apparently, just acotar ramblings

I wouldn't be so critical of the lap dances UTM if, and I mean only IF, they included consent and any inkling that Feyre enjoyed them.

Because believe me, I would have ate that up. If Feyre actually had a sxxy time with it and couldn't deny the attraction or wanting to dance more for him. I would have loved the forbidden romance/guilty pleasure of it.

But, instead, all we got was the Canon of Date Rape. And, Descriptions of her being violently ill from it, exhausted, drained. Publicly humiliated. And the overall feeling of her being forced to do it and of herself being nothing more than his plaything.

I'm sorry but:

"He had me dance until I was sick, and once I was done retching, told me to begin dancing again."

Will never be sxxy to me.

Here me out -

Taylor Swift could play Tamlin.

But for real, why do so many of her songs fit on a Tamlin Playlist?

"Do you want me to crawl back in bed with you?"

No Feyre. No one wants that. Honestly, most of the fans don't want you crawling into any High Lords bed. Because your character deserves better than that.

Your character deserves to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't rewrite the abuse he inflicted on you. Who doesn't manipulate and convince you, the Survivor, that what happened to you, wasn’t really assault at all. Who doesn't brush aside, walk away, or get angry in the rare instances you do bring up the abuse.

The fact that your character ended up in a relationship with your assailant adds such a painful layer to your story.

And unfortunately, a story too many are familiar with in real life.

I really think if Feyres' character is given the opportunity to explore the emotional weight of this, it could be an immensely powerful read for other women living in a domestically abusive relationship.

Is her character suppressing the truth to maintain the relationship?

Does she recognize, deep down, that something was wrong?

How does she feel when hearing: the abuse belittled: “you were drunk, but he didn’t do anything”

Conversly, how does she feel when accused with: “if it was that bad, why are you still with him?”

How would her character respond to others when try to make her see the reality of what happened?

Tamlin had a lot to prove for himself and to his court post-UTM. Because, he had ultimately failed. He wasn't able to keep himself or, more importantly, his court safe from Amarantha. He had so much pressure to prove himself again as a strong warrior/High Lord.

The nightmares. The flashbacks. The feelings of being powerless and then immediately put into a place of leading restoration.

The having your courts enemy who was formally, for all known pretenses, aligned with your previous enemy. The same high lord that tormented your court with dead fae. That killed your family in the dead of the night. That broke into your fiancé's mind TWICE in front of you. That broke into your manor, right to your bedroom door. That forced your fiance into a bargain and spent 3+ months forcing her to drink Faery Wine (much stronger than human wine) and to perform dances for him, that your embassy/brother was too ashamed to even admit to her what she was being forced to do. It was that bad. Just show up at your home. At any time unexpected. To kidnap your soon to be wife.

To not having any help. We know Helion wouldn't respond to helping break the unwanted bargain with Feyre. Ianthe was already plotting with Hybern behind Tamlin's back, whose to say she wasn't manipulating Tam into seeking out his help on Feyres behalf?

The male just wasn't Cauldron blessed.

Rate Maasverse Friendships.

So first tier, my personal all-time favorites:

Live Manon. Light it up, Bryce. My top of the top Fave Friendships. Danika and Bryce healed something in me. Being there for her even in death. And Asterin giving her life for Manon. It's giving Gold tier. Chaol and Dorian, I'm such a sucker for Brotherly Love and the way they stand by each other, Chaol defending the prince trapped inside. Love. Valkyries self-explained. The Rite and the Friendship and The Support for one another. Top notch. Fenrys never leaving Aelin's side as he's stuck in dog form. Just gut me. And then Dorian and Aelin the banter is bantering. The chemistry is chefs kiss. And the healing they do where they come out fighting strong for one another. I love it. And finally, Manon and her sweet, fierce protection of Elide just warms my heart.

Level 2:

Fox and Tam - you'd be higher, you are top tier, but I need a diologue scene that shows growth and repair. Bryce and Ruhn it stumbled but shined in the end. Az and Nesta just are so unexpected but I'm here for it and it feels natural and comforting and he seems like the only bay boy who's non-judgey of her. Lysandra and Aelin rough beginning, great ending. Cassian and Feyre is just fun to read. He genuinely cares about her as a fae, not just as his high lady. The frat boys fun/tight bond. Bat boys... would ve should've been top tier...but I can't get over the rank dynamic.

Neutral:

Some just didn't get to grow or seemed too forced or just didn't do it for me. Some ahem Mor I don't know if I should trust. I still love Ansel and Manon with Aelin...but in judging it purely off friendship alone, neutral.

Finally dislike:

First and foremost, these sisters need family counseling. The built-up trauma bonding. The fawning over Elain. The power dynamics and struggles that go on. I just don't think they have a healthy dynamic right now. Space and time is needed.

Not-toxic: Fans having different opinions on characters. Letting other fans interact with art in their own unique way. Peak you do you mentality.

Toxic: Attacking Fans for having different opinions. Lumping fans who have a different opinion on a character into one group. Accusations and name-calling based on the opinions they have on a fictional character.

It's very small-minded behavior and usually where toxicity in a Fandom stems from.

I love Elain as a Spy theories, but not because I'm Eriel (I'm actually ELAIN and then when and if Elain is ready: Elucien).

For starters, the spy theory tracks with her. Since her family and friends tend to overly protect and coddle her, I think being a Spy and doing dangerous things in secret makes sense for her. I feel like she's yearning as a character to make her own decisions, but she lives internally in fear of hurting/upsetting people with her decisions.

I also use literature drops as clues and foreshadowing.

Like, Feyre noting how much Elain hangs out with Cerridwen & Nuala:

"They’d spent more time with Elain than even I had. They understood her moods, what she sometimes needed."

These shadows are better spies than Azriel. The way they were able to sneak around Utm. I think Elain is learning a lot from them.

Then you have all the references to Elain sneaking up on somebody:

Feyre "nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s got you beat for secret-keeping.”

Feyre also said:

"Elain was again at my side. I hadn’t heard her steps. Hadn’t heard any sound for moments."

Similar to Nesta:

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

She also has the perfect excuse in order to sneak away and Spy:

"She went at least once a month." To visit her father's grave....or is she? Is she actually going there?

My favorite signs of Elain up to something good:

Her noticeable absence from HOSAF.

And this quote to Nesta in Acosf:

"But Elain turned on her heel. “Find me when you wish to begin.” The doors shut behind her.

I think she's begin something and it's going to be a powerful reckoningabs read for acotar 6.

"Nesta could see the portrait Lanthys wove into the air around them. She saw herself on a black throne, a matching crown in her unbound hair....

Their kingdom was endless; their palace built of pure magic that lived and thrived around them....

soon, soon his seed would take root in her womb and the child she would bear him would rule entire universes—"

What if: this is the same vision Mama-Rhysand saw for Rhysand? She saw Feyre years in advance and knew through her, her son would rule on a throne and birth a child (Nyx) who would rule galaxies...restore Valg power on distant planets?

It's why she made the dresses perfectly sized to Feyre. It's why she hid the ring in the Weavers Hut because Mother Forbid he fell in love with another or chose the wrong girl who wasn't the one of the prophecy. Mama R had to have known Feyre (the girl of the prophecy) would have been able to retrieve the ring.

It's why when Rhysand returns without Feyre, Amren is visibly upset. I think Amren is also in on the vision.

“Where is she?” Amren snapped.

“Where is she?” Amren demanded.

At first read,I thought this was because Am actually cared about Feyre, or at least Rhysand and was concerned. But, now, I don't think it was genuine care for Feyre that prompted her demand. I think it was more concerned of what Feyre is and what losing what she IS meant to their plan. The "Go get her. Right now.” demand wasn't a 'she's my bestie and the love of your life, we can't let her go' sentiment. It was a you let the most vital part of our plan go. The part of our plan we've been working on for hundreds of years. You idiot.

I also think Rhys seeing the girl in the cabin drawing stars on a dresser was an ode to his mother's vision/his own daemarti searching for the girl of the prophecy.

And the "there you are are" calanmai comment, was a yep there's the girl of the prophecy

And the getting her into a bargain, where she's at his place 2 weeks of the month... was another confirmation... this is the girl of the prophecy. I need her near me for this plan to work.

It's why he was shocked. Shook. When he found out she was his actual mate. Burst into the room telling Mor: "she's my mate!" Because Mor also knew the prophecy and didn't expect the girl of the prophecy to be his actual mate.

I also want to note when Nyx died time slowed down. The same way time slows down when Asteri and angels in CC died. That baby gives me Valg/Asteri vibes. The seed to rule galaxies vibes.

One last addition, I go as far as thinking Rhys suggested the Curse to Amarantha for a Human Girl, because he knew the girl of the prophecy was human.

My trust and interest in a character increases when they have a pet.

Bryce has Syrinx, a Chimera, she adores.

Aelin has Fleetfoot, a Golden Retriever, she adores.

Dorian has his Galathynius hunting dogs.

Eris has his Hounds.

Nesta needs a cat. Badly.

Rhys has enforced rank multiple times.

*Forced Nesta to move into the HoW. To train with the Ilyrian and work with the Priestesses in the Library.

*Forced her to Scribe and to look for Made Items.

*Forced her to dance with Eris.

*Forced Cassian to watch. And was upset when Cass finally interrupted the dance.

*Forced Cassian to leave the Rite, to go on a septate mission while his mate was fighting for her life.

*Forced IC not to tell Feyre there were complications with the pregnancy.

*Forced Azriel not to kiss Elain. And referenced rank in order to enforce it.

Tamlin is now the beast, and Rhysand is Gaston.

Sums things up nicely.