S5 : Ep 18 - ACOTAR : Revisited - Part 6

Summary

Flights of Fantasy Podcast

Episode: S5: Ep 18 - ACOTAR: Revisited - Part 6
Release Date: June 24, 2025

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Flights of Fantasy, hosts Anna and Kim delve deep into the sixth part of their A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) Revisited series. As dedicated fans of Sarah J. Maas's beloved fantasy romance saga, they dissect pivotal moments, character developments, and intricate lore, providing both insightful analysis and passionate commentary for listeners new and old.

---

Deep Dive into ACOTAR

Feyre's Struggles and Character Development

The discussion begins with a focus on Feyre's emotional and physical turmoil under Rhysand's watch. Kim poignantly states at [03:00]:

Kim: "Feyre is barely holding herself together. Rhysand is dressing her up and parading her around during the evening festivities. It's a very calculated move that is meant to shield her from worse, and Feyre knows that, but it doesn't make it easier to endure."

This highlights Feyre's internal battle and the manipulative tactics employed by Rhysand to protect her. The hosts explore how these moments reveal the complexities of Feyre's relationships and her resilience.

Tamlin vs. Rhysand: A Contrast in Love and Control

A significant portion of the episode contrasts Tamlin's controlling nature with Rhysand's active support. At [06:15], Kim remarks:

Kim: "You to hate me because he's not a bad person."

This underscores Rhysand's internal conflict and his efforts to genuinely care for Feyre, contrasting sharply with Tamlin's passive and ultimately neglectful behavior. Anna expands on this, noting how Tamlin's passive approach becomes a form of emotional abandonment, while Rhysand actively engages with Feyre's pain:

Anna: "With Tamlin, his inaction, like I said, becomes abandonment... He froze when Feyre needed him the most."

Pivotal Moments and Emotional Highs

The hosts discuss critical events, such as the kiss between Feyre and Rhysand, and its repercussions. At [04:30], Anna captures the moment's complexity:

Anna: "Rhysand would never leave... But in that moment, he realizes he has to kiss Feyre because Amarantha is coming."

This act serves as a catalyst for future developments, showcasing Rhysand's strategic yet emotionally charged decisions. The episode further delves into Feyre's pivotal choice during the third trial, highlighting the immense pressure and moral dilemmas she faces:

Kim: "Feyre is breaking each time. I mean, it gets worse and worse."

Feyre and Tamlin's Fragile Relationship

Towards the episode's climax, Anna and Kim examine the deteriorating relationship between Feyre and Tamlin. At [21:53], Kim poignantly observes:

Kim: "Feyre, of course, says there's nothing to be repaid, which is not true. He should be repaying her."

This segment emphasizes the lack of emotional depth and communication in their relationship, setting the stage for future conflicts and Feyre's eventual realization of her needs.

---

Mastermind Section: Easter Eggs and Interconnections

Transitioning into the Mastermind segment at [28:16], Anna and Kim explore the intricate web of connections between Sarah J. Maas's various series. They draw parallels between ACOTAR and Throne of Glass:

Amarantha as Valk Theory

Kim introduces a fascinating theory regarding Amarantha's true identity:

Kim: "There is a big theory in the Mastermind that Amarantha is... Is Valk."

They discuss physical descriptions and behavioral traits that align Amarantha with the Valk princes, suggesting a deeper lore connection that fans might appreciate. Anna adds:

Anna: "The Atter is described as a towering figure with large leathery wings and clawed hands. Very similar."

Cross-Series Symbolism and Artwork

The hosts examine symbolic elements and artwork within the series, noting similarities that hint at overarching narratives across Maas's books. Anna points out:

Anna: "It depicts, 'great Fae battles and lovemaking and childbirth... reminiscent of scenes in HOFAS.'"

This analysis reveals Maas's penchant for embedding subtle nods and Easter eggs that enrich the reading experience for attentive fans.

Midgard Guard Worm Connection

A particularly intriguing connection discussed is the resemblance between creatures in ACOTAR and those in Crescent City:

Kim: "The Midden guard worm is the same worm that we see while we are spelunking in CC3."

They explore the linguistic and descriptive similarities, suggesting that these elements might originate from a shared mythos or creative inspiration, deepening the interconnected universe Maas has crafted.

---

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, Anna and Kim reflect on the emotional weight of the events in ACOTAR and tease future discussions in their ACOMAF (A Court of Mist and Fury) episodes. They invite listeners to join their vibrant community on Instagram and TikTok, encouraging engagement and further exploration of the fantastical worlds they adore.

As they bid farewell, the hosts emphasize the enduring magic of fantasy romance and the enduring bond between book lovers, promising more insightful analyses and heartfelt conversations in upcoming episodes.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Kim [03:00]: "Feyre is barely holding herself together. Rhysand is dressing her up and parading her around during the evening festivities..."
• Kim [06:15]: "You to hate me because he's not a bad person."
• Anna [21:53]: "Feyre, of course, says there's nothing to be repaid, which is not true. He should be repaying her."
• Kim [28:16]: "There is a big theory in the Mastermind that Amarantha is... Is Valk."

This episode of Flights of Fantasy offers a comprehensive and heartfelt exploration of A Court of Thorns and Roses, enriched by thoughtful analysis and a deep appreciation for Sarah J. Maas's storytelling brilliance.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts. Just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Kim]

Packages by Expedia. You were made to be rechargeable. We were made to package flights, hotels and hammocks for less Expedia Made to travel.

[Anna]

Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy Podcast book club. I'm Anna, joined by my book besties Kim and Christina, and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books. Hi Hi book besties. Welcome back to ACOTAR Revisited, our deep dive back into the series that started it all. We are so excited to be discussing A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. And just a reminder, we will be breaking up each book into multiple episodes. There will be no spoilers for Sarah's other series, but we do have our very special Mastermind section at the end where we will be chatting all things mass verse. And of course we will give ample warnings beforehand. 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. But before we give our official spoiler warning, a few announcements from Kim.

[Kim]

Yes, okay. Before 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 video episodes where we dive into a book we're not covering on the podcast and our tier two book benches at $10 a month. Get all of that plus the full unedited video of every episode a day early and ad free. And exclus to our SJM Deep Dive series where we deep dive characters, couples and scenes from all of Sarah J. Maas series. This month we're discussing one of our favorite couples from the Phone of Glass series, Kale and Yurine. So come join our Patreon family [e-mail] Flights of Fantasy podcast. We would love to have you. And let's hear that spoiler warning.

[Anna]

All right, listeners, from here on out, spoilers for the entire ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Let's go.

[Kim]

So Feyre is barely holding herself together. Rhysand is dressing her up and parading her around during the evening festivities. It's a very calculated move that is meant to shield her from worse, and Feyre knows that, but it doesn't make it easier to endure.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Plus, we know that her body and her spirit have been completely broken by these trials. And to top it off, she's watching the man she loves sit next to a monster and do absolutely nothing. All to acknowledge her, to save her, to help her, to do anything. Until finally, Tamlin steals a moment alone with her. And the reunion is fiery. And on a first read, it does feel like this release of emotions. And we can all remember being giddy when we first read it.

[Anna]

Totally.

[Kim]

But even in that moment, Tamlin doesn't ask her how she is. He doesn't ask about the bargain or her injuries or what it's been like to be paraded around like a possession every single night. He doesn't make a plan. He doesn't offer her any help. It's not emotional intimacy.

[Anna]

No.

[Kim]

And then Rhysand catches them, and Daddy is pissed.

[Anna]

Daddy's mad.

[Kim]

He's so mad. He has this, like, calm face. Fury. And he orders Tamlin away, and like, a little. Tamlin just leaves. Like a dog with his tail between his legs. Who would never do that.

[Anna]

Anna would never.

[Kim]

Rhysand would never leave. And he tame does because he's a. And we know that. That Rhysand is so pissed because he's like, if Amarantha found you guys here, she would either hurt or kill both of you. And then no one's ever getting out of here.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So he realizes that he has to kiss Feyre in this moment because he hears Amarantha coming.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And he knows that if Amarantha had walked up on them, they would be horribly punished.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

And this is the kiss that Rhys actually says that he wishes he could take back. Later in Acomaf, he says that he felt like he wishes he could take it back because it wasn't how he wanted their first kiss to go. Obviously.

[Anna]

I know. It's like his regret. It's.

[Kim]

Yeah. So then he appears in her cell again later that night. And this is our High Lord that we see in Acomaf. The mask is completely off. His top buttons are undone, his hair is ruffled, and he looks so weary. Feyre is like, what do you want? And he says, a moment of peace and quiet. That damned is running me ragged. You hate me. Imagine how you feel if I made you serve in my bedroom. I'm High Lord of the Night Court, not her harlot, Rhys. It's so heartbreaking.

[Anna]

He's opening up to her.

[Kim]

He is. He's tired. He's broken down. You know, he is. And my God, who wouldn't be? And he's like, I'm fucking tired. Like, I am High Lord of the Night Court. I should not be doing this.

[Anna]

49 years, you guys. Yeah, 49 years. He has been raped.

[Kim]

Yes, Absolutely.

[Anna]

Okay. He has had to make himself into a person he doesn't recognize.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I mean, I can't wait to talk about it in Akamath.

[Kim]

Oh, my God, I can't wait. So this is also when Feyre asks him a pivotal question. She brings up when he negotiated the cost of the bargain. She says that he could have asked for every single week and she would have agreed because that's how desperate she was. A half smile appeared on his sensuous lips. I know. He said. And vanished.

[Anna]

I know. He's like, I know, I know. But I didn't. And remember that Feyre.

[Kim]

Yes, exactly. Feyre.

[Anna]

I knew you would have agreed to anything I asked, but I didn't want.

[Kim]

You to hate me because he's not a bad person.

[Anna]

He's not a bad person. He doesn't. Okay. But this is, I think, a really good jumping off point. And I want to talk about, like, Tamlin versus Rhysand in this particular part of the book. So we have this contrast that's been building slowly throughout the book and becomes impossible to ignore once Feyre is under the mountain. And then, of course, later in Akimaf, it gets even more significant. Tamlin, he. He loves Feyre. He does.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But he shows it through control. Okay. And it's really important to note that he believes that withholding information will protect her, that inaction is safer. Basically, right from the moment she arrives in his court, he is quietly trying to shield her. But when she needs him the most, when she actually needs him to show up, he freezes.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And during the trials, he watches her bleed. He watches her break. He never intervenes, not once. And honestly, when you reread it, the silence feels a little Bit like abandonment.

[Kim]

Absolutely. Yes. That's such a great point. Yes.

[Anna]

I mean, I feel like Rhysand, on the other hand, right? This person who she's supposed to hate, this person who is supposedly bad and evil, he's all action, even if it's morally gray. He shows up.

[Kim]

Yeah. He does something.

[Anna]

He makes deals. He's wielding, he's dealing. And he bets on her. He heals her.

[Kim]

He does.

[Anna]

He heals her wound. He. He makes choices. Yes, they're complicated. Yes, they seem manipulative, maybe even at times, but they're still choices for her. And this is a big through line that we'll discuss, like, the act of choices throughout the rest of the series.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

Okay, so want to break this down a little bit? Like I said, his choices are complicated at times, but we have to remember it's war times. Kim, what is it?

[Kim]

It's war times, everybody.

[Anna]

It's war times. Okay?

[Kim]

Sometimes we do things that we don't want to do for the greater good.

[Anna]

We have to do it because it's war times. Everybody's going to die.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

And list, listen. 49 years, this man has been breaking himself. Okay?

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

But also, he engages with her pain instead of pretending it's not happening. And he does this in Acomaf, too. He is risking his own position with Amarantha every single time he shows up in her cell.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

One of the things for his motivation is that it's not just to piss off Tamlin. Right. It's to show dissent to other rebels. Him betting on her, him making a bargain with her, bringing her into, like, the night court, where, like, the festivities are at night. Everything is a symbol.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

For, like, I am rebelling against Amarantha, and I am doing this to piss her off. Okay.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

Tamlin's love, on the other hand, in the first half of the book, which we spent a lot of time discussing, it feels safe.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

It feels like she's wrapped in bubble wrap.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But what happens when all of those bubbles pop?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

It's like with our kids. You have to let your kids fail. You have to let them learn to struggle with adversity.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Because if you don't give them those. Those tools and, like, show them that you love them no matter what, and show up for them with action. How then do they learn to, like, process things in the future?

[Kim]

Absolutely.

[Anna]

And with Tamlin, his inaction, like I said, becomes abandonment.

[Kim]

Yep. Absolutely.

[Anna]

All he thinks he can do is, like, if I'm silent, then nothing bad will happen. If I, like, shove her In a dark, like, safe room, like a padded room, which is basically what it does in Acomaf. She'll be safe. The bottom line is that his love is very tentative and it's like he's not fighting for it.

[Kim]

No, it's very passive.

[Anna]

It's very passive. So I want to get back to Rhysands and some of the complicated choices that he makes.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Specifically the dancing. We go into this in depth in our very first Acotar episodes we did back in season two.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Even on a reread. It's rough, right?

[Kim]

Agree. It is rough. It's something that I've always struggled with. Not to the extent that I think some people in the fandom have, but it is. It is rough. And it's. But I think it's supposed to be rough. It's supposed to be uncomfortable, I think.

[Anna]

Exactly. I think Sarah wants you to be uncomfortable because you're not supposed to like him. You're supposed to be team Tam. Tam.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Like, we're supposed to read that and go, oh, that's the villain.

[Kim]

Yeah. That's disgusting that he would do that to her.

[Anna]

It doesn't excuse it. It is uncomfortable, Farah.

[Kim]

It is, yes.

[Anna]

The thing about Rhysand, when you finish reading the series, is that I really do think that if she turned to him and said, not tonight, he wouldn't make her go.

[Kim]

I agree.

[Anna]

I really. I really do think that. But she never says she. No.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

She does push away the fairy wine the first time because she said Alice said not to drink anything under the mountain. And he says. He hands it to her and he says, no, drink it.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

And we've talked about this kind of like the three of us have discussed this, but one of the things that we thought was is the fairy wine, which kind of like, you know, makes her forget and hides all the dark stuff under the mountain. I think Christina brought this up. She was like, I wonder if it's him, if it's Rhysand protecting himself. More like he doesn't want Feyre to see. See the darkness under there, but also, more importantly, she doesn't want her to see the mask that he has to wear and the things that he has to do.

[Kim]

Right. Well, why else would he care if she doesn't remember? You know what I mean? Like, I think he doesn't want her to remember because he knows that it's the things that people are doing and the things that he has to say and do and be when he's in the presence of these people in Amarantha. Is not what he wants for favor. He doesn't want her to experience that.

[Anna]

No.

[Kim]

I think she does eventually say, like, it was nice to be able to just not feel anything and not be aware of what I was doing and not care what was going on. And you know, I do think that she didn't really. She did have a choice, but like, what other choice really was there?

[Anna]

I know, it's like it was made in duress, you know, it's like I making the bargain like she was going to die.

[Kim]

Absolutely.

[Anna]

Like she had to make the bargain.

[Kim]

She had to do that. And I do think that Rhysand was trying to protect her from maybe people coming to her cell and doing worse.

[Anna]

To her by claiming her. Nobody would go against him.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

That's very true. Yeah.

[Kim]

That's a very intentional thing. If he had just left her in her cell, he had to be in that room. He had to be. He couldn't be with Feyre.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So he would have no idea what's going on.

[Anna]

Yes. And he does tell her later on, he says, like he did all of this because when not if he says, but when she breaks the curse, Tamlin will have so much pent up fury that he'll explode and unleash himself upon Amarantha and kill Amarantha. Which is true. That's what ends up happening. But you know, like we said, I think he does all of this as like it's a message to everybody else around him. And he does say that he purposely like the reason he paints her. We talked about this in part two, when, after Callan May, when Tamlin has smudged paint all down his midriff and Feyre can see the smudging and how much it upsets her. Just kind of a little parallel here.

[Kim]

But that is such a parallel.

[Anna]

But Rhysand said the reason he painted her was so that under no uncertain terms would Tamlin think that he had done anything. He could see where the paint was smudged.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Because even if he touches it, it like moves and stuff. But he or it does fix itself if Rhysand touches her. But like that way Tamlin could see that nobody else touched her because it wouldn't be smudged and that she was protected.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

So anyways, I think SJM is just very clever in the way that she builds this story. I mean, because honestly, as a first time reader, we have enough preconceived negative ideas of Rhysand in his court and based on like what Tamlin has shared that, you know, we don't like him. But Obviously on a reread, we know so much more of the story.

[Kim]

Exactly.

[Anna]

Exactly. Estrem makes his actions, like, so morally gray and somewhat questionable.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But this is the mask he wears for 500 years, right?

[Kim]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Anna]

So Rhysand, to round it out. I feel like Rhysand has an emotional presence that Tamlin doesn't.

[Kim]

Agreed.

[Anna]

And at the end of the day, that validation of not ignoring the hard truths is eventually one of the catalysts for Feyre leaving Tamlin.

[Kim]

I agree with that.

[Anna]

Right. So like. Like the scene that you said earlier when he shows up and he just says, I just needed a moment to breathe, like I needed to not be around her. That bitch is running me ragged.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Like, Tamlin doesn't ever open up like that.

[Kim]

No, I think he sees Tamlin sees it as a sign of weakness. And I think Rhysand is a strong enough male to know that showing emotion does not make you weak.

[Anna]

Nope.

[Kim]

And I think that Tamlin really struggles with that. Tamlin has a lot of, like, toxic masculinity, I think, traits in him where he.

[Anna]

Something is festering in the spring court. Farah says it.

[Kim]

Okay, so let's move to the third trial. Oh, guys.

[Anna]

Third and final trial, guys. Oh, man, this one's a doozy.

[Kim]

This is the most heartbreaking because unlike the first two, which rely on her own ingenuity, this is taking the lives of innocence. And it's Amarantha's cruelest trick that she's done so far.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Feyre is presented with three hooded Fae. And one by one, their hoods are removed and she has to stab them with an Ashwood dagger. And this is really the final price is her humanity. And it is absolutely awful to read. You can hear their loved ones begging in the audience.

[Anna]

Oh, God. I know. It's so bad.

[Kim]

But the second is a High Fae female. And she starts to recite the same blessing that Tamlin said over the Blue Fairy who died earlier in the book.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And it's such a full circle moment. And Feyre is breaking each time. I mean, it gets worse and worse.

[Anna]

It's really horrible.

[Kim]

And then the final hood is removed and it's Tamlin, which obviously breaks Feyre.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And even Rhysand freaks out because he knows that Feyre cannot kill Tamlin.

[Anna]

No. He's like, well, we're fucked.

[Kim]

He's like, well, we're fucked. This is okay. Like. Like, touche, Amarantha. Because I don't know how we're gonna get out of this one.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But Feyre finally remembers what she overheard Two different times that Tamlin has a heart of stone. Feyre tells Tamlin that she loves him and then she stabs him. He doesn't die, of course. But what Feyre forgot when making a deal with the Fae is you have to be specific. And Feyre never specified when Amarantha had to break the curse.

[Anna]

Y' all. Guys, guys. I just. I mean, granted, she's on a letter at 19 year olds, so it's not like she's read a bunch of fantasy books where she knows you make deals.

[Kim]

With the Fae and you don't drink the fairy wine. And she has done both of those and not done a great job at it. But she's doing her best with what.

[Anna]

She'S doing her best.

[Kim]

Okay, we were always a little bit like Feyre. Everybody knows this, but she doesn't. You know, she's like Anna said, she can't read.

[Advertiser]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday? How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Christina]

Lowes knows how to set off your July 4th with savings right now. Buy one, get one free on select one coat coverage. Interior paint one via Visa gift card rebate plus get two select two or 2.5 quart red, white and blue annuals for just $10.

[Anna]

Hurry.

[Christina]

These July 4th deals won't last long. Lowe's we help you Save. Valid through 7 9. Selection varies by location. While supplies last. Excludes Alaska and Hawaii. More terms and restrictions apply. Seeloes.com rebates for more details.

[Kim]

Yeah, so Amarantha is like but you didn't say when. So it could be 500 years from now. Ha ha ha.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

She starts torturing Feyre until Feyre realizes what the answer to the riddle is. And it is love. Which we knew from the second we heard the riddle. But thank you Feyre for finally figuring that out.

[Anna]

Catching on.

[Kim]

Thank you. Welcome to the party. So of Course, immediately, instantaneously, just like Amarantha said, the curse is broken. But not before Amarantha pulls a bitch move, deals a killing blow, and snaps Feyre's neck. This is so rough. And this is an important moment for Rhysand, which we will go over in Acomath. Ooh.

[Anna]

That is a pivotal moment for Rhysand.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Oh, God. And then I heard your next step. It's so sad. Oh, God.

[Kim]

That's the monologue.

[Anna]

Okay. So instantaneously, as soon as she says love is the answer to the riddle, Tamlin's power comes rushing back. He grabs. I think it's like a sword or a dagger. And he kills Amirtha. He drives it through her neck. It is.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

He skewers her with such force that she's, like, literally, like, to the floor.

[Kim]

Which is exactly what Rhysand wanted.

[Anna]

Exactly.

[Kim]

And it worked.

[Anna]

It worked, you know? Okay, so Amaranth has been killed. Feyre somehow flashes, because she doesn't have. She's not Fae yet, but she flashes into Rhysand's mind. I think it's the mating bond. And so she flashes into Rhysand's mind, and she's seeing all of this unfold through his eyes. And he doesn't realize that she's in his mind. And she sees herself dying. She sees herself broken. Like, her body's at unnatural angles. And then slowly, after Amarantha's dead, Tamlin is lying over her, like, begging, I love you. I love you. Finally, we get some emotion.

[Kim]

Yeah, finally. Amaranth is already gone. That's helpful.

[Anna]

And Rhysand. Remember, guys, Tamlin's power is the one that came back. Not Rhysand's. None of the other High Lords. Right. So that's why Tamlin had the power to kill her.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Rhysand has been kind of, like, broken. Amarantha has also, like, beat him up because he's been trying to. He was trying to save Feyre.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So he's lying broken, and Feyre sees it through his eyes. And one by one, all the High Lords get up and drop a power for what she gave, is what they say. And they drop a power.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And it's interesting because Baron is the first Eris dad is the first one to do it. Wild.

[Kim]

Cause he's such a piece of shit.

[Anna]

He's such a piece of shit.

[Kim]

That's so weird.

[Anna]

I think what Rhysand says is, I would have broken into all of their minds if they hadn't done it themselves. But they all did it voluntarily.

[Kim]

Yeah, voluntarily.

[Anna]

And so they drop a piece in and it's like something that hasn't been done and is offered to very few before, is what Rhysand says. And it turns her into hyphae. And there is this line, though, where Feyre is explaining to Rhysand later at the very, very end of the book, where she says, like, she just this new body, although it's immortal, she still has her human heart, and she doesn't know how to reconcile the two.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And what Rhys says to her, it's like a famous line is, be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don't feel anything at all.

[Kim]

Oh, Rhysand.

[Anna]

I know, because it's truly that her human heart is honestly what guides her throughout the rest of the series. And caring for those that are, you know, that have struggled. We see it in the tithe later in book two and other situations.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So, Kim, there's two more big final moments before we wrap up, and the first one is with Tamlin and Feyre.

[Kim]

Yes. So let's talk about them at the end of the book. SJM really does an excellent job of setting the readers up for what's to come. In Acomath, as we said earlier, the final trial really stripped Feyre of her humanity. It made her make an impossible decision, and she will live with the blood of those fairies on her hands forever. She says this about the second fairy who was resigned to her fate. She held my gaze and nodded as I lifted the ash dagger. Something inside me fractured so completely that there would be no hope of ever repairing it. No matter how many years passed, no matter how many times I might try to paint her face. It's just so sad. And when everything is kind of calmed down, after Amarantha has died and the curse has been lifted, Tamlin and Feyre have a quiet moment alone. And Tamlin is tending to her wounds and asks how he can ever repay her. Great question, Tamlin.

[Anna]

Fantastic.

[Kim]

So glad you asked, because she saved your ass. Wow. Thank you for finally realizing that she saved your life and the life of everyone in your court. Cool.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Feyre, of course, says there's nothing to be repaid, which is not true. He should be repaying her. But what she does share with Tamlin is how broken she feels and how she doesn't think she can ever bring herself to paint again because all she sees are their faces, and she doesn't see any color or light anymore. And it's so heartbreaking and hard to read because we know that painting is such an outlet for Feyre.

[Anna]

It is.

[Kim]

And for her to not want to ever paint again is so indicative of her mental state. And Tamlin should realize that, and he should be like, wow, this is scary.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But he doesn't push. And yes, we could argue that in this exact moment, maybe it's not the right time. It's all very raw.

[Anna]

True.

[Kim]

We're all wanting to move on.

[Anna]

We're processing.

[Kim]

We're processing. And I get it. But this is really setting the tone for what's to come in Acomath, because Feyre's inner monologue is that she doesn't want to talk about it. And she keeps telling herself, later, later, later. But unfortunately, what she ends up falling back on is just her physical relationship with Tamlin, and that's how she masks her pain and her grief. But he doesn't push her and he doesn't ever bring it up. And so they both aren't talking about it. And it's just so unhealthy, and it's so indicative of their relationship. There's no. Unfortunately, there's no depth to it at all. It's just physical.

[Anna]

Yeah, it's true. It's really. It really is very physical. And boy, oh, boy, does that come up in akamaf in a big way.

[Kim]

Yes, it does. But let's go to the final moment with Rhysand.

[Anna]

Guys. I love this moment so much.

[Kim]

Oh, my God.

[Anna]

Okay, so Rhysand obviously is gonna get bigger. He's gonna get a lot more in akamav. Not that we haven't been gushing about him for the last hour.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

What?

[Kim]

What? I don't know.

[Anna]

Our high lord and savior, Us. Okay, but he's about to leave, and he can't resist saying goodbye to Feyre just. Just one more time.

[Kim]

He has to.

[Anna]

He has to. So he tugs on their bond, and she comes to him, and he's just checking on her, huh? Yeah, he's checking on her. But here's the thing is, like, both Tamlin and Rhysand have checked on her in their own way. Sure. But she opens up to him more. And this is where she talks about her body feeling like it's not her own and that she feels different. And I'm telling you guys, I mean, I think there's an under layer of her. Like, she doesn't even realize it, but like some intuition knows that Rhysand is safe.

[Kim]

I agree.

[Anna]

But more than that, I think it's the fact that he showed up for her and he pushed her for the last. However long it was for the, you know, the trials.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

And it's just, again, Foreshadowing what's to come.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

And she asks Rhysand, she looks at him and she says, like, why did you risk it all? Like, why? Why did you do the bargain? Like, why did you help me?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And he says, God, I love this. Oh, my God, he says, because when the legends get written, I didn't want to be remembered for standing on the sidelines. I want my future offspring to know that I was there and that I fought against her at the end, even if I couldn't do anything useful, because I didn't want you to fight alone or die alone. And I love this line because, listeners, if you remember from part two of the episode I told you guys to pin the moment with the Blue Fairy, when Tamlin looks at Feyre and he says, like, why would you bother offering this fairy comfort? Like, why did you sit with the fairy?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And she turns to Tamlin and what she says is, because I wouldn't want to die alone. And I would want someone to do that for me.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And that's what Rhysand does.

[Kim]

And Rhysand has no idea that that conversation ever took place with Feyre and Tamlin.

[Anna]

No idea.

[Kim]

Mates. Mates.

[Anna]

And this is when he shows her his wings.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And he says very like, you know, he makes a comment of, like, how very few people have seen them. And. And this is what happens. He's about to leave. He says goodbye. His eyes locked on mine, wide and wild, and his nostrils flared. Shock, pure shock flashed across his features at whatever he saw on my face. And he stumbled back a step, and then he vanishes. And you guys, we find out later that, like, when he lands in Velaris, he hasn't seen his friends in 40. In almost 50 years.

[Kim]

At this point, almost 50 years, he.

[Anna]

Collapses in the townhouse. Moris. And the first thing out of his mouth is, she is my mate.

[Kim]

My mate. Which, like, can we just talk really quickly about how he couldn't be more vague? And they all know he's been with Amarantha. So can you imagine? He shows up and there he. He's like, she's my mate. And more's like, I'm sorry, what the fuck?

[Anna]

Who?

[Kim]

Amarantha.

[Anna]

What?

[Kim]

Who? Reese? What?

[Anna]

He's like, no, this illiterate 19 year old.

[Kim]

This is a 19 year old human.

[Anna]

But now she's fake. It's a long story.

[Kim]

Her neck was snapped. We'll get to it. I need therapy. Like, if I were more, I'd be like. Like, God damn it, Reese, what is happening right now? Like, it's Just the idea of that is so where they're like, who? We don't know what we. We weren't there. We don't know who you're talking about. So Christina's obviously can't be here for this episode. She's sick. But Anna. And Christina read this and was texting Anna the entire time. This was years ago.

[Anna]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kim]

And Anna was like. So, like, what did you think of the end when Rhysand like looks at her and he's like. Takes a step back or whatever.

[Anna]

Yeah. Christina was just like, like, oh, I don't know. Like he just like realizes that she's like Fae now and it's like, oh, she's pretty. And I was like, yeah.

[Kim]

Or something.

[Anna]

I can't remember what she said, but it was like something so. And I was like, oh yeah. Like, so did I. Yeah, yeah, Totally, totally, totally, totally.

[Kim]

That's exactly what I thought too. Of course Anna, Detective Anna picked up on it. And I can't remember what I thought either. I think I thought maybe something with like their bond. Like the bargain bond.

[Anna]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kim]

I didn't think anything of it. But then it's such a cool moment.

[Anna]

It is.

[Kim]

Reading it again and knowing what we know, it's just.

[Anna]

He says like you becoming Fae, like shift something into place. Like when we made eye contact, it locked in.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

And I'm like, so good. He stumbles back. You shocked the High Lord.

[Kim]

You shocked the High Lord of the Night Court. Oh my God. You illiterate 19 year old human. Shocked him.

[Anna]

I love it so much.

[Kim]

Me too.

[Anna]

So that pretty much sums up the final. Oh my God. That sums up book one. Basically, Feyre and Tamlin make their way back to the Spring Court. And that's where we leave off. A court of thorns and roses. And our next episode will be part one of Acomath. House of Acomath.

[Kim]

Oh my God, our favorite book. I'm so excited.

[Anna]

I'm so excited. Okay, but book besties, welcome to our favorite little quarter of the episode, Mastermind, spelled M A A S. Of course.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Where we are peeling back the curtain on all the brilliant foreshadowing plot thread threads and Easter eggs that Sarah J. Maas has been planting since page one. A quick spoiler warning from here on out, in addition to Acotar, we will be referencing the entire Throne of Glass and Crescent City series. So if you have not finished those yet, cheers and happy reading. We'll see you next time. And if you're all caught up, let's dive In.

[Kim]

Oh, I'm so excited.

[Anna]

Okay, so the first thing I want to talk about is Resanded Ruin.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

I found this very interesting, actually. Christina brought this up, but she's not here with us today. But, like, this was actually very appropriate because we have just recorded an Air of Fire episode and talked a lot about Rowan, and we were like, damn, this actually does hit.

[Kim]

It really does.

[Anna]

So it's very interesting that when Feyre and Aelin both meet their true mates, they are at their lowest. Like, I mean, Aelin is literally at rock bottom.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

Feyre just breaks in the whole process.

[Kim]

Yeah. She's. It's a swift tumble down.

[Anna]

You know, she is rolling down that hill, Jack and Jill style. She's emotional, shattered.

[Kim]

She is.

[Anna]

And neither Rhysand or Rowan, though, when they first meet, are, like, particularly kind to them.

[Kim]

No.

[Anna]

We have the luncheon with Rhysand. He's purposely. He scares her on purpose.

[Kim]

He's mean.

[Anna]

He's mean.

[Kim]

Yeah, he does.

[Anna]

And obviously, Rowan is a brutal.

[Kim]

Yep. He punches Aelin in the face, so.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Kim]

So the bar, I guess that's not kind, you could say.

[Anna]

But what they both do is they challenge them. Right. They both push them out of their comfort zones. They both do a play with me in their own way. Right. They both help. Give them the tools to, like, bring themselves out of the darkness.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Rowan is helping Aen fight her demons and, like, face her fears and get herself out of this dark hole.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

Brisand does that with Feyre, with the cottage, for example. Like, the weaver's cottage being like, you gotta go get your own engagement ring, bitch.

[Kim]

You gotta go get it.

[Anna]

Gotta go get it.

[Kim]

Did you die, though?

[Anna]

Did you die, though? That's literally gonna be the name of that stuff segment. Did you die, though? Yeah, it was just like a. I don't know. I just found that was interesting, the way that she writes those two characters, you know, and how similar. I don't know. I mean, not that they're. They're very different men, you know, but they both.

[Kim]

They are the way that they both.

[Anna]

Support and, like, love their significant other and, like we said, just really don't bubble wrap them.

[Kim]

Yes. It's very important.

[Anna]

I think Tamlin and Kayla are not the same thing. Don't get mad at me. But, like, the way that Cale wants to keep Celaena safe, you know, he doesn't want her to go to Wendland. He doesn't want her to face all of that, because I think he's like, if I can keep you here, like.

[Kim]

I Can keep you safe.

[Anna]

Yes, I can keep you safe. And things are unraveling for Kale in all other facets.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

So that's why, like, he needs that control. Right. You try to, like, fix things. It's very different than. We're not obviously not comparing it to Tamlin.

[Kim]

No, but it is. It's just a different way of viewing a situation and a different way to handle things. And we've talked a lot about how Feyre needed Tamlin in book one. She needed him to act that way and take care of her because nobody had ever taken care of her before.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

And I think the same for Celaena. I mean, obviously, she had her parents and she remembers, you know, all of that. So she's never had nobody to take care of her.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

But she needed Cha for a time to keep her safe and to kind of have that almost normalcy where she's not an assassin, she's not the lost queen of Tercen. She's just Celaena. She's just a girl who wants to love a boy.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

But that's a temporary phase. And they don't grow together.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

They grow in different directions. And that's so normal, though, you know, like, I think we all grow throughout our life, and none of us are with the people that we dated when we were 18, 19. Thank God.

[Anna]

Thank God.

[Kim]

You know, like.

[Anna]

And if you are great, you are the unicorn.

[Kim]

You are the exception, not the rule. And if you grow together, then it's great. But for most people, they just. It's hard to grow and change and go through so much life. And I don't necessarily blame Tamlin for how he treated her at the beginning of the book, because that's what she needed, and that's what he thought. Thought she needed and wanted.

[Anna]

It was compatible at that point.

[Kim]

It was.

[Anna]

That's what she was okay to receive. And that's what he was able to provide.

[Kim]

Absolutely. Yes. So under the mountain, like, we will talk about this more in part one of acomf. But it broke both of them, but in very different ways.

[Anna]

Yes, agree.

[Kim]

And they don't know how to deal with that together. And so they. They start to drift apart.

[Anna]

Grow apart 100%. Yeah.

[Advertiser]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with INDEED sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to INDEED data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Kim]

Anyways, let's talk about Amarantha. There is a big theory in the Mastermind that Amarantha is. Is Valk. People really think that she might be Valk, specifically a Val princess, as obviously the Valk princes are described as cold and calculating and that they delight in emotional pain as well as physical. I mean, if that's not Amarantha. Yeah, I don't know who is. And Amarantha's eyes are straight up black, which we know. Val guys are also black.

[Anna]

It's very interesting.

[Kim]

Very interesting. Also, the Atter is described very similarly to the Ilkin. Oh, the Ilkin in Throne of Glass.

[Anna]

Yeah. Throne of Glass. Yeah.

[Kim]

The Ilkin are described as huge, demonic entities with large wings, wings and venomous claws.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

The Atter is described as a towering figure with large leathery wings and clawed hands. Very similar.

[Anna]

Very similar. And we do know that when the Daglin, AKA the Asteri, broke into various worlds, who's to say they didn't bring creatures?

[Kim]

Absolutely. I think they did.

[Anna]

That were similar. I mean, the Illyrians were the prototype for what we know the angels to be. Yeah. In Crescent City. So, like, who's to say that they didn't create other things to try and perform perfect. Their weird creations?

[Kim]

Yeah, I can totally see them doing that.

[Anna]

Okay, so the spelunking guys.

[Kim]

Oh, the spelunking cave.

[Anna]

You guys know I love a spelunking moment.

[Kim]

Oh, we loved it. We just love spelling.

[Anna]

Okay, so when Feyre first enters under the mountain, she notices carvings on the wall. Oh, it gives me chills when SJM does stuff like this.

[Kim]

Me too.

[Anna]

It says, quote, depicted fairies and High Fae and animals in various environments and states of movement. Countless stories of Prythian. This is very similar to the carvings we see when Bryce Nesta and Azriel are spelunking underground in Hofas. Okay. The final book.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Anna]

It depicts, quote, great Fae battles and lovemaking and childbirth. I mean, there's so many mosaics. Honestly, we spend way too much time having, like, an art history lesson. But, like, we sure do. I'll say it again. We could have Skipped the whole Princess Leia son sonogram hologram moment in. And instead we could have. I would have loved to have seen Bryce be like, hold up. I majored in this, guys.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

Let me decipher these hieroglyphics.

[Kim]

Yes. That would have been so cool.

[Anna]

That would have been so cool for her to be like, this is talking to me. This is speaking to me.

[Kim]

Yes, this is speaking to me.

[Anna]

But it's just. I know. I just love this. And like, these. Also, one of the things that's mentioned in hofas is a showing of a masked queen, a crown upon her head, bearing instruments of in her hands and standing before an adoring crowd, which is like, obviously the jet trope has to be. Yeah. And then the other thing that's mentioned in hofas is another quote is a Fae king and queen seated on thrones, a mountain, a different run from the palace atop it behind them, with three stars rising above it.

[Kim]

Oh, I love it.

[Anna]

Like the stars and the mountain. I do love how she does that. And like the actual.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

I don't know when she started connecting these worlds, because I do think we have this whole section and I. I do think though, that it's not until Acomath where I really start to see more connections.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

So anyways, I start. I do wonder, like, at what point in her writing. I would love to, like, have someone ask this question when she's in an interview now that she ever gives interviews anymore.

[Kim]

Nope, she doesn't.

[Anna]

But I would love to know, like, when did you start connecting the world? Did you always have an idea but you didn't know how?

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And then she, like, looked through things and were like, oh, yeah, yeah. I remembered I mentioned cave paintings. We're gonna bring that back.

[Kim]

Yes. Oh, that's such a great question. I would love to know that too.

[Anna]

I would love to know that.

[Kim]

Because she does it so well. I would argue that she is the queen of just Easter eggs in her different series.

[Anna]

Throne of Glass alone is just.

[Kim]

Oh, God.

[Anna]

Honestly, that's one of my favorite things about the book and why it's my favorite series is every reread, I swear I find another one.

[Kim]

Me too.

[Anna]

Like another moment.

[Kim]

And you're just so blown away by the level of detail and the. The consistency and it's incredible. So the last piece of our Mastermind section today is going to be the Midden guard worm.

[Anna]

Yep.

[Kim]

Now, the Midden guard worm is the same worm that we see while we are spelunking in CC3. Bryce Azriel and Esther are walking through the cave and she sees a depiction of the worm. And I think she. I don't know if she asked Nesta or Azriel. I'm going to assume Asriel. I don't think Nesta would know this, but he basically says it's the Miden garden worm.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

And Bryce says Midengard. Bryce started at the word like Midgard. Did they come from my world originally? Guys, guys, that's way too close to not be connected.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

You can't tell me that that's not connected either.

[Anna]

Somehow those worms ended up in Acotar or at the Asteri left. I like to think the Asteri left Acotar and they had seen the Middle Guard worm. And they're like, you know, it'd be a great name for a city.

[Kim]

Midgard.

[Anna]

Midgard. Or Sorry I'd get for a planet. Midgard. You remember those worms? They were such a delight.

[Kim]

We loved them.

[Anna]

Loved them.

[Kim]

It reminds me of the bad place from the good place.

[Anna]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kim]

It reminds me of the guy who's just like so delighted by everything disgusting. I think that's the Asteri being like, those are incredible. Let's name a planet incredible. Midgard.

[Anna]

Midgard.

[Kim]

So I love that first of all. And you cannot tell me that that's not a connection.

[Anna]

No, absolutely.

[Kim]

Guys, it's almost the same word.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

But it's also fun to remember that later in CC3, Nesta will say, I've seen my sister's paintings of the one defeated. I thought her renderings exaggerated, but it was as monstrous as she depicted it. That's right, Nesta, your sister is a fucking badass. And don't you forget it.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

She defeated a disgusting worm covered in mud and feces. And I love it. I love that Nesta got to see it. And I hope that she had like a moment of appreciation of like. Wow. Feyre wasn't exaggerating. This is.

[Anna]

My sister is a badass.

[Kim]

She's incredible.

[Anna]

Like, I hope she went home and she was like, I am so proud of you. But wow.

[Kim]

Wow. So like I saw when we were in the caves, E. Wow.

[Anna]

And you didn't have powers yet.

[Kim]

Wow. Like, that's really impressive. And Feyre was like, yeah, I know. I've been trying to tell you. She's like, well, yeah, I thought you're being dramatic.

[Anna]

I know. I struggled to pink eye for like a month later. Love it.

[Kim]

Oh my gosh. Love it. Okay, guys, I think that wraps it up.

[Anna]

It does thank you so much for being here.

[Kim]

Yes, and we'll see you for Acomaf Part 1. Bye bye. 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 write 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.

[Advertiser]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.