Flights of Fantasy – S5: Ep 40 – ACOWAR: Revisited, Part 6

Release Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: Anna, Kim, & Kristina

Episode Overview

In this emotional and in-depth episode, Anna, Kim, and Kristina conclude their journey through Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR), the third installment in the ACOTAR series. The hosts revisit the climactic final battle, character developments, heart-wrenching sacrifices, and SJM’s signature mastery of “found family” moments. They celebrate epic and tender scenes, unpack character arcs, highlight foreshadowing and Easter eggs (including fan theories!), and tease the transition into Nesta and Cassian’s story. The tone is exuberant, vulnerable, and full of bookish banter—a true celebration of the ACOTAR fandom.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Setting the Stage: The Final Battle Approaches

• Spoiler Warning (03:40): The episode covers the entire ACOTAR series and references broader SJM works (Throne of Glass and Crescent City).
• Inner Circle’s Eve-of-Battle Scene:
  • The hosts break down the “night before” the final battle on the grassy knoll, focusing on emotional goodbyes and declarations of love and loyalty.
  • Quote (Rhysand):

    “I believe everything happens for a reason...But I am grateful for it, whatever it is. Grateful that it brought you all into my life...” (04:33)

    • Each inner circle member receives heartfelt acknowledgment, moving both characters and hosts to tears.
  • Kim: “God, just to say, like the great joy and honor of my life has been to know you. I don’t care. I’ll never hate you, Rhysand. And nobody can make me hate you.” (07:24)

2. Major Character Moments & Themes

• Feyre & the Ouroboros Mirror (08:08):
  • Deep dive into Feyre’s internal journey of self-acceptance—embracing all parts of herself, shadow and light. This scene is lauded as foundational for Nesta’s future arc.
  • Kim: “Feyre passes not by rejecting her darkness, but by embracing all of it…She looks into that mirror and sees every version of herself…She sacrifices her illusions, her need to be seen as good or whole. And by doing so, she emerges stronger.” (08:08)
• Parallels to Nesta and Elaine:
  • The hosts speculate about what Elain’s “step into power” might entail, noting the unique foundational trauma for each Archeron sister.
  • Anna: “I really do love this part because it’s like...we are really setting the groundwork for Nesta. And I think that I want to pin this Ouroboros mirror moment for Mastermind later, because there are some great parallels here.” (09:31)

3. The Climactic Battle (10:58–39:56)

• Battle Tactics: Feyre and Rhysand eventually reveal the Bone Carver, Bryaxis, and the Weaver—a high-stakes magical showdown
  • Anna: “Rhysand also has a little trick up his sleeve. And to Feyre’s shock and the readers, the weaver is there. And on top of her head is Ianthe’s glittering blue jewel.” (11:54)
• Unexpected Allies (12:55):
  • The Autumn Court, Spring Court, and mortal soldiers (led by Jurian, Grayson, and notably Tamlin) arrive as reinforcements.
  • Kim: “I know. God, you know what? Good for you, Tamlin. Tamlin is the one that dragged Baron out and is like, no, you’re going to fucking do this. You’re going to fight.” (13:19)
• Heart-stopping Moments:
  • Nesta’s connection to Cassian saves his life; hosts link their “mate” bond as stronger than mere friendship or love.
  • Hosts gush over "the Great War by Taylor Swift" as the perfect soundtrack (15:19).
• The Deaths That Matter:
  • The Bone Carver’s sad yet dignified end. (16:20)
• Family and Sacrifice:
  • Papa Archeron's redemption, fighting for his daughters with ships named “Feyre,” “Elain,” and “Nesta.”
  • Drakon’s words: “He told me that he’s got three daughters who live here and that he failed them for many years, but he would not fail them this time.” (21:17)

4. Sacrifice & Loss: Character Deaths and Revelations

• Cassian’s Stand:
  • Powerful scene of Cassian volunteering for a suicide mission, motivated by a debt to Rhysand’s mother.
  • Quote:

    Cassian: “You gave everything, Rhys...Let us return the favor. Let us repay the debt.” (18:44)
    Rhys: “There is no debt to repay.” (18:55)

• Nesta’s Breaking Point:
  • Papa Archeron is killed by Hybern—his final words to Nesta devastate her spirit, setting up her arc for the next book.
  • Quote:

    “I am so sorry, Nesta. My Nesta. I am so sorry for all of it.” (26:13)

    • Nesta’s promise: “I am going to kill you.” (28:23)
• Cassian & Nesta’s ‘Get Up’ Scene (28:51):
  • Raw, vulnerable confessions:

    “I have no regrets in my life. But this…that we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta.” (28:52)

• Elain Steps Up:
  • Shocks both hosts and listeners by stabbing the King of Hybern (“don’t you touch my sister”) before Nesta beheads him.
  • Anna: “Sweet potato. She saves the day.” (30:26, 30:32)

5. Amren’s True Form, Sacrifice, and Return

• Amren’s Farewell (34:30):
  • Emotional parting from Varian, her lover.
  • Quote:

    Amren: “For it has been a gift. Gift. This time with you. With all of you. It has been a gift.” (35:40)

• Biblical Angel Imagery:
  • Amren’s transformation is described in luminous, apocalyptic terms (wings of fire, crown of light), settling longstanding fan questions about her true nature.

    “She exploded from that mortal shell. Light blinding us. Light and fire...Great burning wings, each feather a simmering ember...a crown of incandescent light...” (37:54)

• Rhysand’s Ultimate Sacrifice (40:18):
  • Rhysand “dies” mending the Cauldron, and Feyre’s devastation is powerfully rendered.

    “I only leaned back into him, savoring his warmth. Even in this non place. Power shuddered through him... I love you, he said again. The third and final crack began to heal over...” (41:20)

• Revival Sequence:
  • Feyre commands the High Lords to resurrect Rhysand, even Tamlin.

    Tamlin: “Be happy, Feyre.” (44:20)

  • Amren is also revived, but now merely Fae (hosts joke about Amren resembling ‘Edna Mode’ from The Incredibles, 45:26).

6. Resolution & Loose Ends

• Post-War Meetings:
  • The courts convene to negotiate peace and a new wall.
  • Feyre for the first time shares her full story (poverty, trauma, healing) in the hopes of starting honest peace talks.
• Character Departures:
  • Vassa’s curse remains.
  • Lucien’s mysterious connection to Vassa is noted.
  • Tamlin fades into the background, receiving a thank-you from Feyre: “I hope you find happiness too.” (49:09)
• Nesta’s Downward Spiral:
  • Clutching her father's wood-carved animal, Nesta begins the internal retreat that sets up her POV in the next novel (50:56).
• Final Words:
  • Rhysand’s POV — he, Cassian, and Azriel reflect and celebrate survival:

    Azriel whispers: “It’s real. All of this is real. Like we said, survived.” (51:37)

  • The hosts are visibly affected: “It’s the perfect ending, honestly.” (52:03)

Mastermind – Foreshadowing, Easter Eggs & SJM Multiverse (52:33)

Easter Eggs, Theories, and Cross-Series Connections

• Suriel = Caltain?
  • Parallels between Caltain’s end (Throne of Glass) and Suriel’s mannerisms and “cloak” fascination.
  • Comparison of “phantom wind” phrases in both series:

    “As warm light whisked us away, I could have sworn that the pile of ashes was stirred by a phantom wind.” (54:09)

• Ordeal Parallel (Crescent City):
  • Feyre’s Ouroboros Mirror and Nesta’s hike/stairs likened to the CC Fae "Ordeal" rite of passage (56:03).
• Winter Court Messenger Foxes = Crescent City Otters:
  • SJM’s repeating motif of small, vest-wearing animal couriers (57:28).
• Rhysand’s Mind Reading Ethics:
  • Call-out of CC3 Rhys’s actions compared to earlier books’ willingness to read minds—hosts debate internal SJM consistency (58:19).
• Starborn Fae Bloodline Theory:
  • Azriel giving Truth Teller to Elain as confirmation that the Archeron line may descend from Theia’s starborn lineage:

    The Bone Carver: “Her bloodline is long gone now, though a trace runs through some human line...” (61:40)

  • Feyre and Bryce both described as “conduits,” amplifying connection between ACOTAR and Crescent City worlds (62:46).
• Witch Mirrors & Ouroboros:
  • Parallels with Throne of Glass “witch mirrors” (60:31).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anna (regarding SJM's found family):

  “Because she makes you go on such a journey that when you finally get there...it hits hard.” (07:56)

• Kim (on Rhys’s sacrifice complex):

  “It’s honestly probably like, a little bit of a complex at this point. And I do think we could work through this in therapy...” (40:18)

• On Elain’s “the world needs more gardens”:
  • Kim: “Don’t enable this bullshit. Like, come on. I mean, fine, do whatever you want, Elain, but it’s…The war is over. Go plant a rose garden.” (47:39)
• Hosts’ banter about Amren’s appearance:
  • “She reminds me of in the movie…The Incredibles…the little [Edna Mode] with the short, short dark hair and she’s really funny and very assertive…” (45:30)

Important Timestamps

• [03:40] – Spoiler warning & episode start
• [04:33] – Rhysand’s iconic speech
• [08:08] – Ouroboros Mirror analysis
• [10:58] – Final battle setup
• [13:19] – Tamlin’s intervention & redemption
• [15:19] – Nesta saves Cassian (“Great War” parallel)
• [18:44] – Cassian’s sacrifice & debt to Rhysand’s mother
• [21:17] – Papa Archeron’s ships & redemption
• [26:13] – Papa Archeron's death scene
• [28:52] – Cassian & Nesta: “I will find you again in the next world, in the next life…”
• [30:32] – Elain & Nesta take down Hybern
• [34:30] – Amren’s emotional sacrifice
• [37:54] – Angelic Amren transformation
• [40:18] – Rhysand sacrifices himself
• [44:20] – Tamlin's “Be happy, Feyre.”
• [50:56] – Nesta’s spiral, setup for next book
• [51:37] – Rhysand’s POV & “It’s real.”
• [52:33] – Mastermind/foreshadowing segment
• [54:09] – Suriel/Caltain theory
• [56:03] – Ordeal parallel to CC
• [57:28] – Messenger foxes & otters motif
• [61:40] – Starborn theory

Tone & Style

The hosts balance deep emotional resonance with irreverent, infectious humor—tearing up over SJM’s prose one minute and cracking jokes about “being a slut for peonies” the next. Nuanced critical readings combine with playful theorizing and warm, inviting book club energy. Their affection for the material and for one another shines, making this a rich experience for fans as well as those new to ACOTAR.

Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully wraps up the main ACOTAR trilogy, providing catharsis, laughs, and thoughtful literary analysis. The hosts honor SJM’s knack for found family, sacrifice, and healing while leaving listeners hungry for Nesta and Cassian’s story. The “Mastermind” segment is a must-listen for diehard SJM fans looking for the next clue in the multiverse.

Next up: The journey continues with Nesta’s story in A Court of Silver Flames—stay tuned for more deep dives, tears, and banter from Anna, Kim, and Kristina.