u/NoCurve4859

I tried to get into ToG and also CC. I felt quite confused with CC and weirded out. With ToG, I will say it is pure fantasy to start with at least so it didn’t hold my interest. Now, with the supposed links between ACOTAR 6 and the other series— I feel like I have to read those.

However, from a commercial literary perspective— why would this be a necessary decision? I think the next 2 books surely need to operate in a way that makes sense to the ACOTAR only reader, otherwise it should come with a point that you will never really understand the plot of these books unless you read CC and ToG.

Perhaps this is why the blurb for the 6th book took me back a bit. As an ACOTAR only reader, the only ‘tensions’ I could identify for the NC were:

• The obvious Rhys v Azriel dynamic of being told not to pursue Elain from a bonus chapter (however I don’t think that would cause such a rift). Let’s say Azriel and Elain find eachother again and kiss and let’s say Lucien sees. Sure some tension but there has to be more. Or if Elain sees Gwyn with the necklace and it uproots a deep sense of disappointment in her that causes her to crash out.
Sure, but that’s so much more personal as opposed to to court wide.
• Rhys v Nesta because Nesta hates him inside.
• Mor’s background.
• Feyre v inner court: Hiding the fact her baby could have killed her etc etc but Feyre tends to view all of the NC with rosy glasses.

That then leaves me to explore the other stuff, and yeah I haven’t read CC or ToG but I’ve caught up with what the more significant turmoil could be:

• Bryce and Azriel and Nesta: Nesta giving Bryce ‘the mask’, maybe it becomes a crucial thing to fight against Koschei. We know Rhys puts her on house arrest. That seems more troubling.

So, the CC link seems to me to be the most interesting. However, how can SJM expect those who haven’t read CC to understand this?

Is this a bit odd? A coincidence??

BTS have so many distinct albums, each with careful narratives woven throughout.

I can so easily imagine a clear story being embedded throughout each album. They have about 8 distinct eras!

I don’t think people have clocked yet that Josh Heuston is the perfect archetype for a character like Xaden, partly modelled off the Byronic hero— think dark, handsome and brooding vibes that is brilliant at this intense yearning that is almost haunting. He’s also got that slight boyish charm that will do well with audiences— given Xaden is only 23. He’ll also bulk up for this role, and have hardened his features. That’s the beauty of acting, to be able to switch from a side piece to a main central role. I firmly believe he is Xaden, no other character apart from Violet’s would get so much attention.

From a PR strategy angle too, this makes a lot of sense. It would be very odd for his publicist to take questions about fourth wing if he isn’t guaranteed or confirmed a role, and the icing on the cake is indeed he won’t be in the second season of off campus. A character like Bodhi wouldn’t get this much attention either, so I firmly don’t think he’s Bodhi either. He’s confirmed as Xaden and we’ll see a massive transformation physically, whilst maintaining the soft intensity that will do very well in this role.

Would you rather have someone who fits Xaden’s height but not his physical facial features or someone who fits but maybe doesn’t reach to an insane height of 6’4?