ACOTAR : Revisited - Part 5

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast Summary
Episode: ACOTAR: Revisited - Part 5
Release Date: June 17, 2025

Flights of Fantasy dives deep into the enchanting and intricate world of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas in this fifth installment of their revisit series. Hosts Christina, Kim, and Anna provide a comprehensive analysis of key plot developments, character dynamics, and underlying themes, enriched with insightful commentary and memorable quotes from the book.

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1. Plot Overview

In this episode, the hosts revisit pivotal moments from Part 5 of the ACOTAR series, focusing on Feyre's harrowing journey back to Prythian and her encounters under Amarantha's rule.

• Feyre's Determination and Challenges: Feyre returns to Prythian after visiting her family in Tamlin, determined to break the curse placed on the Spring Court. She faces immediate peril when the Attor captures her and brings her before Amarantha. Contrary to her expectations, Tamlin is found unscathed on the throne, setting a foreboding tone for what’s to come.

  Kim: "His eyes didn't widen, his mouth didn't tighten. No claws, no fangs. He just stared at me, unfeeling, unmoved, unimpressed." [06:24]

• The Curse and Its Implications: Amarantha reveals the curse’s specifics: Tamlin has 49 years to secure a human girl's declaration of love to free the Spring Court. Failure means continued oppression, albeit not for all courts.

  Kim: "She had 49 years to get a human girl, a girl who hated fairies enough to kill one unprovoked to declare her love for him." [05:04]

2. Character Dynamics

The hosts delve into the evolving relationships and character motivations, particularly highlighting Rhysand's complex role.

• Rhysand’s Strategic Support: Despite being an antagonist figure, Rhysand surprises Feyre by betting on her survival during the trials. His subtle interventions and mind-to-mind communication showcase his deeper intentions and burgeoning alliance with Feyre.

  Christina: "Rhysand later... snaps his fingers to clean her. But she can still feel." [14:03]

  Kim: "He offers her a choice. He offers her, here, I will help you." [18:31]

• Tamlin’s Inaction: Contrasting Rhysand, Tamlin remains passive, failing to provide the support Feyre desperately needs, underscoring his limitations and the shifting power dynamics.

  Christina: "Tamlin still says nothing. He does not react at all." [16:27]

3. Detailed Trial Analysis

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the trials Feyre undergoes, showcasing her resilience and ingenuity.

• First Trial – The Midden Guard Worm: Feyre confronts a blind, scent-based predator without weapons or assistance. Her resourcefulness shines as she uses bones and mud to create a trap, emphasizing her survival instincts.

  Christina: "She is humiliated. This is obviously one of her greatest vulnerabilities that she cannot read." [22:21]

• Second Trial – The Lever and the Riddle: Faced with a life-or-death riddle, Feyre grapples with her illiteracy, a significant personal insecurity. Rhysand’s mental assistance proves crucial in her success, highlighting his growing influence and support.

  Christina: "The fate of our immortal world is in the hands of an illiterate human." [21:19]

4. Rhysand's Evolving Role

The hosts explore Rhysand’s transformation from a seemingly antagonistic figure to a key ally for Feyre.

• Subtle Interventions: Rhysand’s clandestine support, such as sending music from Velaris, symbolizes his deepening connection with Feyre and his strategic maneuvers against Amarantha.

  Kim: "He says, 'Good girl. Now walk away. Turn on your heel.'" [24:26]

• Emotional Complexity: Rhysand’s interactions, including comforting Feyre in her vulnerable moments, reveal his multifaceted personality and his protective instincts towards her.

  Christina: "He licks her tears away. Which I remember reading this for the first time, being like, that's weird." [25:13]

5. Thematic Insights

The discussion touches upon broader themes such as resilience, trust, and the intricate balance of power.

• Resilience and Strategy: Feyre’s ability to outthink her opponents rather than relying on brute strength underscores the theme of intellect and adaptability.

  Christina: "She earns that victory not through brute strength, but through instinct and strategy." [12:11]

• Trust and Betrayal: The contrasting support from Rhysand and the lack thereof from Tamlin emphasize the complexities of trust and alliance in oppressive environments.

  Kim: "Feyre is like, I'm here now. Like, are you going to help me or not?" [11:00]

6. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "I couldn't resist. I wanted to see you again." – Rhysand’s confession of his deeper motivations. [18:31]

• "Good girl. Now walk away. Turn on your heel." – Rhysand’s empowering directive to Feyre. [24:26]

• "The fate of our immortal world is in the hands of an illiterate human." – Highlighting Feyre’s critical role despite her insecurities. [21:19]

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Conclusion

In this episode, Flights of Fantasy adeptly navigates the intricate tapestry of ACOTAR’s narrative, offering listeners a rich analysis of Feyre’s trials, character developments, and the underlying themes that drive the story forward. The hosts' engaging dialogue and insightful interpretations provide both seasoned fans and newcomers with a deeper appreciation of Sarah J. Maas’s captivating world.

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Join the Conversation:
Stay connected with the Flights of Fantasy community on Instagram and TikTok. Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments from the ACOTAR series with fellow romantasy enthusiasts!

Support the Show:
Love what you hear? Consider becoming a patron on Patreon for exclusive content, early access to episodes, and special shout-outs!

Stay Tuned:
Don’t miss out on next week's episode, where the hosts delve into the third trial and its aftermath, along with a special Mastermind section you won’t want to miss.

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Flights of Fantasy – Where every good story takes flight.

Transcript

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[Christina]

Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy Podcast Book club. I'm Christina, joined by my book besties Kim and Anna, and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books.

[Kim]

Hi book besties. We are so excited to be back discussing the first book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. And in case you missed it, we released a super short episode a few weeks ago called welcome to ACOTAR Revisited where we tell you exactly what you can expect going forward as we tackle this series. But if you need a quick refresher on how this will go, each Acotar book will be broken up into multiple episodes so that we can take our time with this story. Now, with that being said, and because we have read the series multiple times, we will be going into these Acotar episodes with the knowledge of the entire series. But before we give our official spoiler warning, a few announcements from Kim before.

[Christina]

We dive in, a quick reminder that if you love the pod and want even more from your book, Besties We've got you covered over on Patreon. Our tier one book besties at $5 a month get early ad free access to every episode plus our monthly book chat episodes where we dive into a book we are not covering on the podcast. Our tier two book betches at $10 a month get all of that plus the full unedited video of every episode a day early and ad free and exclusive access to our SJM Deep Dive series where we deep dive characters, couples and scenes from all of Sarah J. Maas series. For example, last month we did a Chaol and Dorian Favorite Moments, our favorite bromance ever as well as deep dives on more Caltain, Starfall, the High Lord's Meeting and so much more. We also just recently introduced two new very exciting segments for tier 2 trending pages and Cauldron Chats. Trending Pages is going to be a very fun, light hearted episode covering romantasy books that we are not doing Deep Dive episodes on. And Christina is going to be doing Cauldron chats where she deep dives into the world of Acotar. She is going to do for example episodes on Juri and Miriam and Draken, the Bat Boys. Their backstory. So much more. So we have so much good stuff for you over on Patreon. Please come join our family [e-mail] Flights of Fantasy podcast. We would love to have you. Let's do some Patreon shout outs if you're unfamiliar. Another benefit of being one of our Tier two book is that you get a shout out in one of our episodes. And in today's episode we are going to be shouting out Sydney Judge, Lara Gaza and Danielle Rickman. So thank you guys so much.

[Kim]

Thank you all so much guys. It really means the world to us.

[Christina]

It really does. You guys are the best and you are the reason why we can continue to do this 100%. Also, a big thank you to everyone who has already rated and reviewed the show. If you have not had a chance to do this yet, please please take a moment to do so on your preferred podcast platform. It really, really does make a huge difference in helping the show and it's a great way to support us and we are so appreciative of everyone that has done that.

[Kim]

We really are.

[Christina]

Yes. Okay, so consider this your spoiler warning for every book in the Acotar series. Ena, let's go.

[Kim]

All right, so we are picking up right where we left off from the previous episode. Feyre went back to Prythian after visiting her family in Tamlin, sending her on her way. After the scary lunch with Rhysand, she has a little chat with Alice, where she learned all about the curse, and. And that was placed on the Supreme Court and a reminder to break the curse. Tamlin had 49 years to get a human girl, a girl who hated fairies enough to kill one unprovoked to declare her love for him. And if that happened, then the Spring Court would be freed. Not all the other courts, guys, just the Spring Court would be free from Amarantha's curse. But if that happened, it at least would have given everyone an advantage and that they could possibly have overthrown Amarantha. So it was still a big deal, even though not every single court would have been freed.

[Christina]

Right.

[Kim]

So after this very depressing but informative talk from Alice, our girl Feyre, with zero plan, by the way, is like, well, I gotta go. I gotta go free my van. I gotta. I gotta check. You know, I'm an illiterate 19 year old.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Rhysand says to her, at some point, yes, and I've gotta, like, go free this girl. She enters under the mountain, and immediately the Attor finds her and brings her to Amarantha, and who is sitting on the throne next to her, but none other than Tam Tam. She expects to find him, like, fighting, or maybe. I don't know. I guess maybe I would have expected to find him kind of, like, chained up or.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

In danger somehow. But he's, like, sitting on the throne and he's very expressionless. Like, the exact quote is, his eyes didn't widen, his mouth didn't tighten. No claws, no fangs. He just stared at me, unfeeling, unmoved, unimpressed. It's setting it up, guys. We're really setting it up for what's to come. Under the Mountain.

[Christina]

Okay. Yep, we are so.

[Kim]

And in case, listeners, you need a little reminder, Amarantha fashioned Under the Mountain to look just like the Court of Nightmares. She walked into a Court of Nightmares and visited Rhysand one day and was like, you know what? Call up my interior decorators. I'm feeling the torture vibes.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Feeling the drapes. Like, let's match it.

[Christina]

I'm loving what we're doing here. I want to copy all of this.

[Kim]

All of it. Copy it.

[Christina]

Get her on the phone immediately. Like, what is wrong with you?

[Kim]

Okay, okay. You know what? She and Mor's dad, Kier. There we go. There's a mated match.

[Christina]

That is a match made in hell. They deserve it, and I love it.

[Kim]

I love it for them.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Okay. And as if we couldn't hit this point home more that this place is terrible. Claire Bedor's body is literally crucified in the great hall. It's just up where everyone can see it. It's been there for a very long time. Apparently smells and makes Feyre, like, physically ill. Yeah. So Amarantha, just kind of going to summarize what happens here.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Amarantha basically threatens to kill Lucien using Rhysand's, like, mind control if Feyre does not provide her real name. Because if we remember, Listener, she gave the name to Rhysand. She gave Claire Bedor's name to Rhysand. So Feyre is like, I can't have somebody else die for me, so I will. Yes. So she gives her true name, Feyre. She says, guys, Rhysand, this part, obviously your first read. He's standing there, he's stoic. He has Lucien's mind, like, in his grasp.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But we know from Acomaf chapter 54 that what he says to her after she says her name is hearing you say it was, like, an answer to a question I've been asking for 500 years, guys. Like, if that is not one of the best, like, I love you.

[Christina]

Oh, swoon. Swoon. I love this man. I'm obsessed with him. An answer to a question I've been asking for 500 years.

[Kim]

Get out of here.

[Christina]

I love it.

[Kim]

I love it. Also, just a little note here that I always forget on, like, until I reread is that when she gives her name, Lucian's mother observes this. And she knows, like, everybody's under the mountain. And so repays her later, when Feyre is doing, like, this stupid menial house task that Amarantha has given her, and, like, the water is perpetually dirty. Her mother goes, like, for what you did for my son. And, like, cleans the water so that Feyre can, like, finish her task that Amarantha has given her and, like, would not be punished for it.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it's just this, like, nice little threat. Like, you know, Feyre helping out the underdog, then helps her in return. Right?

[Christina]

That's right. That's right.

[Kim]

Okay, so Amarantha gives Feyre two options. She can either complete three trials, which will then free Tamlin and his court. Court. Or she can ansel a single riddle at any point. And what she says is, if you solve this riddle, then his curse will be broken instantaneously. Okay. But if you answer incorrectly, and she points to Clairvador's body and it's like, okay, high risk, high reward.

[Christina]

Absolutely.

[Kim]

I mean, it seems pretty obvious to us what the. What the answer to the riddle is, but I also understand the, like, hesitancy of, like, well, if I'm wrong, right.

[Christina]

I'm going to be crucified. So, like.

[Kim]

Yeah. So this is important to note, though, that she says, like, if you answer the riddle, it's instantaneous. Like, that's it.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

Yeah. Okay. So Feyre's like, I agree. I'll do this. I'll do. I'll do your trials.

[Christina]

Right.

[Kim]

Amarantha can't just be like, okay, take her away to her cell. No, she has to be like, get her lackey, the Attor. And poor Feyre is, like, beaten really badly.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Like, it's brutal. Then she's sent to her cell, and she's bloody and bruised. Not broken yet, but she's bloody and bruised and she's scared. And Lucian shows up and he's. Guys, his reaction, he's, like, pissed.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

He's angry, and it's not helpful because he's like, what are you doing here? We sent you back to the human realm. Like, don't you see how this is torturing Tam? Like, no, I literally can't because he's literally standing there like a statue.

[Christina]

What do you mean? He's showing no signs that this is bothering him.

[Kim]

No. What do you mean?

[Christina]

Can't you see? No, no, I actually can't.

[Kim]

I literally can't.

[Christina]

No. No one can, actually.

[Kim]

I love Feyre's response as well. I'm here now.

[Christina]

Like, also, sorry for trying to do something and be helpful, you ungrateful asshole. Like, I'm sorry that I'm the only one trying to do anything. Tamil's just sitting up there having zero. He's just resigned himself to just. I guess we're all going to live down there forever.

[Kim]

Yeah. Right.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

So anyways, Feyre's like, I'm here now. Like, are you going to help me or not?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So he's like, all right. I think he, like, does some magic and kind of helps some of her bruises and stuff. But, guys, he basically underestimates her at every turn in this book, and specifically under the Mountain. Right. Then at that very first meet, first time he visits her in the cell, and then again later when he literally bets against her in the first trial.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

And, Kim, will you please lead us through the first trial? Because I can't believe this.

[Christina]

I would love to.

[Kim]

So, please.

[Christina]

The trial one is, of course, the Midden guard worm. Oh, y' all guys, the way I would lay down and die, I'd be like, well, sorry, actually. I would have actually just solved the riddle.

[Kim]

But h. Risk, high reward.

[Christina]

But, like, then just take me, then. Just. I. You know what I mean? You think I'm going to jump into this cesspool of mud and feces and fight this ginormous worm?

[Kim]

No feces.

[Christina]

I'll get there.

[Kim]

Okay?

[Christina]

Please do. We're going to talk about bath time in a little bit. So this trial is obviously just pure survival. She is thrown into a massive pit with the Mingard worm, which is a blind, brutal creature that hunts by scent. She has no weapons, no training, and no help. None.

[Kim]

None.

[Christina]

But this is where Feyre shines. She uses her brain. She digs like. She takes bones, old bones from all the bodies that it's eaten and puts spikes into the floor, coats herself in mud and feces. Literally. It just says, just her eyeballs.

[Kim]

I mean, also pink eye.

[Christina]

Infection.

[Kim]

Infection, sepsis. Somehow I literally.

[Christina]

It's getting in somewhere.

[Kim]

I got a cut last night. I don't know how I got the cut. I went an hour and didn't realize I was bleeding. Just like, you know, mom, life, like, I'm doing a million things. I looked at and go, oh, there's blood dripping down my leg.

[Christina]

Oh, oops.

[Kim]

And so, like, immediately I'm like, well, I need to clean it. I need hydrogen peroxide. I need to put antibiotic cream, and I need to. And Ben's like, what? Like, just. Just wipe it with water. And I was like, I don't know what happened. It could have been metal. He's like, I got news for you. If you think it's tetanus, they're antibiotic cream and they can do shit. I was like, okay, thanks, Dr. Ben.

[Christina]

Thanks, Dr. Ben. But now is not the time. Okay?

[Kim]

Now it's not the time.

[Christina]

That's basically how Feyre thinks. You know, she's like, well, you know what it is what it is.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

So she basically put spikes into the floor to make, like, a little spike pit.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Coats herself in mud and leads the worm into her trap. It is violent, it is messy, but it is smart. And she wins. She earns that victory not through brute strength, but through instinct and strategy.

[Kim]

Love it.

[Christina]

And this, I think, is really the first moment that Rhysand takes notice of her because he is the only one who bets on her to survive.

[Kim]

The only one.

[Christina]

The only one. Everybody okay? Did Tamlin. No. Did Lucian? No.

[Kim]

No.

[Christina]

But Rhysand did. Okay, let's note that. Also Just the idea of her. I know that you can use magic to, like, bathe yourself, but the way I would need to go boil my skin off.

[Kim]

Rhysand later, when he shows up, like, snaps his fingers to clean her. But she can still feel.

[Christina]

See? No, no, no, no, no. Anna. If I can still feel it, I need a body of water. And I need. But what do I also need?

[Kim]

Soap. Soap.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

Soap.

[Christina]

Water is not enough people.

[Kim]

Especially in this situation.

[Christina]

Exactly, Anna. Because it's not just mud.

[Kim]

No.

[Christina]

That worm lives in that tunnel, so it goes to the bathroom there. Okay, that's all I'm gonna say. That's all I'm gonna say. Did you have a note about.

[Kim]

Yeah. Oh, I pictured the Dune worm from the movies. Guys, if you've seen Dune the movie, the new ones with Timothee, Chalamet, Charlamagne, just like, the way. I mean, those worms are really, really big.

[Christina]

I just, like.

[Kim]

I don't know how, like, how big is the worm?

[Christina]

Oh, I think it's pretty big.

[Kim]

Like, everybody's looking into her.

[Christina]

I think the pit is really deep, though.

[Kim]

Okay, so the pit's really deep. So I was picturing, like, the Dune worms, but then also with a combination of the big, creepy, weird. I think of it as a worm in Star wars that everybody gets fed to.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

In Star wars, it's this giant, gaping mouth with teeth.

[Christina]

That's what I picture, too. Just a gaping.

[Kim]

No matter what. Either of those. Or a combination. I'm like, hard past.

[Christina]

Hardest pass for me.

[Kim]

Hardest to pass. It's Kim. And I always joke that the most, like, awful, terrible creatures are from Australia. Apologies to any listeners who live in Australia. But also, like, are you okay?

[Christina]

Yeah. Blink twice if you're being held hostage there, because it's beautiful, but every single animal there is terrifying and also probably wants to kill you. The kangaroos that look like six, five men who jacked men broken out of prison with their. These. No, absolutely not. No. The spiders.

[Kim]

The crab spiders.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

No. Y' all know, if you've been with us since the beginning, you know I don't fuck with spiders.

[Christina]

Nope, Anna does. And she has a good reason to.

[Kim]

Very good reason. Okay, go listen to our Assassin's Blade episode.

[Christina]

Yes. Oh, my God. Great story in there. Okay, anyways, we move on. But this instance with Feyre, and I always forget this because in my mind, like, Feyre's just kind of okay. Like, you know, she's not this insane badass like Aelin, but this instance, she is such a badass. She is a Survivalist. She is a quick thinker. She's had to be. And this is the Feyre that we saw in Chapter One, who would do anything to survive and to feed her family. Yeah. And it's also such a personal victory for Feyre because she has outsmarted the Fae and she's proven that she's not just some dumb human.

[Kim]

Right.

[Christina]

And I love it.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

But Tamlin still says nothing. He does not react at all.

[Kim]

Yep. Okay.

[Christina]

And then Feyre actually throws one of the bones at Amarantha after she kills the worm and gets out of the tunnel. Which is very Katniss Everdeen taking a bow.

[Kim]

I loved that moment.

[Christina]

Loved it. It's such a fun you to Amarantha. And I'm like, yes, girl, yes. We love to see it.

[Kim]

I loved it. I love it.

[Christina]

And Amarantha is actually the one that tells her that literally everyone bet against her except for one person. And later, in her cell, Rhysand makes like a toss away comment that he bet on her. So it wasn't Lucian. Lucian bet again, y' all. That's so messed up.

[Kim]

It's so messed up. He bet. Not only does he bet against her, he doesn't. He bets that she won't survive the first like five minutes. Like, wow. Oh, you have little faith.

[Christina]

Yeah, exactly.

[Kim]

And okay, but this brings me to Rhysand's first visit. Okay, so after the first trial, right? Feyre is barely alive. She's also wounded.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Like, she has been cut by the feces. Bones. Okay.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

So she's quite literally fevering.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

And dying.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

And Lucian doesn't come to visit her. And later on in the book, when she does see him again, she's like, you left me in there. Like you didn't come see me. And he was like, well, I was. I had. I couldn't get away. And I was trying to like, distract her. And he was like. She says, you forgot that I'm human. Like, I'm literally going to die of fever. I don't have Fae healing powers.

[Christina]

No.

[Kim]

But who shows up?

[Christina]

Rhysand.

[Kim]

Rhysand. Okay. She's obviously. Feyre is obviously like a little anxious about him being in close quarters with him. Sure. She doesn't trust him. Especially after all of the things that she's heard about the Night Court earlier in the book. Right. But he offers her a bargain. He says, like, I'll heal you. I'll help you for a cost. And that cost is one week with him every month for the rest of her life. They do a Little negotiating, but, like, that's the gist of it.

[Christina]

Sure.

[Kim]

Feyre agrees. And I just want to point out a few things from this interaction. Okay. First, being that Rhysand does not speak to her like she's stupid. He doesn't pity her. He sees her and he offers her a choice. He offers her, here, I will help you. Yes. Granted, I'm getting a little something out of this.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But he says later, I think in Akimaf, he was like, I couldn't resist. I wanted to see you again. I also knew that, like, I had to do something that would make Tamlin angry and upset and, like, piss him off.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

So he offers her a choice. Like, I'll help you. I'll heal you. But, like, yeah, you gotta, you know, but you gotta, like, fight. You gotta come stay with me.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it's interesting because he dances this, like, very fine line of, like, offering her care, but also trying to control the situation. Because he does have an end game here, Right? Sure. And it's not just that he wants to see Feyre. Like, he wants this whole thing ended. Like he wants to break the curse.

[Christina]

Of course he does. Yes.

[Kim]

But he's constantly. This is the first time, but this. He's constantly throughout under the Mountain, finding ways to help her not break.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Later, for example, when she is really broken in her cell and he can't physically be there. I can't. I think he's servicing Amarantha. But he. That makes me so sad. But that's how he phrases it. I was servicing her and I'm just like, it's. So, we'll get there. So he sends her music because he can't physically be in the room with her. And he sends her music from Velaris.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it's the same music that when she's walking along the sidra in Achomaf, she registers and she looks at him and she goes, that was you. Like, you sent it to me. And he looks at her and he's like, you were breaking. And I didn't know what else to do. And this is a piece of me that, like, brings me joy. And, like, I thought it would bring you joy, basically. And it's just he's wearing this mask, Right. We don't know this, obviously. Reading the book the first time.

[Christina]

Of course. Of course.

[Kim]

But on reread, like, you know, he always has this mask.

[Christina]

He has to.

[Kim]

But, like, there are these little moments throughout that he showcases a little bit of his true self.

[Christina]

He does.

[Kim]

And one of the things when Feyre gets the music. What she says, And I love this because I feel like it really kind of is perfect for her. Like, of course she would visualize music and see a painting.

[Christina]

Of course.

[Kim]

But she says, as if it were a grand painting, a living mural. There was beauty in the music. Beauty and goodness. And she feels an immediate connection to the music. And not only that, but she sees. Sees, like, visually sees a palace, a moonstone palace in her. Like, the music makes her see that.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And she tells Rhysand this in Akamath, walking along the sidra. And he looks at her and he goes, I didn't send you an image. I only sent you the music. And she must have, like, there was a part of her, guys, that, like.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

Knew, like, that's where she was going to be. That was her home. That was her happy place.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

And, oh, I love it so much.

[Christina]

It's so beautiful. It's so well done. I love that moment so, so much. Oh, bless them.

[Kim]

So, of course, right after his first visit, we have our second trial. Not shortly thereafter.

[Christina]

Oh, guys. The second trial. This is the lever trial and the riddle.

[Kim]

Oh, boy. So this was.

[Christina]

This was rough to read. Okay, proof was rough. So the second trial, Feyre is forced to solve a riddle and then pick the lever that corresponds with the correct answer. But to quote Rhysand, the fate of our immortal world is in the hands of an illiterate human.

[Kim]

Like, literally.

[Christina]

Oh, dear. And Lucian is also trapped with Feyre. And the spikes are slowly descending upon them both, ready to crush them. He is screaming at Feyre, which is quite literally the most so unhelpful, unhelpful thing ever. What is that doing for anybody? Lucian, no. Stop being so emotional and help her. Help her.

[Kim]

Right?

[Christina]

He's just like, feyre. Feyre. She's like, is that the answer? Is the answer Feyre? Like, otherwise, stop yelling at me. Who else is not helpful? Tamlin frozen again.

[Kim]

Again.

[Christina]

Sitting there doing nothing. I think she literally is like, look, give me, like, a. Move your finger. Move your eyes. Like, widen your eyes. Do something.

[Kim]

Anything.

[Christina]

Anything. Nothing.

[Kim]

Nothing.

[Christina]

Completely unmoving. But you know who is super helpful? Rhysand, using the Bargain tattoo, he speaks to her mind to mind, and he helps her choose the correct answer.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Thank God for Rhysand. That girl would have been dead so long ago. And so if the first trial was about her physical capabilities, this is about her mental abilities, and she is humiliated. This is obviously one of her greatest vulnerabilities that she cannot read. I know, and we saw it was such a Trigger for her when Nesta would call her, like, ignorant. And. Yeah, it's her biggest insecurity about herself. And she feels so much shame about it, which is not her fault, because she's been trying to take care of her family, and there was no time for reading for real.

[Kim]

We didn't have time for Hooked on Phonics.

[Christina]

We didn't. That wasn't getting sent to the house. Okay. Amazon did not deliver to the cottage.

[Kim]

Leapfrog.

[Christina]

Yes. They didn't have WI fi. Okay, guys. But this instance is where the dynamic between Rhysand and Feyre really starts to shift, because she realizes that no one else is going to help her. I think this is when she really realizes, like, Tamlin's not gonna step up.

[Kim]

I'm fucked. I'm alone.

[Christina]

I'm alone. Except for Rhysand. And for whatever reason, Rhysand wants her to win. He bet on her in the first trial, and he is helping her in the second. And Feyre is broken at the end of this trial. She barely survives. But Rhysand speaks to her in her mind, and he says, stand. Don't give her the satisfaction of seeing you break. And Favor listens, and she walks out like the queen that she is. And she doesn't even look at Tamlin. And I love it. I'm like, yeah, you're gonna give me nothing. I'm gonna give you nothing.

[Kim]

Yeah. I think Rhysand's like, don't look at him.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

You walk out.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

I love it.

[Christina]

And this is the first time that they mind speak. And I. I like to think that this is maybe a pep talk that he gives himself about Amarantha. And he's giving it just so, like, don't give her the satisfaction of seeing you break. You know? He's had to tell himself that before.

[Kim]

Oh, yeah.

[Christina]

He's been there for years. But you know what we also get is a good girl from Rhys.

[Kim]

I forgot that we got this. I was like, oh, my God. Sir, sir.

[Christina]

Like, he says, good girl. Now walk away. Turn on your heel. Good. Walk toward the door. Keep your chin high. Let the crowd part. One step after another.

[Kim]

Why is it so hot? Also that he's, like, kind of bad right now. And I love a good girl. Coming from him.

[Christina]

Yes, coming from him. He's morally gray, but he's like, good girl. And you're like, okay, okay, I will be. I forgot he said this. And I'm like, I know. Everything you do is so sexy. Like, I am so obsessed with this man. It's unreal.

[Kim]

I love it. I love it. Okay, so after this part, she is absolutely breaking in her cell. And Rhysand shows up again. Not Tamlin, not Lucian. Guys. Nope. Rhysand. Yep. Okay. She's sobbing, and like Kim had said, that particular trial was meant to humiliate her and to make her feel small and stupid. Yep. And she just feels totally broken. And she's crying, and Rhysand walks in, and this is when he licks her tears away.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Which I remember reading this for the first time, being like, that's weird.

[Christina]

Oh, yeah. I was like, this is gross.

[Kim]

This is gross. Well, that's how Feyre feels, right? Feyre's literally. Okay. So he smirked sitting down against a wall. I figured that would get you to stop crying. It was disgusting. She says as she wipes her face.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Was it? He quirked an eyebrow and pointed to his palm. To the place where my tattoo would be. Beneath all your pride and stubbornness, I could have sworn I detected something that felt differently. Interesting. And then she just looks at him. She's like, get out. And he turns to her and he goes, as usual, your gratitude is overwhelming. I love that.

[Christina]

Like, we read that now, and we're.

[Kim]

Like, it's so flirty.

[Christina]

He's so flirty. But in the moment, I was like, oh, my God, go away.

[Kim]

Go away.

[Christina]

I was so annoyed with him. But not anymore.

[Kim]

But what's really important about this scene is, okay, so this happens. Feyre kicks him out, and she realizes it. Says, it took me a long while to realize that Rhysand, whether he knew it or not, had effectively kept me from shattering completely.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And this just goes back to what he tells her in book two, which is because your hatred was better than facing the two alternatives. That you felt nothing for me, or that you feel something similar. And if I let myself love you, you would be taken from me. Oh, I know it's very dark and sweet, but this whole idea that. That what he does continuously under the mountain and then again in Acomaf is this idea of, like, play with me. Like, I'll take your anger. Hit me. Like, get mad.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

You know, I'd rather you hate me, because hate is not the opposite of love. Apathy is.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

Apathy. Complete indifference. Like, lack of concern for anything that. Having to do with that person.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

And he was like, I would rather you be mad.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Like, I just needed to keep you from breaking. Because he's like, I can work with anger.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Anger you can focus. Anger you can hone.

[Christina]

Yep.

[Kim]

And it'll keep you going. But if you are broken if you are a shell. I. I don't. I don't know what to do with that.

[Christina]

Sure.

[Kim]

You know.

[Christina]

Totally, Totally. And it makes sense. And it was just looking back at just all, I, I love the play with me thing. And he pushes her, you know, and I think that that's what she needs in these moments, not to do nothing. Which is what Tamlin's doing.

[Kim]

Right.

[Christina]

Okay, listeners, that wraps up this week's episode, but stay tuned for next week where we are going to be picking up with the third trial and everything that goes down afterwards. That very intriguing moment with Rhysand and Feyre at the end, as well as our very special Mastermind section that you absolutely, positively will not want to miss.

[Kim]

Nope.

[Christina]

Well, friends, that wraps up another episode of Flights of Fantasy Podcast. Don't forget to join our book club community on Instagram and TikTok at flights of Fantasy Podcast, where you can share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments with us and fellow listeners. We'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread the magic of romantasy to even more book lovers. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, and remember, every good story deserves to take flight.