r/crescentcitysjm

I’ve been dying laughing in this sub because I listened to all the books and the spellings I had in my head are so vastly different. I knew that some of them would be off because Maas normally does interesting spellings for names but ithan and Ruhn has been FRYING me all week since I finished and finally allowed myself to join this sub. Anyone else do the same? 😂

or whatever this landmass is called. i’m getting into the war and just read about the spine…. not having a map feels odd.

esp knowing sjm and her worldbuilding plots

I've read all the acotar books so far, but haven't read cc. I have been spoiled and know Bryce goes to prythian so do I need to read cc before the next acotar book comes out?

As someone who *studied* these books (and all of SJM's other works) prior to the CC3 release, consumed all of her interviews, etc. I loathed CC3.

I've been thinking about doing this for over 2 years, and decided to just go for it.

It's canon divergent, a rewrite of CC3, and includes things SJM said would be revealed in the book, theories I had based on the breadcrumbs she left in books 1 and 2, and generally just bakes a whole new loaf with everything I hoped CC3 would be.

Chapter 1 is up, editing chapter 2 and will post soon.

The first chapter is short, and I would love feedback if you have a few minutes to spare and are into this kind of thing!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/85239911/chapters/225093026

This is a comparison post of Hunt and Tamlin. I originally shared in the debate sub, but thought I would share here too! Be warned this is an anti-quinlar take, hence the Bryceriel tag.

1. Partnership vs protection/support

One thing that stands out to me with Quinlar and Feylin is this underlying mismatch in what the FMC actually wants/needs from the relationship. 

Feyre repeatedly begs Tamlin to let her help, let her participate, to let her go with him… Instead, we see Tamlin refuse, shutting down conversations, refusing to explain things to Feyre, and eventually locking her up.

Even when Tamlin tries to "support" Feyre, it's often in ways he thinks she needs. He continually redirects her towards painting and gifts her a traveling paint set... but Feyre describes this gift as

>"looking at that box, at what was inside, felt like examining a crow-picked corpse."

Bryce has a similar (albeit slightly different) frustration with Hunt. A lot of the time he reads less like an equal partner and more like someone reluctantly going along with choices he disagrees with.

>“...I’ll go along with it. I have your back. I promise.”
She blinked. Then blinked again.
“That’s not good enough for me,” she said quietly. “That isn’t good enough for me — that you’ll just go along with it.”

2. The FMC monitoring the MMC’s emotional state

Feyre is constantly aware of Tamlin’s claws, rage, tension, and whether he’s about to lose control. “Claws” is mentioned 56 times in relation to Tamlin throughout ACOTAR.

While not to the same degree, Bryce repeatedly monitors Hunt’s emotional state and volatility as well.

>“Bryce murmured to Hunt, ‘Chill the fuck out.’ Hunt stared at each of the strangers, as if sizing up a kill. Lightning sizzled through his hair. ‘Hunt,’ Bryce muttered, but didn’t dare reach for his hand.”

Even Bryce and Hunt’s first sexual encounter is framed around Hunt’s violent emotional state, with Bryce initiating largely to pull him out of that rage spiral and redirect him.

3. Power unleashed toward the FMC

I actually think there’s an important distinction between Tamlin and Hunt here.

Tamlin’s study outburst reads more as uncontrolled - panic, trauma, anxiety, loss of emotional regulation. But Hunt’s unleashing of his power is intentional - yet it’s framed as protective, justified, passionate, or done “for Bryce.”

Honestly, I think that makes the parallel more interesting. Tamlin loses control and it’s treated as frightening and abusive. Hunt chooses to unleash destructive power directly at Bryce, and fandom often interprets it as romantic devotion 

>Hunt blurted, “Don’t you dare – “ 
Bryce lifted the jug to her lips, but lightning smashed the vessel apart before she could drink. 
She whirled, temper searing through her. 
Hunt was glowing with lightning, furious as he advanced on her. “Do not drink from that-“ 
“This is not the time to go Alphahole!” 
“-without me,” he finished. 
Bryce could only gape at her mate as he grabbed the drinking bowl and held it out for her. 

4. “Why didn’t he help her?” parallel

A major criticism of Tamlin UTM is that he didn’t do enough to help/save Feyre directly.

But Hunt has a moment where he literally has the opportunity to step in for Bryce and chooses not to, saying she can handle herself. 

>“Help her,” Baxian hissed…. 
“She doesn’t need my help,” Hunt whispered. 

Except… pages later, Bryce does need help. And SJM intentionally frames that rescue moment away from Hunt:

>“...light burst from his chest. 
Hunt’s lightning had— 
No. It wasn’t Hunt’s lightning that shone through the Autumn King’s rib cage. 
It was the Starsword. And it was Ruhn wielding it.”

SJM briefly wants readers to think Hunt is the one saving Bryce before immediately redirecting the moment away from him. This feels like pretty deliberate wording to me. 

5. The narrative insists the relationship is good while quietly planting warning signs

We see this much more clearly on re-reads of ACOTAR. It’s easier to overlook those same signs in CC right now because we’re still in the “Tamlin phase.” 

Just finished reading HOFAS, and I have mixed feelings. This was my first SJM series. I really did enjoy the series, and yet, I feel like it could've been better, given the amazing world and universe SJM has created.

Highlights:

• A vast and diverse world with meaningful characters beyond just the main duo. Gives the readers some scope to enjoy other characters even if they don't end up loving the main duo, and the fact that the world is so diverse and there are multiple worlds Bryce can travel between, it creates scope for many more stories and side-plots.

• The Asteri are great villains, with good ideas behind their existence and history. I would have liked to see more of them in the books, tbh. Book 3 does a good job of showing just how difficult taking them down actually was, since they had puppets installed everywhere. While Bryce and her team did a good job at planning and execution, they were really lucky everything turned out perfectly.

• The satisfying moments where scumbags get what's coming to them seem to be SJM's speciality, and she does it well. Anyone with a shred of emotion would enjoy them at least a little.

• The whole investigation chain from book 1 to 3 - uncovering everything little by little, piecing together a large puzzle - it is good at snaring one's attention. History is always one of the best components of fiction books, as it uncovers a lot and sets the stage for the finale.

Lowlights:

• The book felt like a light read, and before Danika's death, almost felt like a fanfiction to me, as I had recently read the Mistborn and Malazan series, the latter of which has incredible complexity and is way darker and serious in its theme. Some side characters lack depth, and it sometimes feels like they're just segregated into good and bad. Hunt has lived for 200+ years and endured years of torture and servitude. The same is true for many long-lived vanir, and I expected more profundity from their characters.

• Way too much sex. I know I should've known what to expect, but the whole magic added into the sex part made it kinda weird, and not all that sexy to imagine, tbh.

• The whole alphahole theme around males - it made me cringe a bit, because I prefer more subtle conveyances of power and dominance. Just a personal preference - I know many would disagree here, since the novels aren't meant to be as serious as some of the darker works of fiction.

• The end was way to conveniently happy. Everything went perfectly after Bryce goes to the old world of the Fae - almost too good to be true. Too much luck - especially in the final war. SJM did a good job of revealing all the lore and wrapping everything up well, but there were no deaths and hardly any prices to pay.

• Bryce's actions in the end became increasingly risky and selfish. Hunt was understandably skittish, considering everything he had been through over the past 2 centuries and in the dungeons at the beginning of HOFAS. I do hold the opinion that Bryce was right, because if she didn't go down that path, Rigelus would never have let her live anyway, but she really should have discussed her plans more - she ended up being super lucky on some occasions.

• There are some minor issues, too. In HOSAB, Bryce and her friends are researching super dangerous stuff despite Rigelus telling her to lie low, and yet, they make it fairly obvious, hanging out in her house always, not using burner phones or untappable connections, and tangling with the Viper Queen and Under King. There's also the issue of how characters sometimes travel from Lunathion to the Eternal City in another continent in just a few hours, like Ithan did in the end. Also, how does Declan hack into everything so easily and consistently? Is the security that bad, considering how cautious the Asteri are? Also, why is Ithan so obsessed with trying to help Sigrid after she tried to kill him and sucked the secondlight out of the Prime? And most people have daddy issues? There's probably more, but I'd rather not nitpick every badly written detail of the story.

Overall, the books were a fun read. SJM has a good way of combining an overall unserious atmosphere with an intense, high stakes plot.

ok i get that bryce is the mc ofc but i expected hunt to be at least somewhat useful intellectually. people might hate this but i havent seen him come up with a single plan or plot to help the missions. its always bryce saving the day. and i dont mind that, thats how it should be, but it feels like all he does is get pissed and rages in any situation where bryce is endangered. like, chill out bro. he's strong and all but 0 EQ honestly. rhysand and rowan were both much smarter than this so i expected a little more than "im going to fucking kill him". im just on cc2 tho so it might get better but yeah....

I really tried to keep an open mind, and absolutely don't want to boo on anyone's woo, but this was a rough one for me. Apologies for the long post but I need to know if it's worth finishing this series for the sake of the broader SJM universe with the new ACOTAR books coming.

I, like so many others, am obsessed with TOG. I read ACOTAR first though and deeply enjoyed it too, but the world-building and side characters in TOG are forever with me. I watched SJM's CHD podcast with my toes and fingers crossed for a Lorcan and Elide or Manon and Dorian novella drop (still holding out hope), but was thrilled to hear about ACOTAR 6-8!!! >!I know that Az and Rhys make an appearance at some point in CC, and there may likely be more crossover too!<>!,!!< so I decided to finally dive into CC because I want the full picture of the SJM world to appreciate any deeper connections in the new ACOTAR books...

Howeverrrrr, I STRUGGLED through all of CC1. I knew going into it that urban fantasy was not likely something I would be into, I read to escape from urban living honestly lol. But I wanted to give it the old college try since I've heard a lot of people having had the same feelings and ended up loving it. But the writing... the lack of development of so many characters despite introducing so many... the random little plot holes that popped up and minor inconsistencies... I just couldn't get into it, and I am sooo sad about it!

I like Bryce as well as Hunt and the side characters were all fine, but I didn't feel like any of it really hit home (strong exception for Lehabah tho x), it just felt like a cutesy romance book with a lot of filler? I definitely think there were some v cool twists at the end and her friendship with Danika was my absolute favourite part, but idk. Felt like a LOT for so, so little.

I reaaallly don't want to miss out on anything with the new ACOTAR books, but is it worth it to keep reading the other CC books? Do they get better?? Is the world crossover significant enough to slog through it?!

I know this might just not be my kind of world... but I'm stubborn and I hate DNF'ing series, I just have so little interest in this story. Opinions welcome on whether or not it's worth it to continue, either for it getting better or for the sake of ACOTAR.

...wth do you mean Hunt wanted the Synth? How can he be so stupid? Like he was literally a murder mystery and ten kills away from freedom it was coming to him already! Like why would he do that? I'm ready to believe that his other pals planned this whole out and then sort of got him on it cuz we haven't heard if they'd had their own bargains with Micah.

Also Danika killing herself doesn't surprise me as much as creep me tf out. Like how was she so stable in her last days if she was a raging addict. This is honestly so scary to think about because I really liked Danika and she was so cute and protective over Bryce and then she turned out to be a freak. Like I don't even understand. She was going to go pick up Bryce from he club, right? And then she was like nahh lemme do this real quick and got so high she killed everyone around her and herself.

Left back LITERAL FREAKIN PILES OF PULP

How irresponsible for a guardian of the city like omg she must be more clever than this?

I'm so scared of Danika now.

And Hunt to which is a pity because I really REALLY liked him. I can see how the romance between Micah and Bryce might begin now. They seem so mate-y

Also please tell me can I like Fury? I really like her too and I don't wanna like her if she becomes unsafe later on.

Also idk why I'm imagining Tharion in a polkadot bra any fanart would be of major help 😕

Have a happy day! 💗

EDIT: I read the Micah scene and now I'm in tears!

Also wth were the Walking Dead and the Book of Breathings doing there? I read ACOMAF two years ago but I kinda recall that the cauldron had made this book and that the half of it was at the Summer Court and the other half somewhere else. Is it the other half?

And the Walking Dead was in >!Aelin's apartment in Rifthold,!< yes? How did IT just transcend space and come to this world? Is it a copy? 😭😭😭

I saw on other posts that there would be more books and wanted to know if there will be more books.

...and I think this Micah guy is going to be her mate. Like Bryce was super attracted to him and then Hunt kind of masked it? I feel like Hunt is the >!Chaol/Tamlin!< of this book and Micah is the actual guy.

Cuz like he's at the very top of the whole system, antagonized at first like Rhysand was, he ignored Bryce in their first meeting and was super nonchalant and then when he threatened Hunt to not touch Bryce THAT HAD ME SWOONING.

Especially now that we know that the angel Bryce had saved was Micah! I'm literally giggling and kicking my feet. I went back to re-read the scene and he's so calm and patient with her, all brushing her knee and trying to comfort her WHEN HIS OWN CHEST HAS BEEN CLEAVED OPEN.

Sooo rooting for them AHHHH

Thanks for listening to my thoughts have a happy day! 💜💙💜

EDIT:

“I'd like to take you to dinner, Bryce Quinlan" “Not interested"

We'll see how long that holds 🤭🤭🤭 I'm saving donuts for their Chapter 55

EDIT 2:

So I think that Ruhn and the medwitch are gonna be another ToG spoiler >!Dorian and Sorscha!<

Tharion is weird.

I don't like Danika's mom.

And Micah isn't showing up again and I want him to so bad. My heart flutters a bit everytime he's mentioned. When will he come up again I'm on the part where Hunt and Bryce are going to question Sabine

Also I wanna live in Lunathion. How am I already so attached to this city and sooo many characters? Like for other fantasy series, it takes me till book 2 or 3 to give a damn about the characters but SJM's characters are something else.

And I love Lehabah, her and Bryce give such Marinette and Tiki vibes but make it 18+

And Bryce's workplace is so cool. I also really like Jesiba. She gives such reluctant guardian vibes. Her and Bryce should cuddle.

I really like Hunt I don't want anything to happen to him. He should cuddle Micah. Or Ruhn maybe.

A real-life Sabine!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18iHRaoqSW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I will be starting CC today it has been on my tbr for soo loonngg. I have read tog and I just finished reading acotar series. Is anything i should know before starting CC? Spoilers are welcome.

TOG is my favorite series of all time and ACOTAR was the series that got me back into reading. I tried twice to read Crescent City and never made it past the first few chapters because of the “omg text the wolf pack!” type vibe. Well with the new books announced I knew I had to read it… and it’s really really good. I devoured them all. This is my formal apology for my previous misjudgment on the series.

i just finished the series today and holy cow! i loved it, i wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was! i’ve officially read all of SJM’s books and i really enjoyed all of them. Maybe i’m not the super over analytical type but i really don’t understand why people don’t like this last book 🥲
from the crossover with ACOTAR, to Ruhn and Lidia’s story 🥺 to freaking defeating the Asteri (or umm valg???)
i just loved the whole series.. butttt im super curious to what the next book will be about because i feel like this one wrapped up so nicely!

The cauldron has blessed me as I'm about to pick up HOFAS from my public library! Been on the wait list forever. Can folks tell me if Emile (the kid they saved and sent to live with Bryce's parents in HOSAB) comes back or contributes to the plot in any meaningful way? So much of the second book was about the search for him but felt like very little pay off in the end. Does this book circle back on him?

Also, tell me something I won't understand until I get to the end of this book! 😍