u/Lady-Death-of-Dusk

An underrated moment in ACOTAR is when Feyre told Alis to get her nephews and go find Nesta because Nesta would grant them a safe place to stay and because Nesta would protect them. What makes this even more interesting is that even though Alis never sought Nesta out, Nesta, later on, was asked by Bryce to grant her parents a safe place to stay and to protect them. Nesta chose to do so, for collateral until she got the Mask back, yes, but also because it was the right thing to do.

Why wasn't this Nesta talked about in ACOSF? The Nesta who begged the human queens to protect every human beneath the wall? The Nesta who calculated how many ships it would take to save every human beneath the wall? The Nesta who went to the High Lord's meetings to urge them to fight for, protect, and offer sanctuary to the humans? The Nesta who helped the wounded during the war? The Nesta who gave Bryce the Mask to save millions of innocent lives in Midgard? Nesta's always going to bat for the little guy, the people everyone else overlooks.

Nesta's such a beautifully complex character because yes, she can be nasty, but she's also one of the kindest, selfless, compassionate, and self-sacrificial characters in this entire series.

When Nesta sets boundaries and requests personal space from Elain, she's hated and condemned for being cruel, toxic, and abusive.

When Elain sets boundaries and demands personal space from Nesta, she's praised and overglorified because "Elain's allowed to set boundaries!" Okay...but why isn't Nesta?

This is why I hate when I see people say, "I prefer Elain because she's chooses kindness." First of all, Elain is sweet, not kind. Secondly, Elain can be sweet because Nesta and Feyre are always there to enforce her boundaries and protect her. Not once in Nesta's entire life has she ever set a boundary that's been respected. Since she was a young girl, she's been physically abused, verbally abused, psychologically abused, groomed, then she was sexually assaulted by Tomas, almost sexually assaulted by Cassian, violated in the Cauldron, she had her bodily autonomy violated by Mor, then she's sexually assaulted by the kelpie. She asks to be left alone time and time again and everyone - and I mean everyone - constantly violates her boundaries.

No one ever protects Nesta, not even her own sisters. Feyre finds out Cassian had been violating Nesta's boundaries and she makes him out to be the victim. But we know if Lucien had been violating Elain's boundaries, Feyre would have kicked him out of the Night Court.

Nesta's neither toxic, nor insufferable for setting boundaries. The people who continually violate Nesta's boundaries are the toxic and insufferable ones.

I really do believe that there are moments to foreshadow a Cassian redemption arc where he chooses Nesta over Rhysand.

Cassian hated Rhysand for distrusting Nesta. Cassian has said it himself that he loves Rhysand and considers him to be one of the people dearest to him. Cassian has never hated Rhysand, except when Rhysand didn't trust Nesta. Considering this lack of trust is at the core of Rhysand's mistreatment of Nesta in HOFAS, I definitely think this will be brought up again in the next book and will cause a divide between Rhys and Cassian.

Cassian challenged Rhysand. During the Blood Rite, Cassian wanted to stick as close to Nesta as he could in case things went badly, but Rhys wanted him to go with Az to rescue Eris, and the text specifically says that "Cassian challenged his High Lord." Az challenges Rhys from time to time, but Cassian never does, which makes this such a momumental moment for both Cassian and Nesta. Since, canonically, Nesta helped to defeat the Asteri, free Midgard, and end the Asteri's threat to Prythian, I'm hopeful that we'll see Cassian (and Az) challenging Rhys a lot more in defense of Nesta.

Cassian tried to get Rhys to back off. When Rhysand was berating Nesta, Cassian did say, "Rhys. It's been a long night. Let's talk in the morning," or something like that. It was submissive and a request, whereas it needs to become a demand and a warning. Something like, "Don't you talk to my mate in that fucking tone!"

Cassian stepped closer to Nesta. When Rhys directly threatened Nesta in her own home, Cassian took a step closer to Nesta and then was conflicted about who to side with, but he did take that initial step closer to Nesta, not Rhysand, which is hopefully foreshadowing him ultimately choosing Nesta above Rhysand.

Cassian told Ember, Randall, and Bryce to leave quickly. Cassian said, "You have about a minute until Rhys shows up and explodes," which doesn't sound like much, but it is Cassian completely going against Rhys. Rhysand wanted Nesta to kill Bryce as soon as she opened the portal without even giving her a chance to speak (which is absolutely appalling, by the way), so Cassian telling them to hurry up and skedaddle to safety is a highly significant moment of him completely going against orders. This means that when Rhysand shows up and does, indeed, explode, Cassian will hopefully take the brunt of the verbal lashing. But, hopefully, this is also foreshadowing just the general arc of Cassian leaning away from Rhysand and embracing Nesta fully and completely.

I don't think we're gearing up for a small moment of Cassian just siding with Nesta against Rhysand. I think we're getting ready for a major shift of Cassian completely choosing Nesta over Rhysand, leaving the Night Court for Dusk, and being promoted from General to consort.

I really do believe that there are moments to foreshadow a Cassian redemption arc where he chooses Nesta over Rhysand.

Cassian hated Rhysand for distrusting Nesta. Cassian has said it himself that he loves Rhysand and considers him to be one of the people dearest to him. Cassian has never hated Rhysand, except when Rhysand didn't trust Nesta. Considering this lack of trust is at the core of Rhysand's mistreatment of Nesta in HOFAS, I definitely think this will be brought up again in the next book and will cause a divide between Rhys and Cassian.

Cassian challenged Rhysand. During the Blood Rite, Cassian wanted to stick as close to Nesta as he could in case things went badly, but Rhys wanted him to go with Az to rescue Eris, and the text specifically says that "Cassian challenged his High Lord." Az challenges Rhys from time to time, but Cassian never does, which makes this such a momumental moment for both Cassian and Nesta. Since, canonically, Nesta helped to defeat the Asteri, free Midgard, and end the Asteri's threat to Prythian, I'm hopeful that we'll see Cassian (and Az) challenging Rhys a lot more in defense of Nesta.

Cassian tried to get Rhys to back off. When Rhysand was berating Nesta, Cassian did say, "Rhys. It's been a long night. Let's talk in the morning," or something like that. It was submissive and a request, whereas it needs to become a demand and a warning. Something like, "Don't you talk to my mate in that fucking tone!"

Cassian stepped closer to Nesta. When Rhys directly threatened Nesta in her own home, Cassian took a step closer to Nesta and then was conflicted about who to side with, but he did take that initial step closer to Nesta, not Rhysand, which is hopefully foreshadowing him ultimately choosing Nesta above Rhysand.

Cassian told Ember, Randall, and Bryce to leave quickly. Cassian said, "You have about a minute until Rhys shows up and explodes," which doesn't sound like much, but it is Cassian completely going against Rhys. Rhysand wanted Nesta to kill Bryce as soon as she opened the portal without even giving her a chance to speak (which is absolutely appalling, by the way), so Cassian telling them to hurry up and skedaddle to safety is a highly significant moment of him completely going against orders. This means that when Rhysand shows up and does, indeed, explode, Cassian will hopefully take the brunt of the verbal lashing. But, hopefully, this is also foreshadowing just the general arc of Cassian leaning away from Rhysand and embracing Nesta fully and completely.

I don't think we're gearing up for a small moment of Cassian just siding with Nesta against Rhysand. I think we're getting ready for a major shift of Cassian completely choosing Nesta over Rhysand, leaving the Night Court for Dusk, and being promoted from General to consort.

If this fandom gave two shits about abuse, Rhysand would be the most hated character. Instead, Rhysand - the biggest abuser in this entire series - is the most adored character in the fandom, but this fandom hates Nesta for "abuse."

This fandom needs to stfu about Nesta supposedly perpetuating the cycle of abuse when literally so does everyone else: Rhys, Feyre, Cassian, Az, Mor - all of them are abuse victims who further perpetuate the cycle of abuse by abusing others. If people can stan the IC, despite their toxicity and abuse, then people should have no problem with Nesta calling Feyre stinky.

And I'm sorry, but Feyre being ignored by Mama Archeron is not worse than Nesta being groomed by their mother to be a child bride to be used for her breeding potential.

I know people love to discredit the abuse that Nesta endured because she "perpetuated the cycle of abuse," but Nesta is not an abuser. As someone who grew up in an abusive family, as someone who spent a decade self-harming because of it, as someone who attempted suicide because of it, Nesta is not abusive. Having a bad attitude and taking the wrong tone with people is not verbal abuse. Hurting people's feelings is not always the equivalent of verbal abuse. The IC say far crueler things to Nesta than she does to them, yet somehow people don't call them verbal abusers.

1. I've never heard of a case of abuse where the abuser didn't have complete control over their victim. Nesta has never been in a place of control over Feyre or the IC, but Feyre and the IC have always had control over Nesta.

2. Abuse victims tend to have very low self-confidence, leading to self-hatred where they hate themselves but think very highly of everyone else, including their own abuser. Feyre has the largest ego out of any character I've ever read about. Her ego is so large that she thinks she's being mistreated if people don't worship the very ground she walks on. Feyre loves herself while hating everyone else and thinking she's better than them, especially Nesta. Nesta is the one with incredibly low self-confidence, who hates herself and thinks everyone, including Feyre and including her abusers, are better than her.

3. Abuse victims tend to self-harm and engage in suicidal tendencies. Feyre has never self-harmed and has never wanted to kill herself because of Nesta. Nesta spent a year in a half engaging in self-harming behaviors to the point that she wanted to commit suicide.

4. Abusers are aggressive, not unagressive. Feyre is the aggressor 60-70% of the time, even though she likes to play victim. Nesta may be angry and have rage issues, but she's unagressive, not aggressive. She only responds when provoked - even Cassian said the IC picked fights with Nesta. No abuser waits to be provoked; they're always the ones starting it.

5. Feyre admitted to always being at Nesta's throat. An abuse victim is never at the throat of their abuser, hence the distinction between "abuser" and "victim". The very fact that Feyre admitted she's always at Nesta's throat just proves that Nesta's not an abuser. Can she be mean and cruel? Sure. But are her comments going to send someone to therapy for years on end? No.

I really do believe that the Ember bonus chapter is going to serve as a turning point for Nessian.

Cassian's probably going to be over over-the-moon and proud of Nesta for helping to defeat the Asteri, free Midgard, and end the Asteri's threat to Prythian, only to find out that his marriage is on the rocks because he sided against Nesta yet again. This moment could finally be the turning point to get Cassian to shift loyalties from Rhysand to Nesta. I know people don't think that will ever happen, but I think having him be loyal and devoted to Rhysand this entire series, even after finding his wife, wouldn't be enough character development to make it worth making him an mmc.

At the beginning of ACOSF, Cassian described Mor as perfect, yet he didn't deem her to be worth the fallout with Rhysand. If no one is ever going to replace Rhysand then Cassian should have never been made an mmc in a romance story. It reminds me of how Lorcan said that females had tried to turn him into a decent male who just wanted to settle down and have a home, but none had succeeded...until Elide. That was written to show us Lorcan's character development and the impact Elide had on his life. I think that scene between Cassian and Mor is going to serve as the same: to show us Cassian's character development and Nesta's impact on his life from him not deeming Mor worth the fallout with Rhys to him deeming Nesta worth the fallout.

Cassian also mentioned how he wanted a mate/wife and children, but that no female had come along making him want to fight for that future. One of the biggest criticisms of that moment is that Cassian isn't fighting for that future with Nesta, but I think that's what we're gearing up for. SJM has hinted at a Nessian baby twice now to show us that they both want to have that future with each other, but Cassian's going to figure out pretty quickly next book how badly he fucked up and that he's on the brink of losing his mate/wife and that future they had envisioned for themselves. That will be the kick in the ass he needs to finally switch loyalties from Rhysand to Nesta. Then Cassian can finally have that "Come to Jesus" moment that he so desperately needs to have with Nesta.

Cassian can be so much more than Rhysand's General...he can be the warrior-prince consort of the Dusk Court with Nesta as his Queen.

Personally, I think the upcoming books are going to be Gwynriel/Nessian, considering Az and Nesta were the key players in the crossover.

The three major places to be explored in the upcoming books, which ACOSF and HOFAS set the stage for, are the sister peaks of Ramiel, the Prison, and UtM.

Az, I definitely think is a descendant of Enalius, and will obviously be getting the Illyria/Ramiel/Truth-Teller plot line. Az hates the Illyrians, so him learning that, even though they were created by the Asteri, they still chose to hide the Cauldron in Ramiel and fight against the Asteri, will be a pretty big deal to him. I think we'll get a lot of Bat Boy/Valkyrie action in Illyria in the upcoming books. Nesta, I do believe, will be key in the Illyria plot because 1) She's the only relevant major character who has never touched the stone atop Ramiel, 2) She had a parallel scene with Enalius (both holding the line against their enemies at the Pass of Enalius), and 3) Nesta felt warmth and breath coming from the Pass, which makes me believe she either accidentally Made it come alive when she fell into it or it's a portal to other worlds.

Nesta, I definitely think is either a descendant of Queen Theia or she was Made Starborn by the Mother, and will obviously be getting the Dusk Court/the Prison/Gwydion plot line. Nesta is the only ACOTAR character to be associated with the Starborn and the Dusk Court in both ACOSF and HOFAS. She's killed both Lanthys and Vesperus; the rest of the Prison inmates already fear her and Ataraxia. In the upcoming books, Nesta will need to finish clearing out the Prison, releasing the magic the Asteri left behind, and reawakening the Dusk Court. Aside from that, there's so many unanswered questions about Nesta's powers, her bloodline, the Dread Trove, her connection with the Mother, her ability to Make and UnMake things, her connection with the Cauldron, the possibility of her world-walking, her being a worthy opponent to Rhysand, and there's even more questions after HOFAS. Nesta befriended, saved, and made an alliance with a whole other world, so she's definitely not going to be demoted to a side character anytime soon. And as much as they hate each other, we're definitely gearing up for a Nesta/Rhys team up like Aelin/Dorian and Bryce/Ruhn.

Gwyn, I definitely think is a descendent of Oleanna and I think will be getting the Middle/UtM plot line. Gwyn has been mentioned glowing twice in canon and both times were while she was singing. It's highly likely that she's a lightsinger - not an evil lightsinger, mind you, but a misunderstood being. Also, shadowsinger and lightsinger being mated makes perfect sense. If Gwyn is a lightsinger than that kinda sorta ties her to the Middle and the sister peak there: UtM. The High Lords may have been enslaved there for fifty years, but we know from HOFAS that there's untouched magic there from when the Asteri ruled, so obviously they didn't explore every aspect of the sacred mountain while enslaved. That will be for Gwyn to explore in the upcoming books.

Cassian doesn't necessarily fit into any of these plot points on his own, but it was his Starborn bargain tattoo intertwined with his Illyrian tattoos that foreshadowed the connection between the Dusk Court and Illyria, which we saw cemented in HOFAS with Nesta and Az. Personally, I think Cassian needs to be given the largest redemption arc known to mankind and he needs to become the Grovel King. The only way I'll even forgive him for his conflicting loyalty between Nesta and Rhysand is if he challenges Rhysand, sticks up and protects Nesta, and then leaves the IC and the Night Court to be Nesta's warrior-prince consort of Dusk.

I really feel like Cassian and the IC view Nesta as their property rather than a being with rights and autonomy. They view her as a tool - as a weapon rather than as a person. They only think about how she can benefit them rather than caring about the danger that they would be placing her in.

When they find out Nesta can wield and control the Dread Trove, they immediately think the objects belong to Rhysand. To them. To the Night Court. No, the Dread Trove is Nesta's. The Dread Trove chose her. It answers to her. It obeys her. Rhysand and the IC have no right to act entitled to what Nesta alone possesses. They do not get to dictate what she does with the Trove or when she uses them. Nesta is not their property/slave/tool/weapon. She is her own being with rights and autonomy to use the Trove at her discretion.

Same with Nesta's Made weapons. Those are Nesta's. They do not belong to Rhysand or the IC or the Night Court. They have no right to talk about Nesta Making other weapons for them, especially when they treat her like garbage. They have no right to talk about using Nesta's Made weapons to make Feysand High King and Queen, especially when they don't even want her to know about her world-shattering ability. Feysand had no right to give away Nesta's Made dagger without her permission. It's not a "Made dagger"; it's "Nesta's Made dagger" for her to do with or gift to who she pleases. Rhysand and the IC have no right to act entitled to what Nesta Made.

Nesta wields the Dread Trove and her Made magical weapons, not Rhysand, Amren, or the IC. She is not their slave or their property, but a person.

Quite a few parallels between Aelin and Nesta.

Both imbued their swords (Goldryn and Ataraxia, respectively) with their magic before they sacrificed their powers. Both swords when imbued with their fire magic can kill black-blooded beings: Aelin's killed Maeve and Nesta's killed Lanthys and Vesperus.

Maeve glanced to the blazing sword. "Clever of you, to imbue the sword with your own gifts. No doubt done before you yielded everything to the Wyrdgate."

"A precaution, should I not return," Aelin panted. "A weapon to kill Valg." (KoA, ch. 112)

Then we have a direct parallel scene of Aelin killing Maeve with Goldryn and Nesta killing Vesperus with Ataraxia.

Not fast enough at all as Fenrys vanished from where he knelt, and reappeared - right behind Maeve.

Goldryn burned bright as he plunged it through her back.

Into the dark heart within. (KoA, ch. 114)

Maeve's dark blood leaked onto the snow as she fell to her knees, fingers scrabbling at the burning sword stuck through her chest.

So Aelin approached the screaming queen, the creature beneath. Walked behind her and yanked out Goldryn.

She swung the burning sword.

Maeve's mouth was still open in a scream as her head tumbled to the snow.

Black blood sprayed, and Aelin moved again, stabbing Goldryn through Maeve's skull. Into the earth beneath.

Even as their power melded, and she burned Maeve into ash and memory, Rowan stared toward the battlefield. (KoA, ch. 115)

Vesperus's red mouth opened in joy and triumph, but no sound came out. Only black blood.

Bryce blinked at the crunch. The wet spray. The glint of silver that appeared between Vesperus's shining breast's.

Nesta had plunged Ataraxia right through Vesperus's chest. (HOFAS, ch. 25)

Vesperus had just yanked Truth-Teller from her chest in a smooth slide when Ataraxia severed flesh and bone, dark blood - or whatever ichor flowed in an Asteri's veins - spraying.

Vesperus's dark head tumbled to the stones.

Silver fire wreathed Ataraxia as Nesta plunged the blade into the Asteri's fallen head. Again. And again. Ichor and light leaked from the broken body, and between one stab and the next, Nesta's arm slowed, slowed, slowed -

The sword descended into Vesperus's head one last time. Inch by inch, shattering bone and spraying gore -

Nesta slashed her hand and the creature's body burned with that strange silver fire.

As the Asteri was reduced to ashes, Bryce grabbed the sword and dagger from the ground, both blades dripping with Vesperus's blood. (HOFAS, ch. 26)

These two scenes are so similar that it's uncanny, and I cannot wait until Aelin and Nesta team up in Twilight of the Gods 🥰

But people are okay with how the IC treats Nesta? They're okay with how the IC treats each other?

I really don't understand the double standards in this fandom.

It's not okay for Nesta to call Cassian a low-born Illyrian bastard twice, but it's okay for him to insult her, be highly inappropriate with her, grab her without her consent, almost sexually assault her, disrespect her boundaries, disrespect her autonomy, harass her, say incredibly hurtful/cruel/abusive things to her, stalk her, not back off after she's told him a thousand times that she's not interested in him, physically abuse her (at least I classify the punishment hike to be physical abuse), and neglect her? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Cassian?

It's not okay for Nesta to "let" Feyre hunt or for Nesta to be occasionally bitchy to Feyre, but it's okay for Feyre to blame Nesta for the sins of the parents rather than blaming the parents; to get off on the thought of Nesta starving to death; badmouth Nesta; wonder if Rhysand could use his Daemati mind control on Nesta to force her to allow them to meet with the human queens in her house even knowing that Nesta could be killed for it; caring more about what Nesta's trauma does to her than what Nesta's trauma does to Nesta; having sex with Rhys before checking on Nesta after Nesta had been tortured and violated; expecting Nesta to be grateful to the IC when they spectacularly failed her and ruined her life; expecting Nesta to be ready for a relationship with Cassian right after being abducted, tortured, violated, and killed; bullying Nesta; wondering if breaking Nesta would be worth it; stalking and harassing Nesta; abusing Nesta and locking her up in the HoW; allowing Rhysand to berate and abuse Nesta; allowing Cassian to punish Nesta even though Feyre wasn't angry with her; and allowing her chosen family to insult, abuse, neglect, exclude, and isolate Nesta? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Feyre?

It's not okay for Nesta to be mean to Rhysand, but it's okay for Rhys to hate her before he even meets her, compare her to Eris when it's not even the same situation, blame her for the sins of Papa Archeron while simultaneously forgiving Papa Archeron, promising to protect her and then spectacularly failing to do so, allowing Cassian to repeatedly disrespect Nesta's boundaries after she had been tortured and violated and had asked to be left alone, conflicted about whether or not to be grateful or yell at her for saving Cassian's life, not giving two shits that she was willing to sacrifice her life so Feyre and Amren could reach the Cauldron, berating and abusing Nesta, being a dick to Nesta for no reason, wanting to withhold information about Nesta's world-shattering gift to Make weapons, allowing Cassian to punish Nesta for telling Feyre the truth, wanting Nesta to be miserable, doing nothing to save Nesta from the Blood Rite, and continuing to disrespect Nesta and yell at her and threaten her with violence even after she saved his family's lives? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Rhys?

It's not okay for Nesta to not want to wear Mor's dress, but it's okay for Mor to continually allow Cassian to disrespect Nesta's boundaries after Nesta had been tortured and violated and had asked multiple times to be left alone, violate Nesta's personal space and get all handsy with her dress knowing full-well that Nesta had just been violated in the Cauldron, insult Nesta to her face and behind her back, exchange lingerie with Cassian when she knows he's interested in Nesta, verbally kick Nesta when she's already down, tell Nesta she should have been dumped in the human lands to be hunted and killed, couldn't care less that Nesta was bruised from a fall that could have killed her as a human, and compares Nesta - an abuse victim - to her abusers rather than the people abusing Nesta? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Mor?

It's not okay for Nesta to be mean to Amren, but it's okay for Amren to verbally abuse Nesta, suicide-bait her, slut-shame her, consider tossing her in the dungeons of the Hewn City, being condescending towards Nesta, insulting her to her face and behind her back, only talking about manipulating and controlling Nesta rather than about helping her, dismissing Nesta's trauma as if it doesn't matter, mistaking Feyre's abuse of Nesta as "love" and telling Nesta she should be grateful, telling Nesta she doesn't deserve her powers, and allowing Rhysand to berate Nesta and threaten her in her own home? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Amren?

It's not okay for Nesta to move Papa Archeron's cane out of his reach, but it's okay for Papa Archeron to neglect Nesta her entire life, to allow his mother-in-law to physically and emotionally abuse Nesta, to allow his wife to groom Nesta to become a child bride, to never show Nesta a day of love in her entire life, to never cherish or adore Nesta the way he did his other daughters, to be willing to see Nesta starve to death rather than getting a job to feed her, and to never once protect Nesta or make her feel safe? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Papa Archeron?

It's not okay for Nesta to be cruel to Elain, but it's okay for Elain to turn her back on Nesta after all Nesta's done for her and how Nesta has spent her entire life protecting Elain; for Elain to pack up Nesta's belongings knowing full-well that the IC were going to be locking her up; showing up, unannounced, without Nesta's permission; for Elain to give Nesta a grand total of two weeks to get better before crying to Rhysand, knowing full-well that he was going to dump Nesta in the human lands to be hunted and killed; Elain refusing to see Nesta even though she didn't give Nesta that same consideration; and not giving two-hoots that Nesta could be raped and/or killed in the Blood Rite? But Nesta's the only problem here? People don't like Nesta's treatment of Elain?

On another note, these people who don't like Nesta's treatment of people are okay with the IC's treatment of each other? Cassian, who beat the shit out of Az as an eleven-year-old, who mocked Az for not knowing how to fly. Cassian and Rhys teaming up to make Az's life hell. Mor using Cassian for sex without telling him the consequences of those actions. Mor's actions led to Rhys physically abusing Cassian. Mor's actions could have led to Cassian's execution if Keir had demanded it. Rhysand suicide-baiting Tamlin is considered tame compared to how he talks to Cassian, which suggests he is very verbally abusive to Cass. Amren is racist to the Bat Boys constantly, and is repeatedly rude and dismissive to those beneath her. The Bat Boys (or at least Rhys and Cassian) physically abuse each other on a regular basis. Rhysand forced Feyre to wear clothes she wasn't comfortable in and drugged and sexually assaulted her for months. Rhys twisted a bone in Feyre's arm until she agreed to his bargain and withheld vital medical information from her for months on end. The entirety of the IC chose Rhys over Feyre and withheld the truth about her life-threatening pregnancy because Rhys asked them too.

And last, those who don't like Nesta's treatment of people are okay with the IC's treatment of people? With Rhysand killing people for Amarantha. Cassian slaughtering an entire village and displacing innocent women, children, and elderly from their homes. Mor preciding over the CoN for centuries and not doing anything to help the women and children being abused and raped, thus making her complicit in their suffering. Cassian getting into a fight that destroyed an entire building in the Summer Court. Rhysand segregating his court into three distinct locations, rather than allowing freedom of movement and the freedom to choose what people want to be when they grow up. Feyre destroying an entire court and ruining the lives of thousands of people in the Spring and Summer Courts and the human lands. Feyre displacing innocents from their homes in Spring, Summer, Night, and even the human lands. Feyre throwing the door wide open for Hybern to invade Spring and Summer and rape, maim, and kill any women and children they wanted (because this literally happens in every invasion since the dawn of time). Feyre murdering innocents and skinning an innocent. Feyre causing an innocent guard to be whipped and only checking on him to make Tamlin look bad. Feyre lying about sexault assault and then getting mad at Tamlin and Lucien for believing her. Feyre using Lucien to make Tamlin jealous. Feyre burning the Lady of Autumn.

If people want to hate the way Nesta treats people, fine, but others also deserve condemnation for their treatment of Nesta.

Two things that I wonder if they'll come to a head in the next book:

1. Cassian seems to be under the impression that the IC care about Nesta, her well-being, and whether she lives or dies, although they have shown repeatedly that they do not. The intervention, scrying for the Dread Trove, Nesta's trauma with the kelpie, the Blood Rite...the IC show throughout these moments that they don't give a shit about Nesta, yet Cassian's inner monologue would have us believe that they do. I think Cassian's just blinded by his family and doesn't realize how little they care about Nesta and how they are actually a threat to his wife. It makes me wonder if he'll finally realize this in the next book and leave the IC and the Night Court to join Nesta in Dusk.

2. Amren's treatment and dismissiveness towards Nesta and Cassian just crosses a line. I loved Amren in the original trilogy and the novella, but I absolutely hate her in ACOSF and HOFAS. The way she talks to Nesta and about Nesta behind her back are just highly inappropriate and uncalled for. That's not tough love in any form. Tough love requires sympathy and compassion, not whatever filth Amren spews. But combine that with her dismissiveness towards Cassian in the last two books and I think SJM may be hinting at something. Every time Cassian openly disagrees with the IC putting Nesta in danger or withholding information from her, Amren is right there to put him in his place and shut him up. It would be one thing if Amren was a dick to anyone else in the last two books, but it's really just Nesta and Cassian. Also, ToG and CC have rankings amongst their characters, but none of them talk down to a subordinate like that, which really makes me think that SJM is writing Amren this way for a reason: Cassian and Nesta leaving for Dusk.

Two things that I wonder if they'll come to a head in the next book:

1. Cassian seems to be under the impression that the IC care about Nesta, her well-being, and whether she lives or dies, although they have shown repeatedly that they do not. The intervention, scrying for the Dread Trove, Nesta's trauma with the kelpie, the Blood Rite...the IC show throughout these moments that they don't give a shit about Nesta, yet Cassian's inner monologue would have us believe that they do. I think Cassian's just blinded by his family and doesn't realize how little they care about Nesta and how they are actually a threat to his wife. It makes me wonder if he'll finally realize this in the next book and leave the IC and the Night Court to join Nesta in Dusk.

2. Amren's treatment and dismissiveness towards Nesta and Cassian just crosses a line. I loved Amren in the original trilogy and the novella, but I absolutely hate her in ACOSF and HOFAS. The way she talks to Nesta and about Nesta behind her back are just highly inappropriate and uncalled for. That's not tough love in any form. Tough love requires sympathy and compassion, not whatever filth Amren spews. But combine that with her dismissiveness towards Cassian in the last two books and I think SJM may be hinting at something. Every time Cassian openly disagrees with the IC putting Nesta in danger or withholding information from her, Amren is right there to put him in his place and shut him up. It would be one thing if Amren was a dick to anyone else in the last two books, but it's really just Nesta and Cassian. Also, ToG and CC have rankings amongst their characters, but none of them talk down to a subordinate like that, which really makes me think that SJM is writing Amren this way for a reason: Cassian and Nesta leaving for Dusk.

Is that why she invited Gwyn and Emerie to training to help them through their trauma?

Is that why she tricked Cassian into coming into the library to show the priestesses how he trained her in an effort to encourage them to come to training to help them with their trauma?

Is that why she quietly informed Gwyn that she would listen to her story when she was ready to tell it?

Is that why she spent all of her book caring more about Feyre's trauma than her own?

Is that why she went to dinner in the House specifically to see Cassian to find out what was wrong with him?

Is that why she gave Cassian a blow job to comfort him?

Is that why she asked Feyre about her fear of enclosed spaces when they were at Greyson's keep?

Is that why she turned into Elain's 24/7 caretaker for weeks after they were turned High Fae against their will?

Is that why she made sure Lucien kept his distance from Elain?

Is that why she slapped Greyson when he hurt Elain's feelings?

Is that why she tried to rescue Feyre from Prythian?

Is that why she told Feyre to leave them and go back to Tamlin?

Is that why she refused to ask about Az's scarred hands because she didn't want to make him relive his trauma?

Is that why she asked Bryce to play more music when she sensed Bryce start to spiral into despair?

Is that why she took Emerie up to a different level of the library when she noticed her being overcome by her past trauma?

I could continue, but you get the point.

Nesta cares more about everyone else's trauma than her own which is why she never opens up about her trauma. It's also why we get such bullshit lines like, "Our mother treated Feyre even worse" even though we can piece together enough of canon to know that's not true.

At this point, people are just making up reasons to justify their hatred of Nesta.

"Nesta was in the wrong for giving Bryce the Mask and making a decision on behalf of all of Prythian."

Quite a few things to unpack here.

Nesta - not all of Prythian - controls the Mask. Nesta is the sole person who scried for the Dread Trove. She is the sole person who found the Dread Trove - and underwent incredibly traumatic experiences in order to obtain them. She is the sole person who can wield and control them. The Dread Trove obeys Nesta, answers to Nesta. No one besides Nesta has a right to do anything with the Trove.

Could Nesta's actions have been disastrous for Prythian? Certainly. But I would make an argument that all SJM's leading ladies make decisions that affect the entirety of their world, they all are forced to trust strangers at some point for the good of their world, and none of them answer to anyone besides themselves.

Aelin I'm mainly going to leave out of this because it's been so many years since I've read ToG. But let's take Feysand for example. Feysand has made many decisions that affected the entirety of Prythian, namely releasing two death-gods and Fear itself, as well as giving the Cauldron - the very kill-switch of Prythian - to their friends. Feysand had to trust the Bone Carver, Bryaxis, and the Weaver to some extent to feel confident enough to release them from confinement. Yes, they made bargains with them, but since Bryaxis is currently free in their world, obviously the bargains wouldn't have worked and the Bone Carver and the Weaver would have been free to reign terror on Prythian had they not been killed. Feysand's actions could have destroyed Prythian, but they risked it to defeat Hybern. It was risky, but it wasn't necessarily a bad move. But Feysand answered to nobody for the destruction they could have unleashed. Make no mistake, though: they would have suffered blowback had the Bone Carver and the Weaver still been alive and found a way out of the bargain. You would think Feyre would have received some punishment for Fear itself being free in the world, but I guess not since it's not causing problems currently.

Feysand also gave the Cauldron to their friends without consulting the rest of Prythian, even though the Cauldron belongs to all of Prythian, not just the Night Court. The Cauldron is not something that only one person can control and wield. Anyone can use it, and Feysand gave it to their friends without consulting the rest of Prythian. It's not the same as trusting a stranger, but it's still a lot of trust to place in two people when the Cauldron is the literal kill-switch of Prythian. But, once again, Feysand did not answer to anyone besides themselves, although they will face major repercussions if the Cauldron is ever located and used for nefarious purposes. But, as a whole, they did not make the wrong decision.

Now Bryce has made many risky decisions that has affected the entirety of Midgard from taking on the Asteri, to traveling to Prythian, to traveling to Hel, to opening up a portal to allow in Hel's armies. Taking on the Asteri most certainly led to Bryce trusting in strangers; in Prythian, Bryce had to, somewhat, trust in strangers; in Hel, Bryce had to, somewhat, trust in strangers; to allow in Hel's army of demons, Bryce had to, once again, trust in strangers. Any one of these moves could have had disastrous consequences for Midgard that Bryce technically didn't have a right to make, but she did and she didn't answer to anyone for it. She let in an army of strangers/demons for crying out loud. An army that could have easily overtaken Midgard and enslaved them yet again. One can make an argument that any one of these (especially letting in an army from another world) was a bad decision and that Bryce was in the wrong, but all her decisions led to the defeat of the Asteri, the freeing of Midgard, and the end of the Asteri's threat to Prythian.

Nesta gave Bryce the Mask, thus making a decision on behalf of all of Prythian, because she was the only one who controlled the Dread Trove, thus making her the only one who could give the Mask away. Nesta may not have known Bryce that long, but they still formed a friendship and a certain degree of trust that led Nesta to believing that Bryce could defeat the Asteri.

And let's not forget that Bryce is Starborn and all signs point toward Nesta being Starborn as well, which means that they're not exactly strangers (like calls to like, after all). Bryce's starlight guides her to those she can trust, and since there's enough evidence to suggest that Nesta has starlight as well, I wouldn't be surprised if Nesta felt beckoned to Bryce.

Another thing that Nesta - and Nesta alone - has going for her is a connection/relationship with the Mother. Throughout ACOSF, the Mother was looking out for and guiding Nesta, to the point that at the end of the book they have a full-blown conversation while Nesta is wearing all the Dread Trove objects. The otherworldly being that Nesta becomes when she's wearing the Mask (and scrying for it, too) is more than likely the Mother. Considering this, I have a hard time believing that the Mother didn't guide Nesta into giving Bryce the Mask. It's also been mentioned multiple times in ACOSF and HOFAS that Nesta is guided by Fate, and that she has learned to listen to Fate (which Nesta related to Bryce following her starlight). Nesta has also mentioned feeling guided/beckoned by much larger forces, so there's sufficient evidence to suggest that Nesta may have been guided by the Mother/Fate/Much Larger Forces into giving Bryce the Mask.

Another thing I want to mention is that Nesta's entire story arc centers around the concept of rebirth and is specifically tied to the Asteri, almost like Nesta's story is to fix Prythian to what it was before the Asteri. Nesta would need to defeat the Asteri in order to do that. Even the Dread Trove would have answered to the Asteri rather than Nesta and Bryce, so eliminating the Asteri means that Nesta and Bryce are now the sole wielders of the Dread Trove.

The only arguments I see against Nesta giving Bryce the Mask center around this misconceived notion that Nesta created a threat to Prythian. Nesta most certainly did not. Canon mentioned multiple times how the Asteri had always been a threat to Prythian and would remain a threat until they were eliminated. That was why Silene had told her son about them, and why the knowledge was supposed to be passed down from generation to generation: so that Prythian could be ready should the Asteri ever arrive again to enslave them. This information was lost and Prythian was most certainly not prepared. Nesta giving Bryce the Mask did not create that threat. In fact, whether Nesta acted or not would not have changed the fact that the Asteri were a threat. Killing Bryce would have meant the threat of the Asteri remained. As Silene said, the only way to end the threat was to eliminate them. So when that opportunity presented itself in the form of Bryce, who was willing to take on the Asteri and who had a game plan to do so, Nesta did the only logical thing one could do: give Bryce what she needed to give herself an edge. If you find your mutual enemy in Midgard, and someone from Midgard is willing to try and defeat them, you help that person, so you can end the threat before they reach your shores. Nesta did not create a threat; she ended a threat.

If Nesta had not acted, Bryce, more than likely, would not have been able to defeat the Asteri, which meant Midgard would still be enslaved and Prythian would still be at risk.  Bryce would be dead. Her friends and family would either be dead or would be tortured. Nesta made a risky move, not a bad move. We're getting more CC books because of Nesta. We're getting future crossovers because of Nesta. Even Twilight of the Gods (rumored to be a mega crossover of ToG, ACOTAR, and CC) might be because of Nesta.

Nesta made a decision on behalf of Prythian, for the good of Prythian just like Aelin made decisions on behalf of Erilea, just like Feyre made decisions on behalf of Prythian, just like Bryce made decisions on behalf of Midgard. None of them asked permission. None of them had a right to do anything, but they did what needed to be done to save their worlds. Nesta did the same.

Nesta was not wrong in giving Bryce the Mask. She's coming into her own as one of SJM's fmc's.

"Nesta was in the wrong for giving Bryce the Mask and making a decision on behalf of all of Prythian."

Quite a few things to unpack here.

Nesta - not all of Prythian - controls the Mask. Nesta is the sole person who scried for the Dread Trove. She is the sole person who found the Dread Trove - and underwent incredibly traumatic experiences in order to obtain them. She is the sole person who can wield and control them. The Dread Trove obeys Nesta, answers to Nesta. No one besides Nesta has a right to do anything with the Trove.

Could Nesta's actions have been disastrous for Prythian? Certainly. But I would make an argument that all SJM's leading ladies make decisions that affect the entirety of their world, they all are forced to trust strangers at some point for the good of their world, and none of them answer to anyone besides themselves.

Aelin I'm mainly going to leave out of this because it's been so many years since I've read ToG. But let's take Feysand for example. Feysand has made many decisions that affected the entirety of Prythian, namely releasing two death-gods and Fear itself, as well as giving the Cauldron - the very kill-switch of Prythian - to their friends. Feysand had to trust the Bone Carver, Bryaxis, and the Weaver to some extent to feel confident enough to release them from confinement. Yes, they made bargains with them, but since Bryaxis is currently free in their world, obviously the bargains wouldn't have worked and the Bone Carver and the Weaver would have been free to reign terror on Prythian had they not been killed. Feysand's actions could have destroyed Prythian, but they risked it to defeat Hybern. It was risky, but it wasn't necessarily a bad move. But Feysand answered to nobody for the destruction they could have unleashed. Make no mistake, though: they would have suffered blowback had the Bone Carver and the Weaver still been alive and found a way out of the bargain. You would think Feyre would have received some punishment for Fear itself being free in the world, but I guess not since it's not causing problems currently.

Feysand also gave the Cauldron to their friends without consulting the rest of Prythian, even though the Cauldron belongs to all of Prythian, not just the Night Court. The Cauldron is not something that only one person can control and wield. Anyone can use it, and Feysand gave it to their friends without consulting the rest of Prythian. It's not the same as trusting a stranger, but it's still a lot of trust to place in two people when the Cauldron is the literal kill-switch of Prythian. But, once again, Feysand did not answer to anyone besides themselves, although they will face major repercussions if the Cauldron is ever located and used for nefarious purposes. But, as a whole, they did not make the wrong decision.

Now Bryce has made many risky decisions that has affected the entirety of Midgard from taking on the Asteri, to traveling to Prythian, to traveling to Hel, to opening up a portal to allow in Hel's armies. Taking on the Asteri most certainly led to Bryce trusting in strangers; in Prythian, Bryce had to, somewhat, trust in strangers; in Hel, Bryce had to, somewhat, trust in strangers; to allow in Hel's army of demons, Bryce had to, once again, trust in strangers. Any one of these moves could have had disastrous consequences for Midgard that Bryce technically didn't have a right to make, but she did and she didn't answer to anyone for it. She let in an army of strangers/demons for crying out loud. An army that could have easily overtaken Midgard and enslaved them yet again. One can make an argument that any one of these (especially letting in an army from another world) was a bad decision and that Bryce was in the wrong, but all her decisions led to the defeat of the Asteri, the freeing of Midgard, and the end of the Asteri's threat to Prythian.

Nesta gave Bryce the Mask, thus making a decision on behalf of all of Prythian, because she was the only one who controlled the Dread Trove, thus making her the only one who could give the Mask away. Nesta may not have known Bryce that long, but they still formed a friendship and a certain degree of trust that led Nesta to believing that Bryce could defeat the Asteri.

And let's not forget that Bryce is Starborn and all signs point toward Nesta being Starborn as well, which means that they're not exactly strangers (like calls to like, after all). Bryce's starlight guides her to those she can trust, and since there's enough evidence to suggest that Nesta has starlight as well, I wouldn't be surprised if Nesta felt beckoned to Bryce.

Another thing that Nesta - and Nesta alone - has going for her is a connection/relationship with the Mother. Throughout ACOSF, the Mother was looking out for and guiding Nesta, to the point that at the end of the book they have a full-blown conversation while Nesta is wearing all the Dread Trove objects. The otherworldly being that Nesta becomes when she's wearing the Mask (and scrying for it, too) is more than likely the Mother. Considering this, I have a hard time believing that the Mother didn't guide Nesta into giving Bryce the Mask. It's also been mentioned multiple times in ACOSF and HOFAS that Nesta is guided by Fate, and that she has learned to listen to Fate (which Nesta related to Bryce following her starlight). Nesta has also mentioned feeling guided/beckoned by much larger forces, so there's sufficient evidence to suggest that Nesta may have been guided by the Mother/Fate/Much Larger Forces into giving Bryce the Mask.

Another thing I want to mention is that Nesta's entire story arc centers around the concept of rebirth and is specifically tied to the Asteri, almost like Nesta's story is to fix Prythian to what it was before the Asteri. Nesta would need to defeat the Asteri in order to do that. Even the Dread Trove would have answered to the Asteri rather than Nesta and Bryce, so eliminating the Asteri means that Nesta and Bryce are now the sole wielders of the Dread Trove.

The only arguments I see against Nesta giving Bryce the Mask center around this misconceived notion that Nesta created a threat to Prythian. Nesta most certainly did not. Canon mentioned multiple times how the Asteri had always been a threat to Prythian and would remain a threat until they were eliminated. That was why Silene had told her son about them, and why the knowledge was supposed to be passed down from generation to generation: so that Prythian could be ready should the Asteri ever arrive again to enslave them. This information was lost and Prythian was most certainly not prepared. Nesta giving Bryce the Mask did not create that threat. In fact, whether Nesta acted or not would not have changed the fact that the Asteri were a threat. Killing Bryce would have meant the threat of the Asteri remained. As Silene said, the only way to end the threat was to eliminate them. So when that opportunity presented itself in the form of Bryce, who was willing to take on the Asteri and who had a game plan to do so, Nesta did the only logical thing one could do: give Bryce what she needed to give herself an edge. If you find your mutual enemy in Midgard, and someone from Midgard is willing to try and defeat them, you help that person, so you can end the threat before they reach your shores. Nesta did not create a threat; she ended a threat.

If Nesta had not acted, Bryce, more than likely, would not have been able to defeat the Asteri, which meant Midgard would still be enslaved and Prythian would still be at risk.  Bryce would be dead. Her friends and family would either be dead or would be tortured. Nesta made a risky move, not a bad move. We're getting more CC books because of Nesta. We're getting future crossovers because of Nesta. Even Twilight of the Gods (rumored to be a mega crossover of ToG, ACOTAR, and CC) might be because of Nesta.

Nesta made a decision on behalf of Prythian, for the good of Prythian just like Aelin made decisions on behalf of Erilea, just like Feyre made decisions on behalf of Prythian, just like Bryce made decisions on behalf of Midgard. None of them asked permission. None of them had a right to do anything, but they did what needed to be done to save their worlds. Nesta did the same.

Nesta was not wrong in giving Bryce the Mask. She's coming into her own as one of SJM's fmc's.

I'm sure this has more to do with SJM's inconsistent storytelling than anything else, but at the beginning of ACOTAR Feyre mentioned that Nesta tried to learn how to hunt but wasn't good at it. This knowledge is then ignored for the next four books in favor of, "What kind of piece of shit let's her fourteen-year-old sister hunt?" Only to bring it up again at the end of ACOSF when Nesta used the bow and arrow to save Gwyn's life. "My sister taught me a long time ago" Nesta said. Yes, because Nesta tried to learn how to hunt but wasn't good at it. How does Nesta receive more hate than Papa Archeron and Elain when she was the one who at least put in the effort to try?

And then, after SJM beats Nesta up all book long for "failing" Feyre, we get Emerie finally telling Nesta that she never failed anyone. So which is it? More inconsistencies or are we finally going to get an arc to challenge the IC's perceptions? Nesta said that she failed Feyre by letting her hunt and that she failed her many times before that, but Nesta was a child too, and this needs to be pointed out.

I've never seen a child condemned for the sins of their parents more than Nesta Archeron. I've never seen a character beat up for "failing" people more than Nesta Archeron. Even Feyre, the fmc who failed thousands of people by destroying their court, was never punished and beaten down as badly as Nesta.

We have a narrative that praises a war criminal while crucifying her mean sister.

One reason I'll always prefer Nesta to Feyre is because Feyre never takes the blame for anything, whereas Nesta is always taking the blame.

Even more than that, though, is that Feyre is always blaming Nesta for the sins of their parents. Feyre, rather than blaming herself, her tutor, or her parents for being illiterate, blames Nesta (and Elain). Feyre blames Nesta (and Elain) for their educational decisions, although, since the dawn of time, I don't believe there's ever been a time when children have been able to make decisions on schooling; that has always been a parents decision, yet Feyre blames her sisters. She blames Nesta (and Elain, but more so Nesta) rather than Papa Archeron for letting her hunt. Feyre blames Nesta, rather than Mama Archeron, for grooming Nesta. As a younger sister myself, I have a hard time understanding or even forgiving Feyre for trying to make Nesta into her parent. Nesta's literally only three years older than Feyre, yet Feyre seems to blame her anytime something goes wrong.

Meanwhile, Nesta's so used to being blamed for everything that she blames herself for everything too. Typical abused child. Nesta doesn't make everyone's trauma about herself, but she does blame herself for everyone's trauma happening in the first place.

I'm rendered speechless every time someone comments on one of my posts on here or Tumblr asking why Cassian should care about Nesta's well-being.

She's accepted the mating bond. She's practically his wife, except the mating bond is supposed to be much deeper than that. It's supposed to be the strongest bond in their world.

I'll never understand these arguments that Cassian should care more about Rhysand's well-being than Nesta's because he's known him longer. Unless we get married on the day we're born, we're always going to know people longer than our spouse. That does not give anyone the right to prioritize someone else's well-being over their spouse's. When you get to the stage in a relationship where you're thinking about saying "I do" and promising that person forever, they are yours and you are theirs. Their well-being is now your responsibility. Rhysand's well-being should be Feyre's concern, not Cassian's. Cassian's concern should be Nesta's well-being first and foremost. The fact that it's not makes Cassian a deeply problematic and toxic spouse.

The problem with Cassian is that he expects more from Nesta than he's willing to give her. He wants her to care about him and his well-being, but he doesn't give two hoots about hers. He wants her to be loyal and devoted to him, to choose him and prioritize him, but he's loyal and devoted to Rhysand. He chooses and prioritizes everyone else above Nesta. He wants her to love him despite his flaws, but he refuses to love her, flaws and all. He wants her to treat him with kindness and respect, but he's unimaginably cruel to her. He wants her to control her rage, but he refuses to learn how to control his temper. He won't let her insult others, but he'll let everyone insult her. He doesn't want her to dance with Eris, but he'll gift lingerie to Mor. He wants her to risk the Bog of Oorid to save him, but he's not willing to break a law to save her from the Blood Rite. He's not willing to lift a finger to save her from Rhysand.

Cassian admitted from his own POV that Nesta is his. The problem is he doesn't act like it. Cassian has failed to care about Nesta's well-being to such an extent that she actually thinks his family and friends will kill her and that Cassian won't even lift a finger to protect her.

The IC feared that Nesta, in a fit of rage, would lose control of her magic and hurt someone. They didn't want to leave her alone with Feyre because of it. They felt like she needed to be restrained because of it. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who threw a temper tantrum, lost control of her magic, and burned the LoA.

The IC didn't want to tell Nesta the truth that she could Make magical weapons because they worried that she would Make something to spite them. They thought that she was plotting against them, that she was a threat to their court. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who plotted against and destroyed an entire court out of spite.

The IC judged Nesta for being prejudiced against the Fae. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who killed an innocent Fae with hate in her heart.

The IC hated Nesta for being cruel. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who caused an innocent guard to be whipped. Feyre didn't check in on him afterwards because she cared or because checking on him was the right thing to do. She visited him to make Tamlin look bad. (I don't think Feyre understands that ACOWAR doesn't just make Tamlin look bad. It makes her look bad too.) It was Feyre - not Nesta - who tortured Ianthe. It was Feyre - not Nesta - who displaced innocents out of their homes because they committed the crime of living in the Spring Court or living in the same apartment complex as Nesta.

The IC wanted to punish or execute Nesta for giving Bryce the Mask because they thought her actions would benefit the enemy and risk Prythian. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who benefitted the enemy by destroying an entire court on the cusp of war. It was Feyre who gave the enemy a stronghold in Prythian. It was Feyre who risked Prythian by releasing a death-god and Fear itself. It was Feyre who lost control of Bryaxis.

Feyre is the monster the IC fear Nesta to be.

The IC feared that Nesta, in a fit of rage, would lose control of her magic and hurt someone. They didn't want to leave her alone with Feyre because of it. They felt like she needed to be restrained because of it. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who threw a temper tantrum, lost control of her magic, and burned the LoA.

The IC didn't want to tell Nesta the truth that she could Make magical weapons because they worried that she would Make something to spite them. They thought that she was plotting against them, that she was a threat to their court. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who plotted against and destroyed an entire court out of spite.

The IC judged Nesta for being prejudiced against the Fae. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who killed an innocent Fae with hate in her heart.

The IC hated Nesta for being cruel. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who caused an innocent guard to be whipped. Feyre didn't check in on him afterwards because she cared or because checking on him was the right thing to do. She visited him to make Tamlin look bad. (I don't think Feyre understands that ACOWAR doesn't just make Tamlin look bad. It makes her look bad too.) It was Feyre - not Nesta - who displaced innocents out of their homes because they committed the crime of living in the Spring Court or living in the same apartment complex as Nesta.

The IC wanted to punish or execute Nesta for giving Bryce the Mask because they thought her actions would benefit the enemy and risk Prythian. Yet it was Feyre - not Nesta - who benefitted the enemy by destroying an entire court on the cusp of war. It was Feyre who gave the enemy a stronghold in Prythian. It was Feyre who risked Prythian by releasing a death-god and Fear itself. It was Feyre who lost control of Bryaxis.

Feyre is the monster the IC fear Nesta to be.