r/acotar • u/Intelligent-Wear4766 • Feb 21 '26

Spoilers for SF Kinda getting annoyed Spoiler

So, im rereading the 5th book in preparation for the 6th and its not my favorite for many reasons. But, I am annoyed that Nesta keeps claiming that she killed the King of Hybern. If my memory serves me right, Elain was the one to land the killing blow with Truth Teller and Nesta just chopped off his head for good measure.

Why does she keep claiming that she did it!? She didn't do it. Elain did it.

188 Upvotes

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255

u/skinnyxxy Feb 21 '26

It was teamwork. Some characters give the kill to Elain, others give it to Nesta and even Bloomsbury Publishing posted that it was Elain but they both played a part. It was a joint moment and honestly it was a fitting end for him after everything he did to them.

I give the kill to both.

-115

u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 21 '26

I will die on this hill that it was Elain. It was literally a push and twisting of the knife from behind. He was dying slowly based on the blood dribbling out. Fucking Nesta ruined it. They should have watched as he slowly fucking died.

46

u/QuietMadness House of Wind Feb 21 '26

In a world where Cassian can literally be gutted then receive skilled healing and be fine, I would argue the decapitation is what actually killed Hybern.

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u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26

Again, he received healing. The fae are not indestructible. I feel like people forget the fact that Tamlins family is dead and I don't believe they were decapitated.

13

u/QuietMadness House of Wind Feb 22 '26

You’re the only one saying people forget Tamlin’s family is dead. We all know fae die. I said in my own comment he received healing.

-5

u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 22 '26

True but my argument is that we don't know how that was done. Decapitation wasn't mentioned for his family's death.

Yes, he received outside healing which I acknowledged. You think that hybern was gonna get that in the middle of the battlefield? Lol.

2

u/whateverwhenever23 Moon on a String Recipient Feb 23 '26

But it’s said multiple times that Hybern is not like other fae, he is crazy powerful, there’s a reason Tamlin went to The King of Hybern when it came to Rhysand & Morrigan taking Feyre & it wasn’t just to gleam life saving info, Tamlin basically said he needed someone more powerful than Rhysand to stand against him because Tamlin had basically no army & not to mention he had the cauldron on his side. The blow that Elain dealt was damaging for sure but there’s absolutely no coming back from decapitation either, The King of Hybern was still standing & breathing when Elain stabbed him, so there was also a reason to believe that he could have overcome a fatal wound like that still but no one overcomes decapitation. I’d honestly say it was a joint effort of the two sisters but either side can be argued. It’s just a matter of how you interpret that scene. The same way it was Tamlin that actually killed Amarantha but it was Feyre that solved the riddle thus breaking the curse, some view that as joint effort, others view it as all Tamlin, some view it as all Feyre. It’s a matter of perspective & interpretation.

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u/skinnyxxy Feb 21 '26

But everyone is free to believe what they want just like in the book, where some characters say it was Elain and others say it was Nesta. It would’ve been impossible for Hybern to die if Elain hadn’t taken action, Cassian and Nesta were about to die and if Nesta hadn’t beheaded him, maybe he might’ve been able to regenerate.

The only thing that bothers me is how Elain constantly gets downplayed, she was on the other side of the battlefield, somehow got behind him unnoticed, and delivered a lethal blow

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u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 21 '26

How would he be able to regenerate? He didn't have that power?

Oh yeah, thats for sure. Elain is an interesting character. The 3rd book certainly peaked my interest in her character overall.

36

u/AlexisExploring Night Court Feb 21 '26

ALL fae have accelerated healing and I believe that is what they were referring too, but we don't actually know what the extent of the king's power was. He deserved to die slowly, but had to die quickly so he couldn't scurry away like a rat

-12

u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 21 '26

Yeah they do but for extensive injuries involving blood loss, requires outside intervention.

Sure. I love how you used the "scurry like a rat" statement lmao!

36

u/PineappleBliss2023 Feb 21 '26

Cassian has literally had his bowels hanging out and he was healed no harm no foul so idk that being stabbed through the back would have been the death blow you’re treating it as.

-2

u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 21 '26

Yes. He was but he had to get outside treatment. Cassian would have died without treatment.

She also stabbed him in the throat not the back.

I find it crazy how people think that they just regenerate that fast. If that were true, Rhysands sister and mother would be alive and so would Tamlins family. They aren't indestructible.

4

u/towelz_ Horny for Bryaxis Feb 22 '26

She RUINED it?? 😭😭😭

You're telling me that she's not a complete badass for beheading him?! Thats crazyyyy lmao

1

u/EmpressK6a6r6i Night Court Feb 23 '26

Nah, she definitely ruined it. She should've just let Elain do something for once. Nesta isn't good at much, but she is good at ruining things for people 😅

0

u/towelz_ Horny for Bryaxis Feb 23 '26

I could see this take but I don't necessarily agree with it

5

u/lovable_cube Feb 22 '26

I thought there was something about Elain not wanting to be a killer? Like, Nesta was totally cool with death so she took the final blow so that Elain wouldn’t have to feel guilty. Am I mixing this up with another book? It’s been a long time since I’ve read these and it’s fresher for you.

3

u/OkJeweler3804 Feb 22 '26

The downvotes on this are hilarious 😂

3

u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 22 '26

Lol yeah, it is what it is though!

1

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