Why is everyone so upset about the idea of Jude having a baby ten years after the end of her story? You do know that a woman's personality and mind don't get vacuumed out when they get pregnant right? She wouldn't change into some simpering caricature with no agency, Sarah J Maas really did a number on you guys...

Family has always been a major theme in this series: Jude was motivated in the first book by a need to protect her little brother. There has never been any suggestion from her that she doesn't want children, only an expression early in the first book that she's scared to always be powerless, and even her fairy children would be able to be cruel to her, which speaks to her desire to find her own power not a genuine drive not to have children.

It's completely understandable to be tired of all your characters having the same end: marriage to a guy, crown, babies, but I don't think this one character's fate after the conclusion of this one fantasy/romance series is the hill to die on.

Anyway, I love the idea and every time I imagine Jude as a mother I think of Najwa Nimri's amazing performance in La Casa de Papel, it was sooo Jude

My two favorites. ⚔️

Jude and Cardan - The Cruel Prince

Artist: @honeyypears

Jude Duarte: *exists*

Cardan Greenbriar:

When Jude told Oak to not worry about being the heir I was so hopeful for a jurdan baby 🥲

I haven’t read the cruel prince series yet but from what I’ve seen from it it’s basically like girlboss that’s tired of everything x bratty male wife and I love that for them.

cardan memes🔛🔝

The best part about Folk of Air is that it's so smart??? Holly Black uses the premise "Fae can't lie, humans can" in such genius ways and I am continuously impressed by it. That's such a cool premise and the execution is reallllyyy cool. It's a perfect setup for political intrigue *and* it's full of whimsy!!

And Jude is such a compelling character. Her drive, her desire to fit in, her desire to acquire social freedom through power is the core of the book. It's Jude feeling powerless that is the cataclysm for almost every event. That's what pulls you in. Power and freedom is what the book is about. I love that about it!

The romance subplot is great and all, but I don't feel myself prioritizing it?? Even so, I love it! I'm not a YA reader usually, and even when I do read YA, I don't engage in them in that way. A lot of fantasy have romances, and rarely do I connect to them emotionally even though I'm such a romance fan but Jude and Cardan have such a unique dynamic that works to *actually* further the story. Cardan is a great character even regardless of the romance subplot, but the premise, the execution, the whimsy, and Jude's motivations and inner world are the core of these books. I think that's why I love it so much.

And how could he have ever supposed she would come to care for him? Who can love someone who is empty inside? Someone who steals love instead of earning it?

- Holly Black, The Prisoner's Throne

I finished The Prisoners Throne a few days ago, and I've been thinking about what a relationship between Oak and Wren would look like...

No matter how messed up Oaks family is, he will always have a family to turn to for support. He always has (his sister literally sent an army to protect him like come on lol).

It makes me wonder how Oak will feel when he realizes how alone Wren is and how that has forced her to become independent. She has been on her own from a young age and was abused her entire childhood. I wonder if she will ever lash out or isolate herself as a trauma response? Will he notice? Will he care? Would he know how to help her? Comfort her? Would it make him appreciate the family he has?

What about when she feels safe and openly talks about her abusive parents and childhood? Or how she lived by herself in the mortal forest for years? Stealing food from her un-family and dumpsters just to survive.

Idk just a thought lol

Some quick Jude studies; I decided to take some creative liberties with her design, it’s always kind of difficult to draw book characters because of how diversely book character descriptions can be interpreted.

I decided to make it easy on myself and just try to design her in a way that’s easy to draw, but doesn’t take too much away from her character. (or at least how I interpreted her) :3

“I’m out of practice,” Taryn says.

“I’m not.”

She swings. I block her blow, our swords slamming together. The metal rings out, echoing through the room like a bell.

Taryn and Jude - The Cruel Prince

Artist: @manaarts_

I had a nightmare that tfota had stopped like Holly wasn't making more more books for it and the whole franchise and everything was being cancelled. Let's just say I'm glad it was just a dream

Ahhhhhh finally i got my hands on the Litjoy Edition of The Folk of the Air 🗡🌿👑

A dream come true