#acowar commentary

[yazthebookish]

Bryce, Nesta and Azriel Bonus Chapter Reaction

P.s. this is my second read 👀

Bryce cracked open an eye, surveying her two companions.

Nesta sat against the opposite wall, head down, breathing lightly.

But Azriel was staring right at Bryce. She started, whacking her head against the rock. White pain splintered across her vision. By the time it cleared, Nesta was awake.

I HOWLED at this part 😂😂😂😂

"What is it?" Nesta peered down the tunnel to one side, then the other.

Bryce rubbed the back of her aching head and sat up. "Oh, nothing. Just your usual predator-in-the-night warrior, staring at me while I sleep."

"You weren't sleeping," Azriel said, faint amusement in his voice.

Bryce was insufferable but her commentary was fucking hilarious. PREDATOR IN THE NIGHT WARRIOR 😭😭

"Were you really watching her sleep?"

Azriel glowered. "When you say it like that, it sounds... unsavory."

At least he's self-aware.

"We defeated Hybern," Azriel confirmed. A glance toward Truth-Teller at his side. Then at Nesta. "Nesta beheaded the King of Hybern herself."

Bryce blinked. "Badass," she breathed.

It was a group effort but even in ACOSF no one gives Elain the credit (except Lucien in ACOWAR).

Nesta's back stiffened. "My mother would be thrashing in her grave if she knew I was a warrior-if she knew I wore trousers every single day and that I'm mated to a Fae male. I can't tell what would have horrified her more: me marrying a poor human man or becoming what I am now."

Nesta I'm so proud of you 🥹

Bryce jerked her chin toward Azriel. "You've got the broody look of someone with an awful mother, too. Care to share?"

Nesta snorted. "Az never talks about his mother, and neither will our friends, so I'm guessing she's even worse."

The Illyrian snarled softly, "My mother is anything but awful."

Nesta tensed, like she was surprised she'd gotten such a response from him. "I was joking. Az, I didn't even know-"

"I don't want to discuss this," Azriel cut her off coldly.

I'm so excited to meet Az's mother but I know learning of her story will break my heart. I think she might still be dealing with both physical and mental scars and that's why Az is fiercely protective of her, otherwise why would Cassian in ACOSF even think about if Az tried to convince his mother to come live in the Library.

"So that ... phone of yours," Nesta said suddenly, as if eager to change the subject for all their sakes. "You said earlier it has music inside it?"

Bryce's advantage here is music because she won over Nesta so easily (at least during this moment).

"Stone Mother" began playing, its rolling, thumping drums offsetting the wild, yet mellow, guitars. And then Josie's voice filled the tunnel, sharp and yet soaring, accented by Laurel's sweet, clear backups. The sound was foreign, earthy-haunting. In the span of a few notes, Bryce was back in her childhood bedroom in Nidaros, sprawled on the carpet, letting the sound of the music run over her for the first time.

This song had carried her through it all-through the years of pain and emptiness and rebuilding. It had carried her from light into darkness and then back into the light.

I don't know if the name choice for the song is intentional but if it's inspired by the myths it feels like an indirect nod to Theia/Fionn/Aidas (which we learn about soon after this scene) or even Ember/Randall/Autumn King.

This was one of my favorite dances. It's from a ballet called The Glass Coffin." Bryce hit play again, and the violins began.

This is definitely a nod to Vesperus who they found in a clear quartz sarcophagus 👀

Again, Nesta was silent, knees now clutched to her chest, staring into the darkness. As if she was dedicating every inch of herself to listening.

"This sounds like some of our music," Azriel murmured. Nesta shushed him.

Nesta is so entranced by it.

Two hours later, they were walking again. Maybe Azriel had been interested enough in the music that he'd let them linger.

He is a singer after all 😏

Nesta had clapped her hands over her ears at the screaming, wailing death metal, but Azriel had chuckled.

He'd probably get along with Ruhn and his idiot friends.

It comes at no surprise that Az in the modern world would be a metalhead.

Nesta had loved the classical stuff the best, and both of them had been intrigued by the pulsing, thumping club music. "That is what you dance to in your world?" Nesta asked. Bryce hadn't been able to tell if she was intrigued or dismayed. Azriel, at least, had seemed on board.

My mans was ready to break a leg right then and there in the tunnels I know it.

"So you guys have swords and stuff?"

"Something like that," Azriel hedged. He clearly wasn't going to enlighten her about their defenses.

"And your magic is ...”

"Don't push it," Azriel said, a hint of that earlier chill entering his voice.

Nesta's lips thinned at the tone, like she was remembering it, Like it didn't sit right with her.

Az's attitude switches up so fast even Nesta is wary of it. He needs a long holiday.

Bryce asked Nesta, "You have a mate, right?" She nodded to Azriel. "Do you?"

"No," Azriel said quickly, flatly.

"A partner or spouse?"

"No."

Bryce sighed. "Okay, then."

Azriel's wings twitched. "You're incurably nosy."

"I think that's the nicest thing you've said about me." Bryce winked at him.

Bryce hit him where it hurts the most 🤣 it's always fun to have confrontational characters interact with him because the IC tend to walk around eggshells when it comes to Az.

Nesta asked, "Without firstlight, would your world become like ours, do you think?"

Bryce considered. "I don't see another way to power our cars or phones, so... probably."

Post-apocalyptic Midgard in CC4.

"You can do good," Azriel warned, "while still being bad."

Bryce whistled. "I know a number of males back home who could only dream of delivering that sentence with such cool."

I wonder if this is more about him than anything else...

Nesta laughed again. "If you weren't our captive," she said, shaking her head, "I think 1 might like to call you a friend, Bryce Quinlan."

I knew if there was anyone who would have bonded with Bryce from ACOTAR, it would be Nesta.

Did it matter? The Fae in Midgard weren't her problem, and she didn't want them to be, but what if they could be more? Was such a change possible?

A lot of the resentment Bryce feels towards her the Fae in Midgard reminds me of how Az feels about the Illyrians.

Nesta went on, "I'm stronger, faster. Harder to kill. I don't see a downside to that."

"And the near-immortal life span isn't so bad, huh?" Bryce leased.

"I'm still adjusting to the idea of that," Nesta said, eyes on the tunnel ahead. "That time is so ... vast. The day-to-day versus the sprawl of centuries." She slid her attention to Azriel. "How do you deal with it?"

He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Find people you love-they make the time pass quickly." He caught Nesta's eye. and said a shade apologetically, "Especially if they'll forgive your occasional snapping at them over things that aren't their fault."

Something seemed to soften in Nesta's eyes-relief, perhaps, ar the extended olive branch. She said quietly, tentatively, "Nothing to forgive, Az."

I love this part so much!! Az and Nesta have such a special bond. Him including her among the people he loves 🥹 he's at least aware about his own faults.

But his words had lightened some of the remaining tension.

And his next ones finished the job entirely as he winked at Nesta. "And I've been told having children makes the time fly, too."

Nesta rolled her eyes, but Bryce didn't miss the gleam in them.

Nesta was willing to play-to get back to their normal dynamic.

She admitted, "I wouldn't know the first thing about how to raise a child." She pointed to herself. "Raised by a terrible mother, remember?"

"Doesn't mean you'll be one." Azriel said gently.

Azriel said I want Nessian babies 🤣

I just know Nesta would be a wonderful mother and it kind of reflects the reality of how a lot of people who've had toxic parents feel about having a family.

My mother was even worse to Feyre-and my sister has turned out to be..." She searched for the word. "A perfect mother."

This makes me happy 🥹 I miss Feyre

"What do you want to hear?" Bryce asked, opening her music library.

Nesta and Azriel swapped glances, and the male answered a bit sheepishly, "The music you play at your pleasure halls."

Bryce laughed. "Are you a club rat, Azriel?"

He glowered at her, earning a smirk from Nesta, but Bryce played one of her favorite dance tunes-a zippy blend of thumping bass and saxophones, of all things.

And as the three of them walked into the endless dark, she could have sworn she caught Azriel nodding along to the beat.

Az you're proving her point about being a club rat 🤣 I love that SJM emphasized not only Nesta's but Az's fondness for music.

She hid her smile and played song after song, until the battery on her phone drained to the dregs. Until tha ast, beauiful link to Midgard went dark and died.

No more music. No more pictures of Hunt.

This part hurts.

And with each mile onward, she could hear Azriel humming softly to himself. The rolling, wild melody of "Stone Mother" flowed off his lips, and she could have sworn even the shadows danced at the sound.

His shadows dancing to HIS SOUND 😭❤️ and there is only one other person who the shadows ever danced around.

I mentioned it before but one of my headcanons was about when Az is spying or on a mission and he's waiting somewhere, he sings and his shadows dance around him 🥹

#hofas spoilers #yaz reads hofas

[starsreminisce]

Not surprised shipping e/riel brings out the worst in people. I mean, Elain brings out the worst in Azriel emotionally and that’s not something anybody can deny. The ship and shippers are mirrors of each other. how cute. 

You know what’s funny about that too?

I am really and truly a ship-and-let-ship person. I love watching anime, so if, given the right frame, someone will ship a broom and a lamp together.

And there are chill Elriels, and there are also Elriels who can engage respectfully. But those are few and far between the ones who spam 100 TikTok comments about why their ship is more valid, the ones who comment, reblog, offer unnecessary commentary on spaces that clearly don't belong to them, and those who feel the need to call people who don't believe in their ship delusional and lacking in reading comprehension.

Even more embarrassing when they should have read that I said Mor, not Rhys or Cassian, thought it wasn't a big deal, especially when she answered Feyre's question about whether he gave away TT while finding a piece of jewelry more interesting and then didn't expand anymore, including to reaffirm that it was a big deal to Az.

The "canon" proof they used is two males’ opinions carrying more weight over a female’s, the High Lord’s third in command, with a power that said High Lord utilizes quite often to gauge a potential ally and threat, and then doubling down that the female's opinion doesn't matter based on a line of dialogue from another man.

Maybe it was important, or maybe, just maybe, it still aligns with Az's characterization, his need to protect, and it wouldn't have mattered if Elain were the recipient of Truth-Teller. It's something that he would have done for Nesta, for Feyre or *gasp* maybe even Gwyn, and that's something Mor is well acquainted with Azriel over.

Then again, all of Elriel’s moments, especially in ACOWAR, are negated, overshadowed, and undermined by how he feels about Mor and how much Mor's attention to him affects him.

It's like what you said: we know Elain brings out the worst in Azriel emotionally, as he tells us as much in his perspective from a chapter that's both, according to them, canon to Elriel's but not canon to Azriel's declaration that he was proven right to stay away from Elain. Elain returning yet another thing he offered to her nor Gwynriel's moment when he shows that he's more at peace and doesn't think about his lack of self-worth when he's with her. Funny how Gwyn is "someone who he wouldn't go so far as to call a friend" actually calmed him down?

And it's also not surprising that they would put down Mor's importance and opinion in favor of their own ship while labeling Eluciens and Gwynriels as misogynists.

#antie/riel #antielriel #asks #mor acotar #pro morrigan #morrigan acotar #gwynriel

[abraxos-and-ataraxia]

OK SO THIS

A frown at Mor as he drained his wine and set down the goblet. “I’m surprised you still can’t control yourself around him. You had every emotion written right on that pretty face of yours.” — Eris (ACOWAR)

Eris’ commentary on mor’s reaction to her father is screaming to be connected to his own reaction to beron. I mean ok bro that’s a bit shady to say, but he isn’t wrong. Eris still has to live with his father. Mor, at least, has an escape, in Eris’ eyes. He has no velaris.

#eris vanserra #morrigan #acotar #the way I’m reading into every last comma in Eris scenes rn...

[theteeniestpinecone]

You know what’s so confusing to me? Claiming to love Lucien and shipping him with Elain. It’s pretty obvious to me that most (most, I’m not saying all) E*uciens do not actually care about Elain or her actual desires outside of this ship, but she straight up flinches in your boy’s presence.

She doesn’t laugh or smile or even really speak at all. And we have canon evidence that this makes him feel BAD. This does not make him want to “fight” for her. In fact, he had to even question whether or not she was even WORTH it in the first place.

I think one thing all factions can agree on is that we miss Lucien. His sass, his snark, his commentary. I definitely do. But you know who actually started to bring that out of him? A human queen. A human queen who is just as fiery, yes pun intended and in more ways than one. We see this start to develop in ACOWAR.

If you love Lucien, don’t you want him with someone who, let’s be honest, just straight up wants HIM as bare minimum, but also brings back the parts of him that we all loved in the first place?? Someone to match his wit, someone to challenge him and laugh with him? That will NEVER be Elain. She doesn’t want that, and at this point, it’s evident that neither does he. The bond makes him miserable. He even negatively compares Elain to the dead love of his life. Like, I’m sorry, that is a huge red flag to me.

Let Az and Elain laugh over headache potions and cuddle over garden plans and let Lucien find real love and happiness, please.

He really, really deserves it.

#elriel #anti e*ucien #pro elriel

[nikethestatue]

It makes total sense for Rhysand to ask Azriel about Mor, as he has been in love with her for so long. But why do you think Az ignored the question, when Rhys asks him “what of Mor, Az?” He could have told Rhysand right then and there how he feels about Elain, but he didn’t. Instead, he starts nagging about how his brothers are mated to two of the three sisters and he didn’t get one.

I also wanted to say something about Gwynriels talking about shadow commentary, since I read that question you received. When they say shadow commentary, they don't actually mean full sentences and conversations. I think they mean it’ll be little whispers here and there to Azriel. Yes, it's never mention that they talk, but we have seen several examples in which Azriel’s shadows whisper things to him. For example: 

ACOMAF:

“Perhaps those shadows were indeed whispering to him, then. Azriel’s cold face yielded nothing.”

“And what did the shadows whisper to him—did they speak in a language at all?”

“The shadows gathered around his shoulders, like they were indeed whispering to him, shielding him, perhaps. ”

“A wisp of shadow curled around Azriel’s ear, and his eyes snapped to mine. I schooled my face into bland innocence.”

ACOWAR:

“Shadows curled around Azriel’s shoulders, whispering in his ear as he stared down Eris.”

ACOSF:

“He wondered if Azriel had somehow learned of them, the news brought to him on his shadows’ whispers. ”

“Azriel turned to them fully this time, eyes narrowed. Like those shadows had whispered something to him.”

“Whether that had been from a separate warning from Rhys, or Az’s own shadows whispering, he didn’t know.”

“I think the better question is if Eris is still alive,” Azriel murmured, shadows whispering in his ear.”

Azriel POV (ACOSF): 

“Az snickered to himself, to the listening shadows around him. Sleep, they seemed to whisper in his ear. Sleep. I wish I could, he answered silently.”

“His shadows whispered in his ear that Elain had gone upstairs.”

Well, it's a bonus. Not something that is included in the book and not something that's available to everyone. It's a teaser. In this case, the teaser was Azriel's and Elain's attraction to each other.

Rhys interrupted a very private and intimate moment. Azriel is mad. He is mad that he was taken unawares. He is mad that he was interrupted. He is mad that he made Elain think that this was a mistake. He is mad that she is upset and heartbroken.

He is not going to go to Rhys, after leaving Elain standing there, waiting for her kiss, and start confessing his feelings for her to the belligerent Rhys. He's known Rhys for a long, long, long time. I am sure he knows that talking sense to him right now is pointless. Rhys went on an attack. I don't feel that Azriel was 'nagging' him with his statements. They are fighting. And as it's common in fights, both parties aren't listening to each other and each is saying something different.

Rhys is operating under the presumption that Az is just about 'cheating' on Mor. We, as readers, know it's not the case. Now, Mor and Az never had a conversation about their 500 year old relationship. What he knows about her, we have no idea. What he feels, we have no idea. And just as is the case with Elain, he is not going to go and start explaining himself and his feelings about Mor to Rhys.

The bonus confirmed what's been brewing for a while. That's why it was there. Just like Cassian never confessed his feelings to Rhys or Az about Nesta, even if they all suspected it, why would Az? I mean, Cassian never even confessed his feelings TO Nesta!

Yeah, there is no argument that the shadows whisper to Azriel.

It says that he 'learned the language of the shadows' while in his father's dungeon. They obviously communicate with him and he communicates with them.

The fallacy is that the shadows react to Gwyn. That they 'love' her or some such nonsense. The shadows never reacted to Gwyn. Not once throughout the entire book did they act in some unusual manner around her. The only thing that they react to is one strange thing that emanates from her -- her 'silent music'. They react to the sound of something that isn't heard by a normal ear. That's what the 2nd part of the POV was about. So no, there isn't going to be a Shadows POV where they giggle about how much Azriel loves Gwyn.

[acourtofthought]

Not sure if you’ve shared your thoughts on this, but I love your analysis and commentary, so figured I’d ask.

I’ve seen a lot of E/riels wanting Elain to break the bond with Lucien because they are “sick of mates.” So… why read a series by an author that loves the fated mates trope? Then again, a lot of them think the mating bond w/ Lucien is fake and Azriel is her “real” mate — wonder if they’d still want her to reject that to “have a nonmated pair end up together!” If you like a pairing, you like a pairing. I’m fine with that! It’s just the nonsensical arguments coming from the same group of loud E/riels that doesn’t hold up.

Not to mention how heavy the mate language was in relation to Gwyn at the end of Azriel’s chapter. There was no need to have that level of interaction or feeling between Gwyn and Azriel if she’s going to just have them be mates and break it, too. Two pairs of broken bonds in a series like ACOTAR just doesn’t make sense with how much emphasis has been put on mates.

Hi there!! I guess if people aren't familiar with the Fated Mates trope than it might seem odd that the main characters are all getting Mates but once they realize it's a thing, I don't know why they'd continue with the series knowing that it's something an author tends to stick with throughout their writing. If you stumble upon JR Ward and read book one in the Black Dagger Brotherhood then you might find it interesting that the main character finds their mate. By the time you get to book 3 or 4 and you notice the common theme is that each of these vampires is finding their mate then you can either stay onboard for the ride or you can hop right off because chances are, the rest of her 20 something books in the series are going to be about the characters finding their mate. What doesn't make sense is to complain about a Fated Mates author writing about MATES 😂 And yeah, SJM brought up in ACOWAR that a bond can be rejected, but.....why would she want to have to do that for HER favorite characters? The ones she decided to give a POV? To a Fated Mates author, having each character end up with the best mating bond around is the best thing ever and having a poor bond is going to be tragic (since SJM likes her HEA, why would she want either of the two bonded characters to eternally suffer from a poorly matched bond?). And the majority of those that have the desire to see a rejected bond are E/riels so if it were truly about wanting to see it, they'd be open to the possibility from any remaining characters. It's pretty obvious that they only want a rejected bond as long as it pertains to Elucien so she becomes available for Az. You're right though, it would be better to hear them simply say, "I hope Elain rejects Lucien and decides to be with Az". Instead, they act like it's not about that, that it's just them being annoyed to see everyone getting a bond, though we all know they'd love to see E/riel with a bond.

[velidewrites]

B for the ship game? 🌝

B - A pairing you initially didn't consider but someone changed your mind

Probably Jassa! I didn’t pick up on the whole “two sides of the same coin” thing when reading acowar (or was it acosf? I can’t even remember lol) — I was probably too preoccupied obsessing over Elucien 🤣

Once I got a bit more into the fandom and my eyes were opened to Lucien’s unparalleled side commentary I fell in love with the ship though. Especially after seeing some gorgeous Jassa art and reading lots of really great fics I’ve reached the point where I can’t imagine Vassa with anyone but her General other than me

#jassa #elucien #acotar #my asks

[taylors-fourth-cat-meow]

Since i've had many anons in my inbox asking for more acowar commentary....

I present to you Chapter 5

(this is the chp where Feyrug violates a SA victim 🥰)

Let's gooooooo

I crawled back to the manor two hours after midnight, too exhausted to last until dawn.

Exhausted bitch what even did u do tho?? Well i guess eating that whole chuck of my brain last chp must be exhausting nvmnd

Especially when I noted the way Tamlin looked at me, remembering that dawn last year when he’d led me away and kissed me as the sun rose.

Oh yay!!! Oh I LOVE THAT SCENE FROM BOOK 1!!!!!THE SUMMER SOLSTICE!!! OH WAIT WHILE I GO HAVE MY FANGIRL CRISIS OVER IT 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I changed into my nightgown, a small, lacy thing I’d once worn for Tamlin’s enjoyment

Huh "Tamlin's enjoyment"

Oh yeah beach i see what u r doing. Tryna sell the whole Tamlin is a misogynistic bastard who made u wear lacy nightgowns for his enjoyment.

But weren't u the one who wanted to wear lacy things and show up to Tarquins place????? Because ofc u thought he was in love with u????? And wasnt precious rhysie the one that invaded you mind and showed u images of u and him doin it in the said lacy wear shop?? Yeah bitch cant prove tamlin is a dick with saying the same about rhysie not on my watch

The Attor. The Weaver. My sisters being thrown into the Cauldron. All of them twined and eddied around me.

Rhysie, babes your matey is having nightmares of the weaver. You know the old ancient cannibal you sent your 20 year old supposed love of your life to see if she cud get the ring your dead mother left to see if she was "worthy" of being your partner

*Cough* equal in every way my ass*cough*

Most of the others were still celebrating when I yelped, a sharp, short cry that had me bouncing from the bed.

Pls why am I imagining her doing this

“I heard you—what’s wrong.” He scanned me, russet eye wide as he noted my disheveled hair, my sweaty nightgown.

OKAY NO THIS IS SOOOO WRONG!!?!?

My poor fox baby is so caring and concerned for this birch and she is just there to manipulate him!!!

Ugghh let her suffer bae shes not worth it!!

Bare from the waist up, he’d managed to haul on a pair of pants before opening the door, and hastily buttoned them as I strode past.

Pls what'd i'd give to see Lucien fcking Vanserra shirtless 🥵🥵🥵

“I can’t remember when I am.”

Ummmm... Miss ma'am isnt that's wrong English?

I dragged my eyes to his, haunted and bleak. “She had me spiked to the wall. Like Clare Beddor. And the Attor was—”

Pls the AUDACITY and i mean THE AUDACITY this bitch has taking Claire Beddor's name and fcking lying while doing so

AS IF YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS MATEY ARENT THE REASON SHE WAS SPIKED TO THE WALL IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Lucien paused half a foot from me. He didn’t so much as object as I threw my arms around his neck, burying my face against his warm, bare chest. It was seawater from Tarquin’s own gift that slipped from my eyes, down my face, and onto his golden skin.

Aaaahahah

Okay a lot to unpack here

A] Pls each step of the way Lulu is a SWEETHEART and each step of the way Feyrug has managed to make me want to take out her cranium and femur and fashion a makeshit shovel out of it to dig a hole in the Sahara and bury the rest of her there. Its impressive really.

B] Also here u go guys the privileged white protag again shamelessly using our anti-slavery and pro equality black mans powers after she brainwashed, manipulated and violated him... to... brainwash, manipulate and violate another poc. Gosh sjm really doesn't get tired of her racist bs does she

And lastly,

*Takes deep breath*

*Throws phone across the wall*

*Rips into pillowcase*

*Jumps on chair*

*Falls down from chair*

*Retrieves phone*

GOLDEN MOTHERFCKING SKIN!!!!!

Lucien whipped his head toward the door. Tamlin stood there, face a mask of cold calm. The beginnings of claws glinted at his knuckles.

Pls i feel so bad for Tamlin 😭😭😭😭

He deserves so much better than this. Lucien and Tamlin both do 😭😭 their friendship deserves better 😭😭😭😭

Tamlin was just staring at Lucien, whose mouth had tightened into a thin line as he marked those claws, still half-drawn.

NOOO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE BETRAYAL ON HIS FACE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

is it weird that i want to force tamlin to shapeshift into a cat and take him home and put him in a nice lil cat bed and give him milk and fish and protect him from everything?

Yes it is, sweetie, yes it is.

“Good night,” I said, and shut the door in Tamlin’s face.

Alright bitch i got the super glue and the chain saw and the scalpel out just need your cranium and femur now.

I wondered if Lucien had pieced it together. That I had known Tamlin would come to my room tonight, after I had given him so many shy touches and glances today. That I had changed into my most indecent nightgown not for the heat, but so that when my invisible snares in the house informed me that Tamlin had finally worked up the nerve to come to my bedroom, I’d look the part.

The way she is playing not only lucien but also Tamlin?

I mean what she is doing to Lucien, is worse as it is.

But she is also leading Tamlin on? Playing with his heart? Why wouldn't he slut shame this bitch at the high lords meeting?? She fcking deserved to be humiliatied like that. I said what i said.

Good lawd i am fcking livid.

A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Preying on what Tamlin had feared from my very first days here.

.....

I had not forgotten that long-ago fight he’d picked with Lucien. The warning he’d given him to stop flirting with me. To stay away. The fear that I’d preferred the red-haired lord over him and that it would threaten every plan he had. Back off, he’d told Lucien.

I already made a whole ass post about this so i'm just gonna link it right...here.

I- i don't think i have the mental, emotional, physical capacity to deal with Sarah Janet's infamous retcons rn

Considering how this very morning, Lucien had knelt before me, swearing fealty to a newborn god, as if we had both been Cauldron- blessed.

NEW BORN WHAT NOW???

PLS SHE DID NOT JUST CALL HERSELF A GOD WHAT IN THE ACTUAL- 💀💀💀

There was more work to do.

The more work being coming in between two centuries long frnds who are each other's only family by manipulating a SA victim into implying having sexual relations with him without his knowledge and in the process also ridding him of his only family and support system he cud possibly get and at the same time manipulating and mind r*ping innocent people into thinking their high lord is a tyrant and making them revolt during war time ultimately leaving the population of an entire country vulnerable to invasion by a foreign army and hence causing a warcrime and a mass murder.

But...like.. atleast she is .... hard working....gotta appreciate a hardworking girl boss queen u guys....

#and thats....CHP 5 #istg the joules of my energy i wasted on this shit is so not worth it #i'm kidding it kinda was #also side note: i kinda have covid lol #anti sjm #anti acotar #anti feyre #anti feysand #tamlin #anti acowar #anti rhysand #anti rhytrash #anti sjm stans #lucien acotar #lucien vanserra supremacy #acowar commentary

[read-watch-listen-17]

ACOWAR Commentary

SPOILERS - A Court of Wings and Ruin

Lol Amren poping in hoping they voted to face Hybern in battle. Yay!

Well damn. I was wondering if it was something like that. Facing yourself can be one of the hardest things you can do.

Awwww Rhysand 🥰🥰🥰 Always with the good speeches.

Totally thought she was thinking something spicy for when they win the battle, but no she was talking about the Bone Carver and Bryaxis 🤣🤣🤣

🤣🤣🤣 Tamlin dragged Beron. Good to know he can be useful from time to time. Shit! That was close.

Oh look this must be the final battle, everyone is showing up, better late than never. 🤣🤣🤣 Feyre's dad found Vassa before Lucien did 🤣🤣🤣

Son of a bitch, Amren! God damnit, King Hybern! That's a dirty move. NOOOO CASSIAN!! 😭😭😭😭😭 Go Nesta! Damn, Elain. Get 'em Nesta. The King is dead! Yay!

No, Amren 😭😭😭 Awwww Varian. Well, I guess they win. Thanks Amren. 😭😭🥰🥰

No, no, no, no, this is not happening. No, I don't believe what I'm reading right now. She's not doing this to us is she? He gave so much, too much already. Please don't die…my heart is broken 💔💔💔💔. I don't know know if I can finish…

Hell yes! Tamlin did something right for the second time or is it the third? Fuck he brought Amren back too?! Yay! And she's purely Fae now! She and Varian are going to be very happy…I hope.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was really hoping that Elain would get over Graysen and start liking Lucien. Baby steps I guess.

This was really random, but I really like having this chapter from Rhysands point of view. It was super sweet. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

And they lived happily ever after. I hope.

That was sooo good. Now on to Frost and Starlight 🥰

#a court of wings and ruin #acowar #sarah j maas #sjm #acowar time #acowar commentary #acotar book 3 of 5 #down the sjm rabbit hole again #wish me luck #3 down 2 to go #a court of frost and starlight #acofas

[princessofmerchants]

With 28 hours to spare...

My chapter by chapter commentaries of my reread of A Court of Frost and Starlight are complete! 🎉

If you want a refresher heading into ACOSF, consider giving them a read (masterlist at the link above), but know that I took notes mostly with ACOSF in mind (so, Nesta and Cassian feature throughout my posts, whenever they come up in the book).

❤️A special thanks to everyone who has been reading along as I posted these.❤️ I am exiled from my dash to avoid ACOSF spoilers, so your likes, replies, and (ACOSF spoiler free) reblogs have kept me company this past week 💖💖💖

ALMOST THERE FRIENDS!!! 🔥🔥🔥

#acofas #a court of frost and starlight #chapter by chapter commentary #acosf #a court of silver flames #nesta archeron #cassian #nesta x cassian #nessian #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #acomaf #a court of mist and fury #acowar #a court of wings and ruin #wings and embers

[nasstian]

One thing that really bothers me about Sarah J. Maas, besides the stereotypical portrayals of queer characters (particularly bi people), are the racist implications of her depictions of people of color. For example, Helion is portrayed as a “slutty” bisexual, as well as a hypersexual dark-skinned black man. I may be reaching, but I couldn’t help but notice this and cringe every time he was mentioned in ACOWAR.

During slavery, the differentiating factor of the black slave’s experience was the slave master’s exploitation of the black body. The abysmal power disparity between the slave master and black people as well as the belief that black people were inherently lustful, proliferated the hyper-sexualization of slaves. Consequently, slave masters often raped slaves to satisfy their own abhorrence and fantasy.

Black men, in particular, were said to have more animalistic sexual desires than their female counterparts. Sarah J. Maas implicitly reinforces the stereotype that black men are inherently sexual and aggressive. One could argue that Maas writes most of her male characters this way, but Helion’s approaches are notably persistent and obnoxious. He’s been trying to have an orgy with the Inner Circle for centuries!

In conclusion, do your research, Sarah J. Maas. Being ignorant is, and will never be an excuse for writing racist shit. 🙄

#anti sjm #anti acowar #commentary

[starsreminisce]

Even *if* elain n azriel were to happen their dynamic would not be in the way e/riels think. No matter how soft or gentle a character is they never take bs from their partner.

You know what's funny about that statement? I actually have a post I'm sitting on in drafts where one of the reasons why I don't think E/riel pairing is going to work is because of how Az talks to other people when he's being challenged and how that clashes with how Elain spoke to Nesta in ACOSF.

At the first chance that Elain shows she wants to do more for the Night Court, she is shut down by Azriel when she is not there, and some E/riel shippers are trying to pass this off as "sweet," claiming he's concerned over her and wants to protect her.

Even though SJM has established this as red flag behavior.

We also get commentary from Nesta and Feyre about Elain finally growing "claws," so she's starting to learn how to stand up for herself.

She was pretty harsh with Nesta during their confrontations. So, all I keep picturing is how Azriel would react to this when Elain tells him that she wants to do something?

Azriel said coolly, “I don’t need to resort to threats.” The shadows coiled around him, snakes ready to strike.

Az eyed him, eyed Feyre. Determined that they were an immovable unit, an impenetrable wall against which his fury would only break again and again.

She knew Azriel would say no, would want her safe. As he had always done. Cassian would have said yes, Amren with him, and Feyre would have worried but agreed. Az would have been pissed, and withdrawn even further into himself.

I also think that's why SJM pulled back a lot of dialogue between Elain because who she was in ACOWAR is not the same person in ACOSF, but she still intentionally ties her in with Lucien. SJM purposely added that she smells like Spring, she still gravitates towards sunny windows, and seemed to throw back backstories and descriptions that parallel Lucien.

SJM, however, made sure to include how Gwyn and Azriel talk to each other, especially considering how often Gwyn does challenge him. SJM also included how Azriel views Gwyn, and it's hard not to miss the "admiration and quiet encouragement shining on his face" complete with dancing shadows, brows in amusement, and private dagger handling lessons.

#antie/riel #antielriel #asks #gwynriel #pro gwynriel #elucien #elain archeron

[colorlesschristmastree]

You know how the book of breathings called Feyre the Princess of Carrion in ACOMAF?? What does that mean?? Like I just remembered but can’t remember an explanation.

It doesn’t really *mean* anything specific. It’s really just a title assigned to Feyre by like.. the world, similar to how Cassian was called Lord of Bloodshed, Feyre is the Princess of Carrion.

It’s also the name of one of the parts in ACOWAR, it’s part one, when Feyre is destroying the Spring Court.

Carrion is decaying flesh, carnage, rotting things. So Feyre being referred to as the princess of that is symbolic of the destruction, death, and just violence that she will bring to her enemies.

Although there are some very specific and nuanced theories and analysis’s of the book of breathings and how it might be foreshadowing certain things, it’s never very specifically touched on in the books and the names it uses to refer to Feyre and her sisters haven’t been spoken on Unless you count Amren telling the book to shut up and saying it likes to hear itself talk as a commentary.

#feyre archeron #pro feyre #feyre #princess of carrion #lady of many faces #sweet-tongued liar #high lady #my posts

[bookofmirth]

So I initially deleted this because I didn’t want to get into it, but I also think the question is genuine and I wanted to explain my thinking. CW for emotional and physical abuse and sexual assault.

I am tagging @silverlinedeyes​ because this ask concerns them and I don’t appreciate being vagued, whether it’s a blogger or someone answering an ask that mentions me. I try not to vague other people and I’m not perfect but... just getting this all out in the open.

So I can’t speak for everyone who was upset at the initial post comparing Ianthe and Gwyn. Personally, I kind-of grimaced and was mostly confused about what in the world they could possibly have in common and why such a comparison would be necessary. As people, they are fundamentally different. And to me, the comparison is incredibly thin. Eye color and priestesses? How many priestesses have that eye color? And to use that to connect them to a creature we’ve only read about in two sentences in the whole series, a creature we’ve never actually seen on page and know next to nothing about? Basically, the intention or purpose behind the comparison didn’t make sense to me.

Now I’ll be perfectly transparent - I didn’t read the whole post because I could tell that it wasn’t for me. I also didn’t go around vaguing it. It was mentioned in some asks that I got and I tried to limit my commentary on that post and focus on the comparisons I had made, intentionally. Because 1) I can’t speak from the position of a SA survivor, and those are the people that post concerned, and 2) I didn’t fully read it, and 3) I don’t want to vague people! This fandom is divided enough. I know I made a joke after acosf came out how we are all having separate, loud conversations in the same room and refusing to acknowledge the other conversations while somehow responding to one another. And it was kinda funny at first, but now it’s exhausting.

To me, comparing Ianthe, who is universally reviled as a r*pist, and Gwyn, who we know is a SA survivor, is unnecessary. That’s pretty much what it comes down to. Why do we need to do this? What is it telling us about any of the characters? About relationships? I know a lot of people found it anything from distasteful to downright offensive, and while I think that just about anything is fair game when it comes to fictional characters, I also personally think that the intention behind the comparison was confusing. I just personally don’t understand why we would need to talk about those characters in the same breath. What purpose does it serve? Someone who can speak from the position of a SA can please feel free to add on, if comfortable!

The reason that I compare Az and Tamlin is to analyze them as people, as characters, because I see a lot of similarities in who they are on a (currently) fundamental level - their anger, their loneliness, their attempts to restrain their destructive impulses. These are major parts of who they are as people and how they interact with the world. There were red flags present in acotar that I recognized from my personal life and that I can now see in Azriel. Frankly, it concerns me that people see Tamlin as a completely irredeemable villain, while not recognizing that Azriel shares some of the same personality traits. 

Comparing a r*apist and a SA survivor is an unequal comparison. Emotional and physical abuse, on the other hand, tends to be generational. I’m not an expert on a professional or academic level, but I did a quick search on my university’s database, and found this from “Interrupting the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence”, and please note that these lines were the context or background - this article didn’t set out to prove these statements to be true, they are already commonly accepted knowledge and so their research was looking to solve the problem:

Children exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk for a wide range of emotional and behavioural disorders. Conduct disorder, in particular, may ultimately lead to the perpetration of further domestic violence in the next generation. Parental characteristics such as warmth and positive attributions may mitigate the risk for intergenerational transmission of violence.

I think that as a fandom, people really, really tend to mischaracterize Azriel. It bothers me. He’s not soft. I’m sorry, he’s just not. We have multiple examples of him being described, using words like “rage”, “cruel”, “temper”. One of the first posts I ever made in this fandom that got a lot of attention (over four years ago) was trying to correct these mischaracterizations. They keep happening.

There was an icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw. In the centuries I’d known him, he’d said little about his life, those years in his father’s keep, locked in darkness. (ACOMAF)

One moment, Azriel was seated. The next, he’d blasted through Eris’s shield with a flare of blue light and tackled him backward, wood shattering beneath them. “Shit,” Cassian spat, and was instantly there— And met a wall of blue. Azriel had sealed them in, and as his scarred hands wrapped around Eris’s throat, Rhys said, “Enough.” (ACOWAR)

Az didn’t answer. I held his gaze, though. Held that ice-cold stare that still sometimes scared the shit out of me. (ACOFAS)

Az had a vicious competitive streak... quiet and cruel and utterly lethal. (ACOSF)

Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper (ACOSF)

These are just a few of the examples, but we can also think about acofas when he gets angry at dinner thinking about how his mother was treated as a servant, when he can’t handle being around people who are happy on Solstice. I could make a whole post but I’m kinda sick of talking about Azriel at this point.

I have experienced an emotionally abusive relationship much like feylin was. I made myself so small, for years, because this person’s anger and anxiety and grief took up so much space in the world. I felt like I had to overcompensate, to not make them feel jealous if I was having a good day, and to not take on my negative feelings if I had a bad day. So I just stopped feeling things. For years. It didn’t go well. I’m still dealing with the aftermath. 

I have also witnessed physical domestic violence, as a child. I don’t think I need to explain further than that.

My fanfiction A Loveless Romantic deals heavily with the feylin abuse, and I only feel comfortable writing it because of my personal experiences. I’ve written posts about Nesta and alcohol and another post that I can’t currently find about why acotar is such a good book because it shows us all of those red flags for abuse before many people knew they were red flags. (If I can find it I’ll reblog.) My point is, when I go into analyses and metas like these, they aren’t just an exercise in “oh hey what if?!” It’s “here is my experience with this topic and so here’s how I read this with that background.”

The comparison between Azriel and Tamlin is deeply personal to me, and I didn’t exactly expect to have to disclose my personal history when making it, but when I see people vaguing about how the comparison “hurts people who have experienced abuse”, hi, OP knows exactly what she’s talking about on a personal level, thanks. So I’m going to keep talking about it, because I know what I’m talking about, and it bothers me that people can’t see it in fiction because I worry that they then won’t be able to see it IRL until it’s too late. I’m going to keep writing my “thinkpieces” because this is a topic I know a lot about, it’s important to me, and it’s something that I think a lot of people can and should learn more about.

#acotar #azriel #tamlin #cw abuse #acosf #ask #anon #i really need a moratorium on az #he no longer exists to me #nor tamlin #mor cassian nesta elain and lucien are the only characters to me

[dreaminginvelaris]

sorting acotar characters into hogwarts houses

idk why i decided to make this post but it was fun sooo...

lmk if y'all agree or disagree. Also please no hate, sometimes a post is just for fun and i don't need any negativity. UNLESS its hate for elain which by all means go ahead ;) (because of ppls sensitivity, this joke isnt an invitaion to go on a full blown elain hate rant just offer a few jabs, especially if you agree on the elain section and move on, if you wanna go on a rant, message me or submit a post and i'll response, all the love <3)

Slytherin: Ambition, Cunning, Leadership, and Resourcefulness

Rhysand: of course Rhys is Slytherin, the man screams Slytherin. We all know he's cunning, often coming up with plans to get what he wants, leader well duh, he's a high lord and loves it and is great at it, he's ambitious, he's a dreamer, so of course, he wants more, and he's resourceful, always being able to think on the spot. Rhysands second house would be Ravenclaw for sure though.

Eris: uhhh do I even have to explain? wants to be Highlord, boom ambitious. seems to be the one in charge of his brothers and has many responsibilities, boom leader. being able to achieve what he wants, boom cunning. resourcefulness...yeah I don't got an example for that one, anyways 3/4.

Azriel: daddy az is a Slytherin, I mean obviously this is the best house (is it obvious yet that I'm a Slytherin ;) but fr, I debated sorting him into Ravenclaw, but even though yes he shows Ravenclaw traits it's not the ones we see the most of or the ones that really shine through Azriel's reserved personality. The main traits azzy boo here has from Slytherin are Cunning and Resourcefulness, and imo these are the ones we see from him every page.

Amren: im putting amren here too, she's literally both!

Gryffindor: Brave, Courage, Daring, Chivalrous

Cassian: this one is self-explanatory, how many times has he put others before himself, how many times has he endangered his own life to save others. that's a Gryffindor soul he has. he always tried to do the right thing, he's brave as hell and reckless at times it seems from the little snide comments we've gotten from the books, he would have been a marauder no doubt.

Tamlin: I hate to do this I do because I love my lions, but I had to put this piece of shit somewhere and since he reminds me of peter Pettigrew bc of his cowardness, I'm sorting him in here. I'm so sorry guys ;(

Morrigan: helloooo, the house colors are red and gold??? obviously mor would demand this house, yes demand. but not just that she's crazy brave, at only what 18? i think, she stood up to her family, making a decision she knew could have her ending up in a horrible situation. but she always is brave, shes gotta when her evil family is still in her life.

Hufflepuff: Loyal, Kind, Patient, Hardworking

Gwyn: i choose my girl gwyn for Hufflepuff bc let's face it, she is the embodiment of Hufflepuff. She's loyal to her new friends, emerie and Nesta, and the priestesses. She's kind as we can see when she first met Nesta and when emerie and Nesta shared their stories. She's very patient never snaps at that bitchy priestess who idk the name of as well as patient when it comes to her and Azriel's tender new friendship and hardworking, always doing her job, running around the library, for her work, always researching more ways to help the Valkyries. i debated putting her in Ravenclaw, because of her intelligence, but i think she's a Hufflepuff through and through.

Elain: IT HURTS MY HEART PUTTING PLAIN ELAIN IN THIS HOUSE. but I gotta, the only trait this plant sniffer has out of all the houses is "kind and patient" EVEN THOUGH SHE'S NOT REALLY LMFAO. I've made a post on explaining why this dirt lover isn't as kind as the books make her out to be, and I would argue she isn't actually patient at all, I mean did we miss how she was basically frustrated Nesta wasn't getting better even though it had been like what 2 weeks, LMFAO. but yeah I mean she's not loyal unless you have food and money then oh yeah she'll be loyal and she's not hardworking bc I mean she never did jack shit and still doesn't, sorry to do this to y'all.

Note: some of yall are so soft. this is not an anti elain post. sorry i insulted her but hey its my post, and i have commentary on each character to explain why i feel they belong in a certain house. sorry i happened to insult your fav. but this isnt an anti elain post, just like its not anti tamlin or anti eris. its just a post about all the characters period, which is why i inculded all of them in the tags. hey, i even insulted Nesta a little bit, but I'm not gonna tag anti-Nesta bc it's not a fucking hate post. get off this post if it comes across you and you don't like what I say, it's not hard to literally just scroll, trust me I've done it multiple times especially when it's a hate post on my beloved characters and they didn't use the anti tags. it's not fucking hard, grow up.

Ravenclaw: Wisdom, Wit, Individuality, Intelligence

Feyre: I debated putting queen feyre into Slytherin, I mean she shows the traits for sure, but it's not really if she shows the traits it's what shines the most in her. Ravenclaws are known for their creativity (bae luna Lovegood <3) and feyres an artist, even in her darkest times she remained an artist, always seeing portraits in her mind, always admiring the beautiful colors of the world. We know she's intelligent, picking up reading and writing quickly, and we also see it when she's strategizing, with the inner circle. Feyre is so wise, she had to be, she had to grow up quickly, you often see her in the books giving advice, because even though she's only 21, she's lived a lifetime. and the whole book of acomaf can show you how witty she is, I mean its what made us fall in love with feysand.

Amren: tiny snowball amren is literally a slytherclaw, she has all the traits from both. but because of how well she is with coding languages and how she always reads and does puzzles i think she'd enjoy being a Ravenclaw.

Nesta: I thought about this for a while, really looking into where she would thrive, Ravenclaw is for her no doubt. She's herself, always has been even when that wasn't such a good thing... but she's witty too if you make sure to not count the "the book is about...a book" I'm sorry that line makes me laugh every single time. we haven't really seen much of her intelligence but I'm guessing she is. but really she would love to be in a house where ppl are themselves and read, i can already imagine her creating a book club where people can be themselves and enjoy smutty books like her.

Lucien: originally I was going to sort him into Hufflepuff but then I remembered how intelligent he is, how witty, and I remembered in acowar he talked about how being the youngest of what 7 heirs? he had the chance to really educate himself which he loved to do, to really learn about his court, idk this man just screams intelligence to me.

I left out emerie bc i honestly don't know where to sort her, i feel like i just don't know her too well or understand her enough to sort her, so feel free to lmk where she would belong :)

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acosf #nesta archeron #feyre archeron #rhysand #tamlin #cassian #azriel #elain archeron #mor acotar #lucien vanserra #amren #gwyneth berdara #eris vanserra

[longsightmyth]

I genuinely can't tell if Sarah Janet just has exceptionally terrible luck with timing or if she truly believes she's giving worthwile commentary on things like police (crescent city), The Wall (acowar), and homelessness/aritifical housing crises/fucking plague evictions (acosf).

Like, she either has the absolute worst luck in the world when it comes to timing and blooms utterly fails to read the fucking room, or she does this on purpose

#myth rags on a court of thorns and roses #myth rags on crescent city