#erilea

Damaris/Ataraxia/Gwydion

Damaris is the legendary sword of the ancient King Gavin. The sword he had wielded in the fierce wars that had almost ripped apart Erilea. The sword that had slain the Dark Lord Erawan (although, if I remember correctly Erawan is still alive and doesn't die until the end of the last book, but I believe he was still killed by Dorian wielding Damaris), and the sword that was used by Celaena to kill a ridderak.

Ataraxia is the Made sword of Nesta Archeron. The sword that can kill unkillable beings like Lanthys and Vesperus. The sword that was able to bind Lanthys to his physical form, and the sword that the Prison inmates now fear.

Gwydion is the Made sword wielded by Bryce Quinlan and now Nesta Archeron. The sword that can kill unkillable beings like the reapers in CC (and I believe Bryce used to kill the kristallos). The sword, when combined with Truth-Teller, can create a black hole, which Bryce used to throw the Asteri in. The sword was wielded by the first and only High King of Prythian to bring about a millennium of peace and unity to Prythian.

If Twilight of the Gods is a megacrossover where they have to fight together to defeat some intergalactic evil like the Valg and the Asteri, all three blades would be incredibly useful since they can be used to kill unkillable beings, Dark Lord's, and gods.

Valg/Asteri

Maybe I'm wrong since I've only just finished book one of ToG in my reread, but I'm thinking the Valg and the Asteri may not be the exact same, but are still something similar or related. I remember the Valg having black blood, and when Nesta killed Vesperus, the Asteri also bled black. I remember the Valg were more like possessing people, whereas the Asteri are practically gods, but I think the big baddies in Twilight of the Gods will be something similar to both or maybe the creators of both.

Mother Goddess/The Mother

In ToG, the Mother Goddess was a spirit from another world who found Erilea in need of form and life.

In ACOTAR, the Mother is a being from another world who used the Cauldron to bring forth life into Prythian.

I'm wondering if the Mother Goddess from ToG and the Mother from ACOTAR are one and the same, and how Nesta's connection with the Mother may pose some greater significance as ACOTAR continues, and even into Twilight of the Gods. It could be that when the worlds come together to fight some intergalactic Valg/Asteri, the evil may destroy worlds, and maybe Nesta can reMake those worlds anew? Or fix everything to what it was prior to the Valg/Asteri takeover?

Ridderak/Hounds/Kristallos

In ToG, ridderak are demons from another world that are being summoned into Erilea by Cain, using Wyrdmarks and Wyrdgates. It's always mentioned that they were summoned out of pure darkness and partially ate their victims. Nehemia used Wyrdmarks to send the demons back to their world and used Wyrdmarks to protect Celaena from them; the Eye of Elena was an amulet that was also used to protect Celeana.

In ACOTAR, there are the hounds or beasts from the Hewn City that used to run in the Wild Hunt. When Lanthys was trying to seduce Nesta, he showed her a vision of them ruling with the Dread Trove with the Hounds at their feet. We don't know much about them besides that, but Bryce mentioned in HOFAS that they reminded her of the kristallos from her world, which could suggest that the hounds are demons from another world that had been summoned to Prythian, maybe by the Asteri when they ruled? I also want to mention one moment in ACOSF that is never explained: one day in the library, Nesta was staring into the pure darkness at the bottom of the library, and she felt beckoned by it like it was calling her name. Gwyn helped her escape using the priestesses Invoking Stone for protection. Later, Nesta mentioned to Cassian that she felt as if something had been trying to eat her. It just makes me wonder if someone was trying to summon a demon to kill Nesta.

In CC, there are the kristallos, which are demons from Hel that were being summoned using black salt (if I remember correctly). I can't recall if the amulet Bryce wore from Jesiba was used for protection against them or if it was just her starlight, but I do wonder if there is some connection between the Eye of Elena, the Invoking Stones, and Bryce's amulet. And if maybe the ridderak and hounds are also demons from Hel?

Elena Galanthynius Havilliard/the Mother/Danika Fendyr

Queen Elena guided and protected Celaena; the Mother guided and protected Nesta throughout ACOSF (and they have some sort of connection); and Danika has guided and protected Bryce throughout CC.

Starborn

We know Bryce is Starborn, and all signs point toward Nesta being Starborn, but I'm wondering if Queen Elena (like Queen Theia) was Starborn, too? In ToG, it mentioned golden light erupting around Queen Elena and golden light bursting from her palm, and it mentioned her skin glowing. Bryce commands light and shadows; her starlight being referred to as a radiant sun, and Bryce has glowed multiple times because of it. Nesta also has multiple references to glowing, and ACOSF and HOFAS may have foreshadowed her having starlight that she doesn't know about. I don't remember enough of ToG to know if Aelin ever presents any signs of being Starborn, though.

Wyrdmarks/the Harp/the Horn

Since Twilight of the Gods is rumored to be a megacrossover where the worlds of Erilea, Prythian, and Midgard team up to destroy whatever intergalactic enemy is threatening their worlds, Aelin, Nesta, and Bryce are going to be instrumental since all three seem to be able to world-walk.

It seems as if everyone is annoyed at Bryce for not immediately sharing every detail of her world with the IC. Bryce did not read 5 ACOTAR books or know these people as we do. Her experience with Fae (rightfully) show that they are horrible. These people overthrew her enemy which must mean they are dangerous.

Although they do not physically torture her it is EXTREMELY CLEAR not just by their actions but actual DIALOGUE that they do not trust Bryce

Also, the IC just finished a war and for the first time in most of their lives are experiencing peace. We know from ACOTAR that Rhysand and friends will do all that is necessary to keep their world save even if that includes killing Bryce which could upon a portal for the big bad “Daglan/ Asteri”

Bryce realising she needs to escape and being reckless is understandable she left her mate and family behind and she doesn’t have time to win the IC’s trust. They clearly view her as a prisoner not a guest and have disarmed her. Bryce does not have one reason to trust them or even expect to them to be trustworthy.

I feel the people who feel let down by this crossover are let down by the fact that the CRESCENT CITY book centers around the CRESCENT CITY characters and isn’t more batboy smut.

There are definitely plot points that could have been dealt with better such as the information from Silene, everything about Ithan. The biggest issue I have with Bryce is her seemingly having this golden hamster wheel in her mind which happens to make perfect conveniently timed plans. Bryce does feel like a moderniser attempt at Aelin’s character. That being said constantly drawing comparisons between the FMC takes away from them so it isn’t something I feel I should do.

Ithan is so annoying to me especially his inability to stay on track or have any logical thought process. I don’t understand his undying loyalty to the wolves who abandoned and betrayed him. Sigrid tried to KILL HIM as well but he still yapped on about her and had no respect for his friend Cormac by not even protesting against the idea of resurrecting Sophie just to use her power to make himself feel better. He should have focused on the friends that are loyal to him which he even called his pack.

Also ENOUGH with the sunball references. Only so much benefits can be drawn from sunball which directly correlates with any real world benefit.

Tharion just feels like one big yap fest (lack of a better explanation to convey the boredom he perpetuates in me). Aidas and Appolion also could have spoken up about EVERYTHING about two books ago or at least in all their little encounters with Hunt.

Jesiba Roga and Fury 🤝 Mor and Amren

(Overhyped and underperforming)

I have religiously read every Sarah J Maas and all things considered I really enjoyed this book it might even be my favorite in the CC universe.

I enjoyed it more than Tower of Dawn, ACOSF and ACOFAS but I will not read the next book if it is about Ithan or Tharion.

I suspect Azriel is linked to Hel but Sarah definitely still has alot of loose threads surrounding him which is starting to feel redundant and an elaborate attempt at making him seem mysterious.

Things I would like so see in the Maasverse: the parasite being removed from the water and the Midgardians tapping into their raw power, better understanding of Bryce and Hunt joint ability. I also think Sarah could become one of the best fantasy writers of all time if she focused more on how the multiverse works (time differences, abilities (technicalities of it all). I would like to know what happened to Erilea because all the evidence points to it being a conquered world which will honestly just be depressing but we see that Prythian and midgard follow the same time sequence so perhaps Erilea is joined in on that time scape and Aelin falling through still happens relatively “recent”.

And I agree on how annoying the term “alphahole” is but lets focus on the real enemy “his luxurious length”. That just reminds me of ms Perky in 10 things I hate about you and Reginalds quivering member.