soe_moonblack

Now out of fear for Feyre’s life, Tamlin is sending her away. She doesn’t want to leave and even her saying: “Did I do something wrong” then paired with “I pushed Tamlin onto the bed … pinning him as if it would somehow keep me from leaving…”

TO ME, It feels very juvenile, desperate, and almost subordinate? I understand she’s 19. She doesn’t understand what’s really happening with the blight, but it’s not heartbreaking scene between lovers to me. Again, I feel no emotional ties between them as a couple. Her not wanting to leave is paired with her thinking of how bad life is back in the human lands and wanting to be on Tamlin’s body. Nothing about his character, or how he makes her feel, or significant moments between them. It’s just from the comforts he and the spring court provided her.

It feels like this relationship has been youthful flirty glances and chaste kisses through a montage of time with no depth. For him to end the chapter with “I love you, thorns and all.” It’s like why? Do you love HER or the idea of her? Or love taking care of her?

It took most of my lingering strength to keep my wings from dragging over corpse and armor.

Speaking of. Gee, if only he could like, appear and disappear them at will or something...

He tells us about a fort that's "too valuable" to yield to the "Loyalists."

Not just for its location in the heart of the continent, but for the supplies it guarded. For the forges that smoldered day and night on its western side, toiling to stock our forces.

Uh huh. And what are the forges making? From memory, the only thing that can kill faeries are ash weapons, and, uh, you don't exactly make those in forges....

He moves through the battlefield and angsts generically. I'd offer more info, but it's all rather vague. I'm sure the book is very proud of some of the lines, though.

I now wondered if the lullaby of death was not a lovely song, but the droning of flies. If flies and maggots were all Death’s handmaidens.

This one, for instance. And honestly, if the writing were more consistently like this, it would be fine. Unfortunately, it's not, so instead these more literary lines stick out like sore thumbs and come across as tryhard.

Rhys assures us that he's been the one holding it all together and rallying all the peasants his allies and etc, etc. And also that the evil mean bad guys will never give up their slaves, as if he himself doesn't run off and rule an apartheid state immediately after this.

A half-shredded Illyrian wing jutted from a cluster of High Fae corpses,

Oh my fucking god, enough with the wings! It's okay for other body parts to exist too!

Rhys simultaneously assures us that the army his father sent both saved the day and was also slaughtered immediately (hence why he thinks Cassian is in it), and all I can do is roll my eyes. It's contradicting itself even within the same train of thought, what else is new.

Anyway, Rhys keeps looking for Cassian, and the book describes more wings, and then the prelude ends. Knowing the context of the wider series now, it begs the question of why it was needed. To make us pity Rhys? At least with Feyre's prelude at the beginning of last book, it was to set the stage for her nightmares as well as recap the end of last book to us.

Now, at the end of ACOMAF, Feyre went back to the Spring Court with the intention of being a double agent of sorts. Our first official chapter opens thusly:

The painting was a lie.

Which I'm sure the book thinks is very clever.

Anyway, she's painting stuff, and bitching about

Incessant, unrelenting spring.

It will forever annoy me that the Night Court is conveniently not incessant, unrelenting night.

If I’d painted this glimpse into the court the way my gut had urged me, it would have been flesh-shredding thorns, flowers that choked off the sunlight for any plants smaller than them, and rolling hills stained red.

God, reach a little harder, book. It's actually embarrassing how hard you're trying.

Anyway, Feyre explains the concept of a cover persona to us in frankly insulting detail, and talks about how she longs to use flesh-shredding talons on all the Spring people and etc. Yeah yeah, whatever, book.

The paintbrush snapped between my fingers. I’d cleaved it in two, the pale handle damaged beyond repair. Cursing under my breath, I glanced to the windows, the doors. This place was too full of watching eyes to risk throwing it in the rubbish bin.

Because..... throwing away a broken paintbrush is suspicious.....?

Look, the suspicious thing is randomly breaking it in the first place, and the watching eyes have already seen that. And if they haven't, you can just say you dropped it and stood on it accidentally or something, ezpz.

I held my hands before me, one half of the brush in each palm. For a moment, I let myself see past the glamour that concealed the tattoo on my right hand and forearm. The markings of my true heart. My true title. High Lady of the Night Court. Half a thought had the broken paintbrush going up in flames.

God, the attempts at symbollism in these books is actually fucking painful at times. And yes, your title, Feyre. That you neither earned nor deserve. Because being a "mere" lady isn't good enough for her, right? Also, if throwing the paintbrush in the bin is suspicious, then setting it on fire sure as fuck would be. How lucky Feyre's spy game operates at the whim of the author and not on actual logic.

There's more mental posturing and Spring-bashing, before Tamlin and Lucien walk in, and we get a weirdly detailed description of the process of forcing a fake smile to reach one's eyes. Which is an interesting inclusion, for meta reasons mostly. Apparently, there's some sort of meeting with Ianthe coming up, and Feyre needs to get ready.

It was Lucien who answered, studying my painting as if it held the proof I knew he was searching for. “Yes. She … had her reasons. She is willing to explain them to you.” Perhaps along with her reasons for laying her hands on whatever males she pleased, whether they wished her to or not. For doing it to Rhys, and Lucien.

Why would she ever talk to you about that? What an awkwardly ham-fisted way to remind us of this. Oh, and we also need to be awkwardly reminded that Elain and Lucien are mates, as well. Seriously, the narration is all over the place here, because it's trying to be a sparknotes of the previous book, and of course SJM can't make it sound natural.

Despite what Jurian implied regarding how my sisters will be treated by Rhysand, I had told him, despite what the Night Court is like, they won’t hurt Elain or Nesta like that—not yet. Rhysand has more creative ways to harm them. Lucien still seemed to doubt it.

Lucien being based, as always. But I'm chortling at the idea that he's actually doubtful that the book Rhys could come up with anything "more creative" than... well, whatever "like that" is, I suppose. The book doesn't have the guts to say it, so I'm going to amuse myself by imagining that "like that" is having to listen to staged recitations of Rhys's Tragic Backstory. It's basically what he did to Feyre, after all.

But then again, I had also implied, in my own “gaps” of memory, that perhaps I had not received the same creativity or courtesy. That they believed it so easily, that they thought Rhysand would ever force someone … I added the insult to the long, long list of things to repay them for.

Bitch, he's literally spent 500 years cultivating exactly this image about himself, why the fuck wouldn't they believe you? And also... why are you mad that they believe you? There's actual sexual assault victims (well, not that Feyre *isn't* an actual SA victim, but ya know. The book doesn't think so) that would kill to be believed just like that! Especially considering that Rhysand literally spent two months straight-up sexually assaulting Feyre right in front of Tamlin UtM! He's got absolutely no reason not to believe it. He's seen it with his own eyes!

But let's be real here, if they didn't believe her, she'd be complaining about that too. There's no pleasing this girl.

Speaking of. Tamlin compliments her painting.

“It’s nowhere near done,” I said, dredging up that girl who had shunned praise and compliments, who had wanted to go unnoticed.

Since fucking when? Feyre's always been kind of shallow and entitled, Rhysand just cranked it up to eleven.

Frankly, it was some of my best work, even if its soullessness was only apparent to me.

Don't.... don't you mean "even though its soullessness was only apparent to me?" Because the "if" makes it sound like Feyre/the book thinks soullessness is *part* of good work. Which is, uh. Certainly a take. Explains a lot about these books, tbh.

Tamlin continues to be inoffensive, so Feyre goes off to get changed, and spends a lot of time assuring us that she had to switch rooms because Tamlin "ripped hers apart as if looking for her", and also it's full of thorns now for some reason and is also a tomb. Again, you are trying way too hard, book. All you're making me do is roll my eyes.

I gathered the soft pink skirts of my gauzy dress in a hand

Literal inch-wide strips of sheer fabric = a-okay, empowering, even. Pink gauze? = evil, hiss, kill it with fire! You're fooling no one, book.

Anyway, Lucien is waiting for her outside her room. He's suspicious af of her, because she was behaving suspicous af last book. In this particular instance, he's suspicious because she was swearing to kill Ianthe last book, but she seems perfectly calm at the prospect of meeting with her.

I had not told Lucien of what I knew regarding her true nature.

Well I mean, he likely already knows. Given you've told us several times that she's having a go at him, as well.

It would mean explaining that Rhys had thrown her out of his own home, that Rhys had done it to defend himself and the members of his court, and it would raise too many questions, undermine too many carefully crafted lies that had kept him and his court—my court—safe.

Safe from.........? No, really, it's an important question. Lots of things are done in the name of "safety", and unless the reason is readily apparent, there's a nonzero chance it's a bullshit control thing. Seriously, what is so threatening to the Most Powerful High Lord Ever that he needs "carefully crafted lies" to protect his court? Also.... er, how was throwing Ianthe out "defending his court?" Like, he had every right to throw her out if she was being a creep, but like. Let's not pretend it was anything more than what it is. And also, why would Lucien finding out that Rhysand threw out Ianthe "undermine the lies?" "Oh, he didn't immediately have sex with Ianthe, this must mean he is Secretly Good and we must attack Velaris at once!" Seriously, book, do you *ever* think about what you write?

Though I wondered if, after Velaris, it was even necessary. Our enemies knew of the city, knew it was a place of good and peace. And had tried to destroy it at the first opportunity.

God, everything about Velaris is so fucking shallow. "It's good, literally the only good place ever. It must be protecc. And all the eeeeeeevil bad guys would immediately destroy it, just because!" Fuck off.

Anyway, Lucien is trying to warn her not to trust Ianthe, and for some reason Feyre feels the need to pretend she doesn't have a problem with Ianthe. Which is honestly even more suspicious than saying she hated her, given she was responsible for selling Feyre's sisters to Hybern. Lucien thinks it's sus too, because he's not a fucking idiot, and he grabs her arm as she tries to walk off.

I allowed it because not allowing it, winnowing the way I’d done in the woods those months ago, or using an Illyrian defensive maneuver to knock him on his ass,

....an "Illyrian" defensive maneouvre, huh? Are Illyrians literally the only ones in Prythian with a codified fighting style? What do they teach the warriors of all the courts that don't have Illyrians in them? Or does the book just think that because the Illyrians' sole cultural traits are fighting good and sexism, that every fighting thing must therefore be related to them? Every time I think it can't possibly get shallower...

Lucien asks where Rhysand is keeping Elain, Feyre says she doesn't know, they argue over whether Lucien would even be able to rescue her anyway.

[F]“You couldn’t see that he had me in thrall. You let him take me back.” Lie, lie, lie.

Literally the only thing that makes the events in ACOMAF make even a lick of sense is the possibility that Rhys was mind-controlling Feyre the whole time. Also, uh, I'm 99.99% sure that Lucien *did* think you were mind-controlled. You had your Night Court "mask" on, after all, and your Night Court mask is Rhys's Bitch.

“You don’t even know Elain. The mating bond is just a physical reaction overriding your good sense.” “Is that what it did to you and Rhys?” A quiet, dangerous question.

And an incredibly valid and important one, given the circumstances. If you can dismiss Lucien's mating bond so easily, Feyre, then why can't he dismiss yours? Especially given the dubious circumstances under which it was established.

But I made fear enter my eyes, let myself drag up memories of the Weaver, the Carver, the Middengard Wyrm so that old terror drenched my scent.

And wouldn't you know it, Rhys is responsible for subjecting you to all but one of those things, and he was the chief lackey of the one who sicced the worm on you...

Anyway, Feyre is saved from having to realise this by a convenient clock chime, and they go to see Ianthe.

The High Priestess looked exactly as I remembered, both in those memories Rhys had shown me and in my own daydreamings of using the talons hidden beneath my nails to carve out her eyes, then her tongue, then open up her throat.

Jesus. I mean, yeah, Ianthe did a bad thing, but like. This is a smidge excessive, don't you think? Especially when we consider that there's really no downsides to being turned into a faerie, as discussed in the last book. There should be, but there aren't, and so all the angst about it makes very little sense. Her sisters essentially got a free upgrade.

And I just want to make clear, I wholeheartedly agree that they have every right to feel violated and wish it hadn't happened and etc. Trouble is, the book forgot to give the transformation any actual downsides, not even something vague like losing their human soul or the like. So it all comes across as a little hollow, just whining for the sake of drumming up drama.

She still wore the pale hood and silver circlet set with its limpid blue stone.

I'm sorry, but I can't see the word "limpid" without thinking of Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way. It's limpid blue, even.

We make sure to point out that Ianthe might be a fakey-fake with her power, maybe. No, there's no substance to the supposition, but when has lack of substance ever stopped these books from doing anything?

The High Priestess lowered her teal eyes to the dark wood table, the hood casting shadows on her perfect face. “I wish to begin by saying how truly sorry I am. I acted out of a desire to … to grant what I believed you perhaps yearned for but did not dare voice, while also keeping our allies in Hybern satisfied with our allegiance.”

Feyre, of course, declares this nonsense and calls Ianthe a lying liar who lies, but... well, do we have any evidence that she didn't *legitimately* think this? Apart from meta ones? They only spoke about her family that one time on-page, after all, and it probably isn't impossible that Ianthe might have concluded that Feyre missed them. She cited her reason for not inviting them to the wedding being that she was a fae now, after all. So, if her sisters were fae, they could join in her life, right?

I mean, I know it's pointless to think about that sort of thing, this book does not understand nuance like that. But still. The lack of tangible evidence is worth pointing out.

They talk, without saying much new.

But I leashed [the snarl she was making at Ianthe], falling into that mask of pained quiet, the newest in my arsenal.

I wonder if the book understands that most people don't go about their lives with an "arsenal" of masks? Like, sure, we adjust our behaviour and the way we speak depending on context and whatnot, but like. Calling this behaviour a "mask" isn't really accurate, because people can easily do things like speak more or less politely or express emotion or whatever while still being genuine. Even something like "masking" done by autistic people and the like, I wouldn't call it "A" mask, per se, and certainly not an "arsenal." They try to tone down specific behaviours to fit in more socially, but aren't being ingenuine in any other way. But you know who does go through life with an "arsenal" of masks? Narcissists and sociopaths. I wonder if the book realises how telling the pervasiveness of this trait in the characters it wants to be sympathetic is. It's, uh. Certainly a choice.

“No,” Ianthe breathed, eyes wide, the perfect picture of remorse and guilt.

And also the fact that it assumes that any facial expression other than rage is some sort of deliberate construction. The "perfect picture" of innocence. Book, why do you have so much difficulty understanding that people do, in fact, feel the emotions they make faces for? It's actually kinda disturbing.

Blah blah, generic threats and posturing.

[I]"...I made a grave mistake, and I will always regret any pain I caused, but let us continue this good work together. Let us find a way to ensure our lands and people survive.” “At the cost of how many others?” Lucien demanded.

Yeah, Ianthe, it's not heroic to try and save your whole court at the cost of an unspecified number of others. It's only heroic to try and save part of your court at the cost of literally everyone else, including the rest of your court. Wonder if the book realises it's literally exactly the same reasoning as Rhys, except Ianthe would have saved more people? Meta knowledge that this is bullshit aside, of course - the book has presented us with no actual counterargument apart from Feyre's word.

Anyway, Lucien trusts neither Ianthe nor the promises of the King of Hybern, which is fair enough tbh.

[Tamlin] still trusted her. Still thought that Ianthe had merely made a bad call. Had no idea what lurked beneath the beauty, the clothes, and the pious incantations.

And what, exactly, is that? A sex pest? I mean yeah, creeping on people who have expressly said they aren't interested is obviously a dick move, but. In terms of sex-pesting that it wants us to be willing to allow, the book literally set the bar in hell when it handwaved away Rhys's painted roofie groping from book one. If that's meant to be all g, well, how can it expect us to be mad that Ianthe is a creep? You set this standard, book. Don't blame us if we measure characters you want us to hate by it too.

For the record, I neither like Ianthe nor approve of her actions. It's just, her actions kinda pale in comparison to what Rhys did, and the book expects us to overlook that, sooo.....

Lucien seemed to be trying very, very hard not to roll his eyes.

Same, honestly. Probably not at the things the book wants me to be rolling them at, though.

Feyre's been spending this whole time posturing about the "things that prowl beneath her skin" and how she's such an awesome spy and whatnot. It's getting irritating.

But Tamlin said, “We’ll all try.” That was his new favorite word: try.

Yeah, how dare he, uh.... try? Isn't that what you wanted him to do, Feyre? And what he arguably was doing the whole time, until Rhys started meddling and deteriorated the situation?

“Lucien is right, though,” I blurted, the portrait of concern. “What of the people in this court during this conflict?” I frowned at Tamlin. “They were brutalized by Amarantha—I’m not sure how well they will endure living beside Hybern.

I mean, you endured living alongside Rhysand well enough despite how much he brutalised you, so I wouldn't be too worried. And honestly, I hate saying that, because it would be a perfectly reasonable concern for anyone to have in the circumstances. The problem is, the book is framing it as an accusation that Feyre is actually making towards Tamlin (and not just mask-making it for the sake of her cover), and of course, is framing it as one that she is absolutely right to make (and Tamlin is wrong, because of course he is). Hence, my comment. You really don't get to claim the high ground here, Feyre. Get off your fucking high horse.

And it's especially galling considering how this all plays out. You do more damage to the Spring Court's innocent people than Hybern ever could, Feyre.

[F]"...They have suffered enough.”

God, shut the actual fuck up, you mouth-breathing hypocrite.

Tamlin’s jaw tightened. “Hybern has promised that our people shall remain untouched and undisturbed.” [...]“It was a part of our … bargain.” When he’d sold out all of Prythian, sold out everything decent and good in himself, to retrieve me.

Kind of like how Rhys sold out all of Prythian and also most of his court just to protect his party city? No? Not gonna go there? Yeah, didn't think so. Hypocrites, the lot of them.

[T]"...Though I’ve sent out word that families should … relocate to the eastern part of the territory. For the time being.” Good. At least he’d considered those potential casualties—at least he cared that much about his people,

I mean, it's more than Rhysand did for his non-Velaris people so

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If he was already moving those most at risk during this conflict out of the way … It made my work here all the easier.

Yeah, how convenient that he moved all the innocents out of the way for you. Now you can claim that you totally deliberately didn't harm them even though you've had literally 0 thoughts about them until now. Which leaves the unfortunate impression that, had Tamlin *not* done that, Feyre would be more than happy to subject them to whatever she has planned.