ACOWAR Part 2-3
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Chapters 23-27
Spoilers
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Discussion
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Spoilers 🪽 Discussion 🪽
Cursebreaker
Questions
What do you think about Elaine and Lucien’s first official meeting?
At this point in the story, who do you think will win in a fight? Nesta or Rhysand?
What is your theory on Elaine’s prophecy?
Recap and Discussion
Photo Credit: fictionfanart.com & Agent.Book
“Would you be frightened of her, if Nesta was - Death? Or if her power came from it?”
Cassian was quite for a long moment.
He said at last, “I’m a warrior. I’ve walked beside Death my entire life. I would be more afraid for her, to have that power. But not afraid of her.” He considered, and added after a heartbeat, “Nothing about Nesta could frighten me.”
Soooo. The Bone Carver has some tea to spill. Where’s my glass?
Come to find out, the Bone Carver does not wish to return to his home. In fact, he doesn’t even want to leave his cell. He is where he wishes to be. Furthermore, he let himself be imprisoned. One thing to note: As he is speaking, he draws three interlocking circles in the dirt. The Weaver, whose given name is Stryga is his twin, and they, have an older brother, Koschei. The ancient Fae feared and worshipped them. During the time when the three siblings were at their most powerful, and Fae warrior tricked Stryga and Koschei into diminishing their powers and confining them to their current dwellings. Stryga in the middle where we last saw her during ACOMAF, and Koschei by a little lake on the continent. This warriors name is lost to time. No one remembers it except the Bone Carver. His regret, that he made a decision prematurely. Had he waited, this Fae warrior would have been his salvation. He knew that she would not be strong enough to kill them, so he made his way to the Prison to hide from them. When pressed by Feyre on why he would do such a thing, Bone Carver revealed that he is hiding from them because they are Death Gods. He prefers to remain forgotten. Even though his siblings’ powers are diminished they still have many followers. My thoughts? He must have betrayed them, or he wouldn’t be hiding from them. He claims he is different from his siblings. I wonder how different? Especially considering that Stryga is his twin. I don’t think I would be wrong to think they were born identical in strength and power.
When the Bone Carver learns that the Night Court is bound for the Hewn City, he offers his assistance in exchange for the Ouroboros mirror. This mirror used to belong to Stryga, but it is now a family heirloom and in the possession of Keir.
Anyone else pissed that Cassian nor Feyre thought to ask for the Bone Carver or the Fae warriors names?
Photo Credit: Storm @ Pinterest
But my siblings and I… We are different. And the two of them… Stronger. So much stronger than I ever was. My sister…she found a way to eat life itself. To stay young and beautiful forever thanks to the lives she steals.
Our Night Court family are putting the final touches on their trip to the Hewn City. Elaine has finally emerged from her room and into the family library. Feyre eventually finds her and Nesta there. Elaine mentions that she can see further and hear more. "I can hear your heartbeat - if I listen carefully, I can hear her heartbeat, too.” She also mentions hearing the cry of a bird of fire.
Who is “her”? Elaine said, If I listen carefully, I can hear her heartbeat too. I had to read that part back. The first time I read it, I assumed she was talking about Nesta. But she obviously isn’t talking about Nesta. Why would she have to listen carefully when Nesta is in the same room? She can hear the ocean miles away, clear as day, I might add. She can also here Lucien’s’ heartbeat through the walls. Whoever this her is, she is very far away indeed. And it sounds like a very bad omen. There is definitely more to Elaine than meets the eye.
Feyre pulls Nesta off to the side out of view, put up her wind barrier for a private conversation about Elaine. Enter Lucien: Stage left. I have been waiting for this moment since the end of ACOMAF! While they are hidden from the encounter, Feyre makes the decision to enter Luciens mind, and let me tell you…Lucien’s inner monolouge matches his outwardly personality. He is devastated to see Elaine in such a state. But it was Elaine’s words to him that broke his heart into pieces. “You betrayed us.” I don’t know what I was expecting. Well, that’s not true. I was expecting a lovely, and very awkward first introduction. Yes, Lucien has a lot to answer for, but I imagined Elaine willing to hear him out.
Under Lucien’s guidance the sisters were moved to the townhouse. Azriel carrying Elaine, and Nesta with Rhysand. (hilarious!) This was probably one of the funniest AND dramatic scenes so far in this book.
Photo credit: magicnaanavi
I am Lucien. Seventh son of the High Lord of the Autumn Court.
Nesta always had a temper but now that she has been Made, she seems furious. All. The. Time. Funnily enough, she thought she could take on Rhysand after his stunt on their way to the townhouse. (I can’t stop laughing about that.) And Cassian, regardless of whatever he is feeling for Nesta, stepped in her path and was ready to brawl. Lucien asked: What are you? to which Nesta replied: I made it give something back. A very important question came to Feyre’s mind. How long had her sisters been inside that cauldron? Also, am I wrong for now hoping that Elaine and Azriel end up together? Damn SJM. Stop playing with my emotions! And to add the icing on the cake, Feyre thinks that Azriel and Elaine are better suited too.
Photo Credit: Natalia@pinterest
We have arrived at the Hewn City. Last time the Night Court was there Feyre played a very different part. This time she sits the throne with Rhysand by her side. During Negotiations for Keirs’ Army, Keir crossed a line by asking to bed Feyre. Rhys, to everyone’s surprise played his trump card: Eris. Too bad for Rhysand, that Keir could care less about another bargain with the Autumn court. Because of the attack Velaris is not much of a secret anymore, and in exchange for his Army, Keir demands access to the city. Another hiccup, the mirror the Bone Carver requested for isn’t so easily obtained. In the biggest turn of events so far, Eris says in so many words, that everything that has been said about him has been far from the truth. He wasn’t present at the murder of Lucien’s lover. He also said that Lucien made it to the Spring boarder with his help. I have some questions for Lucien. For his alliance and silence about what he witnessed concerning Feyre’s powers while on the ice, Eris wants to murder his father Beron and ascend to the throne with The Night Courts support.
We already knew that Amren wasn’t Fae, exactly. Her eyes tell the truth of it. One of the obstacles is freeing the Bone Carver from the Prison, and there is only one person who has ever done it. Up until this point Amren has been silent of how she accomplished it. Now, we finally get some of Amren’s history. Amren said she had always been different. Too curious for her own good. When the tear appeared in her world, she didn’t run like her siblings. Her curiosity moved her toward the tear and she fell into Prythian. She wound up in the Prison somehow and desperate to escape, she gave up everything she was. Buried it deep within herself. Bound herself to a body the Prision couldn’t recognize. The cost to free the Carver. Bind him. Make him Fae. Amren can be unbound but she would not be the same.
Elaine arrives speaking in riddles about young hands withering with age, a black box of stone, and a feather of fire land on snow and melt it. Something is angry about a theft, so it took something from it as punishment. Lucien tries again to convince them to do a little more for Elaine. Feyre agrees and contacts a doctor. And Rhysand. Poor Rhysand. He is not handling the consequences of his decisions very well at all.
My Answers
I always thought that both parties involved felt the pull of the mating bond. I was practically vibrating when Lucien walked into the library and saw Elaine. I really did think that all she needed to snap her out of the fog was to see her mate. I think SJM did a wonderful job with her character, because, like all the characters in the book, I am having a difficult time reconciling who she is now, after the cauldron changed her. I still remember her character from ACOTAR and ACOMAF.
Nesta is scary, and have a short fuse, but at this point in the story, I think Rhysand would mop the floor with her.
With all the foreshadowing that went on when Feyre and Cassian visited the Bone Carver, I think that this is about the Ancient Fae who managed to lock away the death-gods long ago.
