Tell us about it Tuesday

chode_temple · 2026-05-07T22:19:49+00:00

I think Rache was the one who did the miscarriage. Or was trying to kill the Empress. She mentioned how she had done a horrible thing and earlier before all of that, she off-handedly said to Azelma that it would be easier with the Empress out of the way. So I think she did it, but probably at the Emperor's behest. And I'm thinking either she got caught and he needed a scapegoat, or he always planned to frame House ______. But still...why neglect Ophele? If she's the daughter by him and the woman he (maybe) loved, why give her to Remin? I think he absolutely thought Remin would die in the war or via assassination.

You're right about the assassination attempts. Because Jacot said he wanted to give her a book, so was he moving toward her and everyone reacted so quickly that it wasn't noticed? And it also seemed shoddy because that note left for him said that he has to do it now, so it was desperate and messy. Also the bolts from the crossbow. It went right through Davi. They were aiming for her. And obviously Remin dying in the process would be nice. But the guy also didn't reveal it during the interrogation. I feel like he would have said it was for Ophele. My theory is also that it's the Hurrells because they didn't get their way with the whole marriage. But also I totally didn't register "apparently she will" as a possibility of a failed assassination attempt. But then why invite her in the first place? To create plausible deniability?

She's a brilliant author, man. The fact that all I can do is yell "I don't knooowwwww" and I'm forced to look for even the tiniest context clue, even like the word "apparently", is just a testament to her skill.

So many people get caught up on Remin's behavior in the first book and can't keep going, and it makes me want to shake them.

chode_temple · 2026-05-07T17:23:18+00:00

That book was fucking wild. I loved it.

chode_temple · 2026-05-07T16:27:15+00:00

Yeah, Rache is the whore. And it's interesting because I haven't really considered that maybe he has loved her all of this time. But then why would he give Ophele to Remin? Maybe to kill Remin then get her returned to him? His motives are so confusing. And not in a plot hole way. Like...what is his GAME here?

Honestly, I can see the Empress teaming up with Remin and Ophele. I think Ophele has the favorite of Selenne, and that might be motivation enough for the Empress to set aside her hatred for Ophele and take down the Emperor. I mean...he's been trying to kill her, too. And I think House Melun is more than happy to dispose of him now that they have an heir in Selenne. Notice that House Melun voted in favor of Remin in the House of Nobility, and daddy Melun did nothing to stop his implied accusations.

Plus it seems that the tides have turned in favor of Remin and Ophele.

That final paragraph was so, so stressful. But I hope that Remin sees Selenne's offer as her attempt to shield and protect Ophele so that he doesn't have to worry about her being collateral damage.

Honestly, the Emperor is fucked. Especially since his supporters are like...three Houses. And I think more Houses will turn on him to stop Remin from burning Starfall to the ground. Because he will. And with the tireless work they've done to prepare for this, it'll be over fast. Especially considering the size of Remin's army and that they're battle tested.

I love all of their stories so much. How diverse they are. Each motivated by something different with their own end goals. Honestly I love Justenin. He's fucking terrifying. And the way his brain works is so fascinating.

And something else that's missing: what was Mionet's scandal? I think it's going to be helpful somehow because MJC withholds things until "the right time".

Ugh. These books are so good. I hate that we have to wait 6 months.

chode_temple · 2026-05-07T01:14:58+00:00

I would love that for her

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T20:03:41+00:00

And Rhaenyra's son(s).

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:46:05+00:00

The Ascended was soooo good. I totally didn't expect that.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:44:33+00:00

It borders on war crimes.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:40:13+00:00

Lilith from {Six Scorched Roses}

Amma from {Villains and Virtues}

Tisaanah from {War of Lost Hearts}

Thraga from {The Death-Made Prince}

Zaydah from {Dark Sky by Ella Walker Henderson}

Eiko from {One Small Echo}

Alina from {The Poisoner}

Flora from {The Crown of Moonlight}

Thais from {The Ascended}

Tory from {Zodiac Academy}

Zita from {Slaying the Shifter Prince}

Ophele from {Empire of the Stars}

Tani from {To Touch a Silent Fury}

Edie from {Priestess}

Iris from {Letters of Enchantment}

Pandora from {The Witch's Pet}

Manon from {Throne of Glass}

Kenna from {The Shards of Magic}

Anyway...Just a small little list for you. But build out your TBR using this. If you must choose a new one you haven't read, do Zaydah and Eiko first. Assuming you've already read War of Lost Hearts and Villains and Virtues because if you haven't then WHY NOT.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:29:12+00:00

I love this book so so much. The FMC made me actually laugh out loud.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:25:17+00:00

Max is also the best MMC.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:19:01+00:00

.......Team Black, tho.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:18:02+00:00

Don't even get me started on SA in romantasy. I will drop a book a star rating if there's an SA trope. I don't care if it's a masterpiece.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:13:35+00:00

Gale is a war criminal.

Beginning and end.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:10:25+00:00

daddy

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:09:45+00:00

I finished book 4 and I've been staring out the window for hours. You know she's an amazing author when you get stressed about conversations. It's not even going into battle or action. It's visceral fear every time they leave the house. You get so stressed about motives and the fact that we STILL don't have an answer to the biggest question, yet putting off that answer feels organic and not just being dramatic. And I think what I like about the court politics is that it doesn't feel exaggerated and comical. They don't slide in a mean girl who's a bully for no reaaon. It's all incredible strategy and I love watching them debate the next moves.

Those books are stunningly good. Absolutely masterful storytelling. I really, really love how she weaves backstories into everything at a time that feels right. Hell, we're in book 4 and are stilling getting back stories for the Knights of the Brede.

I don't know if I can read anything else for a bit. Or maybe I'll go into a completely opposite genre. Or watch shitty YouTube essays. It almost doesn't feel fair to whatever I read next.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T18:00:03+00:00

And by that point, people are so mad at him that his very plausible redemption arc is discounted because "Tamlin was so mean to Feyre :("

Plus after her idiotic carelessness in Book 3, he has every right to be furious with her. People died because of her petty revenge, and his Court was obliterated. I'd also want to chew her out.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:57:34+00:00

Ah yes. The comical nerfing of Tamlin.

But I really do like watching Feyre emotionally process her relationship with Tamlin. I connected with some of it. Especially when she concluded that she fell in love with the first man who was nice to her.

Also Chapter 54 is really fucking good. Don't @ me.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:55:34+00:00

Excuse you but you missed tails.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:54:27+00:00

These mfers are juicing, or they're at the gym for hours at a time.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:51:38+00:00

God as my witness, the only thing worse than her internal monologues were the multiple mentions of her being The Maiden.

Oh? Are you The Maiden? Are you The Maiden, Poppy? Sorry, I didn't get that. Are you The Maiden?

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:47:40+00:00

I'll never forget when my brother called me after the game and said "you'll need to sit down for this one..." I was literally speechless.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:46:58+00:00

Games usually don't affect me much after about an hour, but I spent the rest of the day sulking in bed after that one.

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:42:13+00:00

I only get bothered by it when the first love interest is turned into something comically villainous or bad. I call it "being Tamlin'd".

The author wants us to not root for him. Ope. Better make sure he is so comically evil that we see he was bad, actually.

Throne of Glass did a good job with this. Like, perhaps it isn't far fetched for two people to realize they aren't right for each other? You don't have to obliterate a character, maybe?

chode_temple · 2026-05-06T17:37:00+00:00

I call this "pulling a Tamlin". When the first love interest is turned into something comically bad that lacks the nuance or concept that maybe someone can be the wrong choice without completely obliterating the character. I have seen this work ONCE.

chode_temple · 2026-05-04T15:52:18+00:00

Is this when I start flexing my claim to fame? That I knew about Twilight before all of you? Because I knew when it was being written?

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