perfect." He checked her ID. Aelin Galathynius, a poetically lovely name fit for such a stunning woman. "Do we have permission to keep this credit card on file for incidentals for the duration of your stay?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." He typed something else. "All right, Ms. Galathynius, you're all checked in." He passed back her ID and credit card and handed her a key--a real metal key. "You'll be in room 203."

"Thank you." She offered him another tiny, tired smile and went back out to her car. In a handful of minutes, she reentered, pulling two suitcases and a toe bag behind her. And carrying a fast-asleep little girl with the exact same hair and face structure as hers.

Rowan had seen a vast myriad of travelers passing through the B&B throughout the years his family had owned the place--families, single people, friends, students, commuters, the list was endless. He liked to think he'd grown proficient at reading the stories on the travelers' faces as they passed through; he liked to imagine what could have brought them to scenic, picturesque Doranelle.

The woman--Aelin--the exhaustion on her face and the tender protectiveness with which she cradled her child told a story Rowan had never wanted to see again. Hers was a story of pain that followed in her footsteps, but also of the incredible strength it took to push forward and of the powerful love she clearly had for her child.

He didn't know Aelin. He doubted he ever would know her, other than as a guest passing through the Whitethorn family's B&B.

In that moment, though, Rowan knew that he would do anything that that woman wanted, whether his actions would be known or not.

Even make the demons from her past disappear.

"Stay a while," he whispered after Aelin had gone upstairs. "It's safe here. You are safe here."

~~~

#my writing #rowaelin month #rowaelin month 2023 #rowaelin #aelin galathynius #rowan whitethorn #rowan x aelin #rowaelin fanfic #rowaelin fanfiction #chaol westfall #kinda anti chaol tbh #throne of glass #throne of glass fanfic #throne of glass fanfiction #tw: abuse #tw: toxic relationships #to be perfectly honest though i'm not vehemently anti chaol i just happen to use him like this often #he can make a compelling antagonist i think

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clockwork-fayz · 11 months

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In honor of me finally reading Kingdom of Ash, here’s what I think the core group of characters sexuality meters are:

Aelin: 60% attracted to masculine men, 30% to herself, and 10% to women that act like herself

Rowan: 100% straight (sadly, but like he had a whole cadre of beautiful men and never once thought about it? SMH) but also 100% approves of everyone’s sexualities. You could say you are attracted to large ships and he’d be like okay, good for you!

Dorian: 40% attractive to any person with a pulse, 60% attracted to people that can kill him

Manon: 90% attracted to herself, 10% to Dorian but like reluctantly

Chaol: 90% straight, 10% Dorian

Yrene: 95% straight, 5% Aelin

Aedion: 100% poly

Lysandra: 50% to Aedion and 50% to Wesley but never had felt anything towards anyone besides that

Lorcan: 100% Elide (anything he felt for Maeve was actually the feeling of desperation disguised as attraction)

Elide: 100% the most toxic ass people (She says she can change them and she’s right actually)

#throne of glass #dorian x chaol #aelin galathynius #manon x dorian #manon blackbeak #elide lochan #elide x lorcan #chaol westfall #feel free to add your own opinions

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lorcandidlucienwill · 7 months

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Chaorene vs Feysand Pregnancy

A lot of people have pointed out that Feyre’s pregnancy trope is awful, but I haven’t seen anyone compare it to Yrene’s yet and I think it would help a lot of people understand the countless problems with it. First let’s discuss Yrene’s pregnancy: Yrene's baby was a regular human baby so it carried minimal risk to her life. Actually, she hid her pregnancy initially because she didn't want Chaol to worry, but clearly, the baby was entirely her choice. But even after Chaol found out, it didn't stop Yrene from healing a bunch of people on a daily basis, including removing Valg from human bodies. Chaol had an insane amount of faith in her, so much faith that even though he was worried as hell, he trusted Yrene to take on the DEMON KING Erawan which she did and won because she is a baddie. Even Lorcan points out that he's "not sure Yrene is human" because she's such a queen. Clearly, being pregnant didn't stop her from taking action. Now let's discuss Feyre's pregnancy: Feyre was complaining about being seen as a "trophy wife" by Tamlin (I just don't see this at all but go figure), yet after being constantly objectified by Rhysand, being sexually assaulted, and playing his whore, she finds herself a year later isolated from everybody, forced to walk around with a heavy shield and unable to go anywhere without heavy protection, forced to hide her pregnancy from everyone until it was "deemed safe," and she was unaware of the fact that her baby will most likely kill her. Rhysand threatened Nesta into not telling and when she did tell her (as was in her right), he nearly killed her. Not to mention Rhysand was acting like a possessive asshole, antagonizing everybody who got anywhere near her. But canonically, Feyre is very powerful. So why the hell doesn't he trust her? Why does he isolate her? Yet I see Chaol get an insane amount of hate from this fandom and Rhysand doesn't get nearly enough. Yrene's pregnancy is inspiring. Feyre's pregnancy is the upholding of toxic masculinity and underlies the major problems with pro-choice advocacy. It's amazing that both are written by the same author. But it shows that SJM is capable of writing a proper story if she actually tries.

#yrene towers #yrene westfall #pro chaol #chaol westfall #chaorene #anti rhysand #anti feysand #tog > acotar #yrene kingslayer #feyre deserves better

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whitedemon-ladydeath · 8 months

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SJM + Eugenics + Ableism in her Writing

thinking about how insidious eugenics can come up in writing- specifically SJMs writing. Personally I take a lot with a grain of salt bec I don't think a lot of ppl realize how fucking deeply entrenched and rooted it is in everything and more often than not its not intentional

and to an extent I don't think it was intentional by SJM. she does have a degree of plausible deniability in her story telling

however that being said:

the Cauldron "pairing mates" has allusions to being a breeding program of some kind of supernatural predestined idiocy. Sam + Melissa on Tiktok have some pretty great videos on it

However, while they think that SJM is providing commentary on the matter, I do have a different view, not that I really disagree with what they're saying

SJM has a track record of using disabilities as an aesthetic for her characters. It's often a point of suffering and/or there ends up being a magical fix (yay fantasy eugenics providing miracle cures!!! /sarcasm)

Chaol, severely injured with a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed goes to the super special healing place to have the world's bestest healers where the magical healing trope + black girl magic collide. He spends the whole book, a duration of only six months, regaining the ability to walk, with a cane most days. Chaol spends a large part of the book feeling sorry for himself and immasculting himself. Yerene, a professional trained healer who helps him with PT snaps at him in frustration to "just get up" when he's being difficult with her Note: some of these detailed may be incorrectly remembered + I never finished the book bec I can't stand him

Lucien: he gets his eye ripped out and is literally blinded but now he has a magical eye that is even better and can sense magic and spells and all that good shit

Rhys: chronic pain; never addressed

Azriel: scarred hands and wings, but so far we've seen no real struggle or accommodation of any kind or even a real discussion on how he had to learn how to fly at an older age due to his captivity and scarred wings

Cassian: his wings were beyond shredded but between books they got fixed up right as rain. it would have been fantastic rep for this decorated veteran and leader to be disabled, esp for a culture of warriors where flying is so crucial + where thr women are also forceably mutilated and can't fly either

speaking of the illyrian women

the Illyrian Women: not being able to fly and use their limbs is a disability. We have seen zero repercussions of Emeries father (and brother(?)) for disabling and mutilating his daughter

the mental health crisis of NESTA for ONE. in both the Fandom and in the series the grating toxic positivity and lack of patience and understanding and support and willingness to meet her halfway enraged me holy shit. The tone policing, the lack of autonomy, the unaddressed childhood trauma that has made Nesta the core of who she was. it was vile and disgusting

Aelin: quite frankly should have difficulty moving as fluidly as she does. she was whipped to ribbons and beaten bloody. Her back should be full of chronic pain and difficulty

Elide: as far as I'm aware Elide isn't too bad and she's incredibly intelligent and resourceful but it's been a hot minute since I've read the series. I do remember when they talked about it at the end about possibilities to heal her ankle (they couldn't)

I haven't read CC yet but I heard that LIMBS CAN GROW BACK???? sure let's just completely erase and magically fix imputations I guess?

I find it a lit harder to forgive "accidental eugenics" when her disabled characters disabilities are either made into Aesthetics, not properly addressed, or just healed all together

and when you pair magical eugenics + aesthetics:

You get Rhysand, the most powerful high lord of ever that you just have to keep being told is the most powerful high lord ever due to his parents being mates that his father whisked away from moments before she became mutilated like all the other Illyrian Women at 18 years old to a 900 year old man

you get his entire IC who is made of The Night Courts super special powerful clique who now happen to be the most powerful illyrian EVERRRR (Cassian + Azriel), Amren who was some trapped angel of death or something and Mor who is just so super powerful a mountain quaked or something when she was born

the entire IC is a concentrated powerhouse who also uses a specific mindset of "might is right"-

-and have forced others hands across the entire series or just outright lied and stole. also trespassing and routinely breaking laws but hey

Rowan, Aelin, Aedion, Dorian, Manon are all ToG Powerhouses. Rowan is described as the "most powerful full blooded fae male alive". there's an implication that human blood "weakens" fae traits and magical abilities [this is rather common in a lot of fantasy books]

every single character in this series is seen as some sort of extraordinary person with some sort of extraordinary power or ability aside from maybe a few. Hell Chaol, the only fully human character with no powers is the "Captian of the Guard" which he got bec he's a nepo baby from being Dorians friend. He gets disabled and they immediately go to get him fixed

tagging: @feynessupremacy @bookishfeylin @andramoreaux

I thought yall would appreciate

#prev. wolfgeneralashryver #sjm critical #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #throne of glass #tog #ableism #eugenics in acotar #eugenics in tog #eugenics #my posts get good traction yall cowards better interact with these posts. i see yall scrolling whenever i talk about this

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abruisedmuse · 2 months

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Now look I've been an Elain's book is next truther since I finished Acosf. So what I'm about to say I still think this is what shes hinting at, but damn wouldn't it be hilarious if she's not hinting Elain and it's Tamlin. And Tamlin gets a redemption arc a la the Chaol special with Briar as the love interest. Then the next book is Elain and Lucien. If the novella still happens it's Azriel.

I would laugh so hard. Shows this toxic fandom that she really gives zero fucks about your ship war.

#this is kind of a joke #dont take this too seriously #as in you dont need to reply with a long theory response it's just...#it would be funny is all #tamlin #elain archeron #elucien #lucien vanserra #azriel #acotar #acotar thoughts

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nikethestatue · 2 months

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I have a very hard time understanding why the fandom thinks there is going to be so many bait and switches with ACOTAR series.

The books are entertaining, but they’re not very cerebral. Even if you use the first book as an example of Sarah changing love interests, upon not so close reflection, there are a lot of red flags and foreshadowing of the change away from Tamlin.

I compare these books to “fancy fast food restaurants”(Shake shack, In n’out, chipotle) in that, you’re not getting a truly gourmet experience, but you consume the food to make yourself feel good. It’s not that complex, but it does the job. We aren’t reading Virgin Wolfe or Margaret Attwood.

Why do you think this author’s and this series’ fandom is so toxic? Do you find it very different from other young adult book fandoms?

Yes, i think some are very fixated on the whole 'oh she changes LI thing' but she legit changed a LI ONCE--from Feylin to Feysand, and there were plenty of indicators that that's how it's gonna go anyway.

No way anyone actually believed that Aelin is gonna stay with Chaol for 7 books. Come on. I never felt that that was a 'switch'. The relationship with Chaol ran its course and she met someone else, and on they went. Also Chaol was painfully unmagical and painfully human. A nice guy, but nothing special. You KNEW that someone like Aelin would be getting someone mighty and immortal and Fae.

So no, I dont think that SJM does a lot of baits and switches. If you read carefully, everything is usually set up way in advance.

As for the tensions and toxicity in the fandom--hers isnt the only one, tbh. And if I am being truthful, it's the influx of Gwynriels with the last book that caused this whole thing. Before, you quietly shipped who you shipped, there wasn't much hatred going on. If you liked Nessian, you liked Nessian. And if you liked Feysand, you liked them.

I think ACOSF was a book that caused a lot of dissent in its core, because it's essentially set Nesta up against the IC (stupid choice, and even if SJM didnt meant that, that's what came out). Suddenly, Nessians started hating Feysands. And then Gwynriel came up with their fairytale, began yelling about it on every street corner and haven't stopped, though they are quieter now. The length of time between books, author's silence and complete disengagement don't help either.

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separatist-apologist · 1 year

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You’re on queen of shadows and still think he did nothing wrong?! I agree that he didn’t in crown of midnight, but in QoS he is such a DICK! I guess he didn’t like actually do something wrong, but his attitude rubs me the wrong way. He’s giving toxic, I feel threatened by powerful women vibes

Yeah, so true bestie. He's so toxic for giving up everything and fighting for the city he grew up in to not be destroyed and trying to save Dorians life. He should absolutely bow at Aelins feet when she strolls back in, blames him for Sorcha and Dorians demise, tells Chaol she's going to kill Dorian, and threatens over and over to destroy Rifthold because she hates it. And he's such an ASSHOLE for not being able to read her mind or know the details of the magical happenings, or being able to keep up with her endless secrets.

And like yeah he still does everything she tells him to do but he should have been more obsessed with her about it because Aelin is NEVER wrong and NEVER makes mistakes or misjudges people and she's definitely never impulsive to a destructive degree.

And like- I absolutely get this since no one ever complains that Rowan let's her do whatever she wants with no pushback, which Chaol is doing and is, I guess, also wrong and toxic.

#chaol has one of the best arcs in this series and y'all hate him for it #going from a man of honor who believes in rule of law and justice and that his job has meaning #to learning he's being manipulated by A LOT of people including Celeana #leaving it all behind to fight the rebels #and having to learn the hard way that the world you grew up in is flawed and the people you respect are monsters #he is grappling with his whole world being a lie in qos #he doesn't owe Celeana shit anymore #and he still was trying to save aedion and Dorian and aid rebels for her cause #and it's still not enough for y'all #pro chaol

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city-of-sjm · 8 months

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Probably an unpopular opinion,

My comfort listen for driving long distances is Tower of Dawn…..

Because it’s not an overly taxing and intense book, like with Empire of Storms or Kingdom of Ash, I would become a hazard to others on the road.

Also I have grown to like Chaol, he made a mistake and he grew up with loads of hatred and and prejudice. I’m not making excuses but I do understand, I grew up in a very conservative part of the US that has a lot of hate, prejudice, toxic masculinity. When it’s all around you it’s take a constant effort to think/act differently Anyway……

Tower of Dawn, has action, has romance, is calmer placed, a good driving book.

#ToD #tower of dawn #chaol westfall #throne of glass #ToG #sjm #sarah j maas #yrene towers

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mapetitetetefolle · 1 year

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I made a meme about what would probably happen if you had your period with your ToG boyfriend.

That's how I knew that Chaol was a toxic man since book 1 🙄.

(NOTE: please but PLEASE! don't feel offended it's just my opinion about characters that don't exist, it's not personal)

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385bookreviews · 3 months

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1.72.3 Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas

SPOILERS

Pages: 418

Time Read: 7 hours and 8 minutes

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ Storyline: ★★★★★ Dialogue: ★★★★★ Characters: ★★★★★

Genre: YA Fantasy

TWs for the book: Death, murder, violence, blood, grief, gore, injury, torture, slavery, kidnapping, death of a parent, assassination, body horror, confinement, war, genocide, colonization, physical abuse, classism, toxic friendship, misogyny/sexism, su*c*dal thoughts/su*c*de attempt, toxic relationship, gaslighting, animal harm, hunting, minor s*xual content, cursing, stalking, abandonment, mentions of r*pe, panic attacks, self harm, mentions of drug abuse

POV: Third person

Time Period/Location: Rifthold, the capital of Adarlan, in the fictional world of Erilea.

First Line: The shutters swinging in the storm wind were the only sign of her entry.

Celaena Sardothien has been the King's Champion for a couple of months at this point, and has already been on five assassination missions for the King. However, she has faked all of their deaths. The King then gives her a mission in Rifthold to kill Archer Finn, a courtesan she knew from growing up at the Assassin's Keep, as he suspects him to be a part of a rebel plot. Her friendship with Chaol has grown during this time, and she takes him with her to "accidentally" bump into Archer. Chaol is jealous by how closely they bond, and starts to realize his feelings for her. Celaena attempts to go to the library and finds what appears to be a cloaked person standing there, and it growls at her. The Eye of Elena begins to glow, and the creature runs off. She goes down into the tomb to seek answers from Elena, only to discover that the bronze skull knocker on the door can talk, and his name is Mort. He tells her that Elena wants her to find the evil in the castle. Dorian's cousin Roland arrives in the castle, wearing a black ring like Perrington and the King, and Celaena immediately dislikes him, even though he is trying desperately hard to gain Dorian's trust. Celaena and Archer go to dinner, and she tells him that she was sent by the King to assassinate him. Archer pleads for his life, saying he has no involvement in the rebel plots, but that some of his clients do, and that he knows that they want to find Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, the heir to the throne of Terrasen, and use her to overthrow the King of Adarlan. Celaena gives him till the end of the month to get his affairs in order and to give her as much information as possible about the conspirators. He begins by taking her to a ball held by one of his clients, Davis, and she sneaks into his office and discovers a book on Wyrdmarks. In the back, she finds written, "It is only with the eye that one can see rightly." Davis catches her snooping and cuts her with a dagger that was covered in gloriella, a paralytic poison. She manages to kill him and make it back to the castle in time to tell Chaol to give her the antidote. Celaena then involves Nehemia, asking her to teach her to read the Wyrdmarks and help her solve the riddle. They go down to Elena's tomb, and discover that when standing on a constellation of the Stag, a hollowed out eye appeared in the wall. They both looked through it, but discovered nothing. Chaol and Celaena grow closer, and Celaena takes him out for a romantic dinner. She confesses that she hasn't actually been killing her targets, and Chaol is angry but ultimately chooses to be with her, saying he'll leave Rifthold with her one day. They have a lot of s*x over the following week.

Celaena and Nehemia get into a heated argument where Nehemia calls her a coward for refusing to help her plan to overthrow the King. Chaol is then kidnapped, and Celaena is left with a ransom note. She goes to a warehouse and kills 15 men before she is stopped by Archer. He tells her that Nehemia founded their rebel group, and that he had heard that she was going to be interrogated by Chaol and the King that day so they kidnapped him in an attempt to stop it and to show Celaena that Chaol had kept secret the fact that Nehemia's life was threatened. Celaena races back to the castle and finds Nehemia tortured to death. She attacks Chaol, blaming him for her death, and Dorian uses magic to stop her from killing him. Chaol puts her in the dungeons for a few days, where Kaltain tells her that Duke Perrington is taking her to Morath to be his wife, and that Roland will be going with them. When Chaol releases her from the dungeons, she sinks into heavy grief and refuses to speak to anyone. She then deduces that Grave, an assassin from the competition to be Champion, must have killed Nehemia, and she uses the tunnels to sneak out and kill him. She brings his head before the King, accuses the lord that was his sponsor in the competition of hiring him to kill Nehemia, and she gives him a list of the 15 men she killed from Archer's group. She solves the riddle talking about the eye and uses the pommel of King Gavin's sword Damaris to see another riddle written on the inside of the hollowed out eye. It is a map to to finding three powerful objects. She goes to a the carnival being held in honor of Prince Hollin, and speaks to an Ironteeth witch named Baba Yellowlegs. The witch reveals that Dorian came asking her questions about magic, and offers to sell his questions to Celaena but she refuses. She asks her about the riddle and the witch tells her that it speaks of Wyrdkeys, three slivers of rock broken off from the Wyrdgate, the portal between worlds. They are immensely powerful individually, but with all three one can open the Wyrdgate to all sorts of different planets and dimensions. She kills the witch for knowing Dorian's secrets, and her and Dorian grow closer again.

She then investigates catacombs she found beneath the library, using Wyrdmarks to unlock the iron doors. She finds an underground prison, and then the entrance to the giant obsidian clock tower built by the King. She is turning back when she is attacked by the creature from before. Dorian, who had followed her down, runs with her, and he tries to use his magic to seal the door. It doesn't work, so he runs to find the spellbook and they use it to trap and kill the creature. Celaena realizes it has a human heart, and that it must have been human at one point. She believes the King used a Wyrdkey to make it into a monster. She discovers the meaning of the first part of the riddle and discovers the key is gone. Distraught, she grabs the spellbook and uses it to open a portal to contact Nehemia. She succeeds, but Nehemia tells her to never do it again. Just as the portal closes, Archer appears, and reveals that Nehemia showed him the tunnels and he's been spying on her for weeks. Celaena realizes on of the coded notes in Nehemia's room was saying not to trust Archer. She acts like she is on his side and is willing to give him the book and work with him, and he confesses he was the one to order Grave to kill Nehemia. She attacks him once he does, and in their fight they accidentally open a portal to another world. Dorian is warned in a dream by King Gavin that Celaena is in trouble, and he runs to get Chaol and they discover the tunnel. They arrive to see a demon attacking Celaena, Fleetfoot (Celaena's dog) hurt, and Archer chanting out of the spell book. Chaol attacks the demon, Archer flees, and Dorian drags Celaena away. Celaena knocks him out, and sees the demon drag Fleetfoot through the portal and Chaol run after her. Celaena runs into the portal and immediately shifts from a human to a Fae, and attacks the demon with fire magic. They all get to safety and Celaena uses Dorian's magic blood to close the portal. Celaena then hunts down Archer in the tunnels and kills him, bringing his head before the King.

Chaol tells his father he wants to send Celaena away to Wendlyn to assassinate the King and his son, and that if he backs him up he will return to be the Lord of Anielle. His father agrees and they propose the idea to the King. He agrees, and tells Celaena to go to Wendlyn. She is panicked, not knowing how to get out of it, but Elena tells her to go. Before she leaves, she says goodbye to Dorian, and then says goodbye to Chaol at the docks. She tells him about the Wyrdkeys and everything she's learned, and then tells him the date of her parents' death and leaves. He is confused, and researches the date, and realizes that Celaena is actually Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, lost queen of Terrasen, and he just sent her away to the land of her distant Fae relatives.

Storyline: The storyline in this book was a little slow for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Representation: Nehemia is the only POC, and she has herself killed in order to motivate and progress Celaena's character, which is a huge issue I have with this book.

#book review #book blog #books #book reviews #fantasy #sarah j maas #sjm #throne of glass #the assassin's blade #crown of midnight #heir of fire #queen of shadows #empire of storms #tower of dawn #kingdom of ash #celaena sardothien #aelin ashryver galathynius #aelin galathynius

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