It was on my long list of to be reviewed books, mostly because it’s one of my favorites. The books I’ve already read are actually taking me longer to review since I have to go back and read them, but someone in my inbox told me I should review it so it’s the first on my list now to review.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Another short that I absolutely loved, so why not bundle my two favorites to review.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series (1-3) by Sarah J. Maas
I read the series last summer and I have to revisit my thoughts of the series, but I did immensely enjoy them. I’m not reviewing the last book, A Court of Silver Flames, because I haven’t read it, yet and I’m sorta hesitating until the next book is released (Mostly because I hear it might be around Azrael, so might as well bundle the two books together).
Throne of Glass Series (1-7) by Sarah J. Maas
literally just finished the last book yesterday and while I did review the first one and wasn’t all that excited to read the rest of the books, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I never doubted Sarah J. Maas (one of the few authors I like off of BookTok), but the first two books were an uphill battle to get through. Though the last books make me emotional unstable…I’ll just save the rest of my comments for the reviews.
I am illustrating a complete alternative dust jacket cover for the ACOTAR series all the way up to the latest upcoming book, A Court of Silver Flames! This is in partnership with @illumicrate as part of their A Court of Silver Flames box. So many of you have absolutely destroyed my inbox with all sorts of questions so here is all the information I can give at the moment:
The Silver Flames box will be available for preorder at @illumicrate on 17 January at 3pm GMT (More info such as prices, what’s included etc. are available on their IG and website)
The dust jackets are compatible for the latest hardback, both US and UK edition
The designs will only be sold as a set. They aren’t available to purchase individually
I will be releasing a limited edition 100 set copies that will be hand signed by me later in February. They are the exact same copies as the one from Illumicrate, so there is not difference in quality. More info on my limited edition release will come later!
Please do support Illumicrate as I do profit from it as well. Don’t feel hesitant purchasing with them instead in case you were worried I wasn’t benefitting from it!
Artwork teasers will be coming soon, so do keep a lookout!! (Image on the post is not part of the actual dust jacket illustration)
Thank you for all your amazing support and we’re so excited to share the designs with you soon!
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
I thought about the possibility that either Feyre or Rhys could die. Like for real this time and without the “all-high- lords-draw-the-uno-reverse-card”-thing.
And about what would happen to the other one. Somehow I think that Feyre is much more likely to ever overcome this loss even if it’s devastating either way. She has a kind of strength that I can’t see in Rhys. A stubbornness if you want. I mean we know that he is the most powerful High Lord ever lived and stuff. And he already overcame so much - they both did.
But I feel like Feyre is more “run by spite” than Rhys is. And maybe this is what it needs to overcome this kind of loss. More than power or 500+ years of experience or headstrengh.
We all know that Rhys last name is a huge mystery. But do we really wanna know his last name? Can’t we just let it be the never solved secret of our fandom?
What if it’s something boring like Smith or Tailor?
“I didn’t know how long my sisters and I lay there together, just like we had once shared that carved bed in that dilapidated cottage. Then—back then, we had kicked and twisted and fought for any bit of space, any breathing room. But that morning, as the sun rose over the world, we held tight. And did not let go.”
“She didn’t know what to do with it, that rage. It still burned and hunted her, still made her want to rip and roar and rend the world into pieces. She felt it all—too keenly, too sharply. Hated and cared and loved and dreaded, more than other people, she sometimes thought.”
