Secrets, Shadows & Shifting Loyalties

Aug 11

Day 3 plunges us deeper into the tangled woods of Prythian—both literal and emotional. Feyre is no longer just a captive; she’s a strategist, a seeker, and slowly, a woman awakening to her own desires and wounds. These chapters are packed with revelations, near-death encounters, and the first flickers of romance. Let’s unravel the threads.

Snaring the Suriel: Feyre the Strategist

Armed with Lucien’s advice and her bow, Feyre sets out to trap the Suriel. Her goal? Find a loophole in the Treaty and get back to her family. What she gets instead is a dose of harsh truth:

• There’s no way home that doesn’t end in death.

• Tamlin is the High Lord of the Spring Court (which… we already knew, right? 😉).

• She must stay with the High Lord and all will be well.

Just as the Suriel begins a juicy history lesson about the King of Hybern and the war, the Naga attack. Feyre’s instincts kick in, and what follows is a testament to her evolution…

Saving the Suriel & Trusting Tamlin

Feyre risks her life to release the Suriel from her snare, effectively saving it from the Naga. This isn’t just survival—it’s compassion. And when Tamlin arrives to save her, it’s clear that the dynamic between them is shifting.

By Chapter 16, Feyre begins to trust Tamlin. We find out that he glamoured her family’s memories to believe she’s caring for a dying aunt. He tells her they’re safe. And for the first time, Feyre opens up—about her love of painting, her lack of laughter in her life, and the weight of her past.

This is the moment I believe their love story begins. The art gallery becomes a symbol of beauty, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy.

“Dead Chickens, My Sagging Ass” Did Lucien Set Her Up?

Let’s talk about Lucien. The Suriel trap was dangerous, and Alys reveals that all Feyre had to do was offer it a cloak and the Suriel would have been groveling at her feet. So… the question of the hour is did Lucien know?

• Krystalyn: I think he did it on purpose but I also kinda get jackass vibes from him. I think he also wants to see what she can handle!

• Akira: Absolutely but I don’t think it was malicious

• Celita: I'm def marking a check in the malicious box which hurts my heart, because I love Lucien! He KNOWS how dangerous the Suriel is. If Alys knew all Feyre had to do was give it a cloak, Lucien definitely knew. Maybe he didn't intend her to be harmed...he still hesitated to go help her when she screamed.

Lucien remains a complex figure—equal parts snark and shadow.

“She Took My Wings”: A Faerie’s Death

Chapter 17 delivers one of the most heartbreaking scenes so far on our journey through Prythian. Tamlin bursts through the manor doors carrying a screaming faerie from the Summer Court. His wings were ripped off—not removed, not clipped—ripped.

The brutality of this moment shook the group. It’s a visceral reminder of the cruelty lurking beyond the Spring Court’s borders. And for Feyre, it’s a catalyst for emotional reckoning. She finally admits remorse for killing Andras:

“I regret that there was…such hate in my heart. I wish I could undo it - and…I’m sorry. So very sorry.”

Celita: A thought crossed my mind. Feyre admitted remorse for killing Andras. Her words: I regret that there was such hate in my heart. I always thought that she meant hate of faeries. Now that we are further into the story do you think that hate is actually towards her family and their situation, and she took it out on Andras?

QueenCarter4Reads: O'ooo I thought hate of faeries

Celita: Me too, but the more I think about it, the more I think that she is actually scared of them. I’m not sure she truly hates them. Maybe she thinks she does.

Akira: That a valid point I didn’t think of it that way

Paint, Pain & the Attor

Chapter 19 brings a quiet shift. Feyre’s painting supplies arrive, and for the first time, she does something for herself. No sacrifice. No survival. Just joy.

But that joy is tinged with anger. Her family never thanked her. Never saw her. And now, with distance, Feyre begins to feel the weight of that mistreatment.

In a tender garden moment, she opens up to Tamlin—only to be interrupted by the eerie arrival of the Attor. Feyre hides, listening. She can’t see it, but she hears enough to know something dark is stirring. Something she doesn’t yet understand.

Final Thoughts

Day 3 is a tapestry of emotional growth, political tension, and romantic awakening. Feyre is no longer just surviving—she’s beginning to feel. To want. To question. And with every chapter, the stakes rise.

Tomorrow, we’ll dive deeper into the mysteries of the Spring Court, the whispers of war, and the slow unraveling of Tamlin’s secrets.

Tag your thoughts with #ACOTARBuddyRead and let’s keep the magic flowing. 🌙

Celita M