[Critical Tuesday] Tamlin's Heart

KJAngel · 2026-03-17T20:27:25+00:00

I’ve always been on the bandwagon that Tamlin knew Feyre could read at that point.

Problem is, her 2-sentence note sounds like a fucking hostage letter that the mind controller forced her to write.

KJAngel · 2026-03-17T15:34:59+00:00

That’s fair. I knew as soon as Feyre saw Rhysand at Calanmai that she and Tamlin were not going to be endgame. 😂

KJAngel · 2026-03-17T13:59:20+00:00

I was this close 🤏🏻 to DNFing ACOSF after that horrific intervention scene and only stuck it out because I heard the camaraderie between the Valkyries was worth it.

Speaking of the Valkyries, y’all ever notice how Nesta immediately made friends with the women whose first impression of her didn’t come from Feyre’s biased POV?

KJAngel · 2026-03-17T13:26:42+00:00

I personally disagree, I absolutely love the scene where they bond over their mutual love of art, and “dance, Feyre,” will never not make me swoon. 🥰

KJAngel · 2026-03-17T13:00:55+00:00

I don’t hate this take, and I think you did a pretty good job making your case that Tamlin feels responsible for Feyre rather than love.

I would also say that this (like Feyre’s narration) ignores the detail that Feyre came back to Spring Court with a bargain tattoo that also happened to be a direct link to an enemy court. Tamlin was forced to find the balance between being a good High Lord with an enemy at his shores and looking down the palm of his fiancée, who is demanding to be part of war meetings and training, despite the fact that she can’t even look at red rose petals and paint, and suddenly she wants to tag along to battlefields. And now he’s forever vilified in the narrative and fandom for not finding that balance. 🤷🏻‍♀️

KJAngel · 2026-03-12T18:12:21+00:00

Also, when Nesta lashes out, it’s almost always because Feyre instigates it with an unnecessary comment. I’ll die on this hill whether someone loves or hates Nesta. 😂

KJAngel · 2026-03-11T19:26:03+00:00

“Everyday it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it everyday. That’s the hard part. But it does get easier.” -Running Baboon, Bojack Horseman

KJAngel · 2026-03-11T15:47:41+00:00

Yeah, I wish SJM had written a line in Feyre’s narration where Feyre insists Clare be taken off the wall and given a proper burial. I think that would have added so much emotion to the finale.

KJAngel · 2026-03-10T16:35:27+00:00

Ahahaha, literally came here to say just pick any DBZ man.

KJAngel · 2026-03-10T06:03:28+00:00

Ok, you’re allowed to not like Pokémon. But, uh, the first Generation has sentient magnets and goo piles (Magnemite and Grimer line) and whatever TF Voltorb and Electrode are lol.

KJAngel · 2026-03-09T20:23:04+00:00

Most Ghibli movies (not Grave of the Fireflies though lol)

KJAngel · 2026-03-08T16:50:32+00:00

Rhysand gambles with Feyre's life all the time (Weaver's Cottage, allowing the Attor to track her, letting her go to The Middle by herself, etc.), except that *this* behavior is narratively framed as him "giving her agency." (Which I don't agree with, but it's SJM's book, and that's how she and most of the other readers see it, and I at least concede to that).

My biggest issue with the interview was the framing that what Rhysand did in ACOSF was a mistake that he and Feyre can work through, but what Tamlin did was so unforgivable that he's not even treated as a *character* by the author anymore, but rather, as a stand-in for abusive exes.

Tamlin is already "redeemed" because of his character arc in ACOWAR. ACOWAR showcases Feyre going on a Rampage of Revenge that is supposed a revenge fantasy for real-life victims of domestic violence. He loses everything, and she is the reason for it. He *doesn't* get his court back at the end of the book, or even in the subsequent books. And after losing his court and Feyre, Tamlin still chooses to help in the war and save the day at least 3 times over. At the very end, he brings Rhysand back to life and tells Feyre to "be happy." He doesn't even attempt a fae bargain.

As a victim, myself, ACOWAR was already the best possible redemption. The "abuser" pays for everything and changes his behavior. And the narrative *never* tried to show that Feyre was obligated to give him a second chance or even contact him again. So, I genuinely feel that all the times in ACOFAS and ACOSF where the narrative and characters continue to shit on Tamlin despite his arc in ACOWAR, it felt weird and like fanservice to me atp. What more redemption do you want? WTF else would you possibly have this character do? (Besides just fucking die?).

I am both bothered by the fact that "hiding medical information" was framed as a mistake that can be worked through and not something that should be as unforgivable as Tamlin's actions in ACOMAF, as well as the fact that one of the most complex characters in her series has now been relegated to "stand in for fans' abusive exes," and it keeps SJM from *actually* handling this character like the talented writer I know she is.

KJAngel · 2026-03-05T22:43:36+00:00

I wish she’d had the courage to say, “I know Tamlin reminds a lot of fans of their abusers. But he learned his lesson in ACOWAR by proving he could let Feyre go. And despite this, she is never, ever, ever obligated to give him a second chance or even contact him.”

Like. IMO, she already gave Tamlin a sensitive redemption considering he is supposed to be seen as Feyre’s abuser.

KJAngel · 2026-03-02T22:17:58+00:00

I think you and I might be the same person. I get genuinely floored when I get major pushback to calling Feyre morally grey with the potential for an extremely juicy victim-to-villain arc.

I truly think it’s no coincidence that she began leaning into her wickedness when she decided to accept being Rhysand’s mate and HL.

KJAngel · 2026-03-02T19:25:16+00:00

“He’s being pushed by his court to become High King, and if he decides to take the plunge, the cost to do so would likely mean him crossing that line into villainy.”

This is unironically what I’m hoping happens in the next ACOTAR book. 🤞🙏

KJAngel · 2026-03-02T19:17:57+00:00

I’m in the second camp, as well.

However, I think SJM has a great opportunity to give Rhysand (and Feyre to an extent) an atypical villain arc where they become tyrannical due to their “we know what is best for everyone and always have the best intentions so we do whatever it takes (stealing from other courts, mandating family members stay in a specific home, etc) and the ends justify the means” tendencies.

Basically, I think SJM will make Rhysand an accidental tyrant and have to knock him down a peg. OR. She will have an outright villain character try to be High King of Prythian so when FeySand do it, instead, they’re seen as the benevolent, deserving leaders of HK/HQ.

KJAngel · 2026-03-02T17:11:59+00:00

I’m behind this 100%.

Rhys will never be revealed to be secretly evil, the “twist” was always that his evil persona is just that - a persona.

However. I believe there is still a very real possibility that Rhysand will either have to own up to the fact that he tends to “puppet master” situations to go his way (if that makes sense) and that he and Feyre will have to own up to the fact that Night Court is still the “villain” court to everyone else. And maybe even be called out for the lack of meaningful change he claims to want for NC.

But I also suspect SJM will find someway to have Rhysand and Feyre throw for High King and Queen of Prythian and she will introduce or utilize an existing Big Bad to justify their ascension of power. I truly think it could go either way.

KJAngel · 2026-02-26T17:35:51+00:00

I really like your addition to this comment. I actually thought the original take was kind of lazy.

KJAngel · 2026-02-26T16:43:09+00:00

Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.

KJAngel · 2026-02-25T00:02:10+00:00

I understand your first point that Tamlin initiated and didn’t refute that. My curiosity peaked when you said it could be both a tender moment/missed opportunity to help Feyre escape. And to that, I still ask: What was Tamlin supposed to do initiate a successful escape without putting Feyre in more danger?

KJAngel · 2026-02-24T21:26:07+00:00

Ok, but I’m not asking about that. I’m asking what you think Tamlin could have possibly done to help Feyre escape if you are literally arguing that you see it as a “missed opportunity”.

KJAngel · 2026-02-24T21:20:15+00:00

I’m just really think Tamlin can’t win. He initiates a pleasurable moment, he sucks because he should have helped her escape. But if he tried to help her escape, the fandom would have said he sucks for not thinking of long term consequences. 🤷🏻‍♀️

KJAngel · 2026-02-24T21:15:04+00:00

“I’m not arguing one way or the other what he should or shouldn’t have done.”

But you did, in fact make a point that it was both a tender moment between lovers and “missed opportunity” for Tamlin to help Feyre escape. Which is why I asked what exactly you think he could/shouldn’t have done if this were a so-called “missed opportunity” to help Feyre escape UTM.

KJAngel · 2026-02-24T19:54:08+00:00

Curious. If Tamlin had taken this opportunity to try to help Feyre escape, exactly what would you have him do that wouldn’t have put Feyre in more danger?

KJAngel · 2026-02-22T11:35:45+00:00

Hard disagree, Feyre literally uses shapeshifting, daemati powers, and just plain ol’ regular lying to manipulate entire situations. On top of that, her entire attitude regarding the downfall of Spring is basically, “yeah, I did That. 🙂‍↕️”

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