A Court of Wings and Ruin: The Soap Opera Version

Part 1

Spoilers

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Discussion

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Spoilers 🪽 Discussion 🪽

I am fresh off the close of ACOMAF and I am hooked! ACOTAR was good mind you, but Mist and Fury definitely sealed the deal when it comes to finishing this series. Before I get a head of myself, let it be known that this is not a review, but a discussion, a deep dive really on the series up to the point of reading. Seeing as how I am only on book three of the series I will be recalling back to the first two books of the series, and this blog series are going to be spoiler heavy.

Now. Back on topic. At the close of ACOMAF Tamlin betrayed EVERYONE to the King of Hybern in order to get Feyre back, and they all walked right into the trap. In order to keep the ball in their court, Ianthe betrayed Tamlin and spilled the tea about Feyre’s human family. Elaine and Nesta are brought in bound and gagged and dunked into the cauldron as proof to two of the human queens that they can be Made and granted immortality. And wouldn’t you know it, turns out Elaine is Luciens mate! Cassian and Azriel are out of commission, bleeding out on the floor. No one in the Night Court party is willing to gamble with their lives, so Feyre does the only thing she can. She blasts through the wards that are holding them all in place under the guise of her breaking through a spell that Rhysand has on her, pretends that she is greatful that Tamlin and Lucien has come to save her from Rhysands evil clutches and agrees to return to the Spring Court if all the killing stops, and begs the King of Hybern to break her deal/bond with Rhysand. Both parties bounce back their ends of Prythian. Rhysand fills in his family that it was all a ruse. Breaking the deal bond did absolutely nothing because they snuck out the night before and eloped making Feyre not consort but High Lady of the Night Court. His equal in every way. And she is going to infiltrate the Spring Court and Hybern from the inside and burn it all to the ground. And while she is doing that the rest of the Night Court will be raging war across the continent.

Book 3

I've reached ACOWAR! I was enchanted by Tamlin and the Spring Court in ACOTAR, then SJM whisked me away to Velaris, where I became smitten with Rhysand and the Night Court. Now, as the journey unfolds, I open ACOWAR, and Feyre and I are confronted with our first love, who has become our adversary.

What I am expecting and hopeful for in ACOWAR

Feyre is going to do a lot of freaking lying and being downright deceitful and I can’t wait to see her in action. She is going to be a BEAST! I also expect a lot more character growth from her as well. Yes, she did grow… Some; in the first two books, but she is now a High Lady of her own court and a married woman. There is still room for a LOT more character growth. I would love to see Lucien have a redemption arc, and I think this is in the realm of possibilities seeing as how his mate is Feyre’s sister Elaine. He was one of my favorite characters in ACOTAR and I am rooting for it. Speaking of Mates. Am I the only one who can’t wait to see Nesta and Elaine in Fae-form? I kind of want to see how Nesta and Cassian’s relationship evolve. Would it be too much to hope that she and Cassian are also mates? From the sheer size of this book (700 pages) I am expecting some leading characters deaths. I don’t think Tamlin or Ianthe will make it to the next book, and dare I say it, I don’t think one of my beloved characters from the Night Court will either. And of course, I am hoping to get to fall in love with another court.

Princess of Carrion

Questions

1. What do you think of the title of Part 1, Princess of Carrion? What does it mean to you?

2. What do you think of Feyre’s plan to poison the Spring Court from within? Was she successful?

3. Do you think you would be able to infiltrate the Spring court like Feyre has?

4. If you were in Feyre’s shoes, would you forgive Lucien?

5. What are your thoughts about Jurian going into Part 2?

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Recap and Discussion

Feyre's situation is complex. As ACOWAR begins, she has returned to the Spring Court with a mission to collect vital information about Hybern's plans and to demolish Tamlin’s court from the inside. She is struggling with the urge to exact vengeance, but she knows her mission is more important than her revenge. Tamlin, still the fool, continues to welcome Ianthe into the manor despite the reveal of her betrayal at the end of ACOMAF. I'm really want to see Feyre confront her, but I have a hunch that Lucien might be the one to deal with Ianthe. In these initial chapters, the trustworthiness of the Spring Court is ambiguous, leaving Feyre to trust no one. Lucien's loyalty to Tamlin has been unwavering, but with Elaine now his mate, could his allegiances shift? Lucien has been a friend to Feyre, and while his association with Tamlin, and his unwillingness to help Feyre in ACOMAF cast him in a negative light, the burning question I have is will he redeem himself? I suspect he doesn't believe Rhysand kidnapped Feyre, evidenced by his discreet disposal of the melted engagement ring. Then there's Tarquin, the High Lord of the Summer Court, who remains silent about Feyre's visit despite the Night Court's deceit and theft of the Book of Breathings. Alis is still in Feyre’s service, and she has been giving Feyre the bombastic side-eye revealing that she was present when Mor came to take Feyre away from the Spring Court at her urging. Alis also tells Feyre that her story doesn’t really hold water. She confides that servants talk and despite Rhysand's orders from Amarantha to kill Fae, she never witnessed any cruelty from him towards the servants Under the Mountain. Moreover, she seems to be the only one who's noticed Feyre's flourishing during her "captivity," no longer looking like a strong breeze will knock her over. Needless to say, Feyre is eager to finish her task as quickly as possible to return to her true home: The Night Court.

“Here’s the first rule of this visit” I said to Jurian over my shoulder as I headed for the dining room, where lunch awaited. “Don’t threaten me in my own home.”

That was my first step: make Tamlin believe, truly believe, that I loved him and this place, and everyone in it.

Now, everyone is digging their holes deeper and deeper by throwing more shade at the Rhysand and the Night Court in Feyre’s presence. And Feyre made them eat every single remark at the Summer Solstice. Yass Queen, Yass! And I think Lucien just walked over to Feyre’s side.) eeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine Ianthe’s face? 😁

I let my glow spread, until it too, rippled from Lucien’s bowed form. A knight before his queen.

Feyre is a mastermind at manipulating the Spring Court, first setting the Hybern twins and Ianthe against each other, then Tamlin against Lucien. The intrigue is palpable! Feyre deliberately orchestrated a seemingly compromising situation with Lucien, timed perfectly for Tamlin's discovery.

Meanwhile, Jurian is becoming an interesting character. During a trip to the wall, they met three Children of the Blessed, whom Feyre, using her power of thought manipulation to scare them away. Based on the twins’ wicked facial expressions, this was the right thing to do. Jurian's gratitude was unexpected, throwing me for a loop since I pegged him as somewhat unhinged and willing to let Hybern do whatever Hybern wants to do. He confronted Feyre about her attempt at being 007, letting her know a bit about his past with Rhysand during the war and how Rhys's honorable nature contradicts her narrative. Jurian is shaping up to be more than your typical villain, which is quite thought-provoking. 🤔 He may be cray; but he certainly isn’t stupid.

“And yet you are - his mate. The most powerful High Lord in the world lost his mate, and has not yet come to claim her, even when she is defenseless in the woods.” Jurian chuckled. “Perhaps that’s because Rhysand has not lost you at all. But rather unleashed you upon us.”

The following morning, everyone wakes up with the smell of blood in the air. Lucien and Feyre find the bodies of the Children of the Blessed, savagely ripped to shreds by the Hybern Royals. This upsets Feyre, but it also plays into her subterfuge. She is supposed to be the Lady of the Court/Lands of Spring, and she gave those two a direct order to leave those kids alone. They disobeyed, further spreading the poison that Tamlin is a sell out and he just put Prythian and the human realm in great danger…For her. The Hybern Royals mutilated the bodies so badly, that it could only be a message for Feyre, and where she can stick her orders.

Behind the scenes, Feyre relentlessly undermines Tamlin and his court. It's bordering on comedic. As it turns out, Feyre has been playing a strategic long game. The trap she laid for Tamlin and Ianthe has been sprung. Following the twins' murder of the Children of the Blessed, Feyre and Lucien enticed the Bogge back to the camp and unleashed it upon the twins. Tamlin was furious, berating them upon their return to the manor. Due to Feyre's previous scheme, to sow doubt and distrust between the two, Tamlin was particularly harsh on Lucien, but Feyre came to his defense—being loud on purpose so that the guards outside the door overheard everything. Lucien didn’t make it any better by jumping to Feyre’s defense and was ultimately dismissed leaving Feyre and Tamlin alone. Feyre accused Tamlin of being a traitor and a coward, provoking Tamlin to lose control and recreate the explosive incident from the study (or was it the library?) in the first book, ACOTAR. This time, Feyre didn't shield herself from the blast, and Lucien rushed to her aid, all the while Feyre is laying it on thick. Now, the guards are beginning to question Tamlin's actions.

Now is a great time to mention that Feyre has begun to notice that her line of communication through her mating bond to Rhysand becoming difficult, also notices headaches from the strain of using her mental wards around everyone in the manor to shield their minds from the Hybern royals.

In a relentless quest to reclaim power and influence at the Spring Court, Ianthe sets her own snare. She drugs a guard, steals his keys, and releases seven naga onto the estate. Fortunately, (see my side eye?) due to a premonition from the cauldron, the naga are dispatched before they can get close to the manor. Let me say this: I sensed something was quite right with Ianthe during the events of ACOMAF even before Rhysand's told Feyre his history with her, but these initial chapters confirm she is diabolical and needs a swift backhand and a two piece (just saying). Back on topic. Feyre witnessed from the shadows what she has done and gave those memories to the guard. Tamlin, ready to punish the guard who dozed off on duty, unwittingly plays into the final act of Feyre's scheme. Using her power, she had the Sentry point out Ianthe’s wickedness right before the lashings begin. This halts everything, and everyone’s eyes are on Ianthe. Feyre begged Tamlin to hear the sentry’s side of the story.

And like I’d gambled, Tamlin’s need for control, for strength, won out.

Tamlin meted out twenty-one lashings to an innocent. Feyre's mission has been accomplished.

Am I the only one who thinks that Feyre has the WORST luck? (Rhysand and the Night Court are not included in this assessment) Feyre, feeling good about her accomplishments at setting the Spring Court on fire, begins her preparations to jump ship. She goes out to the wall with the Hybern twins and company for the last time. She is successful in dragging the last bit of pertinent info from the twins and sets out to return home. Only to stumble upon Lucien shackled to a tree with those awful power draining cuffs from Hybern, and Ianthe, practically molesting him. Listen y’all, I love Lucien. He will probably always be one of my favorite characters, but at that moment I was screaming at Feyre to LEAVE HIM! But did she listen? Of course not.

We all know Feyre had Ianthe mutilate her own hand with that because of what she did to Rhysand, and it had nothing to do with what Ianthe was doing to Lucien…right?

And wouldn’t you know it. Just as Feyre was turning to leave, The Hybern twins show up. The worst luck, Feyre. The worst.

“What apple,“ I bit out.

“The one you shoved down your throat and hour ago,” Brannagh said. “Grown and tended in the king’s personal garden, fed a steady diet of water laced with faebane. Enough to knock out your powers for a few days straight, no shackles required.”

Not gonna lie, I laughed myself silly at this revelation. Feyre thought she ate when she let the Hybern royals know she too is a daemati. And she thought she was actually doing being a good spy when she got them to reveal Hybern’s plans. They had been drugging everyone’s food this whole time. and didn’t think she was going to be much of a challenge. What they didn’t know. Our Feyre was trained by the one and only Cassian. Needless to say, they Hybern twins didn’t make it out of that fight alive. After a quick adjustment to Ianthe’s memories, Lucien and Feyre are bound for the Night Court, via the scenic route. First stop, The Autumn Court.

My Answers

1. At first, the title was a little confusing. Princess? Isn’t she High Lady, or rather Queen? When I looked at the titles of the other two parts, I’m am thinking that these are the stages of Feyre’s growth from Human to High Fae. It also sounds a bit like something The Book of Breathings would call her.

2. I am not quite sure which side of the fence I am going to be on by the end of the book, but…Tamlin did what he thought was right, based on the lies that has been spread about the Night Court. My mind changed when he whipped the sentry. For fifty years they sacrificed themselves to help Tamlin break the curse Aramantha put on them, and when it mattered most, he wasn’t willing to hear him out. At that point I was looking for the gasoline.

3. No. If I put myself in Feyre’s shoes, she struggled not to attack them on a regular basis for what they did to her family. I do not have that level of patience.

4. Yes. What did Lucien really do? I order to make this answer make sense, yes Lucien and Feyre were friends, but it was Lucien and Tamlin for much longer than Lucien and Feyre. Not to mention Tamlin runs his court much differently than Rhysand does the Night Court. Lucien did try to have Tamlin see things from a different perspective. Feyre knew she wasn’t happy or doing well. She can’t really blame Lucien for not being her savior. Yes she can be upset/angry/hurt because he didn’t help. But it seems that he does care for her, and holds her friendship close to his heart.

5. Jurian seems to be a very complex character going into part two, and there’s more than meets the eye with him. He cares about what happens to the humans in all of this, and his alliance with Hybern only raises more questions. I think because the king resurrected him, he is bound to him somehow, and he don’t like it one bit. Not to mention he is driven by revenge.