The Mask and the Message

Day 1

Prologue and Chapters 1-7

Welcome back, book besties! This installment of Feyre’s journey opens not with triumph, but with silence and blood. In the prologue, we find Rhysand searching the battlefield for Cassian and Azriel—two years before the wall went up. It’s a haunting image: the most powerful High Lord, knee-deep in death, desperate to find his brothers. This quiet grief sets the tone for what’s to come. War isn’t just looming - it’s already begun.

Roses and Ruin

Feyre has infiltrated the Spring Court, and so far, her ruse is holding. A glamour conceals her right hand and forearm, hiding the truth: she is High Lady of the Night Court. The scent of roses, once comforting, now feels suffocating. She plays the part of a grateful consort, smiling, nodding, pretending to be “home.”

But beneath the surface, Feyre is seething. Her hatred for Ianthe has only grown since Hybern’s attack, and now the priestess is on her way to the manor to “explain” herself. Lucien warns Feyre that Ianthe will twist the truth, and he’s right. Ianthe claims she acted in Feyre’s best interest - so she could be with her sisters forever, and so Lucien wouldn’t lose Elain too soon, now that they know they are mated. Feyre daydreams of tearing her apart.

Lucien speaks out against Hybern but quiets himself in Ianthe’s presence. Tamlin promises caution, but admits that certain sacrifices have already been made. Hybern has promised to leave the Spring Court untouched. Jurian will arrive that afternoon. The first Hybern delegation arrives tomorrow. So, I guess they are using the Spring Court as a base of operations because of its proximity to the wall?

Minds and Manipulation

Jurian arrives with two commanders: Prince Dagdan and Princess Brannagh, the twins and niece and nephew to the King of Hybern. Their mission is to survey the wall and test for weak spots.

Feyre uses the mating bond to pass information to Rhysand and to ask about Cassian and Azriel, though it feels like speaking underwater - a stark contrast to the clarity Rhys once used in ACOMAF. His reply is brief: Cassian and Azriel are alive and healing.

Feyre continues her performance, trading barbs with Jurian and even setting up a clever jab to convince Tamlin she still loves him. Jurian, meanwhile, stirs tension to open minds for the twins. Feyre suspects the twins are Daemati and casts a protective net around Tamlin and Lucien’s minds. It works - but it costs her. The twins now know she has this power and she felt the toll of using the magic.

According to our poll, this was our favorite moment of power.

80% of the group voted for Feyre shielding minds from the Hybern twins—proof that quiet resistance can be just as powerful as open defiance.

Proximity and Provocation

The group travels to a hole in the wall - the very one Feyre crossed her first time. Lucien is suspicious, even if he doesn’t know what Feyre is planning. She positions herself knee-to-knee, nose-to-nose with him, just as Jurian and the twins arrive. The implication is clear, even if the conversation is innocent.

Ianthe wants to host a party to welcome their guests and celebrate the Summer Solstice. Lucien begs Feyre not to tell Elain about his past with Ianthe - more specifically the Rite, where Tamlin refused to participate and Lucien took his place. Ianthe insisted on being the maiden. (Barf.)

Alys notices Feyre’s appearance doesn’t match her lies. She reminds Feyre that she was there the day Mor came and shattered the cocoon of power Feyre had wrapped around herself. Alys also reminds her that she’s originally Summer Court—and that servants talk.

Light and Lies

It’s the morning of the Summer Solstice - exactly one year since Feyre and Tamlin shared their first kiss. Ianthe has a long, self-glorifying ceremony planned, but Feyre manipulates it. She places Ianthe in the precise spot where the sun should rise between her arms. But when the light breaks, it’s Feyre who glows. Dressed in white, she releases the damper on her power and shines with divine brilliance. Ianthe, who has never shown power, is eclipsed. Feyre Cursebreaker is radiant. Holy. Untouchable.

20% of readers voted for this moment, but it still shimmered with divine defiance. Feyre didn’t just steal the spotlight - she rewrote the script.

That night, Feyre risks another message to Rhysand. Each word is quieter than the last, but the bond still holds.

Saltwater and Strategy

After a nightmare, Feyre doesn’t go to Tamlin - she goes across the hall, to Lucien. She throws her arms around his neck, letting seawater from Tarquin’s gift run down her face like tears. A truth and a lie. The nightmares are real, but they do not consume her the way they used to at the beginning of ACOMAF. Tamlin arrives just in time to see the embrace. The tension simmers. Feyre is playing a dangerous game, and Tamlin is starting to unravel.

Bargains and Blame

The group travels to another hole in the wall, this one two days from the manor. Feyre and Lucien share a tent, and Lucien is wary. Feyre warns him that when he bends to Tamlin’s paranoia, he is making things worse. Lucien counters that Tamlin’s tension stems from their lack of intimacy. Feyre is still spinning the lie that Rhysand took advantage of her, and that is why she has no desire for Tamlin.

We learn two crucial things:

• Bargains are old magic, rarely used because the consequences of breaking them are severe.

• Tamlin made his bargain with Hybern at Ianthe’s urging.

We also learn that Tamlin lost his mind. After Feyre’s “abduction”, Tamlin demolished the manor and executed the sentries who failed to stop her.

The next morning, Jurian spies how cozy Feyre and Lucien were in the tent. Another check in the Feyre column as her plans for the Spring Court continue towards fruition.

Chapter 7: Truth and Terror

At the wall, three Children of the Blessed appear. Jurian, Lucien, and Feyre warn them to leave or die. The twins invite them to cross -for “fun.” Feyre uses her power to show them the truth of what she thinks happened to others who crossed. She pushes her magic through the wall, and it exhausts her.

Jurian is annoyed that history has been lost - how humans were once slaves to the Fae. He confronts Feyre, hinting that he knows her game. He remembers Rhysand from the war and doesn’t believe the monster stories. His words cut deep:

"Perhaps he has not lost you at all. But rather unleashed you upon us."

The next morning, everyone wakes to the smell of blood. The twins crossed the wall and mutilated the Children of the Blessed. Feyre and Lucien decide to send a message of their own.

Final Thoughts: The Game Begins

These chapters are a slow, simmering descent into psychological warfare. Feyre is orchestrating. Every smile, every lie, every flicker of power is a move on the board. She manipulates Ianthe’s ceremony, shields minds from Daemati twins, and uses grief as strategy. Tamlin is unraveling. Lucien is watching. Jurian is catching on.

And the twins? They’ve drawn blood. Feyre will answer.

Whether you’re reading along or just peeking in, you’re invited to join our buddy read. Each day we’ll dive into new chapters, share reflections, and celebrate the emotional journey together.

• Which moment made you gasp, cheer, or cringe?

• Do you think Lucien will eventually side with Feyre - or Tamlin?

• What do you make of Jurian’s insight into Rhysand and Feyre’s relationship?

Drop your thoughts below, share your favorite quote, or tag a friend to join the buddy read.