What gets to me the most about the IC is the hypocrite heroic mask that they use.
Look at the Vanserras. They're awful, they know it, and they don't hide it. The lesser fae and peasants are treated horribly and survive on harsh labor. Everyone knows it. It's laid out for Prythian to see. That family is a strict, cold and competitive chaos. Everyone knows this too. When Prythian is dealing with the Vanserras they know who and what they are dealing with. No need to play pretend.
But the IC? They hide behind this misunderstood heros facade. Like they just want to do the best for Prythian and somewhat their opinions and acts are more important and justifiable than everyone else's. The court of nightmares lives under a generational dictatorship. Children are born and die without seeing the sun. So awful that Amarantha herself took inspiration from it. The Illyrian camps explore women like they are merely sex toys and housekeepers. Little girls lose their ability to fly in an open violation. This most powerful high lord of all time can't control his court, or doesn't want to, because he and Velaris thrives on this. He managed to alter a tradition that has thousands of years (making Feyre high lady) but the rest, like saving children from these cyclical abuses, somehow he can't.
Then he faces Prythian and tells them how powerful and idealistic he is. Personally it feels clear to me that the other High Lords don't buy his shit and still don't trust him.
That's it, I'll say it. Objectively, the night court isn't any better than a place like the Autumn Court. One just bothers to hide it and the other doesn't.
