#sjm critical
Ayyo how are we all forgetting the women’s rights movement of 2021 when our feminist icon rhysand chose not to tell his very pregnant wife that the birth would 100% kill her
He pretty much went around battling misogyny with his mountain shaking roars y'all could never-
I hate how Sarah just introduces new information when it fits the narrative and forgets about it as soon as it’s not convenient anymore.
Like how Nesta knew how to shoot with a bow perfectly well during the rite, because Feyre had taught her even though Feyre told us the contrary in the previous books. All of that because she needed to find a way for this scene to work out.
Or how suddenly Nesta told Tamlin she would not take Feyre’s place when he barged in their cabin the first time, even though it never happened. All of that because she needed for the readers to think she had to atone for that, to make us think she was a bitch in that scene.
Or Rhysand’s abuse by Amarantha, which she used for angst in ACOMAF but abandoned as soon as she didn’t need this part of his past anymore. Never to be heard about again.
when i remember that cassian couldn’t even win over nesta the way a normal man should and could genuinely only get her when she was at the lowest, most vulnerable headspace of her life and when she was literally locked in a house with him so she had no other options and was practically forced to give him the time of day
the way the house of wind (a literal house) made nesta feel better, provided her more comfort, made her laugh and smile more times than cassian in the entirety of acosf
spending eternity with a pathological gaslighter and his friends who hate her has to be nesta’s punishment for the bad things she’s done in her life
I think the reason why I can like villains like Cersei and Tywin lannister, is because the narrative writes them neutrally and as they are which are villains. That then gives you the decision to stan or hate them as you please and doesnt try to bamboozle and force you to believe that they are anything but, like acotar does with rhysand. Realistically, rhysand is a villain but he’s portrayed in such a way that forces you to believe otherwise. No leader who prioritizes one city, is privy to using sexual assault as a means to an end, perpetuates debaucherous behaviour in one of his courts and let’s gender stereotypes run rampant within his army, should be seen as a paragon, feminist or misunderstood soft boy. But acotars narrative insults our intelligence by trying to convince us away from common sense.
Tywin has killed people for the sake of his family and retaining power and so has rhysand. But why do I respect tywin instead of rhys? Because he owns his actions and doesnt try to say it’s for some greater good that no one can see. The narrative writes tywin’s actions as crimes and Rhys’ like a favour to humanity, which is what I cant stand. Then after those crimes, people are rightfully wary of both chatacters and seldom trust them, but in acotar people magically warm up to rhys and befriend him just because he looked sad years after the act? Kallias and Vivian lost 2 dozen younglings from their court due to rhys actions or inaction but now they’re celebrating starfall with them? How is that even possible?
I know that comparing GOT to Acotar is unfair given the careers and stature of the authors, but some of these issues could’ve been easily avoided if common sense was applied. Tamlin and rhys have been estranged for centuries after the family massacres, rightfully so. But somehow the other courts forgive him with a snap of his fingers after all the crimes he committed against them to save himself in the past 50 years. Rhys never has to work hard for anything. Everything falls into his hands and that’s so annoying and unrealistic. He can kill people and be forgiven, be a tyrant but get respect, be possessive but its framed as cute and threaten his sister in law and frame HER as the villain and never have to apologize for any of these actions.
Me seeing these issues that annoy the hell out of me but staying in the fandom shows that this is a guilty pleasure. I have no choice in this.
someone said they miss the fae-ness of this story and i think i have to agree. all the sense of wonder and magic that came from the spring court and even UtM (as messed up as it was) has gone. like unknown spells that need to be broken, servants hidden by weird spells, magic pools of water, fae drinks that make humans ridiculous, etc.
sjm never wanted to fully fall into fae tropes which we can see when they laugh at feyre for thinking they can’t lie, or that iron does nothing against fae. and you could argue the magic disappeared as feyre became stronger and started to see the world as it is but the world building almost feels completely modern and i hate that.
like im not asking for fae with tails (looking at you holly black) and i know these pretty much purely romance books at this point but just some! magical! tricksy! world building! please!
