u/Significant-Metal537

but I’m curious how many genuinely enjoy hearing and engaging with opposing arguments.

View Poll

One of the initial clues we get that Rhys’s bond with Feyre had snapped into place was this scene:

>“He bowed at the waist, those wings vanishing entirely, and had begun to fade into the nearest shadow when he went rigid.”

We later get confirmation that this was the exact moment Rhys realized the mating bond had snapped into place.

So I find it interesting that we get similar wording with Azriel:

>“Azriel let out a grunt, going rigid. Like he could feel it, too, the weapons’ demand to be together or apart or whatever it was, the strange power of them in proximity to each other—”

“...or whatever it was” especially stands out to me. Bryce assumes what Azriel is reacting to is the weapons, but the narration leaves room for it to be something else 👀

I’m curious what your thoughts are for Tamlin and his potential arc/role in the upcoming stories? It seems, or rather predicted, that all 8 courts will need to be unified for the upcoming threat. Unless Tamlin dies or the power of the land shifts, I feel we are going to potentially get more story with him. But I want to defer to this group since yall are amazing with theories!

Title is vague to hide spoilers. Basically - Crossover was planned from the very beginning of CC1 and not something SJM shoehorned into the story like many claim.

This will be short, I'm currently listening and can't pull out all the quotes, but CC1 introduces so many details early on. I don't understand why people say SJM only did the crossover to "save" the series (not that it needed saving. It was simply newer, so obviously it was going to have a smaller readership).

• The Horn was introduced in CC1, before ACOSF was published. SJM was planning the trove plot before it was even introduced in ACOTAR.
• CC1 mentions "the Crossing" within the first third (? I think) of the book. The Midgard fae originating from other worlds was established very early!
• The ancient rulers from the ACOTAR world were introduced as well multiple times.
• And I just got to the part when Hunt is talking to the oracle. He's asking why someone stole the horn and the oracle answers "to open the doors between worlds".
• Not to mention all the references of dusk surrounding Bryce

That's everything I've caught so far while listening, there are probably many more examples!

This will be short, I’m currently listening and can’t pull out all the quotes, but CC1 introduces so many details early on. I don’t understand why people say SJM only did the crossover to “save” the series. Not that it needed saving, it was simply newer, so obviously it was going to have a smaller readership.
• The Horn was introduced in CC1, before ACOSF was published. SJM was planning the trove plot before it was even introduced in ACOTAR.
• CC1 mentions “the Crossing” within the first third (? I think) of the book. The Midgard fae originating from other worlds was established very early!
• The ancient rulers from the ACOTAR world were introduced as well multiple times.
• The Starsword sings to Bryce when Ruhn is high - less crossover I suppose, but it wasn’t just some random change in arcs like some claim.

That’s everything I’ve caught so far while listening, there are probably many more examples!

For the ships you don’t sail, or even actively dislike, what fan art has made you stop and appreciate the ship even for just a second? 👀

I’ll post mine in the comments once this is approved!

Assuming Neris becomes canon, what are some of your favorite theories?

In light of the announcement and all the repeated musical connections - from the 🎶 emoji to the books being described as “movements” to the actual titles - I decided to search the most recent book for key terms like song, sing, and melody.

Many people seem to conclude 🎶 = Azriel or Gwyn and therefore hints at a Gwynriel story. However, I think it points much more strongly to plot**. More specifically, Dusk.**

Bryce is sent by Urd to a world where she immediately encounters the dagger that makes the Starsword sing. Truth-Teller is later described as a “dark countermelody” to Gwydion.

>“Here, where she’d instantly encountered a dagger that made the Starsword sing.”

>“It sings for her, and by bringing it close—

>“Because the Starsword”—she motioned to the blade he had down his back—“sings to it.”

>“Because the sword and dagger weren’t merely tugging now. They were singing.

>“Staying a few feet behind him still wasn’t enough to block out the blades’ song.”

>“Even Truth-Teller, in Silene’s hand, seemed to ripple, a dark countermelody to how Gwydion flashed in Theia’s hand, its light a heartbeat.”

Then that same musical imagery becomes directly connected to Dusk itself. Bryce senses a “beating, vibrant heart” beneath the sleeping land and thinks that if she opens her heart to it, “it might sing again. Awaken.”

>“If she could reach out, if she could open her heart to it … it might sing again. Awaken. There was a beating, vibrant heart locked away, far beneath them. If she freed it, the land would rise from its slumber, and such wonders would spring again from its earth—”
The connection becomes even more directly tied to Bryce when the power moves through the blades, into Bryce’s heart, and she hears the land itself.

>“Light blasted up through the blades into her hands, her arms, her heart. Bryce could hear it through her feet, through the stone. The song of the land beneath her. Quiet and old and forgotten, but there.”

That last line stood out to me, especially with the book title announcements - “Quiet and old and forgotten, but there.”

A forgotten song. A land that has been lost and left sleeping. A melody waiting to be heard again.

So while 💖🎶💖 could certainly have multiple meanings, I think the strongest textual connection is to the unresolved Dusk/Starborn/weapons plot.

And since this is a ship debate sub, I also think it’s worth noting who SJM chose to connect to those weapons: Bryce and Azriel. So if we are going to interpret 💖🎶💖 romantically, I’m not sure why it would point exclusively to Gwynriel when the musical imagery is so heavily tied to Bryce, Azriel, their weapons, and Dusk.

Throughout the Maasverse, every single time SJM has introduced an external magical bond for two characters, it has ultimately functioned in some way to conceal a deeper fated bond between them.
• ToG: >!Aelin & Rowan!< — carranam bond
• ACOTAR: Feyre & Rhys — bargain bond
• CC: >!Lidia & Ruhn!< — mind bridge bond

Now the newest external magical bond SJM has introduced is the mated weapons bond.

Why introduce this at all? SJM could have moved the plot forward without this magical bond between Bryce and Azriel.

Do people genuinely think this will be the first time she introduces an external magical bond that doesn’t foreshadow something larger?

I am blown away at the redemption arc SJM gave Tamlin for the fandom to just ignore. Tamlin revealed himself a traitor trying to protect Feyre and putting himself in harms way in hyberns camp. He used his wind magic to lift Feyre’s wings so she could safely get away. Not to mention Tamlin convincing the autumn king to fight (I think? Correct me if I’m i
wrong) and giving a kernel of his power to Rhys with the one wish that Feyre will find joy and happiness 🥹

Ugh. Even in Feyre’s narrative (so SJMs words) she has forgiven him and wished him happiness too. She recognized that Tamlin saved her in hyberns camp.

I’m curious what weekend coverage looks like at other hospitals.

At my current facility, weekends can be overwhelming with new consults, follow ups, and LOS. Only 1 dietitian that manages both Saturday and Sundays. Does your facility have any policies to help manage the workload? Is any portion of the work done remotely, or are there guidelines for weekends when there isn’t RD coverage?

Does anyone else find it interesting that SJM has been asked to clarify Bryce and Hunt's relationship status multiple times, even after CC2 and more recently CC3? Has she ever been repeatedly questioned about another couple after they call each other mate on page?

Is there a way to rate narrators directly instead of rating the books? There are some books I’ve had to DNF because the narration was horrible but the book itself was fine.

Disclaimer (editing to add): I’m not at all suggesting Feyre is undeserving of her title. But rather questioning the magic system ☺️

In ACOTAR, we’re told that the magic of the land chooses the High Lord… So how is Rhys able to declare Feyre the High Lady?

If High Lady is truly the equivalent of a High Lord, shouldn’t the land have to choose her too? We never see any magical selection or explanation for how the title is granted. If the land did choose Feyre, why would SJM leave that out?

Possible explanations / Your opinion:

1. A plot hole
2. A retcon of the magical system
3. Feyre was given the High Lady title for political reasons
4. Or something else? Other theories?

This really does genuinely bother me. Because when I’m interacting with the fandom or see other bryceriels out there in the wild also interacting with the fandom, not once have I seen an “aggressive” bryceriel. The only time I’ve ever seen a bryceriel respond rudely is when they are “matching” the attitude of whoever they are speaking with - and most of the time it’s after they have insulted them by calling Bryceriels delusional. (And to add/clarify, the majority of the time I still see Bryceriels respond respectfully - it’s truly rare to see a Bryceriel respond rudely). But when we respond with genuine debates, all of a sudden we are aggressive? Not to mention they always dodge our questions and give non answers. I’m truly flabbergasted over this.

I feel we are the target of so much hate. We are called delusional/delulu, crazy, crackship, my personal favorite is “roaches”. They wish we would just go away, they claim we aren’t SJM fans, that we make mountains out of mole hills, etc. I could go on and on but don’t have the time right now.

How Bryce assumes others see her:

>Let them think her rambling. An idiot.
The party girl most of Midgard had labeled her, that Micah had believed her to be, until she was vacuuming up his fucking ashes.

The very next page, Azriel immediately sees through it:

>Silence. Then the silent, hazel-eyed
warrior laughed quietly.

He doesn’t see her as some shallow party girl. He catches the act instantly