I would never give a book written by Sarah J. Maas anything less than three stars, because her books are always very well written. Having said that, do I think that A Court of Frost and Starlight adds to the overall story in a way that it bridges trilogy one (Feyre and Rhys) with trilogy two (Nesta)? Both yes and no.
I previously mentioned that I am usually apprehensive when encountering a…
I can never decide which series of Sarah J. Maas I adore more – her Throne of Glassseries or this one. Whichever one I’m currently reading, I prefer, and that’s because they are both really strong on their own. The two stories never overlap, and I don’t think the two protagonists would be friends if they ever met. That is an amazing feat, to create two very different stories and still make both…
So, we were talking with @verifiefangirl and we started talking about Benevolent Sexism and how it’s somehow worse than Hostile Sexism and how that made her think of ACOFAS/ Rhys. But before I start sharing my thoughts with you, I want you to know that you can reblog and add whatever you want and analyse everything a bit further because I’ll stay superficial. You can share your own thoughts with me and tell me how right/wrong I am and I’d really appreciate that, as long as you stay polite and friendly. I’m by all means not here to tell you how to think or what to say, just please, again, stay kind. And this may be confusing, because my thoughts are all over the place, I hope you’ll understand what I mean. I still like Acofas-Rhys a bit but I’ll love Acomaf Rhys until the day I die.
What is Benevolent Sexism? - A short description:
We have Hostile and Benevolent Sexism. Hostile Sexism says, that it’s a Woman’s job to clean the house or to look after children. People, who say that a Man has to be above a Woman, that it’s okay for him to earn more money. Men, who show anger just because they’re challenged - their ego is challenged. They think for example that a Woman is trying to gain “power” by using her sex, that they try to control Men. They’re often called “Sluts” or “Whores” for saying “No” to a Man who advances them in a sexual way.
Then there’s Benevolent Sexism. This is not really like Hostile Sexism and it’s not about insulting in the first place. It’s taking those stereotypes and making them okay, praising them. And it’s also about holding Women on a pedestal and thinking they’re better than Men. Some examples: Man sets Woman on pedestal, Women are pure unlike Men, they’re better Leaders because they’re stronger and better as Men, etc. And when Women don’t match the image they have in mind, then those Men tend to be aggressive and despise them.
What does that have to do with Rhysand?
We all know how much Rhysand loves and adores Feyre. He’s practically holding her on a high pedestal and she’s the perfect Woman in his eyes. She’s good, she’s caring and fits into the stereotype he has of a Woman.
We call/ed him a Feminist, but look at him hating Nesta. A Woman, who could be a Leader. Who’s too “harsh”, too “bossy” and doesn’t fit into the image he has of a Woman who deserves to “stand on a pedestal”. Nesta’s nothing like Feyre. They’re sisters, but different. And Rhys reacts in a harsh and kind of aggressive way towards her. He hates her, not only because she was mean to Feyre, because if that were the point then he’d also be mean to Elain. So this whole thing, his temper and hate, is not only because she was mean to Feyre, it’s because he’s a Positive Sexist.
Rhysand is nice to Elain, because “Elain is Elain.” She’s nice and kind. She fits into the Inner Circle perfectly. She adapts, cooks for them, talks to them and acts like a Woman (in his eyes) “should” act, that’s what makes her so “amazing” and kind of makes her deserve his kindness. Just like Feyre she got used to the IC, she meets his standards and is held on hands, even though she didn’t care for Feyre at all - just like Nesta. The Woman, who doesn’t do these things and avoids being a part of the Group. And Rhys just can’t deal with it.
Then we have Cassian, who didn’t really acknowledge Nesta. He sees her, he’s watching, but what about talking to her when she’s with the IC? When he’s alone with her he talks and cares, but with them he’s different and reserved, regarding her. We see that to Solstice, when Nesta’s in the room and he doesn’t reach out to her until she leaves and he follows.
Cassian for example can’t hold Nesta on a pedestal. Because he never had a real Mother Figure in his life to compare a Woman to. He doesn’t really know how a Woman should be to be held high above a Man. So I could say that he’s standing on the same ground as Nesta, they’re more like equals than Feyre and Rhys. When he looks at her he sees her pain, he sees her suffering just like he did and does. Even if it’s in a different way. He sees a Woman who’s not accepted, just like him. A bastard people spit on and ostracize. He kind of sees himself. She’s been pushed away the way he is/was pushed away. He knows how she feels and doesn’t praise her despite her flaws, the way Rhysand does with Feyre.
Rhys had a Mother. An amazing Mother, who created (dresses), took 2 bastard born Illyrians into her home. A Woman who cared and gave. And then there’s Feyre, a Woman who also creates, cares and gives. She fits more into his mental image than Nesta ever could, because she’s the opposite of what he’s used to praise, to compliment. And he shows his hate and rage towards her, just like a Benevolent Sexist would do.
I can’t really call Acofas-Rhys a Feminist, because in my opinion he’s more of a Positive Sexist than a Feminist. I’d rather call Acofas-Cassian more of a Feminist than Rhys.
Here’s why I disagree that Rhys is a Benevolent sexist.
Although I agree that Rhysand should be equally mad at Elain and Nesta for letting their little sister go out and hunt in the woods alone, I do not think Rhys is a benevolent sexist at all.
Rhys and Feyre
One component of benevolent sexism is that men want to do things for women because they think that women are not capable of doing things themselves. This can be seen through simple things such as offering to carry a woman’s bags. Rhysand sent Feyre to the weaver, he knew it was very dangerous but also knew she could do it. He has always let her make her own decisions, even if it’s something that risks her life. He treats her like an equal. He made her high lady, so she could stand by his side as his equal.
There is also a big difference between being in love with someone and being a benevolent sexist. Rhysand is deeply in love with Feyre. He thinks she’s amazing, strong and powerful. This is great, this is love. He doesn’t think she is better than him because she is a woman and women are superior, he thinks that Feyre is better than him and he doesn’t deserve her because he is highly insecure, and thinks he isn’t good enough for anyone.
He is self sacrificing, and has always thought that the lives of those closest to him are more important than his, such as how he proctected the inner circle from Amarantha. Rhysand has deep rooted issues which causes him to constantly question his self worth. He isn’t sexist, he does not see all women as being put on this pedestal, he just thinks he isn’t good enough for the woman he loves because of his own negative views towards himself.
Rhys and Nesta
Rhysand does not treat Nesta badly because she doesn’t fit into his “ideals” he dislikes her because she has treated Feyre terribly for her whole life. She is constantly hurting Feyre, and she does so intentionally. This has nothing to do with sexism. Rhys treats males who have hurt Feyre exactly the same, in fact he treats them worse. Such as Tamlin, who he wants to kill, and Lucien who he has not forgiven for not standing up for Feyre when Tamlin was being a controlling asshole. Rhysand is in love with Feyre and dislikes anyone who hurts her. Which is completly understandable. If you love someone, you don’t want them to get hurt.
Rhys doesn’t have to like every single women, just because she is a female. He’s allowed to dislike Nesta. He has genuine and real reasons for his dislike towards her. She is mean and rude, she is uncaring and hurts the ones he loves. Although I understand Nesta has been through a lot of trauma, it doesn’t make it okay for her to purposely hurt people who care about her.
Also, it’s not as if Rhys hates everyone women who doesn’t fit into the ideal of being a gentle and sweet woman like Elain. Amren is his second. She at times has no filter. She can come off as rude, and doesn’t listen and does her own thing. But Rhys cares about her. Because even though she is this strong female who takes no shit and at times can be harsh, she shows her love towards the inner circle. She doesn’t intend to hurt them purposely.
for fun, i started doing character designs from sarah maas’s a court of thorns and roses series. i love doing book character designs and the descriptions in this series inspired me! i’m working on the other different high lords and their entourages now as well
It’s a dream come true. You get to live in the world of your favorite book. With all your favorite characters. And you can even decide if you want to be human or fae or grisha or demigod or wizard or atlantian or whatever.
But there is one catch. You have to tell the characters about every fanart or fanfic about them you ever made, reposted or liked.
Ok let’s be honest. I’m most looking forward to when Nesta and Cassian have an honest talk about how much they have been freaking pinning and longing for each other. SINCE THE FIRST DAY THEY MET.
I want them to finally admit that each time they said something hateful it was in an attempt not to keep their true lovey feelings from pushing out.
Like we all know. All the other characters know. Even they know deep down.
In the short time that Nesta has known Cassian she has seen him literally on deaths door step like 3 times. She has seen him in pain countless other times. She avoids him because she doesn’t want to be first in the long line of people waiting to get the news that he died. She is trying to protect herself.
Now love is worth the risk but she doesn’t know that yet
Wow what a novice idea, how about you use your magic and all high and mighty powers to bring the beds from the house no one wants to go to and out them in the house everyone is staying at??
Crazy right. Problem solved
No need to turn the city upside down.
Hmm maybe a all knowing self-righteous tyrant would think of that
I NEED acosf theories! Please post them! Comment with them! Or Shout then from the roof tops!
I’ll start off with one of mine - Nesta originally met Eris during one of the nights that the Keir and the Hewn City are allowed into the city. They hit it off because our boy Eris recognizes her strength and power without any back history
At the very beginning of ACOFAS Feyre wants to buy presents for ALL of her friends and family for what they did on the battlefield.
She says then when it is already clear Nesta doesn’t want to go and then like a week later NESTA shows up to the party and Feyre is all like I didn’t give you a gift. WTF. And has the gull to be like “Nesta didn’t give me anything but I don’t care because everyone else has showered me in gifts”
So I’m not super in to the Nesta and Azriel best buddies for forever relationship BUT
I do love the idea of them having conversations about and connecting through the darkness and the shadows they both deal with on the regular. That is where I think the mutual respect will come from
I don’t like going to parties, I hate public speaking, talking about myself gives me hives, I would throw myself in front of the bullet for those that I love, my family misunderstands me, it’s hard to “get” me, I hide my soft feelings behind a suit if armor made or rude remarks, there is definitely some sexual frustration and tension in my life, I find it hard to start a fire, I never want to go to the gym and train, and yeah I love a good romance novel.
I have often thought that Nesta’s power isn’t death
First, because Feyre is convinced it is death. And When has Feyre ever been known to truly get her sister?
Second, it was said at one point that Nesta took from the cauldron everything it had taken from her. It is assumed she got the death powers because it had killed her but in reality the cauldron was also giving her life, a new life.
Third, I think often because if Nesta’s bluntness and brutality in conversation it is thought that she is similar to death. But no we know she is sensitive and caring behind her outer wall. She is life and creation more than death and killing
Fourth, just because the bone carver heard of Nests dosent mean she is death. She could be deaths greatest enemy - life
Nesta is life she is creation she is a new beginning
