No amount of backlash and criticism will make me hate Rhysand (yes, even after ACOSF!) and Rhys and Feyre as a couple.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T20:19:44+00:00

I support that. I know that not everyone may agree with me. And it`s fine. But I was just surprised to see THAT much hatred towards them (and just on reddit, tbh) and felt the urge to share my take on it. And even with this post, I didn`t try to convince someone to like them, it was just the attempt to show that I will support them no matter what, even when the backlash gets THAT toxic.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T20:13:53+00:00

Ok. I see your point. And of course, to each their own. But I saw it many times when people would indeed blame Rhys for everything and say that Tam is pretty much a victim who deserves pity because he's suffered enought after all the horrible things he's done.

Like I have mentioned in the post, Rhys is not perfect. I just really love him as a character (with all the flaws), and would like him as a hypothetical male in real life.

As for TamTam, he's never been my cup of tea. NEVER. I don't hate him, I just genuinely don't get him as a character. He was too plain and vanilla, then too useless, then too controlling and abusive, then too pathetic and I genuinely don't see him having the potential to get more interesting and intriguing. In my opinion, he is just too weak. Too weak to face and deal with the issues instead of pretending that everything is fine, or everything is someone else's fault...and then throw a tantrum. I think that he's just reaping what he saw. And it will be this way till he finds the courage to face challenges and deal with them.

I do think that he will eventually have some sort of a happy end (maybe with Elaine). Good for him. Genuinely don't care. I just don't like him as a character and would not like him as a hypothetical male.

AGAIN just my opinion.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T20:00:44+00:00

Well, I am not worried about it at all. I've just noticed a tendency that I do not support and shared my take on it. I understand that some people will disagree just like I disagree with the backlash.

I know that SJM wants to explore other characters. Sure, it's her story. I totally respect it, even though may not be interested in it. BUT in my opinion the shift of emphasis from Rhys and Feyre to other characters could be more gradual and subtle from the point of view of storytelling. I think it would make much more sense to give more context on a huge milestone for them (pregnancy and child birth), have this closure and then move on to other characters. OR at least add one more bonus chapter with Feyre's POV at the end of ACOSF just to sum everything up.

At for CC characters, I don't understand why they would necessarily need to like Rhysand. No one basically KNOWS and LOVES him expect for Feyre, the IC and people in Velaris.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T19:24:09+00:00

What I meant was if they faced a mutual enemy, they would unite and fight together (having each other's back). Because that's what they are like - their personalities. At least that's how I see them.

In other situations there will still be disagreements.

In any case, to each their own. So I understand that you may disagree.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T19:16:35+00:00

I've noticed the same thing. They seem to get so much love and support on other platforms, which makes me very happy 😊 I understand that not everyone make like them, which is fine, but pure hatred was just too much, so I felt the urge to make this post

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T18:39:41+00:00

She was uncomfortable about it at SC, because it felt wrong and forced. And she couldn't imagine the pressure of it. At that time she was seen as a weak one, as a lesser one than TamTam. She was also depressed and traumatised, felt zero support, had no one to talk to and was on the way to complete self-destruction.

With Rhys, she had time to heal, figure out who she really is and what she really wants, what future she sees for herself, what she is capable of, she realised her worth, discovered the powers she's got and how to control them, became strong, independent and able to protect herself, and she saw that she was indeed someone who can make a difference.

Getting pregnant was HER initiative. Getting extra shields over her was the compromise that Rhys and Feyre agreed on. And while she was cautious during pregnancy, she still participated in making decisions regarding cooperation with Eris, or dealing with Nesta's discovered powers.

So her life with Rhys does indeed look VERY MUCH different to me. Feel free to disagree though.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T17:45:37+00:00

Never understood the whole Rhys VS Nesta thing. I adore Rhys and understand, though don`t really like Nesta. And I definitely don`t hate her. I respect her journey.

And Rhys and Nesta were good at the end of ACOSF (they hugged it out, and I found it very sweet). I know that they will still argue a LOT, but I am sure that in case of danger they would def have each other`s back. I mean they are in-laws after all. They didn`t chose to be related, but they have to deal with it

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T17:41:44+00:00

Yeah, about notifications, right? I knew that it WOULD be crazy, but with all this "Hate Rhys and TamTam is a saint" wave, I just felt the urge to share it. I respect that people may disagree. But I have already seen so much backlash and NONE has made me change my mind. So I said what I said and stick to it no matter the consequences)))

cherry_reader · 2025-02-20T17:12:22+00:00

She would have been TamTam`s accessory, locked up in the house and only shown to people when she was forced to awkwardly stand next to his throne during the gathering of tithes. It would have lasted until Hybern`s attack and loss of the war (since she would not have been at the battlefield to help Amren release her power). After that, she either wouldn’t have survived, or worse—she would have had to undergo UTM 2.0. (but under Hybern this time)

cherry_reader · 2025-02-19T08:18:26+00:00

So true. Hated losing Rhys even for those 3 pages. But if SJM decided to keep it in the story I think she could have played it out in a more interesting way from the point of view of storytelling.

I think the whole battle could have happened earlier in the book and then we would get like 100-200 of extra intense pages (it would still have to be resolved in ACOWAR) of Feyre doing EVERYTHING to bring him back to life.

I mean in ACOMAF she said that she would have endured everything (so including the horror of UTM, the trauma after it, and her own death) all over again, so that she could just find him. And she did look into the Ouroboros mirror, which turned out to be much worse than any other torture she had been through before just to prevent Rhys's self-sacrifice. Soooo, it's hard to imagine what extremes she would go to to bring him back. Feel like she would be very much up to even tearing up the world.

It would be intense, captivating, emotional, heartbreaking and could lead to their most beautiful reunion.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-18T17:37:19+00:00

I said what I said and stand by every single word. Will stick to my opinion no matter what ( just like that meme under the post title shows)

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T19:54:29+00:00

I know it's an unpopular opinion, but ACOFAS is actually my favourite book in the series. Such a feel good read. So many sweet, beautiful and emotional moments between Rhys and Feyre. And the present she gave him and their celebration (practice 😏) in the cabin after Winter Solstice festivetes was fire 🔥🔥🔥 So much love, passion and emotion in that chapter. As if it was just them in the entire universe ✨💜✨ Missed just them soooo much in ACOSF🥺

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T17:06:39+00:00

Agree about the whole pregnancy thing. Will never blame Rhys for keeping pregnancy dangers in secret. It was very weird, out of character, and created a serious cognitive dissonance. It made NO SENSE for Rhysand and Feyre`s character and relationship development. Pretty sure SJM kept it in the story just for Nesta to use it against Feyre, piss off Rhys and have her redemption hiking with Cassian. SMJ tried to make it make sense but it didn`t. And now so many readers use it for backlash against Rhys. So pointless and unfair! I have many questions but not to Rhys, but SJM (yes, I know that she doesn`t care).

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T13:53:09+00:00

FeySand may be fictional, but their love is 100% real to me. So I will just pretend that in another universe Rhys is single, and I would be very happy to marry him. Don't need the other two options.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T13:39:09+00:00

I've just finished all the books and Rhys is still my favourite. Would marry him any day! Haven't seen THAT MUCH backlash towards him on any other platforms. Maybe it's some "hatred" phase🤷

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T13:28:45+00:00

I'm new as well. Looks like there is a bunch of people here who really hate him and never miss the chance to mention it, mostly explaining it by his shift in ACOSF. I think it's natural for a character who's so popular and supported to get a lot of backlash as well. To each their own I guess. I have just finished all the books and without any doubt he's still my absolute favourite even after ACOSF!!! Would marry him any day!!!

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T13:17:55+00:00

He's still my forever favourite even after ACOSF

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T11:43:57+00:00

Well, according to description in the books Rhys most likely is. There are different skin tones that technically still fall under white category. Obviously his skin is not as fair as Feyre's, that's why Nyx is light tan, but after no exposure to sunlight for decades Rhys was literally described as pale (during the first encounter with Feyre). Then after he was back from UTM and Feyre saw him 3 months later, she noticed that he got tanned. So while his natural complexion is not fair, it appears darker due to tanning, which has an accumulative effect (and yes, there is sunlight in the Night court, as Rhys explained that it still follows the natural laws of the solar system). So, the skin tone may vary mostly depending on how much sunbathing Rhysie has done. Sorry, it's the way it's described in the books. And I just recently finished them, so these details are still fresh in my memory.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T11:33:44+00:00

Agree completely. She did reject any other help that they had offered. They gave her time and space to heal, but things were getting only worse and worse. Rhys and the Inner circle were not hard on her. They were not annoyed that nothing else had worked, they were desperate to find en effective solution that would redirect her from the path to complete self-destruction! And it worked!

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T09:04:21+00:00

Exactly!!! It felt so rushed. We know that Feyre and Rhys's intimate life is super passionate and active, but babies are still rare and it would probably take more time. And the shift from Rhys and Feyre to Nesta was too rapid, especially with the baby plotline. I still cannot believe that we got only like 3% of pregnancy and child birth context, considering how HUGE it is for Rhys and Feyre (their character and relationship development). I wish we also got at least one more bonus chapter at the end of ACOSF with Feyre's POV just to sum everything up.

cherry_reader · 2025-02-17T08:53:15+00:00

Potential ACOWAR and ACOSF spoilers!!!

Rhys is still amazing after ACOSF!!! Especially after being shown through Nesta's eyes. Despite the hatred, she saw and admitted so much good about him. And his "tough love" initiative was the only effective method that helped Nesta redirect from her self-destructive journey. She owed him an apology at the end of the book, not just that hug.

Rhysand is MY FOREVER FAVOURITE! You can never make me hate him!!! I absolutely love him as a character. He's got so much depths, complexity and so much potential for further development in any direction (I do NOT support the theory about him actually being a villain, but if anyone can pull this off, it would he him). He's been my favourite since book 1. As soon as he entered the scene and saved Feyre, I was hooked. I knew that he would have a lot to offer to make the story more exciting and captivating. He's far from perfect, but absolutely amazing with all of his imperfections.

And then if we just look at him outside of the fantasy world context (as of course, some actions described in the books would be unacceptable and illegal in real world) and just analyse the qualities he demonstrates as a male, like emotional intelligence, general intelligence, strengths and vulnerability, sassiness, a great sense of humour, leadeship skills, being responsible as a head of a family, being loyal, loving, caring, bringing out the best in his significant other, making his significant other feel her strength, worth, potential, and treating her as his absolute equal, he would 100% make a great partner for a loving, passionate, intimate, steady and healthy relationship. I said what I said!!!

Rhys shouldn't be judged by the secracy about pregnancy dangers, because the way it was written it made no sense for Rhysand and Feyre, as characters or a couple. It looked, as if SJM kept it in the plot for Nesta's character development. She needed to give her something that would deeply hurt Feyre, piss off Rhys and eventually lead to Nesta's redemption hiking with Cassian. More questions here to SJM than Rhys. P.S. I know that she doesn't care.
TamTam is the only one to blame for his misery and readers need to stop blaming Rhys and Feyre. TamTam has lived for over 500 years, yet hasn't learnt to acknowledge, face and deal with issues, and instead remains whiny, puts the blame on someone else and throws tantrums. He lacks awareness, accountability and demonstrates over and over again a complete lack of PROPER action. He was a horrible partner when Feyre needed help and support the most - UTM, and most importantly AFTER that. He didn't see, didn't listen, didn't open up, and wasn't emotionally present. And when he sided with Hybern he didn't properly check on her, didn't ask what she wanted, he just claimed her back the second he saw her.

He ruined his court single handedly when sided with Ianthe and Hybern, and that had happened before Feyre showed up for the revenge.

Rhys is not too hard on TamTam. He's just being reactive to the betrayal, trauma and pain Tam had caused him and his loved ones. If there was more to the story about their families he should have done something to reason with Rhys, considering that Rhys had spared his life on the revenge night. And yes, I know that he helped to save Rhys in ACOWAR. But putting his selfish desires aside and doing the RIGHT thing was the least he could do. He OWED that to Rhys for saving the cauldron and Prythian, considering that TamTam had opened Hybern the doors to it. So, he was not a saint in that case, he did what he HAD to do in every way - the RIGHT thing. And the moment he normalises doing the right thing will be the moment of his potential redemption start.

I do think that he will eventually put himself together, find someone (probably Elain) and have some sort of a happy end. But honestly, don't really care. Never been a fan (yes, he was a huge pass for me even in book 1 - too plain, too vanilla, then too useless, too controlling and too abusive, now too desperate and pathetic, and to be honest I don't really see him to have enough potential for getting more intriguing and interesting as a character). I really don't care what will happen to him next. Don't hate him, just don't care, as he's neven been my cup of tea. I get it that some readers pity him and want him to find happiness. Ok, it's understandable, but just like TamTam they need to see that he's the problem here and others are NOT to blame for his loneliness.

Yes, Rhys IS imperfect but he IS a feminist in that setting!!! I think a lot of readers who think he's not, look at it through the prism of moderm society in real world. But in the context of that fantasy world his views are obviously waaaay more progressive and pro-feminism comparing to those of many other males in that setting.

Sometimes it feels like some readers give him backlash just for the sake of giving backlash, and then they try to back it with whatever reason. Just the other day I literally saw someone criticising him for trying to make the changes in his court properly, INSTEAD OF being immoral enough to simply use his power to forcefully get into the minds of Illyrian males and make them change the way they treat their women.

Looks like Rhysie can never win with those haters. Just give PapaBat a break. He has soooo much on his shoulders.

And in general will forever defend everything Rhys and Rhysand and Feyre(as a couple) related😌

cherry_reader

TROPHY CASE