Smut!, Sentient House, the Power of Friendship, Valkyries, Romance Novels, Trauma and Coping, Magical Objects, This Thing Will Be Dangerous Later...oh wait never mind
Eh, Nesta ~500-
The book starts with Cassian pulling Nesta away from her apartment because the rest of the Night Court (oh no, this just made think of the show Night Court, and I don't think I'll be able to separate them now) has decided Nesta can no longer be left to her own devices. All she does is drink and fuck strangers and refuse to see her family. She doesn't eat. She barely sleeps. She's full of rage and hatred, and she deserves to be. After a disastrous meeting with Feyre and the other members of the Night Court, Cassian hauls Nesta to the House of Wind where she'll be staying, well-away from access to booze and men (10,000- steps-up-a-mountain away, to be exact). Nesta has to train with Cassian and work at the library with the priestesses, or she'll be dumped in the human lands. She's angry at everyone for forcing her into this, but feels trapped enough that she goes along with it...for the most part. One thing that doesn't sit quite right about this is that, obviously, Nesta is reeling from the mental health impacts of the things from her past, including a lot of self-hatred. Her family, Cassian, the rest of the Night Court, treat her pretty badly, thus confirming that she should hate herself. On the one hand, Nesta is not kind and drives everyone away, so their treatment of her is fueled by her treatment of them; and on the other, Nesta deserves time and space to grieve and heal, which they forcefully take from her. It's not the best!
I've already written a post about why Nesta's story had no real interest for me on it's own, and having finally finally finished this book, I've been able to refine my thoughts a little more. I find Nesta to be a compelling character; she's an asshole, we stan. Except, we spent four previous books getting to know Nesta through Feyre's perspective, and obviously Feyre and Nesta had a difficult relationship, so Nesta doesn't come off great. Not that she isn't deserving of sympathy, but not exactly a character I was interested in knowing more about. There's also the issue of having had four whole books to really get to know Feyre, so when we experience Feyre's many traumas, we're doing it along with her; we're already rooting for her. So, to be thrown into ACSF and being with Nesta who has been mostly terrible (albeit understandably) and now is dealing with so much, is sort of a chore. And as Nesta heals, I did find the story more interesting, found myself more invested, but this book is seven-hundred-some pages, and I didn't really feel motivated to read until, like, page 450.
No, I Just Won't Train in this Specific Place ~1,000-
Nesta does fine at the library, and doesn't seem to really mind her work re-shelving books. She's frightened to go the lower levels, as that's where Bryaxis lived, but otherwise seems okay with the arrangement. However, she refuses to train with Cassian. They go up to Windhaven several times only to have Nesta refuse to join and watch as Cassian trains. In general, it's not clear why they have to go to Windhaven, when they have a training area at the House of Wind, except for Cassian to make the Magical Discovery that Nesta is too proud to train in front of Illyrian warriors (and also, I guess, SJM couldn't work in another way for Nesta and Emerie to meet??). This is goofy and I hated it. It's handled like Cassian solving a puzzle and is a ridiculous plot device. She could have been too proud to train at first at the House of Wind and probably her deciding to trust Cassian in that scenario would have been more effective for the narrative!
Trauma ~10,000+
As mentioned above, this novel focuses a lot on Nesta overcoming the traumas of her childhood and the war, and I enjoyed that journey. I loved the progression of Nesta first being forced to the House of Wind and how working at the library and training helped her come back to herself. I thought these things were paced really well; she doesn't automatically become better as soon as she's forced to go to the House of Wind, she works at it and makes mistakes. She doesn't lose the parts of her personality that I enjoy--she still can be cold and hard, but gains a healthier attitude towards herself. Plus, she makes best friends and the love and support between Gwyn, Emerie, and Nesta is A-plus. Honestly, I think I would have liked the book more if the focus was more on the friendships and less on the romance with Cassian.
The Dread Trove (lol lol) ~5,000-
It's called the Dread Trove. Like, I don't know what else to say.
Briallyn the human Queen that the Cauldron turned into a Fae Crone, is trying to collect these forgotten objects of power called the Dread Trove. It's a crown, a mask, and a harp. Briallyn has the crown and can control people's thoughts, the mask allows you to raise and command the dead, the harp allows you to move through time and space. Rhys and Co believe Nesta can find the Dread Trove because she was Made by the Cauldron, and so she and Cassian go on missions to retrieve the things. The missions themselves are fine? They're interesting enough. But the three magical objects thing is played soooo played out. In general, and I'll get to this later, the main action plot of this book Is Bad.
Rhys and Feyre ~100-
Feyre is pregnant. She's pregnant and the baby his wings, but her body is not equipped to birth a winged baby, so Feyre will die. Though, Feyre has the power to shapeshift, she can't risk it doing harm to the baby. Rhys does not tell Feyre this, though everyone else knows, because he wants to find a solution and not worry her. In a moment of rage, Nesta storms down the 10,000 steps and tells Feyre her baby is going to kill her, and also probably die itself. Later, in a Big Reveal, Rhys and Feyre share that they made a bargain, so if one dies, they both die.
This gets a negative score because I am just way more interested in all of this happening with them, than I am most of Nesta and Cassian's stuff, and usually I hate pregnancy storylines.
Super Gendered Romance Language ~50,000-
It's gross when a book describes someone as "all man" or "all woman" or any other super gendered language like that. There are other ways to describe a hot body other than hinging it on their perceived masculinity or femininity.
Valkyries ~10,000+
Nesta makes friends with a priestess named Gwyn. Gwyn works for another priestess who is writing a book on a group of female warriors called Valkyries. They were all killed holding a mountain pass, and haven't existed since. Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie, as they train with Cassian and Azriel, start to train with the techniques Gwyn learns about while researching the Valkyries. It involves mind-stilling (meditation) along with general warrior stuff. It strengthens the friendship between Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie, helps Nesta believe in her own self-worth, and proves her dedication and commitment to training to Cassian.
THE HOUSE ~10,000+
The house is sentient and wants to be friends with Nesta. It brings her romance novels it enjoys and also tries to make her eat and drink to stay healthy and stuff. There is this sort of weird thing where Nesta and Gwyn look into the lowest levels of the library and feel deep sadness/darkness and Nesta is afraid. She thinks maybe something of Bryaxis is still down there since Bryaxis spent such a long in the library. It turns out that the deepest levels of the library contain the heart of the house, and really the sadness/darkness was the house trying to communicate. Which, okay, makes sense in the context of the magic house! But also Nesta and Gwyn become afraid and want to run from the darkness, which doesn't really line up with the house trying to make friends. And ultimately, the house leads Nesta into the darkest part and shows her its heart and she's no longer afraid, but also I hated that this is teased as spooky/thrilling and it's actually nothing. Reminded me of the jump scares at the end of a "Goosebumps" chapter.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ~10,000+
After Cassian and Nesta "make love" 😖 for the first time, Cassian runs away a little bit (because they complete the mating bond and he wants to do nothing but fuck but doesn't want to scare Nesta), and while he's gone Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie have a sleepover! Where they read romance novels! And eat junk food! Gwyn and Emerie learn that the house obeys Nesta, and they ask it for fun and silly things (like a tiny pegasus and tubs filled with bubbles). Gwyn also brings friendship bracelet making supplies, they make bracelets for each other, and Nesta makes a wish on a charm that they'll always be able to find each other (or something like that).
Blood Rite~ 1,000+
For Illyrians, like Rhys, Azriel, and Cassian, the must complete the Blood Rite to become warriors. The Rite entails being left in the wilderness without weapons, wings, or magic and having to survive against the fellow participants, the creatures, and the elements. The goal is to climb a scared mountain. Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie are kidnapped and forced to participate in the Blood Rite against their will (this is Bad. Like, it's Gross to read about women who suffered severe trauma from men then be attacked by men). They're left in three separate regions but the CHARMS ON THEIR FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS bring them back together. Even with injuries, and the attacks from the male competitors, they still make it to the mountain. Gwyn and Emerie end up reaching the summit and "winning," while Nesta stays behind to fight off a group of males.
Nesta Dancing ~5,000+
As a child, before the poverty, Nesta was trained in all the skills that would secure her a wealthy husband. She excelled at dancing. Elain shares a story of a time that Nesta, out of spite, danced one dance with an eligible duke (? I think), and got him to propose. It comes out, because of this story, that Nesta loves dancing and music. So, obviously, this is going to play a role in the plot later (Chekov's Dance). So, Cassian, Nesta, and Eris (remember, Lucien's brother who was supposed to marry Mor) are having a secret meeting in the Spring Court and Tamlin (still a beast; still sucks) catches them. Worried that Eris will panic and leave their alliance, Rhys and Co decide that they need Nesta to dance with Eris to ensure his allegiance and silence. It works.
WHY WASN'T THIS MORE A PART OF THIS BOOK??? I would have cared so much! Like, she could have talked to Cassian about it after they'd been training for a bit? And Cassian could have encouraged it and given her music earlier???
Uh, WTF is Happening with Amren?~ 5,000-
This isn't a specifically Amren issue, but she's the catalyst? Maybe that's not the right word. ANYWAY. Nesta and Cassian visit a blacksmith and Nesta asks if she can hammer some weapons. The blacksmith agrees, but later shows up at Rhys's with the weapons, saying that they're cursed. Rhys and Co determine that Nesta Made the weapons, so they are imbued with the Cauldron's magic. They argue about whether or not to tell Nesta (she's not in this meeting), and Feyre has to cast the deciding vote later. Before leaving, Amren warns Rhys, Azriel, and Cassian not to unsheathe the weapons. Of course, as soon as she's gone they do, and--nothing happens whatsoever. Amren then comes back in the room and calls them all fools, but also stands around some more and talks to them about the weapons. Literally nothing bad happens with this?? It makes no sense why she warns them not to unsheathe the weapons and then chills with the boys after they do. There were also a lot of hints towards a big confrontation between Amren and Nesta that doesn't really happen. Amren also pushes that Nesta is dangerous for refusing to learn how to control her magic, but nothing happens with this either. This book has a lot of "Uh oh, Danger!" moments like this that are never capitalized on.
Of Course They're Mates~ 5,000-
Is this at all exciting or interesting? It seems like it's been inevitable since they met. So, while, I do generally enjoy this relationship, there were 0 stakes with whether or not they would get together. OBVIOUSLY, that was what was going to happen. To be fair! Also pretty obvious that Rhys and Feyre were mates, but I felt like there was more a real chance that they wouldn't end up together. Cassian and Nesta felt inevitable in an uninteresting way.
Evil Queens are Easy to Beat ~10,000-
Okay, SO. Briallyn has the crown and is working with the dude trapped in the lake. She wants to be young and immortal and the dude doesn't want to be trapped in a lake anymore (reasonable?). Briallyn has the crown from the Dread Trove and can make anyone do her bidding. She's been kidnapping Eris's soldiers and using mind control to send them after other Trove objects. When Nesta finds the harp, which opens doors in time and space, she and Briallyn mentally connect, and Briallyn threatens Nesta because she knows Nesta is collecting the other Trove items.
Then, Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie are kidnapped into the Blood Rite and also Eris goes missing, presumably kidnapped by Briallyn. Azriel and Cassian are not allowed to pull Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie out of the Blood Rite, even though they went in against their will, so instead they have to go rescue Eris.
On the last day of the Rite, as Nesta must make her last stand before the summit, she encounters an Illyrian warrior who is under Briallyn's mind control (oh, also there were weapons stashed around the course based on Briallyn's orders). As Nesta fights, Azriel and Cassian try to rescue Eris, but it was a ploy for Briallyn to grab Cassian and winnow into the Blood Rite. The other Illyrian is killed and then Briallyn uses the crown to order Cassian to kill Nesta. Struggle, struggle, struggle, Cassian moves to kill himself instead of Nesta. With the force of Love, Nesta unleashes her powers on Briallyn.
There is no big fight here. Nesta "unmakes" Briallyn and she's gone, that's it.
Glad we spent so many pages leading up to this nothing confrontation.
Save the Baby, Save the World~ 5,000-
AND THEN ALSO. Feyre is pregnant with that baby that's going to kill her. And if she dies Rhys will die. So after this thing with Briallyn, Feyre is giving birth and dying. Nesta, who now has all the Trove items at her disposal, uses the harp to freeze time and bargains with the Cauldron to take her powers away if the Cauldron will save Feyre and the baby.
You'll never guess what happens next! It works! And then everything is fine. Feyre and Nesta love each other again. Rhys now loves Nesta too. Everything is good and perfect!
I'm into Whatever is Going on with Lucien, Elain, and Azriel When Do We Get That book ~1,000-
Seriously, what is happening with them????? Nesta fantasizes about having a threesome with Casisan and Azriel, is that what's going to happen with Lucien, Elain, and Azriel? Yes, Please
Also Can Mor Please Have a GF Already? And Can it be Emerie? ~1,000-
I want this. It doesn't even have to be Emerie, but let Mor have a girlfriend and let it be sexy.
Verdict: This book is too long. And even though I loved many, many things, I disliked so many more. Inconsistent plotting, weird pace, tension is built around things that never happen or fizzle out. I mean, it's a bad sign if there are characters in the book that I want to read about more than the main characters. Also, hate the mid-series cover change.
Skip it.
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