#chapter by chapter commentary

Ah, the evening gathering on Solstice itself. I noticed a LOT of small, subtle details on this reread and I am going to catalogue them all here. Some of this may be subject to interpretation but I feel confident that the details I noticed this time are important as we look ahead to ACOSF and the ways these relationships might develop and play out in the next book.

First, I wanted to set the record staight, if only to myself because I think the fandom has potentially inflated the sense of drama more than actually exists in the relationships themselves (thanks to the power of Feyre's POV), that Cassian buying Mor lingerie was at her request because it's a thing she wants and he's happy to have the decision making process of gifting his friend something be lifted from his shoulders.

(NB: I do this all the time in my own life, though admittedly my preferences for these kinds of gift requests are not lingerie, but this I chalk up to Mor's irreverence for social mores at least among her friends more so than her actually wanting to have sex with any of her friends).

I don't think Mor's trying to stake a claim on Cass through this gift exchange, but that doesn't mean Cass maybe shouldn't have thought it through some, in terms of how it might look to an outsider to his friendship with Mor.

The moment on the threshold with the three sisters, when Nesta arrives to attend the gathering, is so loaded. I admire Elain's bravery in how she bustles about in her care for Nesta, even as I can sense Nesta's discomfort with Elain's brave plastered smiles and determination to will away the awkward.

Contrast this with Amren: Amren calls out Nesta's bony ass, and she earns a smile, compliment, and warm ease from Nesta in return for it. Nesta and Amren's friendship is 🌋goals🌋.

The moment between Nesta and Cassian when she walks in the room has me asking questions! Is all of Velaris (and beyond?) gossiping about their moment on the battlefield already? Is that why Cass is in so much pain when he thinks of her? What do they each think they owe the other at this point? It's soooo loaded, I may break under the tension and confusion and pain in my bbs.

Meanwhile, back in Feyre's head: Feyre realizes during the gathering itself that there are no gifts for Nesta! (Except Elain's which Feyre doesn't know about, same with Cass's 👀) Even though they worked hard and basically pushed/manipulated her into coming... how on earth did Feyre fail to remember to give Nesta a gift, especially with all that shopping she did? My gods, my heart is in pieces. 💔

The next thing I noticed is, excepting Amren, Nesta demonstrates the most important people in the room to her are her sisters, which comes out in the moment when she notices Feyre's birthday cake and wishes her a happy birthday. Nesta is all poise and grace at this gathering where over half the people present are not expressing any sense of welcome to her, and she just wrecks me because of it: her poise and grace in the face of this is shattering. I love her so much y'all; this is me tucking Nesta Archeron deep into my heart and keeping her there for always. ❤️

More things I noticed this time that seem relevant! From Feyre's POV, when Cass opens the joke gift from Mor of the matching silk boxers, Nesta doesn't even seem to notice, plus y'all, Cass can barely keep his eyes off our queen, in the flesh. There is still pain there but his devotion to Nesta is so palpable, at least to me.

Regarding Elain's gift from Lucien in absentia: now I promise I'm not reaching for Elucien here, but even though Feyre thinks Elain doesn't like the gift because Lucien has misread her, and while that could be true, I also wonder if Elain just doesn't want any aspect of her bond with Lucien on public display. She is pushing off all aspects of dealing with it into the future, which is her prerogative, but having a reaction to his gift is likely something she isn't interested in doing in front of all of these people. Just food for thought.

And finally, when Feyre gives Nesta the money for her rent "and then some"... my heart just broke. Nesta didn't in fact ask for it — she was literally on her way out the door without having asked for it. So when Feyre offers it, it's clear Nesta perceives it as Feyre paying Nesta for her company. Like a whore.

There's a line that says: "But Nesta’s lips only tightened, her fingers unwavering as she took the money." And I think people tend to read this as Nesta's hardness of wanting the money coming through.

But friends, friends, that isn't it. Nesta's lips tightening and her unwavering hand taking the money? That is her accepting confirmation that her company is so unwelcome that Feyre thinks it needs to be bought. It's confirmation that this was a transaction and nothing more and the confirmation was initiated by Feyre! And that moment is Nesta masking the pain that confirmation and realization caused for her.

And you know? I know the painful encounter between Nesta and Cassian is right on the other side of the next chapter break, but I wonder, can we blame Nesta for utterly shutting down in the face of her sister signaling that her company is like that of a whore?

So this is where we learn about the Fae menstrual cycle. Some important tidbits here while in Feyre's POV: Feyre describes the immense pain that accompanies it, more than a human cycle. We also learn (through her reflective thoughts) that she shared about what a Fae period is like with both of her sisters. Nesta and Elain are approaching six months since being Made. I forget if it's confirmed later in this book or in the teaser of the next, but I am assuming that Nesta's lack of healthy care for her body including not eating enough leads to a delay in the onset of her first cycle.

But other things that will matter when we get to ACOSF and likely her first period: Feyre says inside her thoughts here that she won't let Nesta face the pain and agony of this experience alone. That signals that maybe an occasion for Nesta and Feyre to have scenes together (and perhaps make progress toward bridging the distance between them) will be when Nesta starts her period. I wouldn't be surprised if Feyre instructs Cassian to send word when it happens.

Also, Feyre mentions Elain and Lucien in the context of sharing a mating bond (neutral though they are regarding it), and how she can't imagine Elain being impolite to Lucien and sending him away when she has her first period if he wants to help (in whatever way makes sense for them). Feyre also notes Rhys's hands-on, mother hen approach to helping her through hers. I'm surmising here that there is an instinct that kicks in for a mated male who is mated to a female who is on her cycle. It feels implied anyway.

So, yea, Cassian will likely also be involved, I'm thinking, when Nesta eventually gets hers... I wonder if we'll get to see those instincts in action firsthand.

The other thing about this chapter is Rhys. Rhys Rhys Rhys. This is when he says "Elain is Elain" while "Nesta is...Nesta" and because of that he finds it hard to forgive Nesta for what he percieves as her poor, ongoing behavior towards Feyre.

But Feyre says, which is so important IMO: “She more than made up for it this summer, Rhys.” And then a moment later she says: “They’re my family. You have to forgive Nesta at some point.” This tells me that because Feyre and Rhys are such a unified partnership and couple, I believe his feelings rub off on her actions way more than I initially realized. Feyre has forgiven Nesta. I find it the height of arrogance that her mate cannot also forgive Nesta, and Lucien for that matter, for his mate whom he loves.

I definitely see a version of Rhys in this book that disappoints me so much. He says: “I cannot forgive anyone who made you suffer.” He idolizes Feyre in a way where he is damaging other relationships in their life because of it. I don't like it. I don't know to what extent we will see this blatant (and harmful, when considering the damage to relationships around him) ruthlessness of his addressed, with him learning from someone (I would love it to be Cassian but it will probably be Feyre) that it's unacceptable in the current form it takes, and him taking that to heart and doing the work to fix his attitude and biases. It's such a tall order for this next book to accomplish, in addition to the things I hope will happen with Nessian, Nesta's healing, and Nesta and her sisters, not to mention that pesky thing called plot (lol).

I love the Rhysand we meet in ACOMAF. I will be sad if this ACOFAS version of him is the last and final version we get to interact with. And that doesn't mean I want more Feysand books: no thank you there, they have their arc, it's epic, they don't need to star in any more stories. I just hope SJM weaves Rhys mellowing out under the good, and hopefully in the future more assertive influence of his better half, and atoning for his hard line against some of the worthy people in his orbit (Nesta and Lucien), into the upcoming stories where appropriate, including possibly ACOSF.

The first narrative seeds for the plot set-up of ACOSF are planted in this chapter I think. Rhys is looking ahead to the following summer as a time when he thinks they will have the resources to set up a permanent Night Court presence in Illyria, a need he diagnoses in this chapter that takes place in Windhaven. I am now thinking, that intervention meeting in the ACOSF teaser? The focus is not only Nesta's health and behavior, though the fact that they lead with that is perhaps not very tactful, but I think it will also be an assignment that Cassian and Nesta will be taking up permanent residence in Illyria to represent the Night Court. If this is true, I'm excited to learn what her official role will be, if she'll still be in an emissary role. I love the idea of Nesta having a role to serve, because she thrived in ACOWAR when she had a job to do that she was uniquely suited to excel at. But, most of this is conjecture...

The other thing I see in this chapter is how much Cassian loves his people, the people of Illyria. That Cassian didn't think twice about offering to stay in Windhaven for Solstice to smooth things over, be a presence in their lives during the holiday, hand out presents to the children, etc., is so freaking Cassian and emblematic of all of the emotional intelligence I have grown to love in him.

Then we have the conversation between Rhys and Cassian about the sisters, and the Feysand mating bond, and Solstice. First, Rhys thinking it's his job to fix everyone and their relationships is rubbing me the wrong way.

Second, Cassian so clearly cares for Nesta, and I'm wondering how reliable Rhys/Feyre POVs are about how much Cassian and Nesta may be on each other's radar during this time. Rhys and Feyre both think there's no contact between Cassian and Nesta, but we learn later that Cassian watches over her quite a bit in Velaris. Just another example of why it will be amazing to get Cassian's and Nesta's POVs since there are so many gaps in the story as we've been told it thus far.

Here we have Rhys's POV giving us some insight into Azriel. They are discussing the Illyrians' dissent in response to being sent to fight and, in many cases, die in the war against Hybern.

But there are some other quick but significant tidbits in Rhys's summary of the political situation: the human queens haven't returned to their individual territories but instead linger in a "joint castle" they share. (!!!) I can almost guarantee, if SJM rotates to POVs of the adversaries at all, which she has precedent for doing in the Throne of Glass books, we will be spending some time in that joint castle in ACOSF and the books after it.

He also mentions that the fae of Hybern are restless and not pleased they lost the war that just ended, and he worries they will want to expand into human territories regardless.

We also learn, from Rhys, that he, Az, and Mor have made a point not to bring up Nesta to each other or to Cassian. Being in Rhys's POV, I wonder how reliable the notion is that Az and Cass haven't talked about Cass's relationship with Nesta. But I digress...

I am assuming Rhys thinks not discussing Nesta with Cassian (and by extension Azriel) is doing Cass a favor...and unless Cass explicitly told them the topic is off the table, I don't think this decision is doing anyone any favors, including (oh hey) Rhys's own mate, and the sister of the taboo subject in question.

In my draft notes at this point I have this: [VASSA KOSCHEI INTERLUDE] The one thing I remember here that is such a cool detail is Rhys saying her curse felt like it was embedded into her blood, and thus was impossible to break. That feels very significant. Oh and that Rhys says Koshei has given Vassa a temporary "reprieve" from her curse. Does this mean she doesn't turn into a Firebird by day for the time being? That feels really important, and interesting!

Everyone hates Graysen; if only they could all unite under that common banner lol. This is also when Rhys says that the IC doesn't need to give the Archeron sisters (specifically Elain and Nesta) Solstice gifts. This post sums up my reaction to this.

Rhys admits he will be less than his better self when he visits Tamlin, doesn't want anyone accompanying him because of it, which I find very interesting and says something about his character.

Rhys's perception that he's bankrolling Nesta's lifestyle while he and Mor discuss their wealth so blatantly is A Mood, and not one I am enjoying. Feyre observes in a previous chapter that is in her POV, I forget which, that Nesta has sought out the worst apartment in Velaris, a city that otherwise rarely has any slums... They don't realize if Nesta is seeking that environment out there must be a reason for it, and it has nothing to do with luxuriating in the Night Court's money?

In this chapter we meet Emerie! She reminds Cassian of Nesta, the highest of compliments despite his feelings of frustration and pain when thinking of her in his last POV chapter.

Emerie also reveals herself as one who thinks opposite to the dissenters, when Cass says he's very sorry for the loss of her father in the war and this badass lady-Illyrian says, "Why should you be?" That's another queen without a throne right there, and I'm more convinced than ever that, if Nesta and Cassian are being sent to Windhaven to be a permanent Night Court presence and to address the dissenters, Emerie is going to be sympathetic to their cause and position, and she may become someone important to their work. I know her shop is less frequented because she is a female (eyeroll) but maybe her central location in the community would enable her to turn spy...which of course brings Az to mind.

I won't speculate Emeriel outright at this point, since to our knowledge they haven't met yet (though without an Az POV chapter in this novella — Sarah, y no Az POV for us? 🥺 — we can’t really know for sure), but if Emerie enters the social circles of the General and his.....whatever the pretense or public story is for Nesta being under his care? observance? oversight?.....then I bet she will become a resource to Cass, Az, and Nesta for different reasons. But as I said she’s anti-dissenters which I’m excited about bc it speaks to her bravery and courage, and the heart of a warrior, despite being clipped 🤬. I hope we get to see her training with the Illyrian females, but I wonder if she isn’t yet bc of her need to work in her shop.

I also realized that Emerie comes from money, her father was wealthy enough by Illyrian standards to start his own business, but she is socially shunned for her choices (specifically for choosing to run her father's shop after his death even though she's a female and 🖕🏽fEmAlEs DoNt RuN bUsInEsES🖕🏽).

She has SO MUCH in common with Nesta, their lived experiences are so similar and parallel even though their backgrounds and cultures are different. I can taste the Nesta / Emerie friendship on the wind and it's delicious and fills my heart with such joy. Even Cassian foreshadows it when, at the end of the chapter, he reflects what might happen if Nesta and Emerie ever met: that's a Chekhov's gun if I ever saw one.

Also in this chapter we have the glory that is Cassian’s names for Nesta’s poses! My heart! But I'm also realizing, he is thinking of her fondly, not with pain in this chapter. And it is easy, when he thinks of her. I wonder if Emerie's presence, reminding him of all the things he loves about Nesta, is helping to keep thoughts of her grounded in his admiration versus the effects of her current behavior — harmful to herself as it is — on him, which are painful for him.

Then, THEN !, Cassian uses his earned income, which is very different from wealth (generous though his salary may be), to buy those in need winter outer wear. Cassian’s approach to money is diametrically opposed to Mor’s and Rhys’s; the only thing I see them sharing is an appreciation for good drink, but I wonder if even that is more “when in Rome” than a real snobbishness when it comes to drink, or food. Cassian’s actions are a lot like Feyre’s when she brings gold to the human villagers near her former cottage (hovel).

And I truly think Nesta, when she gets to observe Cassian on his own, away from the IC, and see examples of him making his own decisions in the world using what his hard work has wrought for him (both his earnings and his character), she is going to fall hard for this side of him. Straight up? I am falling hard for him. I really can’t wait for him to be the romantic male protagonist in an entire full-length romance novel.

Our first foray (since “Wings and Embers”) into Cassian's POV, and I kinda want to live here. I love how he thinks and reflects and processes the world. He has quite a bit of mental control over his thoughts, which I admire a lot. 

We learn a lot about the Illyrians in this chapter, and it's clear he has a familiarity with the culture that I don't believe is shared by Rhys. 

I also paid close attention to the history and significance of Ramiel and the black onyx stone pillar at its peak on this reading, and I suspect that will return to the story and narrative in ACOSF. 

And of course, Cassian reflecting on his mother, and why it is so important to him that the Illyrian females learn to fight and defend themselves, just reminds me why I adore Cassian so damned much. 

I also noted this time an observation he makes about himself of what he's capable of if pushed too far, and I wonder if we'll see a glimpse of that or more in ACOSF.