as for bristleroot, my opinion of it is too soured by watching 80% of the fandom suddenly switch up and become bristleroot fans when ALITM dropped. (it was more gradual probably but thats what it felt like) because *I* thought everyone was collectively under the impression that they were just the latest forced main character romance. i dont think its WRONG that people found them more interesting after bristlefrosts death i mean.. that makes sense. people like tragedy. <- is what i would say if i liked the way bristlefrost and her death was handled in regards to their relationship. which i dont. bristle becomes a caricature of herself the longer she stays with rootspring throughout the arc, and she only regains some of her character outside of him in the last book only for her to die and think about her destiny with him and their hypothetical non-existent but necessary babies in her last moments. So bristleroot has no redeeming qualities for me as it does for others.