For the first point. I do like how Nesta heals her anger and we see a softer side to her. But at the same time, Nesta loves to dance, play cards, and she uses foul language. How come Nesta doesn't show that side of her to her new friends? It's like she changes herself around them because in spoilers in HOFAS, we see her use foul language around Bryce. IDK I know in the grand scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal, it was just something I noticed. She's one way around the Valkyries, and another way around others.

For the second point. How come no one trained Nesta with her cauldron silver flame magic? Majority of what we saw was her connection and use of the trove. Then at the very end, when she unmade the queen. She had immense power at the end of WAR, when she blasted the king through the treeline. We see Amren train her mentally a little bit in WAR, but no power training beyond that. So I'm a little salty, we didn't see that power explored more.

CC3-HOFAS

>The male now held the Starsword at the ready, Truth-Teller gripped in his other hand. He must have had some sort of Starborn blood in him, then—a distant ancestor, maybe. Or maybe his possession of the knife somehow allowed him to also bear the Starsword.

FAS

>"Azriel’s face didn’t so much as shift at the words. Not even a smile as he opened the present and revealed— “I had Madja make it for me,” Elain explained.
Azriel’s brows narrowed at the mention of the family’s preferred healer.
“It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.” Silence. Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly.
“It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” Silence again."

CC1-HOEAB

>'It ordinarily took Ruhn a good amount of concentration to summon his starlight, and it usually left him with a headache for hours afterward, but … He was intrigued enough to try.
....
The starlight shivered, flared, and faded into nothing. The Autumn King grunted in annoyance, but Ruhn barely heard it over his pounding head."

___________________________

What if all Starborn fae have the ability to summon light and shadows. Bryce's light now has shadows. Ruhn was able to summon some starlight. What if Azriel sensed he had some light magic in him, and he was toying with it, and didn't understand what is was until he met Bryce.

>"He reached for her hand, her starlight washing over the golden skin of his own hands … and the scars there. Covering every inch."

>"Then Azriel’s hand, battered and deeply scarred, slid around hers. Light leaked from where their skin met. She could have sworn his shadows hovered, watching like curious snakes."

Many are doing re-reads right now, and it made wonder if anyone has seen an opposing ship from a new angle that had led to them switching their preferred ship?

Or, if after the CHD podcast, has anyone switched to a new ship?

Happy Monday!

I did a re-read of Frost and Starlight over the weekend and I totally forgot about this line that Rhysand thought while in discussion with Cassian about Nesta.

>My throat tightened, and I gripped him hard around his wings, the scales of his leathers digging into my fingers. “What about you?” I asked, pulling away after a moment. “Are you … happy?”
Shadows darkened his hazel eyes. “I’m getting there.”
A halfhearted answer.
I’d have to work on that, too. Perhaps there were threads to be pulled, woven together.

______________________________

First and foremost, I do like Nessian. Although I think the Neris crackship is better :D

I do know that Cassian and Nesta displayed mate like behavior towards each other prior to Frost and Starlight, so I don't REALLY think Rhys is messing with their mating bond.

But....just to play devils advocate and propose a fun discussion, what else could Rhys have meant about pulling and weaving threads? Because the only ones we really know of are the mating bond threads.

It looks like Aelins line ended up on Midgard because of Lidia. So what do we think happened to Goldryn?

Theres only one other important sword in Midgard, and thats Danikas sword, now in Ithans possession.

Is that Goldryn or no?

Why do some ship theories insist that Calanmai is on the spring equinox (March)?

In terms of the book timeline of Prythian. I'm doing my re-read of ACOTAR and looking at timeline charts online and it's pretty clear that Nynsar is around the spring equinox, Calanmai is in May, and summer solstice is just a couple weeks after Calanmai in summer. When Feyre/Rhys are in the human lands, before Starfall, he asks her when her birthday was and she says the winter solstice, Rhys replies "that was months ago". Starfall happens then several weeks later, they have the cabin scene on Calanmai.

So if some shipper think Calanmai is the spring equinox (March), then Summer Solstice would have had to take place a couple weeks later in May.

timeline by u/bellire

Nynsar/Starfall (March 20/21)

https://preview.redd.it/tbgrxrstnw7h1.png?width=534&format=png&auto=webp&s=966fb5aa1497cbd7f7fa96d45931f63040abc2e3

Calanmai (May 1st)

By definition, it translates to May 1st. Celebrated shortly before Summer Solstice. Fits the book narrative that Calanmai is in May.

Summer Solstice (June 21)

In TAR, and WAR, very shortly after Calanmai is celebrated, the summer solstice is celebrated. In TAR, this is when Feyre tries faerie wine for the first time. Then in WAR, when Feyre is destroying the Spring Court she's there again during the summer solstice. She makes a mental tally and recounts how on Calanmai (a few weeks ago) her and Rhys were in the cabin generating their own magic.

https://preview.redd.it/iow6z4ulqw7h1.png?width=552&format=png&auto=webp&s=256906b87cb826966e0e97c663c52a412e28230d

So, in conclusion

https://preview.redd.it/ip8zkovlrw7h1.png?width=483&format=png&auto=webp&s=46fa71cdeff47e4f3e8e0a255552494e46edfa61

Im doing yet another re-read of ACOTAR/CC in prep for the next book.

And Im catching a couple things regarding Azriel that I hadn't really noticed before.

As a preface, if I go surface level. Azriel is an Illyrian who was locked away as a child, and didn't learn to fly till he was older. And his relationship with the Illyrians is strained due to his childhood.

But, if I get out my highlighter and red string I noticed this from WAR

1. When Azriel trains Feyre to fly he refers to the Illyrians as "their kind". Feyre thinks " their kind. Not his"
2. In the same scene, Azriel is remarking at Feyres shapedhifted magic made wings. He says "it's amazing. They're the same as mine."
3. When Amren is recounting leaving the prison, she explains that in order to leave that dark place, she had to yield something and bind herself to a new body. AMREN WAS LOOKING AT AZRIEL. His eyes understanding.
4. Later during the war, the bone carver (a death god from another world) also left his dark cell and bound himself into a new body - an Illyrian body.
5. edited to add: in MAF when Azriel says that the prison sentries know "what he is".

So, this is all a tin foil hat theory that maybe Azriel is something different, maybe from Hel, and he bound himself to an Illyrian body to free himself from being locked up.

Most likely though, he probably is just an Illyrian.

The top bullets are from the Danika/Bryce's bonus chapter, and the bottom bullets are from Azriel's bonus chapter.

2:00 am

• "They weren’t the only drunk assholes in the tattoo parlor at two in the morning."
• “At two in the morning?”

Danika and Azriel, Ready for a Fight

• “Let them try something.” Danika snarled, and even Bryce tensed at that. Danika was spoiling for a fight. “Don’t even think about it,” Connor warned, teeth bared in a way that reminded Bryce he might have been an Alpha in his own right if he hadn’t chosen to serve Danika instead. “A confrontation with Amelie is the last thing you need right now.”
• “I’ll defeat him with little effort.” Pure arrogance laced every word, but it was true. “I know.” Rhys’s eyes flickered. “And your doing so will rip apart any fragile peace and alliances we have, not only with the Autumn Court but also with the Spring Court and Jurian and Vassa.” Rhys bared his teeth. “So you will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her.” Azriel snarled softly. “Snarl all you want.”

Danika and Azriel, Needing A Distraction

• “Please,” Danika asked, frowning slightly. She approached the coffee table and picked up the mirthroot cigarette, inhaling again. “I could use it.” Even with the haze of the drugs, it was hard to miss the tightness in Danika’s face, her posture.
• He aimed for the training pit, giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage and frustration and writhing need.

Danika and Azriel, Lying About The Reason Why A Distraction Was Needed/Or Purpose

• So Bryce asked, as soberly as she could, “You all right?” Danika shrugged, inhaling again. “Sabine. As usual.” There was something in the way Danika didn’t look at her, didn’t meet her eyes… Bryce wasn’t entirely sure she bought it, even though Sabine was always nipping at Danika’s heels. But what else could it be? Maybe something with Thorne, but Thorne’s panting after Danika had never seemed to bother her before. If Danika didn’t want to talk about it, though, Bryce wouldn’t push. She’d be there when Danika was ready.
• “It’s fine. I came to retrieve something I forgot.” The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was.

Zach and Gwyn, A Twin's Amusement

• It was Zach who had spoken. and though his tone had been perfectly dry, his dark eyes glittered with amusement. He made up half of the twin duo everyone called the Ghosts. If Zach was here, Zelda couldn’t be far away.
• Pure amusement glittered in her stare.

Danika and Azriel, Sad Eyes

• Danika then unleashed her ultimate weapon: the puppy eyes. And damn if they weren’t effective. “I’m sad and lonely and I want to get a tattoo with my best friend.”
• Your eyes are sad, Shadowsinger. He offered her a grim smile. “I lost the snowball fight today.” Clotho was smart enough to see through his deflection.

• Rhys got canned soup
• Cass got a stale cracker

What will Azriel get? Let's take a look at Bryce cooking skills;

B in the kitchen adding a little zest

Bryce's Ziti with Sausage, Garlic and Olives

>“There’s still plenty of ziti from what I made last night,” Bryce offered, the music starting to send rippling gold rings through the room. Pretty. “That sandwich is, like, six days old.”
Danika took another bite and said around a mouthful, “I’d rather risk food poisoning from this thing than that… concoction.”
Bryce flipped off her friend with a finger that felt a million miles away. “You said the ziti was good!”
“It might have been on its own.” Danika crossed her arms. “But you added…?”
“Sausage.”
“And?”
Bryce winced. “Some other stuff?” Okay, maybe she’d gotten a little overeager adding things to the recipe. She’d stopped herself after the garlic and olives, though.

Bryce's Spiced Ground Turkey with Veggie & Onion Over Rice

>She added more vegetables and seasoning to the pan before throwing a packet of instant rice into the microwave.
*The rice finished cooking, and she divvied it into two bowls before dumping the meat mixture on top of it. She extended one to him. “*Nothing gourmet, but … here. I’m sorry for earlier.”
Hunt studied the steaming heap of meat and rice. He’d seen dogs served fancier meals.

_________________________

When Bryce makes Azriel a mating bond meal, he's in for a special treat!

Okay baddies, I need some theory clarification.

Im firmly in the camp that Hunt being bred as a weapon by Hel is not good for Bryce. Craving her light/covering it up/Hels future plans/stay away from quinlan etc.

BUT! I know theres also a semi popular theory that Azriel may be a Prince of Hel. Possibly even Aidas heir.

So if we feel that Hunt+Hel=bad. Then what does that mean for Azriels possible connection? Would his be different in any way?

Video Evidence #1: A Music Expert Explains Why Everyone Loves Kid Cudi’s Hums | Genius News

DR. KIM: Humming is an intimate act because you barely hum to strangers. But it is directly tied to memory.

[HOST] That’s Dr. Suk-Jun Kim, composer and senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom. He authored the 2018 book, 'Humming'.

DR. KIM: What I mean by socio-acoustic is that sound allows us to understand our relationship to the world. So when you hum for strangers it’s like opening up and inviting them into your personal space.

[HOST] For nearly 10 years, Kim has been collecting sounds from hundreds of people for something he calls The Humming Project.

DR. KIM: With this project I'm interested in collecting memory of a community so I use humming as a way to reveal such memories.

[HOST] In doing this he shows how the close act of humming can link people together through common songs like old childhood lullabies. Jun hadn’t heard of Kid Cudi prior to his Genius interview, but after listening he found that Cudder’s hums fit perfectly into his artistic research.

DR. KIM: I think Cudi's humming is very intimate because he allows us into himself and shows us his loneliness and anxiety.

https://preview.redd.it/43rfhbdbfi5h1.png?width=313&format=png&auto=webp&s=c48b9b1d4a0b2efd5d043fca33926f9060909029

https://preview.redd.it/s0oiwz6jfi5h1.png?width=1222&format=png&auto=webp&s=d43a55640d67f3e831093e51ce18f054b7f9ac9c

Video Evidence #2:

Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly, Puccini. Libertas Choir and Orchestra

Evidence #3: SJM herself writing in Silver Flames, describing a hum

https://preview.redd.it/57u2zuf9gi5h1.png?width=596&format=png&auto=webp&s=242a726a576c89099b3f288ee42c58522551e79f

Evidence #4: Wiki explanation of singing and humming.

https://preview.redd.it/ax1b00engi5h1.png?width=974&format=png&auto=webp&s=eaabfaf828eada4d9705d27d8640d0f6f34abf84

https://preview.redd.it/sa5jm4engi5h1.png?width=634&format=png&auto=webp&s=f351abd5ae63b8cda6b9a8b507b280c8d330228e

Evidence #5: Other Professional Experts

https://preview.redd.it/nzzrtfkygi5h1.png?width=757&format=png&auto=webp&s=155c320848c5f1368b9a9f722b34e7c0ecec2883

https://preview.redd.it/71c2xekygi5h1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=ac22aadb0d3cd558e16d756debebff4607f110ae

_________________________________________________

CC3 Bonus Chapter

>She hid her smile and played song after song, until the battery on her phone drained to the dregs. Until that last, beautiful link to Midgard went dark and died.

>No more music. No more pictures of Hunt.

>But the music seemed to linger, like a ghostly echo through the caves.

>And with each mile onward, she could hear Azriel humming to himself. The rolling, wild melody of “Stone Mother” softly flowed off his lips, and she could have sworn even the shadows danced at the sound.

art by spearthymint

____________________________________

I always considered humming as singing/form of singing. And when i look up singing online, the wiki page puts humming under a category of singing.

However, while in a debate, I see the claim that humming is not singing because no actual words are being sung.

Am I wrong? If so, whats the line of when an audible sound becomes singing?

To add, from my pov I was thinking of birds. They dont "speak words", but when they make melodies with their vocal cords, humans consider THAT as singing. I figure the same with humans, when we make melodic sounds with our mouths (even humming) that would be considered singing.

Thank you for your thoughtful input.

This is just for fun. What are some movies or TV shows that remind you of certain ships?

____________

Ruhn and Lidia - The Aristocats

She's a sophisticated lady, descended from Royalty. She got kids of her own. Then she meets a charismatic bachelor who risks his life to save her and her kids.

Gwyn and Azriel - Sleeping Beauty

Now you might be thinking Gwynriel should be Little Mermaid, but I think you're wrong. Look at how similar Aurora is to Gwyn.

Gwyn has mysterious parentage, she lives a secluded life away from civilization, she lives with faeries in robes, she sings, she glows when she sings (glowing like maybe the sun aka Day Court lineage).

Gwyn and Azriel - The Sound of Music

She lives at the Abbey, and hasn't become a nun. She sings and she meets and falls in love with a cold, quiet and lonely man. She loves children.

Bryce and Azriel - Crash Landing On You (k-drama)

They are from different worlds. She literally crash lands on him. She tries to figure out a way to get back home. She has to use her wiles to get him to like her. He is a military man, quiet and disciplined.

Elain and Azriel - The Wedding Singer

She's engaged to someone else. He's depressed because everyone else around him gets married. He sings. He lives in his sisters basement (or has a room of his own in the House of Wind)

Elain and Grayson/Azriel/Lucien - Rory from Gilmore Girls

Elain was with Grayson ( aka whiny guy Dean)

Elain was "with" Azriel (aka quiet "bad boy" Jess)

Elain maybe with Lucien (aka heir to a court/fortune Logan Huntzberger)

I was thinking about TOG. Dorian, Manon, Fenrys. Manorian was given romance but no HEA. And Fenrys, after all he went through, he was never written a romance plot either.

As much as I love certain ACOTAR and CC characters, I do have to remind myself that there is still a possibility that some won't be written to have HEA's either.

And it doesn't matter how long a character has been in the narrative or even coupled together. Again look at Dorian for example;

1. Around since before TOG, he was in the prequel Assassin's Blade
2. Had a 3 book romance arc with Manon

No HEA.

Until the series is complete, no character is safe 😃

Over the weekend I read my "Book of Bryceriel", and lots of things jumped out at me. But I wanted to share two new things I picked up on. On how Azriel is much more aware of Bryce than is normal.

We are all pretty familiar with Azriel knowing if Bryce is lying. They aren't even speaking the same language and yet, he calls her bluff. Not Amren who is thousands of years old. Not Rhysand, the High Lord and daemati, but Azriel.

We are also familiar with Azriel knowing about her knees not healing.

But...these were the other two scenes i picked up on.

1. Is he reading her thoughts? Not daemati but more like Rowaelin.

https://preview.redd.it/qpovdtu1aq3h1.png?width=539&format=png&auto=webp&s=41249827bf04e04c4986e978ed32cf4bb2124bc8

Here in this scene Bryce is thinking about how they tricked her, she gives Azriel a glare. BUT SEE WHAT AZRIEL DOES?

>"he gave her a cool look in return"

To me, this gives the impression that he knows exactly what she's thinking and he's being cheeky.

2. Again, in this other scene Azriel is clocking the fact that Bryce senses something amiss. Without her verbalizing it, he's reading her somehow.

https://preview.redd.it/9954o8sghq3h1.png?width=544&format=png&auto=webp&s=dcc72e888e18f8f55a7ca1d5e06dc1ef25e3e98b