#this book is NOT a chaol redemption arc | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nymphpriestessvalkyrie · 3 months

Text

I have something to say about hating SJM characters. Any and all SJM characters.

If you do this, it’s okay, you just don’t like the books and nothing SJM writes is going to change that for you. SJM only has two types of characters: heroes and villains. That’s it. Every character you think doesn’t fit into either box gets revealed as one or the other eventually. Trying to argue a hero is really a villain or hasn’t been redeemed or won’t ever be will always be a bad take.

Anyone relevant enough to get antis either goes full evil or gets a redemption arc: by fully turning to the side of good or sacrificing their lives in service of it. If you don’t like that, complain to a wall - that’s what she writes. Every time.

Kaltain. Manon. Chaol. Lorcan. The King of Adarlan. Papa Archeron. Jurian. Nesta. Cormac.

ACOTAR isn’t over yet. So still awaiting their redemption arcs: Tamlin. Eris. Elain. Yes, I said what I said. Elain needs to make karmic amends same as Nesta did, I don’t make the rules of story. Love her? She’s gonna suffer anyway. Hate her? She’s gonna get a beautiful HEA. Sorrows. Prayers.

Crescent City, also unfinished but I guarantee you: Tharion. Ithan.

(Side note, some of you are just out here completely misreading the text. Hunt, Cassian, Aedion: they’re all just straight heroes the whole time, not even morally grey. Haters to the left. Azriel and Lucien too - if you hate either of them, sorry. They’re each getting a big-ass-hero turn. Evil!Gwyn is a fantasy only fanfic can ever fulfill for you. Rhys’s antis straight up baffle me. You don’t even go here.)

If you don’t understand or accept this, then you don’t have the insight to predict the plot at all. Any theories you come up with are irrelevant. And you will always be disappointed.

SJM builds massive alliances where everyone gets over their differences and works together. Your personal pettiness will never be gratified. Being anti Nesta doesn’t make you a better friend to Feyre than the books are. Acting like Tower of Dawn is a skip track because you don’t like Chaol just makes you irrelevant to the conversation. Eris is gonna be on the side of good and Mor can’t love you back no matter how much you drag him.

If you don’t vibe with a character for whatever reason, or you just can’t “forgive them” that’s absolutely fine. Taste is personal. You do you, boo. But what is it getting you to force your hate and your revenge theories into shared fandom spaces? You’ll never get what you want from the pages of one of Sarah’s books, so… what? The comment section is going to give it to you?

You should genuinely pick up other books. Life is too short to hate read and troll.

#sjm books #throne of glass #acotar #crescent city #I feel like Freddie Prinze Jr yelling at stupid Star Wars fans #pro all the SJM characters

6 notes · View notes

starlightbooklove · 5 months

Text

Let's talk about Nesta Archeron and ACOSF

Pt 1,

Something that I have always been in Acotar is half Nesta, that is, neither pro nor con, because she is a character that I cannot completely love and at the same time I cannot completely hate.

I just like her.

Nesta was a bitch, to her sister, to her father (With reason to do so in his case) and to everyone in general, she was unbearable to me and I remember that the first time I read Acosf I didn't understand anything and I was very conflicted about how to feel about her more than anything.

It was after I reread that I formed a clearer idea and that is that SJM fell short with her, her redemption arc was nice, but it could have been much more, (It needed to be more)

And funny enough is that even some of her stans agree with this (There are too many ACOSF fics).

And the funniest thing is that she has already done it, Chaol's book made me completely change the way I see him to the point that in my opinion he is the most developed male character in TOG together with Dorian, because he really seeks to fix things with those he feels and knows he did wrong, while with Nesta..., there was sex, a lot of sex, sometimes too much sex, and her arc was lost.

(And no, I'm not forgetting the training or the book itself).

Now, Having said that, I can emphasize good things that were done with his character, beyond the fact that she saved feysand lmao, that's the main thing, second to her representation of depression and the self-deprecating thoughts she had about herself, hit hard 🥲, because it does happen, and her trauma around being all cold and mean to defend herself after almost being abused, The whole thing about the cauldron and, on top of that, the death of her father, was something very well constructed, and her shitty attitude is good in the sense that it goes with a character in that state, how many times have I seen characters That are like this because simply what they have been through has made them sour? A lot, But on her, who already had a shitty life being a shitty sister, it didn't look good, because throughout the whole process, even when she tells herself that she doesn't want to be like that, SHE IS A BITCH, You can't fucking deny that.

The book itself is contradictory because it takes to the extreme 'what I want to do and I think about it but I don't do it', that doesn't happen like that all the time, many times, if you want to change, you grab your balls and you're a damn good person because you want to improve, even when it means leaving your comfort zone, Nesta came to that point very late in the book, her attitude is not simply dry, it's downright hostile, and many people confuse that.

Hostile and dry are not the same, Manon for example, is dry with those who love her, but not hostile (all the time), that is why she is such a beloved character. Rowan, at first is hostile but then he's just Rustic and that's it, because it's his way of shielding himself. Shit, Even Feyre becomes dry (and confused with hostile a lot by some fans) the first time she visits Velaris, (with all reason) but again, to shield herself, and this does not take away the affection for the character because we can empathize And understand why.

With Nesta, we understand why and we don't understand why at the same time, and that in a way, is the point, hurt people hurt people, but why did SJM take her so far if she wanted to give her an arc of redemption? And if she took it that far then why she didn't really make her go through her steps and try to fix her mess?

A character that grows is the one who is self-aware of what she did and does something about it, something for real, and the book end just when she was starting LMAO.

Now, it may be that the intention is that all of that was the journey and the end of the book was the beginning of her "i'm gonna try" era, which would make sense, but 😬 idk, i hold on to that. The book is good, and they empower her quite a bit, and that, taking away everything else, makes her a pretty good character, which is what her fans praise about her book, but I definitely think it could have been better.

I will touch more on the topic in depth.

There is a second part 😉.

#acosf #nesta archeron #pro nesta #anti nesta #sarah j maas #sjmaas #acotar

6 notes · View notes

highqueenofelfhame · 2 years

Note

A popular ship you despise?

this one is hard because i don’t think i necessarily DESPISE any of them but anything involving chaol (yrene is oceans out of his league) or mal (i’m not even super pro darklina but the darkling having a redemption arc and being with alina it would have been superior)

ask me book related questions or just anything in general!

#bookish questions #ask game

8 notes · View notes

bookofmirth · 2 years

Note

Yk.. they say that Sarah wrote Chaol and Tamlin in a bad way so she could easily excuse the sh*t that Rowan and Rhys have done.

That could be true but.. what if she had done that so the fandom wouldn't have trouble choosing. So the fandom would easily ship her ships. Yes, Chaol got his redemption arc and the only wrong thing he did that I remember is telling Aelin that she's a monster, but apperantly that was enough to hate on him for the fandom. Tamlin did many nice things in acotar such as giving lesser face a home during Amarantha's home and there was never any mention about the Tinthe (or whatever that's called). That was all forgetting in the second book and suddenly he became the villain.

Should Elucien and Gwynriel be endgame, I'm scared that Sarah will make (for example) Elain say something really sh*tty to Azriel that will get the fandom like "yo wtf". Or make Azriel say or do something really sh*tty that the fandom will sh*t on el/riel.

Worse if El/riel and Vas/sien are endgame- what if Gwyn will say/do something f*cked up? What if Lucien will?

Like I really believe that Sarah will do everything so the fandom ships her endgame couples.

I feel like that's the point, though. Romance isn't good romance if we aren't convinced that the characters should be together. What would be the point? Like imagine reading The Hating Game and thinking Lucy should be - in canon - with someone other than Josh. Ridiculous! So there has to be some maneuvering there to get the reader to buy what's happening.

I get what you are saying though, that maybe she will end up vilifying a character in order to get others together? I personally don't think she did that with Chaol, and with Tamlin that's a whole different level, and the signs were there the whole time. His personality didn't do a 180, it just got turned up to 11 because he was traumatized by the events of acotar. And Chaol got his own book anyway, so I don't think that she writes characters off like that, just because they are part of a ship that imploded. She seems to like characters who fuck up, more now than when she was writing ToG, imo. See: Eris Vanserra.

I do hope that Elain says some shit though, I don't care who she says it to, I just think it would be great. I'll be rooting for her. (Unless it's against Mor, otherwise whatever.)

#acotar #ask #anon

1 note · View note

spidersmiceandeverythingnice · 3 years

Text

I go thru the TOG tags occasionally and am literally baffled as to general fandom reactions to Chaol. Like, yall I am not sure we have been reading the same books about the same characters if Chaol was one of the most disliked characters in the series. Like, what was the reason?

#throne of glass #this is a post i can tag because its not so much critical as much as i am genuinely BAFFLED #chaol westfall #chaol is EASILY one of the more interesting and compelling characters SJM has ever made #tower of dawn is a BLAST because his story and perspective combined with a new and more interesting setting??? tons of fun!!#his journey of healing and his interaction with characters- the intersection of his pride and his natural human warmth #like.....#this book is NOT a chaol redemption arc #he has NEVER needed redeeming

15 notes · View notes

dreaminginvelaris · 3 years

Text

yk if nesta had been given a great redemption book im sure i could have loved her.

like look at chaol from tog, he got such a great redemption book, it had physical therapy and training and suspension and a love story and a great plot.

honestly it sucks bc nesta was reduced to sex and sex and sex while with chaol he actually got what was needed, they both had hit rock bottom but we only got to see chaol’s growth from it.

he got character growth, an actual healthy relationship, he grew up and learned to forgive himself and move forward.

maybe it was also the multiple povs?

like if it was just a chaol book i dont think i could have endured it. but bc it was yrene and learning who she is, watching her struggle with her disliking of chaol, nesryn’s character story, ditching chaol, falling in love with a great, sexy ass man that flys big birds and learning about this whole new culture, is actually what helped make the story what it is?

thats what i would have preferred for acosf, i know its “dual povs” but its literally just nestas which sucks bc i wanted to see some back story too cassian. i would have loved if illyria played a big role to the story or literally somewhere else other than the velaris/NC -don’t get me wrong i love these places but i want more- more povs, idk either the valkyries or even feyre like omfg nesta and feyre arguing and fighting and healing would have been such a good storyline to nestas book.

anyways yeah i have a lot of anger with acosf, and honestly at times i rlly do feel bad for nesta bc she didnt get the story we were all expecting. nesta was literally reduced to just sex with cassian and sleepovers instead of having an actual healing arc.

but honestly just goes to show how sjm gives a man an actual great redemption arc but gives a woman unhealthy sex, a crying scene and calls that healing.

#a court of silver flames #acosf #nesta archeron #cassian acosf #chaol westfall #tower of dawn #nesta acosf #yrene towers #nesryn faliq #nesryn x sartaq #sjm critical #anti sjm #sjm fandom

111 notes · View notes

thereyouareivebeenlookingforyou · 3 years

Text

ACOSF Thoughts - SPOILER WARNING

(ACOTAR series, ACOSF, and Kingdom of Ash spoilers are all below along with my thoughts after finally finishing A Court of Silver Flames!)

Was SJM trying to get me to hate Rhysand in this book? And kind of Elain and Amren? Even a teensy bit Feyre? Don't get me wrong- I love Rhys. ACOTAR and ACOMAF Rhys is one of my favorite characters and my literal favorite book boyfriend EVER. So could someone please draw me a map to where the hell he went because that Rhys was NOT IN THIS BOOK?!?!?

Rhysand in ACOSF was every bit the territorial fae bastard in this book that Tamlin was in ACOMAF. He lied to Feyre about something HUGE. Nesta shouldn't have told her like that, but someone needed to tell her. And the way he treated Nesta sucked.

And Feyre was every bit the pretty bride who blushed and had lots of sex and had a male who shielded her from what was really going on (you know, her impending death?) that she accused Tamlin of wanting to make her into. What the fuck was happening with them in this book? It's great to make Feyre a High Lady, but then she should be treated like one, not lied to?!? It's fine to make her more domestic, she deserves peace and happiness, but not at the expense of her autonomy.

And while we're on it, I kind of hated Feyre's pregnancy storyline. The thing about writing immortal characters is that you have so many chances to play with time. There is no reason that 500+ year old Rhys and 21 year old Feyre who were together for like one year?!?!? needed to have a pregnancy story here. They are IMMORTAL. Why can't they have time together, just the two of them, before introducing a pregnancy? What's the rush? They are immortal High Fae who will be alive for CENTURIES to come. Forget years, give yourselves a few decades together first! Your whole relationship so far has been 50% trauma-recovery and 50% saving the world/trying not to die!!!!

Feyre's pregnancy felt like the author showing through and overshadowing the characterization—I have to think some of this is SJM becoming a mother in the last few years and wanting to write that into their story, but still. (SJM also did this with Yrene and Chaol in Kingdom of Ash - is the eve of a huge war really a great time for a pregnancy? Wouldn't a healer know how to not get pregnant accidentally?) I also didn't love that a Feysand pregnancy was this huge part of Nesta's story. Can she not have five minutes of the spotlight? Feyre already got 3 books. (Sorta kidding.) (You know what I'm not kidding about? Not liking the name Nyx at all...but who cares I guess.)

If it's so well-known that Illyrian baby delivery is basically a death sentence for High Fae females, why would Rhys not be like 'omg Feyre, yes, let's have a baby, but let's not have sex while you're in that form which is optional for you like is he this 'the most cunning high lord' or not?!) (Also they wouldn't even have Feyre try shifting her body to give her Illyrian hips when otherwise she would FOR SURE DIE like try it?!) All that magic and no one's invented the cesarean?!?

(On a separate pregnancy note, y'all realize the Kingdom of Ash scene where Aelin falls through the worlds and sees a 'heavily pregnant' fae whose mate throws his night-like power towards her to slow her fall have happened during the timeline of this book, right?!? Wild.)

I love Nesta. I love her. I love her arc. I've loved her this whole time, but her coming to terms with herself was great. Her finding peace was great. I was already in the she doesn't need a redemption arc, she needs a therapist and time to herself away from her sisters camp before reading ACOSF, and I only feel more strongly after reading it.

I honestly think time away from her sisters and Rhys with people who weren't constantly judging her (Cassian, Azriel, Gwen, Emerie, Clotho, the House) was just as healthy and necessary for Nesta's healing arc (NOT a redemption arc, a healing arc) as giving up some of her more harmful vices like nonstop drinking and complete isolation was.

So much sex. Like as one of my friends put it, 'this book is filthy, y'all!' It was kind of overkill, like I was already sold on their relationship, but sure, why not. But if nearly all those scenes cut away instead of getting super descriptive, I would have liked this book just as much. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The part with the Mask and the kelpie was so good! It was crazy, and creepy, and her rising up with this army of the dead was so great. Also when they went to the prison for the Harp!!! So good.

A couple weird 'repeats' from ACOMAF... 1) Nesta 'knowing' that Cassian 'needed to hear' her say the exact phrase "You're mine" which is right out of the mating bond acceptance chapter from ACOMAF stuck out to me, especially combined with hearing that Nesta had never told another person she loved them as we found out in the scene where she saved Feyre at the end. I was expecting 'I love you,' especially with them starting out in a 'just sex' relationship. 2) That 'just sex' thing and how obviously Cassian was into her and she was into him but she says she wants 'just sex' also reminded me ACOMAF, when Rhys and Feyre are at the inn and she disappoints him/lies to herself let's be real by telling him she wants just "fun."

Loved getting more of the Night Court palace on top of the Hewn City mountain. Dream house. That bathtub. Swoon.

I may really be in the minority here, but I did not like that Cassian and Nesta are mates. Tamlin tells Feyre in ACOTAR that it's rare for people to have mates at all. And honestly, I see why accepting the mating bond was so hard for Nesta as someone who didn't want to be fae in the first place, and I do not think she needed Cassian to be her mate to choose him forever. I wish they had CHOSEN each other and not also been mates. I think it would have been just as strong, and healthier for Nesta. (And also...if not everyone is mates, why can't they just fall in love? He won her heart, she chose him. I was fine before they were mates. I also think that would have nicely set up Elain rejecting the mating bond later, which she clearly wants to do/has basically done (did y'all read the Azriel extra chapter?! Anyway)

At the end of the day, the Inner Circle (except Cassian/Azriel) bothered me with their treatment of Nesta, even the intervention at the beginning. Was Nesta in need of help? Yes. Were they kind? No, especially not Rhys/Amren. Elain was just as traumatized/self-destructive for a while. She hardly ate, she spoke to no one, she lay in bed all day, Nesta checks that the high windows don't open because she thinks Elain is suicidal, etc. Nesta is also traumatized, but her trauma presented more angrily, less beautiful/sad woman lies around being beautifully sad (like Elain in ACOWAR or Feyre in ACOMAF), and she's entirely condemned by the IC for it (and by a lot of this fandom, let's be real).

I love Cassian. Love him. Looooove him. He stood up to Rhys for Nesta, defended her, was honest with her, accepted her, forgave her for what she actually did wrong (belittling him for his background/hurting him on purpose), but told her she herself was not wrong or broken (@ Rhys, @ Amren, @ Feyre, @ Mor, are y'all taking notes? Cassian and I said she was not broken. Not in need of fixing or redemption.) He kept reaching out his hand.

Plot wise, I also loved that Nesta/Gwen/Emerie ended up doing the Rite! That twist surprised me in a good way. Devlon and any other Illyrians who doubted them can suck it. VALKYRIES!!!

And finally, I LOVED the Nesta/Gwen/Emerie friendship. It made the book (it Made it, y'all. Pun intended). I loved reading about Nessian and I love Cassian, but these three and their friendship was my favorite part of the book, hands down. So great. I love female friendship - it's so underrated as a concept - and this one was amazing, and I'm glad it was such a focus of the story.

This was long, so thanks for sticking with me if you did! Not really interested in angry/anon discourse, but I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts!!!

79 notes · View notes

fromevertonow · 3 years

Text

Controversial Throne of Glass opinions:

————

Don’t murder me but I don’t care about Lorcan or Elide at all

Their pov’s were so boring and added so little to the story why is everyone obsessed with them I—

————

I never liked Dorian and Sorscha together. Their relationship was so weird to me and felt forced because Dorian was supposed to be this playboy who went for a one-night-kinda-thing, yet simps for a healer that is the opposite of him.

I will say that when he tried to put her head back... that was heartbreaking and sad

————

Chaol’s redemption arc was beautiful. I don’t care what others think. Everyone’s always feeling bad for Aelin taking the blame on herself for shit that isn’t even her fault, yet when Chaol does the same he gets burned at the stake.

Can we not? Yes, he was a very big little bitch in QoS. Yes, that was his worst book. No, I did not like him in that book. But he realized he was wrong, didn’t he? There are far worse characters in this book than Chaol. I said what I said.

Plus, this man is the most human character in this series.

————

Aedion is a bitch. I get that he was hurt when Aelin and Lysandra didn’t tell him about the plan which involved him very much. I get why he would be pissed about the fact that he was forced to help Lysandra bring Ashryver children into this world.

But that does NOT give you the right to treat Lysandra like that when it was Aelin’s plan. Lysandra literally did what Aedion would have done as well: follow their queen’s orders. He doesn’t even blame Aelin in the slightest, probably bc she was in the iron box, but come ONNNNN.

You don’t throw a naked woman into the fucking snow because you’re pissed at her. You don’t fucking treat her the way you did while she has done nothing but fight for the same queen you’re fighting for.

————

I like Maeve because she is an amazing villain.

I was glad she died though, but shit she was powerful.

————

Celaena wasn’t an assassin in the first two books. She was a girl who loved chocolate cake and that was it.

In her pov, it is mentioned so many times how she would do this and that to a person to disarm them, but SHE NEVER DOES. I never felt like she was the infamous Assassin of Adarlan. She had a name for christ’s sake, why the fuck does she act like this little girl who’s just swinging a blade around for fun?

The first time I actually thought “yes, that’s my girl, that’s the assassin” was when she went to rescue Chaol in that warehouse and everything after that in CoM was *chef’s kiss*

————

Why the fuck is everyone so horny all of a sudden in Empire of Storms? You’re trying to save the world, and all you can think of is railing someone up a tree.

Was Rowaelin’s scene beautiful? Yes, it was. But the constant pining and longing for sex was so weird pleaseeeee

Same goes for when Aelin and Rowan have their first real talk in KoA after she was free. They talk and then *boom* sex. She was literally in an iron box for two months, being tortured, and sEX is the way to fix her trauma? Couldn’t they just hold each other through the night? Wouldn’t that have been more realistic????

————

Anyway...have a nice day, and don’t kill me for this <3

58 notes · View notes

demonlovesangel · 3 years

Text

Elain and Elriel in ACOSF

Okay so we know how the fandom is freaking out right? I can't say I am not or wasn't one of those people.

Since I couldn't make myself calm down, I decided to reread the whole book this week. And honestly is not as bad as it was when I first read it.

You know how everyone is saying that Elain doesn't belong at the Night Court, or that Nesta says she should be at the Spring Court? Well, that might be true, but shouldn't Elain decide that? I'm not saying Cassian pointing out she doesn't look good in black doesn't say something, no. I'm just saying that it's not necessary at all for her to wear black when even Amren doesn't.

And regarding the Spring Court, even Nesta says that even if its full of life, it has Tamlin. Yes, it's possible that Sarah decides to kill him off though I don't want that, I think he need a redemption arc. And even if she does kill him, would Elain take the Spring Court? Would Lucien? Both of them? Or someone else? Of course this are questions we won't have an answer to until Sarah says something about it.

That's why I can't not point out... The roses. Yes! Roses, because everytime something reminds them of Elain, is roses. So far we have: The drawer, the small dark wood rose carving, the rosebush mentioned in the Feysand PoV, the rose necklace Az bought for her... And there's one more rose. Does anyone remember Rosehall? Almost all the fandom can agree this is were Az's mom lives, and even if we don't know where exactly this place is, we can all agree that by the name at least it needs to have a garden, right?

And Az's mom is mentioned in ACOSF, too. Maybe we will actually see her!

We can also see how Elain is deciding to actually say what she feels or thinks. And it's amazing, honestly. I've been waiting years for this to happen. And I'm not going to get into detail but it has been mentioned at least 3 times that Elain arrives without making a sound, that she's good at secret keeping and she's best friends with Nuala and Cerridwen... Foreshadowing?

And last but not least, we have a ton of scenes that either mention Elriel or Azriel thinking of Elain even if they don't directly say that, but we know from his PoV what they're about. Like:

On Elain:

1. Elain clocked her head. Didn't dissolve into the crying mess she usually became when Graysen came up.

2. ... She said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel.

Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement. Lucien was certainly not here to snarl at any male who looked at her for too long.

3. ... Then his gaze shifted to Elain, an though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain's breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

On Azriel:

1. Cassian said tightly, "He says he'd rather stay up here than at the river house."

2. Azriel stilled. "What happened to Elain?"

3. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike (On Elain).

4. Azriel stiffened. "I know. I helped rescue a Elain, after all."

Az hadn't so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybern's war-camp.

5. ... and Azriel... Those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if he had given up (On Mor).

6. "Can't sleep?" Cassian took up a fighting stance.

A shadow curled around Azriel's neck, the only one brave enough to face the sunlight. "Something like that," He said.

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

8. "Not the ones under my command," Azriel said with soft menace (On Elain).

9. ... As if he'd heard Elain's sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.

10. Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn't stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn't go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.

11. He'd been replaced in training by a stone-faced Azriel, who was more aloof that usual and wouldn't even give her a smile (After Winter Solstice).

After the last one, there's no more mention of any of them, but we now know why, and it's because of what Rhys said.

And I seriously doubt Sarah put all that longing and sexual tension for nothing. She never did that with couples that wouldn't end up together (I'm looking at you, Dorian, Chaol and Celaena).

I'm not going to put the PoV here because by now I know we have read it at least 5 times. So I will just end it here with all the scenes that mention one of them, or both.

I really hope we get to see Az training Elain as a spy because that sounds amazing. And I really really hope all this building up wasn't for nothing.

#Elriel #Azriel #Elain #Elain archeron #Acosf #Acosf spoilers

76 notes · View notes

theonewhoimagined · 3 years

Text

SO I FINALLY FINISHED TOWER OF DAWN

BUCKLE UP, BESTIES, THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG RIDEEE.

Warning: This is not a Chaol Westfall stan account. These are my thoughts alone!

Edit: This is a late post! Already halfway through "Kingdom of Ash" <3

Okay tbh, I still hate Chaol even after reading this lol my great dislike for him actually grew even more after TOD despite this book being his redemption arc. This is the first time I’ve ever hated a fictional character with so much passion lol I hate myself because of how much I shipped Chaol x Celaena back then.

Lesson learned: If a book is longer than a trilogy, then don't ship anyone until book 3 or 4.

Yrene is pretty cool because she doesn’t tolerate Chaol’s never-ending bullshit of an attitude. Loved seeing him get the kickback he deserves for projecting his anger towards people who have been nothing, but nice to him. But meh for her, she still fell for Chaol when Kashin was there. 😶 also, ngl I'd probably be happier if Chaol and Dorian ended up together hahaha

I absolutely cannot stand Chaol. If he’s not brooding and lashing out at everyone trying to help him then he’s either daydreaming about his old, comfortable life with Dorian or lusting after other girls AFTER LEADING NESRYN ON or being bitter and blaming Aelin for every shit that had happened. He couldn’t even end things with Nesryn before going after Yrene. I mean Nesryn is a smart woman so she knows, but Chaol was so preoccupied with his head is in his pants that he couldn’t be bothered. I swear he is even more notorious than Dorian. 🙄 He keeps saying Dorian is infamous with women, but Chaol, honey, you’re worse. While Nesryn is out there risking her life, Chaol is getting some. What an asshole. Lol I’m running out of colorful words to describe Chaol.

The reason why I despise him so much is because of the narrow and close-minded mindset that he has which blinds him from facts, and how easily he tosses aside, hurts and blames his friends once they don’t fit in with his rigid notions. I mean I’m glad he finally made peace with himself after, but his character is beyond saving for me. 😬

I just hate how he treated Aelin and I'm never gonna let it go. And don't get me started on when Chaol kept on painting Aelin in a bad light even all the way South. I would never forget how he kept on undermining Aelin and calling her a "monster" straight to her face. He just can't accept it when his (or ex) lover is more powerful than him because it hurts his male pride. Chaol hated Aelin because he gave up so “many” things for her. Okay, first of all, that was your fault, not hers because she never asked you to do anything. He hated her, but at the same time, he knows she's the only one who can win the war and keep Dorian safe. 🙄 WHAT A USER.

No way am I gonna let y'all forget Asshole! Chaol (oh hey it rhymes)

This is not even his worst, but ya know the effect is still the same. YEAH, BLAME AELIN AGAIN, CHAOL. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOOD AT.

I mean he’s not even an outright villain unlike say The Darkling, but he is the worst. Irdk why, but Chaol Westfall really reminds me of Nate from The Devil Wears Prada, the fragile, soft boy who resents his partner's success:

Putting everything aside, this book was pretty meh saved for Nesryn, and Sartaq’s adventures. I hope their backs are still okay after carrying this book so hard. Nesryn and Sartaq’s story was far better and exciting. Not to mention, Borte and Yeran omg the palpable tension every time they appear!! WE NEEDED MOREEEE!!

Meanwhile, Yrene and Chaol’s story was bland and already a tried formula – a snarky healer fixes the broken patient, both fell in love, and emerge together in the light. A recycled trope used in just 2 books prior. I can’t believe it was used again 2 books later when the execution of the trope in "Heir of Fire" is already top tier. TOD also gave me Crown of Midnight vibes zzzz 🤐. Not to mention that Yrene's sassiness is patterned after Celaena/Aelin though it's a bit understandable given their connection. Wait, there's a word for this. That's right, it's✨ PREDICTABLE.✨

Honestly, the need to pair people up is getting a bit tiring with a new couple springing up every chapter/book. I mean it is equally powerful to see the characters find healing on their own.

But all in all the best part for me is how everything and everyone is connected! From Falkan to Yrene's connection to Aelin. It's just so heartwarming to read how Aelin's momentarily kindness goes a long way and finds its way back to her. She gives without expecting anything and yet people and the ancient ones still shit on her. As expected, TOG's worldbuilding is still top-notch. Congrats to myself for finishing this cheesy and cringy book. I can't believe I actually dedicated a whole ass post for Chaol 🥴

That mf ending though. While Chaol was having a grand time, Aelin was definitely NOT.

#throne of glass series #throne of glass #tower of dawn #queen of shadows #crown of midnight #heir of fire #empire of storms #chaol westfall #yrene towers #nesryn faliq #sartaq #nesryn x sartaq #aelin galythinius #celaena sardothien #dorian hallivard

29 notes · View notes

elriel-oblivion · 3 years

Text

If people think acosf is a book for Nesta's redemption, then we need only look at Tower of Dawn. After the fandom tore down and vilified Chaol for so long like people are doing with Nesta, TOD turned out to be his healing arc; we learnt so much about who he is, his past and his motivations in the way he went about dealing with Celaena, and all the while, he got to heal into a better person. And I think that's exactly what'll happen in acosf.

Nesta's book isn't about redemption; she already redeemed herself well and beyond in the original trilogy through all the support she gave to the cause, despite whatever inner turmoil she was dealing with. She didn't help Feyre out much when they were poor, but she did so much for her sister and her new family when it came to the crux of it all. That's what she redeemed herself for and she did it.

Now she needs to heal. Not atone again for past sins, which Feyre has already forgiven, can we just recall please.

And another parallel is that TOD was the first book in the series not centred about Celaena, and acosf is the first book in the acotar world not revolving round Feyre. Chaol and Nesta becoming complete MCs and getting to take control of their lives for the first time is probably not an opportunity on Sarah's part for them to redeem themselves to the MCs of the series. It's to show who and what they are as individuals in their own right. As it is, Sarah has already said she's had fun writing from the pov of someone who's not really into Feysand and the whole IC, so a 'redemption' arc would just feed into Nesta becoming a hound at their feet, which I don't think - or certainly hope not - will happen.

#nesta archeron #pro nesta #chaol westfall #Pro Chaol #acotar #acosf #tower of dawn #acomaf #acofas #acowar

61 notes · View notes

rosereview · 3 years

Text

Top 9 Favourite MaasVerse Couples

I did a favourites list of couples in the Shadowhunter universe last year that was really fun so I thought I would do one with all of the couples from Sarah J. Maas’ universe, especially after reading A Court of Silver Flames (review coming soon). Because of all that and given that Sarah J. Maas never fails to be sneaky with which guy the main character ends up with in the end, this favourites list will be full of spoilers. So like before, the top couples all are couples that for sure end up together, while the honorable mentions are couples that I like or ones that I think would be good together or who I want to be together.

Honorable Mentions

To start off we have character couples that I love but don’t know enough about to be super invested.

Amren & Varian- from ACOTAR. I just think that they are so cute and I love Amren and I’m so happy that she has someone who is there for her. I also think Varian is an interesting character who is the perfect balance for Amren’s intensity, also at all the family gatherings with Varian there, he just feels like the typical come-home-for-christmas-with-a-guy boyfriend who the family gets to know, but also plays around with because he’s new (don’t know if that makes sense, but if you’ve ever had a sibling or cousin bring a partner home for the holidays to a joking-around type family then you’ll get it).

Kallias & Viviane- from ACOTAR. Also don’t know a lot about them, but for the few interactions we see of them, I think they are super cute! The other courts always intrigued me, but especially the Winter Court because I love snow and I also love how close Kallias, Viviane, Rhysand, and Morrigan are (especially Viviane and Mor). I just think it’s so nice that they have other friends in other courts, and again they just seem sweet.

Juniper Andromeda & Fury Axtar- from Crescent City. We only find out that they are a couple near the end, but from the few times we see them together, I think Juniper and Fury are adorable. Fury is just that super badass bitch that I love to see vulnerable in a couple. I just like seeing that badass girls can still have a very raw and human side, especially when they are with their significant other. Also Juniper was always a favourite minor character throughout the book because she’s such a good friend to Bryce. I can’t wait to see more of them as a couple in the next books!

Next I have people who I want to end up together:

Ruhn Danaan & Hypaxia Enador- from Crescent City. I thought Ruhn and the mediwitch had a great amount of chemistry, and when it was revealed that she was actually the young Queen Hypoxia of the witches, I was so excited! I feel like her and Ruhn will end up together, and because I love Ruhn and just want to see him happy, I think that the two of them as a couple would be great!

Morrigan & Emerie- from ACOTAR (more specifically ACOSF). When Emerie saw Mor in the latest book, I giggled so hard! I think the two of them would be adorable and it’s high time that Mor got a new love interest who will make her happy. (I also really want Emerie to be happy now that I’ve gotten to know her more as a character, and I do think the two of them would work really well together!)

Elain & Lucien // Azriel & Gwyneth- from ACOTAR. This next one I won’t talk a lot about because I’m saving it for the review for ACOSF, but just so you know what side of the debate I’m on, I really do think Lucien and Elain would be good together if Elain gave him a chance, and now since reading the special edition short story about Azriel at the end of ACOSF, I ship Azriel and Gwyn together. (Although I’ll honestly be happy with whoever ends up together as long as all the characters are happy!)

Nyx & Unborn Child of Rowaelin- from ACOTAR and Throne of Glass. I saw this post one day of someone shipping Nyx (Rhys and Feyre’s son), and the unborn daughter of Rowan and Aelin, I fangirled so hard! No matter if Rowan and Aelin have a girl or boy first, I already ship them so hard with Nyx. We already know that Nyx would have been born during the time of the war at the end of Kingdom of Ash (because Aelin fell through the worlds and saw pregnant Feyre and Rhys standing during Winter Solstice) so if Aelin and Rowan had a child not long after, they would be close to the same age, and because of that moving between worlds moment, we know that’s it’s possible for the two kids to meet one day. (Also I have a theory that what happens in the Crescent City books will tie into the possibility of world jumping because it’s already talked about in there how most species in Crescent City came from different worlds, so yay!) I know that this is all just wishful thinking, but I think that would be the cutest thing Nyx being together with Rowaelin’s child! Let me believe what I want to.

9. Nesryn Faliq & Sartaq

This list was so hard to make and I’m sad that these two are so low on it, but I just couldn’t get them any higher! At any rate, I loved these two during Tower of Dawn and when they ended up together I was ecstatic! First of all, I think Sartaq would be an amazing Khagan of the Southern Continent and he’s honestly the only real good one of his siblings. Him and Nesryn leading the Southern Continent will be amazing and I love the way that they bonded over riding the ruks. I do wish that we got to see them even more, but considering all of the characters and storylines, I was still satisfied with the development of their relationship and themselves as characters (just want more content with anything from the Throne of Glass series because I know it’s over and that makes me sad!)

8. Dorian Havilliard & Manon Blackbeak

Next is another couple that I love so much but had to put lower on the list because there are just too many great couples in the Sarah J. Maas universe! I never thought that Dorian and Aelin (or Celaena at the time) would be good together, but was absolutely heartbroken when Sorsha died. BUT that death did lead to so much sexual tensions between Dorian and Manon that it was all worth it! I love these two because, again, it is so nice to see a badass female character also have a loving side, but also seems pretty “dominant” (for a lack of better word) in the relationship. I think Manon and Dorian are so great together, and their banter and cute nicknames (Princeling and Witchling) just gave me life! Even though the end of Kingdom of Ash left me completely shattered, I was very happy that Dorian and Manon still had each other, and I think the two of them will be great monarchs in their separate kingdoms, but also together.

7. Elide Lochan & Lorcan Salvaterre

Another amazing couple from the Throne of Glass series! Even though Lorcan was kind of an asshole when you first met him, when he and Elide had their whole adventure together, I fell in love with the two (especially Lorcan). I love a good “bad” boy “good” girl trope, and Lorcan and Elide were definitely that perfect fit. The way that Lorcan cared so much for Elide while they had to travel together was really cute, and I was so happy to see how Lorcan softened up and Elide became strong as well. It was nice that they still weren’t the typical weak girl, always rescued by the strong Fae. Lorcan and Elide made each other show the world their other sides as well.

6. Nesta Archeron & Cassian

This couple I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about but most of that will be in my ACOFS review coming soon, but for now I will just say that I LOVE them! We always knew that Nesta and Cassian were probably going to end up together, but still their journey as individuals and a couple was so fantastic to read. The way that the two of them helped each other out in terms of mental health while still being the individually strong characters was so good to see. Their sexual tension was great to read, and I loved the way that their whole story arc developed through the book.

5. Chaol Westfall & Yrene Towers

Again, I loved these two so much probably because they had their own book practically dedicated to them. I loved Chaol in the first two books from the Throne of Glass series, but like most people, I lost that love as the series went on. Going into Tower of Dawn I was really worried that I wasn’t going to like it because of Chaol being the central character, but like always, Sarah J. Maas writes such good redemption and flawed character arcs that it was impossible not to love Chaol again, and the woman who brought the light back to him. Similarly, I really liked Yrene when we first met her in The Assassin’s Blade stories (The Assassin and the Healer), and I was so happy that we got to learn more about her in the whole Tower of Dawn book. The way that Chaol and Yrene went from hating each other to falling in love was done absolutely perfectly, and by Kingdom of Ash when we found out that Yrene was pregnant, I almost threw my book in happiness, I was so excited. This couple is well deserving of the number five spot!

4. Aedion Ashryver & Lysandra

Now we have another favourite couple from the Throne of Glass series (that series is just so big and full of characters, most of the people on this list are from there). I really loved the idea of Aedion and Lysandra from the beginning when we start to see Lysandra play a bigger role in the series. Again, it’s the banter between these two characters that gets me every time, and the way they make fun of each other while also flirting is just so great to read. I was a little worried about what was going to happen to their relationship in Kingdom of Ash, especially since everything was going so well in Empire of Storms and then ended so badly at the end, but knowing that they got married almost immediately after the war was exactly what I needed. Also I LOVED Aedion with Evangeline and all their interactions, which was also why I knew that Aedion had to end up with Lysandra. Every time a kid comes into the picture I feel like I ship that couple just a bit harder. The three of them make the most perfect family.

3. Bryce Quinlan & Hunt Athalar

I know that technically we don’t know for sure if these two will be endgame, but if they aren’t I will sob and never forgive SJM! I love these two with all my heart and the only reason that they are in number three (and not higher!) is because we only have one book with them. I would not be surprised if they went up higher on my list after the next books come out. First of all, their sexual tension is fabulous. Second, I just adored how they both helped each other health through the book and how they went through so much together emotionally. I feel like that made the strongest foundation for a relationship, and if that foundation breaks, I think I might just dig myself a hole and stay there. While both are strong characters separately, they are just so much better together! Every scene of them was like magic, and they were the whole reason I could stop reading HOEAB. I need the next books so badly, just because I need to see them together more!

2. Aelin Ashryver Galathynius & Rowan Whitethorn

Finally at the top two, and this decision was probably the hardest one I’ve ever had to make. I love both Rowaelin and Feysand so much, this was impossible to decide, but it came down to the fact that out of every SJM book, A Court of Mist and Fury is my favourite. That book is a f*cking masterpiece and the reason for that is because of Feysand. So Rowaelin is second. Aelin and Rowan are amazing characters individually, but like the reason for all of these favourite couples, the journey that they go on together and help each other through, is what makes them so special and so strong as a couple. Rowan helped Aelin in a way that Chaol or Dorian never could, and Aelin in turn helped Rowan through centuries of pain just because they understood each other so well. The best and strongest part of all these couples is that they became friends first, before going into a romantic relationship (except for Nessian a couple others, but you know what I mean). Being able to create a strong bond before anything physical is so important with these characters, especially helping them get through so much trauma, and ultimately seeing that growth on the page connects you so much more with them as a couple. Seeing these characters go through so much together was really what made me love them to this degree (which is a high degree) which is also why I’m having a hard time believing that their stories are done. I will always need more Rowaelin content.

1. Feyre Archeron & Rhysand

And now we’re at the top. Like I just said, this was a hard decision, but it also feels so right. Feyre and Rhysand had an amazing development as a couple through the books, and A Court of Mist and Fury is definitely my favourite SJM book precisely because we see their relationship develop. I am beyond happy that we aren’t at the end of the ACOTAR world and we get to see more Feysand in the years and books to come, because I am not ready at all to say goodbye yet. Just thinking of Feyre and Rhys’ lives now (especially with Nyx) brings a smile to my face, and I think that it's amazing how an author and a book can do that. Both Feyre and Rhysand’s characters are so strong and their journeys were so heart wrenching to follow but so worth it at the same time. There is really nothing bad I can say about this couple, besides the fact that I want to thank Sarah J. Maas for writing such great characters, and I can’t wait to see more to come!

Thanks to anyone who read to the end. I know it was a long ramble again. Stay tuned for my ACOSF review coming soon as well.

Until next time!

~Rose Reviews

32 notes · View notes