#cassian critical

[hugevanserrass]

reread the solstice scene from acofas and was surprised at how pleasant nesta was the entire time. from the way people talk about it, and from Cassian's reaction after she leaves, you'd think she was hissing and insulting everyone in the room. but no.

nesta wishes feyre happy birthday, she thanks elain for her gifts, and sits quietly, allowing them to continue with their presents. meanwhile mor gives cassian silk boxers that match the lingerie set he got her. nesta even kisses elain on the head before she leaves. she is 100% polite.

the next chapter is Cassian's pov and it starts with "he'd had enough. enough of the coldness, the sharpness. enough of the sword-straight spine and razor-sharp stare that had only honed itself these months"

BRO SHE WAS JUST SITTING THERE

[extremely-judgemental]

Feyre watches Cassian and her sister share a kiss on the verge of death. Then, she sees him gifting lingerie to Morrigan and expects Nesta to be lovey-dovey to this guy..?

IDK man I'd be skinning a guy alive if he did this to my sister.

[aphroditeofcnidus]

Cassian controlling what Nesta's eating is outrageous.First of all,he has no business doing that.He's supposed to teach her how to fight, because this training is supposed to help her with her depression,not control every aspect of her life.Also,Nesta has lost her appetite and become skin and bones.If an anorexic person says that a particular type of food is tasteless and they would like to eat sth else,you let them eat what they want ,even if it's not particularly healthy.The most important thing is for their appetite to be restored. Giving them tasteless food,that they can't eat is crazy.

Cassian doesn't even listen to Nesta.Nesta doesn't say she won't eat anything,she says she doesn't want to eat tasteless oatmeal and asks for bread or sugar.Saying that not eating won't bring her father back is out of line.He brings up a very painful subject for Nesta,because she won't eat what he wants her to eat.She just wants to eat sth else.What is so difficult to understand?

[hunnyy-bunnyyy]

Vaugeposting because I don't feel like starting an arguement, but I still want to express my opinion:

Wanting Cassian to defend Nesta in the moment isn't an attempt to take Nesta's strength or make her a damsel in distress, it's a criticism of Cassian's unsupportive behavior and efforts to play both sides. How is Nesta supposed to feel safe around Cassian if he sits around and let's his friends and family call her names and insult her?

It doesn't matter if Cassian defends Nesta behind closed doors, because his refusal to correct the behavior in the moment shows that he is perfectly okay with Nesta being insulted, demeaned, and threatened. The whole point of defending someone is to stop the verbal aggressor from being verbally aggressive.

[sapphos-maiden]

THE INNER CIRCLE CIRCUS

(Can someone please hand me some wine because this is gonna be long...)

Inner Circle Circus stans are you guys okay cuz you're telling me that a bunch of drunkards and clowns are canonically the heads of an entire court???

• Let us start with RhySAnd

The "most powerful high lord" is clearly not the smartest because which person in power in his right mind would have such an unstable court? This man has 2/3rds of his court living in misery and only utilising them when it suits his needs. The Hewn City has been given free rein to mistreat and abuse the women population as and when they like and RhySAnd as a ruler should have implemented laws long ago! Laws are the basis of social change!! And then we have the Illyrians whom Cas*ian himself considers to be expendable pawns and the inner circle even thinks they should be wiped off the face of the earth because they couldn't be courageous enough to actively try and educate them or set laws. I mean ofc if a community that has backward tradItions and doesn't comply with you... Means that they should go through ethnic cleansing, right?

• Amren

The four-foot, possibly a felon, grandma hobbit with a bob cut who can only be mean and tyrannical is the second-in-command? She literally suggested that RhySAnd be the High King and exploit the Archeron sisters by using their powers just because all of them ended up in the Night Court. Do you hear yourself oldie??? Calling someone "girl" or "child" clearly doesn't prove that she's mature even though she might have lived for over a century.

• Morrigan

Wtf is THE MORRIGAN YALL. TRUTH TELLER FROM WHAT ANGLE😃⁉️ this bit*h was giving Nesta sh*t and telling her that she should be thrown into Hewn City or Human Lands all because she was drinking and sleeping around? HMMM I WONDER WHAT MORRIGAN DOES IN HER FREE TIME. BECAUSE IT SURE AS HELL ISN'T ACTIVE WORK TO HELP THE HEWN CITY, WHICH SHE IS THE INCHARGE OF. She herself is drinking and sleeping around but once Nesta does it as a coping mechanism, it isn't classy anymore? She just shows up to Hewn City in fancy and scanty clothing every now and then just to glare at them. I wonder what the women who are still going through torture must think of her. "The Morrigan" who could have maybe helped them.

• Cassian

SJM made him Nesta's mate when he really should have been RhySAnd's. Have you seen how that man tries to defend RhySAnd. And then uses his trauma to justify each one of his wrong doings and petty acts just because Nesta asked him to respect her boundaries. Literally threw a tantrum and then stalked her like a creep. Overgrown manchild istg.

• Azriel

I don't have much to say about him because he just seems like a victim of manipulation to me tbh. I wonder if he'll actually have the guts to stand up against RhySAnd's manipulation, something which Cassian seems to treat as his religion. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt though I clearly don't understand how someone can be quiet all the time and actively ignore every wrongdoing.

• Feyre

The moment she learns to read... Voila! We've got a new high lady!!! Girl please get off your ass and try and help your people in the slums of Velaris who are going through the same sh*t that you once endured. Go help the Illyrian women who can never fly but whose wings you flaunt. But no she gotta paint, build her fifth mansion and then make Nesta earn her love and be redeemed so that she can live freely.

Phew- that was long. I gotta go on a vacation and revive my mental peace after reading the bs in ACOTAR.

[grimseverity]

I’ve been re-reading scenes from ACOSF and man, every spicy scene between Nesta and Cassian feels like she is using him to abuse herself, like she did with the nameless males in the beginning of the book.

Like he’s so rough with her, and she constantly asks that he is rough with her during these scenes.

And Cassian doesn’t question it because he gets to indulge in her body and satisfy his own craving. And he’s supposed to be her caretaker (which she constantly pushes back against until she realizes she can use him to punish herself)

Like that’s what it’s feeling like and I hate that.

[ennawrite]

Rhys & Cass physically beat the shit out of Azriel but yeah, Nesta’s the worst sibling ever for being a lil mean and standoffish 🙄

[silverflameataraxia]

Forget the growing Valkyrie/Illyrian conflict. I need to see some Valkyrie/IC conflict next book.

Rhysand's treatment of Nesta was so horrendous that it triggered memories of Ember's abuse at the hands of the Autumn King. And it was so awful that Ember stood up for Nesta and defended her from Rhysand. Keep in mind that Nesta was a social pariah at that point in time and Ember didn't know if she would be punished or executed, but she chose to stick up for Nesta anyways because Rhysand's treatment of Nesta was so triggering for Ember. Even after that, Ember asked if there was anything else she could do to take some of the blame off of Nesta.

Nesta can't continue to summarize her mistreatment as her getting into a fight with her family and disappearing for a week with Cassian. At some point Gwyn and Emerie are going to see Rhysand's treatment of Nesta for themselves and they're going to find out how often he threatens to kill her, and they're not going to be too happy about it. I'm sure it's going to trigger some memories for them, too (especially Emerie). And when they find out Nesta's not even safe around her own mate, who does absolutely nothing to protect her from Rhysand? I don't see any narrative where they don't call out Cassian, Rhys, and the IC for their BS.

I need Nessian to go the route of Elorcan in KoA. I need the Valks to, at least somewhat, turn against Cassian like the MC's turned against Lorcan in ToG. I need 600 pages of not knowing whether or not Nessian is going to be endgame. I need Nesta to consider rejecting the mating bond, and Cassian having to come to terms with how badly he failed her for her to seriously consider it. I need 600 pages of him groveling and worshipping the very ground she walks on. I need to hear Cassian say "I love you" to Nesta, as well as him having entire monologues where he just can't stop listing all the reasons he loves her. I need him to trust her and her decisions. I need 600 pages of him finally behaving like a mated male.

I need the Valkyries to help him understand that the IC is the biggest threat to Nesta. I need him and the Valks to shut down any insults the IC hurl Nesta's way. I need them to stick up for her, and defend and protect her. I need to see Cassian protect Nesta from Rhysand. I need to see him prioritize Nesta and her feelings. I need to see him treat her like the princess she is. I need him to romanticize the avid romance reader. I need him to cherish Nesta's heart, rather than rip it to shreds in his temper tantrums.

I need 600 pages of Cassian finally choosing Nesta over the IC.

[pcuniverse]

Acotar Things That Annoy Me To No End Pt 1.

The fact that Nesta was malnourished, and yet she still had these massive hadonkeroos. If a person is starving, either due to poverty or to punish themself, they likely would not have a big chest. But no. We have

Nesta: *Noticeably unhealthy, very thin, isn’t eating because she thinks she doesn’t deserve to*

Cassian: HoLY mOly, thOsE ArE sum biG tIDDiEs!!

[theprettylightsinger]

If Cassian never saying I love you is not an issue because his "actions speak louder than words" than I'd like to propose we keep the same attitude for tamlin as well.

Who cares if he hasn't apologized, isn't bringing feyre's mate back to life enough? Isn't coming to war despite having his court, resources and army destroyed by his petty ex enough? Isn't putting his life at risk by blowing his cover, all to save feyre and her sister enough? Didn't he bring a sht ton of information about hyberns army, weaponry and camp? All of which helped immensely in the war efforts.

All this to: stop the hypocrisy.

[silly--fangirl]

"women subconciously seek out men like their father"

nesta's father never standing up for her to her mother and grandmother

and nesta's mate never standing up for her to his family

[hugevanserrass]

reasons to hate cassian

Cassian saw that Azriel was romantically interested in Mor, felt jealous over it, and agreed to have sex with her knowing it would hurt Azriel.

The first time he meets Nesta, he immediately passes judgement on her for letting Feyre hunt as a child, despite the fact that she was a child herself.

Tells her he doesn't understand why her sisters love her

Bonds with feyre over their shared experiences living in poverty but treats nesta like she's a stuck up rich girl, despite her living in the same mf hovel as feyre (why does he do this ??)

He gropes her in her own home despite her not wanting him to touch her.

He sees her on the verge of tears due to anger and despair when the human queens won't send aid to the humans in Prythian, and then a scene later says "She barely seems to care about anyone other than Elain."

Will not take no for an answer when Nesta tells him to leave her alone.

When they are both clearly feeling something for each other, he still rips his hand out of Nesta's when Mor walks in. Wtf was this about anyways?

He buys Mor lingerie despite knowing Nesta is his mate. This is just weird in general. Also calls Mor his sister, despite having slept with her in the past.

Judges Nesta for not getting over her trauma in a way that is both quick and convenient to him and the inner circle.

Admits to ignoring her claim that she is enjoying the music while he drags her, against her will, out of a "seedy" tavern.

Supports Feyre and Rhys in their decision to forcibly remove Nesta from her home and relocate her to the House of Wind, on threat of deportation.

Drags her to Windhaven to "train" even when she makes it clear she has no intention of training. As a result, she is forced to sit on a rock in freezing cold temperatures.

When Mor basically tells Nesta she is just like her evil father and the rest of the Court of Nightmares because she is mean to Cassian, Cassian does not defend Nesta nor call Mor out on it.

He brings up Nesta's dead father at breakfast because she won't eat her oatmeal.

He tells her everyone hates her.

He watches her fall down a very steep flight of stairs, and then laughs at her. She was bruised and had a black eye from this fall. Cassian thinks this is funny.

Whines constantly about being a bastard nobody despite Nesta only using "bastard" as a direct insult to him one time, and in that same convo he called her a haughty witch.

He is rude to Lucien for no reason. (unforgivable)

Despite knowing Nesta is vulnerable, he fucks her at the first opportunity, even though he knows she uses sex as a coping mechanism.

Snarls and bitches at Nesta when she talks about Rhysand in a tone he doesn't like, even after telling her he can match whatever she throws at him. (He can't)

Sides with Rhysand over her constantly, even when he is in the wrong.

Every time they do engage in some sexual act, he immediately bolts, leaving her alone and confused. Refuses to communicate his feelings, acts like an asshole.

Keeps secrets from her, and agrees to participate in a vote on whether or not she deservers to know about the swords she created, which directly pertains to her powers. He whines a little, but ultimately does what he is told.

When she voices her fear that she is not good enough for him and will never deserve him, he does not correct her.

When he learns of Nesta’s love for dance and how her mother twisted it into a tool to find her a prince, Cassian turns himself into the victim. (this takes skill tbh)

He interrupts the only true canon Neris moment to shove in and dance with Nesta. Will not forgive him for this. Get off the dance floor.

When they finally admit their feelings on solstice and have a passionate and meaningful night together, he STILL leaves immediately the next morning to go hang with his homies and doesn't see her for a week. She is left alone AGAIN. (Begging him to stop doing this.)

When Nesta has finally had enough of being judged by the inner circle, she decides to tell Feyre the truth about her pregnancy. Cassian is furious with Nesta, takes no responsibility for lying to Feyre, and does not react in the slightest when Rhysand threatens to KILL Nesta. (His mate)

When Feyre tells him that she is angry with all of them and not Nesta, he does not tell Nesta, even though it would be comforting to her while she is at her absolute lowest.

When Feyre tells him Rhys is secretly happy Nesta is going to hate every second of the hike, he has a nice little laugh with Feyre at Nesta's expense.

He makes her endure a back-breaking death march in which she is forced to carry an extremely heavy backpack as punishment.

He sees that Nesta doesn't care if she dies, and does nothing to get her away from the steep cliffs. He snaps at her the entire time, even while she is clearly spiraling and about to have a mental breakdown.

She collapses at the end of each day and all he says is "at least remove the pack so I can cook myself dinner." She has not spoken in days.

He works her to the point of passing out. She literally faints, face first, onto the hard ground and he yells at her for not drinking water instead of trying to determine if she's alright.

When she finally breaks down and cries and tells him how much she hates herself, he tells her how much he loves Rhysand as an attempt to relate to her suffering. (fuck you dude seriously)

He does not correct her when she says she is unworthy of love.

He says "there is nothing broken to fix" despite forcing her to obey him and change her coping mechanisms and behave in the way he approves.

When she tells him the word mate doesn’t mean anything to her because she’s human at heart he dismisses her instantly and says "that's bullshit." No attempt to understand her feelings whatsoever as he tries to force her to admit they are mates before she is ready.

Tells her he didn't ask to be "shackled" to her after she says she didn’t get to choose to be fae, and it was forced on her. (it was)

When she calls in the bargain he immediately thinks of a way to get around it. He does not respect the boundaries she sets for herself. He thinks something like "Easy enough command to work around. I'll tell her to word her bargains more cleverly." She says she wants a week alone and the very next day he shows up to Windhaven in order to force her to speak to him.

When he learns she has been taken into the blood rite, after a lot of sulking and one feeble attempt to disobey Rhys, he thinks something like "even if I could rescue her I wouldn't, I wouldn't take away her opportunity to save herself." Meanwhile Nesta is hoping that he will be coming to rescue her.

When Nesta finally saves him, and tells him she loves him, he does not say it back. HE NEVER SAYS I LOVE YOU.

He calls Eris a coward immediately after learning he was tortured by his father, and likely has been his whole life. In the same thought, he acknowledges that Eris was willing to be tortured to protect their alliance and STILL calls him a coward.

When Rhysand is yelling at Nesta AGAIN for helping Bryce save the entire world, Cassian does not stick up for her. AGAIN! (I stg you bitch)

Amren says to Nesta, in front of Cassian, "Pray to the mother that your sister changes Rhysand's mind tonight" ABOUT WHAT? IS HE GONNA KILL HER? And Cassian does...nothing.

"Nesta's mate shifted an inch closer to her, his eyes darting between the two of them, torn. Like he didn't know who to side with in the brewing fight." I hate him so much for this !!!!

Nesta tells Ember that Cassian is "the most furious with me of anyone" WHY? Nesta even voices that she doesn't think they'll kill her. This implies Rhys has yet again threatened her life because he disagrees with her choices, and guess what: CASSIAN DOES NOTHING.

[extremely-judgemental]

There was no reason to trade Lucnes for Nessian other than the fact that SJM wanted to punish Nesta. Why would Nesta even be in Night if she was mated to Lucien and serve Feyre for the rest of her life?

Lucien will rip her apart.

The Lucien who realised exactly what his mate needed with one glance?

The Lucien who was the only one to suggest bringing a healer to check on his depressed mate?

The Lucien who was the only one to listen to his mate and treat her like a person?

The Lucien who went on a quest just because his mate had a dream?

The Lucien who gave his mate space and time when she wasn't ready to accept her fae life or the mating bond?

The Lucien who marvelled at Nesta's powers instead of seeing her as a weapon?

Cassian is the one Nesta needed.

The neanderthal who saw his emaciated mate and the first thing he noticed were her boobs?

The neanderthal who said 'eat this or starve' when his depressed mate didn't like his food?

The neanderthal who laughed at his mate after she climbed up the stairs with bruises on her face?

The neanderthal who had sex with his mate right after she was sexually assaulted by an ancient creature?

The neanderthal who rejoiced at how happy his brother will be at his mate's misery?

The neanderthal who forced his mate on a dangerous hike when she was suicidal?

I hear delusions. But thanks for playing.

[aphroditeofcnidus]

Cassian needs to understand that being a bastard is not necessarily the reason some people don't like him or that some women reject him.This only serves as an excuse that keeps him from recognizing his mistakes.The first thing he does when he meets Nesta is insulting her in her own house,then he can't stop taunting,harassing and verbally abusing her.He stalks her and tells her that she is unlovable,while she's depressed.This leaves her trembling.And yet the reason she doesn't want to be around him is that he's a bastard.

The same goes with the Illyrians.Yes,it's true that some are prejudiced.But Devlon for example, might be sexist but doesn't despise bastards,in fact he gives them equal opportunities.If he didn't want Cassian to rise in the ranks,he wouldn't let him participate in the Blood Rite,given that he had seen both his potential and his friendship with the future HL.But now he calls him Rhysand's dog and Cassian thinks it's because he's a bastard,who became a general and not because he has actually become Rhysand's dog.

Cassian should just stop hiding behind his origin and reflect on his behaviour.It is the only way to become a better mate,a better general and a better person.

[my-acotar-thoughts]

So about Nesta vs the Inner Circle…

When they first meet Nesta and Elain, Rhys and Cassian already don’t like Nesta. That much was clear with how Cassian brought up Feyre hunting at 14, but I don’t understand why they ignore the fact that Nesta and Elain were also children, barely older than Feyre at that time too. Nesta wasn’t a grown woman expecting a child to do all the work. Nesta and Elain still did their parts in the home, but it was more traditionally feminine work that, honestly, Feyre acts like is beneath her.

It honestly feels like a manipulation. Feed into Feyre’s anger and insecurities against her sisters and seem more sympathetic so she sees you as the good guys. Cause their anger towards Nesta is extreme. The girl wasn’t out there buying luxuries, she was being practical. I also think Feyre compares Nesta to their mother too much and their mother sounded very frivolous so there may be projection. Nesta gives off a more practical aristocratic lady, not the frivolous, hedonistic kind like their mother. But yeah, Rhysand and Cassian feel like they’re just saying shit that Feyre wants to hear to feel validated in her anger towards her sisters, particularly Nesta. And Cassian, being Cassian, of course lets his emotions run away with him in the worst way.

[thefreakpanda]

Nesta Archeron isn't unecessarily mean. She snaps back at people!

Nesta Archeron isn't difficult. She just doesn't agree with oh-so-special Rhysand.

Nesta Archeron isn't abusive. She fights with a sister who's not scared to fight back.

Nesta Archeron isn't terrible. She just rejected a male who can't take no for an answer and specializes in harassment. (just because you'd happily jump on his d*ick doesn't mean every woman wants to)