Thrones, Bargains and Burning Queens

Aug 31

Welcome back, book besties! This stretch of chapters was a masterclass in tension. Theres political maneuverings, prophetic whispers, and one very hungry library monster lurking in the shadows. Feyre’s rise to power is both dazzling and dangerous, deals are struck with devastating consequences, and Elain’s quiet unraveling begins to echo with eerie clarity. Let’s descend into the chaos together.

A Queen Ascends, A Deal Decays

Feyre’s entrance into the Hewn City is a moment of calculated spectacle. With Rhys at her side, she’s led to the throne where he commands the court to bow. A command that’s more than ceremonial. It’s a declaration. But as the shadows bend to her will, the Inner Circle begins to fracture. Keir, ever the opportunist, voices sympathy for Hybern, and the arrival of Eris, escorted into the meeting throws everyone off balance.

Rhysand intends to sweeten the deal for Kier’s darkbringer legion with Eris offering a formal alliance. But Keir, emboldened by his information from Hybern, demands access to Velaris. Rhys agrees, and the cost is steep: trust within the Inner Circle begins to erode. Feyre demands the Ouroboros Mirror. Keir consents, but with a chilling caveat: she must look into it to claim it, and those who’ve dared before having been shattered by what they saw.

Eris, meanwhile, tries to clear the muddied waters of his reputation. He insists he would have never harmed Mor, wasn’t present at Jesminda’s death, and even defied his father order to do so. He was punished and when he got free, he was the one who sent Tamlin word to go to the border of Spring to help.

The cost of Eris’s support in this offered alliance between the Hewn City and Autumn? His father’s throne. Eris wants to overthrow Beron. Will he be more of the same leader or better? His allegiance in the war may be genuine, but it’s laced with ambiguity. Is this a bid for redemption or a strategic play in a longer, darker game?

Poll Question: “Do you believe Eris's version of events concerning Mor and Jasminda's murder?”

• ✅ Yes – He's telling the truth: 20%

• ❌ No – He's manipulating perception: 0%

• 🤔 Maybe – Truth and lies are tangled: 60%

• 🫣 I don't know – He's too slippery: 20%

The results speak volumes. Most of our group believe Eris’s story is a tangled web of truth and deception, which could be classic Eris. No one voted for outright manipulation, which suggests that even his harshest critics sense some sincerity beneath the smirk. And yet, only one brave soul (me) cast a vote for full belief. That tension between trust and doubt? It’s exactly what makes Eris such a compelling wildcard.

Fallen Angels & Flaming Feathers

Feyre chooses not to confront the Ouroboros Mirror, at least not yet. The risk of madness is too great, and her instincts tell her the moment isn’t right. But Rhys’s decision to open Velaris to Keir and his court stings deeply. The Inner Circle, usually so united, begins to feel the strain of withheld truths and uneasy compromises.

Even though Feyre has not obtained the Ouroboros Mirror, they still need to figure out a way to release the Bone Carver from the Prison. The only person with the knowledge on how to accomplish it is Amren.

I won’t bog down the blog with the specifics, but does anyone else think that Amren’s story sound like the biblical story of a fallen angel? I have a theory: What if Amren is from “our world” and is an angel, and fell into Prythian?

Moving on, Amren managed to put herself into a fae body, and convince the Prison she was something else. They have to do the same thing with the Carver.

Elain’s condition deteriorates. Her words are fragmented, poetic, and unsettling: young hands wither with age, a box of black stone, a feather of fire melting snow. The healer finds no physical or mental ailment and suggests Lucien use their mating bond to uncover what’s hidden. When he does, Elain responds with another cryptic riddle; twin ravens, one white, one black are coming. Her visions are no longer just strange; they’re starting to sound like prophecy.

Feyre notices Lucien’s darker coloring again, a subtle but persistent hint at his tangled lineage. During flight lessons with Azriel, we’re given a sweeping backstory of Drakon, Miryam, and Nephelle. The tale, rich with echoes of biblical exodus, centers on Nephelle’s bravery despite her deformed wing. Her courage saves Miryam, reminding us that broken wings can still soar, and that strength often lies in what others deem weakness.

Ravens in the Library

Feyre and Nesta descend into the ancient library beneath the House of Wind, seeking knowledge about the wall and how to repair the holes when the lights wink out. Hybern’s agents, the King’s Ravens ambush them. One light-haired, one dark, just as Elain foretold. Faebane powder weakens Feyre and Nesta’s magic, and the Ravens demand Nesta’s return to reclaim what she stole from the Cauldron.

Feyre leads Nesta deeper into the library, toward the pit where the mysterious creature dwells. The Ravens mock them, revealing that the young queen who entered the Cauldron emerged immortal but twisted into a crone. Feyre, in a moment of self-sacrifice, sends Nesta away and pleads with the creature for help. A voice responds, offering a bargain: protection in exchange for companionship. Feyre accepts and the creature tears the Ravens apart. Rhys arrives just in time to finish the job, but the damage is done. The war has breached their sanctuary yet again.

The Seer & The Cursed Queen

With the immediate threat neutralized, the Inner Circle regroups to strategize. Elain, still fragile but increasingly lucid, speaks of a queen who might come. The one who was cursed is the reply when pressed on which queen she was talking about. Feyre assumes she means the crone, but Elain corrects her: she’s referring to the queen with feathers of flame. Azriel, ever the quiet observer, pieces it together. Elain isn’t just seeing things. She’s a seer. Whatever that means in Prythian.

The cursed queen is Vassa, condemned to live as a firebird by day and a woman by night. Betrayed by her fellow queens, she was sold to a sorcerer-lord who cursed her and now keeps her imprisoned by a lake. I think this sorcerer may be the last death god. Also, Vassa isn’t the only woman trapped there. She could be a powerful ally in the war, and Lucien is chosen to find her. His spell-seeing eye may be the key to locating her, and maybe making him worthy of his mating bond with Elain.

No Rest for the Weary

Just as the Inner Circle begins to catch their breath, Amren bursts through the townhouse doors with grim news: Hybern is attacking the Summer Court. The war is no longer a distant threat; it’s arrived. The time for planning is over. The time for action has begun.

Final Thoughts: Bargains, Betrayals, and Burning Wings

The Inner Circle may still be steering the ship, but the waters are growing treacherous. Feyre’s coronation in the Hewn City marks a turning point; not just in power, but in perception. Keir’s bargain for Velaris felt like a betrayal wrapped in diplomacy, and Rhys’s secrecy has left a lingering crack in the foundation of trust.

Eris remains a puzzle. His actions suggest nuance, but his past casts long shadows. Is he a villain shaped by circumstance, or a reluctant heir trying to rewrite his legacy?

And then there’s Elain. Her visions are no longer just strange. they’re prophecy. They hint at something ancient stirring beneath her gentle exterior. Is she merely a seer, or something far older, far deeper, waiting to awaken?

Let’s talk:

• Do you think Feyre made the right call refusing the Ouroboros Mirror? Would you have looked?

• Is Eris redeemable or just a master manipulator?

• Did the Drakon/Miryam backstory deepen the lore for you, or did it feel like a detour?

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments, share your favorite quotes, vote in today’s poll, and let’s unravel this together. Your interpretations breathe life into these pages. Don’t hold back.

Celita M