#i was just skimming acosf and like

[ervotica]

Inspired by the moment in ACOSF when it’s mentioned Cassian likes physical contact. A fic where reader and cassian are besties and hanging all touchy, maybe reader is braiding his hair and the mating bond snaps.

Kindly requested to be tagged if written/published.

𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞

pairing; cassian x fem!reader

warnings; porn with plot, basically just smut tbh but smut with FEELS (the best kind), p in v, oral (f!receiving), cassian is a sexy bitch

word count; 2.4k

a/n; dooo we want a p2 (and to find out what reader has planned...) i'm planning one in my head so if you guys are interested please let me know! @bxm-1012 enjoy!

Cassian shows love through touch- whether that be an affectionate squeeze, a kiss on the forehead or a playful shove; it's how he expresses love for the people around him.

You often take the brunt of this, being his best friend. You walk the streets of Velaris arm in arm, squeeze into one armchair that really isn't built to hold even Cassian alone, but somehow manages to fit the both of you, fall asleep on top of each other in a heap of skewed limbs after hours of partying and drinking and dancing at Rita's. You fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.

You're really not sure how you didn't see it earlier.

You're lounging in the aforementioned armchair when the bond snaps. Your legs are thrown over the arm and Cassian is settled in the centre, head to your chest as you scratch and tug at his shoulder-length hair, pulling it up into a braid. He tilts his head up, grinning at you through the dark lashes framing his eyes, and the whole world shifts on its axis.

Something stirs to life inside of you, a warmth blooming and spreading and seeping into your every pore; you can feel the way you're tethered to him, the gravitational pull between you.

You go stock still and your lips part in a silent gasp. Cassian's grin grows tenfold.

"You knew?"

"I suspected," he murmurs. He twists his body to face you. "I hoped."

"Oh," you breathe. You can't help it when your hand comes up to trace his cheekbones, the tip of your thumb skimming the bridge of his nose. His eyes fall closed and the bastard tugs on the bond so hard it emits a squeal from you, and you're pressing a palm to the centre of your chest to soothe the entirely unfamiliar feeling.

His mouth opens to break the silence but you're already moving, careening into his chest and burrowing yourself in tight. Your body sags with pure, uninhibited relief.

"You feel the same, then?" he teases.

Your eyes are glassy when you peel your face far enough to meet his stare.

"I always thought I'd have to make peace with it when you found your mate. I'd have to settle for loving you from a distance and that would be enough. As long as you're happy, I'm happy." He softens at the admission- your voice rasping and raw as you lay your feelings bare for him- hooking an arm beneath your own to drag you up his chest until you're nose to nose. "But I guess I can be selfish now, and keep you to myself," you whisper.

"Mm," he purrs, and the sound turns your core molten. "I like the sound of that."

He doesn't waste any more time before his mouth is on yours, lips slanting hungrily over your own; you part your lips in submission, granting him access to lick into your mouth, his tongue tangling with your own. He rises to tower over you until you're flattened against the curve of the chair, and plants his hands either side of your head to cage you in. His wings flare where they'd been previously tucked against his back. Your body goes involuntarily soft and pliable, heat prickling under your skin at his every touch. Instinct takes over- it's as if it's muscle memory. Giving yourself to him is as easy as breathing.

Your head swims at the feel of his body under your roaming hands, his scent that seems to shift from affection to something deeply primal and dominating. You urge him closer with a whine and a pathetic tug at his t-shirt. How has this man reduced you to a mess with no more than a kiss?

"Cass-" you gasp when his head turns and his mouth latches onto the sensitive spot beneath your ear; teeth sink into flesh and you have to bite your lip to conceal a wanton moan. "We-we should go somewhere... more private."

"Oh, don't stop on our account," comes Rhysand's amused drawl through the closed door. "We're vacating the premises as we speak."

A growl rips through Cassian and searing, unyielding need barrels to your core and pools there; it takes every ounce of willpower to not rut your hips against him and demand his clothes off that very instant.

"Sorry!" you squeak; as quickly as the word leaves your mouth, Cassian's smothering it with another eager kiss. You lose any semblance of control you were clinging to, a moan dragging its way from your chest and into his waiting mouth. A string of saliva stretches and bows between you when he lifts his head to look at your face.

"My mate," he purrs. "My beautiful mate."

Your eyes cloud when you gaze at him through half-lids, reaching down to grab the thick length of him and squeeze. His hips grind into your palm, something deep and almost terrifying loosing from the depths of his chest. It only serves to make your cunt drool.

"Wicked thing," he gasps. "Spiteful female."

You grin, wide and unabashed, before your hands grapple for purchase to tear at his clothes until his toned abdomen is revealed to you; you want to lick every inch of him.

"Desperate little creature, aren’t you?" he teases.

"Shut up!"

His eyes roll when you at last wrench his pants and underwear down his thick thighs, freeing his cock, hard and weeping and begging for your touch.

"Who’s desperate now?" Your brow quirks.

He echoes your sentiments, cadence deep and gravelly with lust. "Shut up."

Your snarking comments seem to loosen the tether he’s kept on his desire to hold you down and have his way with you, and you gasp when thick, calloused fingers curl their way around your windpipe; his fingertips are bruising against your jaw, tipping your head back to bare your soft throat for him. You go boneless in his grasp, eager to take whatever he gives you at whatever pace.

"So you do know how to behave," he muses, free hand coming between your bodies to paw at your clothes until they come away in ribbons, torn from your form and leaving you bare before him.

The first inch of him inside of you is a delicious stretch; your cunt parts and flares to make room for him. He pauses, and when he finds nothing but pure, unadulterated lust in your blown out pupils, he gives you the rest.

Slowly, agonisingly, he drags it out; moaning praises fill your ears as he grants you inch after inch of him until he's seated firmly to the hilt. His fingers are bound to leave bruises where they're curled around your waist.

You whine, fingernails digging cruelly into his sides. He’s so deep you’re sure you can feel him in your throat.

"Cassian."

"Fuck, sweet girl," he hisses. "Usually I’d take my time with you, work you up first until you’re crying. But I need you right now."

The breath is punched from your lungs as he sets a punishing pace; your spine curves and moulds to the arm of the chair when Cassian’s hands venture lower to cup the swells of your breasts. You feel his cock kick up inside of you when he catches sight of your pert nipples, hardening into buds at the exposure of the cool air and the feel of his hands brushing the sensitive beads.

"I’ll get my mouth on you later, baby."

You’d melt at the words if you weren’t already reduced to nothing more than mush from his dick alone. The thick girth of him splits you wide, nestling deep against spots you have yet to discover, pushing you further towards a precipice you’re almost terrified of— you’ve never experienced pleasure like this, to this degree. The insurmountable, unfathomable pressure builds until you’re coming with a scream, your body trembling around his own, cunt clamping down around him to suck him in further.

"There’s my girl," he coos, slowing inside of you to brush away the hair sticking to your slick face. "You’re perfect.”

You whine and cant your hips downward to rock yourself onto his cock, and the bellow that rips through him would have you flushing white-hot under any other circumstances; you’re too far gone to care, a shaking hand splaying against the ridges of his wing until he shudders under your touch. You moan at the sight.

"Now that’s just mean, baby."

You suck your bottom lip into your mouth, gaze flitting up to meet his own with a coy smile. He brushes a slow line with his knuckles against your cheekbone— a loving gesture that has your heart clenching as well as your pussy.

"I love you," he says. "I love you so much."

"I love you," you repeat his words as he smears a kiss between your pinched brows. His forehead presses to yours as his hips rut up into your own. Dewiness clings to every inch of your skin and your knuckles bleed of colour where you cling to Cassian.

He brings you to completion four more times before he reaches his own peak, and only when you're reduced to tears beneath him does he crawl the length of your body, lips grazing over the slick skin beneath him until he reaches your cunt once more.

"Cass-" you gasp; your voice comes out a broken, strangled jumble of noise and he grins wolfishly up at you before licking a broad, long stripe from your spasming hole to your clit. Your back arches and you're not sure whether it's towards or away from his touch, but he stops you short when his fingers curl around your ribcage to press you to the plush fabric of the armchair.

"Told you I'd get my mouth on you, didn't I?"

Everything is simultaneously too much and not enough, and you're torn between grinding down into his mouth and shying away. Pleasure licks white-hot up your spine and you writhe against his bruising hold on your hips when the stubble on his chin scratches against your sensitive bundle of nerves. It's red and angry, swollen from Cassian's undivided attention, and it has tears gathering at your waterline once more. Your eyes are glassy and half lidded and he reaches up to brush the tip of his thumb against your cheek, his head never coming up from between your thighs.

Your skin sheens under the soft lights of the living room, sweat beading across the crown of your skull and your temples; you whine and thrash beneath him until your muscles seize and go taut like a bowstring, and pleasure drags you under once again. You're screaming - comes the dazed realisation - and your chest heaves as Cassian works you through it, offering up sweet praises for your orgasm. He smiles as if he hasn't just given you the best sex of your life.

You're utterly limp, boneless in his firm hold when he lifts your body to cradle you to his naked chest. The bridge of his nose presses into the softness of your cheek, skin rubbing against skin where he nuzzles into you.

"That was fucking amazing," you breathe with a laugh. "We should do that again."

"Mm," he hums. "Don't tempt me."

You giggle, pressing your face closer to his; everything about him intoxicates you: his smell, the feel of him under your hands, the dominating rasp of his cadence.

"We have something else to do first."

"What?" he asks, visibly deflating when you push yourself up on wobbling legs; your knees almost give out instantly. You can feel his smirk forming, burning into your naked form.

"Don't. Say. Anything," you grit. Your fingers brush the carpet when you bend to grasp a slip of fabric, and you quirk a brow at your sheepish mate. "My clothes, Cass!"

"I'll get you some more. Anything you want," he immediately says, watching you through half-lidded eyes. The love swirling in his irises almost has you staggering.

"While I appreciate that..." You lean down to press your lips against his, only pulling back to rest your brow against his own. "That doesn't solve my problem right now."

He snorts. "I like you naked. Maybe you should never wear clothes again."

"I'm not sure anyone would approve of that but you." Your smile is devilish. "Maybe I could distract a few High Lords at the next meeting..."

His teeth bare, a low warning growl reverberating through your very bones. You laugh, light and airy, and Cassian's sure you're heaven sent even as you send red-hot fury roiling through his veins.

"I'm sorry," you trill. "That was mean." You snag his own t-shirt, still predominantly in one piece, and slip it over your head; it lays against your mid-thighs and the scent of him cloys in your nostrils. "C'mon." You beckon him up with an outstretched hand, wiggling your fingers until he stands and slips his fingers between your own. A smirk pulls at the corners of your mouth. "Um, darling?" A pointed gaze has him grinning in return, clasping his chest in faux disappointment.

"I thought you liked me naked!"

"Oh, I do," you muse. "I'd just like to not scar everybody else in this house for life."

"It'd hardly be an unpleasant sight-"

"Yes, but I'm sure everyone would prefer it if I didn't try to kill them for looking." Your smile oozes saccharine, and then you're nudging him towards where his underwear lays discarded on the carpet. He pulls the material up and over his thick thighs and then he's back by your side in an instant; you preen under his adoring touch, pushing into the hands that slip underneath your shirt to grope at your bare skin.

"C'mon," you repeat, begrudgingly denying yourself the pleasure of sinking into his arms for another round of slow sex. "We need to do this first." You press your lips to the corner of his mouth. "Mate."

#cassian fic #cassian imagine #cassian x reader #acotar cassian #cassian #acotar fanfiction #acotar #acotar x you #acotar x y/n #acotar x reader #cassian x y/n #cassian x you #cassian acotar #acotar fluff #acotar fic #cassian smut #cassian fluff #writer #writers on tumblr #writing #writing for fun #writing for myself #smut writing #fluff writing #smut with plot #smut with feelings

[bookofmirth]

I'm a third through the book and wanted to get some thoughts down

Info dump after info dump. I am curious how much of this actually even matters to what is coming, or to acotar5. Obviously getting confirmation that the dagsteri (my new word for the Asteri/Daglan) created the Illyrians was neat, but some of this stuff we kinda knew?

Like the Cauldron being "corrupted". We knew that, back in acomaf. We didn't know by whom or why, but... we knew, and kept seeing that in action for two books.

That whole section didn't feel like a revelation, so much as a confirmation of stuff we knew. And if the whole point was for Bryce just to have gotten Truthteller to pair with the Starsword, then... feels like sjm could easily have created a super secret new weapon in Midgard for her to have used. Also! Her getting that pure light from Theia. Like Bryce was not OP enough??? This is what happens when everyone is the most beautiful and strong and powerful ever, you get to just keep raising the stakes and no one is ever Too Much, I guess.

Nice of sjm to go back to her random weapons that she pulled out of her butt in acosf and make them somewhat meaningful. I'm sure that Truthteller was always meant to have significance, but the Trove? I guess that I appreciate that sjm is making an effort for them to not be a real "somehow, Palpatine has returned" moment.

I'm already dreading all of the "asldkajlsdjad sjm is such a genius!!!" posts. No, she did what authors normally do and think ahead. Rereading acosf this past weekend really confirmed that for me; for once, she was planning ahead in acosf, and... whether people still think that took away from Nesta's story is another issue altogether. But it's super easy for her to go back and say "this was important all along!!!!!" when no. We can tell.

I think the one thing that she added, that is really intriguing, is the way that people react differently around Made objects. I still don't get why there are differences, considering that tons of people in Prythian are Starborn. The logistics are fuzzy but it feels like she could randomly point to any fae character (save Illyrians, and no one who was born human) and call them Starborn.

Also Sigrid - what the fuck? tbh I am heavily skimming the parts with all the men in Midgard, but I did catch that.

I'm literally just word vomiting here, but I might have something more coherent later. I really would have given up on this series if the crossover hadn't happened, but I'll try to not talk about things that annoy me :) Yet. :)

#hofas spoilers #spoilers #house of flame and shadow spoilers #Leslie reads hofas #I'll avoid being negative #until the need is too strong

[theladyofbloodshed]

Yeah dude I'm not gonna lie I read all of the acotar series in like five days and thought it was mostly hot garbage the whole ride (it got super sucky mid-way through acomaf and I started skimming). But the moment I finished acosf and snapped it closed in a jaded, eye-rolling daze, I thought to myself, "The girlies on ao3 are definitely doing way better shit than this". So I logged on, immediately found your stuff, and have been binging your works and everyone else's ever since. Like, I get that canon is so terrible it's ruining it for you, but for me, people like you essentially established what the canon is. SJM is a hack, and she creates these bloated, idiotic books cause they make money for her, but whatever. The characters never belonged to her in my eyes, they've always been better treated by you.

Thank you bestie. That is a really lovely message.

Many years ago I was really into twlight, like just before the first film came out. My books were borrowed by like half the school. Girls I never even spoke to would come and ask if they could be next to borrow the books. It was like a weird cult. We'd all gather around at lunch to discuss the books and information that came out about the film. Then the last book came out, I dont think i moved for the whole day because I was determined to finish it. And I was like "wow this is so bad" closed the book and gave my copies away. Post-nut clarity but for reading. Never touched it again lmao. So I definitely understand what you mean about acosf ha.

#anon asks

[nikethestatue]

Hi Nike, I hope you are having a good day. I come here as an anon because I don't want to get involved in this shipwar on my profile as I am a Feysand stan and I think as much as it is fun to theorize about the next book, I don't like to constantly stress myself over ships that aren't confirmed BUT okay, my friend who is an avid gwynriel stan, showed me a story in insta about this person saying Elain and Azriel are just platonic. Here's what I thought as a reader:

ACOTAR is a fictional book and not a guide to real life. SJM knows that as an author. Now, I also know that bonus chapters aren't that important for the next upcoming books. And yes, maybe in Acomaf, acowar, acofas Elain and Az are friends but SJM did confirm in acosf Bonus Chapter and in Nesta's POV *regarding the charged glance, and Cassian noticing the changes in Az* that it is no longer indeed a platonic one.

"Offer and permission"

Both adults develop a feelings toward each other. The shipwar is silly yes but I actually laughed upon seeing how some people interpret and deny Elain and Azriel's moment in canon. Logically, why would SJM put in the bonus chapter where Azriel and Elain wants each other if it's only ''lust" and "people irl wanted to fuck their friends"? This is fiction, this is a story, this is romance, not irl, so this means the author wanted to tell her readers that there is indeed a development between the two. If SJM is an nonfiction author or teaching sexed then maybe yes, I'll think this bonus chapter is a life lesson that we can connect irl but it is not.

SJM had the choice not to write Elain and Azriel wanting each other since this will benefit her if they are not endgame, there will be no complication to solve between them in the next book and could focus more on the "plot" but SJM DID wrote it down. Not to show Azriel's an "incel" or in dire need of "therapy" but because this is how romance in fiction works especially if readers are very familiar in historical romance.

SJM also wrote how Feyre, Amren, Mor, Nessian notices the changes and the glances between these two people.

I guess Gwynriels are obsessed with Elain and Azriel for they cannot stop talking about the two and focuses more on trying to refute the author herself by not acknowledging Elain and Az's canon scene. Nobody have to diminish Elain and Azriel's moment in order to make another ship work. It doesn't happen that way. If they want Gwyn and Az, they could, but if they constantly think of ways to try and twist Elain and Az's moment then what does that say about the said other ship?

I also wanted to delve deeper about Elain's power when Lucien is around because as far as I remember, Elain is already showing signs and even continued to hint about her power in acosf without Lucien. I don't get the obsession of always connecting Elain to a man, specifically a man she doesn't want, really. But I'll have to check more of it and I will (maybe) get back to you about this. Idk if you guys already discussed it here but that's that.

Honestly, the more my friend shows me Gwynriel theories the more I lean on Elriel. Though I still don't want to get involved and get my hopes high until there's a confirmation. But the consistent far fetched "parallels/theories", selective reading, diminishing canon, doubtful interpretation of the story makes me root for Elain and Az. I don't read or see most of the theories from Elriel but I've read the series thrice and I don't need to depend my whole analysis on a person constantly skimming things to push a ship that only leads to other people wanting themselves d3ad if the said ship didn't happen.

ACOTAR is fiction. Azriel is a fictional character. And he wouldn't fuck any of the ladies here irl :) <3

ps: I think he is now fucking a lady he wants since acosf

Hey!

So the funny thing is that when it's convenient for them, the Bonus chapter is treated with more deference and importance than even the books themselves. It's perfectly acceptable to skip the entirety of ACOFAS, for example, but god forbid the POV is not given a PhD-level scrutiny. When it's not convenient, it just becomes the 'bonus chapter is just a bonus'.

That aside, Elriel doesn't actually need the bonus chapter.

Because everything's been laid out in ACOFAS and ACOSF--the war was over, and with it, new stories were being told.

ACOFAS was a massive setup for Elriel. Notably, Amren, yet again, was the first one to truly notice something between Azriel and Elain. Kind of like she did with Feysand. We already know that the two of them sure ain't looking at each other with any 'sibling' friendliness. Azriel refuses to spy on Lucien and Elain, becomes even more unreadable than usual when questioned about that, stares out the windows for the duration of the book, she gets him a specially-made gift (also, for all those say 'oh, Elain doesn't care about Azriel! She walked away after Hybern! She gave TT back! Look! Look! She doesn't care!) yeah, she cares. Just more intimately now.

Anyway, SJM put everything in ACOSF--everyone noticing something about Azriel and Elain. Cassian, Nesta, even Lucien (not coming to Velaris to see his mate), Amren, etc.

Bonus was just confirmation of everything that was presented in the book itself--why Azriel was acting weird, why he was evasive, reclusive and unhappy.

(If Gwyn made him so happy, why was he, in fact, so unhappy for most of the book??? Oh yeah, because he wants and can't have Elain, and is avoiding her.)

Also, the books are about romance. If anything, you can say that Cassian and Feyre are 'siblings'. But Elain and Azriel? Just bizarre. Clutching at straws as always.

[acourtofwhatthefuck]

If I’m being totally honest I really skimmed through acosf for the smutty bits and Nesta’s friendship w Gwyn and Emerie bc those were the only scenes that could hold my attention… I could never put into words why I didn’t like it, but yea that just about does it! I’m glad I’m not the only who felt that way about it

I think a lot of people felt that way tbh!

#ask #acotar #acosf

[freyjas-musings]

Thank you for your response (re: Gwyn allegedly having luring powers). Sometimes I think others have been reading different books. In other media, I’ve felt pretty good about being able to figure out endgame couples & twists, but they had me thinking I’d missed something important. I don’t understand their level of hatred toward Gwyn just because there’s another “ship” option in the fandom. In the text, she’s a sweet person who is continuing to overcome trauma. Nothing about her screams evil seductress. I really liked Elain prior to interacting more in online forums, but E/riels are making me want to avoid any type of posts about her due to the nastiness of it all. I just haven’t seen that from people who like other ACOTAR ships. Thanks for your thoughts! Glad I’m not missing glaring parts of the story 😅

I hear you !!! That's one thing that I cannot stand people just writing vile shit about characters that mean something to people just for a ship war. It's an ongoing joke that elriels probably read a different version of the books to all of us ... they clearly don't seem to see the red flags at all.

I have now had more than a few elriels who have admitted to "skimming" through acosf except for the elain parts, which is non-existent in the book ... so you understand why they have no idea about Gwyn or why that character could never be evil.

I won't lie after my last experience with an Elain related post I have my reservations too but its kind of unfair because not all stans are unhinged and crazy . Most Eluciens are pretty good to interact with and we need to remember they are Elain stans too!!!

You are not missing anything.... you are spot on in guessing the end games .... when we have published authors rooting for a ship we know its happening 😊

#i hear you #pro gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #gwynriel

[acourtofthought]

Thank you for letting me vent! These warships are draining. If I see a pro Elriel post, I just mind my business. I know I'm not going to change their mind, nor do I want to. They are free to ship whoever they please.

But I do see a silver lining in all this. Over the year's things have gotten worse for them and it's not looking promising. I believe that is why they are getting more aggressive. What I mean is, when they do get SJM's attention, it never goes in their favor. For example:

Breads and roses, they swore this was El/riel confirmatio, prior to release and well, it was NOT. But in her HOSAB interview, she explained she was thinking what would be a warm welcome for Bryce, who thought she was in hell. Nothing more.

Gwyn's age, another theory that blew up in their face. SJM's not only shut it down, her face said it all. It is still one of my fave interviews.

ACOSF, before it's release El/riels dedicated so many posts and theories firmly believing this would be it for them, because it made sense right? Elain was closest to Nesta, Azriel to Cassian. This was the perfect opportunity to set them up, but SJM went an entirely different direction, and the two characters with least presence were Elain and Lucien. Watching their melt down was fascinating on twitter when the book was out, especially when the Italians who got an advance release date were going on about the chemistry between Az and a priestess, this was before the bonus chapter was even available. So if these readers, who had no idea of the bonus could pick up those crumbs, says a-lot about who's reading comprehension is off. Also, it is well known a ton of Elriels only skimmed ACOSF, I've seen tweets saying they do not want to read a book with that b*tch Gwyn. Just because one refuses to read something, does not change the outcome.

And that bonus chapter, why did a certain big pro elriel account rewrite the chapter and deleted Gwyn's part and tried to pass it off as published work? Did she think it was going to sway readers to el/riel, that was by far one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. If the bonus is not as important as they claim, why did they rewrite it? Waiting for them to make that make sense.

When SJM was promoting TOG, someone asked about Elain and Azriel and those in attendance shared her response on Twitter and they were crying and screaming on twitter when it was revealed she sees them as siblings - I know it is kinda weird that she did have them almost kiss BUT she actually did not have them kiss, so they could very well form a close subbing like bond later on, in the way Aelin does with Dorian, and they did in fact kiss.

Then fan during her Sept live who asked about Gwyn and the light singer theory. Her response was "not to sound mean but..." when anyone says "not to sound mean" it is the polite way of trying not to make you feel inferior for being wrong, but you are wrong. She even stated "another conspiracy theory" and kindly changed the topic. She did not fall for that question.

Lastly, I'm tired of seeing el/riels attack SJM's friends. Personally, I find it a win that her friends are anti elriels, does it mean I believe they know anything for a fact? I doubt it, but still, I know it makes el/riels so mad to see one of SJM's best friends vocalize she does not see Elain and Az as endgame anymore on her podcast.

Oh and when she was asked about modern vacations, she wasn't even asked about Elucien, yet she blurted it out and included them. El/riel's were not happy about it.

There are no interviews supporting Az and Elain the way there is for Elucien and where things stand in ACOSF it is not promising at all.

I think you're right. With more people coming to the conclusion that E/riel isn't happening it's caused them to get defensive. As far as Bread and Roses. I don't think SJM would give anything away if it was a clue that Elain was living in the townhouse but I am certain it wasn't a clue that E/riel was living together. If the next ACOTAR book picks up after CC3 that means the book would start with Elain and Az having kissed, had sex, fallen in love and moved in together off page. How does that make any sense? Why would you even want them for them? I also find it amusing that their arguments all end with "we have proof that Elain wanted to kiss Az!" after SF while they conveniently leave off the fact that Az told Elain that THEY WERE A MISTAKE. Do they honestly believe SJM would have left E/riels last interaction like that only to have her turn around and pretend like none of that happened at the start of the next book? That as a reader we're supposed to believe they just "talked it out" when we weren't even present for that conversation? They aren't paying attention to the kind of author SJM is if they really think that's what went down.

And SJM did have a million chances to push the narrative of an E/riel endgame but what she did instead is make it a point to tell us how different they are, how they haven't had any real progression in their emotional intimacy (even though Elain was open to getting to know Az), how Elain's sisters don't really consider her a close friend and how the IC doesn't really include her in important decisions. It really doesn't matter what happened two books back when this is the direction she's now headed. I so wish someone had a link to that interview, the one where she announced they were siblings. I've heard about it from a lot of people who remember it as you do but no one saved a link to it. I would LOVE to have that to post and share 😂 And it's not all that weird that she had them almost kiss or that they shared an attraction at one point when you consider Cassian and Mor. We know that Cassian was attracted to Mor and she found him somewhat appealing because they slept together. He admits that in ACOMAF, Mor was somewhere between friend and lover. Then in SF he tells us Mor has become family, his sister. So if that can happen then why can't the same be said for Elain and Az? Especially after they realize they were never really interested in one another for the right reasons anyway? The interview question about Gwyn and lightsingers is a whole big mess. I don't think SJM was even responding to Gwyn being an lightsinger or not because while the girl thought she was being sneaky on suggesting that Gwyn was a lightsinger, the actual question was "if lightsingers have a "beast" form and shadowsingers are the counterpart, do they also have a "beast" form?" and SJM laughed at conspiracy theories while giving an A+ for careful reading. So it answers nothing but also further confuses everything because she laughed at the theories while also complimenting their careful reading. It's a very typical SJM response, telling us nothing while also giving us something that both sides can claim as proof. Regardless though, what would it REALLY matter if Gwyn were a lightsinger (and that's not even saying she is)? But Rhys can mist people and enter their minds to do his bidding. Exactly why would Gwyn being a lightsinger automatically mean that removes her as a LI for Az. Az TORTURES people and doesn't blink at the thought of killing allies. Do they really think he'd be scared off by someone with a dark power? Just like not all daemati are bad, I think we can assume that not all lightsingers are bad (especially if they're only a quarter lightsinger). It could easily be a misunderstood power. And that's not even saying Gwyn is one, I'm just arguing that even if she were it wouldn't change the fact that she can still use something that's considered a dark power to protect the innocent. Just as Rhys does, just as Az does. At the end of the day, I can guarantee SJM is disgusted by the side of her fandom that threatens, bullies and harasses. It's amazing how E/riels that are guilty of it can't understand that.

#anti e/riel

[kayla-2]

I find I wanna like elain..? not only because she made amends after basically apologizing in acomaf early on but i’m not going to lie…I try to get myself to hype her up but it just doesn’t feel genuine because deep down I don’t think i’ll ever be able to respect how she behaved in book one, or just the fact that she’s never done much at all the entire series but once she gets her book is she going to be girl bossed out suddenly like nesta was? completely changing who these sisters are from how non helpful they’d been for four-five books..

I know people are “trying to forget it all but I guess I’m the kinda reader that can’t, canon is canon and none of that makes her hype worthy for me. Though i’ll never admit it because a lot of my feysand moots are mutuals with elriels, and our two fanbases seem closest out of all the other characters AND it feels pointless not being a “fan” of elains if that’s the only upcoming main character we’re stuck with, I kind of feel like “why not try to enjoy it” so part of me just basically feels like i’m forcing myself to be a stan for the sake of fandom peace and enjoying the next book since i really didn’t enjoy acosf. since i’m in the fandom waiting for any crumb of the IC it feels like you gotta pick a “fave new main character” to support but..az and emerie are the only two I know i’ll grow to respect or even maybe eris or emerie. But it’s hella hard to forget about the sister stuff? Idk maybe sjm will do something to make me not mind all that stuff anymore it’s just..meh.

“Best we’ll get” is right 😭 To be clear she’s sweet..Just..doesn’t excite me at all to suddenly get to know the mute neglectful sister that’s been forgiven but will now be an all powerful seer, maybe get feysand to cough up another one of their houses for a sister that didn’t earn it, another bat boy passed off and drama in feysands household over az and lucien.

I understand and you don’t have to, you can skip over it or skim the book. I’m just exhausting with how Sarah handled the sisters all together that I’ll just take elain and give her chance, plus I’ve always been an elriel. Feyres sisters was horrible done on Sarah’s part but I’m just ready to enjoy feysandnyx without thinking about it. Feyre has moved on so it’ll be hard to read her pov without just rolling your eyes when she talks about her sisters but unless Sarah is going to rightfully close it, im fine with just feyre and elain

#kayla ask #kayla answers

[separatist-apologist]

Have you ever said why you don't like From Blood and Ash? I thought most people liked that book. Was it just the newest book that put you off them?

I don't think I ever have, actually. Maybe once, when I answered a "fandom calm down" thing, but not like, my personal problems with it. I have the first three books but I quit after book two. This was right when I was getting back into reading for fun and not academia. My friend who suggested ACOTAR was like, if you liked those books, try FBAA. I trusted her and bought the first three so I didn't have to wait on them like I did for ACOSF.

The first book is...okay. It's interesting enough but the premise of very sheltered teenager who is a badass assassin is always annoying to me, it's why I think TOG also was hard for me. The problem is that the authors tell you "she is the best" and then when they show you, she's actually REALLY bad. Poppy wasn't AWFUL but her experience makes no sense considering she never had any practice until the book starts, and theoretical killing and real life killing are different? Also if Hawke kept catching her, you're telling me no one else did?

To be very honest, I was willing to overlook some of my main criticisms of the book (the cringy dialogue, repetition, and bad editing) because the story IS interesting. It moves, for the most part. Only a few middle places were really stagnant and I chalked that up to first book world-building syndrome.

But BOOK TWO was a SLOG it was so awful. The world building was out of control at that point, the constant "Why?" "Poppy with a question" jokes got old like, the third time it happened. There is just NOTHING happening for like, 300-400 pages that at some parts I was just skimming to get through it. Everything interesting happens in the last 50 pages and the build up is wonky or non-existent. JLA isn't interested in creating ACTUAL tension so she resolves it with a snap of her fingers and then creates more instead of teasing out her more interesting plot narratives. The pretend "will they/wont they" with Casteel and Poppy was the worst, though. I hated that so much. It made no sense and wasn't believable and instead of them working on their relationship its just snap "we're together now after I said we wouldn't be".

And all the old problems, of course (bad editing, cringy dialogue, repetition). I'm a big believer that reading should be fun and if books are boring/bad, stop reading them. You'll never catch me doing a hate read. I have the third book on my shelf but I've never read it and I never will. And seeing the blow up on book 4 was kind of validating because FINALLY people were admitting that these books are way overhyped for what they are, they're badly written, the world building is so big and complex the author cannot keep track of it and instead of fleshing any of it out she just adds more and more as it suits her. I don't think they ever should have been more than three books. Whatever is happening now could probably all exist in three tightly written books.

And obviously if you like them, you're allowed to. I'm not saying anything about the people reading them. I like plenty of trash nonsense (ask me about the reverse harem monster books I can't put down, like I am no stranger to badly written smut books). I think my issue is that they get treated as if they ARE really well done and the people who don't like them are just haters of popular fiction.

#anti jla #just to be safe #not tagging anything else because like read and let read #they are not for me

[nyxreads]

I'm actually one that doesn't like Nesta I never liked how she treats everyone especially Elain but it seems she does treat Azriel alright so that's a plus but she even treats her true love like shit I don't know if it's just me but I never shipped them together I have no idea why she's someone fave and they'll ignore all the things she's done but paint Elain as this character who's trash.

Hello anon, personally Nesta isn't in my favorite list. I feel like sjm could've done better especially in acosf, and it was so hard to go through and finish that book for me, like it took me a month (and I skimmed half of it). Tho I like Nessian, but I still think something could've done to build their relationship more? To make it like more appealing and stronger? Idk. And, Nesta was so hard for me to love but at some point I kinda felt sad for her especially how her character was written. Tho at the end of Acosf, I was really happy for the Archeron sisters. I am happy for Nesta, I am happy for Cassian, I am happy because they're all happy haha. BUT listen, Nesta stans are the one who gets into my nerves, like literally, there's no need to drag Feyre or Elain down so they could make Nesta shine and claim as the best fmc. I have no probs if Nesta is their fave but talking shit about Feyre, Elain and the whole IC is another thing.

I mean, we can always love a character and still able to see their flaws and mistakes and able to admit that at some point they're in the wrong without talking sht about other characters. But most Nesta loud stans I see always drags the two sisters down and the ppl who helped her but turned blind eye on how abusive (verbally) Nesta was. Sometimes anon, I believe it is the stans who can ruin a character(more). Because that's what always happens to me in this fandom 💀

#anon asks

[oversizedbats]

*jazz hands* 1-20 😏♥️ *finger guns*

LMAOOOO GIGI

1, 12, 19, 20 are here so I guess I'll entertain you and answer the rest here. But since you decided to be a menace I feel I need to put it under the cut

Ask game if anyone else wants to play but i'm answering all of them now i guess LOLL

2. top 5 books of all time?

AH um ok so it's going to be one of the ACOTAR books (could change depending on the day but it basically just flips between ACOWAR and ACOSF), A Rogue of One's Own (you already know how near and dear that one is), Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (the best portrayal of loneliness I've ever read and came to me at a time when I really really needed that), Beartown, and Fangirl.

Subject to change wildly

3. what is your favourite genre?

Flip flops between Fantasy and Romance. Right now I'm solidly in my romance era but it comes and goes between the two.

4. what sections of a bookstore do you browse?

I LOVE the endcaps and themed tables those are absolutely my favorites but I usually skim the romance aisle and general fiction as well

5. where do you buy books?

I mostly get my physical books from Barnes & Noble & Book of the Month. A ton of the books I read are from Libby though so I don't own nearly as many as I've read.

6. what books have you read in the last month?

Since April 15th (my birthday <3) I've read

House of Hollow

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

The Dinner

Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover

The Atlas Six

The Bromance Book Club

Teach Me

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder

And I'll probably finish Gild today

7. is there a series/book that got you into reading?

There have been a few over time as my reading habits have fluctuated. The Warriors Series was a big one that got me into reading as a kid, Divergent got me back into it in my early teens, ACOTAR and Throne of Glass didn't really get me into reading since I was already into it at the time but they did make me excited about it again after that excitement had kind of faded for a bit (like late high school).

But the thing that got me MOST into reading again was COVID LOL. I was too busy (and also clinically depressed lol) for much reading in 2018/2019, I read 18 books in 2018, 36 in 2019, 77 in 2020, and 100 in 2021 lol. So even now that I do have to leave my apartment again I'm still reading more than I ever have before so that's stuck around (honestly though it's probably also bc I found my bookish people on the internet <3)

8. what is the first book you remember reading yourself?

BAHAHA oh my god this question. I don't remember the title but we had this picture book where there were a bunch of stuffed animals in a classroom that taught themselves to read from the posters on the wall LOL. It was kind of meta bc it was like a book about learning to read but I loved that book and felt SO accomplished when I could read it to my parents instead of the other way around so that was probably the earliest memory I have of reading a book (although to reference Nick Miller maybe I just memorized the words LOL I don't remember). For chapter books the earliest I can remember is either a Junie B. Jones or Magic Treehouse book but I don't know which one I read first

9. when do you tend to read most?

On weekends bc i have a job >:( so weekends and evenings. I also try to read a lot when I'm at the airport/flying or riding in a car.

10. do you have a guilty fav?

Not really, I feel like I try to avoid the idea of "guilty pleasures" in general so nothing comes to mind. Like. Maybe ACOTAR bc I acknowledge it's kind of a dumpster fire these days but I still wouldn't classify it as a "guilty" fave obviously.

11. what non-fiction books do you like if any?

I do enjoy non-fiction from time to time! I absolutely ADORED The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer they both are so special to me. I've also read some really great memoirs like The Glass Castle and I'm really looking forward to Jennette McCurdy's memoir coming out this year.

13. do you have a goodreads?

I do and some of you have found it. I don't write reviews on there so have fun guessing how i felt about a book from my star review only LOL.

14. do you ever mark/dog ear books you own?

No. I used to dog ear like SUPER tiny but I don't anymore bc there are too many cute bookmarks in the world for that. I don't write in my books either, I tried that as well but it didn't feel like it added anything to the experience for me. The farthest I've gone recently is tabbing a book and that was only ACOSF and that was only so I could get back to my favorite parts faster LOL

I'm very much a "a little wear and tear is fine but I'm not going out of my way to make this look beat up" reader so no marking or dogearing and no spine cracking unless it happens on it's own. I try to respect people who purposefully beat up their books but I also sometimes i feel like they do it for outrage bait on tiktok LMAO

15. recommend and review a book.

I don't feel like writing a review but the last book I recommended to someone was The Wall of Winnipeg and Me so we'll go with that (i recommended it to my boss <3)

16. how many books have you read this year?

32 right now, will be 33 before the end of the day since i'm almost done with gild

17. top 5 children’s books?

Gah I don't even know. I liked Warriors, Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter, Magic Treehouse & Diary of a Wimpy Kid as a Youth but I don't know if i would say they're in the top 5 like bold of anyone to assume I remember who I was as a child LOL

18. do you like historical books? which time period?

I obviously have a recent soft spot for regency romances <3. Other than that I do read historical fiction but I don't tend to gravitate towards any particular time period.

there's the end of the list, hope you're satisfied gigi

#ask game #gigi tag

[moplayspoke]

I said I read ACOTAR but really I mostly read the first 3 books and skimmed the last two.

I am in the boat that absolutely hates ACOSF. Hates it. I could not take Nesta despite her redemption arc.

The entire book was a messy negative disaster that felt more like fanfiction than anything else. I hated how it felt like SJM just willy nilly assassinated some of her characters just for the sake of tension and plot. It felt like it was part of a different series altogether and it didn’t make sense nor was it enjoyable to watch it all crash and burn.

On top of that, it was boring. It felt forced. I had NO interest in any of the new characters introduced or the action scenes.

It made me turn away from anything that could have been cute with Nessian which I thought had cute moments in ACOWAR. It made me turn off from them completely because of how fucking toxic the entire book felt.

I feel like ACOTAR’s quality peaked at book 2, was still good at book 3 and just… fell off.

[shadowsingerspriestess]

after your latest ask, i just wanted to mention that i was following a few e/riels on booktwt from a different fandom before i read acosf (unfollowed when i realized how anti gwynriel they were), and some of them legit said they only read the “e/riel scenes” in the book and skipped or just skimmed the rest 😭 i also know someone who runs a big e/riel account who only got into the series because they heard e/riel was canon, they haven’t even read any of the og trilogy except for the “e/riel scenes” which just … lmao. obviously i’m sure the majority of shippers have read the entire book and these people are just in a small minority, but it’s still funny to me.

I-

I really have no words.

I can understand their wish to read strictly about their ship, but at least they should strictly focus on those scenes they've read. Denying actual canon so confidently (and also with that smug attitude as if they hold the absolute truth) is embarrassing.

Of course, I am only speaking about those who act like the one in my latest ask.

#my ask #gwynriel

[nikethestatue]

Something I think is ruining a lot of people's fandom experience (not just this) is that they join the fandom under false presumptions because they became obsessed with a certain faction of the fandom and started believing everything they said was canon. So now they lash out at the author and everyone else when what they fell in love with (fanart, fics, theories) doesn't happen in the books, when they should've just read the material in the first place. I've never picked up a book solely because of a popular ship because then you tend to lose interest pretty fast when you realize the book isn't just about the ship.

I see that quite a lot, especially when I look at art on Insta. Complete lack of familiarity with the books, hardly even familiarity with ACOSF, yet so many 'OMG!!! I ship the SO HARD!'

How hard can you ship them if you don't know who they are?

As I always said, it's just mass hysteria and people wanting to be part of something trendy and what they perceive as 'big'.

It's the same people who 'ship them so hard' and then ask 'where are all the cute Gwynriel scenes?"

Which is both sad and comical.

It's like one of the bigger blogs on here, who claims that up until she read the POV, she was an Elriel shipper. But the POV just killed it for her. Then, later on--well, I've always hated Elain, she is annoying and boring. Then, well, I skimmed the other books and just read Gwyn's parts.

Bottom line is, if she is hoping that SJM is going to rewrite books for fans like these, she is wrong.

[yazthebookish]

Yaz, what do you think when el/riels says that Azriel’s shadows vanish around elain bc his shadows “””knows”””” she is safe around him and since they are like a shield to him they vanishing around rain means he is safe and she is the one

They say this bc his shadows vanish around the ic sometimes too..

Hello anon,

Go back to those scene and read whether those shadows disappear around everyone or it's mentioned they vanish around Mor and Elain specifically? because that's what I read everytime I go back to look up some scenes or skim through the books.

If Azriel knows his shadows disappear when he feels safe or at peace, then why did he address it?

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

Azriel himself doesn't even know the reason why they vanish, he observed that they just do.

You have this scene from ACOWAR from example, the shadows are there, they only vanished when Mor spoke.

“He did not,” Mor said, and the shadows that Azriel had indeed been subtly weaving around himself vanished. “Azriel has never once said anything that awful. Only you, Cassian. Only you.”

And here is another scene from ACOWAR

Azriel, wreathed in shadows by the front door, chuckled quietly. Cassian shot him a glare. “I don’t see you spouting poetry, brother.” Azriel crossed his arms, still smiling faintly. “I don’t need to resort to it.”

He was bantering with Cassian, they were all having a good laugh in this scene and his shadows are there. Like people, he IS a Shadowsinger, his shadows aren't a manifestation of negative feelings, we still don't know much about them but from what we saw in Azriel's chapter they care about him enough to urge him to get some sleep.

Moving on.

I know this scene is used often to point out that shows Azriel without the shadows in a positive light, however that wasn't the purpose of the scene here in ACOWAR

In the blinding sun off the turquoise water, his shadows were gone, his face stark and clear. More … human than I had ever seen him.

One, because Azriel is not human he is an a Illyrian and a Shadowsinger. Let's also not forget it's Feyre's POV. Two, his shadows do not like the sun.

Evidence? This scene from ACOSF.

“I thought I’d do some training myself before heading out for the day,” Az said, his shadows lingering in the archway, as if fearful of the bright sunlight in the ring. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

And also while we're at it, let's talk about the whole "skittering" thing.

His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.

I know this is used as an argument that Azriel's shadows skittering back is not a big deal because when he was in a good mood they were also skittering, like this scene for example.

“I said, are you two ready to head down to the river house?” -- “Two?” He blinked through the cloud of arousal. -- Azriel chuckled, shadows skittering. “Did you listen at all last night?” -- “No.” -- “At least you’re honest.” Azriel smirked. “You and Nesta are wanted down there.”

But there is a difference between skittering back and skittering.

Define skitter: to go, run, or glide lightly or rapidly.

Saying that his shadows are skittering is that they are moving rapidly but no direction was specified. They could be skittering down his body. Skittering around him. But nothing in that line says they vanished, only him chuckling resulted in them skittering.

However, they skittered back from Elain. A direction was specified. They rapidly moved back from Elain. That to me is not a good sign it could've been said they only vanished and not skittered back.

“Rhys laughed in a way that skittered along my bones,”

“A chill skittered down Cassian’s spine.”

“A cold, humorless laugh skittered along Nesta’s bones.”

Elain is not a unique case because they also vanished around Mor. The only unique case is Gwyn because this is the first time we see the shadows interact with someone directly.

They are present in some scenes around the IC, does that mean he doesn't feel safe with them? Not really. It's never stated. He doesn't even view his own shadows negatively in his own POV.

I hope this clarifies it🤍

#asks #acosf #azriel

[freyjas-musings]

Personally, as of right now I can't see Azriel with either Gwyn or Elain. I definitely think the next book will be Azriel's but I don't find myself rooting for either ship because we weren’t given enough interactions between Azriel and Elain or Az and Gwyn. Since CC 3 is coming out before ACOTAR 5, I'm hoping that will change and we get more details so we can paint a clearer picture.

I do find myself leaning more toward the Gwynriel side, though. Mostly because I like Gwyn more than Elain, not because I prefer either of them with Az (I'd much rather he end up with me lmao). I don’t dislike Elain, but after ACOSAF and seeing how unsupportive she was of Nesta, she left a bad taste in my mouth. It quite literally felt like she was "abandoning" her for Feyra because Nesta was the underdog now, and after everything Nesta had done for her!

I have looked at theories from both sides, and I find the E/riel ones veery far fetched and overall not convincing. But there are two points that keep making me question my belief that Az is gonna end up with Gwyn.

1. That there were two bonus scenes, I will talk about the Feyra and Rhys one. Their conversation seems to be centered around Elain, so that gives me a pause cause why would Sarah just have them randomly talk about her on their bonus scene if she'snot gonna play a major role in the next book?

2. Until Azriel's bonus scene I would’ve never thought there was something romantic between Gwyn and Azriel. So my question is, why wait to give such crucial story details in a bonus scene that most of the avarage readers will likely never read?

I'm not a very meticulous reader, I skim quite a bit, so the fact that I didn’t sense anything brewing between Gwyn and Az throughout ACOSF is on me. I went back and reread their interactions after the bonus scene, and I could sense something there, but not much. I have read a lot of theories on here and the Gwynriel ones sound more convincing to me, the only two things I mentioned above keep me unsure.

Gahh, I can't wait until the next book is out, I'm driving myself mad over here. Miss Sarah sure knows how to capture our attention. I hope Gwynriel happens!

Hey , I just read what you wrote . I understand where you are coming from , it is true that Azriel's interaction with both Elain and Gwyn are limited but I do believe SJM gave us an indication of how the story is going in the bonus and I do believe Gwynriel is end game atleast thats how I see things progressing .

My reason for shipping Gwynriel has absolutely no connection to Elain at all . While I do agree her behaviour with Nesta was cruel and selfish... there are some beautiful qualities about Elain too ... her ability to see a silver lining in the worst situations is one of them. Having flaws is what makes these characters interesting, every single archeron sister is flawed whether it was Feyre while destroying the spring court or Nesta with the way she hurt people around including the way she treated Feyre as a child (while I see why she did it , it doesn't mean it wasn't wrong ) or Elain who is selfish and manipulative , its the Elriels who make Elain unbearable but its important to remember its fanon Elain not Canon.

Why do I ship Gwynriel ? Their potential as a couple is amazing if you look at their individual characters and what they can do for each other it makes for a compelling ship . Honestly I saw crumbs of Gwynriel through out ACOSF not just the bonus , as you read more SJM books you start seeing a pattern and they sure do check all of the end game requirements. Also, there is the whole mate thing that is most likely going to happen and I am interested to see their story.

I wouldn't hold my breath about any indication in CC3 for ship confirmations, while I do think it will be clearer than ever that it will be Azriels book next if some of this fandom hasn't realised it yet I doubt they will realise it then (remember SJMs latest interview where she clearly said Elain in "some form" making it obvious she won't get a POV yet people screamed otherwise) .

As far as the bonus of Feyre and Rhys goes all I got there was , there is more to Elain than what meets the eye she is not all sweet and kind. There is indication that she might do something (getting her hands dirty and hurting herself in the process ) that might hurt the people around her while I don't believe she is evil, she may be misguided . We have to understand SJM will need to set her up for her book so we will get more of her story in " SOME FORM" . I am not really worried about that meaning anything in terms of Gywnriel.

Am I a 100% sure it is Gwynriel? No , because I am not SJM .... but I am 99% sure based on my reading comprehension and from reading all of SJMs books that it will be Gwynriel 🙂...

#gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #pro gwynriel #gwyn acosf #acotar #gwyn x azriel #azriel shadowsinger #post acosf #azriel #acosf theory #acotar shadowsinger