Everything You Need to Know From Crescent City For ACOTAR 6

Summary

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Fantasy Fangirls Podcast: Everything You Need to Know From Crescent City For ACOTAR 6

Hosts: Nicole & Lexi (with Emery)
Air Date: August 10, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this pivotal episode, Nicole and Lexi deep dive into the must-know crossover lore between Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City and A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, serving as a detailed primer for readers preparing for ACOTAR book 6. With help from recurring cohost Emery, the sisters break down major revelations from Crescent City 3: House of Flame and Shadow, focusing on how the two universes connect, the long-lost Dusk Court, magical weaponry, family trees, and seismic lore revelations—all with their signature banter, laughter, and theory-crafting. This summary captures the episode’s energy, insights, and best quotes, formatted for those who need a comprehensive, spoiler-filled refresher without listening to the entire show.

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1. Introduction & Spoiler Warning

[03:41]

• This episode is a complete spoiler zone for all five ACOTAR and three Crescent City books—especially key reveals in Crescent City 3.
• Lexi: “We at Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is rated rich.”
• No Throne of Glass spoilers, even though potential crossovers are mentioned.

[04:36]

• Two types of listeners:
  1. Superfans needing a lore refresher before ACOTAR 6
  2. ACOTAR-only readers who want to catch up on key Crescent City details ("You do not get to come at us in the comments for Crescent City spoilers. You know what you’re getting yourself into!" – Emery)

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2. The Big Picture: Why the Crossover?

[08:04–10:05]

• Summary of The Crossover’s Origins:
  • Asteri (immortal, magic-feeding beings) were once known as the Daglan on the ACOTAR world, where they ruled with brutality until the Fae ousted them.
  • The Asteri fled to Midgard (the world of Crescent City), luring species from other magical worlds (Fae from ACOTAR, shifters from Throne of Glass).
  • The Asteri use propaganda (“liberators”) but feed on the magic of others, using tactics like putting parasites in water to weaken magic.
  • The protagonist, Bryce, uncovers these truths and accidentally travels to Prythian (ACOTAR’s world), directly interacting with main ACOTAR characters and triggering game-changing events.

Quote [09:48]: Nicole:

“Bryce is in Prythian. She is interacting with Rhys, Nesta, Azriel, all of these people. And to see so many of our favorite ACOTAR characters have these conversations with another character — we love Bryce — it is really exciting.”

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3. Main Crossover Lore & The Selene Download

[14:13]

a. What is the “Selene Download”?

• In Crescent City 3, Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel travel beneath Prythian’s prison, guided by Bryce’s starborn eight-pointed star.
• They encounter a hologram of Selene—a starborn fae woman from ancient history (likely ancestral to Rhys and others), who unfolds a massive history lesson (the “Selene download”/“mad hot lore dump”) about the origins and fall of the Daglan/Asteri, the Dusk Court, magical items, and family ties.

[16:32]

b. Ancient History of Prythian & the Asteri/Daglan

• Daglan Era: Daglan ruled Prythian brutally for 5,000 years, siphoning magic from the fae through forced yearly tithes.
• Wild Hunt & Beasts: The Daglan enforced control through fear and monstrous servants.
• Thea & Fion’s Rebellion: Theia (Selene’s mother) and Fion (her mate) steal the Dread Trove artifacts and the cauldron, rallying fae and defeating the Daglan.

[19:14] Nicole:

“Four evil instruments of power that the Daglan created using the Cauldron...this is the Dread Trove that we spend a lot of time with in Silver Flames. But note that we only see three items in Silver Flames, not four.”

• After victory, Thea rules over the Dusk Court, a land imbued with twilight (“dusk”) magic.

c. The Fall, Worldwalking, and Dread Trove

• Family Drama: After internal betrayal, Thea is killed, the Dusk Court’s power wanes, and the fae migrate to Midgard (Crescent City’s world), guided by Thea and her daughters, Selene and Helaena.
• The Gate Closes: Selene returns alone to Prythian, sealing the portal and trapping many fae (whose lingering pleas are heard by Nesta 15,000 years later in the prison—[30:41] “It was the echo of the event of 15,000 years ago, when Selene did what she did and traveled back and sealed the portal between the worlds, locking out and killing a bunch of people in the process.”).
• The Dusk Court is left abandoned, later converted into the infamous Prison by Selene to suppress the lingering taint of old Daglan evil.

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4. Core ACOTAR Plot Hooks from Crescent City Lore

a. The Lost Eighth Court: The Dusk Court = The Prison

[34:10]

• Selene seals the former Dusk Court (her ancestral home) and converts it into the Prison, filling it with monsters and dungeons.
• She keys her son’s blood into the Prison’s wards, creating the Night Court’s special connection.
• Nicole’s prediction: The restoration or discovery of the Dusk Court will be a central plot point for ACOTAR 6.

b. The Dread Trove: Four, Not Three

• Trove pieces (Mask, Harp, Crown, and the lost Horn) — Bryce is now literally the bearer of the Horn, since it was tattooed ground-up onto her back.
• Most items return to Prythian by end of CC3, except the Horn, still in Midgard.

c. Three Sacred Mountains and Hidden Magic

• Prison, Under the Mountain, and Ramiel each have roots that contain “pockets” of ancient Daglan magic.
• [49:24] Lexi: “I can just feel it in my bones that there are indeed secrets under Ramiel.”

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5. Character Highlights & Notable Moments

a. Nesta’s Arc, Power, and Destiny

• Nesta’s bargain with Cassian is marked by an eight-pointed star tattoo—directly tied to Starborn magic and the revived destiny of the Dusk Court.
• Multiple cosmic hints tie her to creation/restoration, suggesting a leadership role or even the new Dust Court Queen.

[67:29] Lexi:

“I do believe that the eight pointed star from Illyrian technique techniques is another hint connecting the past and present with High King Theon and Queen Thea's reign.”

b. Azriel’s Weapons and Potential

• Truth Teller’s origin is revealed: forged by Analius, the first Illyrian, from the Cauldron.
• Vesperus’s taunt: “You don’t even know what you can do with that, do you?” [54:54]
• Expect a Truth Teller power-up arc for Azriel, possibly intertwined with Ramiel’s secrets.

c. Rhys & Starborn Lineage

• Rhys and his lost sister are both likely descendants of Selene, keying them as Starborn heirs.

[78:01] Lexi:

“She looks like Rhysand’s sister.”

• Expect major family tree reveals and the lineage’s importance to Prythian’s future.

d. Emotional Beats—Nesta & Ember (Bryce’s Mom)

• Ember provides crucial, maternal support to Nesta, a core moment of character healing.
• [73:52] Nicole:

“Ember sees a brave girl who helped her own daughter save the world. In Ember’s words, ‘You’ll find your way.’ This lands a punch to Nesta.”

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6. Predictions: What Crescent City Means for ACOTAR 6+

[95:38] Nicole:

“We now have another Made sword thrown into the mix. I don’t think we’ve seen the end of that conversation, especially with Guidian back.”

• Expect the Dusk Court’s resurrection, Supreme Starborn Fae lore, and a major role for Nesta, possibly as the new Dusk Court ruler.
• The three sacred mountains and the secret power pockets beneath them will almost certainly be a major plot engine.
• The link between Mist, ley lines, worldwalking, and thin places will play a critical role; watch for more ACOTAR world portals.
• Azriel’s arc will likely center on understanding Truth Teller’s true power and the Illyrian connection to ancient magic.
• Cassian and Nesta may fulfill the bargain-destined “new age” foretold by the eight-pointed star motif.

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7. Theories, Family Trees, & Loose Ends

• The Archeron sisters (especially after being made in the Cauldron) might be distant descendants of the Starborn line, per bone carver prophecy and hints.
• “Truth Teller” and “Guidian”: the twin blades’ reunion represents a prophecy of Starborn people’s return.
• The Book of Breathings appears in Crescent City; how it jumps from ACOTAR’s world to Midgard is a mystery.
• Amren may have been one of the Asteri’s original angelic creations, per seraphim angel/fire dragon theory.
• The fate and future significance of the Mask, Horn, and Crown are still wide open.

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8. Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SJM’s audacity:
  “It was bold of SJM to do a series crossover of this magnitude.” – Nicole [10:05]

• On the wild power circulating in ACOTAR:
  “The mother is screaming at you to take this [Guidian] and become High King. I don’t think he’s gonna do it though.” – Nicole [96:09]

• Fun Bants:

  • “Can you imagine Azriel just like in his room at night at the House of Wind, being like, I will remember you… I just feel so bad for him.” – Emery [60:27]
  • “Nesta Archeron is officially in her auntie era, and I love this for her. From one auntie to another. It’s the best.” – Emery [80:22]

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9. Key Timestamps/Sections

• Spoiler Warning & Introduction: [03:41–05:35]
• Cross-World History & Selene Download: [14:13–36:16]
• Prison/Dusk Court Deep Dive: [34:10–36:16]
• Weaponry Origins & Prophecies: [54:23–61:53]
• Character Impact & Relationships: [68:21–74:04]
• Family Trees & Archeron Connections: [101:37–103:55]
• Magic Mechanisms (Mist, Mountains, Thin Places): [96:36–99:02]
• Theory Spiraling/Major Predictions: [101:30–103:49]

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10. Takeaways & Final Thoughts

• The events and lore from Crescent City 3 are not optional reading for ACOTAR 6; they are fundamental to understanding the next arc—especially regarding the Dusk Court/prison, the fate of magical weaponry, the starborn bloodline, and Nesta’s possible destiny.
• Every major magical item, sacred location, and family lineage is now up for reinterpretation under the lens of this crossover.
• Expect Nesta, Azriel, and Cassian to take center stage as the mystery of the Dusk Court and Starborn power unfolds.

[Final Moment, 113:51]: Nicole:

“Don’t forget to share this episode with your fellow Mass Verse friends. If your friend refuses to read Crescent City but you’re like you need to know this—this is a great episode to send their way.”

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11. For Further Reference

• See previous and upcoming episodes for deep dives, bonus chapters, theory breakdowns, and Mass Verse tie-ins.
• Upcoming episode: “Mass Verse Madness Compilation” on August 17th.

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This summary skips intros, outros, advertisements, and sponsor breaks, focusing on lore, character, plot, and speculation—just as the Fangirls would want!

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Transcript

[Dani Pellegrino]

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[Lexi]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

has been really a game changer for me recently. I have been learning how to be a lot more present in my life outside of work, my family, especially with my husband. And it's really helping me also identify my own triggers when I can get very defensive. And it's just helping me become more aware of myself and identifying all these aspects that, you know, just kind of feel tangled up in your day to day and make me do things or feel things that I might not always want to do or feel. And it's really helping me rewire my narratives, be a better wife and mother and business partner too. And it's just been really, really, really, really helpful.

[Emery]

I don't More I can track that home, see the reviews, see what stands

[Nicole]

out, and see if better help is right for you. Visit betterhelp.com FFG that's better. HP.com FFG. Welcome, welcome welcome to the Fantasy Fangirls podcast where two sisters dive deep, deep into beloved fantasy lore, character themes, theories and more.

[Lexi]

I'm Lexi, older sister and fantasy lore nerd.

[Nicole]

And I'm Nicole, younger sister and romantic at heart.

[Lexi]

And today's highly anticipated episode is everything you need to know from Sarah J. Maas, Crescent City Universe for the upcoming ACOTAR 6 book.

[Nicole]

Yes, there is a lot of lore

[Emery]

from another series that will be pretty

[Nicole]

vital, we're assuming, for the next Acotar

[Emery]

book, hence this episode.

[Lexi]

Please listen closely to our spoiler warning. This episode contains whole series spoilers for both Acotar and Crescent City. Most of the Crescent City information we are here to share is from book three, including toward the end. So one more time spoilers for all five Acotar books and three Crescent City books. This episode, however, does not include Throne of Glass spoilers. While there are theories on potential crossovers for Throne of Glass and Acotar, it is not even close to the Parthian lore and history we learn in House of Flame and Shadow. So we are not worrying about Throne of Glass today, focusing on Acotar and Crescent City.

[Nicole]

So if you are still listening to this, you probably fall in one of two camps. One, you've read all of Acotar and Crescent City and you know, you just need a little refresher on, you know, like a Celine download, among other things. Or two, you have not and are not planning on reading Crescent City 3 before reading ACOTAR 6 and you want

[Emery]

to know what the heck is going on. Great.

[Nicole]

If you are in either of these two categories then this episode is for you. But if you are in Camp 2, which means you have not read Crescent city, specifically Crescent City 3.

[Emery]

You do not get to come at us in the comments for Crescent City. Spoilers. You know what you're getting yourself into next.

[Lexi]

We at Fantasy Fangirls are adults who say adult things about adult books. In other words, friends, this podcast is rated rich.

[Nicole]

This may be a lore in history and theories heavy episode, but worry not, we're still talking about a daddy, so please be mindful of those little listening ears.

[Lexi]

Also, please be sure to check out our other two podcasts in the Fantasy Fangirls Media Network. Fantasy Fan Fellas is hosted by our executive producer Hayden and Booktok star Steven Walker as they wrap up their coverage of the Mistborn Trilogy and get ready for Dungeon Crawler Carl. It is gonna be so so chaotic in the best way.

[Emery]

I cannot wait to hear Wonderwall on loop for basically six months straight. I'm so excited.

[Nicole]

And we've got Fantasy Fan Reads hosted by the delightful Jess of Lost Book suggests that is all about the joys of reading with author interviews, cozy coffee, conversations and so much more. Give both of these FFG Media Network shows. A follow link is in the show notes.

[Lexi]

Additionally, we would love to see you

[Nicole]

at upcoming live events like our ACOTAR 6 and 7 midnight release parties with Tattered Cover and booking gather in Denver, Colorado. Really quick note, tickets for these are going bye bye real fast fast. If you want to come, I recommend getting those tickets on the sooner side.

[Lexi]

And then we also of course have our live show coming up in September starting in Chicago on September 9, Charlotte, North Carolina on September 24 and New York City on September 27.

[Nicole]

Links to all of these events and more like Romanecy, Bookcon and landcon in Scotland are in the show notes and on our website. Check it out for all the details.

[Lexi]

Last thing before we jump into this everything you need to know from Crescent City for ACOTAR 6 episode. If you love Fantasy Fangirls and want more events, more content, more community and so much more talk all the theories with everybody else, please check out Fantasy Fan Club.

[Nicole]

We have six tiers that you can join, three of which are Fantasy Fangirls specific. These tiers include access to our Boppin Discord, which is full of people who

[Emery]

are talking about Acotar Prep.

[Nicole]

Yes, live Q&As from Lexi and I. Monthly book club like this month is Daggermouth by H.M. wolf, one of Lexi and I's favorite reads of the year, early access to Ad free episodes, welcome gifts and so much more.

[Lexi]

Learn more and join the [e-mail] fanclub the link is also in the show notes and free. Friends, really and truly, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us as we have turned this podcast into a media network, into a dream come true. It is all because of you and we appreciate you so, so much.

[Nicole]

And now it's time to take our big wingspans and fly back to Prythian.

[Emery]

I miss this world.

[Lexi]

So if you've read the Crescent City series, you know why this crossover episode is necessary. And if you have not read the Crescent City series and you are here for all the details, please please do know that the Acotar information we are sharing is so much more than context clues and Easter eggs from Crescent City. It's more like the Crescent City FMC suggests to the Acotar FMC to learn more about something that we assume will be a major plot point in the next Acotar books. And if you're listening to this and you're like, wait, what? It's that kind of crossover, yes, buckle up. The very high level overview of how and why there is crossover among these Sarah J. Maas series is that around 15,000 years ago, Asteri who are these immortal godlike creatures who feed off of magic? They were defeated by the fae on the Acotar world where the Asteri were known as the Daglan. The Asteri Slash Daglan arrived on Midgard, which is the Crescent City world, and began to lure other races from different worlds as a means to feed off of them. Remember, they need to feed off of the magic. This included the fae from the Akatar world, shifters from the Throne of Glass World, and other magical species. The Asteris propaganda is that they are liberators and enlighteners. According to them, the Asteri chose Midgard as the world to begin creating a perfect empire. But what none of these species knew on this world of Midgard is that the Asteri put parasites in the water to weaken everyone else's magic. Which is why the fae and shifters in the Crescent City world are so much less powerful than those in Acotar and Throne of Glass. The main character in Crescent City, Bryce, is fighting against the Asteri and she uncovers all of these truths, including accidentally traveling to her Fae people's original world, Acotar and interacting with our characters. That is what today's episode is focusing on. And then she ultimately comes back to Midgard and defeats the Asteri for good, liberating the people of her world.

[Nicole]

I'll go ahead and call out the elephant in the room. It was bold of SJM to do a series crossover of this magnitude. Bryce is in Prythian. She is interacting with Rhys, Nesta, Azriel, all of these people. And to see so many of our favorite Acotar characters have these conversations with another character. We love Bryce. It is really exciting. And I don't think any of us were expecting, quite simply, the level of Prythian lore and Easter eggs that we received in House of Flame and Shadow Crescent City 3. Now, I do wonder, like many people, how the hell is SJM going to catch us up in the ACOTAR book 6, 7 and 8 on what we learned in Hofast? In case people didn't read it, I do believe she's going to have some level of holding our hand, walking us through the important details and like. So everyone has a general idea of what's going on, but quite frankly, we are not a general idea of what's going on podcast. So hence this episode where we are going to walk through the important crossover lore. We learn about the prison specifically, and how it used to be an eighth court in Prythian, which we strongly believe will be a major plot point for ACOTAR 6, 7 and 8.

[Emery]

Like the dust court, the eight pointed

[Lexi]

star, the Starboard family line.

[Emery]

I cannot wait to talk about the Starboard family line today. Oh, my gosh.

[Nicole]

We'll also discuss important magical items that

[Emery]

have crossed over between worlds, literally. Bryson takes items from the Acotar world, brings it to Midgard, and then brings them back.

[Nicole]

And of course, where they end up by the end of Hofast, and where we assume they will pick up at Acotar 6. Because I think we're both in agreement, Acotar 6, 7 and 8 are all going to happen after Bryce has left Prythian. Because I don't know how there would be a story if it was start if it happened before everything went down with Bryce in Prythian. Yes, yes.

[Emery]

Absolutely.

[Nicole]

Yes. Because it does seem like our characters are pretty much at the same place roughly since the end of the year. Silver Flame. So in order for us to have a story. Yeah, yeah.

[Lexi]

Okay.

[Nicole]

Yeah. We're also going to discuss important insights to characters like Asriel, Nesta and Rhys that we learn from the Crescent City books. Even the ones we learn in bonus chapters. Especially the ones we learn in bonus chapters. And of course, rounding this out, any lingering Crescent City lore that could bleed into the Acotar universe because of Easter eggs we've received in the past.

[Emery]

So in prep for this episode, I was doing a lot, a lot of

[Nicole]

immersive reading because Celine download.

[Emery]

What else do I need to say? Celine download, period. Yep, me too. And it only feels right that this

[Nicole]

part of the episode is in partnership with jbl. In case you're new here, Lexi and I both have JBL live headphones.

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Ooh.

[Lexi]

Ah.

[Nicole]

With noise canceling, it's literally the only

[Emery]

way I listen to audiobooks now because A, I've gotten way too used to the comfort, and B, any other noise canceling headphone options are just sad in comparison. They don't hold a candle.

[Lexi]

So I and see, mine are green and that makes me happy.

[Emery]

They are green and I think, is it Jess who has some blue ones, I believe.

[Lexi]

Yes, yes. Jess has the blue ones. Oh, they're beautiful.

[Emery]

And when you're listening to celine, drop just 10 chapters of Mad hot lore. Quite frankly, I feel like I need noise canceling in order to understand anything. I can't have anyone talking to me.

[Nicole]

And I needed to go a step further, further with immersive reading for this episode. So we've talked about immersive reading a few times on this podcast, but in case you don't know what that means, it's when you're both listening to an audiobook with your ear balls and your eyeballs are reading the book and it's happening at the same time. This is normally how we read new books that were, you know, like reading at a midnight release or reading before doing a deep dive episode. Normally if we're doing an episode like this where it's, you know, the, the, the everything you need to know style. I just listened to the book that

[Emery]

didn' happen because the downloads in this freaking novel.

[Nicole]

So you've heard us talk about Seline download this, Seline download that. But what the flip and flip is the Seline download? Let's set the scene because this is a blur. When you're listening to House of Flame and Shadow for the first time. Bryce, Nesta and Azriel are all traveling through tunnels under the mountains of Prythian, guided by an eight pointed star on Bryce's chest. This is the sign of the Starborn Fae and it was glowing when she

[Emery]

was going the right way.

[Nicole]

It was basically a compass for her. And they are brought to a cavern at the bottom of the prison we know and love in the Night Court. We've been to this prison multiple times for the bone carver, which.

[Emery]

Goodness, talk about immersive reading. Every episode with the bone carver was Such a dude. See for us during our Acotar coverage.

[Nicole]

But we also see this prison in a court of silver flames when Nesta and Cassian go and come across a harp in a giant room with constellations and an eight pointed star on the floor.

[Emery]

Honestly, a really good game this episode

[Nicole]

is how many times we say eight pointed star.

[Emery]

That would be really fun.

[Nicole]

In House of Flame and Shadow, when Nesta, Azriel and Bryce enter this room with this, you know, giant star, all the constellations, these constellations ring a ding ding. Some familiarity for Bryce because it is an exact replica of the night sky from her world in Crescent City. So someone had to go to the Crescent City world and come back to Prythian to carve those stars. Oh boy, isn't that the truth? And then, just as Bryce steps on that big eight pointed star on the ground, it lights up the cavern and. And a hologram looking figure appears. A fey woman with dark hair who looks just like Reese's sister. Yes, we will be talking about it, but this woman is Celine. And almost mechanically, Celine just starts to absolute lore. Dump some mad hot history. And we will be going beat by beat through it in just a moment. But that's how we get to Celine. So thank you JBL for sponsoring this episode. Find your [e-mail] all right, big sis, are you ready?

[Lexi]

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Emery]

Here we go.

[Nicole]

Let's walk through the history of Prythian that we learn from the Selene download in Crescent City 3.

[Lexi]

Long before the world of Perithean as we know it. Like around 20,000 years ago, the world was ruled by ancient all powerful immortal beings who fed on the power of others and they were known as the Daglan. We've learned a little bit about the Daglan in the later Acotar books, but it is in Crescent City that we uncover exactly who the Daglan are and their history on this Acotar World. They came to Parthian and ruled for 5,000 years, enslaving the faeries and the humans of this world. While the Daglan ruled over the Fae, the Fae ruled over the humans and the lands the Daglan allowed them to govern. Any attempt at rebellion was quashed before forces could be rallied as the Daglan. They were just too powerful. Generations of Fae tried and failed. This Acotar World is rich in magic and it is prime. For the Daglan to thrive, the Fae were required to make a tithe to the Daglan once a year to offer up kernels of their power in tribute to their true masters. Their magic was fueling the Daglan's own power and it limited the fae's power. However, the nature of offering up a small part of one's power meant that the fae had to consent to the tithe. The Daglan were petty and cruel, and they delighted in terrorizing those under their control. During their reign, they liked to keep the fae in line with something called the Wild Hunt. For the Wild Hunt, the Daglan would gather a host of their fiercest, most merciless warriors like Lanthus, who Nesta and Cassian fought in the prison in Silver flames. And the Daglan granted their minions for free reign to kill, kill, kill as they pleased. They possessed mighty, monstrous beasts. Hounds that they used to run prey to the ground before they tortured and killed them. In fact, as we learned from Nesta's vision in Silver flames, these hounds looked like the huge black scaled beasts carved into the Hewn City's pillars and gates. I'm not entirely sure, but I think the beasts Bryce gets passed far beneath the Hewn City are a version of this ancient hound. And these beasts are very docile with Bryce, which I think think is because of her being starborn.

[Nicole]

Over the millennia, the Daglan became arrogant in their unending domination of the Acotar world. And their overconfidence blinded them to the forces like none other that were gathering in secret. Led by Thea, who is Selene's. Remember, the person, the hologram. Who's saying all this? Selene's mother, Thea was a director, slave to one of the Daglan. She used her connection to that Daglan to study the Dread Trove.

[Emery]

Four?

[Nicole]

Yes. Four evil instruments of power that the Daglin created using the Cauldron. And Theia eventually stole right out from under their nose. This is the Dread Trove that we spend a lot of time with in Silver flames. But note that we only see three items in silver flames, not four. Theia did not work alone here. She also worked with her lover, Fion. And the two knew that while having the Dread Trove was mighty helpful, they needed the Daglan's most powerful weapon, the Cauldron, which was located at the base of Ramiel, the sacred mountain that the Illyrian Rite is on. Long, long ago. When the Daglan arrived in this world of Prythian, they took the Cauldron which was made in this world. And of that Fae heritage we learn in ACOTAR1, it's the mother who Pours the Cauldron and basically, basically makes the world, the Daglan, take over the Cauldron and turn it from a power of creation into a tool of destruction. They essentially turn it into a kill switch for the world of Acotar. If the Cauldron ceases to exist, so would this world. We learned that in the battle in Acowar. So Fion, using the cauldron, created made objects, notably the Star Sword, or as we in Acotar know it as the Lost sword, Gwydian. This is in silver flames when all of Gwydian is being talked about. Fion's right hand, Annalius, the first Illyrian, also made truth teller. This is Azriel in our current timeline's emotional support Dagger, as I call it. Using Gwydian and the dread Trove, Theia and their allies defeated the Daglan Woohoo. And unknowingly sent them into another world.

[Emery]

They gloss over that very quickly, and

[Nicole]

I think that's notable for us. But it is also very important to note the Asteri Daglan on the Crescent City world, they want to go back to Prythian, or I should say wanted, because they're dead now, but we know that there's more of them out there in the world. They wanted to go back to Prythian and reconquer it. They believe that Prythian is rightfully theirs. They're pissed they got booted off another planet, literally. They have an entire secret archives devoted to Prythian. This is in their Midgard base. And as Bryce says, this world, the Acotar world, remained the Asteri Daglan's focus because they know how to hold a grudge. And they don't like getting kicked out of prime magical land going back to Fion and Theia. Fion and Thea, they kicked the Daglan off the Alcator world.

[Drew O Fualo]

Huzzah.

[Nicole]

So they became high king and queen. They are also the first and only high king and queen of this land. But Theia claimed the island that we now know as the prison for herself, believing that land is, like, rightfully hers, since she served so long on it well.

[Lexi]

And Thea believed that she and her heirs were worthy of tending this special island. It's where Thea once served as a slave to a Daglan female named Vesperus, who chose this particular domain, this island, for its natural defensive location and for its mists. But more on this island soon. So let's talk more about this High King Theon and his queen Theia. In the Acotar series, we have seen Theon mentioned on the page, but his queen is never mentioned by name, except she is very well known in the Crescent City world as among the first Fae who entered Midgard. Back in Pertheon, we know that Theon and Theia spearheaded the defeat of the Daglan by using their own weapons against them. The dread trove that Theia stole from the Daglan and the Gwydeen sword made from the cauldron. With the Daglan gone and no more tithe to siphon off their powers to evil overlords, magic strengthened across the land and its people. People? Yes, including this island that they had claimed. It grew into, quote, dusk.

[Nicole]

Twilight.

[Lexi]

That's what the island was in its long buried heart. This power of dusk is what Thea's power blossomed into. And she nurtured and cared for this land, its magic, and the Dust Court it became. Eventually, High King Theon and Thea were blessed with two daughters only five years apart. Fion was beginning to fade, being centuries older than Thea, who was still in her prime. But Fion didn't think that his queen was a worthy successor. So he announced that his firstborn daughter, Helaena, was to take over the throne after he passed, therefore letting a new generation take over and lead. But this pissed off the Queen Theia and many others in her court, including her general, Pelias. Together they schemed behind the king's back to take the throne. So one day, the royals were hunting, as they often did back in the bog, located in the middle of Perithean, which used to be where the Daglan had their private game park park crafted of terrible monsters. High King Theon met his end when a creature, which I think is a Kelpie, dragged him into the inky depths of the bog, all while Thea and Peleus stood by and watched. Interestingly, this bog was blooming and lush with life. But as soon as the king was betrayed and killed, the land started dying. And its very essence is now death and decay. That is how we know the Bog of Urid in silver Flames when they do visit there. It was in this eerie Bog of Urid that Nesta fought the Kelpie and retrieved the mask from Selene's download. And what we know from the scene in Silver Flames, I will say two things are a little unclear. Number one, if the thousands of dead soldiers in the water that Nesta notes were also casualties during this betrayal that took down the king, doesn't seem like it from Celine's telling. Plus Nesta also thinks about how some of the dead aren't High Fae, so a little bit of a question mark next to all that. And number two, how the mask found its way back to the Bog Steps. Since Thea will possess the Dread Trove, including the mask, after this incident, I'm assuming that she goes back and like, hides it there or something along those lines. What we do know is that after High King Theon went beneath the water, his maidsword, Gwydian, AKA the Star Sword, and its twin dagger, Truth Teller, came back up from the water and right into Thea's hands. After all, since she helped make the blades, they answered to her power. Plus, she has the whole Dread Trove now, so she ruled with unchecked power. For a short time. Theia's daughters, Helena and Selene, grew older, coming into their power of shadow and starlight. And they were educated by their mother. They were taught that even though the Daglan had been vanquished, evil lived on and lurked beneath their feet. Little did Selene know that her mother meant this literally, because Theia kept her old Daglan master trapped far under the Dust Court as a worse punishment than death. Neither daughter was interested in ruling after their parents. But Theia wanted more for her daughters. Wanted them to both be rulers of their own worlds. Because that's what Theia's legacy deserved. Ruling other worlds, you say? Ah, yes. Theia knew this was possible from hearing the Daglan talk about other worlds they had conquered. Specifically, she understood she could wield the horn and the harp to open a door to other worlds. So Theia gathered a force of Fae in her land who agreed with this new vision. Plus some of the fire wielders from the south. Which are the Fae of the Autumn Court. Her High General Pelias knew of a world that the Daglan had their eye on. A blank slate with plenty of opportunity and resources. Little did Theia know Pelias was manipulating her, luring her to this new world where he could overthrow her and all of her power with, aha. The help of the Daglan. Because while Theia was ruling these past years, Pelias learned ancient summoning magic to find the remaining Daglan. And he succeeded, convincing Theia to bring her people to Midgard, where the Daglan Aseri now were. As bad, bad bad as this trap is, Theia did do one thing right. She was paranoid enough to hide the horn and the harp in a pocket of nothingness. That access you Know how Rhys hides the Winter Solstice gifts in a pocket of nothing? Exactly. Same concept, but with way higher stakes. Pelias, of course, knew of the Dread Trove's existence, and he told the Daglan. And they were all determined to figure out where Thea hid these powerful magical objects.

[Nicole]

So Theia was eventually convinced by Pelias, and they crossed into Midgard through something called the Northern Rift. The Northern Rift sits at something called a ley line, which is basically a weak point in the A veil of travel. We'll go over ley lines because they have direct links to mists. More later. So with Paleus, her two daughters, and anyone from the Acotar World who wanted to, you know, venture to the New World, they traveled to Midgard to colonize. She left that gate open in the Northern Rift for anyone in the Acotar World to come through if they, you know, change their mind later. And who greeted our crew when they walked through through this Northern Rift? A disguised Daglan, who looked just like a Fae boy. We know him in the Crescent City world as Rigelus. He was their little welcome crew, saying hello. We're so happy you're here. I'm not a Daglan. What are you talking about? There were others on this planet too, though. Midgard contained species from other worlds that had been lured to Midgard to be prime sustenance for the Asteri Daglan, as well as a vast human civilization that Theia, Pelias and their armies enslaved.

[Emery]

Bad, Theia, bad.

[Nicole]

After some time, Theia realized just how messed up and how bad she's been duped by Peleus and thus the Daglan.

[Emery]

We're going to skip over a lot

[Nicole]

of the Midgard side of the history and how Hel enters the picture and how all of that went down with their war. Jumping now to Theia's unsuccessful uprising against the Asteri Daglan and the brutal war that followed. One night, many years later, when all hope was lost in their uprising, Theia finally handed Helaena one of the Dread Trove items. The horn. This is one we have not seen in the Acotar World. She gave Selene the harp and Truth Teller two items that we are very familiar with in the Acotar World. Then Theia split her Star Power, that Starborn power, to her two daughters, using the harp. These are basically like shimmering giant hanging balls of light that then drifted to Helaena and Selene and then back, back to Theia. So all three of them have this Starborn power. Thea told her daughters to get the out of this world and seal the portal behind them. Basically, go back to Prythian. Go save yourselves. A crowd of fate trying to escape Midgard. And, you know, the enemies here tried to also follow Helaena and Selene. They raced toward the portal with them because they're like, this world sucks. We hate this. We are done with war. Please let us back in.

[Lexi]

We want to go home.

[Emery]

We want to go home. I want to go home.

[Nicole]

But ultimately.

[Emery]

Oh, God.

[Nicole]

Only Selene with the harp and truth teller made it back to Prythian. Helaena stayed behind to give her sister the best chance of leaving. Meaning the horn. The lost Dread Trove item stayed behind in Midgard. When Selene closed the gates, she closed it on hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people begging to come back to Prythian with her. This is why, in a court of silver flames, Nesta hears the sounds of people begging and banging to come in when she visits the prison room with the eight pointed star. It was the echo of the event of 15,000 years ago, when Selene did what she did and traveled back and

[Emery]

sealed the portal between the worlds, locking

[Nicole]

out and killing a bunch of people in the process. And they even say, like, we have children.

[Emery]

We have children.

[Nicole]

And she was like.

[Emery]

Like, end zoom call.

[Nicole]

Goodbye. God, Selene, you suck.

[Lexi]

Back on Midgard, it's important to know what ended up happening with the horn and Guidian slash the Star Sword that stayed in this world. Pelias killed Theia and took the Star Sword from her for himself. Then the Asteri ordered Pelias, who is obviously their minion, to use the horn to close the Northern Rift Portal. But the horn broke before he could close it entirely on Hell. Hell was another world that fought and went against the Asteri, and they were helping Thea and the fae fight against the Asteri using this portal between worlds. Then the Asteri ordered Pelias, who was obviously their minion, to use the horn to close the Northern Rift Portal, but the horn broke in the process. The fae and Asteri tried to renew the horn through magic and spells, but no luck. It was then given a place of honor in the Asteri archives before it was transferred to Lunatheon in Luna's temple after the city's establishment. Right before Crescent City opens in book one, Danika stole the horn, ground it up into powder, and had it tattooed to break Bryce Quinlan's back with witch ink.

[Emery]

This made me, what a best friend. What a best Friend, let me just tattoo a Dread Trove item to your back in a language you don't know because you're too drunk to figure it out. And that's my little send off gift before I die.

[Lexi]

So this ground up horn in a tattoo made Bryce unknowingly the bearer of the horn. And since she is starborn Fae with the innate power to wield the Dread Trove, she is the only one who can wield the horn that is now literally tattooed on her. That is the fate of the horn. The fourth Dread Trove item that was lost to history in the Acotar world.

[Nicole]

Correct me if I'm wrong, we both think is probably going to be talked about in new Acotar books. Because they now know that Bryce who

[Emery]

came and gone from this world.

[Nicole]

They know that she is the fourth Dread Trove item with its correct.

[Emery]

Yes. Yeah.

[Lexi]

But it is not in Pertheon because it is literally on Bryce. And she went back to Midgard to go live her best life.

[Emery]

Once yeah is done. She has been enough back to Selene.

[Nicole]

When she returned their home. The island. What we now know as the prison. But she knew as the Dust Court had been left empty since they vanished. The other Fae of Prythian thought it was cursed. After the Dusk Fae left.

[Emery]

I don't blame them.

[Nicole]

So Selene decided to make it truly cursed. She sealed off the beautiful palace that it used to be and left only dungeons. I just realized. Do you think we're going to like break down walls unless we enter a palace room next book? Yes, absolutely. Big same. Despite her best efforts, there was a terrible and powerful magic that hung in the air around the island. We'll get to that in a moment. So Selene rounded up monsters and pets of the Daglan and trapped them in the dungeons. Creating what we now know as the prison quote. Even the lands were so disgusted by the evil she'd gathered that the islands shriveled and the earth became barren.

[Lexi]

It's important to note that the reason there was this terrible ancient power that lingered and prompted Selene to truly make it a prison for monsters was because unbeknownst to her, her mother had kept her old Daglan master trapped down here. So we also know that she's dead now. So that power that originated is no longer here. Although of course it still is a prison.

[Nicole]

Well. And the Daglin kept these power wells under every sacred mountain in Prythian. And the prison is one of those sacred mountains.

[Emery]

But we're getting ahead of myself. Back to the history lesson.

[Nicole]

Along with these monsters, Selene hid the Harp, one of the dread trove items, deep within the Dusk Court Palace. And she left her big hologram download that we see in Crescent City three after Selene returned. Turns, we learned that this is when Pripyan had split into seven territories. Or I should say they split into seven territories during the time that Selene and everyone was over on Midgard, one of which was the Night Court, which we now know. Selene got very familiar with that given court because she wed the High Lord

[Emery]

of the Night Court.

[Nicole]

Though she was offered to be his High lady, she did turn that rule down. She didn't want any power after seeing what it did to her mother. But we do know that this is actually an abnormal thing that Celine did. Most other High Lords had their mates as High lady, so just another little

[Emery]

fuck you to Tamlin. And there's no such thing as a High Lady. After Celine and her mate had their

[Nicole]

firstborn son, Selene brought that son to the prison to key his blood into the wards so he could access it. This is why the Night Court High Lord or or as we see, Rhysand, has legislation over the prison. But, and I quote, no one knew that the infant who sometimes glowed with starlight had inherited it from me. That it was the light of the evening star, the Dusk Star.

[Emery]

This is very important and we will be talking about it a lot later

[Nicole]

when we get to the family tree. I covered in goosebumps right now. Celine's story ends with her admitting that she buried this history, hoping that her son would eventually share it with his children and basically have it be passed down as the Night Court secret family history. But that didn't really happen because to Azriel's knowledge, who he is present during the Selene download, along with Nesta and Bryce. Azriel's like, Rhys has no idea about any of this.

[Emery]

Whew.

[Nicole]

Okay. That's all we learned from Selene.

[Emery]

Just those tiny little details about Prythian in Crescent City that we just learned

[Nicole]

in a whole other series. I'm going to be fascinated of how Sarah J. Maas ties this into ACOTAR 6, how she catches us up.

[Emery]

But we're not done with Crescent City crossovers.

[Nicole]

Not even close.

[Emery]

There's a lot more lore that we learn in this Crescent City series for Acotar.

[Nicole]

But first, a quick word from our sponsors.

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Emery]

Oh, that stress hormone. I'm not familiar with it, not in the slightest. I'm looking at you, my function report.

[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

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[Nicole]

And you know those little details of website design, like, oh, I don't know, coding, Those are. Daunting's not even the right word. Those are a literal other language to me. But Squarespace delivers in every way, making those really daunting aspects a whole lot simpler and more accessible. One thing I love is their integrated Squarespace SEO tools. Every website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated site map and more. What that means is you show up more often on search engines and bring in more of your ideal customers.

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[Nicole]

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[Lexi]

everything we just discussed catches us up with the history books. So now let's dive into highlights we get while Bryce is in the Acotar world and interacting with characters like Nesta, Azrael, Amren and Rhys. When Bryce is in Pertheon, she eats this language translating bean and all the magic within it makes her burst into light and the tattoo on her back lights up as well. The tattoo that was inked with a ground up horn making the tattoo and Bryce's fourth dread Trove object. Amren recognizes these glowing letters as the same language of the Book of Breathings. Remember what we learned about the Book of Breathings in A Court of Mist and Fury, Two halves of A whole to wield the power of the Cauldron. The Book of Breathings is written in the Holy Tongue, also known as Lashan Hakodesh, which according to legend, this holy tongue is quote the tongue of mighty beings who feared the Cauldron's power and made the book to combat it. AKA we believe that this is the language of the Daglin. However, there are some really cool fan theories out there that this is actually the language of the universe and not any one race.

[Nicole]

I just realized that I don't think it's ever talked about out that Bryce has the language of the Daglan's Assastairi

[Emery]

tattooed on her back and how up that must feel like that's the language of people who made you parasitic. Like I feel like that would be. I mean, I guess she has more important things to do.

[Nicole]

But it is notable that Amren yet again is the expert on this Daglan slash Asteri assumed language. More on her connection and these powerful pairs of sites later.

[Lexi]

The fact that Bryce, this half Fae who just arrived from another world, has the language of the Acotar world's ancient enemies tattooed on her back makes her very suspicious to the characters we know and love in Acotar. There's a very tentative trust between Bryce and the Acotar characters throughout all their encounters. Nesta is also able to tell that the tattoo is made, as we all know, like calls to like and Nesta is quite curious about this Bryce person. More on how this all applies to Nesta later in the episode. Bryce winnows from a dungeon cell in the Hewn City to the tunnels beneath, and her eight pointed star on her chest signifying her as Starborn Fae, lights the way through the tunnels. The star literally leads her and her companions Nesta and Azriel to the chamber under the prison and to Selene's records to this hologram. Because Selene is Bryce's ancestor, so her bloodline's Starborn power is guiding the way.

[Nicole]

So I'm gonna skip over the major plot point of Bryce being in Prythian

[Emery]

of the Selene download, because we just

[Nicole]

went through that entire history and all of the things. Let's move into the aftermath right after we get this Celine download because our

[Emery]

characters Nesta, Bryce and Azriel have no time to digest the history lesson they

[Nicole]

just got before turning on each other. Bryce has the power to open worlds

[Emery]

tattooed on her back and she's trying

[Nicole]

to get back home to Midgard, where the Asteri want to come back to Prythian to seek revenge. If she goes back, there's a chance that the Asteri Daglan could take her over, could imprison her, and basically get back into Prythian using the horn. I don't think, by the way, we've seen the last of this concept. Just flagging that. But Bryce, in effort to escape from

[Emery]

Nesta and Azriel, who are like, you're now even bigger of a liability than we thought you were, we're going to take you back to our High Lord. She's like, no.

[Nicole]

So she crumbles the floor of the prison and they all three tumble into a cavern below that room with the eight pointed star on the floor into a cavern with a crystal sarcophagus, which

[Emery]

surprise, has a motherfucking Daglan trapped inside of it. So all this time in Prythian, for 15,000 years beneath the prison, there has been a Daglan just chilling in half slumber starvation. But she's goddamn awake now. So let's meet Vesperus, AKA the Evening Star.

[Lexi]

I also want to flag that Evening Star language again too, because that is very closely tied to the Duskourt and Starborn Fae magic and all of that. So just kind of raising the flag with that right now. And we'll talk more later.

[Nicole]

I love the moment when Bryce is like, I thought that insert other Asteri name here was the Evening Star. And Vesperos is like, what are you talking about, swine?

[Emery]

I am the Evening Star. And Bryce is like, okay, you are. Could be the Evening Star too. Damn so good.

[Nicole]

Vesperus was one of the original Asteri Daglan that left their homeworld way, way long ago and landed in Prythian. During the Daglan's rule of Prythian, Vesperus ruled over this island, the prison, the Dust Court, where she was eventually locked

[Emery]

away by Theia and forgotten about until Asriel, Nesta and Bryce found her.

[Nicole]

Because she's been literally trapped in a crystal sarcophagus. She has not been able to feed off of any power. So she's been basically just like in this not dead state, but not awake state, and in starvation for 15,000 years

[Emery]

until Bryce motherfucking Bryce fucking unlocks the sarcophagus. Who has the first question reaction? So Nicola goes on a whole rant about this. I am furious with this decision. But you know what? But it moves the story forward. We learned some information. I, you know, I would want to

[Lexi]

know some of the answers from Vesperus.

[Emery]

The Crystal Just fine. That's very true, yes. Anyway, with Vesperus now out of the

[Nicole]

crystal sarcophagus, we learn some more lore from her. The Daglan's home planet, the original home planet that they came from, was dying due to wars and overpopulation. So a group of wayfarers, AKA world walkers, left their original home planet and bounced from planet to planet trying to survive. The further they went from their original home planet, the more their powers were dwindling, as the powers of these other worlds were not as strong enough or like a not sustainable sustenance enough for them as it was on their home planet. So when they got to Prythian, they found a way to amplify the power on this planet planet by imbuing the Cauldron with their own magic and then using the Cauldron to make the dread trove. This basically made the planet of Parthian a perfect utopia for them to feed upon. But, and this is very important, they then connected the Cauldron's essence to the soul of this world. Like I mentioned earlier, they made it a kill switch. You destroy the Cauldron, you destroy the world.

[Drew O Fualo]

World.

[Emery]

Luckily, our crew did destroy the Cauldron, but then they immediately put it back together. This was an acowar.

[Nicole]

As Vesperus is lore dumping, she is simultaneously drinking the power from the ground underneath the prison. Because under the sacred mountains of Prythian, the Daglan hid pockets of power for them to on. And the prison is one of these sacred mountains, one of these three sacred mountains. And you know what she says? She says, quote, have you looked beneath every sacred mountain at their very roots?

[Emery]

We've looked at two of them, Vesperus, but there's one missing.

[Nicole]

And we'll talk about that later.

[Emery]

I have a whole thing about all of this.

[Nicole]

Vesperus even says that much of the power they created on this world of Prythian shape, she flags it. It has gone unused. This is a potential plot point. I am so in belief that will come back. There's, like I said, there's three mountains. The prison which we're under right now, it's literally the Dusk Court, the original Dusk Court, the middle mountain, which was where Amarantha ruled for her, you know, 50 years.

[Emery]

And Romiel, guess which one we haven't been under yet.

[Lexi]

In frost and starlight, Cassian notes that Romiel has always felt alive somehow. It's like awake and watchful. And there is a shining black stone jutting from its top. The onyx monolith with an ancient Force that sings in your blood when you touch it, and then it whisks you back to safety and heals you completely. This stone is shrouded in mystery. No one knows how it got to the top of the mountain, but legend says it was around before the Night Court existed, before the Illyrians migrated from the Myrmidon Mountains. Fun fact, that's one of our favorite trivia questions there. This onyx monolith at the top of Romul sure does sound like a mystery from the age of the Dag Raglan 15,000 plus years ago, which we know they kept the cauldron at the base of Romiel Mountain. And we know from Crescent City that first light, this raw, powerful magic, is very good for healing. So I think there is some first light, which is the Crescent City description for this raw magic. I think that is literally within the onyx monolith. Plus, highlighting what Nicole was just saying. Here we get a history lesson from Eris in Silver Flames. There are three sister peaks. Peaks all bald, barren mountains that are at odds with the land and life around them. The sacred mountain in the middle where Amarantha created her court. In the underground palace that, yes, previously was already there with tunnels and halls. She just did the interior design for it. In fact, in book one, Feyre spots carvings of Perthian's history as she's going through these tunnels. I have a feeling that is all from the Daglan Age. Yes, yes. The second sacred mountain is where the prison is that we're talking so much about.

[Emery]

Yes.

[Lexi]

We learn exactly what is beneath this mountain in Crescent City. Three more tunnels and what used to be a palace where Vesperus has been chilling in her sarcophagus. And the third sacred mountain is Romiel, as Eris wonders quote. We don't know why they exist, but do you not find it strange that two out of the three have underground palaces carved into them?

[Emery]

Yes.

[Lexi]

We are very, very, very curious about what is beneath Romiel. I can just feel it in my bones that there are indeed secrets under Romiel.

[Nicole]

Ah, I'm so excited. In the Kostjay, the deathless tale, there is this protagonist named Ivan Snosnovich. Where does he find this little box with Kosjays literal heart? Or like the kill switch to Kosj, the heart of Kosjay.

[Emery]

It's under a sacred mountain.

[Lexi]

I really do think that our characters are going to have to tap into this old Daglan magic that is in these little pockets going underneath Romiel. And that is going to be how they have to defeat Kosh J. Who Nicole and I very much believe he is going to be the big bad Vill villain in the next Acotar books because we still have him on the continent.

[Emery]

We're not even touching any of that in this episode. Okay.

[Nicole]

So I think that in ACOTAR 6 we are going to just get the lead up and then ACOTAR 7 is when we're gonna get the whole like under the mountain and all that stuff. I do wonder who's gonna go on that adventure because I like if I'm leaning into who are the protagonists gonna be.

[Emery]

Okay, this is. This might be far fetched, but this would be delicious if it. It was Azrael, Elain and Lucien and just get it out. Just figure it out under a mountain where it's safe. Do it.

[Lexi]

I do think that Azriel will absolutely be one of those people. He has a lot of feelings about being Illyrian. And I do think that this is going to be his hero's journey about kind of coming to terms with who he is and being an Illyrian. And also, of course, being the possessor of Truth Teller, because Vesper is also Set says, you don't even know what you can do with that, do you? And I think he's going to go on a mission to figure it out.

[Nicole]

I definitely agree. Asriel. What if it's Asriel, Nesta, Gwen and Emery?

[Lexi]

I could definitely.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yes.

[Lexi]

Well, I also think that the way that they're going to get beneath Romiel is when they have to go to the monolith. They have to go to the top and then. Yeah, because it literally takes them to safety. But that can kind of be anywhere. So they could probably channel wherever they want that to go. And it's kind of like the magic of the harp in many ways.

[Emery]

Shoot.

[Lexi]

They could even use the harp to get there.

[Nicole]

They could use the harp.

[Emery]

Yes, Nesta can.

[Nicole]

All right, back to Vesperus.

[Emery]

Vesperus has talked enough.

[Nicole]

She has been drinking the sacred power underneath the prison. And now it's time to kill her. Vesperus is stabbed by Nesta's maid sword, Ataraxia, though it does very little to hurt the Asteri. But when Bright Bryce plunges both Guidian, AKA the Star Sword in Crescent City, and Truth Teller, both made objects directly from the cauldron. These are made by High King Fion, and the other by an alias, the legendary First Delirian. That does seem to weaken Vesperus, though it does not kill her. What does kill her. Nesta's silver fire wrapped around Ataraxia. This asterisk by Vesperus. So what could this interaction mean for ACOTAR 6 through 8? Personally, I don't think there's any more Daglin chilling in limbo on Prythian. I think if there are, Nesta has the silver flame power to kill them.

[Emery]

But I do think that this is

[Nicole]

going to be more tied to Kosche. If he is either a creature made or I'll call it called upon by the Daglan, that same silver fire could work to kill him. The last thing I do want to pull from this encounter with Vesperus. You actually just teased Lex. It's what we learn about Truth Teller from Vesperus. We learned that Truth Teller was Annelius's, the first Illyrian, a race that the Daglin created. The Daglin created the Illyrians. This is huge.

[Emery]

Even. Even Azriel's like, come again? Excuse me.

[Nicole]

Yeah, but Vesperus says in regards to Truth Teller, to Azrael, quote, you don't know how to use it, do you? And those words do seem to mean quite a lot to Asriel. Asriel loves a good challenge and he hates not being in the know. I could absolutely see this staying with him in ACOTAR6 as he tries to figure out what this extra power is. How beautiful would it be that he figures out this power at the birthplace of the blood rite of the Illyrians, of the Monolith, of the Corinthian, all of these things. I think that, that, that would be some really round, round storytelling.

[Lexi]

While we're on the Daglan Asteri, there are some fan concerns about something Bryce does in the Acotar World that could potentially come back into play on Midgard. The Asteri infected all water with a parasite that stifles magic and creates the need for all magical beings to expel a concentrated amount of power called first light in a coming of age ritual called the drop. I will not go into details here. There is too much much. But just know that this parasite impacts every magical being in Midgard. Once you take a sip of water, that's it. You have limited magic until you get the cure. And no one knows about this until Bryce literally finds out about this parasite from the Selene download. Why could this possibly matter for the Acotar World? Because that parasite does not exist on the Acotar World because Bryce has this parasite within her while she is in Pertheon. And while Bryce is In the caves with Nesta and Azriel, it is stated that her still bleeding hands sting at the river's kiss. She's literally laying a trap with her blood and it gets into the water. Some readers are worried that because Bryce has the asterisk parasite in her blood, she is unintentionally infecting Perthian's water supply. With that said parasite, when she bleeds in the underground river, which in theory, all magical beings in Pertheon could now be impacted by this parasite and lose their super powerful magic.

[Sponsor Voice]

Magic.

[Lexi]

I will be honest, personally, I don't think that this will be a consequence and nothing's going to come of it in the Perthian world. There are too many factors about how this parasite could work, how long it would have to take to get to all the water sources. Did Bryce bleed enough? Does it even travel through blood like that? Not to mention technically Selene would have already been infected with it from her time in Midgard and brought it back to Perithean 15,000 years ago.

[Emery]

That's a great point. Yeah.

[Lexi]

So it clearly didn't have a lasting impact on this world. So I just to want, just want to address that because that is definitely a big theory that has been floating around. I could obviously be wrong, but I don't think that's going to have consequences. We have got too much other stuff going on.

[Nicole]

I just think it would be that parasite has already been solved in the Crescent City world. Exactly. It would feel.

[Lexi]

It would be a retail. It would be like the same problem on a different planet. Yeah, yeah.

[Nicole]

I just, I don't. I do not personally see that being an issue. Like you said, we got Koshi to worry about. We got these sacred mountains to worry about.

[Emery]

We got Asriel's mate to worry about.

[Nicole]

There's too much shit to do.

[Emery]

And I. Celine didn't cause issues that I don't think Bryce will. Celine caused issues, just maybe not a parasitic issue.

[Nicole]

At the end of part one of Crescent City 3, Bryce does leave the Prythian world with the star sword in hand with Gwydian in hand taking it back to Midgard.

[Emery]

But she also

[Nicole]

sparkles other ranch and I take side means steals that little

[Emery]

five finger girl, steals Asriel's emotional support dagger. I'm going to go just gloss over the betrayal I felt on his behalf and I'm going to jump to the end where we see all these items and the dread trove, all of that again.

[Nicole]

So before defeating the Asteri, we're jumping

[Emery]

ahead about 300 pages in Crescent Study 3.

[Nicole]

Before defeating the Asteri on the Midgard, Bryce makes a quick pit stop to Prythian. She begs, I mean literally begs, Nesta to give her the mask from the Dread Trove, believing that the mask's power will help her defeat the Asteri. And in exchange, as collateral, Bryce will give Nesta her human mom, Ember, and her human stepfather, Randall. So Nesta knows, with Randal and Ember in hand, that Bryce will bring the Dread Trove mask back. And also, should everything go to shit, her parents will be safe on another world that is at least peaceful. We're going to discuss Ember and Randall and their time in Prythian later, because it is literally one of my favorite parts of this entire book. But reluctantly, Nesta does give Bryce the

[Emery]

mask, although it puts her in some very hot water with our night court peeps. To be honest, I think it's fair if everything went terribly, if, if Bryce got captured, the Daglan Asteri got control

[Nicole]

of the horn and the mask, they would easily be able to take their revenge on Prythian. So Rhys is like, what the Nesta? You might have just put everyone in this world back into slavery for another 15,000 years.

[Emery]

But luckily that didn't happen after defeating

[Nicole]

the Asteri, because she does.

[Emery]

Yay. They're to going gone. They go in a black hole.

[Nicole]

Bryce returns to Prythian and gets her

[Emery]

parents back, who have settled in fabulously, by the way. And Bryce, I would be like, I'm not leaving. I'm sorry. Stay right there. In Britain, Emperor's having the time of her life. Putting Rhys in his place, having tea with Nesta, staring at pretty men.

[Lexi]

Probably reading some books there in the house.

[Emery]

Wind.

[Lexi]

Maybe she's on training.

[Emery]

Actually, we do not know any of that. We don't, but that's just our nice little headcanon.

[Nicole]

In addition to giving back the mask, Bryce also gives back Truth Teller.

[Emery]

Thank God he fucked. Can you imagine Azriel just like in his room at night at the House of Wind, being like, I will remember you. I just feel so bad for him.

[Nicole]

So we have Truth Teller, we have the Mask back in the Prythian world, but we also get Gwydian. Bryce hands over the star Sword. If you remember in Silver Flames, Gwydian is this long missing maid sword from High King Theon.

[Emery]

That sword is now back in Prythian,

[Nicole]

which I think will absolutely come into play in ACOTAR 6 through 8. Who

[Emery]

the hell's gonna get it? Maybe Azriel Asriel and then he'd have

[Lexi]

both the Star Sword and Tartruth Teller. I know Nesta has Ataraxia, but I think it's gonna come back to figuring out how to use that power to wield it. I. I don't know.

[Nicole]

But yeah, I don't think Rhys is going to get it because he does not want these made objects. He's been very clear about that. I don't think Cassian would get it.

[Emery]

I don't know.

[Nicole]

Maybe hiking Fion and his like protection of the world. Maybe see that potentially especially Asriel's gonna be the.

[Drew O Fualo]

The.

[Nicole]

We're assuming the mmc or at least one of them with Lucian as the other one. I could see him getting those two swords as a part of his hero's journey. Kind of like how I don't think Ness is going to trade in Ataraxia because that inner peace. Way too much to her. Yeah. Anyway, I'm very happy for Azriel.

[Emery]

He has his emotional support dagger back. Phew.

[Nicole]

But this also means that the three items of the Dread Trove, the harp, the mask and the crown are all back in Nesta's hands. Though again, the fourth is still tattooed into Bryce and resides on Midgard. We do not have the fourth Dread Trove.

[Lexi]

That was the plot points. Now let's get into the character relations. After Bryce gives back the mask and Truth Teller saying her final farewell to Nesta, she says something that we believe will be a huge plot point for the next Acotar books. Like Nicole mentioned, Bryce also gives Nesta the Star Sword Guidian. So it can be back in the world it came from, reunited with its twin dagger. The age of the Starborn is over on Midgard. But it Bryce then says to Nesta quote, you said you had an eight pointed star tattooed on you and you found the chamber with the eight pointed star in the prison too. I think that eight pointed star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why.

[Emery]

Okay. Let's get ready to rumble.

[Lexi]

So what do we know about this eight pointed star in Crescent City? And more importantly now, what could it mean for the future of Acotar in Crescent City? The eight pointed star is the emblem of the Starborn Fae. The ancient Starborn Fae were among the first Fae who came through the Northern Rift. So this was Queen Theia and her daughters. But Midgard history states that it was Peleus. To be of the Starborn heritage is big time status in Midgard and very very rare. And there is the Ancient ancestral Starborn sword that came from the Fae's original world. Which we know is Gwydian. This star sword belonged to Bryce's brother, Rune Dannon. Until it was revealed that Bryce is the true own owner of the Star Sword with much more powerful Starborn magic. Hence how she came into possession of her ancestor's sword. A white eight pointed star is scarred on Bryce's sternum. And this is where she can feel her power. The magic marked her itself. Quote. When I revealed who I was, what I am to the world, I drew the star out of my chest. It left that scar in its wake like a burn. So this is how Bryce describes how the star came to be on her chest. Chest. And when Bryce is standing on the eight pointed star in Selene's chamber under the prison. This starborn mark and magic trigger the hologram. And that is where we learn all about the original Starborn Fae, Thea and her daughters and their magic in the Dust Court. Leading us to put two and two together. The Dusk Court's emblem was this eight pointed star. The symbol of its original queen and her magic that blossomed with the land. Now let's shift to the significance of the eight pointed star. As we know for the Acotar story up until now. Now when Cassian and Nesta made their bargain on her first day of training, or the first day that she actually trained, the bargain tattoo that appeared on both of their backs was an eight pointed star. The magic of the bargain determined this design. Nesta previously had no known connection to this eight pointed star. Nesta then accidentally scries while listening to the priestess's evening ceremony. And discovers the chamber deep within the prison that hides the harp. With carvings of stars and constellations on the ground. Including a large rendering of the exact same eight pointed star. It's described like a golden sun. The harp lays at the center of this constellation system. And then Nesta thinks how this feels different than Night Court magic. Yes, because right here used to be the eighth court. The Dusk Court. Starborn magic. Quote the hair on the back of her neck stood. She could have sworn the blood in her body reversed.

[Sponsor Voice]

Court.

[Lexi]

She had the creeping feeling she'd been brought here. Not by the cauldron or the mother or the harp. By something vaster. Something that stretched into the stars carved all around them. Okay, there is that. Now I do want to say it is notable that Nesta, when she goes into the prison and goes into this chamber, she does not trigger the hologram like Bryce does with her eight pointed star. So I Just want to make sure that we're all clear on that, that we also have one more Eight Pointed Star reference in Silver Flames. There is a sword move in Illyrian training called the eight Pointed Star. Cassian demonstrates this for Nessa, Gwyn and Emery by drawing four lines in the dirt, all intersecting to form an eight pointed star. He then says, this is your map for striking with a sword. These eight maneuvers, you've learned six of them. You'll learn the other two today and we'll start on the combination prompted by this eight Pointed star maneuver. Nesta says in the scene that they should combine Valkyrie and Illyrian training to create something new. Quote she'd meant it in jest, but the words rumbled through the space as if she'd spoken some great truth, something that made fate sit up. Anybody else have chills right now?

[Emery]

Because I sure do.

[Lexi]

This is just my theory, but I do believe that the eight Pointed Star from Illyrian technique techniques is another hint connecting the past and present with High King Theon and Queen Thea's reign. We know that Illyrians were created by the Daglan, but then they sided with Fion to overthrow the Daglan. Specifically the first and greatest Illyrian warrior of all time, Annalius, who Vesperus calls a traitor. He was the original owner of Truth Teller until he died and Fion held onto the dagger until Theia took it. After he Paredes flourished, Truth Teller answered to Thea's power, being one of the people who made it. And somehow the Starborn magic is wrapped up in this too, because the twin blades of Truth Teller and Guidian together answer to the starborn Fae. And who do we know from the Acotar series is the legendary Illyrian who fought the enemy the Daglan's forces on Romiel Anelius. And what do we know was at the base of Romiel? The Cauldron. So I am convinced that the legend of Nalius derives from his mission to secure the Daglan's greatest weapon, the Cauldron. And when Selene returned to the Acotar world after escaping Midgard with Truth Teller and the harp, that's how it came into the Night Court's possession, eventually making its way to Azrael. So what I'm trying to say here is that Truth Teller has a history of being wielded by the Starborn, whose symbol was the eight Pointed Star Star and being of Illyrian heritage. Hence why I think there is an eight Pointed Star maneuver in Illyrian Training. It's so deeply embedded with the Starborn power and Illyria helping them defeat the Daglin.

[Nicole]

Well, and let's not forget that when Nesta and Cassian made their bargain back in a court of silver flames, he also got an eight point star tattoo.

[Lexi]

And he is the new an alien.

[Nicole]

The new Annalius. Exactly. Maybe he'll get Gweidian.

[Lexi]

He and his brother Azrael could have

[Emery]

the twin flames of Prythian unite. Unite.

[Lexi]

So what I'm trying to say here with this moment for Nesta, I think that this is very notable that this was a big moment for Nesta with fate sitting up. Her connection to the Starborn Fae paired with a leering training to become something new. And I think that is going to be a huge theme of becoming something new and honoring the past as well. And resurrecting the Dust Court.

[Nicole]

We'll keep on talking about this a

[Lexi]

lot more in this episode. Yeah.

[Nicole]

I think no matter what I see the Dust Court being resurrected with all of this eight pointed star. I can't imagine it being anyone but Nesta. But what if this Illyrian tie in is for Cassian to be at her side as this like Illyrian. And I'm bringing the Illyrians into not only the Night Court, but the. The Dust Court as well. I could see him like creating a new thing in the Dust Court if he stays with Nessa and truly decides to move from night to dusk. I do want to also point out from Vesperus's evil villain download, she says, quote, this planet will be long dead before eternity has ended. Its star will expand and eventually devour everything in its path, including this world. She's talking about Brythian. I wonder if this star that expands and expands and eventually destroys everything is symbolism for Nesta. Now, before you're like, Nesta is going to go rogue. Hold on, that's not what I'm saying. Nesta has the power of the Cauldron. She is unlike anything this world has ever seen before. I imagine this level of power. Don't worry, we're talking about her power loss and how it comes back and all that stuff in just a second. But I'm assuming the level of power that she has is going to be a slippery slope for her. We see that actually in Silver Flag claims. We've seen her be fearful of this power level. So I wonder if this, I'm going to call it a prophecy from Vesperus is not what it seems on the surface. It's not this power that Expands. It expands and it destroys the world. It destroys the world as we know it. It's inventing something new. It's bringing back this entire court that is going to shake up the entirety of Prithia. While we're on Nesta, though, I do want to highlight Nesta's connection to Bryce's mother, Ember, when we're looking at the crossover between Crescent City and Acotar. This is not exactly the most prevalent in terms of page time, but I do see it being one of those connections that has a bigger emotional impact on Nesta in books six through eight. Given that we both think that Nesta is going to be a POV character in these next books, not the POV character like we get with just her and Cassian, I think it's going to be multiple people kind of closer to how we see in the Crescent City and the later Throne of Glass books. In one of the House of Flame and Shadow bonus chapters, this is where we're going to get all into bonus chapters, friends. We see a moment where Ember's motherly intuition can tell that something's wrong, and she even asks Nesta if she's in trouble with Rhysand. This is because Nesta gave Bryce the map mask and let her trade her parents for it. The next morning they have breakfast together, Nessa and Ember. And Nessa has this moment of vulnerability where she tells Ember that her relationship with Rhys and Feyre is quite complicated. That's an understatement. And how they won't kill her for giving up the mask, but she will not be forgiven anytime soon for this very dangerous situation. Especially she is in the doghouse with her own mate, mate, Cassian. Now, I do not think Cassian's anger is towards Nesta is going to bleed over into ACOTAR 6 through 8. Like they're mates. They're going to get angry at each other. We see this with Rhys and Feyre all the time. Ember even offers to take some of the blame for Nesta so that Nesta doesn't have to bear this alone. Then when Bryce comes back for her parents at the end of House in Flame and Shadow, we even see Nesta, Cassian, Ember and Randall all sitting around

[Emery]

a table eating chocolate cake together. They're so buddy, buddy. I love it.

[Nicole]

As they all say their goodbyes because Ember and Randall are going back to Midgard, which is now safe from the Asteri. Ember tells Nesta that she was so glad she was able to meet her and that this time with Nesta was a gift. And she pulls Nesta into a hug. And before leaving, Ember puts her hand on Nesta's cheek and tells her quote, you'll find your way. Oh, Nesta had an awful. Let's just call it a spade. An awful relationship with her mother, who really only saw her daughter as an asset. So Ember, this maternal figure who sees Nesta and how she's struggling with this otherness that she has in the Night Court, Ember reaches out her own hand when everyone else is mad at Nesta in Rhys, Cassian and Feyre's eyes, even Azriel's eyes, because he's there as well. She does give the key to their peace and literally opens up the world to possible destruction, pain and slavery at the hands of the Daglan. I see why they're angry. But Ember sees a brave girl who helped her own daughter save the world. In Ember's words, you'll find your way. This lands a punch to Nesta. Has she really ever been told that without layers of history or judgment from someone.

[Emery]

No, never. Never.

[Nicole]

To have someone, someone who is new, who does not know all of this baggage about Nesta, who is this maternal figure, hug her and treat her like a person, not an asset.

[Emery]

Just.

[Nicole]

Gosh, I really hope. I doubt it, but I hope Nesta and Amber get reunited in some way. But I hope that this is a confidence boost for Nesta because she needed this. God damn it, she needed this. Moving in to another member of the Night Court, Azriel Randall, who, along with Nesta and Price, travels through the tunnels. He sees Slash, hears all of the Celine Download. While we don't really get a lot of page time with him after Bryce leaves Perthian for the first time, because we only see him in Ember and Randall's bonus chapter after that. I do imagine that a lot of that time when Bryce is back in Midgard and defeating the Asteri and all of that, I imagine a lot of that time is spent with Rhys and Feyre, telling them everything about Selene and this lady and the lost history that he just learned about. So I do feel like everyone at the beginning of ACOTAR 6 is going to be caught up on all the info where I want to highlight Asriel's Crescent City time and the impact that it's going to have on his journey, on his relationships in future Acotar books is a moment actually in a bonus chapter in the House of Flame and Shadow Walmart exclusive bonus chapter with Bryce Nesta and Azriel, where Bryce is trying to get to know Nesta and Azrael and Prythian as a whole. Bryce starts to ask about their magic

[Emery]

and Azriel's like, shut that shit down.

[Nicole]

I'm not going to tell you anything. You are enemy number one. So Bryce changes the subject and asks

[Emery]

if Azrael has a mate, partner or spouse. Oh, tough subject there, Bryce. To which he replies, no. And he does so very quickly and his voice is flat. Obviously this is not a topic he wants wants to talk about.

[Nicole]

Before the topic switches again, Azriel's wings

[Emery]

twitch and he calls her incurably nosy.

[Nicole]

Amazing. And when she asks him, like, are

[Emery]

you curious who your mate is, Azriel? It's Nesta who says, yes, we are. Oh, the ever nosy Night Court. I missed them.

[Lexi]

This is totally Sarah Beams. Super meta for the reader.

[Emery]

Like, yes, I know you all are curing Nessa and the entire fandom. I just love that she says we are because that we could mean Feyre, Rhys, Cassian, everyone. And they're just all looking at Elain and Azriel and whoever else. And just because I just. Gwen, we're not getting. Hold on, hold up. We're not getting into that. Today's episode that is not a can of worms. We are opening. Note that at this time, Azriel has

[Nicole]

had this tryst already with Elain in the hallway at the River House. And also he had a fight with Rhys over Azriel's attraction to Elaine.

[Emery]

And this is after he has gifted,

[Nicole]

I should say re gifted Gwen a necklace that was originally meant for Elaine after a midnight sparring session with the priestess. This is all from a Court of Silver Flames bonus chapter. If you have not read it before ACOTAR 6 through 8, I strongly recommend doing so. You can google it and find it online. That's all I'm going to say.

[Emery]

So it makes sense that Azriel in this moment with Bryce is like, shut up. Shut up. This is a very touchy subject, especially between him and Rhys, who got into

[Nicole]

a really bad fight over this.

[Emery]

And this is also very meta of sjm. I love that she's just like, shush, shush, shush. It's coming again. I'm not going to open up that can of worms.

[Lexi]

While we're on the subject of AZ, he says one line in Crescent City 3 that has all of us sitting up when they're in the chamber with the eight pointed star and the Selene hologram forms. Bryce recognizes her as the girl from the cave carvings through their tunnels. And Asriel says in a pained voice, quote, she looks like Rhysand's sister. Nesta looks at Azrael with curiosity and sympathy. But that's all we get before the hologram begins talking and the topic is never touched on again.

[Drew O Fualo]

Again.

[Lexi]

We'll talk more soon about family trees, but this is one more neon sign that Rhys is of starborn ancestry and that his sister was as well. He looks just like Bryce's brother, who, until Bryce's magic was revealed, was the only starborn prince on Midgard. And Rhys's sister looks just like Selene, Thea's starborn daughter of the Duskourt who returned to her homeworld, who married the High Lord of the Night Court.

[Nicole]

Last on the character relationships for us to point out is Rhysand. And. And, oh, he is in full blown Night Court protector mode.

[Emery]

He is not Bryce's number one fan. He kind of hates her because she's a threat. And she poses this very real threat

[Nicole]

of bringing the Daglan back into this world. Given that Amren is his right hand, she knows more about the Daglan than any of them. To be quite honest, I do not fault Rhys. I don't think that he was an asshole. I don't think that he was being too much or anything. This is actually very, very in character for him, in my opinion. But while this does feel aligned with the more, I'm going to call it negative sides of Rhys that we do see in Silver Flames, I'm not opening up the big negative thing we see. I'm more saying the ruler of the Night Court and being the leader. There is one element to his personality that we get to know a lot better in Crescent City that we're going to see, I'm assuming a lot more in Acotar 6.

[Emery]

Homeboy's a daddy now.

[Nicole]

Like, not even a daddy. He was already a daddy. He's like Daddy.

[Emery]

The Ember and Randall bonus chapter. Back to that.

[Nicole]

We see Randall and Rhys connect over being dads. And when Ember makes a joke about

[Emery]

Bryce being an impossible one year old because Rhys is like complaining about Bryce

[Nicole]

and Ember's like, you should have seen her as a one year old. We see him soften because he's dealing with a chaotic little monster mongrel of his own at home. I cannot emphasize this enough.

[Emery]

I am so excited to see Nyx

[Nicole]

and that little squish interact with all of our characters. Which does remind me Nesta, when she's fighting off the midden guard worm in the caves. In part one of Crescent City 3, she is lost to the power of the Mask of the Dread Trove. And it's Azriel that says her sisters knee her her Emry and Gwen need her. Cassian needs her. And none of that brings Nesta back to reality.

[Emery]

And then he says, nyx needs you too. And boom. The mask falls off. Nesta Archeron is officially in her auntie era, and I love this for her. From one auntie to another. It's the best. It's the best.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Nicole]

Oh my God.

[Lexi]

Before we head into the rest of this episode, we're gonna take a quick break for a word from our sponsors.

[Back Market Sponsor]

Back Market is the best place to get the tech you need for this school year for less. Like professionally refurbished smartphones that help you make it through late night study sessions.

[Nicole]

You've reached level 18, Wolf Lord.

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[Lexi]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

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[Lexi]

I thought, what if I've scaled businesses? What if I scaled my philanthropy? What if I did as much in

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[Lexi]

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[Dani Pellegrino]

[e-mail] impact.

[Emery]

Phew.

[Lexi]

I know this is a lot, but how are we doing here, friends? Are we good? Check in. Good, Good. Now that we've laid out the Acotar history we learned from Crescent City and what happens between Bryce and our Acotar characters, it's time to look ahead to what this all could mean for Acotar moving forward. First of all, I cannot believe that I'm only mentioning it now in the episode. But we have to address how, at the end of Silver Flames, Nesta gifted her power back to the Cauldron to save Feyre's life. Nesta is whispering and crying that she gives it all back while wearing the mask and the crown. And an iridescent light flows from Nesta to Feyre, then also to the baby, making them glow bright as the sun. Then, as the light explodes, dark ink splashes onto Nesta's back. She made a bargain with with the Cauldron itself. In exchange for the knowledge of how to save her sister and the baby, she gave her power back to the Cauldron. But the mother stopped the Cauldron from taking all of the power back, leaving Nesta with some of her power still, meaning Nesta does indeed have this connection, this understanding with the mother. So we can assume that this power that Nesta has kept thanks to the mother is what we see demonstrated again and again in Crescent City 3, also in Crescent City, Nesta confirms that she no longer has the eight pointed star tattoo. But we know nothing about this other tattoo on Nesta from the Cauldron, or if technically she completed her bargain with the Cauldron in that moment, and therefore the ink went there and then it was gone right away too. So just wanted to address that, because in Crescent City 3, Nesta certainly has all of those same powers. She can wear the mat, she has the silver flames, all of that that we did see in Silver Flames. So, like, it seems like it still is a lot of power, so it'll be interesting to see how that continues on.

[Nicole]

I think the mother kept a lot

[Emery]

more for Nesta than she originally intended

[Nicole]

at the end of Silver Flames.

[Lexi]

Okay, so now let's talk about the 8th court, the dust Court, how it's now the prison, what this could mean for the future of Acotar. So, first of all, in Crescent City, Book two, we learn that Danika was researching something called Dusk's Truth before her death. In fact, that led to her death because she was not supposed to know about all of this. And it is Rigelus, the main bad guy, Asteri, in Crescent City, that gives us readers and Bryce some insight into exactly what Dusk's Truth means. Rigelus also told Bryce that her kind of Fae, the current Fae that exists on Midgard, come from, quote, a lovely verdant land rich with magic, and specifically the Starborn bloodline, hails from a small isle a few miles from the mainland, an isle that exists in near permanent twilight. The Dust Court. Then we get this nugget from the Selene download, which I know I mentioned up above, but guess what? It's really important, so I'm saying it again.

[Drew O Fualo]

Quote.

[Lexi]

With the Daglan gone, as the centuries passed, as the tithe was no longer demanded of us or the land, our powers strength, the land strengthened. The land's power became my mother's. Dusk. Twilight. That's what the island was in its long buried heart. What her power bloomed into the land, rising with it. And what land did Celene's mother, Thea, rule over? The Dusk Court. An island shrouded in mist in the heart of the Western Isles. Guess where dusk happens?

[Emery]

West.

[Lexi]

Celene does later turn this into the prison. And only her starborn bloodline would be able to open said prison. AKA the High Lords of the Night Court. Starting with her son. And this is also where she hid all the records of the Daglan, the Dread Trove and the starborn ancestry to be guided by the starborn magic for her descendant to someday fight. So we know what this island used to be. Now that we have that information, will our characters be able to resurrect the Dusk Court into the flourishing land that it once was? The ancient evil magic Selene felt before turning this place into a prison for Pertheon's worst monsters. That was Vesperus slumbering down there. She's dead now. So I wonder if that ancient magic that really fueled the prison to be what it is is now gone. There are still, of course, all these creatures imprisoned, you know, beneath the barren mountain, making it the prison. I am not going to worry about where they might have to go if

[Emery]

the Dust Court is resurrected.

[Lexi]

I. I'm still noodling on that theory.

[Emery]

There just becomes overpopulated. The Weaver doesn't exist there anymore. So technically there's no more leader in the middle, so who knows?

[Lexi]

But those creatures that are in the middle are kind of banished there because that's. They're just bad. Naturally. While the monsters in the prison made

[Emery]

the choices to be bad. To be fair, the only other monster

[Nicole]

in the prison that we know of, if, correct me if I'm wrong, that's still alive, I should say, is Lubia.

[Emery]

That doesn't sound that scary to me.

[Lexi]

And I want to say an anus.

[Emery]

It's an anus.

[Lexi]

But it's an anus.

[Emery]

That's what I want. The Lubia and the anus. Sarah J. Maas.

[Lexi]

Now we have a new bearer of the dread Trove Nesta. And what do you know, the nudge she needed to begin her own hero's journey was symbolized with an 8 pointed star. I really do think that was purposeful. She was refusing to train. She was stuck in her own little bubble that she created for herself.

[Emery]

Herself.

[Lexi]

And I'm really simplifying things here. And when she agreed to try to do something different, to step into her own in a new way, to literally just stretch. That is what the bargain was about. And that's what started the eight pointed star. I genuinely believe that was fate saying, this is the beginning. This is your destiny. Really.

[Nicole]

Saying you're ready, like you're.

[Lexi]

Exactly, exactly. And throughout the entire series, even back in the beginning chapters of ACOTAR Book 1, NESTA is described as having a queen like presence to her. Does this mean that the Archeron sisters are indeed starborn and that Nesta is destined to be Thea's descendant to bring back the Dusk Court back to its former glory? I personally don't know about this because she's not starborn in the same way that would have prompted Selene's download. Like.

[Nicole]

Frank, can I just remind you of what the bone carver said? Clever, that Fae warrior.

[Emery]

Her bloodline still runs through some distant human lives.

[Lexi]

So what I'm trying to say here is it is a very strong theory in the fandom that the Archeron sisters have Fae ancestry. I do agree with that. Yes. Despite obviously being human and on the mortal side of the Wall. We're talking like generations potentially before. So if this is true, then it is entirely possible that the Archeron sisters are distant descendants of the starborn Fae. Especially if we bring Nicole's Spice Watch theory and all that. Papa Archeron's merchant ancestors traded with Valeris. Like that's a whole other thing.

[Emery]

I don't know if I'm going to go as bold as to say that Spice Watch is going to be confirmed in Acotar 6 through 8 via the Starborn Fae theory.

[Nicole]

However, I do believe that there is a reason that Feyre glows like starlight multiple times.

[Emery]

And she even asks Rhys, where is this from? And he's like, I don't care. Me. Right? Yes, that's right.

[Nicole]

Yes. And yes, we also get Nesta, who gets this tattoo basically on her. We have not seen what this means for Elaine yet. I strongly believe that's going to be ACOTAR 6 through 8. A plot line in there. But one of the reasons I think that this is now activating that Starborn power, because I do believe, yes, it was lost through this human line. This long human Descended line. I do believe it was activated because these are now made women. These three Archeron sisters are made with a capital M. That's gonna click something into place and then add on top of it that Nesta stole something from the Cauldron.

[Emery]

Yeah, I think they're starborn. I think they're Starborn descendants.

[Nicole]

Which, yes, that means that Rhys and Feyre etc are technically distantly related.

[Emery]

It's okay.

[Lexi]

Another throne of Glass.

[Emery]

I won't say who, but yes, distant.

[Nicole]

It would be so distantly related. So I am going to go with yes, I believe that they are distantly related to Celine from that long starborn descendants. Because we get that line from the bone carver saying this clever Fae warrior, AKA Selene, maybe Thea. We're not entirely sure which one of them it is.

[Lexi]

The timeline. To be honest, it doesn't matter. Like. But also Amren's timeline of when she goes into the prison does not match up either. So there are some inconsistencies. There's some inconsistencies literally within the text and not necessarily just with the theory stuff. So yes.

[Nicole]

So yes, that's a Cauldron, boil me moment. But I do think that clever Fae warrior, her bloodline runs through some human line. It's been long since forgotten. I still know what it is.

[Emery]

The bone carver is fucking dead, of course, so we can't get him to answer it.

[Nicole]

But I do think that line is going to come back into play in ACOTAR 6 or 8 via this.

[Emery]

Yes, I'm sweating, but okay.

[Lexi]

So Nicole, I want to go back to what you were saying there about being made in the Cauldron. Because being made by the Cauldron, I think, is something that is also really linking Nesta to the star. She is chosen as the new age of the Starborn to revitalize the Dust Court and simultaneously create something new as the destined queen or ruler, High lady, whatever you want to call it of the Dust Court. After all, when Nesta touches the heart for the first time, she senses the memory of Selene closing the portal. And she feels the eight pointed star in the heart of the chamber. Like it's a, quote, physical, physical presence at her back. Where at that moment she has the same eight pointed star tattooed on her back. Not to mention when Feyre and Cassian visited the bone carver in a court of wings and ruin. The Death God said that the Rock and Darkness and Sea over in Hybern shuddered in fear when Nesta emerged from the cauldron. That she took something precious. Quote, how lovely she is. New as a fawn and yet ancient as the sea. A queen as my sister once was, was terrible and proud. Beautiful as a winter sunrise. We've come to know what he's referring to here with like this terrible power and all that as the power of death. Which certainly is true of Nesta's power. But then Lanthus says to Nesta that they heard of her down in the prison, that she's the one the sea and the wind and the earth whisper of calling her as well, the queen of Queens. And that magic shall flow untethered again. I believe that this is so much bigger than the power of death. And that it is really and truly linked to the starborn magic as well. I will also say too is that when Nesta was helping Feyre and Nyx survive, light was flowing from her. They were all three glowing like the sun. And I think this island, this land where the prison now is, recognizes the rebirth of the star. Nesta is both new and old, different for this new age. And resurrecting the rich magic and land of this Dust Court that we have been talking about so much. And also remembering Theia helped make these objects and they answer to her. And I think that there really is a connection between starborn and cauldron power as more of that creation. Not with the daggling tainted it with with. But like the the real true magic of this land. And of course we cannot forget that the cherry on top is the literal cover of silver flames, which is the mask and a setting sun. There's no mention of what the setting sun could be in the book. But it is all about her journey. It is that Nesta is the bearer of the dread Troph. She's being made. It's a compilation and a hint hint that she is the bearer of the dread Trove she's made. And her destiny is to resurrect the Dust Court as the land calls to her and registers it as Starborn.

[Nicole]

Yes. Pivoting subjects for other things from the Crescent City world that are going to have a impact on our Acotar world. We have Truth Teller and Guidian. Twin blades reunited as last Truth Teller is that smaller twin to Guidian. They both do call to each other.

[Emery]

Like calls to like man.

[Nicole]

I missed it. Both being made of the cauldron. When they are near each other, Truth Teller glows with dark light in response to guidance. White light. We know from our Crescent City world that there is a prophecy that states when these two swords are reunited, so shall our People be. I'm personally of the opinion we've already witnessed that with Bryce, the Helena side of the Starborn Fae, and Sarah Selene's night court side of the Fae. Basically the original people of the Starborn Fae have been reunited. So shall our people be. When the two blades were reunited back at the end of CC2. But this could go on to have multiple meanings and we just don't know it yet. At the end of the day, it is a big deal. Like I've mentioned that Guinion, this long lost Maid sword is back in Acotar. We know from Silver Flames that other made weapons that Nesta turned into made weapons when she took her trip to the Forge. They basically have the power to make one ruler of all Prythian. As Amren says to Rhys, you can be High King.

[Emery]

And Rhys is like, I don't want

[Nicole]

to be High King. We now have another Maid sword thrown into the mix. I don't think we've seen the end of that conversation, especially with Gwynie and back. And don't even get me started on

[Emery]

Narbonne, wherever the fuck Narbonne is, in the Sacred sea or whatever.

[Lexi]

I do think that's a really good point is that guiding used to belong to the one and only High King. And now that guiding is in the mix, I could see Amren really being like, Rhys, this is your cue. Like literally, you had the long lost sword here.

[Nicole]

The mother is screaming at you to take this and become High King. I don't think he's gonna do it though.

[Lexi]

I don't think so either. Because again, I feel like Destiny is really leaning toward Nessa. Do I think that she'll be High Queen of all places, Perthian? I don't really think so. I don't feel like that would fit her character a whole lot.

[Nicole]

But the Queen of Queens from the Bone is very High Queen language. Yes.

[Lexi]

Because of the power that she does have. And anyway, I don't. I don't know.

[Emery]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Lexi]

Next up, as we head into the next Acotar books, we will want to keep a very close eye on mists because we learn a lot about the importance of mist and world walking in Crescent city. From Chapter 60 in Crescent City 3, when Aidas, Prince of the Fifth Level of Hell, is talking about Avalon. The mists are a result of the ley line's power. They're an indication of a thin place. So we know that thin places are where it is easiest to world walk and create portals. It makes sense that the 8th court where Thea, Selene and Helaena left the world to go to Midgard, it is shrouded in a lot of mist. When Bryce arrives at the River House lawn in Velaris, it's literally m. Misty

[Nicole]

and the prison back in a Court of Mist and fury is mentioned. How it is Misty.

[Emery]

Sarah J. Maas planted this for us way back when.

[Lexi]

I was starting to look for any mist mentions around like Romual and things like that, and honestly I didn't see any either, but I was kind of hyper aware. Anyway, bottom line is, keep an eye out for mists. On a related note, we brought up these sacred mountains while talking about Vespa. But let's revisit this concept as we head into the next Acotar books. Because the Assyri says that she can smell how much of what they created on this world went unused. They hid pockets of their power throughout the lands. When Azriel is like, nah, there aren't places like that here. Vesperus says back, have you looked beneath every sacred mountain? At their very roots, the magic draws all sorts of creatures. I can sense them even now, slithering a bit about, gnawing on the magic. My magic and their magic, or as the Asiri call it, their light. It thrives in places best suited to hold power, sustained by the regenerative magic of the land where the veil between worlds is thin and magic naturally abounds. Like what used to be the Dust Court. I also do wonder if this magic, with the rejuvenation and things like that, the land in the middle, or at least the boss it died with King Theon. So I wonder if there's a connection with that as well.

[Nicole]

What if when another High King Queen, I'm gonna call it with good intentions, which is a very loose term. What if when someone steps into that role. If when someone steps into that role, the bog regenerates? I could see that for sure what it was with Fion.

[Drew O Fualo]

Mm.

[Emery]

Yeah.

[Lexi]

So this is another very, very interesting thing that we find out too.

[Sponsor Voice]

Too.

[Lexi]

There are always certain people more suited to exploit the thin places to claim its power and then travel to other worlds. Theia had the gift and passed it down to her daughters. And in fact, Vespers even calls Bryce a Light Stealer because she took Selene's kernel of starborn power that she tucked away in the chamber, and it was like a major power surge for Bryce. So with all of this said, I believe that the full force of the starborn power is. Is actually not unlike some of the asteris magic. And because the Asteri imbued their magic with the cauldron to make it a thing of destruction in addition to creation, that is where Nesta has adopted a version of the starborn power. Not even thinking about the bloodlines, but starborn and cauldron magic are very overlappy. And I think Asteri, starborn and cauldron magic, There is a lot of overlap with all of them of that. And Nesta having been made in the cauldron, I really do think that she didn't just take the power of death. She took a version of the starborn power as well.

[Nicole]

Well, and something I do want to note here is I can hear some people being like, but what about Elaine? Elaine did not take a piece of the cauldron when she was made. When her and Nesta are put into the cauldron, it's basically said that that Nesta took something that day. Elaine was made, Nesta was made. But Nesta was so pissed off that she also stole something back. So that's where we're going with this. Her having this extra essence of the cauldron, the Asteri, the starborn, something like that.

[Lexi]

Why it's her destiny versus potentially. I'm not saying that Elaine's not part of it. She absolutely could be. I'm just thinking more along the lines of what we know with Nesta and her journey.

[Nicole]

So, so far.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right.

[Emery]

Eight pointed star.

[Nicole]

I would be shocked if Elaine stepped in and became like, let's say, high lady of the dust court, because it just. Everything that we've known so far has led to nest up being that role. Exactly.

[Lexi]

So theoretically, I think the starborn can figure out how to wield this. A series power tucked in these pockets where their light thrives and is sustained by the regenerative magic of the land. I believe that Nest. Guess his calling is going to be learning how to harness this power. Maybe she is, or maybe she isn't of the starborn bloodline like Bryce, but she does have some Asteri power within her that she took from the cauldron. I'm so in the weeds with all my theory spiraling again.

[Emery]

Wasn't it you who said we weren't

[Nicole]

gonna make this a theory heavy episode?

[Emery]

You made me pull back, you hypocrite.

[Lexi]

As we start to wrap up this episode, I want to go through what we know about the big family tree across the crescent city and acotar series. So first, everybody, help me visualize here. Right. First we have high king Fion and his queen, Thea. And they had two daughters, Selene and Helaena. When Selene went back to the Akatar world, she ended up marrying the High Lord of the Night Court. An unknown amount of generations later, we have Rhysand's father and his mother, who was Illyrian. And they had two children, Rhys, who looks almost twin to Bryce's brother Rune. And now Rhys has his own son Nyx, with High Lady Thera. And then there is Rhysand's sister, who looked just like Selene.

[Nicole]

It's gonna keep me up at night. A few quick I'm gonna say flags rather than like questions here.

[Emery]

1.

[Nicole]

Moore's family used to rule the north according to Rhysand and Acomath, however, shouts to little underscore fireling on Reddit because they pointed out that maybe Moore's family ruled the North. I'm not even going to say courts, but rule the north before all of the courts were put into place. So maybe they were the rulers of the north under High King Theon, kind of how Ned Stark is under Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones.

[Emery]

I don't know why the hell I'm going there.

[Nicole]

So this is when Selena and Helena and Thea were all on Midgard. Then Rhys's family rose to the High Lord line when this courts were split into seven. Rhys and Morgan are also cousins, however many times removed. So they both could be descendants from Selene, which would make Kier a descendant of the Starborn. However, I don't really think he's the most powerful and Rhys is the most powerful, but we don't really see him ever with Starborn.

[Emery]

Matt Magic.

[Nicole]

I'm going to gloss over the Archerons being the descendants of the Starborn fae, because I have already talked about that when it comes to Bone Carver. But what I do want to highlight here is that if the Archerons are also a descendant of Selene, this means Nyx is going to be a descendant of both starborn parents, which I think

[Emery]

would be a big deal for our little guy.

[Lexi]

That's a really good point. Point, yes.

[Nicole]

Thank you. So that's all the Selene line in Prythian.

[Lexi]

So now let's go back 15,000 years, ish to Helena, the older daughter of Theon and Thea. She was trapped on Midgard and she was forced to marry the High General Pelias once he successfully squashed her mother's forces.

[Emery]

I forgot about that.

[Lexi]

The Star Sword Slash Guideian became Pelias's, and then the Asteri titled him the first Starborn prince. And Midgards history records that Pelias was the original possessor of the horn. All in all, legitimizing Pelias as a way bigger deal with magical abilities than he ever actually was. Because he was not actually starborn. It was his wife, Helaena. Pelias bore children with Helaena, who was the true Starborn, therefore carrying the powerful bloodline. But it was all pretending that it was Pelias's, not Helena's. Unknown generations later, we have the Autumn King. Bryce and Runes Father. Notable that the Autumn King does not have the Starborn power. It seems to have skipped him. It's not a total science with. Okay, every single person in the bloodline does get it. They can skip some generations and whatnot. And the Autumn King has the fire wielding power and the red hair of the Autumn Court Fae that traveled to Midgard with Thea. So somewhere in his lineage here in Midgard, the Starborn bloodline consists conceived with the Autumn Court Fae. Which makes sense. There's only so many Fae in this world.

[Nicole]

I'm actually really sad that Bryce never got to meet Lucian.

[Emery]

Because I could hear and being like dad. And Lucian would be like get the. I've got enough problems. Go away.

[Lexi]

So now let's look at Ruhn's mother. Who was not queen or mate or partner or anything to the Autumn King. Her purpose was for breeding and heir the next Starborn prince. She came from a prominent noble house from Avalon. Avalon is an island on Midgard surrounded by mists where the Avalon fae are known for their wild shadow magic and telepathy. Which we know in the Acotar world is Demati. Ruhn got his mother's genes, which we can presume also derives from Helaena all those generations ago. Meanwhile, it is Bryce who receives the full power of the Starborn Fae. Since her mother is human, she would have had to inherit this from the Autumn Kings starborn lineage. And I also do wonder if the female Starborn have always been more powerful. And that because that's where the Starborn power truly does shine. Which is one more reason why Bryce is the chosen starborn versus her brother Ruhn who has the starborn blood on both sides of his parents.

[Nicole]

Some other rapid fire connections from the Crescent City world to the Acotar world

[Emery]

to round out this lore. Heavy episode.

[Nicole]

So Celine mentions that one of the monsters she put into the prison is one of quote blood and rage and nightmares.

[Emery]

Do you think we've seen this one before?

[Nicole]

Or is this someone we'll see in ACOTAR 6 through 8 because it's somewhere in the prison.

[Lexi]

I I'm going to say no, mostly because so much surrounding the prison and the people and the creatures who went in there. There's a very inconsistent timeline of when when Selene would have rounded them up and put them in the prison and it didn't exist before she returned to Perthian and we had the courts. So I'm going to say no only because there that's really where there's the most cauldron. Boil me the most murky.

[Emery]

That's true.

[Nicole]

Selene mentions how the pets of the Daglan were once the monsters that she put into the prison who is someone that we do know who was put into the prison. Yes, we're going to ignore the inconsistent time timelines I.e. amren. In our Mass Verse Madness segment during the Acowar coverage, we speculated if Amren is one of the creations of the Daglan. More specifically, if she is a subsect of the Malachi, the angels from Crescent City. From El Brunska on Reddit, when Rigelus is giving his bad due speech at the end of CC2, he mentions how the Asteri bred a few versions of the angels until they had the Malachim. Who are the angels we know of today in the Crescent City universe? Hunt, Isaiah, all Micah, all of them. But Malakim, spelled differently in Hebrew means angels or messengers. When Cassian in Acowor asks Amren what she is, she says, quote, a messenger. So in that same Reddit article, Emmy

[Emery]

Ego, one of our favorite theorists and

[Nicole]

brilliant minds, mention something about the seraphim theory in religion. The seraphim were a type of Old Testament angel, also known as fire angels, but the seraphim were also thought to be dragons. What does Rhys compare Amren to in Acomaf? A fire drake, a German type of dragon. As Amren emerges from the cauldron in Acawar, she is quote light and fire. There favorite goes on to think, quote I could have sworn I saw great burning wings. Each feather a shimmering ember spread wide. Could have sworn a crown of incandescent light floated above her flaming hair. Kind of sounds like a halo a little bit. All of this to say, I do wonder if we are going to learn a little bit of Amren's backstory if she was made by the Daglan slash Asteri to be this angel of death, basically, and she was one of the first iterations of angels that the Asteri attempted to make in The Crescent City universe. How would she have gotten back into the Prythian universe? We're going to ignore that for right now and let Sarah J. Maas's brain figure that out. The last thing I want to point out is actually not from Crescent City 3.

[Emery]

I think this is one of the only things From Crescent City 1.

[Nicole]

In this entire episode, there is mention of the Book of Breathings in Bryce's place of work.

[Emery]

How can a book that nullifies the

[Nicole]

Cauldron or wields it wholly be found on a different planet? The last we see of the bob.

[Emery]

I miss bob.

[Drew O Fualo]

Aww.

[Nicole]

In the Acotar world is when Bob is destroyed by being thrown into the Cauldron in Acabor, yet somehow it ends up in Midgard. We can assume that the BOB was originally in the Library of Parthos on Midgard Guard, which is where a bunch of the humans lived that Thea attempts to enslave, but then actually uses as part of her war against the Asteri. Parthos unfortunately gets very, very decimated by the Asteri, but Jesiba, one of the very few high priestesses who survives, ends up taking a lot of the books from this vast human library and brings it to Crescent City as we know it today. But again, it begs the question, how the fuck did the BOB end up in the Library of Parthos? Is the Cauldron a portal and basically flung it back in time to Parthos 15,000 years ago? I personally don't think so, but it's not out of the question. Could it have flung it right into Jesiba's hands in her library? Maybe. Were there two created? Doubtful, Given that it was used with the last ore of the Cauldron to make the original Book of Breathings. In those two halves, it is important for us to note that the By BOB does exist somewhere else in the multiverse. So should our characters in Acotar ever need to go, you know, get the Cauldron, which is currently on Kratea with Miriam and Draken.

[Emery]

They need to go get Jessup.

[Nicole]

Well, Jesiba's dead, but they need to go get the BOB in Jesiba's warehouse in Midgard.

[Emery]

I doubt that's going to be a

[Nicole]

plot point in the future, though.

[Lexi]

All right, there we have it. Friends, thank you so much for being part of this big episode. All about what we learned from Crescent City.

[Nicole]

For acotar. Next Monday, August 17th, you are getting our entire three plus hour masters compilation. This is every single mass first tie in from our Acotar. Coverage in case you're new here.

[Lexi]

Hey.

[Emery]

Hi. Hello.

[Nicole]

I hope you enjoyed this episode. When we covered acotar for 11 months, at the end of every single episode we did something called Mass Verse Madness. This is where we take any mas verse tie in from that episode and bring it in at the very end with a big old spoiler warning. Speaking of which, if you have not read every single book of the Mass Verse, all of Throw in a Glass, all of Crescent City and all of Acotar, this episode is not for you. Unless you want big big spoilers. But this is one of our favorite episodes. We're so excited to re release it in the lead up to ACOTAR 6. Thank you as always to our very own hot priestess or Jesiba Roga or Clotho, whoever you want to be today, Brooke, our content researcher Brooke and our executive producer, slash sanity manager slash co host of the Fantasy fanfellas podcast, Hayden. And of course the newest addition to our Fantasy Fangirls team, our brand new

[Emery]

editor, our newest Sacred mountain, John.

[Lexi]

Check out our website fantasyfangirls.com it has tons of book resources including book guides, guides, trivia, quizzes, recommendations and so much more. It is going to be a fantastic resource as we all prepare for Actar 6.

[Nicole]

My book which comes out May 11 Oath of the Chosen is officially available for pre order. If you all do not know pre orders for books are so so so helpful. I'll spare you all the details, but basically it's one big neon sign of hey, we should do more of this book. We should do more things for this book. So if you haven't pre ordered recorded it, please do so. Link is in the show notes.

[Lexi]

We are very active on social media so please be sure to follow us on Instagram and slash our tick tock at fantasy fangirlspod. And if you're watching this on YouTube or want to watch on YouTube, pretty please hit that subscribe button to keep following along.

[Nicole]

While you're hitting buttons, don't forget to hit that five star button on whatever podcasting platform you are listening on. And please don't just do it for this show, do it for any shows you regularly listen to. And if you're feeling extra, extra generous, write a little love note in that review section. And last but certainly not least, do not forget to share this episode with your fellow Mass Verse friends. If your friend refuses to read Crescent

[Emery]

City but you're like you're you need to know this.

[Nicole]

This is a great episode to send their way.

[Lexi]

Yes indeed. Thank you everybody so much.

[Emery]

Bye bye bye.

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[Lexi]

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

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