EP. 43: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

 On this episode of 'Read Me Next, Carina and Pili discuss A Court of Silver Flames. This book follows Nesta’s messy postwar spiral as she’s forced into training, library work, and an uncomfortable new life at the House of Wind, where she slowly begins to heal through Cassian and a found family of Gwyn and Emerie. The hosts also dig into the book’s spice, the tension around Nesta and Cassian becoming mates, and the lingering question of whether Azriel ends up with Elain or Gwyn.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Welcome to Read Me Next, a book clip and make it a podcast. We're with lots of feelings and no qualifications. But what did we read this week? We read A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Mass. Just wow. The last one that we have. Holy moly. This one was like absolutely insane. Was it not the best? It was insane. It was so good. So good. Yeah. I Can I go into my rating? Of course. Just off rip. Of course. Um, I gave it a five. I I want to give it a six stars. I gave it six. I like it's so good. I quite can I give something six stars even if I didn't like this one thing? Sure. Is that okay? This is Redme Next. We do what we want here. We do what we want here. Okay, so I'm gonna give it a six stars. And the only reason that like I like had that thought was because she was a little annoying in the beginning of the book. Yeah. Throughout a lot of it. Yeah. But I'm gonna give it six stars. Same. It was so good. So good. And the spiceometer was spicy here. Yeah, I said five chilies. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Loved it. It was definitely great. And I love that it was Nesta's book to get us to the five chili peppers. Yes. Like way to go, Nesta. Way to go, Nesta. You really did that here. She really did it. No, but like 100%. Well, no, it was it was a lot of them wanting each other, but not wanting to want each other. Okay, I will say that of this book, it was definitely more romance feeling than the previous books. Like the previous books, I I felt like the fantasy a lot, and obviously this book too. Yeah. But I give this one way more of a romantic because the tension was so there throughout so much of the book. It was so good. So my thoughts. Love. I just have one thing to say about hoopla. Oh. So I found out on hoopla that you can bookmark things and you can also annotate the bookmarks on hoopla. So you know how you annotate in the Kindle? I started annotating on hoopla in the audiobook. In the audiobook. Crazy. I thought that was so cool. Amazing. So now I might do that, you know, whenever I have a hoopla going. Yeah. That's awesome. Just gonna annotate in hoopla. We love when we learn things. Mm-hmm. I thought that was so cool. Shout out hoopla again. Man, hoopla is that girl. That girl. For real. Okay, so let's get into it. Let's do it. So the book starts off and it's right after the war. It's been a few months since, you know, they defeated the king of Hibern. Everything's fine and dandy. The only thing is our FMC in this book is Nesta. Mm-hmm. Very different from the previous books. Yeah, so the other three books were about Reese and Farah. This is about Nesta and her story. And she's just kind of very traumatized by the whole war. Yeah. I remember last episode I was like, ooh, how is Elaine gonna do after the war? Because she was really distraught. No, it was it was Nesta who fell off the wagon. Yeah, she really did. So she was drinking, she was gambling, she was having sex with everybody. Like she was just going down a wrong path. And basically the night court, the inner circle, they got fed up and they were like, listen, bitch, yep, get it together. One night you spent like 500 something, and then that was she was like, That's it, you're done blowing all our coin. Yeah, she said you're cut off. Yeah. So they gave her a choice of either going back to the human lands, which would be like a no-no because now she's a Faye. Yeah. Or her other option is she has to live in the house of wind, which is very secluded because she can't get out unless she goes down the 10,000 steps. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is where Pharaoh was first brought. Yeah. To be with Rasan, right? Yeah. And then she has to train with Cassian and work in the library. And like that's what her day is going to be made up of. And so she basically has no choice. And she's like, all right, option B, I guess. Yeah. Even then she tried to fight that. Yeah. Her first day, she was like, no, she's not doing any of that shit. She was so annoying at the beginning. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

What I told you earlier about like this five and a half star, six star thing. Wasn't that she was so annoying and bitchy because that's who Nesta was. Like, I I I understood that from her. I knew that I was getting that. It was from further, like when we were already like halfway in the book, she was still like, everybody hates me, nobody loves me, blah, blah, blah. But they did. No one gave her the benefit of the doubt. Fayra always gave her the benefit of the doubt. Farah and Cassian. But they're their votes didn't fucking matter. No, okay, okay. We could debate on this one if you want, because Fayra always gave her the benefit of the doubt. But you think Rissan will? Like, I think Rissan was very right to not give her the benefit of the doubt. But then also don't be mad at Nesta for being annoying because Rissan hates her. She, I was, I think she's annoying because she kept thinking Farah hated her. Oh, okay, okay. Like, that was the most obvious thing. She's like, Farah doesn't love me. I'm like, shut the fuck up, Nesta. But like that's just how her personality was. She she didn't think she was deserving of anybody's love. Yeah, that's the part that was annoying. Yeah. Like I was just like, come on, we're already 50% into the book. Like, let's feel it out a little bit more. No. And she wasn't having it. No, she wasn't. Yeah. So that was like the one that I was like, damn, girl, when are you gonna like start feeling the love from everybody? Ugh. But then it was because she needed to find her own family. So speaking of her own family, so she befriends a priestess in the library named Gwen. Super cutie patootie. Super cutie patootie. Their whole history is really fucking sad. Really fucking sad. What the fuck is Merrill's deal? Why was she so mean? I don't know, because she was a bitch. Yeah, but like that was so weird. Anyways, doesn't matter, continue. And then also she befriends Emery. She lives in the Illyrian camp in Windhaven, I think. Mm-hmm. And she is part of I don't know. Is she an Illyrian? She's a child. She she has wings, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She is uh an Illyrian female who had her wings clipped by her father. That really sucked. Her father died in the war, and she inherited their shop that they have in Illyria. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So I don't know, it was a whole thing. All these women, very traumatized pasts, they ended up befriending Nesta, which was really cute. Okay, so then they all meet, very nice, very fun. And then Nesta, when she's working in the library, she finally starts participating in her tasks, right? She starts training because Cassian, instead of having her train in Windhaven, brings her to the house of wind. And that's when he realizes she doesn't want to make a fool of herself, which I get it. And Nesta gets really excited and tries to have like a sign-up sheep going in the library, and of course nobody signs up. So sad. Which is sad as fuck. Yeah. The way that she gets Gwen and the other priestesses is because she realizes, damn, nobody is gonna like see Cassian and how great he is at training. So good. Because no one's gonna like go up there and actually watch them. So she's like, This is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna train all the time in the library until she gets in trouble by Clotho. And Clotho's like, Cassian, put a stop to this. And so Cassian goes down to the library and he's like, Nesta, you're dropping your elbow still. And she's like, What do you mean? That was so funny. She's so Did you catch that? Like, did you knew that? Well, I you read the book before. But like when I was reading it and I was like, What is like they're so funny? Like, Cassian's just like, No, you're doing this wrong, even though like she's getting in trouble. I'm like, what the heck? Yeah. And then he's like, wait a minute. He's like, Your elbow wasn't dropping this morning. You fixed your elbow. Yeah. What the hell? So that was really cute. Yeah. So all the priestesses saw, and that's when Gwen decided to sign up, which was really, really cute. And she had invited Emery, and Emory was like, No, I'm not going. Yeah. And then she shut up. So cute. So much fun. So this whole little like sisterhood that's going on with them, really, really cute. And Gwen, as part of her research for for Meryl, she ends up reading about the Valkyrie. The Valkyrie, so cool. So cool. So there's like these like ancient women who were warriors and they were amazing, and they unfortunately like just died in a battle. But they're they were basically training to be Valkyrie. So cool. So so cute. And so while this whole thing is going on with their training, simultaneously we find out about the dread trove. Uh yes. These are objects that were made by the cauldron. It's the mask, the crown, and the harp. And all three of them possess like weird, crazy ass evil magic. Maid powers. Right, yeah. And what's going on is Bri Allen and Koshay, who is Koshay is the last death god that's alive. And Bri Allen is the evil queen, who's still alive, also. They're trying to get the dread trove to basically, you know, like come up with an army to go to war again. And take over. Like, what are we doing? These power hungry people. And at this point, which like I low-key expected, but also didn't, uh-huh. Farah announces that she's pregnant. So cute. So cute. I didn't like obviously the last book really touched on that. You know, like they were like, she wants to get pregnant. See, like, it's hard because I'm reading this like very close to each other. Yeah. So like in my head, if I was reading this years ago and had to wait years for the next book, I'd be like, dang, like, I'm not sure if she's gonna get pregnant in this next book. Like, they really mentioned how it would take really long for them. Yeah. So I didn't really think they were gonna get pregnant. And I didn't catch the whole No, the shielding of her I didn't catch the shielding. I didn't think that's what that reason would be. That's funny. Um, so I didn't even see it coming. I literally was shocked. I love that you were shocked. I was so shocked. Really? That's so cute. I loved it. No, of course, if you were shocked, that's amazing. Yeah, so it's really, really nice. Yeah. So Reese was like shielding her smell the entire time until he just like sh and then they announced it to everybody, which was really, really cute. Also, Elaine like clocking it, first one. Love that. But then it was also really cute because Fayra announced it. I liked that Nesta was there, so she wasn't the last one to find out. And then Fayra also like pulled her aside and was like, hey, I want to tell you first that it's a boy. So cute. Love. But then that was like a whole other like subplot that I was like not ready for. My heart was like breaking. Yeah, so Reese ends up telling Cassian and Azriel that the baby has wings, which technically means that Phayra, when she delivers, like she's not gonna survive delivering the baby. Her pelvis is not big enough because she's not an Illyrian female. Ugh. So that's like, and they can't find a way to help her. And I'm like, No, and they don't tell Phayra. So that was a whole thing which was so intense and crazy and insane, as like a subplot. So at this point, the mask is in like this disgusting, like everything again, so fucking vivid. So vivid. I could literally see that bog. Was it a bog? It was in the bog. Like just the way that she described her, Cassian, and Azriel even getting to this point of like this weird land that there was like no sound. It was like the middle. Yeah, in the middle, no sound, no, no wind, no breeze. It was creepy as fuck. Yeah. So they they're trying to find this fucking mask in the bog, which is like this disgusting black lake that you can't even see, and it's gross the way that it was described. Sorry, how did how did she find out that was there? She had like a vision, right? It was like the whole light caused the like, the entire book. Super light calls the like in this one, right? The entire fucking book. Every five seconds they would say light costs to like. Light costs a like. There was one part that Pharaoh was like, light costs to like. Three times in the conversation. I was like, okay, girl, light costs the light. At this point, they were just doing it to just for shit to giggle. Literally. Light costs the light. They're in the middle of a conversation. Light costs alike.

unknown 10:48

Come on.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

We know that. Yeah, I think I do think she had a vision, and then Reese went into her mind. Right? That's what it was? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So another like subplot to the plot was that Ares is still an ally, but a very secretive ally to these people. Yeah. Right? So they keep meeting with Ares to like touch base, pretty much. Yeah, what's going on? And they find out that Aeris had like this group of soldiers that went missing. And they have no idea why, but they think it had to do with Briallin. Bri Allen has the crown. Yeah, and that she kidnapped his soldiers. And because the soldiers are missing, and they think that the soldiers are somehow being controlled by reality. Yep. Of course, what they think is correct because Azrael is shot down from the sky in freaking Orid. God damn it. With a freaking ash arrow, which I was like, oh my God, where are we getting the freaking ash arrows from? I thought they were all like extinguished. But anyways. So Cassian goes to help him and he like plops nest on a tree. He's like, We will come back for you. Stay here. Do not move. Do not come down from the tree. Do not fucking get out of this tree. So she's been there for like 30 minutes and nobody has come by. So she's like, I'm I'm gonna go find them. You know, I can't leave them. What if they're dead? You know, I got some sort of weird power in me. Let me go see them. Yeah, and at this point she's like, I failed everybody. I can't keep failing people. No. It's very she's totally in love with Cassian, too. So she's like, I can't leave them. So she co she climbs down the tree and she's like, fuck, I gotta go through this gross ass lake to go find them. So she goes into this lake, and all of a sudden she's like, she's walking into it, into the lake, and she sees in the reflection of this black ass water. No, that part was terrible. This creature, which is a kelpie, was just staring right back at her. Disgusting. So it has like black eyes, black thin hair. It's like skinny and langly and fake. Disgusting. Yeah, this thing was described horribly. Yeah. Cassian tells her about these creatures that they basically they kidnap people and they just kind of feast on them. They eat them. They eat them. And so this kelpie grabs her and drags her into the water. Oh my god. No, no, no, no. Oh my god. And the thing was so gross because it kept putting its freaking tongue in her mouth and kissing her. No, gross. Like it was so weird because, like, blessed for that happening because it kept breathing into her. Right. That's what like the kelpie was just trying to like elongate her life to eat her. It was gross. No, disgusting. Gross. It kept kissing her. It was nasty. So then, of course, she's like, light calls to like. That happens. Like calls to like. And she's like, I need to use my powers. And she's like, I see something. And then she found the freaking mask. Which was insane. Insane. I was like, and then the chapter ends, she's like, and I put the mask on my face. I was like, immediately keeps reading. I'm like, what the fuck? Crazy. So good. So good. Right. So Cassian and Azreel, they fight off these autumn court soldiers. They they're like shit, Nesta. So they go back to the tree. They don't find her in the tree. They're like looking for her. Cassian's like going crazy. Like he smells her until he gets to the water and he's like, fuck. He's like about to go in there, and Azreel's like, wait. No. Insane. All of a sudden. This part I also could see still vividly. So vivid as fuck. So all of a sudden, they are like looking into the lake, and all of these things just start coming out of the lake. Like spears, people, bones, like skeletons. The thousands of bodies she saw under there. They all start like they all rise with her. Like an army. Like an army, because that bitch put the mask on and she like basically like she saved herself from the freaking Kelpie. Yeah. All of the dead people were her army. Yeah, literally, she she rose the dead and they killed the Kelpie. Mm-hmm. And then she had the fucking Kelpie's head. Oh my god. I literally can see her just like standing still, but like just being lifted up like that. I was like, with the mask on? With the mask on? Such a sleigh. Oh my god. No. And as and and freaking Cassie, and they're like no, Azra was like, mother save us. He was very scared of her. And Cassie is like, oh my god, she's so high. Two different sides of this coin. Literally. Both of them, like, one in awe and one like super terrifying. Literally. So Nesta just like plops the mask off and she's like, okay, got the mask, guys. Let's go back home. And everybody's like, nobody survived with the mask on or off. Yeah. She's the first one because light cost alive. Light costs alive. So she's fine. She she was good. After they get the mask, they all go back to the river house where they reconvened and talk about everything, right? Yeah. I liked how she let Rissan into her mind to see what was happening, and he was like in shock, in fear. Like he was so surprised that she lived through that. Yeah. And I think it gave her like a little bit more of his respect. And I really liked that part. Like feeling the people like understand her. Understand her and see what she's doing for everybody. Yeah. I liked that like buildup of their relationship. Yeah. I also really liked when she had the nightmare and like she burst into flames. Oh, Cassie and Azreel go to her, but like they couldn't help her. And Reesan goes and he's like, Nesta, it's a dream. Or wake up and he's like shielding everybody and everything from her power with his power. Oh my god, it was crazy. Yeah, because that part was crazy. Because I was like, oh my God, Nesta's power is equal to, or even maybe more, than Reesan's. Yeah, insane. Crazy. I was like, oh my God. No, she finally calms down when Cassian like speaks her name, which was so freaking mean. I love that. And he's like, Nesta, and then she kind of just like went back to sleep. That's when Reese tells Cassian, like, I've never felt anything like that. Yeah, yeah. Like I I saw what she went through in the cauldron and like crazy. Yep. So that also, like, she did, she was earning his respect because like she went through it. Yep. Poor girl. Freaking Cassian is so he always knows how to like bring down the tension in their group. Love. He's like, yeah, this is Lady Death over here. Yeah. She's like, everything was like, and she glares at him and he wings back. It's so good. So I love the relationship. But I did like that name for her, I'm not gonna lie. Lady Death. Lady Death. She is Lady Death. Yeah, I thought that was so cool. And she's like, Don't call me that. Yeah, she fucking slays. It's like, okay. So then they're gonna try to find the harp. So they try to find the harp. She has a vision of it. They realize that it's under the prison. This was this part was crazy. In the mountain. Yeah. God damn. So her and Cassian go, and Cassian has mentioned to her all of these crazy ass creatures that they've put into this prison. And well as fuck that belong in there. Warded to hell. Yeah, no. Like they can get now. And so they find the harp, and what the harp does is they said that it can open different portals. Yeah. Depending on how many strings that you pull. And so she's they get the harp and it was like pretty easy. We're like, okay, it's light for them. Good for them. Yeah, no. No. I thought this part was super creepy. So the the harp was like talking to her. Mm-hmm. Right? And the harp calls to like. Because light calls to like. Take a shot every time we say light calls to like. Because light calls to like. Yeah. And um the part in the book where the harp was trying to push her into the stone. When they had first walked into the harp, she had a vision that somehow some magical being put a bunch of like people and things in the stone. I totally forgot about that. Yes. Crazy. Yes. And she was like, oh my God. And then all of a sudden she realized her body was also getting pushed into the stone. She's like, oh my god, they're trying to do the same thing to me. No, but I that part was really crazy. So crazy. I felt so bad for her because she like felt that. No, and also the people. Oh, yeah, obviously. Which what is that about? Mm-hmm. Who are these people? I don't know. And how do they get trapped? Do you know? I just want to put something out there. What? Where's Spraxis? What happened to that bitch? So, anyways, they're still out and about. Yeah, they weren't even mentioned this book. So, yeah, so this whole thing, they get, they end up getting the harp, and they're like, cool, great. But what she ends up doing by pulling one of the strings is they open a door of one of the prison cells, which is Lanthus, which is this evil creature that Cassian had already put away. Cassian's like freaking the fuck out, but like also trying to be super cool because that's how he got him in the prison in the first place. Yeah, no. So Cassian basically tells Nesta to run. She runs, which I was like, oh my god. Did you not like that she ran? No. I know. But but she was like, Why am I running? She's like, I have to go back for him. And then she freaking uses the harp. So cool. So, so cool. So she uses the harp, but before that, which we didn't even mention, she goes to a blacksmith with Cassian. They have her work. Cassian wanted to show her how hard work it is to make the blades. Yeah. And so she makes a blade, a dagger, and like a sword, something like that. All of a sudden they realize they become made objects. She's imbued her power into these weapons. Correct. And she uses that when she's fighting off Lanthus in the prison. And Lanthus is like, What is that? Yeah, he's like, wait a goddamn it. And he's like backing up like, damn, Lady Death and her sword. Like literally with you. He's like, that's not Narbon, which I thought was very cool. What the fuck is that? He has to be so old. But then, like, I mean, there's so many things that I'm like, what's going on? Like, why are they mentioned? They're mentioned for a reason. We need the lines. Yeah, literally. What is the reason? Yeah, what is the reason? Anyways. So Nessa's like, you're fucking done. She fucking beheads that bitch, kills him, kills him with her maid sword with ataraxia. Because light costs the light. I was like, what? Because light costs the light. So she pulls the harp and she's like, all right, let's see what happens when I pull three. She's like, I love it. Her logic is like, okay, one light got me from the inside of the prison outside of the prison. Two might get me like out of the mountain. Three might get me to horizons. Yeah, we'll see. We'll see. We'll pull three. So she pulls three, they get back to the river house. So at that point, now they have the harp and they have the mask. At one point, they bring Helian over because they want to learn how to ward these things in the trove, right? And I this part is just so heart-wrenching because Rissan also pulled Helion aside to be like, hey, like, do you know anything how to help Pharaoh? How to help birth the baby? And at this point, she still doesn't know. No. Nesta finds out that she imbued all of these swords, the dagger, whatever, but they had chosen not to tell her. So basically they again reconvened and decided, talked about Nesta, whether to tell her or not. And she they voted behind her back. They voted behind her back and she was real upset about this. Yes, she was mad. And Amran was one of the ones who voted no to not tell her, and she was so hurt. Yeah. Which I'm like, girl, like, are you really that hurt? Like you haven't talked to Amron in forever. You know, like this is where I'm like, Nesta. No, but that's like you're low-key, you're your ex-bestie. That's fucked up. It is fucked up. But like you fucked her over. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Classic Nesta. Exactly. It's classic Nesta. So what does she do? Just barges in on there. And she's like, you were the one who voted me, this and that, whatever. So pissed off. And Farah ends up finding them. And what does she tell Farah? In all her rage and all her anger, she's like, Farah, you think all big and bad about your family, but have they told you that you're gonna die birthing this baby? The whole world ends right there. No, it was crazy. I was shocked that she told her that. It was hard. Yeah. Semeron's like, shut your mouth. Amran was hurt. And then Nesta, of course, was also hurt. Yeah, no, Nesta realizes, of course, she fucked up. She's like, I went too far. But then runs away. I was like, Nesta, I went too far. No, hold on. And so when she finds out, right? And so she just runs away. She she leaves. And all of a sudden we get Cassie and he's with Reese. Oh my goodness. And he's like, get Nesta the fuck out of the city because I'm gonna kill her.

unknown 22:23

I was like, shit.

SPEAKER_00 22:24

So can you blame Reese An for not liking her? Like, no. No, but that was so good. Oh my god. Like Reese San in all his glory. Reese An in all his fucking glory. I love get her out. I will kill her. I will fucking kill her. I love when they talk, like they're like, oh, his high lord voice. I'm almost like, oh, this motherfucker's mad. No, he's pissed. So Cassian's like, I'm on it. Yep. So he grabs Nesta, swoops in, grabs her, and then they go off and they basically fly to the mountains. Mm-hmm. And they're there for a week. He tells Farah in like their cute little telepathy moment. He's like, Listen, you might forgive her, but like she needs this. She needs her time. Yeah. I'll bring her home when she's ready. And so she doesn't speak for days. They're just hiking for hours on hours. They're sleeping on the ground. They're just, you know. I thought it was really cute how he brought her to this specific mountain because it was said that that mountain has healing rights, whether it's like uh physical or spiritual. I was like, So cute. I love Cassian is so king. No, no, he really is so king. Like, I love him. So, so after like a few days, she's just like obviously hit rock bottom. Like, she's like, I couldn't save my dad. I fucked up with Pharaoh. Like, I'm just this mean person. I'm mean. Like, I'm I've been born this way and I don't know how to stop. Like, I'm just not a nice person. And so she breaks down and she like basically confesses everything to Cassian about how she feels and like how she's just like she's not worthy. And that's what you are, girl. It was so sad. It was so sad. It was. She was sobbing. So beautiful. And Cassian was like, You don't think I don't think I'm worthy? Yeah. He's like, Don't you know? Like, I'm I'm Lord of the Bastards. Literally was about to say that. Lord of the Bastards. I'm an Illyrian brute. Like, I couldn't save my mom. I couldn't save Reese. Like, we all have our shit. And she's like, I just don't know how I'm gonna get through. He's like, You will. And you can. You will and you can. And I was like, oh my god, I love them. Literally. So, so beautiful. Then they fuck for two more days. So then they fuck for a few more days. And then they're like, all right, we're back. We're ready to go back home. After they come back, everything's kind of going back to normal. They're training, she's working at the library. They're still trying to figure out what the fuck is happening with Bri Allen until it's like the winter solstice. And everything's been kind of quiet with Bri Allen and Kosche at this point. And we're like, hmm, what's going on with them? So it's the winter solstice, and they go to the Hewn City as like part of the celebration, and Aeris is there because he is a double agent, right? He is a double agent. Yeah. And so Rissan like pulls them all aside beforehand and he's like, listen, guys, like we we need to confirm that he's still our ally. Uh-huh. And at this point, we find out that Nesta is this beautiful dancer of sorts. Literally. And we hear the story from Elaine that she was able to seduce a prince. The dugo is a random ass ball. It didn't even fucking matter. Literally. So she did it out of spite. And she did it out of spite. So they had Morgan teach her all these waltzes, all these dances, yeah. To freaking seduce Eris. Yeah. And they were like, all right, if anybody can do it, it'll be Nesta. It's Nesta. And so, so they they're at the huge city, and Azrael, Cassian, and Moore are there, and all of a sudden Rissand and Pharaoh like walk in, badass High Lord and High Lady. And she announces her pregnancy here. She announces the pregnancy. Everybody was like, What? I think it's so funny because they're like, they'd smell her scent. And Nesta and Elaine walk in with them. And obviously we get Cassian, and he's just like, oh my god, she's drop-dead gorgeous. Literally. Like this bitch. Mm-hmm. I'm just so excited to also hear about Elaine. Yeah. Because they're like, black is terrible on her. I'm like, well, yeah, because she's just like a gitty batooty. I know, but that means something, you know? That means something. What does it mean? It means something. Anyways. So Fayer goes to Ares and she's like, oh my God, well, obviously I'm pregnant, so I'm not gonna dance with you. But uh here, have my sister. She'll the eldest sister. And so he's like, okay, fine. And so he starts dancing with her and he's just like jaw on the floor. Enamored. No, like so obsessed. He's like, I want her to be my wife. Yep. In that very moment, he asks Raceanne, I want her. Yeah. He goes to Resan and he's like, I'll give you anything you want. Give me, give me that bitch. And Reese Anne's like, anything I want. He's like, anything you want, including your firstborn. And he's like, Don't go that far. But basically, everything but that. Everything but that. And so he's like totally obsessed with her. And it was crazy because he's like on this third dance with Nesta, and they're like Ruben, you know, he's a very good dancer. She's a good dancer. Like, she's playing the hell out of her part, too. Super. All of a sudden, we get literally you get the audio, and it's like, move. And I was like, oh my god. Sir. Make him need blush. Come on. He's like, get out of here, dog. Oh my god. The way that the way to call him dog. No, so insane. Crazy. I'm like, no, Nesta's so fucking cool. She's like, it took everything in me not to snap his neck. Literally. She's like, come on, Eris. Everybody knew. You have to share. Nesta, queen. And so finally, Eris like is like, okay, fine. And so Cassie and Anessa end up dancing, which is really, really cute. You could just feel like the glares of Faith. Farah and Rassanne. Yeah, just so mad at him for doing that. Because they're like, bro, play into it. What are you doing? Yep. And she couldn't help but smile directly at him. So it was like crazy. So fucking cute. And then it was so cute when Morgan went up to him and was like, those practices really paid off, huh? No, like he totally he was practicing the wolf. Stop. I'm dead. Stop. No, I love. Love, love, love, love. Okay, so then after that, you know, it's a winter solstice, so they have to give gifts to each other, right? Nesta, she's so funny because she's like, I don't have gifts for anybody. And I'm like, God damn it, Nesta. It made me feel funny. But I love Azreel's gift. I just have to like give a shout out to our what is he? A shadow singer. Shadow singer. Our shadow singer. We love him. Love. He gives her like a little book light. So cute. And you know, Nesta's one of us. She's a reader. Yeah. And she's just like jumps into his arms. And I was like, this is so very sweet of her to do because you know, she doesn't show her emotions like that. Yeah. But Az really picked that gift. No, it was so I love As. I love so cute. So Nesta goes to her room after that. And Cassian follows. Yeah. And Cassian's like, oh, I have to give you my gift. And it's a little orb that plays music. Like I I go I went to all the taverns that you visit so that way I you could get those songs too. So cute. So fucking cute. She loved it. She loved it, of course. But she loved it and she was like, I can't accept this. No. I was literally like, no fucking for real. No, it had to happen like that. Yeah, no, it was really, really good because Cassian nipped that shit in the bud. No. Right there. He's like, tell me right now. Say it with your chest. Say it with your fucking chest. And she did. She's like, You are kind and you are nice and you are sweet and I don't deserve you. She's like, I'm none of that. I'm I'm literally none of that. I don't deserve you. And no, it was I love the relationship. It was so cute. Yeah. And so he's like, Yes, you fucking do. That was basically when they were like, you're mine and I'm yours, this, that. And they have sex and they're like this whole glowing thing starts happening between them. Like this whole like light shines or whatever. And we're just like, hmm. Literally, I'm like, suspicious. What was that? We're gonna continue, but suspicious. Way to just sprinkle that in there. Yeah, clock in that. I don't know what's going on there. So like after this, everything again just goes back to normal. They're training, they're training, which is so cool. I love the training. The Valkyrie thing, trying to cut the bow. To become a Valkyrie, it's basically you have to slice a piece of ribbon with a sword. And they've been at it for weeks and weeks and weeks, and everyone's trying to help them, and it's just not working until the day after Solstice when Cassian isn't there, and Azriel's there with the girls, and all of a sudden they they do it. They end up slicing the ribbon and they become Valkyrie, which is so cool. So cool. Love that. Love. So Cassian ends up coming back, and him and Az redid the entire training camp to become like an obstacle course. Yeah. Right? So all of a sudden they see two guys up top watching them. And they're like, what the hell? And Cass is like, you guys just passed the blood right qualifier. So good. And I was like, oh my God, are they gonna do the blood right? I was like, are they doing the blood right? Right. And then it was super sweet because like they had pulled aside Gwyn. Like she knew there was men watching, but they she had no idea why. Yeah. And they were all like, I'm better off being a Valkyrie. Love. They didn't want to do it. No, good for them. Like they knew they could do it. So they're like, love. But we're Valkyries, bitch. We ain't Illyrians. I don't want to be an Illyrian warrior. No, bye. Mm-mm. So that was really, really cool. I love that. Love that. Because at least they were like, well, we got to prove to Devlin and all his fucking cronies that, you know, y'all, you guys can do this. You know, women are just as good as the men. So after this, Cassian starts showing like public displays of affection. He's okay, like giving her a kiss on the cheek and putting his arm around her. And she's and she's all of a sudden not comfortable with it. Yeah, so they're out in public and he's doing all this, and she's like, she's like kind of hesitant. And he's like, Why are you like, why are you acting like this? And she's like, I'm not acting anyway. And he's like, No, yeah, you are. He's clocking it. He's like, What the fuck are you doing? Like, why you don't want to be seen with me? What's going on? And then he's like, say it. Yeah. And she's like it. She's like, I don't know what you're talking about. He's like, You're my fucking mate. I know that. Yeah. And I love that part. That part was so insane. Yeah. I was like, Nesta, what are you gonna do? No, I was like, wasn't it so good? Yeah, no, it was so fucking good. But she sh I mean, she had a valid reason. She was saying they don't use that word as humans, you know. She doesn't want to lose her last bit of humanity. Yeah. And I mean I guess. I get it. Come on. You get it? Yeah. She said she I did not choose to be like this. Like, give her a fucking second. She didn't say I did not choose to be like this. She said I did not choose to be like you. Yeah, well, it's fine. She didn't choose to be like him. She didn't choose like to be like anyone. She got through that. That was so mean again. No, she got thrown in the fucking cauldron. I totally understood her. I was like, I guess, but girl, it's in the past. No, but give her a fucking second. It's been a second. No. And you can't fall in love with this Illyrian warrior and expect, like, I mean, girl, you're past this already. I don't know. I I don't know. I thought it was like a I mean, all in all, she didn't accept it at that moment. No, she didn't say she didn't accept it. She said, give me a fucking second. Yeah, but she didn't accept it. Then she didn't accept it. Well, no, but I Because he says that. She's like, she didn't accept being my mate. But whatever, it doesn't matter. Okay. So this part was crazy because she's like, I'm calling it my bargain. Cause they had made a bargain way at the beginning when she was still being super frustrated and super stubborn. He made a bargain with her and said, Fine, give me one hour of training and I will do whatever you want. Like one thing. I'll owe you a favor. I'll owe you a favor. And so she she called it in right there and she was like, Leave me alone and don't talk to me tonight. Like, just leave me alone. And he's like, No, please. And then he Oh my god, no, because he's she said during this part, leave me alone. Don't talk to me for a week or until I come find you.

SPEAKER_01 32:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:51

So that made me super nervous because then what happens? So she's like, she's like, okay, I'm not gonna go to the house with Wynn, like, I have nowhere to fucking go. She has more uh winnow her to Emery's house in Wynnhaven. Yeah. So it was so cute. And so obviously Gwen ends up showing up, which was so cute. Gwen never leaves the library, but she left to go like be with Nesta. Yeah. Like their whole friendship was so stinking cute. That inner circle? Loved that was B inner circle. The Valkyries were it. So they're there, and all of a sudden it's like the middle of the night, and she's like, I I sent a mail, but it's not Cassian, it's not Reese, it's not Azarel. She wakes up and then all of a sudden they got kidnapped. And we're like, what the literal fuck? This is when like the bargain thing had me going crazy because I was like, no, he's not allowed to go find her for like a fucking week. He's not gonna know she's gone. But did you I was freaking out? Did you even expect like what was gonna happen? No. I literally I there's no no part of my brain that was like, We're in the blood right. I was like, what do you mean they're in the blood right? It was good. I was like, fucking Devlin? So it's like iconic. So thank God, Cassian, so he goes with Reese to Windhaven the next morning, and they all of a sudden they smell the men, and no Reese, they're not here. And like, oh my god. I'm like, oh my god. No, no, no. Reese ends up saying, like, Devlin confirmed, they're in the blood right. Oh my god. I was dying. I did not expect that at all. Love. In the blood right? I was like, what do you mean they're in the blood right? Crazy. No. It was insane. In shock. So Nesta wakes up and she's like, what the fuck am I doing here? She clogs it immediately. She's like, what the fuck am I doing in the blood right? And she all these Illyrians sleeping on the floor. They end up seeing that there's weapons also involved, which is like not part of the right. Basically, what the blood rite is, is every Illyrian who wants to become like an Illyrian warrior, they go through this blood rite, which is a week straight in the mountains. It's kill or be killed. They have to get to the top of Ramiel, which is like the the peak mountain of of like the Illyrian forest or whatever. And there's no magic allowed, no weapons allowed. And you know, you just have to try to get there, and like there's only been like a dozen warriors who have actually climbed to the top. And touched the stone. And only like four or five that have actually touched the stone and won the whole right. Oh, within the week. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's where Nesta, Emery, and Gwen get kidnapped and taken to. I hate that so much. Crazy. Yeah, I did not let enjoy. I mean, I enjoyed it obviously, but I was like, No, it was so good. No, and all of a sudden, all all of this is happening simultaneously. Cassian and Azriel are tasked to go find heirs because that dumbass got kidnapped by Brianne. So Cassian Cassian's like, I'm gonna go and get her. And they're like, You can't you will literally be killed. You and her will be killed and executed. This is the one one big law that the Illyrians have at that moment. And Reese's like, we have to abide by it. So I think also they're like, all right, let's try to get Cass's mind off of this. Literally, you're on Go get Ares. You're on errors, duty. Like, go get them. So all of this is happening. So every time there was like a tension he part with in the blood rate, it would go to Cassie, and then it would literally shift. Literally, every time something was happening with Cassie, it would go back. I was like, oh my god, like this is so intense. Literally the fucking worst. So this whole week passes by, she reunites with Gwen and Emery, they fight people off, they get injured, they're starving, they're cold. Like, it's just like one thing after another. It is one thing after another. And then they finally reach this point where they're like, Can we do it? Can we make it up the mountain? Yeah. And Gwen is like, So what, you guys think we should give up? And they're like, You're hurt. I'd rather you live. And she's like, I didn't make it this far to give up. I want to make that mountain. And then they all start telling their stories and how they went through their trauma and then how they all are appreciative of each other. I was sobbing. No, I was sobbing at this point. That's beautiful. Yeah. Because it's like really like you you think after like the worst of the worst, like people are gonna think that of you, and they're like just holding their hands like we love you, and it's fine, it's okay. And no, Gwen's story, Gwen's story was awful. Ripped my heart out. No, no, it was awful. Absolutely shredded it. No, yeah, and so she's like, We didn't come this far to come this far. Like, bitches, we're going up to that mountain. We're going up the fucking mountain. I like how Nesta circled back. She's like, I went up and down those 10,000 steps repeatedly. Maybe this is why I did that. This is why. I was like, this is what I was meant to do. And Nesta was like, put your hands on me, we're walking up the fucking mountain. So they walk up the mountain, and what happens? They slip and they all fall down to where they started. I was like, God damn, are you joking right now? That was awful. So then they're really close to these group of men that are right behind them. Yeah. And Nesta's like, go, go without me. You guys can make it. I'll fight them off. You guys can't. No. I feel so bad because Emery's like, Emory's so understanding, and Gwen is just like not having it. Gwen's like, I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving you. Nope. And freaking Nesta, she said, pressure point, you're out. Yeah. Emery, take her up. Oh. And Emory's like, she'll never forgive you for this. And she's like, it's fine. Like, take her. Go. You guys can win this. I will fight them off.

SPEAKER_01 37:44

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 37:45

So then it like zapps into Cassian's like P.O.B. and what the fuck they're doing. They find Ares. They find Bri Allen and Kostjay. And Azriel grabs Ares and they're like, he's like, come on, let's go to Cassian. And all of a sudden, Cassian isn't moving. And Azriel's like, what the fuck? What's going on? And it's because freaking Bri Allen had the crown on and was controlling him. I literally hate that. She's like, I've been looking for you. I'm like, no, I've been looking for you. We're gonna use Cassian to get to Nesta. I did not like that. And that's what happened. That's what happened. Are you fucking kidding me? So we get that. We go back to Nesta. She's fighting everybody off. She kills all these Illyrians until she gets to the last guy, which ends up being Emory's cousin. So she's fighting him off and she's like, fuck, like, I'm really gonna die. I really like she's like, I'm really gonna die from this fool. Like, I really thought that was so funny. She was trying really hard. She's like, I made it this far, and this motherfucker's gonna be the one to kill me. This loser is the one that's killing me? No. She tried so hard. She was trying so, so hard, but like he was just, you know. He was enthralled. Yeah. There was no way she was gonna win and guess an enthralled person. No. She's like, fuck. He's like about to like like land the killing blow, and and then he gets like stabbed. Her his neck was slit. Oh, yeah, yeah. Blood was thrown everywhere. Disgusting. And who comes to save her? Cassian. So she's like, Cassian, my savior. Thank fucking God you're here. And he's just like, I was so confused. I was like, why is Cassian here? And then I was like, no. Well, you thought I was like, like, I was like, is he not under the spell? No, he is. Yeah, he is. Yeah, yeah. So Brian comes up behind him. She goes to Nesta and she's like, You're gonna get the rest of the troll for me. And Nesta's like, absolutely not, kill me now. Like, I don't care. And so Brian goes to Cassian and she goes, kill. Oh. And so he's literally right, he's he's like has the knife and he's about to stab her with it, and all of a sudden he turns the knife onto himself, and Nesta goes, fucking berserk, ballistic, this woman. She's like, absolutely the fuck not. Absolutely not. She screams the scream that like shakes the entire earth and the mountain and everything. Crazy. Obliterates Brian. Like what happened what even happened to her? She was crisp. Yeah, no, yeah, she was like turned into dust. Dust. Yeah. Love that for Nest. You're fucking dead. And so she goes to Cassian and he's like face down. And then he's like, I just figured that you might want to finish what you were doing. I didn't want to bother you. He's like, I figured I should stay down here. That part was so funny. I was like, I love him. That's so Cassian coded. So Cassian. And so they're like, yay, finally. Woo-hoo, great. Yeah, no. Fucking Azreel Moore, winnow there, and they're like, Farah, Farah. Oh no, nothing ends. Nothing fucking ends in this goddamn book. You think you think they'd be done, but they weren't. They go back to the river house. Farah is like, um, she was bleeding really bad, and she's basically trying to give birth, and the healer's there, and she's like, we can't cut her open. It's unsafe. And Reese is just going crazy. I'm just like, they all learned at this point that Reese and Fayer made a bargain. When one of them dies, they both die. I cannot believe that got us to this point, also. Like, that was so like I read that part and I was like, no, we're not doing this. We are doing this. We are not doing this. When this little baby's involved, and yes, yeah, no, all three of them were gonna fucking die. So freaking Amran, she's like, You love sick fools. You idiots. Yep. Why would you do this fucking thing? Shout out to Amran because for real. For real. They do end up cutting the baby out. Mm-hmm. Yeah, they cut the baby out. Moore has the baby, and you know, Reese's just going insane because they all feel like Fahrrah's fading. Like she's literally on her last breath. Until all of a sudden, everybody looks to Nesta. That bitch got on the crown, the mask, and she's holding the harp. And we're like, wait a minute. Yes, Nesta. Wait a goddamn minute. So she pulls the last string of the harp, which is time, and it stops everything. And so she That 26th string. The 26th string. What's going on? What does the number 26 mean? I don't know. It's crazy stuff. So she's there and she's basically talking to whatever power and being is there. The mother, the cauldron, everything. She's like, I give it back. Just tell me how to save them. I need to save Reese. I need to save Farah. I need to save the baby. Like my nephew. I will give it back. Like, I will give you it. I will give it back. I will give it back. I will give it back. It was so good. So good. She tells Sabi. No, she tells Farah, I love you. Like, please, like, please don't die. Like everything. It was crazy. So all of a sudden, time like resumes. And Reese is like about to, he's like trying to get to Farah and casting an Azra like stop him. They're like, look at her. Like Amran's, I I literally could see this. Amran's red nails on his neck and was like, look at her. Look at her. And Azra's like, listen. Oh my god, no. It was so good. And so all of a sudden you see like Nesta's magic. Like shit's kind of like flowing out of her and going into Farah. It goes into the baby. No, it was so good. And then everything kind of just resumes. And Farah's like, I love you too. Oh my God. So she woke up crying right now. I can't. She wakes up. The baby starts wailing. Bailey's like a full-grown, healthy baby with wings, and he's fine. And then it mentions that she told the cauldron, like, I'll give you your power back, but just make it so like Farah's body and anatomy can like withstand this. And Reese is like, Reese gets on his knees and he's like facing her. And Cassian's saying, like, my brother, who does not bow like to anybody, he's on his knees for Nesta. It was so fucking. Like, literally, like, my heart is like, I was sobbing. It was so good. Like sobbing. Like I like like six stars, bitch. Like. It was literally so good. So good. I love it. And so after that, we do get a breather. They're like, all right, we're good. It is what it is. We've we we're winding down the end of the book, you know? She meets back with Gwen and Emery. We're just really cute. They see each other and they're like, Gwen's like, I'm still fucking mad at you. And Nessa's like, just be mad at me another day, please. Like, just hug me and love me and whatever. They're cute little friendship. And no, and then at one point, um, when Nessa and Cassian, they obviously she's finally like, I'm your mate, and he's like, I'm your mate too. Whatever. And she's like, and I I also did a little something for me. And she's like, What? And he's like, I made myself able to give birth too. Yeah. In the case of an alien. Wings, and he's like, You want babies now? She's like, No, no, I'm taking my contraceptive things, thank you, but you know, in the future, which was really cute that she thought of that. Yeah, I really that was like really cute. Love, and then it was really cute because, like, so he's like, which I love casting because he's very blunt. He's like, So you have no more powers? And she's like, Well, I have a little bit of something because the mother decided to give it to me. And I was like, I love, love that. Yeah. So we'll see what happens. But it was so, so cute. Oh, and she went to Finally her dad's grave with the baby. Also with the baby with the Elaine and Pharaoh, which is really, really cute ending. She's like, I didn't deserve his love, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna try to earn it now, which was like love, like amazing. So, so stinking cute, so good. So, a couple of ending thoughts. We already mentioned Briaxis. What's going on? What's going on with Briaxis? Yeah. Not mentioned at all in this book. At all. I thought Briaxis was gonna be the one in The Blood Rite. You know the part where they found Gwyn's nightgown, yeah, and a monster that looked like scales and wings or whatever came along and killed the soldiers. I thought that was gonna be Briaxis. I was like, oh my god, Briaxis is back! And it wasn't. No, but that would have been fun to make an appearance. Yeah, but a little cameo. A little cameo Braxxis. But where is this Braxis? You know what I mean? Weird. Then I think there was like a little bit of a a little bit of a teaser of um Emery and Morrigan. Yes, I caught that. I was like, Me too. Ooh, a little, a little something is going on here. But also, Moore was barely in this book. She was in Ballahan the entire time. We barely ever saw her. Very interesting to see what, like, is she gonna be in the next one? What's going on with Moore? But yeah, definitely clock Emery and Moore. It definitely clock that. And at the end, Ares is coming back somewhere because Ares is like, I want to be the one to tell that story. Aeris keeps mentioning that. Uh-huh. I thought, which obviously didn't happen because we were already through the books, but I thought the initial time I read it that he knew she preferred women, and that's why. He's like, You felt that? I felt that. Like, because he's like, she knows the truth, and she knows that she prefers women. Yeah, this is the only thing that nobody else knows. Right. But I don't know. But definitely, what's gonna happen with Aeris? What's gonna happen with Ares? Because I really like the end part that Cassie was like, You're a good man, but you're too much of a coward to show it. I was like, God. Yeah, where's Aeris gonna come into this? So my thoughts are what's gonna happen with all these objects that Nesta made? Like, mmm. Atraxia. What was the name of it? Ataraxia. Ataraxia, yeah. Like, interesting on that, and also like her new power from the mother. That was one thing I will say. It was like frustrating to me, which I I get it, I get why, that she never learned how to use her powers. Like, never once did she give that like a try. Well, because but girl, her power is death. Her power is death. Be careful. You're right, you're right. But she never even like gave Amor the chance. Oh, but I will say I love how she bowed down to that woman. Oh my god, her bowing down to Amran and everybody was like, Yeah, loved. That's funny. So I'm hoping she dips a little bit more into her power in whatever book comes next. Well, yeah, because I'm like now interested to see what's gonna happen now that she has these weird ass powers that I mean, like, are they different now? Because now supposedly now she doesn't have now, she's not Lady Death anymore. Yeah, she has to be like the power of light or something. I don't know. Then also um they mentioned, and I feel like we say this, right? Like light costs to like no stuff. Not fucking light calls to like no. We we mentioned she throws things in these books, but it's never not for a reason. Correct. Something means something always. And they had a very big discussion with Rhysand about how he should be high king. Oh my god, yes, very right about that. Hmm. Cause and then they mentioned it again that the last high king was the one that got usurped by his best friend and the other bitch who had the original like death sword or whatever. Narbin. Narbin. So they mentioned it twice about this king that got killed. That was Aeris' thought on them. When when they had that last argument, Eris was like, you want to take over everything with Nesta and these objects from the trove. And all these new objects that were made. Yeah, crazy stuff. So I'm like, why are we saying he's gonna be high king? And he does not want to be high king. And he doesn't. Not only do is Bryaxis also alive, but Kosche is still working, working in the Yeah. Also, Jurian and Vasa. Yeah, they they were barely mentioned in this book. Yeah. But I mean, yeah, like there's still so many characters and so many plots that are gonna happen, obviously. I wonder what the next one is gonna be about. Also, can I just point out rereading this book and knowing about Avatar Six and Seven and knowing about Crescent City, I picked up on something. Let me see if you picked it up on it. Gwen starts talking about Merrill's research and how she's researching all the realms and how they're all different and how they're connected and all of these things, and I'm just like, hmm. Mm-hmm. Interesting. Interesting. Interesting as fuck. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So now I'm reading Crescent City 2. Love. And I'll let you know what happens. There was also a part that I know I wrote in my annotations. I was like, me reaching, and one of the like ancestors of something or another that they had researched was named like Gwynolith or something. And I was like, is this one of Gwen's people? Ancestors? Yeah. Oh, I don't know. Obviously, me reaching as fuck. Reaching as fuck. But but yeah, I don't know. So that's gonna be very interesting. I wonder if that's gonna come into play at some point with Crescent City. Um, as and Elaine. Mm-hmm. That's another As and Elaine or Elaine and Lucian. Or as and Gwen. Or as and Gwen. Oh, which one? Like, what idea do you like better on that? I just want to ask your opinion. My thing is so hard. Also, I have to tell you about the bonus chapter. Oh my goodness. Do you want to talk about it now? Because you're gonna die. Oh, yes, yes. Peely Peely found these bonus chapters that I didn't read. One you didn't miss much. One was juicy as fuck. God. I'm just trying to think now. No, just tell me. Okay. So the first bonus chapter is Fayra and Rissand, and it's after they tell everybody about the baby, and it's basically how they come up with his name. Oh, Nix. The baby's name was Nyx. But yeah, so that doesn't really matter. The second bonus chapter, everybody goes to sleep after a winter solstice. Right? They've done their presents, it's all fine. Hee hee ha hain. Everyone's drunk as fuck. They're all like, okay, we're going to bed. Azreel stays up. And so he basically has fucking insomnia because these shadows are always with him and he, you know, he's stressed out. The poor guy. Classic. My guy's also traumatized. Yeah, my fucking guy, the shadow singer, is traumatized as fuck. And all of a sudden, he's like, he goes down to like the foyer and he hears these light footsteps, and it's Miss Elaine. Of course it is. And she's like, Oh, sorry. And so she's like, She's like, I I I forgot to give you your gift for winter solstice. And he literally, he's like, liar in his head. He's like, liar. Like he he could smell the lie on her. And the shadows can smell the lie. Like you could like it kind of like gives you a glimpse into the shadows. And like they talk to him. Yeah. Oh my God. So cool. Figured that. Yeah. And so Elaine gives him the gift and he opens it and it's like these little ear earplugs. And she's like, Well, because I know that you're staying at the House of Wind with Cassian and Nesta. So I figured you might need that. That's cute. So he laughs and he's like, Thank you so much. Like, that's really like that's thoughtful. And she's like, Yeah, I didn't think Nesta would appreciate the joke. So he's like, Yeah, probably not. And so he's like, Here's your gift. And he gives her this necklace. And it was it, it had like a like little charm of a rose, but it was stained glass. So like once you put it in the light, like the it changes colors. Yeah, it's really cute. Very Elena colored. Such a good gift giver. I love as. So hot, right? So she's like, Will you put it on me? And he's like, sure. So this bitch is like in her nightgown. And so she obviously does like the she turns around just like the hair lift, like exposes the neck. So I can't. I mean, blushing doesn't fuck reading this. Literally, I'm like, so he's like, so he puts the necklace on her and he like holds, like he holds her neck, right? And he's like, you know, like this is like so much touching that, you know, very intimate. They've never touched like this before. And so she turns around and they're like face to face and they're like looking at each other in their eyes deep and fuck. And so she's she goes, she whispers, yes. And so he's like, he's leaning in, she closes her eyes, and all of a sudden you get Azreel. And it's Reese in his head, and he goes, Azreel. And so he he looks up because they were in the foyer, he looks up, and Reese and is on like the stairs, and he's like, My office now. Oh my god. So he's like, so he backs away and he's like, I'm so sorry. Like I like, and she's like, No, I'm sorry. And they're like, No, no, no, like it's fine, it's fine. So Elaine doesn't know that his name was called. Okay, gotta be like Elaine. Just to confirm, just to confirm. No, Elaine was like, Oh my god, like I'm so sorry. And he's like, No, this was a mistake. Like, no, and she's he's like, Don't apologize, like, never apologize. I was like, Oh my god. He goes to Reese's office and he uses his High Lord voice. High Lord voice came out. He's pissed. Yep. He's livid. He's like, How the fuck are you gonna kiss her and make a move on her when her mate is in the house? He's like, you know, like he can invoke, I guess they have like this blood duel or something, like for mates in the autumn court. And Azrael, Azrael was so hot in this, he's like, I can fucking kill him. Like, how the fuck, like I can kill him in my sleep. And he's like, I know you can, but then we're gonna have a war. Our fucking allies in the autumn court and spring are gonna fuck with us. You know, what the hell? You can't be doing this. Leave her alone. He's like, do not go near her in his High Lord voice. So Azrael is pissed. Oh he leaves. Is there more? Yeah. Okay, okay. He leaves. He goes to Az leaves. As leaves. He goes to the house of wind because he's like, if I stay here, I'm gonna go fuck Elaine. He's gonna go fuck Elaine. He's gonna fuck that bitch. Okay. So he's which I love this for as though. No love. Like, get over Morgan, please. Can you believe Reese goes, what about more? As shut up, bitch. Get out of here, Reese. Don't fucking put more, like, don't bring up Morgan. Don't do this to him. Don't do this. It's been 500 years. That bitch has never, like, even He's okay to do this. Reese. Resand. What about more? Shut up. You just want to keep your life easy. It's not. No, I was like so annoyed with Reese. I'm like, what does more have to do with this? Yeah. Like, more has never showed interest. Leave ass alone. That was annoying. Whatever. He flies to the house of Gwyn because he's like, all right, I gotta get out of here. And he goes to the training and he sees Gwen. Peely. Peely. I'm dead. And so it's two in the morning, and uh, Gwen is trying to cut the ribbon, and she's like, Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Like, I didn't think anybody was gonna be here. And he's like, No, it's fine, like I forgot something. And she was like, at two in the morning. And he's like, Yeah, literally, and he's like, Oh no, it's like my favorite blade, and she's like, Oh yeah, because every guy sleeps with a blade. So she was like making jokes, like trying to be funny. And they obviously know each other because, like we said before, like he saved her from whatever she's from when this whole thing went out with the priestesses. He was the one that saved her. So they're talking or whatever, and and you know, they're just like kind of like going a little bantery, and he's like, the shadows are kind of disappearing too, like wokey, like what's going on? So they leave it at that. She's like, Okay, well, happy solstice, and he's like, You too. And so they leave it at that. And all of a sudden the next day, he goes back to the river house and he sees that Elaine put her gift back, put the necklace back. And so he takes it and he takes it to Clotho, and he's like, Give it to Gwen. And that's how it ends. Is that not it's like literally like oh my god, and that's how it ends. And so she clotho's like, he says, Don't tell her it's from me. And Clotho's like, Why not? And he's like, just just don't. It's fine. Like she she doesn't need to know it's from me. And so he's he I was like, that's kind of crazy. That gets a little spicy from the shadow singer. The shadow singer. So I'm just like I can't. So now I was really like, who is Elaine gonna be with? Who is Azreel gonna be with? Because now we got like a double, a double triangle. We got we got a a Pentagon going on with all these fucking people. Oh my god. I would have been kicking my feet reading that. I was blushing so hard. No, and like he was he was- You have to read it. No, you do. He was like naughty as fuck, too, when he was talking about Elaine. I was like, hmm, like, does is Ashwill gonna have a potty mouth? Like, we need that. We need the shadow singer to be as vocal, as foul mouthed as Cassian was. Yes, please. Yes, we need the five chili peppers back, please, Sarah J Max. I can't. Oh my god. So now it's like, what do you mean? Like, because I I I love him with Gwen too. But Azrael was saying when he was pissed off at Reese, he's like, he's like, the cauldron was wrong. Like, and Reese's like, what the fuck you talking about? He's like, the cauldron can be wrong about the mating bond. Like, how is it that three sisters came out and were made for three brothers and only two of them are gonna be mates? Like, no, like no, he was so mad. But I just like Az deserves his happy ending. So it's just like Okay, okay, okay. So if you could pick who the next book will be about, who would you pick? You got more? No. No, like Az. 100%. Azreel. Oh my god, 100%. 100%. No, we need Azreel's book. But people are like, like, is it gonna be Elaine and Azriel? Or is it gonna be Gwen and Azriel? I don't know. But there's like a lot of people going like she's now now she has Elaine with the mating bond with Lucian. Mm-hmm. Then Elaine with Azreel, with like this whole tension-y thing going on, but then why are you gonna introduce Gwen? Like, I I don't like that. Like, let's not use Gwen as a pawn. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, let's not use Gwen to get Elaine jealous. I don't like that. You see, or or use Elaine to get Gwen jealous. Like, I don't like these women. You don't like those things. These women have been through enough.

unknown 58:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 58:03

If it were other people, I don't care. But like these people have been through enough. These three specific people don't deserve. They don't deserve to be used as pawns, you know? So it's hard. Or like it's a like a will he, won't he? Like, no, just like choose one and be done with it. But I don't know, because I feel like Azreel is gonna end up with Elaine. Oh, you think so? Because he's like really into her. Maybe like Gwen will be friend. Gwen picked him. Like, you know, what was that part that Nesta was like you're her new like fixation? Yeah, you're you're basically that, you're her new fixation. But I mean it it turns out that when they were talking about it, like during Winter Solstice, when he went up there to the training, he helped her cut the ribbon and the next day she cuts it. And that's when they all become Valkyrie. It was like right after Azreel helped her. I don't know. Like he's like the first male that she is comfortable with, Gwen. And that would be so shitty. Like if he's the first man that she's comfortable with and like uses her as a pawn. That's what I'm saying. Like, please do not do that to Gwen. To Gwen, but also like maybe, maybe she just needs a friend out of him. Maybe it's not like romantic. Hopefully. I don't know. Oh no. Sarah better not fuck with us on this one. So we have a couple um high lords that are also single, right? Who can we set Gwen up with? Helian is very single, but he likes to be single. Yeah, no. Helian would traumatize the fuck out of Gwen. But I love I love like a man whore all of a sudden for one woman. Okay, but no, like there's too many men, too little women. We need to chill the fuck out. Because like also like Gwen and Azrael have like the whole like they they have history. They have history. Like he saved her, and like now they're going through this training and like they But also technically Elaine and Az have have history too. Azreel just saves everybody. Az is just a savior. He's the savior. Oh my god. Oh my god, excited. I don't know. Az's book, it's like gonna be like, who's my book boyfriend? No, it's so hard. Because like now, like after having read Silver Flames again, I'm like, Cassian, the man you are. Cassian, the man you are. And that bonus chapter from Azreel, Azreel the man you are. So it's like who like like I'm telling you, pe a lot of people like don't think Reese Sand is the book boyfriend of the series. Oh my god. I mean it's like so amazing. Like I love Reese, but Cassian, this book, I like I I love Cassian, but Cassian gave so much for Nesta. He literally he gave But Reese too Reeseand like gave everything for for Ferah. He still does. He still does. He still does. Yeah. But no, honestly, Cassian was amazing. No, but Azreel? No, but Azreel. No. I don't know. I think people Azreel might do it. People love Azreel. Azreel is like their book boyfriend, and he hasn't even gotten his book yet. He doesn't even have a book. Insane. I don't know. I feel like his book will be like make it or break it. I think Azreel's gonna be like acts the service game. You think so? Yeah, for sure. No, but I'm like wondering because he's like the the quiet one. Mm-hmm. The quiet ones are always the one you gotta look out for. Yeah, those are always the freakiest. I'm so excited. I was so excited. I hope. Watch this be like Elaine Illusion, like get the fuck out of here. No. I mean, I don't know. Okay, personally, I think I'm going as in Gwen. Really? I don't know. I think I would prefer that to Elaine. Yeah. I just don't like that Elaine was already like imprinted on. Like dead ass, literally. Like, I don't like that. I don't want ads to get no like seconds. Technically, it's not seconds. You know what I mean? But still, like, I don't want that. I don't know, but maybe we'll get like a weird situation where Elaine doesn't accept the bond. Because we right now we've gotten people accepting the bond. But maybe she won't accept it. And then we have to see what happens when you don't accept it. And they Rissan didn't mention that. So and nothing goes mentioned for no reason. For no reason. So but yeah, Elaine and Az or Lucian, as with Elaine or Gwen. That was my my last note. I don't know what's gonna happen. Crazy. I'm so excited. You have to read that chapter and then let me know. You're gonna be like hot. Hot tot. We didn't even talk about the fucking spice in this. How spicy and amazing and beautiful, Sarah J Mass. I was eating it up. I was eating it up too. Literally. Oh my god, no. Her thinking about a threesome, I was like, no. Nesta! But same. Literally, it was so good. That was crazy. No, this one was amazing too when when she comes out of the bog, Nesta's released the Kelpie's head, the black water at her feet swallowed it whole. Death herself, Azreel Shook, weathering that primal power. But they were both Illyrian, whether Az liked it or not. And so they did what their people had always done before Death's Beautiful Face. They bowed. Like bowing to Nesta as she has the mask on because she's Lady Death. Had the threesome right after that. It's so no good. So good. Hot. Hot. Like I love that. People bowing down. People I'm into people getting on your knees. Yeah. That's where it's out. Okay. Shall we get into some goodreads? Yes, please. Okay. So, like I told you before, the Goodreads was a little tough. It was a little tough to find some good ones. Yeah. But it was funny. So this one was a five-star. It says, A Corp Silver Flame's backbone was Nesta and her found family, Gwyn and Emery. I adore their precious bond and the fact that they are badass female characters who are also passionate readers of smuddy romances. I love that Nesta found other friends outside the inner circle. They all found something in each other and helped another one heal. Super cute. And it goes, the house is my new favorite character. So good. Love. It goes, unpopular opinion, but I am glad to see Rissan playing the High Lord role. Of course, we find him to be more broody since they're no longer seeing him from Farah's perspective. We are seeing him in his true element. I've noticed that a few readers said they didn't like Reese in this book. Well, Rheesan isn't the epitome of perfection, many make him out to be. And I appreciate that because he is heavily flawed too. And yes, I do like Reesan. Yeah. I really enjoy that because I like seeing like the truthness. Like, let's let's be realistic in these books sometimes. Yeah. Like Nesta's whole, like how she was a bitch and everybody was treating her like one. I like that. Like I like how nobody like tried to cater to her as much. Like even Amran was trying to back her up in the beginning. Yeah as a whole. Everybody gave her her space, but after that, everybody was like, come on, bitch. Like shape it up. Yeah. And I like that. Like, you know? Yeah. That realness in this. Imagine a book from Tamlin's POV on ready, this guy, this bastard just wants me to kill myself at this point. Oh my god. That's funny. That's terrible. Nobody is surprised. I knew absolutely nothing would make this book good, save Sarah J. Mass deciding that's right altogether. I'm like, why are we even putting in a review then? What are we doing here? Come on. Like, I don't understand that. And then it goes, Resand. I have never met a character whom I loathe more than Rissand. Perfect feminist king Rissan who loves giving women a choice so long as they pick the one he wants them to. That's funny. I'm like, no, the hate is absurd. This is like a real but like if you don't like the book, why are you reading it? Like a lot of these were all like that. Just like DNF it and move on. Literally. So then it goes on a bunch and it says, concluding thoughts in my 13th reason. This is the worst Sarah J. Mass ever written, and that's saying a lot. From her worthless white feminism to the complete and utter mind-numbing torture I had to face through this Bible-length tome, I could not have thought of a worse thing to read. It's sad because I truly love Nesta Archeron so much, but this book made it evident that Sarah Janet hates her and wants to give her the worst story ever. Also, Faisanne Baby has a stupid name. That is hilarious. So this was like such a big hater. But I was like, all right, whatever, girl. This is another one star. Like I said, it was really hard. It goes Sarah J. Mass took her perfectly divided. Characters and pretty much just let them rot. Yep, yep, yep. From the first three books, I loved every single person, everyone. Now I hate Farah, I hate Rhysan, I hate Cassian, I hate Amaron, I hate Moore. For fuck's sake, I despise Elaine. Why is she a character? Why does she exist? What does she add to the book? Oh my god. What role does she play other than to collect people's sympathy and make them feel sorry for her? I'm sorry, not, but Elaine is an idiot. I'm like, why are we giving all this hate? I can't deal with her constant whining and bitching and running to Reese and Cassian and telling them she wants to go back to the human world just because of nasty Nesta. Elaine, you've been living with your sister your entire life, and you choose now to complain about how much of a bitch she is. That's true. I'm like, but also Nest, yeah, Elaine. I'm surprised we didn't get a lot of Elaine at the end of the book when Nesta like turned her life around. Because they were like this. I'm interested to see how you had said in the in the other review how Reese was portrayed in this. I'm interested to see how Elaine will be portrayed in her own book. Because right now, like Elaine is pretty annoying, in my opinion. She's definitely like a she's the coddled one that like she's just like she doesn't do shit. She bakes and gardens. I mean, I will say she's coddled because Nesta has always coddled her. Yeah she she herself volunteered to do something this book to find the mask herself, I think it was. So I'm like, it's not her fault. She tried, and Nesta was like, oh no, I'm gonna do it. I don't know. You know what I'm hoping like Elaine will come into her own in her book because she's giving like real lame o right now. Yeah, she's given not a bad bitch. No, so she's giving fucking lose her FMC, I'm not gonna lie. Which I also think that's why I really enjoyed this book first, like because of Nesta, but also like how her personality, having Cassian just like really be her rock. I love it when an MMC is just like there for a bitch. It's my favorite. There when she needs him. Yes. Because you know, she's very independent, she was very cool on her own feet. You know what I mean? Love that. Five stars. While Achomath will always remain elite, a court of silver flames is superior in my eyes. Interesting. Especially in terms of mental health representation, especially in terms of character study and growth. And the girls that get it absolutely fucking get it. Nesta's arc was incredibly well done. I really fucking like that she wasn't likable. We get a lot of heroes that are as much of a dick as Nesta is, and they easily get a pass. Well, I want to see more dickish women in my stories. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I love a bitch. Love that. My favorite type of FMC. Mm-hmm. This is on this is one I was telling you earlier. Three stars. Did I read this 757-page novel in one day? Yes. Do I have any regrets? No. Interesting. It's no secret that I don't like this series. What? Why are you reading it in a day? Why are we reading it, but why are we also reviewing it? No. Like, anyways. Keep it moving. Yeah, keep it moving. Two stars. No one is a bigger Nessian stan than me. So imagine my surprise at this rating. It's only a two stars. How do you not like this book? My biggest problem with this book, I got you. Tell me. My biggest problem with this book started and ended with Reese and Farah. Y'all, I truly do not care about them anymore. They had their time to shine. They did. So can we please move on? The second I read about Reese having his shield up around Farah so no one could detect her scent, I was 1000% sure she was pregnant and pissed the fuck off because I knew somehow this was gonna circle all the way back around them. And sure enough, Reese went off to be an absolute piece of garbage and not tell Farah that she would die delivering their child since it had wings. So when Nesta finally has her big moment to show how much she's grown as a character, it's overshadowed by Farah going into labor. I don't know. I didn't hate Rhysanne and Farah that much. I don't either. So I I think they're very vital to Nesta like becoming herself. Yeah. So whatever. Because it was a lot of like Nesta saying how she wasn't worthy of Cassian's love, how she wasn't worthy of her dad's love, and how she wasn't worthy of Farah's love. Because Farah, like you mentioned, never stopped loving her. Exactly. Five stars. Going into this book, it already had two strikes against it. Strike one. I hate Nesta with every fiber of my being. Hello. Strike two. I hate the mid-series cover change to something so low budget's not a great start. Which I saw some people complain about that too. Like I guess the cover art was changed. How funny. I don't know. And then it says, but honestly, shame on me for doubting Sarah J. Mass. So she did the impossible. She made me like Nesta. Who would have thought? Five stars. Um, hi. This is my most favorite book of the series. Oh, love. Love. Two stars. How come y'all liked it so much? Such a bullshit spinoff. Nesta is being an annoying bitch as usual, yet we're supposed to cheer for her ass and feel sorry. And suddenly, as is into Elaine out of no fucking where. What the fuck? Three sisters for three brothers? How lame. I know. I don't know. A lot of people don't like Elaine with him. Yep. Four stars. The inner circle is just the most precious thing ever. And darling, you cannot convince me otherwise. So cute. So cute. These were amazing. Oh, so amazing. I'm so glad you're part of the Aguatar family now. I just want to read it again already. Right? Yeah. Amazing. Love it. Love. All right. Guess this is it, huh? Yep. Read responsibly. Or don't.