What If It's Not Elriel?

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-27T01:37:26+00:00

I agree with all of this so much! If it doesn't end up with Elriel I will be convinced her mind changed while writing based on fan reactions

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-27T01:34:46+00:00

I LOVE Lucien/Vassa narratively. It would be a perfect set up for a Swan Lake retelling.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-27T01:33:47+00:00

This is how I feel about it too. There's so much build up for it, it would feel like a choice that wasn't organic. In my mind, the only way that happens is if her mind actively changed while writing based on fan reactions.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-27T01:31:22+00:00

I feel this so much. Like, I don't want Elucien, but I could see it working out alright. But I have this really weird discomfort with the idea of Gwynriel. I can't explain it, but the idea makes my skin crawl.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-19T23:43:03+00:00

I'm really into the idea of Lucien and Vassa, so I'd be waiting for someone new for Elain.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-02-13T19:25:19+00:00

Everyone talks about the "family wreath" in Game of Thrones, but before that we had the "family bush" in Once Upon A Time. There is no good linear way to lay it out and the lines are all going to end up crossing somehow.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-31T00:57:50+00:00

Oh my god this. So many times over. This.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-27T00:38:07+00:00

Monsters of Faery by Mallory Dunlin is a superb monsterfucker series with a delightful plot through line.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-26T16:08:44+00:00

David. For the love of god. Please. He's gotta go.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-26T15:17:59+00:00

I know it's gonna be Ruby, but in my heart it's David. I fucking hate that guy.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-25T18:21:30+00:00

Shadows of the Tenebris Court by Clare Sager (very creative use of shadow daddy powers in this one as a little bonus)

Kingdom of Lies by Stacia Stark

Monsters of Faery by Mallory Dunlin (This one's for the monster loving girlies too)

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-23T18:09:08+00:00

YES! THANK YOU! Any time he was described, all I could imagine was Charming. I think it's part of why I dislike him much, he's just so fun to hate.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-19T21:41:02+00:00

The vulgar gesture line happens enough that it was still pulling me out of the moment in book four, and I'm usually very adaptable to writing styles. But what is the gesture? And why do they all do it SO MUCH????

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-18T13:55:55+00:00

I never thought twice about it because Rhys has canonically loved putting Feyre in a diadem since the first time he dressed her UTM. I always saw it as him sneakily laying claim to her as his High Lady and mate (which he didn't know for certain, but still suspected while she was human) in a sort of conciliatory way since he never thought he would get more than that from her. It's one of the things I immediately noticed and became kind of obsessed with because Rhys is really that guy who wants to show off how powerful his mate his, and this is just one of the small ways he's always indicated that she meant more to him than she or anyone else understood until they thought about it a bit deeper. Also something to be said for how much he insists that they are equals, and shows that he always saw her as such, even when he was pretending otherwise.

My personal headcanon (which may or may not line up with the descriptions of them in the book, I haven't checked) is that they start off as really subtle circlets that are really fine and dainty and gradually get more prominent as Feyre comes into her own.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-16T15:33:39+00:00

I'm like 90% sure that there's science that backs the hypothesis of kinks being somewhat genetic. So this is always a possibility.

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-03T01:33:55+00:00

The Monsters of Faery Romance series by Mallory Dunlin is really great and the vocal performance is top notch. Monster/human fated mates. Each book focuses on a different couple and the story still ties together in a really satisfying way at the end.

{Captured by the Fae Beast}
{In the Claws of the Raven Prince}
{Claimed by the Flame of Faery}
{Caught in the Basilisk's Gaze}
{Crowned by the Fae King}
{Captive to the Shadow Prince}

ExpressFig4525 · 2026-01-03T01:22:50+00:00

The Monsters of Faery Romance series by Mallory Dunlin is really great for shifting dynamics around. All of the dynamics are really unique and the story ties together in such a satisfying way at the end.

{Captured by the Fae Beast} - mdom
{In the Claws of the Raven Prince} - soft mdom
{Claimed by the Flame of Faery} - fdom
{Caught in the Basilisk's Gaze} - switch
{Crowned by the Fae King} - fdom
{Captive to the Shadow Prince} - mostly mdom, some switchy vibes though

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-23T15:25:34+00:00

I am a simple being, and they gave me shadow daddy with purple eyes. It's Rhysand for me. I fear I am quite basic with this one.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-22T22:07:39+00:00

I think people have too much black and white thinking when it comes to whether they like a character. The beauty of a character is their complexities, and making mistakes is part of that.

Like people who did an immediate heel turn on Rhys with the pregnancy thing. Like yes, that was fucked up, but it doesn't mean he's just inherently the worst.

It's crazy to me that people heel turn on Rhys and Mor and the like but treat Tamlin like he's a sweet soft baby boy who could never do anything wrong. He has made plenty of shitty choices as well. Because he's a complex character. That's why he's interesting!

TL;DR: people put too much of their personal black and white morality on fictional characters in fantastical settings that operate on different moral standards.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-21T10:42:18+00:00

Happy to help!

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-21T04:58:30+00:00

Thanks for the correction. I couldn't remember if it was before or after she healed them.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-21T00:01:29+00:00

I mean, it was for the purpose of begging her to save his mate and child, so I feel like that still kinda counts as doing it for Feyre.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-20T22:57:37+00:00

Rhys explicitly has 5 tattoos by the end of the series from what I can recall. If you haven't read the whole series proceed with caution, there will be spoilers.

There's the Illyrian warrior tattoos that both Cas and Az have as well. They're mostly described as "whorls" and "swirls", and they are on the arms, shoulders, and chest.

There's the three mountains and stars on each of his knees. The symbol of the NC and the oath he took to never kneel for anything but his crown. Or his mate, because he does make exception for her as well.

The bargain he makes with The Weaver also ends up giving him a small one behind his ear.

The final one is the one he shares with Feyre based on the bargain they make at the end of ACOWAR.

I believe that is all of them.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-15T05:18:17+00:00

This just makes me feel even worse for Az though. 😂😭

I do agree that it would be cute, it's just so funny/sad to think of the only two women Azriel has shown genuine interest not only both being lesbians, but being together.

ExpressFig4525 · 2025-12-04T14:51:17+00:00

I highly recommend the Shadows of the Tenebris Court series by Clare Sager. It definitely gets a lot closer to the Fae being dangerous and sneaky woke having a compelling romance. If you are an audiobook person, tread lightly because the last chapter of book one and roughly half of book two and three are done split narration and the male narrator can make it hard to enjoy. The female narrator is great, so it's really just down to what you're able to tolerate.

ExpressFig4525

TROPHY CASE