Well, again, the issue is not that Rhys has done bad things, it’s how those actions are framed in the story. Let’s think about this – if Rhysand’s actions UTM were framed as negative then perhaps we would not be having this conversation.

Of course, we can argue that Rhysand (1) has developed negative coping mechanisms / perspective (2) Rhysand’s trauma informs the things that he does (both pre, during, and after UTM), and (3) Rhysand’s position was uniquely isolating because of the nature of the role he was forced to play. These are points that I believe can be argued and offer an interesting view; but for any of that to happen, we have to acknowledge that the behaviors are negative. That’s often the problem with the arguments that begin to arise – no one wants to admit that Rhysand has developed (or just has) negative qualities and behaviors. No one wants to contend with the reality of consequences. “Rhysand has always admitted that he would be willing to do terrible things for his family” – and yet there’s no elaboration on those “terrible things.” No one wants to talk about those proposed negative qualities. The story (and the audience) don’t want to admit that Rhys doesn’t really have a solid moral high ground over Tamlin, or admittedly other villains. Just because Rhysand “admits” he’s prone to basically being abusive doesn’t…make it any less abusive.

My proposed argument about Rhysand’s actions UTM are this: he chose to sexually assault Feyre, he chose to “protect” Feyre in ways that were extremely sexually explicit. I believe these are choices that Rhys chooses to make – and I believe they say something about him. It’s noted, to me, that Amarantha scarcely makes Rhys do anything that he does to Feyre. I also believe that his actions regarding Feyre were done with an air of autonomy; as in, I believe Rhysand takes these measures into his own hands. Ultimately, I believe that while Rhysand has to contend with the horrors, he himself becomes beholden to them at some point and ends up perpetrating the same behaviors.

We cannot argue that Rhysand sexually assaulted Feyre, and then argue that it doesn’t say something about him. It does. In the realm of the story – from a writing standpoint – I think a good author can still make a character like that sympathetic and understandable (see: Nahadoth and Itempas from N.K. Jemisin’s Hundred Thousand Kingdom). If I were analyzing Rhysand’s actions, I would simply make the argument that perhaps Rhysand’s abuse of Feyre mirror’s his own abuse by Amarantha hands, and he potentially sees Feyre (and her hope) as something to be threatened – or even shamed by. If Rhysand’s actions were written in a way that clearly exemplified that his actions are not meant to be praised (and are NOT are reflection of love) then he could be salvaged. I actually believe a lot of the abusive things Rhysand does makes sense given the environment and if the story leaned into this from a storytelling perspective and did away with needing to moralize, then this would all be fine. Framing Rhysand’s abuse of Feyre as something to be praised, admired, and loved for is actually quite insane. If we frame his actions as purely preservational and self-serving, that would make so much sense. Imagine being in Rhysand’s position; I guarantee everyone would do whatever they could to stop such extreme amounts of abuse and sexual violence. And even then, the story could still create a narrative that warns of the danger of sexual violence and consent, it would just be subtextual and more allegorical than concretely written in the text. Starting Feyre and Rhysand off in such a tragic place, having Feyre and Rhysand acknowledged truly what happened, having them discuss ways for both of them to move forward while building up the mating bond in the background. Have Feyre acknowledge this untrusting, sly, slick part of Rhysand and have her not assume her mate does everything out of the kindness of his heart. Build their romance out of a place of mutual atonement – play on the theme of guilt Feyre feels and the whole premise of the court. Let the connection between Feyre and Rhys be that they truly acknowledge each others darkness (and also let Feyre do selfish things – maybe she knew damn well Clare Beddor’s family might suffer a bad fate but its not her family and Feyre would do anything for them; Let Feyre kill those fairies with ease because she cares about her life. Let her contend with reality that she would actually do anything for her family and then have that be a connection between Rhys and Feyre.

Something that has always bothered me about the “we don’t talk enough about Rhysand’s trauma” argument that gets thrown around when we earnestly discuss the validity of his actions is the presumption of innocence in that statement. The unwritten statement is that the trauma somehow explains and simultaneously absolves him of the implications of his actions. I objectively agree with the sentiment – Rhysand’s trauma is not talked about enough and it should be. The argument dancing in the corner is the fact that people believe that Rhysand’s extreme amount of trauma absolves him – even going as far as essentially say that Rhysand’s abuse operates out of fear (or because of fear) which is essentially the exact same ideology the book bashed Tamlin for. In the end, the cycle just comes back around and the abuse gets pushed into the backdrop.

i think the thing that frustrates me the most about feyre's character post-acotar — hell, even post-acomaf — is that she stops being a character past that point in the series. acomaf, i can still see elements of feyre's original character, but i think acowar and beyond (especially acofas and acosf) is where her character devolves completely into something virtually unrecognizable. and this, in my opinion, is because once she and rhysand become established in their relationship, her entire characterization starts to revolve around him.

prior to acomaf/acowar, feyre has a personality independent of the relationships she has with other people. her characterization has its flaws, as the first book is flawed as a whole, but she's generally a decently-crafted character. feyre is an interesting character because, in the first portion of the book, we learn that she's a jaded, clever huntress who is willing to kill to survive and make painful decisions for the good of herself and her family. she's bitter, resentful, and miserable, and the crux of her life revolves around survival.

but then we learn new things. feyre loves painting, and if she had a choice, she'd marry off her sisters and live peacefully with her father, spending her days painting anything her heart could desire. she's capable and an able killer, but her dreams and wants are for a peaceful life. these desires are expanded upon later in the book when we learn that, if given the option, feyre wouldn't kill. she's jaded and can come off as someone who'd be a stereotypical "girlboss," badass killer. but in reality, feyre doesn't like bloodshed. she doesn't like killing, and if she had it her way, she'd never kill another living thing again.

this is interesting. acotar!feyre is actually a very interesting and dynamic character when compared to who she becomes in later books. she has an internal conflict that affects every aspect of who she is, and it is this conflict that is so deeply tied to what she's forced to do in the climax of the story: either kill innocent faeries or watch as the love of her life dies before her very eyes. this final trial is so painful because it's been established that, in a peaceful environment, a killer is not someone feyre wants to be, and a killer is instead what she's forced to become.

then, of course, acomaf happens and yada, yada, yada. she's still a relatively interesting character on her own, if (arguably) ooc, but has an independent characterization regardless. it's after this book where things take a turn for the worse.

in acowar, feyre is no longer the character who protects the "little guy" and would give up petty jewels to make sure a faerie can eat. she's no longer the character who acts based on her morals and inherent humanity, rather than faerie logic. instead, she's the character who destabilizes an entire court on the brink of war, uncaring of the consequences to the people of spring. in acofas, she's buying another goddamn house while people in velaris and beyond are struggling to make ends' meet following the war that she and rhys dragged them into. in acosf, she's doing the same fucking thing to nesta that destroyed and traumatized her a few books previous, and she's become the glorified housewife to rhysand. she's having his kid when she's not even 25 yet. she's being paraded around like some prized horse. she's sitting around, painting and decorating houses, while rhys does all the actual politicking. she's exactly what she feared she'd become in acomaf, and there's no consequence whatsoever.

this is not the feyre of acotar. this feyre is the faceless, empty love interest to the real main character: rhysand. she's a reflection of him. that's why she went from the woman who feels uncomfortable wearing fancy jewels to the woman who'd spend her newfound millions on frivolous lingerie rather than do anything meaningful with her position as high lady. that's why she went from the character who had respect and a new understanding of nesta in book 1, to the character that'd do such horrendous things to her in acosf. that's why she stands around and lets rhys and amren bully and degrade nesta. she's not a character anymore. she's just rhysand's mate.

artist: mftfernandez

Whoever you are… I hope your pillow stays cold on both sides everytime you lay your head down

Whoever you are… I hope your pillow stays cold on both sides everytime you lay your head down

Cassian: “Talk to me”

Nesta: *opens up to Cassian for once about why she’s apprehensive about the mating bond*

Cassian:

snarls at her to the point where people give them a wide berth on the bridge

rages loud enough for people to hear it across the river

can’t empathize with why the forcibly made fae is still clinging onto her humanity

tells her he didn’t have a choice in being shackled to her

Mama archeron had no time for her youngest child Feyre yet also asked her to take care of the family on her death bed

Mama archeron was delirious with fever when she asked Feyre this

Mama archeron’s favoruite daughter was Nesta who looks most like Feyre

And I’m meant to believe she did not think it was her eldest daughter she was talking to on her deathbed rather than Feyre, you know, the daughter who was going to marry a duke to elevate the family’s wealth

“Tell me when you knew,” (Lucien) demanded, his knee pressing into mine. “That Rhysand was your mate. Tell me when you stopped loving Tamlin and started loving him instead.” I chose not to answer. “Was it going on before you even left?” I whipped my head to him, even if I could barely make out his features in the dark. “I never touched Rhysand like that until months later.” “You kissed Under the Mountain.” “I had as little choice in that as I did in the dancing.” “And yet this is the male you now love.”

And yet this is the male you now love.

And yet this is the male you now love.

And yet this is the male you now love.

Actually, Tamlin is not wrong to think that maybe all Feyre wanted was to be High Lady, so she switched High Lords. Because that actually makes way more sense than canon.

“Lucien would enact the Blood Duel over claim to Elain.”

Lucien Vanserra?

Lucien, who was willing to undergo torture to keep Feyres name?

Lucien, the only one to give Feyre a way to get true answers?

Lucien, who came to check in on Feyre UTM?

Lucien, who saved Feyres life in the first trial and was whipped debilitatingly for it?

Lucien, who still found a way to make it to Feyre after he was whipped?

Lucien, who gave Feyre a means to protect herself?

Lucien, who took the brunt of Tams abuse advocating for Feyre?

Lucien, who ventured into the Nigh Court tracking Feyre basically on his own to attempt to save her from a HIGH LORD who he thought was mind controlling her?

Lucien, who suffered in silence from Ianthes stalking and harassment?

Lucien, who endangered himself to get to Elain to cover her up when she came out of the cauldron when no one else could?

Lucien, who held Feyre because she was having a nightmare?

Lucien, who performed the Rite out of duty even when it meant forcing him to have sex with the woman who actively stalked and harassed him and would later go on to try to rape him?

Lucien, who was Feyres closest ally in the Spring Court even as she was destroying to only place he could call home?

Lucien, who told Feyre to run while he was about to be raped so she would be safe?

Lucien, who protected Feyre when they went on the run?

Lucien, who went to the Night Court to ensure his mate was safe, not caring about his own safety, not knowing if he would die?

Lucien, who found out what was wrong with Elain, and even through his concern and mate instinct, respected Elains boundaries and the inner circles wishes?

Lucien, who cooperated from the moment he stepped into the Night Court to help give them information to save Prythian?

Lucien, who was the only person to listen to Elains visions, and endangered himself to travel to the continent?

Lucien, who helped bring a fucking army to Prythian to save them and help destroy Hybern?

Lucien, who slaughter his way across a battle field just to make sure Elain was ok?

Added Bonus: Lucien, the ONLY PERSON to tell Amarantha off and lost his eye for it?

I can keep going but I hope you get the point that under no fucking instance does Lucien enacting a blood duel fit his character. He is the most selfless character is this series and how anyone could call him a fucking coward is beyond me. Maybe try reading with nuance and understanding the character yall speak ill of on behalf of Azriel who hasn’t even done half as much. And stop acting like Elain needs saving from him when he’s been nothing but respectful to her and the most respectful mate we’ve seen. Get it together.

Rhysand: Know why I called you in here?

Azriel: Because I accidentally sent you a dick pic.

Rhysand: *Stops pouring two glasses of wine* Accidentally?

I feel like some of you forget that Rhysand let an innocent human get murdered. “But he took the pain, she didn’t feel it!” She’s still dead babes.

I feel like some of you forget Rhysand forced Feyre into their bargain and then drugged her night after night. “He did it so she didn’t remember the horrors!” Still drugged her hun.

I feel like some of you forget Feyre didn’t hurt just Tamlin by destroying the Spring Court, she destroyed the lives of innocents.

I feel like some of you forget that Feyre used Elain against Lucien when they left spring.

I feel like some of you forget they ended up going through Autumn somewhere Lucien feared and knew he’d be killed on sight because she lied and stole from the summer court.

I feel like some of you forget that Feyre was playing Tamlin and Lucien off against each other.

I feel like some of you forget Amaranta groomed Tamlin and then cursed Prythian when he rebuffed her advances.

I feel like some of you forget Tamlin spent 50 years trying to make it right, sending his friends out to die, friends who went willingly.

I feel like some of you forget Tamlin took Lucien in when he had nowhere else to go, gave him a home and a semblance of family.

I feel like some of you forget Tamlin had his own trauma. “He didn’t check on Feyre and help her with her trauma!” Show me where she did that for him??

I feel like some of you forget how in Rhysand’s attempt to prove he is a “good guy” he cut Tamlin off from speaking, allowed Azriel to attack Eris (maybe they did both deserve it) but what about when he essentially said “You can work with me or I can go into your minds and make you.”

I feel like some of you forget Lucien had endured abuse and loss his whole life and stood by the one person he had even if the decision was wrong.

I feel like some of you forget Lucien and Tamlin were raised to fear Rhysand and yet they still did everything they could to save her. “But she told Lucien she was fine and she sent a letter!” How was Lucien to know Rhys wasn’t controlling her and how were they to know she could read or write? She couldn’t when she left Spring?

I feel like some of you forget Lucien stood his ground when he found Feyre in the woods despite knowing the male that stood with her could kill him with very little effort.

I feel like some of you forget that Lucien didn’t shout that Elain was his mate, he didn’t claim ownership of her, he said it in shock, as if he couldn’t believe that Jesminda wasn’t his mate.

In short, I feel like some of you were very quick to forgive Rhysand and Feyre but you can’t forgive Tamlin and Lucien?

Amren to a very depressed nesta “You have become a pathetic waste of life.”

Rhys to a very depressed tamlin “"I hope you live the rest of your miserable life alone here.”

what the fuck is up the IC’s ass that they feel this need to be awful to very depressed people who are literally hanging on by a thread.

I wonder what it's like to be the heir to a tryant High Lord.

A child to a horrible parent.

To grow up by their side, knowing as a kid what they're doing isn't right, but not knowing what's wrong.

To never be good enough, strong enough, powerful enough, brave enough, to never be right just existing .

No son of theirs would play an instrument made for people lesser than them, he should know he is above that.

No son of theirs would fly over their court using the wings he was born with, wings that showed his lesser heritage, he should know it isn't right to.

No son of theirs would grow to be kind in a court that wasn't made to be kind, he's the eldest of 7, he should know better than that.

No son of theirs would never just be a son, a child.

Forced into their position, no court would accept a half breed as High Lord, not unless he forced them, not if he wore a mask of his father, turning into him without even realising it with every passing day till he forgot who he was and became his father. Forgotten was the boy who liked to fly outside at night, the one who befriended others way below him as his father would say, gone was the boy who gave bastards a chance at friendship.

What would the court think if they knew their High Lord never even wanted to be one? He had to keep up his appearance, sit on a throne and demand a family with no home to give him something every two years. He hadn't learn anything on how to be a High Lord, he'd never wanted to be, content on being in a warband writing poetry, playing his fiddle for his friends to enjoy, friends his father would not consider good enough. Gone was the boy who felt joy at the simplest of things, not a little boy but still not a right man, even after knowing what he shouldn't do, ended up doing most of it while wanting to be different.

Then there is the heir who wears his own mask of indifference, he knows what his father does is wrong, and his act is to protect himself the best he could from the father who tortures his sons, the husband who beats his wife. Ordering his younger brothers like they are his hounds, losing his relationship with his favorite one because "Half" comes before brother. All he can do is hope he doesn't end up like his father.

But when does a mask turn into who you are? Who you were lost in the ruins of what was meant to be your childhood.

A victim in their story, a villain to whoever sees from the outside.

I wonder what it it's like to be the heir of a tryant High Lord, because from outside, it just looks like a High Lord who will never be good enough.

Because for me, that box is already crossed, to never be good enough, a child to a horrible parent, I can feel myself slipping behind my own mask.

A phrase that shouldn't be an insult is already coined as one.

"You act like your father"

https://www.tumblr.com/astrababyy/738088417973420032/one-thing-i-really-liked-about-feyre-in-the-first

This post of your makes me wonder if SJM wasn't a onetrick pony and respected her own stories and actually wrote characters and not tropes of girlboss ™️ what would've feyre's character trajectory looked like? I'm interested to know what do you think her arc would've been?

I sometimes feel like the problem isn't even Feysand being a ship it's SJM molding Feyre (& nesta) so they are similar to their bat boy mates. Because like there's S&B with darklina being it's most popular ship. Sure it's not endgame and that's because Leigh didn't completely change Alina's whole personality to fit the darkling. Alina got to keep the characteristics that made her who she is which is what made the chemistry between the two interesting too unlike in SJM's stories where she obliterates her fmc's entire personality to fit their male li and in doing so it ruins any appeal in the "ship" itself. Feyre/Feysand and Nesta/Nessian are both examples of that.

hello, anon! i rarely ever receive asks regarding meta or characterization so thanks so much for this lol <3

as i stated in the post you linked, i do believe that feyre's natural arc would've had some sort of internal conflict regarding both her trauma from under the mountain and her being turned into a faerie. i feel that rhysand's comment about her "human heart" could've been emphasized better in the second book and would've served as an interesting contrast from rhys, her established mate in the story. their morals are vastly different from each other; how does this change their relationship? would feyre accept him for who he is? would she judge him, scorn him, try to help him?

especially in regards to the impending war, i think feyre struggling with her newfound fae instincts, being different from who she used to be, and trying to reconnect with who she used to be while accepting who she is now could've been very profound and paired well with her struggles with the trauma she faced from under the mountain.

the major issue with feyre's characterization is how she was molded to become rhysand's partner, rather than being able to fit with him naturally and seamlessly. the same issue occurs with nesta and cassian's relationship, where her character has to be altered just to fit in with the person cassian is. in feyre's case specifically, it got worse as the books went on. feyre gradually became less and less alike to her old self without a clear reason for why she was changing in that way. as i stated before, her becoming a less violent-averse person due to her faerie nature is understandable and would've been a wake-up call considering her transformation, but feyre becoming less empathetic and understanding of the plight of the lower classes, becoming so much more okay with spending money carelessly, supporting rhysand's frankly corrupt government structure, etc. are all ooc.

feyre, as a character, had a lot of potential and could've had that transition into becoming this warrior queen without losing all her morals and beliefs, becoming a vessel for the pro rhysand agenda. it's truly unfortunate that her character had to devolve in the way it did.

i don’t know the exact timeline of the events so correct me if i’m wrong, but tamlin was probably a pretty decent ruler before lucien came along. he was very well-liked by his people, and they definitely would’ve revolted in some way if he was bad at it because the people of spring already proved they’re willing and able to do that if he doesn’t properly rule the court. that being said, politics isn’t just forming alliances and making allies. tamlin was probably good at the domestic aspects of ruling.

So a lot of Tamlin stans are coming into my comment section saying Tamlin is not a quitter and all that good stuff, so I will be discussing Tamlin as he has been written in canon. This is not anti-Tamlin in any capacity.

Tamlin does not have the ideal character traits of a ruler. This is not an insult at all. In fact, it is something he admits himself, book 1:

“I’d realized from an early age that fighting and killing were about the only things I was good at.”

“I claimed Lucien as my own—named him emissary, since he’d already made many friends across the courts and had always been good at talking to people, while I … can find it difficult. He’s been here ever since.”

This doesn't make him less than; there's nothing wrong with wanting to live a simple life. But, Tamlin was chosen to become High Lord. And he didn't quit- he did the best he could with what he'd been given, despite all the courtiers not having any faith in him. For someone woefully unprepared for the job, he did a great job, at least until ACOWAR, but he would've had a lot more difficulties had Lucien not showed up. Tamlin had very little courtier training, and he wasn't very good at that shit anyway.

In ACOSF, Tamlin is extremely depressed. His court is in shambles around him, and he has pretty much given up on his own life.

“They say a beast prowls these lands now. A beast with keen green eyes and golden fur. Some people think the beast has forgotten his other shape, so long has he spent in his monstrous form. And though he roams these lands, he does not see or care for the neglect he passes, the lawlessness, the vulnerability. Even his manor has fallen into disrepair, half-eaten by thorns, though rumors fly that he himself destroyed it.”

“You’ve been trying to bring Tamlin back for a while. But he isn’t getting better, is he?”

You're welcome to have your own interpretation on this, but from what I'm reading, it really feels like Tamlin has no interest in ruling over Spring anymore. While he's not generally a quitter, his life has become so shitty that he has given up on himself. I am not sure that SJM will keep Tamlin as the ruler of Spring; he might be killed off, but my personal belief is that she will have him abdicate the throne somehow. I know people will claim this is a retcon, but I don't think the possibility of abdication has ever actually been discussed within the scope of the books, so it wouldn't be a retcon.