[ninainthetardis]

Reminder that the Maasverse has an overall unproblematic male LI and yet a huge part of the fandom dismisses him, labeling him as "boring".

[ninainthetardis]

Back again! I'm actually reading TOG for the first time. You are fine with the spoilers; they do not bother me. See, I'm enjoying Chaol right now, he feels every realistic to me and is acting in the best way that he can, given the circumstances. Now I know he 'acts out' in QoS, but I do not trust the fandom with anything, so I will judge what happens next book.

I 100% agree that if we *had* to continue with Elain and Nesta, they should be away from the NC and allow Feyre to have her found-family with them. I read SF hoping to at least tolerate Nesta, and it let me down. Cassia, not to me, deserves better than Nesta, who spends as much time hurting others because she was hurt. And even if in the interview, SJM did say that it was just the start of her journey, then in HoFaS, she went back to square one. Nesta will probably never grow on me as a character because my mother is a Nesta. I also have to say I do not like Bryce. She was okay the first half of HoEaB, but then she just completely goes sideways and then gets worse as CC goes on. She says she wants people to have a choice, and then she goes and makes decisions that don't give them a choice. She treated Hunt like shit in the second and third books, completely disregarding his trauma of being tortured This is worst for me as I read TOG because I'm now realizing that Bryce is basically Aelin 2.0. And I didn't like Bryce, and Aelin hasn't grown on me.

Oh, my bad! I thought you were re-reading ToG. I’m really glad I put a spoiler warning in my previous reply, I hate spoiling things, and I’ll make sure not to include ToG spoilers from now on. Even though you said it didn’t bother you, I apologize anyway.

I completely understand your approach of judging the story yourself, especially in this fandom. I did the same, and I ended up with a lot of unpopular opinions, mainly because of the usual double standards and takes that defy logic.

I had a rocky start with both ToG as a series and Aelin (or better, Caelena) as a character. At first, I didn’t like her much, but she slowly grew on me, mainly post-HoF. QoS is when the series really became interesting for me, and by its end, it became, in my opinion, the most thought-out and rewarding series in the Maasverse. I tend to appreciate a series that starts mid and ends with a bang more than one that starts strong and gradually disappoints, which is how I feel about ACOTAR and CC so far. Of course, none of these are literary masterpieces.

With Bryce and CC, my experience was the opposite. I liked her at first, but gradually developed issues with her character, including her attitude toward Hunt. What I appreciated is that she was usually called out on her behavior and seemed to learn from it, even if subtly, sometimes after a while, and often through actions rather than words. So I have mixed feelings toward her, but I’m not an anti either. Still, what annoyed me the most was how Aelin-like her character was written in HoFaS. The plot in CC also gradually disappointed me, HoFaS especially, while HoSaB simply felt repetitive at times, which pulled me out of the story on several occasions. In general, I think I’m tired of seeing recycled elements within these series.

Hunt Athalar might be the only character in the Maasverse I have zero (or just minor) issues with... thankfully he exists!

And as someone who’s dealt with a Nesta too, you have all my sympathy and support.

[ninainthetardis]

If you read a book that has as much worldbuilding as acotar does, it simply isn't necessary to know anything else about fae lore. All you need to know in the beginning is what Feyre tells you and the rest you learn alongside her. How other authors portray the fae or how they are according to folklore doesn't matter.

First things first, I think it’s perfectly fine to make comparisons between authors and their works on a blog if that’s what you want to do.

Regarding ACOTAR’s worldbuilding, it’s detailed enough and immersive for romantasy or romance readers. That said, fantasy readers might notice certain gaps or inconsistencies that others may not. This is natural, given both the scope of a large series and the different ways readers from various genres approach and interpret fantasy elements.

As for references to fae lore, Feyre’s initial descriptions in Book 1 suggest that the fae are inspired by traditional folklore. Rhysand, in particular, seems constructed in a way that reflects these traits, which I’ve noted in my tags. Later in the series, however, the fae are portrayed more like the characters in Throne of Glass and Crescent City, which feels more elves-inspired than strictly aligned with fae folklore. I’m not the first to highlight this, and while I don’t mean to sound pedantic, these kinds of observations and deep dives into creature lore are common and entirely natural within fantasy-reading communities, where readers often enjoy comparing how creatures and magic align with folklore or established traditions. So, in terms of fantasy readers’ expectations, the lore carries its own weight.

That said, while it’s not necessary to know traditional folklore to enjoy the books, readers are free to make comparisons if they wish. This doesn’t change the fact that these characters are not human: they have their own mindset. Even within ACOTAR’s worldbuilding, where fae are more humanized, that distinction remains clear. Applying human standards to creatures who clearly operate under different rules feels superficial and, honestly, diminishes the complexity of the characters. This was, in fact, the main point of my previous post, which seems to have been overlooked.

I am also allowed to express my preference for a characterization of the fae that stays truer to folklore, because, in my view, that approach makes the characters more complex and compelling, without anyone else dictating how I should read or interpret the books, or whether I should make comparisons.

[ninainthetardis]

Sometimes I feel like this fandom isn’t very familiar with the lore surrounding the fae.

I understand that in the Maasverse books, the fae are portrayed in a more "humanized" way, but as creatures, they are naturally controversial and don’t conform to human standards.

At this point, it feels like some readers can’t handle that complexity and end up seeing them as humans with pointy ears, long lifespans, and a touch of magic.

[ninainthetardis]

What do you mean there are people who read books as if they’re the main character? Seriously, how do people even do that? I already almost lose my shit (sort of ironic) when the characters don’t do what I’d do in a situation (and they almost never do, for obvious reasons: they are not me, nor did I write them). Self-inserting seems like a total nightmare to me.

Also, it kind of sounds like overwriting the story, right? And doesn’t that basically mean they’re "reading" a completely different story? I don’t know, it’s just funny/weird. I get imagining yourself in that world as a separate, independent character (that’s just using your imagination), or relating to a character to some extent… But self-inserting into a POV seems like a very frustrating experience for me.

This also explains a lot of takes… and misread canon events, tbh.

[ninainthetardis]

By the way, the whole conversation Azriel had with Rhys in the bonus chapter of ACOSF makes me think that, should Elain choose him, if Az's mate ever showed up, he’d leave her immediately. I think he actually just wants a mate. It wasn’t about Elain at all.

Also, that's probably why Rhys was so weirded out by it. Feeling entitled to a mating bond isn’t right in the first place. Rhys never felt like he actually deserved it. And Azriel's approach to the Elucien mating bond is similar to how Tamlin acted toward the Feysand bond.

Rhys put it on politics probably because that was the most logical angle to consider, but the truth is, he’s known Azriel his entire life. He just doesn’t want him to make a mess, especially when it’s clear from what he says that he’d leave Elain the moment his mate shows up. Rhys also seems to have a soft spot for Elain, so maybe he just doesn't want her to get hurt. There's also the possibility of Elain choosing Azriel and then breaking his heart by changing her mind about wanting to explore the bond with Lucien. Azriel is one of his brothers: he may not wish for his heart to be broken as well. Additionaly, Rhys has a bond of his own, and maybe he doesn’t feel right denying Elain the chance to eventually get to know Lucien and experience that bond herself, should she want to. He had also accepted the idea of Feyre marrying Tamlin, so he knows what it feels like to be rejected by a mate, and he might sympathize with Lucien on that side of things.

Moreover, Rhys has stated multiple times that the way people treat Elain is unfair, as they are constantly shielding her, thus preventing her from truly figuring out who she truly is, especially now that she is fae. Elain has made it clear that she wants to prove herself and has things she needs to deal with and figure out. No one is listening. Nesta doesn’t accept that Elain no longer fits the image she has of her. Feyre still thinks Elain needs to be taken care of. Azriel thinks he knows how she feels about Lucien and their bond, and what she wants. I think Rhys is one of the few who truly understands that. He was the one who helped Feyre open her eyes to the matter. His entire approach to anything related to Elain focuses on enabling her to make her own journey on her own terms: discovering who she is, choosing her path, and making a conscious decision about the mating bond rather than a rushed one. Which, by the way, is what I think her arc will be about.

[ninainthetardis]

Scrolling through the tags in this fandom sometimes feels surreal because there are some really weird takes… like, what do you mean there's artwork depicting Elain gardening and people immediately started thinking about sex?

[ninainthetardis]

Hello back again! I agree with the original trilogy for ACOTAR. There were some loose ends, but I think a novella would've satisfied them. Or if she *had* continue the series. Then, I definitely have it planned out and made it thoughtful. Nesta's book was a disappointed and a disaster. And I never really cared about her character nor Elain's. I always felt that SJM could've left them in the background or send them off somewhere. I was a bit disappointed that Nesta was paired with Cassian.

TOG you can tell she was young, and was just writing.

To me House of Earth and Blood was her best written book. And then everything else fell apart after that for CC.

Hi! Thank you for sharing your perspective.

HEAVY on what you said about CC! For me, everything else seemed to fall apart after HoEaB in general, since ACOSF was published afterward as well. That’s why I’m very cautious with my expectations for the next books. In my case, I find Elain (and Lucien, especially) very interesting. I still think both her storyline and Nesta's should have played out outside the Night Court, individually and independently from Feyre's narrative and from the original set of main characters (The IC should’ve remained just Feyre’s found family). I hope this will be the case for Elain, especially since she’s connected to so many loose threads from the first trilogy, both through Lucien and her own arc. Additionally, it doesn’t make sense to sideline the rulers of the NC in situations where their intervention or presence should be required. I think it would make more sense to set books focusing on other characters outside the NC to avoid Feyre and Rhys overshadowing the new main characters, or creating incoherence when they should be present, but aren't.

By the way, I agree with what you said about ACOSF. I think it was meant to be the ToD of ACOTAR, except the execution was poor at best, and incoherent at worst. If I understood correctly, you are re-reading ToG. If you haven’t finished the series, though, please don’t read the following part of this reply, as I’m going to compare the two books and there might be spoilers for ToG.

ToD focused heavily on Chaol's development as a character, and I think it was decently executed, despite being slightly redundant and slow-paced. The page time was shared with another couple, with Sartaq and Nesryn being fleshed out individually as well, which made it less heavy to read. Now, I’m not a Chaol fan; he was ToG’s Nesta for me, but by the end of ToD, I could read about him smoothly. His arc worked: he doesn’t backtrack when we first see him (in KoA); he stays consistent with the progress he made in ToD. He actually showed some growth, even though that didn’t eventually make me like him anyway.

That’s not the case with Nesta. The first time we see her (in the CC crossover), she slips again and somehow manages to hurt the most stoic character in the series, who also appears to be nice to her. Hence, her "development" in ACOSF doesn’t seem to have a lasting impact.

ToD’s plot was slow and added little to the general plot of the series; there wasn’t much action, especially compared to EoS, but at least that book served to expand the world-building. It could’ve been a lot shorter, but it didn’t feel completely unnecessary to me. ACOSF doesn’t even do that. On the contrary, the world-building was set on fire with a lot of choices that don’t make any sense in light of what was previously established or shown to us. It was not expanded, either. At least not beyond the introduction of the elements concerning the CC plot resolution. Which is another problem with CC, by the way, because, in my view, relying on another series for core elements concerning the plot resolution kind of undermines the strength of that world on its own. I think that the plot of CC should have been resolved within its own narrative, and the crossover should have been more of an "Easter egg". After all, the two series were supposed to be separate, and in this sense, they cannot be read independently without missing out on something.

Anyway, in the crossover, Nesta's development didn’t feel truly effective in the long term. Between ACOFAS and ACOSF, with over 1000 pages combined, I expected more substantial progress. Especially since the general plot of the story was put on hold completely: there was no advancement whatsoever. Everything was paused to focus on Nesta, a narrative that could’ve been explored in a novella. The subplot felt redundant and poorly executed, with smut used to cover up the fact that she and Cassian have no real compatibility beyond that. All of this was done in the name of development that, so far, doesn’t feel effective in the long term. So, in terms of results, it was all for nothing. ACOSF felt primarily focused on romance, and within the general flow of the series, yes, it feels completely unnecessary to me.

Now, while I know that, due to my personal views on the character, I will never like Nesta (because it’s impossible for me to ignore her problematic traits and past actions), I was hoping to reach a point where her presence, actions, or words on the page wouldn’t trigger me so much while reading, just like it happened with Chaol. But after more than 1000 pages, we are not there yet, and at this point, I doubt we ever will.

[ninainthetardis]

lol what is anon on about. I hate everyone but Lucien, and I still read the books,because I want to see his character happy. It was never that deep.

Hi! Honestly, I didn’t understand either. In general, there are many reasons why someone might finish or even like a series: the plot, the worldbuilding in fantasy novels, the characters, or even just one character or a specific ship. Or maybe they just want to see if, eventually, the series lives up to the expectations set by its premises, which initially seemed appealing. So unless someone dislikes the series and everything in it entirely, it doesn’t seem that impossible to me.

Also, being critical of some characters, criticizing their actions, or hating/strongly disliking the main character of the latest book in a series doesn’t mean hating everyone or every main character, especially in a series that originally had a different set of main protagonists. In the case of ACoTaR, the question would make more sense if I hated the main characters from the original trilogy, since it started as their story and their presence takes up much more page time. But my issues are mainly with the second part, which could actually be considered a spin-off that also underwent a genre shift from romantasy to fantasy erotica, without any warning whatsoever. I also find it normal that a genre shift mid-series would cause criticism. And since the other characters are still involved to some extent, I think it’s understandable if someone continues reading just to find out what happens to them, or to see how the overall plot of the series unfolds.

I also don’t like to DNF books or series and have only done it once in my entire life, because it reached a point where I literally couldn’t take it anymore. But if there’s even just one character I care enough about, I might continue until the end, like you said, even if it’s just to see how their character arc fully plays out.

[ninainthetardis]

thank you for sharing your perspective? im choosing not to get aligned with a ship because ive seen some good posts for both of them and dont what to get too commited/excited only to be let down as i think it will be easier to enjoy the books if i dont care what ship it is. but i have no problem with shippers!

do you mind explaining why you are suspicious of mor? i always liked her as a friend to feyre

Hi!

I totally understand your stance. I’m honestly trying not to get too excited about the new books, since I didn’t have a great experience with anything published after HoEaB. I don’t want to raise my expectations only to be disappointed later. You’ll probably enjoy the new books more than a big part of the fandom, since a lot of people are likely to be disappointed. After being left hanging for years, though, the escalation of the shipping arguments was kind of inevitable.

As for Mor, I wouldn’t say I’m suspicious of her character. She’s definitely hiding something, but it could be anything, I guess. She just hasn’t been very fleshed out yet, so it’s hard for me to really form a full opinion. I’m just going to wait and see what happens next.

In my earlier post, I mentioned that I have mixed feelings about her because I liked her up to ACoMaF and her friendship with Feyre, but I didn’t like some things from ACoWaR onward. Like the fact that she left Azriel hanging for 500 years instead of telling him she wasn’t interested (she didn’t have to explain why), or part of her reaction to Rhysand’s decision to grant Keir visits to Velaris. I understand and sympathise with her emotionally, but at the same time… logically, they were about to be attacked and needed the army. There wouldn’t have been any Velaris at all if Hybern had won, so their hands were tied.

There’s also the situation with Eris: what we’ve read so far seems to suggest that he somehow did her a favor by not taking her to the Autumn Court. Did she let people believe he was an absolute monster when there might be more to the story? I’m not a fan of Eris or anything, but my opinion of Mor could be quite affected by how this is developed going forward. For a character associated with "truth", she does seem to keep a lot of things hidden.

So for now I’d say I’m just more critical of her than anything else, not really suspicious or an anti. If you’d like to share your perspective on her, I’d be happy to hear it!

Also, in reference to your other message, don’t worry about the "?", I didn’t read it that way at all! It's all good!

[ninainthetardis]

Reframing Amarantha as Rhysand's victim, twisting him into her "lover" to paint him as evil, shipping them, mocking and denying the abuse he endured UTM... all of this is disgusting, genuinely appalling. Parts of this fandom show a disturbing lack of empathy and basic human decency.

[ninainthetardis]

"Her sister’s eyes slid to her. Nesta swallowed, holding Feyre’s gaze. She prayed that her sister could read the silent words on her face. I am sorry for what I said to you in Amren’s apartment. I am truly sorry. Feyre’s eyes softened. And then, to Nesta’s shock, Feyre answered into her mind, Don’t worry about it. Nesta steeled herself, shaking off her surprise. She’d forgotten that her sister was … What was the word? Daemati. Able to mind-speak, as Rhys could. Nesta said, heart thundering, I spoke in anger, and I’m sorry."

In ACOSF but I don't have the accurate page number because I used the PDF, sorry.

"that’s not a defense mechanism: it’s a conscious choice." it isn't a defense mechanism by clinical definition but we can see that she uses it in a similar way. she chose to be that way because it was how she defended herself (even if she didnt need defending every time, some times were her just wanted to protect her pride? idek why, but unfortunately thats not what she saw)

"So, no, it doesn’t come close to making up for the years of neglect and abuse toward Feyre." yes the magic wasnt important to her but she could have died while wearing the trove so putting up her life like that knowing how usually she would cower is pretty significant IMO. i still think there is more work to be done but this is definitely a good start considering one of their major issues was nesta not helping feyre.

"I don’t take lectures on cowardice from anonymous commenters. If you want to engage with my content, keep it respectful and stick to discussing canon, rather than trying to invalidate it." im sorry for this even though im not sure where i called you a coward. i looked back through my ask and the only time i mentioned cowardice is when im talking about nestas cowardice. and im not sure how it invalidates canon as she did call herself a coward outright and pledged to do better, making the bargain scene an example of that ("she would die which is a great shift from her previous cowardice") but sorry anyway.

"She chose to tell Feyre out of spite for Amren, not because she thought Feyre deserved to know." She realised the situation was wrong and was spiteful too or she wouldnt have even brought it up as a point (would not have made the connection).

"She did it to make Feyre feel betrayed, to belittle her, and to inflict the same pain Nesta herself was feeling." feyre was literally dismissing her pain and just telling her to go back to the house. obviously the way nesta said it was poor as hell but given what she was receiving it isn't 100% out of pocket, its not like they were sipping tea on a random morning together. Feyre acknowledges that it "shouldnt have come out that way" (direct quote) but completely ignores how voting in the first place was wrong and the pain inflicted on Nesta by Amren's involvement.

It's eerily similar to Feyre telling Cassian how hurt she was by their secrecy and him saying that he wishes she found out differently as if he couldnt have made that difference happen. Just like nesta needed it to happen to her to realise it was all wrong, feyre needed to feel that pain herself to realise the voting was wrong. feyre does give nesta more credit than we actually see her deserve for the situation (bc we were in her head), so i applaud her for that.

I find it interesting that you said in your post that you dont what whataboutisms/links to other characters yet you say this: "Btw, funny how in Nesta’s case, the author’s opinion is "the final word", and other characters' opinions matter, but with Rhysand" i dont have a problem with rhysand and like him as an mmc so none of that applies to me or this discussion. nesta thinks rhysand is an honest, good leader so despite their rivalry she does respect him, meaning thats the take SJM wants us to have as well and i dont agree with the people who say otherwise.

"As for Nesta’s training, I’m sorry, but it’s impossible to get that skilled in just a few months." yes it the timeline is incredibly sped up and unrealistic but that doesnt change how canon tells she does know more than a few punches, she knows weapons and how to spar impressively etc. it's unrealistic and that sucks but it still remains true in the books. i agree that the timeline should have been longer and that the takeway intended by SJM doesnt best match what we actually see but its still the takeway that the future books will consider only. i think it would have been had it not been for feyres pregnancy because you cant really go past 10 months, but SJM could have done the pregnancy stuff first then the blood rite to fix that.

I'll try to respond to this as briefly as possible and through general argumentation. First, I want to apologize if my previous reply came across as too sharp. Some parts of the previous ask felt dismissive and highly confrontational, and I don’t see the point in aggressively defending a fictional character in someone else’s space.

Thank you for the quote, I’ll check that scene. That said, I don’t think a single apology can undo years of harmful behavior. Much of my critique of Nesta focuses on how her abuse of Feyre is often minimized by both the narrative and the fandom. At times, she’s even framed as the victim, which reverses the roles and can invalidate real experiences of abuse. While Nesta may have suffered herself, that doesn’t excuse repeatedly projecting her frustrations and pain onto others. Her harmful comebacks weren’t always defensive: she often made others pay for her failures and anger. Even if Nesta struggles with depression, her behavior toward Feyre was abusive, and a single apology for one event doesn’t erase that pattern. Saying hurtful things is not as negligible as the fandom or the books sometimes portray it. The only real progression Nesta shows in overcoming cowardice is during the blood rite. Survival instincts play a role, but she also demonstrates care for Gwyn and Emerie. Her use of the Trove was largely instinctual: she employed it to save her own life throughout the book. By the time of the so-called "sacrifice" scene, she knew she wouldn’t die from using it and that she could control the artifacts, even if she didn’t fully understand them. Again, the stakes were lower. I referenced the CHD interview some posts ago (with timestamp), where SJM specifically discussed the loss of power (warning: the are spoilers from TOG in both that post and the video). Calling Nesta’s choice an "easy one for her to make" doesn’t really suggest true sacrifice, which implies giving up something valuable to help someone else. Considering this, and her recurring attitude in the crossover after ACOSF, it’s reasonable not to see her as fully redeemed.

She realized the situation was wrong and should have prioritized Feyre, who was in an extremely vulnerable position due to her high-risk pregnancy. Should there have been consequences for Nesta’s actions? Given that they were afloat and seeking solutions, it’s unclear how they could have helped Feyre, especially since the C-section was weirdly cut off from a magic system that could repair severe injuries such as Cassian having his guts stripped out of his body. This highlights the limitations of their methods regarding pregnancies, making it unacceptable to expose Feyre to unnecessary danger. Prioritizing the well-being of someone in that position is basic human decency. All Nesta had to do was tell her with tact, without the previous and following vitriol. It would also have been a great occasion for the character to show some actual growth.

"feyre needed to feel that pain herself to realise the voting was wrong."

Feyre was trying to mediate between Nesta and Amren, not dismiss her pain. And Nesta directly attacked her in a way that belittles her and makes her feel betrayed. This wasn’t about her right to know the truth at all. Feyre didn't need to feel anything but the support of the people around her, and her finding out that way took that away from her and replaced it with all those negative emotions Nesta wanted her to feel, which could have been dangerous given her condition.

Besides, these two situations are very different. Nesta has dangerous powers she often refuses to manage, which could put others at risk. As members of a Court with responsibility for the safety of many, this isn’t a black-and-white scenario. I know it's difficult to keep that in mind when it comes to ACOSF, but this is still partially a fantasy novel, it still presents rulers making difficult decisions to protect their people. If someone consistently acts antagonistically and ignores the risks they pose, it’s logical for a leader to try to mitigate potential harm. Was it the best approach? No. Ethical? Debatable. But understandable within the context.

My mention of Rhysand wasn’t whataboutism. I haven’t used his actions to undermine Nesta’s character, nor would I: she demonstrates her own behavior, so no unnecessary comparisons are needed. And if I ever felt the need to defend Rhys (which I don’t), I would rely on his own words and actions rather than comparing him to others. I was simply pointing out the rampant double standards within the fandom, which is a separate issue from what I discussed in my previous posts.

I wasn’t even asking an opinion about Rhysand, but ouch! Liking both Rhys and Nesta must make this fandom especially difficult for you.

Regarding Nesta’s training, my opinion may differ from the author’s or the characters’, but it’s logical. I mention this in response to the "another opinion??" comment and the claim that it’s not objective. The timeline for her progress is so compressed that it feels unrealistic and sacrifices narrative depth. And this isn’t the only rushed timeline in the series. I’m not against warrior Nesta as a concept, but some plot points could have been handled better to make her growth feel earned. For example, postponing the blood rite for several years would have made the outcome more believable.

[ninainthetardis]

Cassian isn’t a perfect person in any means. Truthfully I don’t think him and Nesta are compatible at all. But one thing I don’t understand is how people say Cassian was abusive do Nesta, and yet go on and deny that Nesta was abusive to Feyre.

“Everyone hates you.” Cassian told that to Nesta, and he’s bashed for that. Mind you, she has spent months degrading and insulting everyone around her before he snapped that at her. That being said, he shouldn’t have said that.

“Well, I didn’t have a choice in being shackled to you, either.” Cassian immediately backtracked when he said this. It doesn’t excuse it, but he knew what he said was wrong. He felt guilty and wasn’t aiming to hurt Nesta. He still hurt her, and he was wrong for that.

Nesta told Feyre “You’re just a half-wild beast with the nerve to bark orders at all hours of the day and night. Keep it up, and someday—someday, Feyre, you’ll have no one left to remember you, or to care that you ever existed.” She repeated this often enough that Feyre genuinely believed that no one would care if she lived or died - that’s not normal sisterly fights.

She literally threatened to kill Feyre in ACOWAR. She compared elain to a dog and blamed her for their father’s death, knowing that elain is the closest to her.

Unpopular opinion but Nesta treated Feyre and elain a number times worse than how she was treated by anyone else, including Cassian.

I think part of the reason why the fandom is so forgiving of her is because she is young and going through trauma. They think that since the ic is older, they should rise above her insults and handle her trauma perfectly. Yet they seem to forget that everyone has trauma. The ic was literally just at war. Rhys spent fifty years enslaved. Feyre and elain were also dealing with their own trauma as well - they were also turned in faes against their will and their father also died.

Yeah, they didn’t handle nestas trauma perfectly but neither did Nesta. But at least they genuinely cared about her. Nesta didn’t even care that much about Tamlin abusing Feyre. She admitted this “Tamlin had hurt Feyre. Unforgivably. It had never concerned her before. Irked her, yes, but…”

Cassian was abusive to Nesta. Nesta was abusive to Feyre and elain, and practically everyone else she came in contact with except gwyn and Emerie.

Hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think my main issue with Nesta (and some parts of the fandom around her) is the way her behavior gets constantly downplayed. The way she uses words is harmful, and I feel like people sometimes brush that off, even though long-term verbal/emotional damage is still very real, especially for the people closest to her.

And in addition to that, people often reframe the situation by making Nesta look like the victim, when she’s actually the one causing harm and reaping what she sowed half the time.

With Cassian, my issue is kind of separate. It’s more about how he’s written, especially his mindset around sex. The way he’s thinking about Nesta while she’s clearly spiraling just didn’t sit right with me. It really disgusted me and ruined the character for me. That, and the fact that it felt badly written. We had Nesta’s POV, which was judgmental toward everyone, even though she didn’t know what she was talking about half the time since she didn’t really know those people. She depicted things and people the way she thought they were, and she never thinks well of anyone. Cassian was supposed to balance that, but instead his POV became totally Nesta-centric. That’s why there’s usually a dual POV in books, to show two sides of events and give insight into things one of the two mains doesn’t have access to. But in this case, it failed its purpose entirely.

At the same time, I struggle to fully blame Cassian, or honestly anyone who eventually snapped back at her. Like you said, everyone in that circle is dealing with trauma. Most of those characters have centuries of traumatic events to deal with. Despite that, they still tried to give her chances and help her, partly because she’s Feyre’s sister, but also because they understood she was hurting. The problem is that most of the time, when they reached out, they were met with hostility, insults, and really harsh judgment. At some point, it feels… human that people would start reacting instead of just absorbing it indefinitely.

They were all reacting to her behavior. No one was spiteful toward Nesta out of the blue: she started first.

I guess what confuses me is the double standard. When someone says something hurtful to Nesta, it’s (understandably) taken seriously; but when she says extremely cruel things to others, often initiating the behaviour, it’s (unreasonably) often excused or minimized. I don’t really know how to reconcile that. How is it that if anyone says the wrong words to her, they are portrayed as evil and awful because they hurt her, while she’s somehow forgiven for saying the nastiest things to everyone? How is she allowed to treat everyone as her personal punching bag? It’s only natural that eventually the punching bags start punching back, especially when they’ve been deliberately hurt over and over.

Being depressed or traumatized doesn’t excuse hurting people.

That happened with Cassian too. He was nice to her at first, and she treated him poorly. Despite that, he tried to help her, and she started using his own trauma against him: calling him a bastard and purposely humiliating him in front of the Illyrians, knowing exactly how much she was hurting him.

The difference is exactly this: Nesta not only initiates the harmful behavior, with other characters simply reacting, but unlike those characters, whose POVs we see, and even Amren, who feel guilty about hurting her, Nesta often seems to take pleasure in it and rarely gives her words a second thought. She clearly states that, and only feels slight guilt when she messes up really badly, usually when it’s too little, too late. That’s not being a badass, strong, independent character. At all.

Also, her attitude toward Elain is strikingly similar to Tamlin’s behavior. Nesta constantly tries to control what Elain does, claiming it’s to "protect" her. But in reality, she’s just enforcing the image of Elain she’s built in her own mind. If Elain acts in a way that doesn’t fit Nesta’s expectations, she’s shut down or criticized.

Nesta also lacks empathy toward others, to the point that her selfishness leads her to ignore or dismiss other people’s trauma and suffering. She didn’t care about what Feyre went through in the Spring Court, and she kicked her father’s stick. She was never understanding toward anyone, but somehow the narrative wants us to be understanding and forgiving toward her.

I think for me it comes down to this: trauma can explain behavior, but it doesn’t automatically make that behavior harmless. And I wish the conversation in the fandom held space for both things at once.

[ninainthetardis]

About your post, how SJM is splitting the book up. I have always held the opinion that ACOTAR should've ended at book three. I feel its almost a cash grab at this point. ACOSF was a mess. I understand she was in a dark place but that book didn't need to be written nor the novella. I feel the same way as I'm reading through TOG. Currently I'm at Heir of Fire and I feel she could shove books 1 and 2 into one bookd and maybe kept the novella. It just seems she doesn't know when to stop?

Hi! I also think ToG and CoM could have been just one book. Back when they were published, though, YA novels were generally shorter, so that might explain it... or maybe the author was just young and still developing her style.

As for ACoTaR, there were definitely loose threads that could have been explored. Extending the world a bit more might have worked, even if it wasn’t strictly necessary. The problem is that ACoSF feels poorly executed. It reads essentially like a romance novel, which sidelines the overarching plot to the point where it seems unnecessary. Additionally, some elements don’t align well with the characters’ arcs, making them feel jarring rather than organic.

The first trilogy definitely felt more thought-out. I just hope ACoTaR 6 and 7 deliver… otherwise, I’m totally pretending the second part of the story never happened, lmao.

[ninainthetardis]

How do you like acotar if you hate everyone but Lucien? Your tags are anti every main character

I don't hate everyone but Lucien, lmao.

I literally said a couple of posts ago that you can understand, even love, a character without agreeing with them all the time or justifying their wrongdoings.

I'm fully anti-Tamlin, anti-Nesta, and anti-ACOSF in general. I tend to use the anti tags whenever I criticize a character to avoid the aggressive comments I see everywhere in this fandom. There are also characters I’m neutral about (it’s not an obligation to find them all interesting), some I currently have mixed feelings about or that I don't really like, and others I actually like. There are also characters we haven’t seen much of, so I don’t even have an opinion about them.

Also, I'm a bit confused. The main characters are the Archeron sisters, as SJM said herself, and maybe their respective mates. You won’t find anti tags for Feyre, Elain, Lucien or Rhysand on this blog. So, besides Nesta (and, thanks to ACOSF, Cassian), which main characters, exactly, am I anti?

[ninainthetardis]

"And Nesta never truly showed any sign of remorse" wanted to kill herself and apologised to feyre so i think otherwise

"nor did anything truly significant to make amends." thats your opinion that shouldnt be included in something you say tries to dig into her character with nuance IMO. not to mention she wore all of the trove not knowing whether or not she would die which is a geat shift from her previous cowardice

"only revealing it later to hurt her when it suited her most." "and nesta didnt care. couldnt think around the roaring" so no there was no intention to hurt feyre or to tactfully use it to hurt her. she said it out of anger, it was insensitive and careless but she didnt intend to hurt her with it.

"A storyline in which she never truly redeems herself or learns much beyond how to throw a few punches" another opinion??? one that also isnt objective especially because the author and other characters disagree

"wanted to kill herself and apologised to feyre so i think otherwise" 1. Could you provide the exact quote where Nesta apologizes to Feyre? Please specify the book and chapter for reference so I can check it for myself. Thanks. 2. I struggle to see genuine remorse in a character who is repeatedly aware of her harmful behavior yet continues to take satisfaction in hurting others. Nesta explicitly admits to enjoying using her words as weapons to inflict pain, even when she knows it’s wrong. That’s not a defense mechanism: it’s a conscious choice. Her behavior reflects a deep-seated bias and lack of empathy, and while her character does evolve in ACoSF, it doesn’t negate the significant harm her actions cause. Maas might have intended to show growth, but I don’t believe this was handled with the nuance it required. Additionally, Nesta’s portrayal of depression feels both stereotypical and inconsistent. Her actions reflect long-term emotional neglect and neglecting the impact on others around her. Even in the crossover with Crescent City, where Nesta was supposed to be trying, she still manages to hurt Azriel, a character she seems close to. All in all, I find it hard to view her as truly redeemed with this kind of character development.

"thats your opinion that shouldnt be included in something you say tries to dig into her character with nuance IMO. not to mention she wore all of the trove not knowing whether or not she would die which is a geat shift from her previous cowardice"

Actually, it’s my opinion, which I’m entitled to share on my own blog. You’re welcome to disagree or not understand it, but dismissing it as "not nuanced" doesn’t change the facts I’m presenting, especially since they’re supported by canon. It’s also important to remember that Nesta was giving up powers she didn’t even want in the first place. During the CHD podcast (01:38:19: you can find the video on YouTube), Maas clarified that Nesta’s decision was easy for her to make. She didn’t value those powers, unlike Aelin, who saw hers as integral to her identity. Nesta’s actions don’t reflect a deep sacrifice: they were just the minimum required to move the plot forward, not a monumental act of redemption. So, no, it doesn’t come close to making up for the years of neglect and abuse toward Feyre.

I don’t take lectures on cowardice from anonymous commenters. If you want to engage with my content, keep it respectful and stick to discussing canon, rather than trying to invalidate it.

"so no there was no intention to hurt feyre or to tactfully use it to hurt her. she said it out of anger, it was insensitive and careless but she didnt intend to hurt her with it."

So, no, there was no intention to directly hurt Feyre with the information. However, as usual, Nesta was selfish and self-centered, putting herself first to the point of sharing something that could deeply hurt her sister, especially since Feyre was in a high-risk pregnancy. Nesta was fine keeping the information hidden until it personally bothered her. She chose to tell Feyre out of spite for Amren, not because she thought Feyre deserved to know. She did it to make Feyre feel betrayed, to belittle her, and to inflict the same pain Nesta herself was feeling. The entire dialogue supports this. She didn’t care about the impact on Feyre, you quoted it yourself. Feyre needed to be told in a safe, tactful environment, not in the way Nesta chose, which could have had serious consequences.

"another opinion??? one that also isnt objective especially because the author and other characters disagree"

Well, this is my blog, so of course you’ll find my opinions here. I didn’t ask you to read them, nor to interact. You were clearly interested in doing so, so now we’re here. I base my opinions on canon, which I can quote, (you know, things that are actually in the books), while I keep getting interpretations in response (which I didn't even ask for) or hijacked topics, and I’m just not interested in that.

Btw, funny how in Nesta’s case, the author’s opinion is "the final word", and other characters' opinions matter, but with Rhysand, his entire storyline was rewritten by part of the fandom to fit Nesta and their own narrative, despite what SJM has written or said in interviews. And characters who are fine with him are dismissed as unreliable, despite Nesta's pov being unreliable by definition, given that she judges everyone before even getting to know them. Interesting, right?

As for Nesta’s training, I’m sorry, but it’s impossible to get that skilled in just a few months. Aelin trained for years, the Illyrians trained for years. This isn’t just opinion: it’s logic. You don’t compete at the Olympics after only a few months of practice.

[ninainthetardis]

why are you anti elriel and pro elucien? most pro ic/pro feysand people are pro elriel too so just curious

What made you think I'm pro IC? It seems like the fandom has focused heavily on a Nesta vs. Everyone else dynamic, and that some people treat being "pro" a character as agreeing with everything they do. I find that difficult because these characters are so flawed that it’s impossible to agree with any of them all the time, at least if you try to look at things from a more objective perspective that takes into account all the characters' viewpoints. One can understand a character without agreeing with them all the time or justifying their wrongdoings.

Anyway, since you asked, ACoSF really undermined Cassian's character. I have mixed feelings about Mor since ACoWaR, and we don’t really know much about Azriel, but the bonus chapter in ACoSF put me off. I really disliked the objectifying way he talked about Elain and how entitled he acted towards her.

I think Lucien has the potential to become one of the best characters in the series, and I hope he gets his moment to shine. He was also very respectful towards Elain, putting distance between them and prioritizing what she needed (space) over his own desires (simply to get to know her). Paradoxically, Azriel acts with a lot of entitlement towards Elain, claiming some "right to have her" (ick), while Lucien, the one who shares the mating bond with her, does not. I’ve already quoted the lines from the bonus chapter that support these points before, so I won’t repeat them. You can find them here, if you're interested. Just a heads-up, there are minor spoilers about Crescent City in that post.

I also don’t think there’s anything in canon that hints at E/lriel being anything more than a temporary crush, especially after the introduction of Gwyn and the elements in ACoSF that seem to suggest she might be Azriel's mate, as well as the foreshadowing elements within the series pointing towards Elucien.