Y'all can just tell swans are the gods' creatures cuz look at this ethereal beauty. Straight out of a faerie book. Took this picture back when I was in Thailand
It really really really bugs me that Cassianâs wings can be shredded and his guts can be hanging out of his abdomen but he can healed and yet C-sections are apparently are impossible in ACOTAR. Seriously, they put Cassianâs guts back inside him and he healed like it never happened. Why canât they do that for Feyre?
Also, I get that Illyrian women have wider hips than High Fae, but if the wings are so dangerous, how are they not cutting up her inner walls on the way out regardless? Giving birth is still a tight squeeze even if everything is opening up to push a child through.
Feyre's entire pregnancy was practically reduced to a cheap trope if you think about it. There was hardly any memorable mention of her own experiences when she was expecting other than the fact that Rhysand just put a shield around her (classic SJM territorial male fae trope again), then the entire complicated birth process was just another unnecessary gimmick to bring out angst in the romance between Rhysand and Feyre.
I would have liked it if Feyre had received any information of what was gonna happen to HER body. If she was a tad bit more upset about it. If they could have focused on that as an angst to develop their relationship rather than the fact that it was a complicated birth.
But well- đ¤ˇđťââď¸ it's not like their relationship is the epitome for it to actually deserve a good plotline đ.
With people still calling Tamlin a traditionalist I decided to go back through the first 3 books to see what exactly could be pinned as him being a traditionalistâŚyall itâs THREE thingsđ four if you separate The Tithe & The Tithe hunt!!
As it stands the ONLY things that Tamlin has kept as âTraditionâ are the following:
⢠The Tithe/The Tithe Hunt = Tax season & the consequences of not paying your taxes aka IRS OR HMRC knocking down your door
⢠Calanmai/Fire night = The celebration that signals the start of Spring season
⢠The celebration of The Summer & Winter solstice = self explanatory
My next post I have a more in-depth analysis that also includes things that Tamlin himself has said or expected vs things that Lucien or Ianthe or anyone else has said or expected.
In comparison I have also done Rhysand since he is the only other character we have extensive knowledge of & how he runs The Night Court and let me tell youâŚitâs shocking that people claim Tamlin is the traditionalist when canon actually puts Rhysand as the traditionalist & Tamlin as the progressive!
Iâve always known Tamlin was one of the progressive High Lords but to go back through canon textâŚoh baby itâs glorious to be proven right!đ
One high lord destroyed slavery entirely, makes sure the tithe is actually used in rebuilding war torn land, gives his wealth freely and gives protection to Fae without expecting anything in return.
One lord is hated by 2/3 of his court, has slums in his paradise, let's 1/3 of his court live in tent and kill each other, let's 1/3 of his court be horrible people despite being able to change it, wants women to be warriors but gives the excuse that change takes time to stop them from being mutilated, saves women but puts them in library that doesn't let them leave the paradise.
Guess which one is the "good" MMC and the bad ex the FMC left
Just started reading Shatter Me and reached Defy Me in a week. It's high-key got me hooked. Also Nazeera Ibrahim; the woman that you are! đ Lmk if y'all have read it too!!
Is it even a surprise that India has a spineless statement on the Venezuelan situation. The Ministry has always reiterated India's neutral stand, but let's stop acting like it's a masterclass on diplomacy. A blatant violation of international law but the Indian Ministry of External Affairs can't call a spade a spade, instead their recycled garbage is "We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region."
Why even bother if this is your statement. Why can't we hold a country accountable even when we see a blatant violation of international law. Simple, we don't have a spine. S. Jaishankar has to pull his pants up. His instagram edits on Pakistan are the only highlights of his career, about time he calls out USA's invasions. No hope from this coward of a government. Let's see how long the government of India continues with these AI generated statements. Until then, we pay our taxes to these morons.
A nation that believes it is flawless, yet its ways are lawless. From exploiting the Middle East under the guise of helping eliminate problems to throwing out immigrants and keeping them like animals in a zoo. As of recently, the US government has broken international law and detained the Venezuelan president and the first lady via a surgical extraction. The secretary of state has been unapologetic, arrogant, and dismissive of their actions. Trump has claimed that the USA will 'run Venezuela' until they eradicate the drug situation and cartel activity in Venezuela for their 'safety'. They do so because Venezuela is their neighbour. However, the USA fail to understand that no matter how criminal Maduro's ways are, they are in no position to force their authority on Venezuela and make their decisions for them. As a permanent member of UN, you'd expect them to be sensible, but they're unapologetically lawless and vile when it's about respecting international boundaries. Trump, noble prizes are not handed out to invaders and paedophiles, so I hope you stop lecturing other countries when they are at war because you do not know what'syour business and what isn't. To conclude, I would like to list the current victims of USA's interference : Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Kuwait, Afghanistan (so far). No apologises, only missiles and threats.
It's actually funny to think that the US might assume we do not see the imperialist ways in such endeavours. It has been proved time and time again that direct and overt foreign intervention with another country's government affairs is a straight shot way to internal instability in that nation.
If your curiosity tends to get the better of you and you need a push sight-seeing down the rabbit hole... This book might be the perfect fit for you, Alice.
My take on The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
TW: slight mention of su!cide and other mental conditions
It took me almost 3 weeks to finish this book and honestly it was discombobulating how difficult it is to put down yet read it through at the same time.
The story initially follows the narrative of a rather mildly aberrant protagonist: Esther Greenwood, who's an editorial intern in a woman's magazine... At first glance you'd expect this panorama to be similar to the atmosphere at Composure Magazine from How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, but Sylvia stays true to her style and you perceive a rather burnt out, naĂŻve, unreliable and an arguably solipsistic version of the main character instead (quite different from the overachiever, that is Andie).
The book skillfully explores the slow culmination of a broadly relatable mental undoing but still manages in keeping it fairly exclusive to the female experience.
This undoing arises from a certain event that very gradually pushes Esther into picking the bits and pieces of the world around her apart one-by-one. Relation wise, it starts with an envious attitude towards her friends, then recollecting the hypocrisy of her ex, consequently a sense of cynicism for the ignorance that her mother displays and most importantly a general distaste for the social perspectives tied to women in the '50s, exploring themes of: giving birth, getting married, s*x, the misguided nature of purity culture, shushing mental conditions, female hysteria and the fan-favorite: the FIG TREE ANALOGY amongst many others...
On a generic note (i.e., not tied to the female experience) the novel does a perfect job at portraying depression, dissociation, identity crisis, alienation, suicide, etc. despite having quite many controversial themes in it as well.
So altogether it's worth the read and I can bet my money on the fact that you'd start viewing certain practices in your daily life fairly queer after you read this book.
Animal Farm, a book criticising totalitarian governments, is getting a visual adaptation where there are silly animals selling their crops to those they're supposed to hate.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, a book written by an author who got imprisoned for sodomy, is getting a visual adaptation where the two characters with clear homoromantic undertones are turned into brothers.
Dracula, a book about a group of friends that explore the themes of antagonism and Victorian anxieties, is getting a visual adaptation where the count falls in love with one of his rape victims.
Wuthering Heights, a book that beats the reader over the head with a bat about how the POC protagonist wants to be privileged and white, is getting a visual adaptation with a white person as the protagonist and a POC as the one he envies.
The Odyssey, a book about a man from Ancient Greece trying to get home from war, is getting a visual adaptation coated in a "Hollywood" aesthetic that rejects accurate armour and casting.
2026 is not a good year for classic literature fans all around.
I really wish SJM was more interested in telling a good story than worshipping at the feet of Feyre because then we could get some good Emerie vs. Feyre conflict.
If this were epic fantasy instead of romantasy, Emerie, a female who's had her wings clipped would not take too kindly to finding out her High Lady shape-shifts into an Illyrian whenever she wants, including for the sole purpose of having sex. Of course, Feyre never needs to worry about having her wings clipped, though. Could you imagine the conflict these two could unleash?
Emerie is in such a great position to challenge Feyre. Feyre's the first High Lady in 15,000 years. She should be fighting for and representing the women of the Night Court. Instead, Feyre only gives two shits about the 1% of Velaris. She's painting more often than she's serving as High Lady. Whereas Vivienne ruled the Winter Court for 50 years while their High Lord was enslaved UtM, Feyre couldn't rule the Night Court for an hour without Rhys around. While Feyre's buying her fifth mansion, the people in Velaris are struggling after the war, Emerie's people are living in barbaric slave-like conditions, and the people of the CoN are trapped under the mountain. Feyre's in a position to actually help people, yet she chooses not to. She would rather wear skimpy clothes and preen about and act like she's better than everyone else in her court. Feyre may have been abused, but she perpetuates that cycle of abuse for hundreds of innocent women and children in Illyria and the CoN.
Feyre would rather use the patriarchy to oppress women, so give me Emerie raising an army of women to abolish Feyre's patriarchy. Give me Emerie calling Feyre out on her bullshit "High Lady" title. Give me Emerie calling Feyre out for burning the LoA rather than trying to help the woman who's been a victim of abuse for centuries. Give me Emerie threatening to clip Feyre's wings - we know that would make Feyre start to give two shits and make meaningful changes. Give me Emerie raising up and leading the Illyrians in a revolution against Feysand and the IC.
Emerie vs. Feyre could be the next Dany vs. Cersei.
If Cassian admires Feyre for destroying an entire court, but he's disappointed in Nesta for saving all worlds, then his priorities are backward. Nesta deserves better.
haha gonna be controversial for a quick sec but tell me again why were giving azriel a pass? he just sits there and lets cassian ans rhysand verbally and mentally abuse nesta. like hes concerned enough to ask if someone hit nesta when he sees her covered in bruises and cuts but when it comes to verbal assault nada?
hes just as bad as the men in real life who let their boys get away with treating their girlfriends/wives like absolute shit
Just because he is not *actively* antagonizing nesta does not mean he isn't perpetuating harm against women
stop letting loser ass men get away with the bare minimum
this. he's the lesser of three evils but he is no saint
let's not forget Azriel packed her bag extra heavy for Cassians punishment hike and he was also one of the ones who wanted her to find the trove even though she was supposed to be healing and people seem to forget that he was just as much her jailer as Cassian was. he sat back and allowed Cassian to have sex with her while they held power over her, he questioned if someone had hit her and then laughed because she fell down the stairs, he didn't help her leave the House, he forced her to train. he aided and abetted* her sexual assault, emotional abuse and physical abuse and people praise him as her best friend/brother?
*aiding and abetting: to assist someone in committing a crime. to be guilty of aiding and abetting, a person must have the intent to facilitate the crime and must assist or encourage it, even if they do not commit the crime themselves. the punishment for this is often the same as for the person who committed the crime directly â meaning he's just as fucking guilty
Something I'd like to add is that when I read the extra Azriel's pov bit in ACOSF I was so inherently irritated by the fact that... again just like Cassian he can't stop ogling another woman's breasts (Elain's if you read the pov). It is soooo gross, I mean god forbid SJM give us something other than horny men! đ
Now as much as the Gywnriel shippers might come up and presently annihilate me for this... I am very skeptical about how their relationship will be written. Gywn is an SA survivor and I really want SJM to not throw that girl into a smut dynamic just to soothe the readers interests and give Azriel that s-x coverage without even letting her heal mentally on that basis.
Azriel is described as a torturer and a man doesn't get that tag without having something to lose on the way đ¤ˇđťââď¸. Especially when it has been proven throughout the books that he doesn't give two sh*ts about how they treat Nesta or the Illyrian women.
Still he gets a tiny benefit of the doubt, just in case SJM magically obtains the enlightenment to give him guts and he stands up against the Inner Circle.
Question: Did trauma made feyre cruel or only reveal what was already there?
One of Feyreâs favorite excuses to defend her cruel actions is her trauma, especially what she went through UTM. She even tells Lucien (I forgot the exact quote but it's something like that) âwhen you stare too long into the darkness, the darkness stares back.â
But hereâs the thing⌠yes, trauma leaves marks. But no, it doesnât create cruelty and darkness.
I always come back to this metaphor that has helped me so much in life:
If you take a cup filled with black coffee and it shatters, spilling everywhere, the floor isnât stained with that black coffee because the cup broke. Itâs stained because of what was inside. If that cup had been filled with milk, then milk would be on the floor instead.
Thatâs the truth about people, too. Life can break us, crush us into jagged pieces. But what comes out in that moment is whatâs been inside us all along. Some spill kindness, strength, love. Others spill poison and cruelty.
And thatâs exactly what I thought while reading ACOMAF and ACOWAR. Feyre likes to tell herself that trauma made her cruel, that her pain excuses her selfishness. But (and this is only my personal opinion, please donât come at me) no, life didnât plant that inside her. The cruelty and selfishness were already there, waiting. Trauma just shattered the cup and showed everyone what had always been within.
We can even see traces of this from book one: she admitted she wouldnât fight for freedom or justice, only for the side that would protect her and her family. Even Amarantha called out her wretched heart, Amarantha literally saw through her (because they are the same?)
So, for me:
What happened to you didnât create the person you are. It only smashed the cup and revealed what youâve been hiding all along.
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