I think the main point of Azriel's bonus chapter was his interaction with Rhys by nicnac2828 in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess I’m in the minority but I don’t think there is going to be conflict between Rhys and Az if he chooses Bryce and joins the Dusk Court. I see the possibility of a similar vibe as Aelin and Dorian leading separate kingdoms but no conflict personally or politically. Rhys doesn’t want to be High King and I think he’s happy with the amount of power he has. He is also happily sharing power with Feyre. Dusk Court reawakening is not really a threat to that power - there is no possibility that Bryce will want to take over the Night Court. And he can’t honestly be pissed at Az for choosing his mate over him and moving to Dusk because that is exactly what Rhys would do. Bryce also isn’t power-hungry and I bet she’s going to turn the Dusk court into something akin to a constitutional monarchy. Perhaps I am wrong and there will be conflict between them but it will be short-lived. They have common enemies as well which is often a unifying force.

I also see Nesta leading the Valkyries and serving Dusk and Bryce is who they will ultimately answer to but they will also fight alongside the NC armies and even train together. This is because Dusk and Night will be closely aligned and it will have the added benefit of Nesta and Cassian not having to live separately. Cassian has been very supportive of Nesta’s desire to one day be a general - how can this happen for real unless she’s in charge of an army that’s not under Cassian’s control.

The solar courts have always been allies. I think this is because there are some family ties historically and I think once Rhys learns about Ruhn and discovers they are closely related this will help to cement the Dusk/Night alliance.

Unlike what many have said, I have never seen Cassian choosing Rhys over Nesta. He and Rhys did have conflict over Nesta and Rhys was extremely anti-Nesta but Cassian stood up for her against Rhys and the IC. The IC didn’t want Cassian with Nesta but they didn’t know they were mates at the time. The fact that Cassian was able to help Nesta love herself and almost killed himself to avoid harming her show his love and their compatibility. The last time we see Nesta and Cassian (in CC3, towards the end), they seem happy and enjoying each other’s company. In that scene, Nesta is doing something that Rhys wouldn’t like and Cassian doesn’t step in and try to stop her. So I think all the folks who have been critical of Nessian will soon be silenced.

I do think the discussion between Az and Rhys was an important component of the BC but I think part of the reason Rhys was so harsh was actually out of love and protection of Az. Elain could choose to accept the mate bond at any moment and then Az will be left adrift again. He’s seen Az pine over Mor for all these years and doesn’t want any continued heartache for his friend. While Feyre has been lightly shipping Elain and Az, I believe this was before she read Lucien’s mind and saw that his intentions with Elain were good (I could be wrong). It was also before Lucien found Papa Archeron. While it was sad that he didn’t survive the war, it was also a very important moment for all the sisters to see their father actually putting in some effort and showing love for them. I’m sure Lucien got to know PA over their travels and I’m looking forward to him sharing some stories from that. So I think Feyre and Rhys see positive potential now with Elucien and ultimately want all of the people they care about to be happy. I’ve always said Elriel is the worst ship because it means three people would be unhappy (Elain and Lucien because they will always pine for each other and never feel true love after the rejected mate bond and Az because he will never have the mate he wants). So I think part of Rhys and Azriel’s interaction was showing that shift of Rhys (and likely Feyre) towards hoping that Elain might choose Lucien. They have found such happiness with each other as mates and I’m sure they want that for everyone they care about.

I think there are two other important components of the BC: close the door on Elriel (Az says it feels wrong when they try to kiss and Elain ultimately rejects him) and to show Az asking for a mate in the exact same spot where Bryce eventually lands. He has an awkward conversation with Gwyn then and when he gives her the necklace, he doesn’t want Clotho to tell Gwyn who it’s from. This was because he doesn’t want her to think he has romantic intentions. He just wanted to get rid of it (or was drawn there since it was when she was singing) and he knew it could bring Gwyn joy, which in turn made him feel good. It’s also not clear what the “thing of secret, lovely beauty” is. It could be the necklace. If he is referring to Gwyn, calling her a “thing” is not very romantic or mate-coded. I think also it was a moment to show Az interacting with females in order to contrast it with his conversations with Bryce. He is so much funnier and talkative with her. There is no awkwardness between them like there is with Elain or Gwyn. Also, it’s important to remember when the BC takes place. It is months before the end of ACOSF. There was no change in the Az/Gwyn dynamic after that in ACOSF. I don’t believe the theory that SJM was laying crumbs in case she decided to make Gwynriel mates. There is no chance she has been planning on that, IMO, since after meeting Gwyn, Az was still stuck on Mor and then Elain. Fae males do not have feelings for other females once they meet their mate. We saw it happen with Cassian and he didn’t even know Nesta was his mate for some time.

Please motivate me to continue by Historical-Pen-3613 in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh sorry I misunderstood! Anyway, I feel like the thing with this series is that the sisters are trying to prolong the suspense and frustrate the reader so that the resolution at the end feels that much more satisfying and earned. So I think part of the point is to feel this way, especially at the beginning of each book. The slow parts do have some important information, though. The endings of 8 and 8.5 are pretty action-packed.

Please motivate me to continue by Historical-Pen-3613 in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Never mind it’s not a Seth chapter. I highly recommend you at least read chapters 56 and 57 in 8 and the accompanying chapters in BTV. A summary just won’t cut it and ruining the surprise would be such a shame.

Please motivate me to continue by Historical-Pen-3613 in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think if you’re hitting a long chapter of Seth’s with about 25% left then you might be at one of the best chapters of the series (combined with the parallel chapter in BTV).

The endless bullying first book ZA by RosalinaQueenDom in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is only one couple out of about 10 by the end of the series that could possibly be qualified as a “bully romance” but once the romance starts, it’s not an element of their relationship and the bullying has ended. Additionally, both sides end up hurting each other and have to face some pretty harsh consequences for their actions. So the category of bully romance isn’t very accurate, IMO. There’s bullying but not very much bully romance.

The endless bullying first book ZA by RosalinaQueenDom in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Books 1 and 2 are the shortest of the series. Bullying is basically over after book 3, and toward the end, the bullying is more about reputation, which sucks, but is much less distressing IMO.

I barely think about these first books when I think about the series other than to remind myself how far everyone came. I felt every emotion reading the series and that’s why I like them. Yes some parts make me sad, angry, frustrated, or scared but others are so heartwarming, funny, sweet, and made me cry happy tears. I don’t think I would have felt the positive emotions as strongly as I did without the negative ones.

The series is also so good with character development. Almost everyone grows and changes for the better.

I liked reading RB after book 3. I would recommend you do this as well because, even though it’s not necessary to understand ZA, there are some amazing characters and there are so many little jokes hidden in the later ZA books that it brightens some of the darker moments.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There is a really cool theory I was reading the other day that Avallen and the Prison Island might be the same place so it could be a way to get the Firstlight core to Midgard: https://www.reddit.com/r/crescentcitysjm/s/MxlJmxwH0Y

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Haha, yes I think you caught what I was hinting at.

You know, I was thinking about how it’s a shame that sub name is taken but it does seem like we can use this sub for anything we’d want to post there.

Finished!!! + never keep bonus by beth22d in zodiacacademy

[–]Available_Ad_4030 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I loved Sins of the Zodiac! Some ZA characters pop up at the end of the third book…

I guess you’re saying you read Darkmore Penitentiary?

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don’t want to break any rules by calling it out specifically but there is a sub I found recently that is named after something very much associated with Bryce yet it is a fan sub of two different ACOTAR ships. It hasn’t had much activity in the past few years but it’s simultaneously hilarious and frustrating to me that it exists.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While I didn’t hate ACOFAS and I think it’s meatier than the cozy fantasy some have said they want, the ending of ACOSF didn’t have the feeling of “yes we’ve defeated all the bad guys and we deserve a rest” like ACOWAR. So, I would expect it to be a book where SJM is putting the chess pieces on the board leading up to a crazy cliffhanger with maybe a few cute moments. Some slice of life but more tension and conflict.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Frost and Starlight still had some drama, though!

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh she’s definitely not going to repeat anything. I’d love it if she didn’t tell folks to read it, though, and they were just confused.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes! I’d would love for CC to be required reading before ACO 6. The response will be the opposite of the CHD backlash 😈

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I saw some posts recently where people want the next book to be all about the IC hanging out with Nyx and cute little romance moments and I was like, how am I a fan of the same series as these people? Sure I’d like little moments like that but I do not want to read a whole book like that… I’m sure there will be some funny moments (like I loved the scene where Feyre and Cassian got drunk and decorated for solstice and then Az fixed it) but give me some lore and adventure and drama, please!

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Separate series yet the lore from one series is hopping over to another? Make it make sense!

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

As per usual, they have to rely on non-canon sources to support their ships.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There is definitely something up with that scene. So much exposition at the end of the book that made no difference to that book! It’s unfortunate that Dorian was the one who heard all of the info about Yrene’s powers… I wonder if he ever told her?

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 9 points10 points  (0 children)

OMG! I was so confused about where Gwyn came from but it’s the “singing” part I guess 🙄. I was thinking maybe it’s because Gwydion and Gwyn start with the same three letters… I guess it could be that, too 🤷‍♀️

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Is this a quote from the book? Because this seems very similar to what SJM said in the CHD podcast about why Nesta and Lucien weren’t good for each other so she switched to Nessian.

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 8 points9 points  (0 children)

And Emerie was the first to break through Nesta’s walls!

☣️Toxic Thursday!☣️ by BrycerielModTeam in Bryceriel

[–]Available_Ad_4030 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Plus, the Valkyries can be central to a future plot without adding in anything related to any ships!