Flights of Fantasy S6 Ep3 – ACOFAS: Revisited, Part 2

Date: February 3, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Christina, Kim, and Anna

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Flights of Fantasy book club returns for the second half of their deep-dive on A Court of Frost and Starlight (“ACOFAS”) by Sarah J. Maas, with a special focus on character exploration, relationships, and deliciously messy emotional baggage. The hosts dissect key scenes featuring Elain, Azriel, Lucien, Mor, Nesta, and Cassian, while speculating wildly on unanswered questions and future series twists. Expect their signature blend of bookish nerdery, unfiltered opinions, and riotous banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elain, Azriel, and Lucien: Examining the Triangle

Timestamps: 03:11–12:09

• Azriel’s Protective Stance Toward Elain:
  • At the dinner scene, Azriel insists on everyone waiting for Elain to sit before eating, triggering discussion of his trauma surrounding his mother and questions about the roots of his protectiveness.
  • “It can strike at odd times… Azriel looks at Elain and sees someone delicate, someone untouchable, and I think he wants to preserve that… it gives me Oedipus complex.” – Kim (04:22)
• Azriel’s Feelings: Longing or Pity?
  • When Elain questions Amren about being human again, Azriel observes with “pity and sorrow”—a choice of words that the hosts debate.
  • Kim draws a distinction: “When there is a male character who is in love with somebody and they look at the person that they're in love with, it's rarely with a sense of pity.” (06:20)
• Gift Exchange and Subtle Signals:
  • Elain gives Azriel a thoughtful headache remedy, eliciting a laugh from him that Feyre notes as unprecedented:
    “Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I'd never heard such a sound. Deep and joyous… I'd never seen his hazel eyes so bright.” – Christina reading Feyre’s POV (09:15)
  • The scene is interpreted as deliberate groundwork for possible future romance, or at least emotional intimacy.
• Lucien and Vassa/Jurian Dynamics:
  • Lucien is seen with Feyre, sparking speculation about feelings for Vassa: “The spark in his russet eye… are we having feelings for Vassa?” – Kim (10:48)
  • They also discuss Feyre’s tendency to project her own happiness on Lucien and Elain, and how Lucien is finding belonging with Jurian and Vassa instead.
• Elain’s Autonomy:
  • Elain asserts, “I don’t want a mate, or a male.” (12:08)
  • The conversation touches on consent, trauma, and the right to choose one’s own path.

2. Mor's POV: Secrets, Trauma, and Truth

Timestamps: 14:41–24:10

• Eris Flashback and Mor's Past:
  • A flashback to Mor and Eris raises questions about Eris’s true nature—was abandoning Mor an act of cruelty or protection?
    • “He must have just read it in her eyes and was like, yeah, absolutely not… you don't want to live here.” – Christina (16:49)
• "Truth is your gift, truth is your curse": The Hosts’ Theory Bombshell
  • Mor’s inner monologue—“Truth is your gift. Truth is your curse”—raises the explosive possibility that she literally cannot lie, only circumvent the truth.
    • “If I take it totally out of context… I would think this means she cannot speak unless she’s speaking truth.” – Christina (18:21)
    • Kim: “I absolutely love this, because this would make so much sense. Truth is my gift. I am Morrigan.” (19:19)
  • They cross-analyze scenes for evidence, such as the Valeris-reveal and Mor’s word choices, vowing to re-read everything she’s ever said.
• Mor’s Secret Estate (Athelwood) & Her Escape:
  • Mor owns a private estate, Athelwood, and rare horses, where she feels “free” apart from court pressures.
  • The shadow in the estate’s woods (“familiar and yet foreign”) triggers theories about Briaxis or other shadowy entities. (22:46)
• Mor's Absence in Silver Flames:
  • Her off-page presence is justified as being sent on subtle diplomatic missions—primarily a device to explain her absence during the following book.

3. Nesta’s Downward Spiral and the Setup for Silver Flames

Timestamps: 24:10–39:53

• Physical and Emotional Parallels:
  • Feyre observes Nesta’s increasing thinness and isolation, drawing parallels to Feyre’s own trauma post-ACOMAF.
  • “There are some very stark parallels between her physical and mental state and Feyre’s at the beginning of ACOMAF.” – Kim (24:25)
• Mental Health and Numbness:
  • In her POV, Nesta confesses: “She hadn’t felt anything in months. She had days when she didn’t really know where she was or what she’d done.” (28:04)
  • The hosts foreground the importance of contextualizing Nesta’s prickly or cruel behavior as masking deep wounds and self-imposed isolation.
• The Brutal Cassian-Nesta Solstice Showdown:
  • Climax of the episode: Cassian tries to walk Nesta home after Solstice, resulting in a devastating confrontation.
  • “Your sisters love you. I can’t for the life of me understand why, but they do.” – Cassian to Nesta (36:09)
  • The exchange is dissected for its mix of harshness, provoking, and desperation on both sides.
    • Christina: “He was doing it in a 'play with me, react to me' way… that is better than her being in this… void.” (36:32)
• Gift Refusal and Anguish:
  • Cassian attempts to give Nesta a rare miniature book as a gift; she refuses, and he impulsively throws it into the Sidra river, later regretting it.
  • “He regretted throwing it into the river the moment it had vanished under the ice.” – Christina reading from “Silver Flames” (39:04)
  • Both hosts feel heartbreak and frustration at this moment—foreshadowing Nesta’s and Cassian’s forthcoming healing journey.

4. Cassian, the Illyrians, and Found Family

Timestamps: 32:23–33:21

• Cassian's Emotional Resonance:
  • Cassian’s efforts as a leader are highlighted, especially regarding Illyrian unrest and trauma, women’s training, and his bond with Emerie.
  • Kim shares a favorite quote:
    “Cassian had named about two dozen poses for Nesta at this point, ranging from I will eat your eyes for breakfast to I don't want Cassian to know I’m reading smut. The latter was his particular favorite.” (33:03)
• Found Family vs. Blood Family:
  • On Lucien, the hosts discuss the grief of “found family” as Lucien bonds with others outside the familiar court—and how Feyre fails to see his unique path.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It also kind of gives me... Oedipus complex.” – Kim, theorizing on Azriel’s connection to Elain (04:18)
• “Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I'd never heard such a sound. Deep and joyous.” — Christina, on Azriel’s rare laugh (09:15)
• “Truth is your gift. Truth is your curse.” — Mor's internal monologue, as interpreted by the hosts to possibly mean she can’t lie (18:02)
• “If I claim a mate, then that is the last shred of their humanity.” — Kim, discussing Elain and Nesta’s resistance to mating bonds (12:14)
• “Go home, Cassian.” —Nesta, in a profoundly defeated tone (36:24)
• “He regretted throwing it into the river the moment it had vanished under the ice.” — Christina, narrating Cassian’s heartbreak (39:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Elain, Azriel, and Lucien Analysis: 03:11–12:09
• Mor’s Flashbacks, “Truth” Theories: 14:41–24:10
• Nesta’s Decline & Solstice Fight: 24:10–39:53
• Cassian and Emerie/Female Illyrians: 32:23–33:21

Final Thoughts

The episode is a whirlwind of insight, speculation, and empathy as the hosts interrogate characters’ complexities rather than flatten them into tropes. Their real-time theory about Mor’s truth-speaking is a major highlight, as is their candid navigation of Nesta’s mental health and the raw Nesta-Cassian dynamic.

With ACOFAS serving as the bridge to “A Court of Silver Flames,” the hosts set the stage for heavier themes, character growth, and further relationship messiness with both intellectual rigor and passionate energy.

Next Up:
The podcast will continue the ACOTAR Revisited series with A Court of Silver Flames, promising more deep dives into favorite characters’ journeys.