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Feyre’s Engagement Ring (and Why It’s the Wrong Choice)

Canonically, Feyre has a star sapphire ring. Older pieces, especially Art Deco ones, can be really beautiful. Judging by the name, that sounds appropriate for the Night Court, too, right?

Above are some examples of star sapphires. They are cabachon gemstones that reflect a spidery star in direct light. The stone is unique enough, but not what I’d imagine for a Lady whose Court is in possession of literal treasure troves or something to set aside to pass down to her son’s bride, especially when she also crafts gowns for her daughter-in-law coated in jewels that Feyre likens to starlight. Also, they look incredibly dull in the dark. Not quite appropriate for the Night Court, hmm?

Additionally, I think this choice might be a little girlhood fantasy on SJM’s part: “Lindy” rings were affordable lab-grown star sapphire rings and made popular gifts for young girls in the latter half of the 20th century. (The two images on the just above are examples of these mass-produced rings.) This is mostly why I was surprised that Feyre got one—it’s kind of regarded as “little girl jewelry,” or the first piece of semi-valuable jewelry you’d entrust to a 10-13 year old girl, where I’m from.

The light blue shades are more common in these natural pieces, but they make me think more of the sky against the snow in the Winter Court or the first glimpse of the day in the Dawn Court, to be honest. It might resemble like Feyre’s eyes, depending on the stone, but she’s hardly spending time marveling at her own, is she?

So what should Feyre’s gemstone be?

Tanzanite. This gem is often described as a blue so deep it’s violet. It comes in several shades, from lavender to violet to true, deep blues, but the violet is most common. Pretty soft, but we all know targeted, protective magical shields exist now, so… *handwaves* It’s also one of the rarest natural stones on Earth (though very undervalued), and one of several birthstones for December.

And just look at those stones and tell me what you see—or what Rhys’s mother and wife might see!

(“But, Elle,” you say, “Rhys’s mom wasn’t a seer! How could she know Feyre would be born in December?!” Shut up. I don’t care. It’s pretty, it looks like Rhys’s eyes, it’s another sappy reason they were fated mates, and I want one.)

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“what’s a singed head for the sake of art?” ⇏ character aesthetic for yelena liana zaltana ⇏ soulfinders series (maria v snyder)

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“it's a dirty way to fight, but i'm late for lunch." ♦︎ character aesthetic for valek icefaren, standing president of the 'i want to kill yelena guild' ♦︎ soulfinders series (maria v snyder)

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“You remind me that I’m alive,” she said, voice thick. “You remind me that goodness can exist in the world.”

Day and Night,

Light and Dark,

Flame and Shadow.

A commissioned piece of Ruhn and Lidia by winterofherdiscontent

Link to post here

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Inktober Day 6 - Hades and Persephone

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like it’s anti-horror……. there’s so much to be afraid of but he chooses wonder .. piranesi is everything to me

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“I realised that I was holding on to something. I opened my hand and found a marble Finger from some Faraway Statue that the Tides had placed here. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.”

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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Piranesi 🌊

Instagram // Twitter // VK // ArtStation

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Books Read in 2022: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

“I realised that the search for the Knowledge has encouraged us to think of the House as if it were a sort of riddle to be unravelled, a text to be interpreted, and that if ever we discover the Knowledge, then it will be as if the Value has been wrested from the House and all that remains will be mere scenery.”

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books read in 2022: piranesi by susanna clarke

Hush! he told me. Be comforted!

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Wylie Beckert's mock book cover for Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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Piranesi (2020) Susanna Clarke

Roughs for a portfolio project. Insofar as I know there is no plan to develop Piranesi into a graphic novel, but I have some cool ideas for if they ever did.

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I was going to fall apart, right there, right then—and they’d see precisely how ruined I was. Help me, help me, help me, I begged someone, anyone. Begged Lucien, standing in the front row, his metal eye fixed on me. Begged Ianthe, face serene and patient and lovely within that hood. Save me—please, save me. Get me out. End this. […] Good. I was not good. I was nothing, and my soul, my eternal soul, was damned— I tried to get my traitorous lungs to draw air so I could voice the word. No—no. But I didn’t have to say it. Thunder cracked behind me, as if two boulders had been hurled against each other. People screamed, falling back, a few vanishing outright as darkness erupted. I whirled, and through the night drifting away like smoke on a wind, I found Rhysand straightening the lapels of his black jacket. “Hello, Feyre darling,” he purred.

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books read in 2020: days of blood and starlight by laini taylor (★★★★☆)

it doesn't matter what happens to me, she told herself. i am one of billions. i am stardust gathered fleetingly into form. i will be ungathered.

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The Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Made by: @cauldroncakesandwine

You can find an episode on the Daughter of Smoke and Bone and tv show on our podcast, A Nerdy Book Club.

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books read in 2020: daughter of smoke and bone by laini taylor (★★★★★)

"she tastes like nectar and salt. nectar and salt and apples. pollen and stars and hinges. she tastes like fairy tales. swan maiden at midnight. cream on the tip of a fox's tongue. she tastes like hope."