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I believe Elain and Nesta became very special to Sarah because she never intended to make them likable, but still gave them traits of herself that society/patriarchy hates to see in women.

Feyre, by contrast, reads like a mirror of social expectations: always functioning and looking hot while doing so.

Aelin is the first character Sarah created at a very young age, so probably the type of woman teenage Sarah looked up to. And back in the 2013-16 YA era, there was a distinct heroine archetype: fierce, badass, and, most importantly, not like other girls. 🙂‍↕️

Their flaws always felt performative. They were stubborn or rebellious, but never too sensitive or, god forbid, passive. The girly girl was usually the naive best friend, created to make the heroine look even more intelligent, loyal, selfless, you name it.

I remember an interview where SJM said she’d love to hang out with Elain or Aelin because they like girly things. But while Aelin still fulfilled every aspect of your perfect FMC, Elain was just a woman, so ofc it was fine to trash-talk her to no end.

Another thing: I don’t think people back then were ready for the conversation about FMCs struggling with depression and books portraying how empty, useless and lazy a woman can feel. That craving love and protection doesn’t take away from her strength.

What’s that Temu cauldron in the back?😭

For that reason, people want Lucien to have that morally gray/Eris factor so bad. To justify Elain’s sus behaviour around him. To pretend Lucien is just a bad guy, when he’s literally not framed that way at all, it’s so funny. The narrative in acosf works completely in his favour (Cassian admires him and Nesta tolerates him). People realised this and it frightens them.

If Sarah had planned to break the bond all along, there would be no reason for Elain to make such a big deal out of not talking to her mate for two years counting.