While reading CC3 I couldn’t help but notice a plot element regarding curses that brought me back to Vassa in ACOTAR.
In HOFAS we learn Jesiba's mysterious backstory and all this talk of curses- I couldn’t help but to meditate on our favorite firebird. Jesiba unveils that she has been cursed in Chapter 38:
And also elaborates that there were unintentional consequences of the curse:
Jesiba obviously holds a strong grudge against her cursor but is able to use the curse to her advantage.
So Jesiba, similarly to Vassa, was a mortal, cursed unwillingly by an immortal male figure. The curse made her immortal in turn. This has me thinking- what if the same has happened to Vassa? More from Ch.38:
I also find the passage in ACOWAR really interesting, in which Feyre is describing her perception of Vassa the first time they meet:
‘Only a few years older than me, but ... young-feeling. Coltish. Fierce and untamed, despite her curse.’ (ACOWAR chapter 79)
Could this be because although Vassa is, let’s say, age 28- she actually stopped physically aging when she was cursed at age 20? Perhaps it's just Feyre noting that she's a spicy pepper. Who knows.
I recently went down a rabbit hole of Slavic lore and I’m so intrigued by Vaasa’s storyline in the upcoming books. Most folks are aware that SJM has taken her story directly from Slavic mythology- and there are loads of potential breadcrumbs in the fables of:
Ivan Tsarevitch in which Ivan, the youngest of several malaligned brothers, sets out on a quest to free a firebird from a dark sorcerer who also entraps other princesses (often Koschei the deathless).
Princess Vasilisa in which an archer finds a firebird’s flaming feather and gets roped into a quest to deliver a lost princess. Hello Elain’s vision regarding this exact imagery: “I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.” (ACOWAR)
Swan Lake in which Princess Odette (Vassa) is cursed into a swan form by an evil lord and can only take human form between midnight and daybreak. Only a faithful vow of true love can break the spell. If her true love makes a vow to the wrong woman (Elain perhaps) the princess dies instead. Could something as powerful as a male (Lucien) breaking his mating bond to forge a destiny with Vassa be the key to breaking her curse??
Who knows.
Will Vassa be immortalized by Koschei's power touching her and chaining her to the lake? Will Lucien be the key to deliver her from her curse as Ivan was in the fables?
I don't know. But regardless of Lucien's heart, I myself am a Vassa acolyte. I'm so enraptured by the beautiful myths surrounding this lore, and am so intrigued to learn what becomes of Vassa as a heroine in her own right. Her character and story have so much magical potential!
In the words of Yakov Polonsky’s poem:
And in my dreams I see myself on a wolf's back
Riding along a forest path
To do battle with a sorcerer-tsar
In that land where a princess sits under lock and key,
My mom told me I could be anything when I grew up, so I decided to be a dragon. 🔥
After years of being a bit of a shut-in outside of faire season I decided this year was going to be the one where I tried to spend more time outside of the shop, and for getting back to socializing.
A huge Thank You to the Ignition Fire Troupe for being so welcoming, and for showing me the ropes when it comes to fire, and fire safety.
My friends and I have had the pleasure of watching their shows for years now, so it feels a bit surreal to be breathing fire with them now.
I still have a long way to go, but I'm already so excited with the new skills I've learned, and I can't wait to see what this new fiery future has to hold.
You can check out the group page at their website here, for those interested in knowing more. http://www.ignitionfire.net/
Stay safe out there, and have a fantastic Friday all! 🧡