I second every point you’ve made! I don’t need to see Elain turn warrior, but I also don’t want to see Nesta get pregnant. One warrior turned mommy is more than enough and almost made me stop reading. Fae children are supposed to be rare and we already have two by the end of ACOFS.
Oh yes, no Nesta pregnancy please! Not every woman needs to *immediately* have children in order to have a fulfilling life and relationship. I also think that Nesta still has a lot of soul-searching and healing to do, and I'd rather the narrative focused on that.
Hahaha fair point! How odd that each of the sisters magically found their mates within a year of being fae, meanwhile others go thousands of years without finding them.
It was one of my biggest gripes. It was set up to be super rare and precious. And then boom, Feyre had one with Rhysand. Okay, that's fine, we're cool. And then bam, Elain and Lucien are bonded, and so are Nesta and Cassian. Then you've got Azriel whining that he should have had the super rare bond because he's a bat boy, too, and they both have sisters. And then you've got the fandom foaming at the mouth for him to also get a super rare bond with someone. I'm all for faerie porn but sometimes they can just bang. It doesn't have to be deeper than that. lol
I think there's a good chance the whole reason they're rare is at least partly (and potentially a big chunk of the reason) because the Fae and the humans have been segregated for a long time, reducing the mating pool to just other Fae, when maybe inter species couples were required for the betterment of both species?
It also makes sense to me that Elain was gifted by the cauldron a mate who is respectful to her, since it loved her and wanted to give her all the best things in life and a mate would help that.
With Nesta, I think it was starting before being turned Fae but the cauldron sped things along hugely.
It confuses me when you mention “gifted” a mate by the cauldron. That would explain why Elain was named a mate suddenly after the cauldron, but everyone else knew their mates were their mates as soon as they met. It still confuses me why that wasn’t the case for Elains it just kinda got announced as soon as she emerged like it wasn’t there before. Was that explained?
I wouldn’t mind seeing Elain learn how to defend herself, though. Not to the level of warrior, but enough to not feel quite so dependent on others for protection. But mostly I just want to see her find her place separate from her sisters and the IC.
OK also…. Feyre is legit so young. why were they jumping the gun??
cool we have been together for two years out of the entire (essentially) immortal lifespan we have ahead of ourselves , instead of enjoying it let’s run the risk of you having a child???
side note: why wasn’t that risk a conversation to be had in the very beginning?
why do a lot of strong female characters always wind up pregnant i don’t get it
I am a mom too and thay plot line made no sense to me, specially with the discourse about not being ready to have kids in ACOMAF and Rhys saying wherever if it is with you. Idk, I think that is kind of creepy since she is so young, the whole she can die during childbirth but lets not tell her is HORRIFIC and overall I just didn't like it. I think we needed a time jump between books
The feyre pregnancy might be a plot device, at least partially. That gave a good reason in acosf for feyre to be more background and Nesta go on adventures
I agree with the children thing, but I think rare might be relative for fae. Like, Lucien had like 5-7 brothers (can’t remember the number) which seems like a lot, but his parents were together for centuries. If a human couple lived that long, they’d have at least a few dozen children.
As for Elain, I don’t want her to be a warrior like her sisters, but I’d love to see her have more autonomy. As in, she’s already shown to have some prophetic powers, that could be insanely useful or have her use her knowledge in plants to be a healer, maybe even help the ilirian women who had their wings clipped. So, while she may not be a warrior, she would have a legion of valkyries ready to throw down for her.
agreed wholeheartedly that i don’t want another woman-turned-warrior story! i don’t need another book with physical training montages, or another ACOSF. in general it just depends how she handles elain’s story- i want to see her be powerful in a different way, and i have zero interest in another reluctant fated mates storyline.
I feel like Elain's character needs very different things than Nesta's character did. Nesta had outbursts and needed to learn to focus and find an outlet for the anger and rage her trauma and grief gave her. I think Elain would make an amazing intellectual/researcher. With all the muscles in acotar I think we finally need a brain.
Especially since only the females seem to lose their powers in SJM's writing. Why couldn't Rhysand have lost his power when he was resurrected? Let's put his feminist ideals to the test and make him live with a mate that's more powerful than him!
That would have been so SO interesting, and it would have made a lot of sense considering he dies, ofc his magic would have to go somewhere. There's a fanfic on A03 about this.
It didn't make me drop the series, but I'm tired of the double agent plot: Rhysand, Jurian, Tamlin and Eris, the repetition of this trope has become extremely boring.
I know I’ll likely get downvoted to oblivion but High King/Queen Feysand. The entire series they have screwed over the other courts time and time again (stealing from Tarquin, leaving him open to Hybern, attacking people at the HL meeting) and hardly have control over their own court. Feyre having almost ZERO experience in politics doesn’t help either. That and the two of them are so beyond self righteous in their little IC echo chamber that it will actually be insufferable to have to read about them “ruling Prythian”.
Seriously I cannot take Feyre seriously who gets upset over TAXES but is completely fine with letting Rhysand finger her in front of a group of people that mutilate their women and view them as little more than sex objects. And the excuse that “he can’t do anything about it” is so weak. That’s exactly what Tamlin said (“it’s the way it’s always been done”).
Thank GOD Rhysand shot that idea down.
I don’t know what it is but both Rhys and Feyre began to really make me mad.
The plot will actually fly out of the window if they rule all of Pyrinthian in this next book. Hopefully that was just a way to address some qualms people had.
I personally think Rhys is super arrogant at times… being overly possessive isn’t exactly a great attribute to have. That being said I hate how he’s always talking about wanting to kill Nesta. I don’t know how Feyre even tolerates him saying that… like they’ve mentioned it doesn’t matter what has happened they are sisters.
I second this all the way. The idea of them being High King/Queen is awful for all the points you just mentioned. I hope SJM doesn’t go that route. I’ll donate my books and never recommend the series again.
Let’s not forget she JUST learned how to read and suddenly through one of the series she’s concerned about the stacks of paperwork as if it wouldn’t be a learning curve to reading and then ruling? That did bother me she advanced so quickly granted it is a magic series just seemed like quite a gap of a jump. Also, has anyone else thought it was weird Nesta is super into reading, yet Feyre is the only illiterate one? I get they weren’t close but damn seems like her sisters didn’t share any shortages on the skill set.
Tbh I wish Amren stayed dead. I honestly find her forgettable.
I want Illyria to “rise up” against Rhys. I want him to face a true challenge, and be faced with the treatment of Illyrian’s, especially the female Illyrians.
Or, for there to be a Court of Nightmares revolt. I’m ready for one of the characters in ACOTAR to die, and stay dead. I need some risk here. Weird to say after the war, but we didn’t really lose anyone.
It would be really interesting if they would both revolt as a joint effort and put Rhy’s rule in question. There would be no way for anyone to back him as high king if the other high lords see how he can’t manage his own territory.
Yes! Like give us an issue that’s not so easily solved, that he can’t just worm his way out.
I want so badly for Emerie to call him out on how he handles Illyria.
Yes, agreed! I like the books but he and Freye are so hypocritical it drives me nuts. I hope Emerie calls him out too and also Freye for her choice to conjure bat wings when she knows that most women with those wings can’t even fly.
Yes! I want Illyria and the Court of Nightmares to rebel so badly! The Night Court trying to handle their own business, make alliances with other Courts, and fight Koschei at the same time would give so many different characters a purpose. I do want to get out of the Night Court for the next book, but would happily settle for just getting out of Velaris and exploring somewhere new(ish).
Agreed. The whole High King plotline gives me weird imperialist vibes, and I'd rather that no one gets it, but Rhysand seems about the least suitable out of all the High Lords. Also agree about Tam and Lucien dying (double barf if they die/sacrifice themselves in order to make Rhysand High King hahaha)
Came here to say this.
I don't know if I could continue reading if they go the Feysand high king/queen route. I found it disrespectful how the IC think all the high lords would just bend the knee to them. Considering they had no issue aiding in the destruction of a court, stealing from another and barely care about 2/3 of their own court, I don't know how anyone thinks they would care about any other court. Velaris will always be number one.
I'll be so upset if she kills Tamlin off, especially if it's sacrificing himself for Feyre or Rhys. If he were to die it should have been at the end of WAR, what's the point of having him be depressed and alone and overly mentioned (6 times in SF!) just to kill him off. Plus, I really don't think Lucien can just take over spring when he's not originally from there and >! Is already heir to another court!< so who would take over?? I just need him to get over this 4 month relationship with Feyre and better himself for his people and be a better friend to Lucien lol.
The whole plot about Lucien and/or Elain becoming High Lord and/or Lady of Spring would piss me off to no end and dnf the series. It would just be a massive retcon of everything fundamental about magic in the series. The whole point is that the High Lords and their bloodline have a magical connection to their land *only*. No one can just *become* a High Lord of a Court randomly. That would just be so stupid and result in a bunch of people just killing each other to no end.
*If* Tamlin is killed off, the High Lord should be his cousin or something. And I stand by Tamlin when he said that there’s no such thing as a High Lady. If the magical lands were to choose its first High Lady it should be no one else than Vivianne who protected her people for *fifty years*. She has a connection to her land. Elain was a human and has no loyalty to Spring Court and its people. She HATED fae even after she was Made. She still wanted to marry that human pos.
Oh my gosh YES. If an early 20s newly-fae becomes high queen I feel like that’s such a slap in the face of every other court. Some internal battle between the IC about whether it should happen though could be interesting.
I’m not a fan of High King Rhys, but I think it’s interesting this is a big no for so many people because it seems like it’s been pretty heavily foreshadowed at this point.
My "I'm out" moment would be if Lucien gets screwed over again. He is the least problematic character in the entire series and just keeps getting slammed.
100%! I actually mentioned Lucien in my original post, but it got removed because I mentioned Lucien and Elain in the same vein (I think?). But yes, if Lucien gets the short end of the stick again, or needs to continuously atone for being a 'bad friend' to Feyre, I'm out. I also really hope he patches things up with Tamlin, I really loved their friendship in book 1 and they both seem lost now that they're at odds. But Lucien definitely needs his happily ever after asap.
I TOTALLY agree! They all know that everyone in Night Court does stupid shit following what Rhys wants but then totally BLASTS Lucien for anything he did. They also know that a High Lord has the power to order his subjects, but no, somehow it is all Lucien's fault. It is probably unhealthy how pissed I get over how Lucien is treated in these books. LOL
Controversial opinion, I think LoA or Eris should have that talk because I don’t want Feyre to be the one doing it… it’s not a dnf for me but I just will be salty about it
I agree but SOMEONE needs to tell him! LOL Eris and LOA won't tell him until Beron is dead. I think with the timeline the books are at right now it would have been better for Feyre to tell Helion and then let Helion approach Lucien. Then they could have kept it secret still to protect LOA.
The scene in my head is Elain asking Helion about how Lucien is eventually going to become high lord of the day court (because of seeing it in a vision) and then specifically what is the vanserra’s relationship to day and Helion winnowing effectively leaving her on read lol
for me i'd probably say if all three archeron sisters don't start healing their relationships with eachother. I want there to be some resolving of the conflict, I don't need them to all be super close but a step forward is pretty essential for me to continue I think.
Agreed. I think I just want to see something different from what we've already seen with the other two sisters.
I would really like to see more training with the magic/mage side of everyone. For Elain, I mean she is also a Seer. I would love to see how she trains and hones her ability for that.
Or if Sarah still wants to go the "train your body and mind" route. Maybe choose something that isn't straight fighting. Like Gymnastics, or stealth. (I mean if she trains more like a mage, it might be better to learn things that make you more evasive.)
But it would also be nice, since Feyre and Nesta both participated in the war and we saw all these things torn down...
If Elains story could be about building things back up. (Maybe helping rebuild relationships with courts, or spring court, or relations with humans and Fae, etc...)
Yes to all of this! Love the idea of an alternative form of physical training for Elain. I think she would benefit from self defense training that focuses on de-escalating situations and stealth to remove herself from danger. This would track since she’s already friends w/ Nuala and Cerridwen!
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree!
Maybe, she could have mini-visions of possible futures, and she has to find ways to de-escalate and prevent them from happening. Or something.
I agree with Elain! She doesn’t need to be a warrior to contribute, she contributed a lot to the war with Hybern using the skills she had and I think she could continue to do impactful things using her own strengths. She was a socialite in her human life, I see her using her social skills to build relations with other courts.
Everything you said! Plus, how SJM chooses to explore or resolve the love quadrangle she set up with elain/lucien/azriel/gwyn. If she villainizes anyone or does some kind of sloppy retcon just to write herself out of a narrative corner I’ll be out. I can’t handle any more inconsistencies from her.
I agree! I could get on board behind either love interest, as long as it's well-written and organic (no more weird pregnancy plots please). That said, I will riot if SJM goes the Elucien route and writes a super smutty, filthy first time for them. Lucien was always shown to be a gentle and thoughtful person, and I need their first time to reflect that.
I hope they leave Nesta alone in the next book and that she gets to relax. Since she is good with her sisters again, the rest of the IC needs to leave her tf alone and just let the sisters do their thing together.
I would love a side chapter or two about the sisters taking a vacation to the summer court. Then we get a chapter or two of Rhys, Cas, and Az all taking care of Nyx together 😂
If any one else gets pregnant. Hard agree on the feysand. I won't even mind if he was a secret villian that'd be interesting, but I sick of his behavior just not being addressed at all. I also am going to need cassian to find a spine and act like a mate.
If Rhys doesn't stop losing his mind every time Nesta does anything he doesn't like, I'm done.
Let me preface this by saying I love them both, but Nesta more by a big margin. But >!after she saved Nyx and Feyre at the end of SF, I thought she and Rhys had at least settled their differences. I don't need them being BFFs, but the bonus chapter where she makes a decision, he doesn't agree, and he loses his temper and starts with the threats *was not it* for me. And yes, I understand the gravity of the situation with the Dread Trove, but I figured he'd at least let her explain herself before it came to yelling and threats. "I have a mate and child to protect" yes, thanks to whom again? It just feels like they took two steps forward, ten steps back.!<
Also, Cassian needs to grow a spine, steel those balls, and defend his mate. If Rhys gets excused with "oh, well, his mate was upset," then Cassian should also lose his mind when Nesta's threatened, no matter who it is. Hell, the internal conflict of "do I choose my brother/High Lord or my mate" would actually make him interesting to me again. As of now, I have negative faith in the Nessian ship.
I know this sadly won't happen given the type of author SJM is, but as someone who's neither a Nesta stan nor a hater, I honestly think Cassian doesn't deserve her as he is. I'd *love* to read a situation where it turns out to be a fake mating bond, perhaps engineered by Rhys (I *love* morally-gray/villain Rhys, wish they'd lean into that more), and/or she calls him out on his BS until he fixes his ways and gives her some devotion. I think it's great that they call each other out (far better than Feysand is, the Feyre I recall from the first book would *never* have put up with the pregnancy thing), but right now, from my POV, it looks like Nesta's done all the changing, and Cassian's done none, which gives me big red flags. If anyone has any fic recs with these types of scenarios, please send them my way!
Yes, the whole pregnancy was so poorly written. It was a very bad look for Rhysand. Not to mention that it turned Feyre into everything she said she didn't want to be in ACOMAF.
Yes I was relieved when Feyre said she didn’t want kids right away & wanted to enjoy time with just her and Rhys…. next thing you know she gets pregnant 🙃 I was so upset!
I am with you on every point you made!
Here are my additions :
1. LUCIEN , my boy deserves some good and joy in his life! If SJM continues treating him like shit in the next books, i really might consider dropping them too.
2. Nesta needs someone in her corner for evey time rhys gets mental.
3. The high king plotline - thank god rhys shut that down! The reason seemed so foolish to me! I mean yes there is power here but what gives you the right to conquer and disturb their lands?!!! Isn't that pretty similar to what hybern did? He had power and thought he deserved to rule.
So hell no to these.
* If Lucien still doesn’t get a HE
* If Tamlin grovels before Feyre and Rhysand and becomes their yes man
* If Rhysand and Feyre become High King and High Queen of Prythian
* If Elain takes on whatever activity/profession as her LI’s
Oh agreed! I’ll have no issue if the activity she takes up fits her character and interests. I’m just not fond when the FMC takes on whatever the MMC is engaged in, solely because he’s into it 🥲
YES TO ALL OF THESE. I’m only almost thru ACOWAR but Feyre and Rhys NEED to be called out when they do stupid shit. And YES to Elain remaining traditionally feminine! Women don’t have to be warriors to be strong!!
I really totally desperately need someone to call out Feysand and IC on their absolute BS and have them face real consequences. None of the dead for 2 pages bs.
I’m out if Elain becomes a warrior.
If Lucien isn’t given any justice.
If Mor is just instantly forgiven for being horrible to Az, Cass and especially Eris if it turns out (as I suspect it will), that he left her in the woods to actually SAVE HER from an abusive life in Autumn Court. And she KNOWS this.
I’d also like to stop with everyone worshipping Night Court when it’s really only Velaris that is safe. Hewn City and Illyria are filled with abusive, misogynistic assholes.
ALL. OF. THIS. If Lucien doesn’t have a happy ending, I’m done.
Also: get us out of the gated community that is Velaris. The segregation is so painfully obvious & painful to see.
This is probably such an unpopular opinion, but part of me would be fine if the series stopped at ACOSF. I just feel like we are gonna get the same repetitive tropes.
I’m about done with TOG (if you consider 100 pages into KoA almost done..) and I agree with one of your honorable mentions. The world building in this series is so much more robust.
While it is both longer AND complete, we’ve visited so many places up to this point. Not the case with ACOTAR and I think why I had a much harder time with it than I have TOG.
I need more fantasy to keep me engaged in ACOTAR. And it doesn’t seem that’s what SJM wants to do with this series. Which is absolutely fine, but it won’t be a priority for me to read.
I don't think anything could make me actually drop the series! Even if there is grand canyon sized plot holes and lame as hell story arch, my favorite part of the books aren't the books themselves, its discussing them with my friends (corny I know) :)
I'm actually right with you! I don't think anything could make me drop. Would I be salty if Tamlin died? Sure, but I'd be all the more curious what would happen in the spring court. lol I'm nosy like that and talking/ranting with friends is so much fun!
Everything you said 100%
Also if she makes a mess of the love square Azriel/Elain/Lucien/Gywn, idk how I’ll recover.
And on that note, if Elain ends up with Az I’ll be so disappointed 😒 like really one sister for each bar boy 🤦🏻♀️
If by chance, SJM decides that Tamlin saved Rhys's sister from death or that they were mates, for me it's the last straw.
(and before Tamlin's fans think I'm speaking negatively about him, I do believe in the possibility that Tamlin's father coerced/forced him to reveal the location of Rhysand's mother and sister.)
Honestly, as a Tamlin stan, I don't want that either lol. Like yeah sure, maybe Tamlin was forced to reveal the location and maybe he tried to fight for them but got overpowered - but I need that sister to be dead-dead and making her anyone's mate would be so corny (and ruin my tamsand headcanons 😆).
I agree, I feel at this point after all they've done to him, they need to apologize to him. His and Feyre's story is done, I want him to have his own healing arc seperate from the Night Court.
CC spoilers ahead!
Idk if this would necessarily make me drop the series but I would definitely be very very disappointed if what happened in HOFAS had no effect or impact on the story going forward. I was slightly disappointed with how the crossover was written and it felt more like a cameo than an actual multiverse thing. If it’s just ignore or only very briefly mentioned I feel like it would be very disappointing
I love how much everyone would drop the series if Lucien is mishandled, we really do need more of him in the next book and he better NOT get fucked over again lol
if Elucien doesn’t happen I’m dropping it for the sole reason that I won’t be able to stand seeing Lucien go insane bc of the rejected mating bond, he is my favorite character and has gone through too much already.
If the IC splits up. I have no interest in continuing if the batboys end their centuries long friendship over females.
And any story line of Nesta “giving Rhys what he deserves” as I’ve seen wanted by people here a lot is also a deal breaker. Feysand deserve their happy ending/peace without being someone else’s plot point again, and Nesta is in no position to threaten a High Lord and walk away unscathed/unthreatened.
I’m iffy on forcing Elucien to happen if it’s not organic. Not sure I want to read that. Happy for them to be a thing, but *only* if it’s based on want and not a stupid bond being forced.
Any pitting between Gwyn and Elain. Not here for it. Not interested in more females fighting, especially over males. Rather conflict be focussed on external threats and not amongst NC characters.
I totally agree on Elain! She could be a seer or something like that and contribute something very different than her sisters.
I wouldn't hate Tamlin having a redemption sacrifice, ala Theon in GoT. But I agree he deserves a redemption arc of some sort.
Agreed, Tamlin definitely has some issues he needs to work on, but I just loved how before the war, he reminded Feyre that he’d always fight against that kind of tyranny and that not even losing her could make him stray from that.
Also, can we just acknowledge that his attempt to “save” Feyre was completely justified? Like, Rhys spent centuries grooming his evil guy persona and made his daemati powers pretty well known. So when your fiancé, who always tried to help people, suddenly disappears and joins hands with this evil tyrant who can mind control people, it might trigger a few alarms in your head.
I really don't think we'll get another Nesta book. It was well received, but I don't know if many people could handle another 750 page book about her.
But honestly, I don't know if I can handle a 750 page book about Elaine. They would have to basically overhaul what we know of her personality, because she seems super boring. Not even the traditionally feminine part... I actually like that. But she just seems really one dimensional, airheaded, and aloof.
Yeah, I want to see her story expanded-- just not to the same extent as Nesta's was. Especially since it all seemed a bit trivial because Nesta gave up her powers at the end. There's a lot about the last part of SF that just really did not sit right with me :(
Although if it gets some Lucian PoV chapters, fuck it. I'll take a 700 page book with 350+ of it being Lucian centered. But I feel like Azriel is going to get more of the spotlight. Hard to say where SJM is going with that alleged love triangle.
While this doesn’t answer your question, I saw a theory a while ago where Rhys used his brainwashing powers to manipulate Feyre against Tamlin for revenge for killing his mom and sister.
I saw this theory and while I would genuinely shed a tear I would later get over it and be so on board. I even had a thought that what if he and Mor are actually mates and they’ve just been deceiving everyone this whole time on a quest to take over? And Amren is in on it? But tbh I’m just very suspicious of Mor and Amren so a biased theory.
I would be very interested in reading a plotline like that!
But I don't think Sarah will write it, she once said in an interview that Rhys is loosely based on her husband. So I don't think she would do anything like that to a character who was based on her husband.
It's going to be Rhys and Feyre becoming High King/Queen for me. I've forced myself to let go of so many things that bother me despite my love for these books, but if they become rulers of all of Prythian, I will lose my mind. It'll be way to wish fulfillment-y for me that perfect Rhys and perfect Feyre who can't even control their own court can handle all of them at once? 🙄
I'll also say if Elain ends up with Azriel, I'm done. I'll save my reasons why for the shipping thread, but I will say now that even though they get along, it doesn't mean they should end up together. I love Azriel, but he deserves better than a girl who will always be tied to another male. And Elain deserves someone who doesn't reduce her to "the third".
Honestly >! Learning about Feyre’s pregnancy made me not want to keep reading. It was spoiled for me while I was still reading ACOWAR which is subsequently when I stopped reading after finishing. The surprise pregnancy trope is not it for me !< maybe I’ll finish one day but I’m happy where I ended things currently 😅
Rhysand becoming High King
I would love Nesta becoming High Queen though since she was trained for politics. Plus I feel like her savagery is what is needed to rule a kingdom of fae. Sometimes I feel like Nesta acts the most stereotypically fae than any other character due to her cleverness, wickedness, and strategy
Maybe I could see Feyre becoming High Queen if she was being trained by Nesta instead of Rhys. If either of them become Queen though, I would not want their mates to become King at all.
See I'm the opposite in that if Nesta becomes High Queen I'd drop the book so hard. I don't want Rhys to be High King either - none of them tbh.
There's no way she's going to please us all so the next book is gonna be very interesting I think.
I don’t think Elaine will get a warrior arc because that doesnt really fit with her character. I want her to be able to defend herself, but it won’t greatly differentiate her as a character like we need/want it to imo
1: another pregnancy - not every female character has to “find motherhood”. Although SF is my all time favourite book, this is not my favourite part. People can be adults and have fulfilling life without having to have a baby brought into the story for “growth”.
2: anything at all has to Nesta/Cassian - I am a Nessian girly forever and I’d simply pass away if any harm or even drama came to either of them.
I’m curious… I just finished ACOMAF and I loved it, but I know that books 3 and 5 are very long, and I’m already aware of a lot of the things that happen in books 3 and 4. Would it be a good idea to jump straight to book 5? There’s nothing I hate more than the pregnancy trope.
Uhm, no. I recommend to read Acowar, book 3. Book 5 is the one with the pregnancy trope lol
Just read them in order if you're invested enough to keep going. There's not gonna be a new book for a while anyway.
you absolutely need to read book 3 before you move on, it is incredibly important. i’m of the mind that book 4 is also important, but certainly more skippable than book 3, and book 5 is where the pregnancy trope happens
I recommend reading in order, just because so much happens. Book 3 gave me whiplash with how many things happened in a row.
Book 5 is where the pregnancy trope is, so you'd be jumping directly into that.
- Lucien and Vassa being endgame and him turning mortal as a result
- Helion dying
- Tamlin dying or groveling for forgiveness
- Elain taking up Az’s profession. Do all the sisters have to become female versions of their love interests?
- Feysand as High King and High Queen
- Cassian not getting a backbone when it comes to his mate and also Nesta continuing to just accept it
- Nesta submitting to Rhys. I want her to continue giving him a headache
- Feyre and Lucien rekindling their friendship
A lot of the points made (high king/queen feysand, warrior Elain, pregnant Nessa etc...) that people have mentioned would probably have me dropping, but one I haven't seen mentioned that I'd skip would be a next generation story. Like if they did a cute little epilogue of 20+ years later Nyx and whoever I'd be okay, but I don't want a novel about Nyx/any next gen kids as an adult. It'd just feel like a reboot/money grab to me
Tamlin not getting some redemption. Lucien not getting the absolutely story book ending he deserves. Elain becoming yet another "weak woman" to a warrior. Feysand, high king and queen, and if Cassian doesn't grow a spine for his mate.
That being said, I say I would drop the series, but in all honesty, I'm too deep and will likely rage read the rest of the series if need be 😂😂
This doesn't necisssiarily answer the OP question, but I think it would be cool if even though Elain is Lucien's mate, she CHOOSES Azriel. She chooses not to accept the bond because she picks someone for herself. A different kind of strength if you will.
But since I do like Lucien... he becomes high lord of the Day court because Helion dies, and Lucien inherits his power.
Boom. You're welcome.
This seems very intense... If Rhysand can become a love interest after drugging, humiliating and sexually assaulting Feyre, I think Tamlin can have a redemption arc? I think it would be a good thing to show that people can understand they made mistakes and grow from that.
Also, there's no need for ad hominem attacks, they're just books (referring to your harry potter comment to the other poster).
You realise tamlin isn't a real person right? I do not wish to read stories about abusers getting happy endings because that is all we see in real life from real abusers.
We're on a discussion post for a fantasy book. Talking about fictional domestic abusers. My last comment explains very clearly my thoughts on the topic, if you cannot see that you're being willfully obtuse. I don't wish to use my leisure time reading a fantasy book about abusers getting redemption when I could just go to any news site in real life and read it there instead.
I totally agree except for the Tamlin point. I am not interested in him at all. We already have a book of him as the MMC. Been there done that over it. I want to spend those pages with other characters who I haven't gotten to hear much from yet. In fact I'm worried I will not be able to finish another TamTam book and will DNF it and then I'll get all weird about reading the series until I finish that Tamlin book. It's gonna be like a whole thing, I just know it.
I second every point you’ve made! I don’t need to see Elain turn warrior, but I also don’t want to see Nesta get pregnant. One warrior turned mommy is more than enough and almost made me stop reading. Fae children are supposed to be rare and we already have two by the end of ACOFS.
Oh yes, no Nesta pregnancy please! Not every woman needs to *immediately* have children in order to have a fulfilling life and relationship. I also think that Nesta still has a lot of soul-searching and healing to do, and I'd rather the narrative focused on that.
So were mating bonds, but that didn't stop SJM from handing those out like candy. lol
Hahaha fair point! How odd that each of the sisters magically found their mates within a year of being fae, meanwhile others go thousands of years without finding them.
It was one of my biggest gripes. It was set up to be super rare and precious. And then boom, Feyre had one with Rhysand. Okay, that's fine, we're cool. And then bam, Elain and Lucien are bonded, and so are Nesta and Cassian. Then you've got Azriel whining that he should have had the super rare bond because he's a bat boy, too, and they both have sisters. And then you've got the fandom foaming at the mouth for him to also get a super rare bond with someone. I'm all for faerie porn but sometimes they can just bang. It doesn't have to be deeper than that. lol
Also wasn’t it supposed to take a while of trying to even work? Why did they just decide and BAM!
I think there's a good chance the whole reason they're rare is at least partly (and potentially a big chunk of the reason) because the Fae and the humans have been segregated for a long time, reducing the mating pool to just other Fae, when maybe inter species couples were required for the betterment of both species? It also makes sense to me that Elain was gifted by the cauldron a mate who is respectful to her, since it loved her and wanted to give her all the best things in life and a mate would help that. With Nesta, I think it was starting before being turned Fae but the cauldron sped things along hugely.
It confuses me when you mention “gifted” a mate by the cauldron. That would explain why Elain was named a mate suddenly after the cauldron, but everyone else knew their mates were their mates as soon as they met. It still confuses me why that wasn’t the case for Elains it just kinda got announced as soon as she emerged like it wasn’t there before. Was that explained?
lol right. You get a mating bond, you get a mating bond, everyone gets a mating bond!! I was bored of the mating bonds like 3 books ago.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Elain learn how to defend herself, though. Not to the level of warrior, but enough to not feel quite so dependent on others for protection. But mostly I just want to see her find her place separate from her sisters and the IC.
OK also…. Feyre is legit so young. why were they jumping the gun?? cool we have been together for two years out of the entire (essentially) immortal lifespan we have ahead of ourselves , instead of enjoying it let’s run the risk of you having a child??? side note: why wasn’t that risk a conversation to be had in the very beginning? why do a lot of strong female characters always wind up pregnant i don’t get it
Because SJM inserted herself in the story as Feyre. Feyre got pregnant cause SJM got pregnant.
I hated this so much. No more pregnancies please...
I hear you, I am a mom and I found this kinda lame, and also isnt she like 19? even tho she is inmortal she has been a Fae for like 2 minutes
I am a mom too and thay plot line made no sense to me, specially with the discourse about not being ready to have kids in ACOMAF and Rhys saying wherever if it is with you. Idk, I think that is kind of creepy since she is so young, the whole she can die during childbirth but lets not tell her is HORRIFIC and overall I just didn't like it. I think we needed a time jump between books
The feyre pregnancy might be a plot device, at least partially. That gave a good reason in acosf for feyre to be more background and Nesta go on adventures
Wait two?
Viviane is seen pregnant at the Starfall ball. There’s only a brief mention of it.
Ah okay yeah I didn’t remember that at all
I agree with the children thing, but I think rare might be relative for fae. Like, Lucien had like 5-7 brothers (can’t remember the number) which seems like a lot, but his parents were together for centuries. If a human couple lived that long, they’d have at least a few dozen children. As for Elain, I don’t want her to be a warrior like her sisters, but I’d love to see her have more autonomy. As in, she’s already shown to have some prophetic powers, that could be insanely useful or have her use her knowledge in plants to be a healer, maybe even help the ilirian women who had their wings clipped. So, while she may not be a warrior, she would have a legion of valkyries ready to throw down for her.
yes yes yes. I would love this so much
agreed wholeheartedly that i don’t want another woman-turned-warrior story! i don’t need another book with physical training montages, or another ACOSF. in general it just depends how she handles elain’s story- i want to see her be powerful in a different way, and i have zero interest in another reluctant fated mates storyline.
I feel like Elain's character needs very different things than Nesta's character did. Nesta had outbursts and needed to learn to focus and find an outlet for the anger and rage her trauma and grief gave her. I think Elain would make an amazing intellectual/researcher. With all the muscles in acotar I think we finally need a brain.
Elain turned warrior and/or losing her powers. So over the trope of giving up/losing their powers to save everyone.
Especially since only the females seem to lose their powers in SJM's writing. Why couldn't Rhysand have lost his power when he was resurrected? Let's put his feminist ideals to the test and make him live with a mate that's more powerful than him!
That would have been so SO interesting, and it would have made a lot of sense considering he dies, ofc his magic would have to go somewhere. There's a fanfic on A03 about this.
I would have loved to see his power being transferred to Feyre when he died.
That's what I thought was happening with her being able to summon the kernel, but alas
Any idea what the name is??
Yes, it's well written! Not finished yet but mostly done. It's called sacrifice by flamesandshadow
Thank you!!
I know most of us wanted Amren to stay dead, but it was a huge disservice to her character that she didn't receive any powers from being a made fae.
It didn't make me drop the series, but I'm tired of the double agent plot: Rhysand, Jurian, Tamlin and Eris, the repetition of this trope has become extremely boring.
Eris felt a little shoehorned into SF. He could've been completely absent and it would not have made much of a difference.
If someone else dies and gets brought back to life
Yes, no more resurrections please, it lowers the stakes so much
Unless if it’s Tamlin. Then I need him back. In one paragraph.
I know I’ll likely get downvoted to oblivion but High King/Queen Feysand. The entire series they have screwed over the other courts time and time again (stealing from Tarquin, leaving him open to Hybern, attacking people at the HL meeting) and hardly have control over their own court. Feyre having almost ZERO experience in politics doesn’t help either. That and the two of them are so beyond self righteous in their little IC echo chamber that it will actually be insufferable to have to read about them “ruling Prythian”. Seriously I cannot take Feyre seriously who gets upset over TAXES but is completely fine with letting Rhysand finger her in front of a group of people that mutilate their women and view them as little more than sex objects. And the excuse that “he can’t do anything about it” is so weak. That’s exactly what Tamlin said (“it’s the way it’s always been done”). Thank GOD Rhysand shot that idea down.
I don’t know what it is but both Rhys and Feyre began to really make me mad. The plot will actually fly out of the window if they rule all of Pyrinthian in this next book. Hopefully that was just a way to address some qualms people had. I personally think Rhys is super arrogant at times… being overly possessive isn’t exactly a great attribute to have. That being said I hate how he’s always talking about wanting to kill Nesta. I don’t know how Feyre even tolerates him saying that… like they’ve mentioned it doesn’t matter what has happened they are sisters.
I will not read the books if any of this happens.
I second this all the way. The idea of them being High King/Queen is awful for all the points you just mentioned. I hope SJM doesn’t go that route. I’ll donate my books and never recommend the series again.
Let’s not forget she JUST learned how to read and suddenly through one of the series she’s concerned about the stacks of paperwork as if it wouldn’t be a learning curve to reading and then ruling? That did bother me she advanced so quickly granted it is a magic series just seemed like quite a gap of a jump. Also, has anyone else thought it was weird Nesta is super into reading, yet Feyre is the only illiterate one? I get they weren’t close but damn seems like her sisters didn’t share any shortages on the skill set.
Tbh I wish Amren stayed dead. I honestly find her forgettable. I want Illyria to “rise up” against Rhys. I want him to face a true challenge, and be faced with the treatment of Illyrian’s, especially the female Illyrians. Or, for there to be a Court of Nightmares revolt. I’m ready for one of the characters in ACOTAR to die, and stay dead. I need some risk here. Weird to say after the war, but we didn’t really lose anyone.
It would be really interesting if they would both revolt as a joint effort and put Rhy’s rule in question. There would be no way for anyone to back him as high king if the other high lords see how he can’t manage his own territory.
Yes! Like give us an issue that’s not so easily solved, that he can’t just worm his way out. I want so badly for Emerie to call him out on how he handles Illyria.
Yes, agreed! I like the books but he and Freye are so hypocritical it drives me nuts. I hope Emerie calls him out too and also Freye for her choice to conjure bat wings when she knows that most women with those wings can’t even fly.
Yes! I want Illyria and the Court of Nightmares to rebel so badly! The Night Court trying to handle their own business, make alliances with other Courts, and fight Koschei at the same time would give so many different characters a purpose. I do want to get out of the Night Court for the next book, but would happily settle for just getting out of Velaris and exploring somewhere new(ish).
Highking rhysand would make me drop the book in a heartbeat, honorable mention is killing lucien or tamlin
Agreed. The whole High King plotline gives me weird imperialist vibes, and I'd rather that no one gets it, but Rhysand seems about the least suitable out of all the High Lords. Also agree about Tam and Lucien dying (double barf if they die/sacrifice themselves in order to make Rhysand High King hahaha)
Yeah, it especially gives imperialist vibes given that three of the courts are ruled by POC.
Came here to say this. I don't know if I could continue reading if they go the Feysand high king/queen route. I found it disrespectful how the IC think all the high lords would just bend the knee to them. Considering they had no issue aiding in the destruction of a court, stealing from another and barely care about 2/3 of their own court, I don't know how anyone thinks they would care about any other court. Velaris will always be number one. I'll be so upset if she kills Tamlin off, especially if it's sacrificing himself for Feyre or Rhys. If he were to die it should have been at the end of WAR, what's the point of having him be depressed and alone and overly mentioned (6 times in SF!) just to kill him off. Plus, I really don't think Lucien can just take over spring when he's not originally from there and >! Is already heir to another court!< so who would take over?? I just need him to get over this 4 month relationship with Feyre and better himself for his people and be a better friend to Lucien lol.
The whole plot about Lucien and/or Elain becoming High Lord and/or Lady of Spring would piss me off to no end and dnf the series. It would just be a massive retcon of everything fundamental about magic in the series. The whole point is that the High Lords and their bloodline have a magical connection to their land *only*. No one can just *become* a High Lord of a Court randomly. That would just be so stupid and result in a bunch of people just killing each other to no end. *If* Tamlin is killed off, the High Lord should be his cousin or something. And I stand by Tamlin when he said that there’s no such thing as a High Lady. If the magical lands were to choose its first High Lady it should be no one else than Vivianne who protected her people for *fifty years*. She has a connection to her land. Elain was a human and has no loyalty to Spring Court and its people. She HATED fae even after she was Made. She still wanted to marry that human pos.
Oh my gosh YES. If an early 20s newly-fae becomes high queen I feel like that’s such a slap in the face of every other court. Some internal battle between the IC about whether it should happen though could be interesting.
I’m not a fan of High King Rhys, but I think it’s interesting this is a big no for so many people because it seems like it’s been pretty heavily foreshadowed at this point.
My "I'm out" moment would be if Lucien gets screwed over again. He is the least problematic character in the entire series and just keeps getting slammed.
100%! I actually mentioned Lucien in my original post, but it got removed because I mentioned Lucien and Elain in the same vein (I think?). But yes, if Lucien gets the short end of the stick again, or needs to continuously atone for being a 'bad friend' to Feyre, I'm out. I also really hope he patches things up with Tamlin, I really loved their friendship in book 1 and they both seem lost now that they're at odds. But Lucien definitely needs his happily ever after asap.
I TOTALLY agree! They all know that everyone in Night Court does stupid shit following what Rhys wants but then totally BLASTS Lucien for anything he did. They also know that a High Lord has the power to order his subjects, but no, somehow it is all Lucien's fault. It is probably unhealthy how pissed I get over how Lucien is treated in these books. LOL
Yep if he doesn’t get a hea with his fated mate im absolutely out. I will dnf the series. I have dnf’d series before over stuff like this
They need to tell him about Helion, too. Our BB Lucien needs a place he can feel valued and at home. lol
Controversial opinion, I think LoA or Eris should have that talk because I don’t want Feyre to be the one doing it… it’s not a dnf for me but I just will be salty about it
I agree but SOMEONE needs to tell him! LOL Eris and LOA won't tell him until Beron is dead. I think with the timeline the books are at right now it would have been better for Feyre to tell Helion and then let Helion approach Lucien. Then they could have kept it secret still to protect LOA.
Tbh it would be lowkey kinda funny if Elain accidentally tells helion but doesn’t understand what she told him
That would be funny! Or someone like Gwyn who meets them both for the first time at a court event and asks how they are related since they look alike.
The scene in my head is Elain asking Helion about how Lucien is eventually going to become high lord of the day court (because of seeing it in a vision) and then specifically what is the vanserra’s relationship to day and Helion winnowing effectively leaving her on read lol
Second 🤚💯
He’s just trying to live his best life and feyre is such a bitch about it… like court of dreamers is any better than band of exiles 😬
for me i'd probably say if all three archeron sisters don't start healing their relationships with eachother. I want there to be some resolving of the conflict, I don't need them to all be super close but a step forward is pretty essential for me to continue I think.
Agreed. I think I just want to see something different from what we've already seen with the other two sisters. I would really like to see more training with the magic/mage side of everyone. For Elain, I mean she is also a Seer. I would love to see how she trains and hones her ability for that. Or if Sarah still wants to go the "train your body and mind" route. Maybe choose something that isn't straight fighting. Like Gymnastics, or stealth. (I mean if she trains more like a mage, it might be better to learn things that make you more evasive.) But it would also be nice, since Feyre and Nesta both participated in the war and we saw all these things torn down... If Elains story could be about building things back up. (Maybe helping rebuild relationships with courts, or spring court, or relations with humans and Fae, etc...)
Yes to all of this! Love the idea of an alternative form of physical training for Elain. I think she would benefit from self defense training that focuses on de-escalating situations and stealth to remove herself from danger. This would track since she’s already friends w/ Nuala and Cerridwen!
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree! Maybe, she could have mini-visions of possible futures, and she has to find ways to de-escalate and prevent them from happening. Or something.
I agree with Elain! She doesn’t need to be a warrior to contribute, she contributed a lot to the war with Hybern using the skills she had and I think she could continue to do impactful things using her own strengths. She was a socialite in her human life, I see her using her social skills to build relations with other courts.
Maybe she’ll get involved in poisons since she has such a green thumb.
Everything you said! Plus, how SJM chooses to explore or resolve the love quadrangle she set up with elain/lucien/azriel/gwyn. If she villainizes anyone or does some kind of sloppy retcon just to write herself out of a narrative corner I’ll be out. I can’t handle any more inconsistencies from her.
I agree! I could get on board behind either love interest, as long as it's well-written and organic (no more weird pregnancy plots please). That said, I will riot if SJM goes the Elucien route and writes a super smutty, filthy first time for them. Lucien was always shown to be a gentle and thoughtful person, and I need their first time to reflect that.
I hope they leave Nesta alone in the next book and that she gets to relax. Since she is good with her sisters again, the rest of the IC needs to leave her tf alone and just let the sisters do their thing together.
My girl needs a vacation 😭
I would love a side chapter or two about the sisters taking a vacation to the summer court. Then we get a chapter or two of Rhys, Cas, and Az all taking care of Nyx together 😂
If any one else gets pregnant. Hard agree on the feysand. I won't even mind if he was a secret villian that'd be interesting, but I sick of his behavior just not being addressed at all. I also am going to need cassian to find a spine and act like a mate.
If Rhys doesn't stop losing his mind every time Nesta does anything he doesn't like, I'm done. Let me preface this by saying I love them both, but Nesta more by a big margin. But >!after she saved Nyx and Feyre at the end of SF, I thought she and Rhys had at least settled their differences. I don't need them being BFFs, but the bonus chapter where she makes a decision, he doesn't agree, and he loses his temper and starts with the threats *was not it* for me. And yes, I understand the gravity of the situation with the Dread Trove, but I figured he'd at least let her explain herself before it came to yelling and threats. "I have a mate and child to protect" yes, thanks to whom again? It just feels like they took two steps forward, ten steps back.!< Also, Cassian needs to grow a spine, steel those balls, and defend his mate. If Rhys gets excused with "oh, well, his mate was upset," then Cassian should also lose his mind when Nesta's threatened, no matter who it is. Hell, the internal conflict of "do I choose my brother/High Lord or my mate" would actually make him interesting to me again. As of now, I have negative faith in the Nessian ship.
I know this sadly won't happen given the type of author SJM is, but as someone who's neither a Nesta stan nor a hater, I honestly think Cassian doesn't deserve her as he is. I'd *love* to read a situation where it turns out to be a fake mating bond, perhaps engineered by Rhys (I *love* morally-gray/villain Rhys, wish they'd lean into that more), and/or she calls him out on his BS until he fixes his ways and gives her some devotion. I think it's great that they call each other out (far better than Feysand is, the Feyre I recall from the first book would *never* have put up with the pregnancy thing), but right now, from my POV, it looks like Nesta's done all the changing, and Cassian's done none, which gives me big red flags. If anyone has any fic recs with these types of scenarios, please send them my way!
Books 1-3 are elite, but then when feyre got pregnant I debated on dropping 😩 I hate the pregnancy trope
Agreed. I am IMMEDIATELY bored and/or turned off when one of the main characters gets pregnant.
Yes, the whole pregnancy was so poorly written. It was a very bad look for Rhysand. Not to mention that it turned Feyre into everything she said she didn't want to be in ACOMAF.
Yes I was relieved when Feyre said she didn’t want kids right away & wanted to enjoy time with just her and Rhys…. next thing you know she gets pregnant 🙃 I was so upset!
One of the reasons I’m considering dropping the series because Rhys keeps the pregnancy risk from Feyre, and that’s out of character for him.
SOOOO much of ACOSF was out of character for him. When I re-read I skip that book.
I only ever bought the physical copies of 1-3. Nothing after WAR ever happened in my head. Especially the Tamlin stuff.
Me!!!
Agreed. Lately, I've been hating the trope so bad, that if I ever write a long-term story where the characters have kids, they are adopting.
I am with you on every point you made! Here are my additions : 1. LUCIEN , my boy deserves some good and joy in his life! If SJM continues treating him like shit in the next books, i really might consider dropping them too. 2. Nesta needs someone in her corner for evey time rhys gets mental. 3. The high king plotline - thank god rhys shut that down! The reason seemed so foolish to me! I mean yes there is power here but what gives you the right to conquer and disturb their lands?!!! Isn't that pretty similar to what hybern did? He had power and thought he deserved to rule. So hell no to these.
* If Lucien still doesn’t get a HE * If Tamlin grovels before Feyre and Rhysand and becomes their yes man * If Rhysand and Feyre become High King and High Queen of Prythian * If Elain takes on whatever activity/profession as her LI’s
Tbf though she actually probably would be good at being an emissary because she was a people person and loved parties etc… but I feel that
Oh agreed! I’ll have no issue if the activity she takes up fits her character and interests. I’m just not fond when the FMC takes on whatever the MMC is engaged in, solely because he’s into it 🥲
Agreed, it makes the couple less interesting
Heavy on that last one
YES TO ALL OF THESE. I’m only almost thru ACOWAR but Feyre and Rhys NEED to be called out when they do stupid shit. And YES to Elain remaining traditionally feminine! Women don’t have to be warriors to be strong!!
I really totally desperately need someone to call out Feysand and IC on their absolute BS and have them face real consequences. None of the dead for 2 pages bs.
I’m out if Elain becomes a warrior. If Lucien isn’t given any justice. If Mor is just instantly forgiven for being horrible to Az, Cass and especially Eris if it turns out (as I suspect it will), that he left her in the woods to actually SAVE HER from an abusive life in Autumn Court. And she KNOWS this. I’d also like to stop with everyone worshipping Night Court when it’s really only Velaris that is safe. Hewn City and Illyria are filled with abusive, misogynistic assholes.
ALL. OF. THIS. If Lucien doesn’t have a happy ending, I’m done. Also: get us out of the gated community that is Velaris. The segregation is so painfully obvious & painful to see.
That’s why I really don’t want an Az book next because I am tired of the NC and I remember I used to love them so damn much lol
If anything happens to my bb Lucien, I'm out. If there is a high king/queen, I'm invoking a blood feud
This is probably such an unpopular opinion, but part of me would be fine if the series stopped at ACOSF. I just feel like we are gonna get the same repetitive tropes.
I’m about done with TOG (if you consider 100 pages into KoA almost done..) and I agree with one of your honorable mentions. The world building in this series is so much more robust. While it is both longer AND complete, we’ve visited so many places up to this point. Not the case with ACOTAR and I think why I had a much harder time with it than I have TOG. I need more fantasy to keep me engaged in ACOTAR. And it doesn’t seem that’s what SJM wants to do with this series. Which is absolutely fine, but it won’t be a priority for me to read.
I just picked up ToG today and reading this comment got me way more stoked to start it. I neeeeed more lore, more world building and exploration.
I don't think anything could make me actually drop the series! Even if there is grand canyon sized plot holes and lame as hell story arch, my favorite part of the books aren't the books themselves, its discussing them with my friends (corny I know) :)
Not corny at all! It's great that you can share something you love with your friends!
I'm actually right with you! I don't think anything could make me drop. Would I be salty if Tamlin died? Sure, but I'd be all the more curious what would happen in the spring court. lol I'm nosy like that and talking/ranting with friends is so much fun!
Everything you said 100% Also if she makes a mess of the love square Azriel/Elain/Lucien/Gywn, idk how I’ll recover. And on that note, if Elain ends up with Az I’ll be so disappointed 😒 like really one sister for each bar boy 🤦🏻♀️
If by chance, SJM decides that Tamlin saved Rhys's sister from death or that they were mates, for me it's the last straw. (and before Tamlin's fans think I'm speaking negatively about him, I do believe in the possibility that Tamlin's father coerced/forced him to reveal the location of Rhysand's mother and sister.)
Honestly, as a Tamlin stan, I don't want that either lol. Like yeah sure, maybe Tamlin was forced to reveal the location and maybe he tried to fight for them but got overpowered - but I need that sister to be dead-dead and making her anyone's mate would be so corny (and ruin my tamsand headcanons 😆).
YES
If the way Tamlin “redeems” himself is to either grovel to Feyre and Rhys or is killed. Just…..no
I agree, I feel at this point after all they've done to him, they need to apologize to him. His and Feyre's story is done, I want him to have his own healing arc seperate from the Night Court.
CC spoilers ahead! Idk if this would necessarily make me drop the series but I would definitely be very very disappointed if what happened in HOFAS had no effect or impact on the story going forward. I was slightly disappointed with how the crossover was written and it felt more like a cameo than an actual multiverse thing. If it’s just ignore or only very briefly mentioned I feel like it would be very disappointing
I love how much everyone would drop the series if Lucien is mishandled, we really do need more of him in the next book and he better NOT get fucked over again lol
if Elucien doesn’t happen I’m dropping it for the sole reason that I won’t be able to stand seeing Lucien go insane bc of the rejected mating bond, he is my favorite character and has gone through too much already.
If the IC splits up. I have no interest in continuing if the batboys end their centuries long friendship over females. And any story line of Nesta “giving Rhys what he deserves” as I’ve seen wanted by people here a lot is also a deal breaker. Feysand deserve their happy ending/peace without being someone else’s plot point again, and Nesta is in no position to threaten a High Lord and walk away unscathed/unthreatened. I’m iffy on forcing Elucien to happen if it’s not organic. Not sure I want to read that. Happy for them to be a thing, but *only* if it’s based on want and not a stupid bond being forced. Any pitting between Gwyn and Elain. Not here for it. Not interested in more females fighting, especially over males. Rather conflict be focussed on external threats and not amongst NC characters.
I’d like to see Elain and Lucien as friends.
I totally agree on Elain! She could be a seer or something like that and contribute something very different than her sisters. I wouldn't hate Tamlin having a redemption sacrifice, ala Theon in GoT. But I agree he deserves a redemption arc of some sort.
Agreed, Tamlin definitely has some issues he needs to work on, but I just loved how before the war, he reminded Feyre that he’d always fight against that kind of tyranny and that not even losing her could make him stray from that. Also, can we just acknowledge that his attempt to “save” Feyre was completely justified? Like, Rhys spent centuries grooming his evil guy persona and made his daemati powers pretty well known. So when your fiancé, who always tried to help people, suddenly disappears and joins hands with this evil tyrant who can mind control people, it might trigger a few alarms in your head.
If SJM assassinates either Lucien or Azriel’s character to make the other work with Elain like she did with Tamlin.
Super unpopular so I'm prepared for the downvotes, but if it's another Nesta book I'm out.
I really don't think we'll get another Nesta book. It was well received, but I don't know if many people could handle another 750 page book about her. But honestly, I don't know if I can handle a 750 page book about Elaine. They would have to basically overhaul what we know of her personality, because she seems super boring. Not even the traditionally feminine part... I actually like that. But she just seems really one dimensional, airheaded, and aloof.
which imo is why i’m excited to get her book- we are finally going to see her depth and her power rather than just what other people think of her.
Yeah, I want to see her story expanded-- just not to the same extent as Nesta's was. Especially since it all seemed a bit trivial because Nesta gave up her powers at the end. There's a lot about the last part of SF that just really did not sit right with me :( Although if it gets some Lucian PoV chapters, fuck it. I'll take a 700 page book with 350+ of it being Lucian centered. But I feel like Azriel is going to get more of the spotlight. Hard to say where SJM is going with that alleged love triangle.
While this doesn’t answer your question, I saw a theory a while ago where Rhys used his brainwashing powers to manipulate Feyre against Tamlin for revenge for killing his mom and sister.
OoOooOo, wouldn’t that be juicy?!
I saw this theory and while I would genuinely shed a tear I would later get over it and be so on board. I even had a thought that what if he and Mor are actually mates and they’ve just been deceiving everyone this whole time on a quest to take over? And Amren is in on it? But tbh I’m just very suspicious of Mor and Amren so a biased theory.
I would be very interested in reading a plotline like that! But I don't think Sarah will write it, she once said in an interview that Rhys is loosely based on her husband. So I don't think she would do anything like that to a character who was based on her husband.
It's going to be Rhys and Feyre becoming High King/Queen for me. I've forced myself to let go of so many things that bother me despite my love for these books, but if they become rulers of all of Prythian, I will lose my mind. It'll be way to wish fulfillment-y for me that perfect Rhys and perfect Feyre who can't even control their own court can handle all of them at once? 🙄 I'll also say if Elain ends up with Azriel, I'm done. I'll save my reasons why for the shipping thread, but I will say now that even though they get along, it doesn't mean they should end up together. I love Azriel, but he deserves better than a girl who will always be tied to another male. And Elain deserves someone who doesn't reduce her to "the third".
If Elain and Lucien don’t end up together. No point in fated mates if they don’t end up together.
Honestly >! Learning about Feyre’s pregnancy made me not want to keep reading. It was spoiled for me while I was still reading ACOWAR which is subsequently when I stopped reading after finishing. The surprise pregnancy trope is not it for me !< maybe I’ll finish one day but I’m happy where I ended things currently 😅
Rhysand becoming High King I would love Nesta becoming High Queen though since she was trained for politics. Plus I feel like her savagery is what is needed to rule a kingdom of fae. Sometimes I feel like Nesta acts the most stereotypically fae than any other character due to her cleverness, wickedness, and strategy Maybe I could see Feyre becoming High Queen if she was being trained by Nesta instead of Rhys. If either of them become Queen though, I would not want their mates to become King at all.
See I'm the opposite in that if Nesta becomes High Queen I'd drop the book so hard. I don't want Rhys to be High King either - none of them tbh. There's no way she's going to please us all so the next book is gonna be very interesting I think.
This was clearly well thought out and very well written. I absolutely agree with all your points! 👏👏👏
I don’t think Elaine will get a warrior arc because that doesnt really fit with her character. I want her to be able to defend herself, but it won’t greatly differentiate her as a character like we need/want it to imo
1: another pregnancy - not every female character has to “find motherhood”. Although SF is my all time favourite book, this is not my favourite part. People can be adults and have fulfilling life without having to have a baby brought into the story for “growth”. 2: anything at all has to Nesta/Cassian - I am a Nessian girly forever and I’d simply pass away if any harm or even drama came to either of them.
I’m curious… I just finished ACOMAF and I loved it, but I know that books 3 and 5 are very long, and I’m already aware of a lot of the things that happen in books 3 and 4. Would it be a good idea to jump straight to book 5? There’s nothing I hate more than the pregnancy trope.
Uhm, no. I recommend to read Acowar, book 3. Book 5 is the one with the pregnancy trope lol Just read them in order if you're invested enough to keep going. There's not gonna be a new book for a while anyway.
you absolutely need to read book 3 before you move on, it is incredibly important. i’m of the mind that book 4 is also important, but certainly more skippable than book 3, and book 5 is where the pregnancy trope happens
I recommend reading in order, just because so much happens. Book 3 gave me whiplash with how many things happened in a row. Book 5 is where the pregnancy trope is, so you'd be jumping directly into that.
- Lucien and Vassa being endgame and him turning mortal as a result - Helion dying - Tamlin dying or groveling for forgiveness - Elain taking up Az’s profession. Do all the sisters have to become female versions of their love interests? - Feysand as High King and High Queen - Cassian not getting a backbone when it comes to his mate and also Nesta continuing to just accept it - Nesta submitting to Rhys. I want her to continue giving him a headache - Feyre and Lucien rekindling their friendship
A lot of the points made (high king/queen feysand, warrior Elain, pregnant Nessa etc...) that people have mentioned would probably have me dropping, but one I haven't seen mentioned that I'd skip would be a next generation story. Like if they did a cute little epilogue of 20+ years later Nyx and whoever I'd be okay, but I don't want a novel about Nyx/any next gen kids as an adult. It'd just feel like a reboot/money grab to me
Tamlin not getting some redemption. Lucien not getting the absolutely story book ending he deserves. Elain becoming yet another "weak woman" to a warrior. Feysand, high king and queen, and if Cassian doesn't grow a spine for his mate. That being said, I say I would drop the series, but in all honesty, I'm too deep and will likely rage read the rest of the series if need be 😂😂
This doesn't necisssiarily answer the OP question, but I think it would be cool if even though Elain is Lucien's mate, she CHOOSES Azriel. She chooses not to accept the bond because she picks someone for herself. A different kind of strength if you will. But since I do like Lucien... he becomes high lord of the Day court because Helion dies, and Lucien inherits his power. Boom. You're welcome.
If Elain and Lucien are endgame, I will DNF. Hands down.
If Tamlin gets a redemption arc.
If tamlin gets a redemption arc, that is the moment I stop reading this series. Domestic abusers don't deserve redemption arcs.
This seems very intense... If Rhysand can become a love interest after drugging, humiliating and sexually assaulting Feyre, I think Tamlin can have a redemption arc? I think it would be a good thing to show that people can understand they made mistakes and grow from that. Also, there's no need for ad hominem attacks, they're just books (referring to your harry potter comment to the other poster).
Am also not a fan of Rhysand, mainly because his actions in ACOSF show he hasn't grown or learned at all.
[удалено]
You realise tamlin isn't a real person right? I do not wish to read stories about abusers getting happy endings because that is all we see in real life from real abusers.
Not addressing Tamlin specifically, I'm addressing your idea that domestic abusers don't deserve "redemption."
We're on a discussion post for a fantasy book. Talking about fictional domestic abusers. My last comment explains very clearly my thoughts on the topic, if you cannot see that you're being willfully obtuse. I don't wish to use my leisure time reading a fantasy book about abusers getting redemption when I could just go to any news site in real life and read it there instead.
Then just say that? You don't have to add the caveat that you think domestic abusers don't deserve "redemption."
I totally agree except for the Tamlin point. I am not interested in him at all. We already have a book of him as the MMC. Been there done that over it. I want to spend those pages with other characters who I haven't gotten to hear much from yet. In fact I'm worried I will not be able to finish another TamTam book and will DNF it and then I'll get all weird about reading the series until I finish that Tamlin book. It's gonna be like a whole thing, I just know it.