#elias veturius

Spoilers for a sky beyond the storm.

Honestly the only way I’m coping is by holding onto the belief that Avitas Harper is actually alive. That ending did not happen. That book did not happen. I did not wait for years for that to be how this ends. With a random maelstrom trying to eat them or whatever. Never mind that it makes no sense because why would NB go to all the trouble of saving his people to kill them three months later.

My grievances with the book are numerous, but I’d have forgiven it entering YA fantasy trope land if she had at least let Avitas live.

poisonredheadedlover:

I don’t mind Helvitas’s ending in A Sky Beyond The Storm. Their relationship always made me uncomfortable considering the first time they meet is him beating her for five days and beating her so bad her father was horrified upon seeing her. It wasn’t a light beating either and her family ended up having to nurse her back to health afterwards.

• “Father?” What in the bleeding hells is he doing here? Is Marcus using him as leverage? Planning to torture him until I give up information? “Your Majesty.” My father’s voice as he addresses Marcus is smooth as glass, so uninflected as to be uncaring. But his eyes flick to me, horror-filled.
• “Six broken ribs, twenty-eight lacerations, thirteen fractures, four torn tendons, and bruised kidneys.”

Helene was even so traumatized by it that when Avitas so much as moved his hands she would flinch. Then as time progresses he never brings it up again. Never apologizes. Never sits down and talks about it with her. Granted that still wouldn’t magically make everything okay. I’d still find it very problematic but at the very least it still should’ve been acknowledged. That’s not to say he’s a bad guy. As all masks had to do horrific things in their life. So I don’t think Avitas is evil or anything like that. I actually think as a friend he’s fantastic. I do not hate him. He’s done many good things and has been there through some of the roughest times to help out and battle through. He clearly is kind and does believe in the cause he’s helping.  It’s just this concept of their relationship is not okay to me. As well as the fact that the reason she caught his eye in the first place was because he realized that she was close to his brother so that peaked his intrigue. They just started off on the worst foot that I can’t look past it. It feels wrong to romanticize a relationship that had started with trauma and assault and try to pass it off as okay cause he ends up deciding to team up with her and be nice to her afterwards.

Its very triggering actually.

It’s just a very sensitive topic for me.

He crossed a line when he brutally tortured her and that’s something he can’t undo. The damage has been done and it took a huge toll on Helene afterwards. Both physically and mentally. It also doesn’t feel right to me that instead of talking about it together Helene just justifies the situation for him to herself so she can accept him as an ally. No matter how nice he was to her afterwards it doesn’t erase or lessen the grief he put her and even her family through. She wasn’t able to feel trusting or comfortable around him for months and not in an enemies to lovers sort of way but because she genuinely felt threatened and would remember the interrogation torture whenever she saw him.  I’m not saying this means his character is completely ruined and no one should ever like him. I still like him enough. Just not as a love interest. Avitas by himself? Perfectly fine. But pairing him up with the girl he tortured, traumatized, and whose mere presence had her on edge and would make her shudder and recoil whenever he was near, not so much. So I’m satisfied with their ending and glad Sabaa ended it that way.

I feel…conflicted.

I do mind their ending, a lot. I feel like it was written badly and wasn’t believable considering the characters involved. But then again, I think the whole of Sky was a plot disaster so what’s new.

Having said that, there are really valid points here. One of the things that bothered me about Sky in particular was that the torture was never, ever brought up. It had bothered me since Torch, but I thought surely as their relationship was developing, we’d see that conversation. And we didn’t. Not even a mention of it.

Even in Torch it was mostly glossed over. There’s this moment where Avitas goes to give Helene the Blood Shrike’s ring only a few days after he tortures her, and she flinches away from him. She’s terrified, quite reasonably, because she instinctively thinks he’s going to hurt her. And why wouldn’t she? But that’s the only mention of it. It’s literally not brought up again, or not that I can remember, so forgive me if I missed a quote.

Again, it’s not brought up in Reaper and by this point they’re working really closely together. Even if they didn’t have a conversation about it, you’d expect it to at least be a part of Helene’s internal monologue, but it isn’t. And then in Sky, when their relationship really gets going again, they don’t talk about it and Helene doesn’t think about it.

I can’t believe that for one single second.

It also doesn’t seem to fit with the character Sabaa created for Avitas. He obviously feels like he isn’t a worthwhile person. He even says to Helene that he assumes his brother got their father’s better qualities. And although he supports the Empire, he’s also angry at it, as evidenced by his expression in Reaper when they’re going to fight, and Helene thinks about the fact that Avitas is Plebeian. I feel like he would have talked about it with her. Because he was carrying so much guilt around. He was so careful after that so I don’t believe that he wouldn’t have wanted to know that she was ok with the development of their relationship.

I do think we can’t apply our standards to their relationship and say it was terrible. I’m not condoning either physical or emotional abuse for one second. But the whole society they were living in was violent and terrible. It’s not like Helene hasn’t murdered people with her bare hands before. But what I do expect is that when a relationship begins, the characters at least acknowledge their past. And that torture, it was part of their past. A really messed up part of it that needed to be talked about.

I also think Sabaa has a responsibility to her readers. Many of us can look at the relationship with a critical eye and also the plot and writing in general. We can see how there are numerous faults with the book and include that along with it. But there are lots of fans of the series who aren’t critical of it in the slightest. What kind of message does this send to them?

I’m still so angry about the ending they got, particularly because I think Sabaa really just wanted to take everything from Helene and it made for really cheap writing in the end. But there are layers of issues here, and this one deserves to be acknowledged.

Honestly the more I think about ASBTS the more I’m convinced I won’t read one of her books again. Which makes me sad to say because I adored the series up until that point. But meaningful interactions were swept aside to be replaced by quite frankly laughable plot devices and ridiculous outcomes. I’m not here for it, there are better books out there.

hoodedicequeen:

Top 10 AEITA Characters:

10. You

9. Just

8. Can’t

7. Rank

6. Them

5. They’re

4. All

3. Fricking

2. Amazing

1. Helene Aquilla and Avitas Harper

Fight me. And no, I will not choose between them.

dangerouslycrazyenthusiast:

So I was going through Saba Taahir’s Q/A session on Instagram that she recently did and someone asked her why does she enjoy writing a character’s death? (Or something along those lines) and she goes she likes writing complete story lines that sometimes end in death.

First of all I seriously CANNOT be the only one that thought that Harper’s story line was incomplete. This is my personal preference and means no offense to the writer but I refuse to accept Harper’s death and that supposedly his story line was complete. That’s utter bs. His story line was not complete, his character death was absolutely unnecessary and added nothing to the plot. Everything that happened after he died still would have happened if he lived only Helene would have finally gotten the happy ending she deserved.

I’m getting worked up again.

This this this. And it’s ironic because Mirra’s character arc did feel complete. I’m not saying Laia didn’t deserve to have a mother, she absolutely did and it’s quite honestly tragic that she lost all of her family. But Mirra’s death felt fitting with the story. So if Sabaa likes writing complete arcs why bring Mirra back? And why kill Avitas and Darin when their stories weren’t complete? There was still so much unknown about Avitas. His relationship with Elias, his motivations. And same with Darin. Poor Laia has spent the better part of two books either as a slave or fighting her way through the countryside to get him out of prison then boom he’s dead. Killing Darin in Kauf would have made more sense than at the end. But killing them both at the end made zero sense. And yes I get it, good people die in war and it makes no sense etc. I see this argument to defend this choice and I do get it. But also, may I remind you that this is a book? Authors make choices when they’re writing that fit the arc of that character. If they’d died in ways that actually reflect their character I’d have been sad, but I could understand it. But Darin rushes off to help Laia and you’re telling me that she couldn’t have used her new magic mind chat to ping him to let him know she’s ok? And Avitas, a trained mask, clearly one with incredible skill first let his armor come loose then failed to dodge not one, but two blades. Get out. Sky was a bad book. I talk about the deaths a lot but it was a bad book for more than just that. In fact, the deaths are only a small part of it. I loved the series up until Sky, and as I was reading it all I could think was that I’d waited years for that? I know some fans of the series won’t like me saying it, but it fell into all the worst tropes of ya fantasy and lost the qualities that had made it a wonderful series up until that point. Happy to expand on the many reasons why I think the book was terrible, but I’ll save that for another post.

hoodedicequeen:

Laia: Shoutout to Sabaa for giving everyone the hea they deserved. Me and Elias, Elias and I, we’re happy.

Helene, Avitas, Faris, and the rest of the f***ing world: 

I’m happy for you Laia but really…

I read the ember in the ashes series like 1.5 week ago and im obsessed……

minor spoilers for six of crows, these violent delights, house of hades, the cruel prince and an ember in the ashes below!

listen i know we all love unhinged female villains but can we just appreciate unhinged boys for a second? like.

kaz brekker’s dark, wet hair against pale skin and glinting eyes when he tears out oomen’s eyeball because he can’t stand the thought that he might lose inej because she’s his wraith and yes, he protects his investments but he’s also afraid of being alone and won’t let the people he loves slip away from him, not again, because then he might actually turn into the monster everyone assumes him to be, and what would jordie think of him then?

roma montagov launching himself at dimitri in the fighting ring because he’s reached breaking point and his anger is overwhelming and all-consuming so he bares his teeth and lunges for his cousin to prevent himself from breaking down because if he can’t prove his strength to fucking dimitri of all people, how will he stay strong enough to resist juliette and make his father proud at the same time? and if he fails at that, won’t he lose everything?

percy jackson, perfectly composed, drowning akhlys in her own tears because if she’s inflicted so much sorrow on him, why shouldn’t she feel his pain for once? why shouldn’t she know what it’s like to feel afraid? why shouldn’t someone be afraid of him, for once, to give him the power to end their life in a flick of the wrist?

cardan greenbriar, eyes gleaming with hatred, pressing his quill into parchment to scribble jude jude jude over and over again, the ink bleeding through the page until it stains the desk beneath it, smiling dangerously as he holds a knife to the love of his life’s throat because it’s either kill her or kiss her and he’s not sure if he’ll survive either.

elias veturius killing his best friends in the third trial after seeing them dead in the first, anger tearing at his skin and blurring his vision because if he doesn’t kill them then he’ll be killed, and the only thing he’s been taught how to do is survive. it’s instinct. lifting his head slowly, hands shaking, surveying the massacre, blood stains spattered across his shirt, his stomach dropping because is this what i’ve become?

when something inside boys breaks and they go absolutely feral, it is absolutely terrifying. and i love it.

I have finally finished “A Sky Beyond The Storm!!”

I am so happy to see how the story ended with the characters

I will post a full review of the whole series soon!

I am finally starting “A Sky Beyond The Storm” by Sabaa Tahir!

It is the final book in the “An Ember In The Ashes” quartet.

I can’t wait to see how Laia, Elias, and Helene/Blood Shrike’s stories play out!

I am also going to be starting on “House Of Sky and Breath” by Sarah J. Maas!!

I can’t wait to see what Hunt and Bryce are forced into!

so it’s 1:39 AM and i’m in love with elias veturius ‍♀️

Okay so i think this month is really stressful for all bookworms what with Chain of Gold and Crescent City being released on THE SAME DAY and Sabaa Tahir FINALLY revealing the cover, title, and release date of An Ember in The Ashes 4 “A Sky Beyond The Storm” i mean seriously guys what are you doing to us!!!

why is it always “i love you” and never “you are my temple, you are my priest, you are my prayer, you are my release”?

When the point of view said Soul Catcher, instead of Elias:

“You are my temple-”

Me:

just finished a sky beyond the storm and im gonna cry my eyes out

THEY ARE THEM

credit:@missescara

THIS SHIT IS SO HEARTBREAKING I HATE MY LIFE

Idek anymore…

Elias:Helene and I have been through too much together for me to see her bleeding die. I vow by blood and bone that I will keep her safe.

Avitas: Nah bro. You had your chance, now it’s my turn. I will protect Helene with my life. Emifal Firdaant.

The entire AEITA fandom: Harper, you’re our baby and we love you, but we’re the only ones who can actually protect Helene. Don’t worry girl, we’ll ask (*ahem*) beg Sabaa to keep you safe. 

Helene: I don’t need anyone to protect me.

Also Helene *gets all her hopes and dreams ripped out from under her*

All three of them:

Elias:Actually, I have Laia, so haha, suckers!

A Baker And Her Lover

“Avitas, where the bleeding hells are you?”

“I’m here, my love.”

Harper walked through the front door of their small home, taking in the sight of his wife completely butchering a loaf of bread in an attempt to slice it.

“Skies, Helene, what in the hells are you doing?”

She muttered something under her breath about bleeding overseas merchants and their idiotic ideas. The remark was followed by a stream of colorful curses. 

“You’d ought to be one of those bleeding merchants, seeing as you curse like a sailor.” Avitas approached her, deftly grabbing the knife from her hand and sweeping her into a kiss. “That should shut you up.”

Even though they had been married for a year, Helene still marveled at the passion of their kisses, the wonderful knowledge that she was his and he hers.

Though she certainly couldn’t tell him that, lest his head blow up to the size of a pregnant woman’s bleeding uterus.

“The whole Skies-forsaken city will be attending the Moon Festival tonight. Not to mention Ilyaas and Laia are coming to visit. And the bleeding merchants couldn’t do their bleeding job, and deliver the bleeding flour.”

“I hope the bleeding flour isn’t too red from the bleeding merchants bleeding on them all day.” Avitas chuckled. “I do hope I do not start bleeding too.”

“Honestly Avitas, you really are a-”

“Bleeding idiot? No need to say any more. I know you too well.”

“I was going to say “amazing”, but if you don’t want the complement, then fine.”

“I take “bleeding idiot” as a complement so long as it comes from you.” He had moved closer to her now, whispering the words into her ear. 

A shiver of delight ran through her. 

It was amazing how, of all the circumstances, of all the possible lives, she had been given this one. She could have been made a soldier from an empire far away, constantly fearing for her life. Or a slave, destined to never take a true breath of freedom. But the Skies had granted her a life with the man she loved, a peaceful life. One in which she could visit her family and friends as often or as little as she liked. And when all else failed her, she could simply sit at home and bake bread. 

She turned away from Avitas, stealing back her knife and continuing to slice the loaf that sat before her. Her demeanor had become calmer, resolute.

“Now bleeding get back to work with festival preparations. And if any of your thickheaded students think to help you, please, allow them to do so.”

“Whatever you say, sir.”

As he walked away, chuckling as he went, she threw her knife at him. He caught it effortlessly and flung it right back at her. Then, he left without a backward glance.

They had been training in combat for years now, under the insistence of the commander of the Empire’s reserve force. Dex’s soldiers were likely to never be used - it was not as if war would ever approach the Empire - but they were incredibly skilled and were undoubtedly ready to lay down their lives for their people.

As their training stretched on, Helene and Avitas had become so skilled in the art of combat that they were granted permission to assist new recruits. The two of them were natural fighters. 

“Probably would have made bleeding good soldiers too,” Dex constantly reminded them, in hopes that he could convince them to join his ranks. Harper had finally caved in, and consented to training soldiers, so long as he didn’t have to commit to any formalities. Helene still wanted nothing to do with it.

She was content with her simple life as a baker with a wonderful lover by her side.

That night, as the tribes began arriving and Scholars spilled through the streets, Helene headed to the Saif caravans in search of Ilyaas and Laia. 

She spotted them walking through the streets near the caravans, hand in hand. 

Skies, it had been so long ago that she had fallen for Ilyaas. He had been a beautiful tribal boy when she’d first met him; cheeky, kind, mysterious. But when she had met Avitas, she realized that what she had felt for Ilyaas was a shallow thing, nothing compared to the depth of emotions she carried for her future husband.

And when she looked upon Ilyaas now, with Laia, ever joyful, she could feel nothing less than happiness for them both.

“Laia!” Helene laughed, pushing her way through the dense crowds, “Ilyaas!”

“Helene, we’ve missed you!” Laia said when Helene appeared beside her. The two friends shared a warm embrace.

“Laia, my love. How rude of you to exclude me.” Ilyaas wrapped them both in a bear hug, knocking all three of them to the ground and meriting murmured and shrieked complaints alike from those around them. 

“Would anyone care to tell me what is going on?” Avitas looked down upon them in mock confusion, his green eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

“Brother, you must join us.” Elias rose and wrapped his arm around Avitas’s shoulders. “Hail, big brother. I have grown taller than you.”

Avitas shoved him back to the ground. “You are slow witted as ever, I see.”

Once Elias regained his footing, the brothers reached their hands out to their wives, in an attempt to appear even slightly chivalrous. Both Helene and Laia refused them, rising of their own account. 

“You knock us to the ground, and then expect us to accept your assistance. Really Ilyaas, you will never change. Laia, you must do a better job at controlling your man.”

“She controls me just fine, in be-”

Laia wacked him on the head. 

“Shall we make our rounds through the festival?” Laia’s inquiry resulted in an eager nod from Elias.

“Whatever you say Laia, love of my life, amazing in spirit and amazing in be-”

Laia wacked him again.

Helene took Laia’s arm in her own and began walking away from Ilyaas and Avitas. “They can be such bleeding idiots sometimes.”

“Yes,” Laia said, sighing, “And we love them all the more for it.”

They walked at a slow pace, giving their husbands a chance to catch up with them. Once they did, Laia decided to set out for mooncakes.

“Bleeding merchants, bleeding flour, no bleeding mooncakes.” Avitas offered.

Helene nodded in agreement, attempting to hide her smirk with a sour expression.

Laia pouted disappointedly. “Then what are we to do now?”

Ilyaas extended a hand to his wife, “Would you care to dance, Kehanni?”

Helene turned to Avitas, reaching out her hand as well. “Dance with me.”