idk man

Nessian was just okay. I think for me it kinda fell apart at the whole “fuck first, address later” mentality and I hated the groveling on nesta’s side and nesta’s side only. Sjm completely warped her character to make her complacent to the IC

Cassian started off and ended the book as the same character. He had barely any character development and chased after every syllable coming out of feysands mouths. This was all entirely sjm’s fault, ofc, bc rather than it being a nessian story, it was nesta’s growth vs. feyre’s pregnancy. We literally learned nothing new abt cassian bc she was trying to weave together several, aimless plot lines

We also never got a full handle on what nesta’s powers are. Yes, it’s death, but to what capacity?? She clearly chose life with her powers in those latter chapters, so what does “death” actually imply?? Good thing we might never find out bc sjm saw it fit to strip her of her powers??

Feminist king rhysand taking the most important choice of feyre’s life from her and turning his anger on nesta. Everyone getting mad at nesta rather than condemning rhys for telling that information to EVERYONE but the person it matters to most. Him threatening to kill Nesta. Cassian obliging.

Baby plot was dumb as shit to begin with. Feyre transforming her body into another race/group of people is so fucking weird what the hell. Rhys knowing the consequences but still going through with it. All of it. Dumb as shit.

Nesta’s self loathing was never addressed?? There was the scene on solstice when she was like “I don’t deserve you” and cassian was like “forever” like bitch??? Where’s the closure?! It was there one second, then gone the next. She also still had thoughts abt not feeling worthy for cassian’s love in the last chapter, so there’s so many unresolved insecurities and issues to address

Don’t even get me started on the high king high queen bullshit

The politics in the night court are so fucked up ik it’s a fictional book but how have y’all been doing this for 300+ years still acting on emotions

Speaking of “politics”, nesta should’ve been more involved in them. She’s a natural, as seen during the situation with Eris and previously in acowar at the high lords meeting, and could really thrive in that role. On her own account ofc, not on behalf of the ic

Not enough helion. Or any thesan.

Elain crying abt having no master then amounting to nothing. She literally disappeared

The lack of the band of exiles, Lucien in particular. I also feel like Eris wasn’t properly addressed, but that may come later for “plot” purposes (if you can even call it that lmao)

Nesta getting so close to becoming carynthian and then just...not. Idk that pissed me off

Gwyn, emerie, and nesta. That was cute.

There was absolutely no plot. The mortal queen thing was a sorry excuse for one, and it really looked like sjm was making up shit as she wrote it. I would’ve loved to see the whole Illyrian uprising storyline and the mortal queen demise given that nesta gave them a death promise, but it was all reduced to some exaggerated plot that eventually circled back to, you guessed it, feysand.

The ending was just...disappointing. Nesta became a shell of the person she was and acted completely out of character. Verbal apologies to rhys and amren, two of the most undeserving characters (also her getting down on her KNEE for amren and HOLDING RHYS FACE AND HUGGING HIM?? what the FUCK was that???) The whole briallyn thing resolved in one chapter. The fucking birth of a child named after drugstore makeup and her loss of powers. I don’t understand why the book got so fast paced in the last 10 or so chapters.

The azriel bonus scene...idk he’s a pig for thinking he has any entitlement over elain and he better not fuck w gwyn

I just wanted fluff. lighthearted, cute moments between nessian where they’re just teasing each other and laughing.

Also, there was just way too much sex I’m sorry😭it became so distasteful after the first, idk, hundred fucking times. There’s also something very weird abt the IC condemning nesta for sleeping around (which was wrong to begin with) and then being fine with the multiple men being replaced with cassian. Why did sjm have to write them as 15 year old horny boys. Don’t even get me started on the threesome ordeal.

“You’re mates money” ik that’s right sister

Rhys being scared of nesta. Nesta being more powerful than him. Rhys bowing down to her

“Who taught you how to curse” coming from the man who’s every other word is fuck

“Morrigan is a self righteous busybody” mmhm

Nesta having names for cassian’s poses and cassian having names for her expressions...soulmate shit

Nessian size difference

Nessian just constantly noting things abt each other; cassian always stilling in her presence as if he’s memorizing her every move

Nesta and the houses love for sweets

“What is she doing here?” “witchcraft”...then her getting excited at the prospect of cassian fighting w devlon lmao

Cassian’s love language being physical touch and him expressing how he’s always needed it since he didn’t get any during his childhood :(( nesta fulfilling that need quite sufficiently

Arrogant bastard bf vs haughty witch gf

Cassian defending nesta in front of the IC repeatedly. Nesta defending him.

“I can’t risk you”

Emerie, Gwyn, and the house. The sleepover. The fucking friendship bracelets. “Nothing can break us”. “Our stories are worth telling”. Valkyrie bad ass women. “Sisters in arms”. Gywn facing her fears to be there for nesta. Conquering the blood rite. I love my girls

“Fucking bitches” “think of something new to call us”

The whole “returning the favor” game (until it got distasteful and blacked major nessian plot points)

Gwyn and Az <3

Fucking bartholomew or whatever the fuck his name is??? An Illyrian who respects women?? Who would’ve thought!

Nesta laying out all her insecurities in front of cassian on the night of solstice (lame ass response from cassian btw but this is a list of things I liked so let’s not get into that)

The entire dance montage talented queen

Cassian asking Mor to teach him how to dance😭😭

Jealous cassian. Two words. That’s it.

“I am your mate for fucks sake...you are my mate” it’s like the gospel

Nesta choosing to giver herself space and time to think rather than turning to old habits and searing cassian with hateful words during their fight...so much growth

Nesta: omg why did I use the bargain to push him away let me apologize. Cassian: ha! she can’t even phrase that shit correctly

The fucking solstice give; the notoriously feared bad ass Illyrian warrior going to taverns and orchestras to record music so she could always have it with her...I will sob. don’t settle ladies; he would if he wanted to!

Nesta and azriel. The cutest friendship of mutual respect. His solstice gift. Her hugging him😭 (sjm I’m v happy that you decided to forgo that weird ass threesome fantasy otherwise you would not be seeing heaven!)

The entirety of prynthian ranging from old ass death gods to beautiful high lords wanting nesta’s hand in marriage. I mean me too😩

Everyone being scared of her powers/knowing how powerful she is/Az and cassian bowing down to her

That one scene after she finally climbs all 10,000 steps and all she wants is to go back up to cassian😭😭then he’s waiting for her at the top and she casually kisses him without any trepidation’s and he carries her to the party...I’m so single Jesus Christ

I do like that she reconciled her relationship w feyre and the others...I just wish that it wouldn’t have been one-sided and could’ve been something of mutual trust and acknowledgement rather than her growing complacent to the same people who didn’t give two shits abt her, but again, this is things I liked abt acosf so let’s not get into it😭😭

Azriel:

SJM sets Nesta up as a queen. She referrs to her as a Queen countless of times. She presents her as naturally politically-suave person, clever, bright, delighted in courtly politics and games. Nesta is good in that. And Nesta ENJOYS it. She enjoys the Eris ploy immersely - she radiates pure, wicked joy whenever she gets to play politics. She understands and picks up on many, many things in regards to behaviour of others and is only ever blinded by her  own self-hatered. And this power - she earns it. For me personally, it was really important because all of the other powerful characters are either given the power (Elain and Feyre) or born with it. Nesta is the only one who turned from powerless into powerful through her own actions. She took the power from the Cauldron, punished it for her own trauma. 

And it is a powerful thing to consider.

You are right that Nesta has never used her power with joy. And it fills me with sadness to think about it. She never accepted it as a part of herself, never learned how to control it and wield it. She only pushed it down or let it explode, while she hated it and everyone around her hated it too (until it was convinient for them to have this power, ofc). SJM, setting up Nesta as a queen, could write a story of a woman learning to accept her own power and becoming strong, becoming powerful with this acceptance, treating it as a badge of honor she has earned for her trauma. But instead she created a scenario in which Nesta is essentially forced by a narrative to give it up because of other character’s insane stupidity and because of the plotline that makes NO SENSE. 

Nesta had all the markings of the High Queen. The power, the intelligence, the right mentality. The beauty and the charm. But why write this story for her, if we can elevate Rhys, right?