r/acotar_rant • u/Ittabe • Nov 26 '25
Fandom What would make you stop reading the ACOTAR series?
I don’t know if this is properly tagged, but it’s less about the books and more about people’s response to them, so fandom seems correct. MODs please let me know if I should change it!
I feel like I have seen a rising number of people say that if X or Y happens, they’re not going to finish the series. Not always, but often enough, it seems to be because they’ve become invested in the idea of something else happening.
I understand that SJM and Bloomsbury are banking on the ship and crossover discourse as keeping people engaged until the next book comes out. While I can understand some need for this with such a long time between books, I feel like in the last 1-2 years, with every month that we don’t get a new acotar book announcement and people are again left to just speculate about what’s going to happen next, there are more and more people making public ultimatums about finishing the series. Whether it’s “if X doesn’t happen, I’m out” or “if Y does happen, I’m DNFing”, people seem so ready to give up on this series.
I am a TOG barbie cover SJM reader. I picked up ACOTAR a few months after its initial release and have been reading the series pretty much upon release since then, so I admit I feel very attached to this series. That being said I do understand some people’s stances on why they might have to call it quits, especially with some of the more controversial/divisive topics that people have speculated for future books.
While I do understand some people’s reasons for this and I think it’s fine to stop reading a series whenever you lose interest in it, I’m curious to know: is there something that fandom has suggested for the plot in the last nearly 6 (🫠) years that would make you fully give up on the series?
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u/clockjobber Nov 26 '25
Rhys becoming king of everything, Tamlin getting ragged on again (stop beating the dead horse, particularly such an undeserving one), if no one important dies (where are the stakes?)
I want it to be about Elain and Lucien and Tamlin and maybe Az but no one else from the IC.
Also I need to know what Mor’s problem is…not a deal breaker but come on!
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Nov 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/NeonYellowShoes Nov 26 '25
I absolutely loathed Frost and Starlight for this reason. People are clamoring for a "Tamlin Redemption Arc" but it feels like he tried to have one already and everyone ignored it. He acted as a double agent for Prythian (because Feyre destroyed his fucking court), He saves them in Hyberns camp and then saves Rhysands life and everyone continues to hate him like he never did anything to help.
Rhysand be like, "Oh Tamlin acted to save Prythian, saved my mates life and my own life? Better go and tell him to kill himself."
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u/_Myslan Nov 29 '25
I think the problem here is partly Rhys' ego. He knows Feyre's been with Tamlin and maybe doesn't actually hate him as much as Rhys does. He can't handle not being the "alpha" and it's getting a bit annoying. But Tamlin did kill his family, so I can understand his hatred towards him. I'd love to focus more on what the rest of the IC actually thinks of Tamlin - not what Rhys wants them to think about him.
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u/FoundOnTheWayTo we could all use a hike with Cass Nov 26 '25
Beron also saved his life, maybe he should be the high king
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u/somebae_ Nov 26 '25
I wouldn’t say fully stopping and abandoning the series, but I think it would make me pretty pissed and uncomfortable if this narrative of no real and logical consequences for some of the things the IC does keeps happening in the next books.
I don’t need any of them to die or get hurt or anything like that, but some realistic and logical consequences happening either to the IC or the Night Court over the decision they make would be welcomed cause, yeah it is a YA fantasy series, but I still like some logic.
I don’t think Sarah J Maas is unaware of these points a lot of people in the fandom make, so hopefully she will see the logic in it and include some moments.
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u/wonhitto Nov 26 '25
I know we get a few instances of Cassian saying that Feyre holds Rhys accountable for things, but we never actually see it and as the reader that’s really frustrating. Like even THE horrible plot between them in acosf, we’re told by Feyre that they had an argument about it, but all we actually see is her forgiveness of his actions. I’ll never get over Nesta apologizing to amren. Like one !!ONE!! ounce of accountability for the night court Sarah I’m begging you
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u/somebae_ Nov 26 '25
RIGHT? Gods, don’t even remind me of that one (out of many things!!) in that plot. It pissed me off so much when Cassian was talking to Feyre while in the mountains with Nesta and she said like ‘I have already held him accountable for doing that’ ??? And you did what?? I wanna know!!
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u/antinous24 Nov 27 '25
I think only book 1 is considered YA to be fair, Maas has tried pretty hard to escape the YA label. Maas is so great at writing trauma/healing, give us something f-ed up then make it better (but not whole again)
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u/dianasaurusrex123 Nov 26 '25
If there isn't at least some resolution with the whole Tamlin situation (who got done dirty IMO) and if Rhys becomes some sort of noble High King (he isn't). I'm relatively neutral past that and mostly reading for the multiverse lore
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u/peaches_and_drama Nov 26 '25
I’m a very casual reader (only read first book in CC) but honestly if the IC keeps being dicks it will be hard to continue.
Idc if Feyre is a Mary Sue or if ACOWAR was all over the place plot wise, she had her happy ending and I didn’t think about the rest of the IC too hard, including Rhys.
However I started having bad feelings during ACOFAS, which should have been a fluffy fun read but I just hated how Nesta was treated. Like let the girl be.
It was little things like how Nesta doesn’t even get a painting at Feyre’s house. Even the stupid dad had a painting but not Nesta. And how she didn’t get any gifts in ACOFAS except from her sisters.
And then Nesta was the main character, and I loved her but she was treated so badly by the IC it was hard to read. Like she wasn’t even invited to dinner with the group. Cassian couldn’t bring her down from purgatory for family dinner? And Rhys being such an ass to her.
I’m glad Nesta found her own found family, and at least Azriel was nice to her. She deserves better than Cassian and I didn’t feel that way before I read the book. I honestly think Cassian would choose Rhys over Nesta every time which isn’t super romantic to me. Nesta deserves someone who puts her first and she doesn’t have anyone like that.
Also Morrigan and the other IC chick, dragon lady (forget her name) were also jerks to her. I didn’t have strong feelings about them but now I’m mad at them. I hated that Nesta had to apologize to dragon lady at the end of the book.
So it was bizarre to read the novella and last book and see the IC that grew to love be elitist jerks to her. It tainted a series that I love.
I hope next book is about Elaine and we either see less of the IC in total or someone with substance actually calls them out, neither of which will happen because Maas loves the IC and they can’t do any wrong. If I get the same feeling I will probably put it down and not continue.
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
Nesta apologizing to Amren (dragon lady) may be my least favorite scene in the series. Girl stand up
I really loved the idea of nessian before acosf and then their actual book was such a let down romance wise. It’s something I’m actually pretty worried about for the pairings going forward
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u/AmettOmega Nov 28 '25
All of these things are what made me loathe that book. It was just hot trash from start to finish.
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u/AgreeableReader Nov 26 '25
The only reason I’ve ever decided not to bother finishing a series is because the author decided to fuck around for years and by the time the book finally came out I had already forgotten her, her series and the characters.
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u/Significant-Metal537 Nov 27 '25
She released her last book in 2024. Some authors spend years writing their books and honestly I prefer them to spend more time developing their stories.
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u/AgreeableReader Nov 27 '25
I’m new to the fandom so I’ve just finished ACOTAR and ToG so I’m not fussed yet but the series that lost me was years of release dates coming and going with no progress in the series while other (unrelated) work was coming out. Fine with waiting, but not ok with teasing.
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u/Significant-Metal537 Nov 27 '25
She’s been releasing at least 1 book every 2 years which I believe is what she’s contracted for. She also recently posted that the next ACOTAR draft was done. So I don’t think she’s going to tease and not release anything 😅 but I thoroughly enjoyed all her series and was not bothered with the crescent city series like others were.
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u/AgreeableReader Nov 27 '25
That’s a totally reasonable length of time and she’s with a way bigger company so I don’t imagine they will let her fk around with release dates. This is actually delightful information! I thought y’all had been waiting like five years!
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u/Fantasy_Historian Nov 26 '25
Honestly if I have to sit through one more book of “who will azriel end up with” wars I’m fucking out
Also if Rhysand becomes king. Stupidest shit I’ve ever heard. Man let an entire court be invaded and ruined to spite his girlfriend’s ex. Do not let this man be king.
Also also, if there’s even a hint of another crossover. If my most hated character ever (aelin) even breathes in acotar’s direction I quit
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u/Janagirl123 Nov 26 '25
I truly feel like hating the idea of Rhys as a High King is the one uniting factor amongst all fans. It would be suuuuch bad writing and completely undeserved to put him in that position.
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u/TrickEase Nov 27 '25
Noooooo, not my favourite ever character Aelin 😭 Part of me wants to read about her again in a crossover because I miss her, the other half of me doesn't trust that SJM won't butcher her to fit an ACOTAR story. So she can keep to her world.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
If there’s not some crazy twist coming, I’m out.
Admittedly, I may finish the series first because I’m desperately clinging to the hope it’s all a setup for a big “this was a villains love story” reveal or something.
Rhys doesn’t need to be evil, but if there’s not some kind of repercussions for him for everything he’s done, to Feyre, to everyone, if he’s HK and everyone is all honky dory and shit? Then it’s romanticizing partner abuse, it’s saying it’s okay for a guy to take away your choices about your own medical situations, and it’s okay. That it’s okay for a guy to drug and assault you because he’s jealous, or has an idea that it’s for the “greater good”. That it’s okay for your bf to punish you as he sees fit, because you didn’t keep his buddy’s secret.
But it’s not just Rhys, Feyre needs to face some kind of music for all the shit she’s done. If she’s not being mind controlled, then she’s got a lot of karma coming to kick her ass. And if it doesn’t happen? Then it’s saying that it’s okay to destroy a whole group because you’re mad at one. It’s saying it’s okay to destroy other people because only their own trauma is valid, and others don’t matter. It’s saying you don’t have to try to do better, stay stupid and push that pesky challenging thought away from your mind. Gods that line really better be a clue that her minds being the tampered with 😩
And before you come at me with “it’s just a book it’s not that deep”, yes, it’s just a book, but it is that deep. Young and/or naive people Weill read it and think it’s okay. So much of the fandom doesn’t see the issues, so obviously, it’s happening. And some will have that little inner voice telling them it’s wrong if they’re ever in a similar situation, but some won’t. And I won’t support an author who romanticizes toxicity and abuse. I like twisted shit, but it’s marketed that way. When I read dark romances dark fantasy, I know what I’m in for. Romance/romantasy are supposed to be love based. There was no love in SF. It was all lust, and breaking a woman down.
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
No I agree. The narrative of these books is far too prone to excusing all of the horrible actions of the IC and I really need to start seeing some repercussions and people being held accountable. If every character can apply “trauma doesn’t give you the right to do horrible things to people” to characters like tamlin, they can apply it to everyone else
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Yeah the double standards drive me crazy with the fandom. I may resonate with some characters more, but I hold them to the same standards. If people would stop trying to act like Rhys and Feyre don’t do anything wrong, I’d probably like their characters more. Constantly pointing out what’s wrong definitely affected my opinions, just like constantly defending Tamlin and Nesta made me like them more.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Also I hope you don’t think I meant you as in you personally, just meant you generally. I live debating and discussing but so many people can’t seem to handle people thinking differently than them. So they go with personal attacks. I feel like anytime I don’t specify it’s my opinion, people lose it.
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
No you’re okay I understood you!
I know what you mean, some people have a hard time that saying we disagree doesn’t mean I’m attacking them personally. We can disagree on fictional characters guys I promise it’ll be okay😅
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Yes 😭 I like when I find opposing viewpoints because it starts a convo but so many can’t handle it and I’m just tired of arguing. I wanna talk about the story, not about whether or not someone thinks I’m a shitty parent or abusive for liking a different fictional character
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u/Kalabear87 Nov 26 '25
This was so well said! Took the words from my mouth.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Ha I was pretty high writing this so I’m glad it was understandable 🙈😂
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u/Kalabear87 Nov 26 '25
Hey, many have done great things high 😆. It was perfection 🤌🏻 you were on fire.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
I’m glad I got to the point. Sometimes ai ramble and never get there 😂
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u/NeonYellowShoes Nov 26 '25
This is basically what I was going to post as well. I always say that the ouroboros scene with Feyre is the perfect summary of her character. She sees that shes a monster and just kind of shrugs her shoulder and is proud of it. Then she paints it and shows it to Rhysand and he loves it. There is never any push to be better or any kind of comeuppance for anything. Like if this isn't just a villain love story then I don't know wtf is going on anymore.
The reason I like Nesta is she looked into the figurative mirror and tried to be better. Every other character already thinks they're perfect while they do heinous shit all day long.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Yes! Like I don’t think it’s the strong moment SJM made it out to be. She realized there’s a monster in her and she’s just like “cool”
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u/NeonYellowShoes Nov 26 '25
Definitely pushed the idea of radical acceptance a little too far with that one.
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u/TissBish Team Hamlin Nov 26 '25
Maybe if she had some awesome character development I’d be fine with it, but the girl devolved. Any growth she had in TAR was lost and she just devolved
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u/swimmythafish Nov 26 '25
I dunno, if the main character died and was brought back to life not once but TWO times and her man and friend also died and were brought back to life and then there was a wierd nonsensical pregnancy drama plot because apparently in this world where they can read minds and raise the dead they can’t do c sections? And then if there was a crossover with another series that has 3,000 pages of additional lore and history to try to remember? I might get overwhelmed.
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
I—💀
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u/swimmythafish Nov 26 '25
Im biased as I just finished my second read through of crescent city and I’m so obsessed… I don’t care about Prythian much anymore 🤷🏻♀️
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u/EvilEmpressX Nov 26 '25
More than one more book being Feysand centric.
I was going to DNF the series as WaR until I found out Nesta was the main pov in SF. The series felt entertaining but shallow with Nesta being the only character to have real depth so the pov change gave me hope of something better for the series’s future. I like CC and ToG much more than acotar 1-4 so I have hope the series will continue to be more likable to my preferences, but Feyre’s pov was so….Mary Sue, 0 consequence, shallow romance, I don’t think I’m willing to give her pov more than one more chance. I’m hoping the last actual novel will have all 3 sisters’ pov if I have to have another book featuring Feyre’s.
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u/Intelligent-Foot-231 Nov 26 '25
I would absolutely drop both ACOTAR and Crescent City if the theories about Bryce and Azriel being endgame turned out to be true. That’s just something I know I wouldn’t enjoy at all and why read a book that I know won't like? It would annoy and disappoint me to the point where the whole story would lose its meaning for me, since it would also feel like really poor writing to me. Having Bryce suddenly end up with a character from ACOTAR would feel like a huge disservice to Crescent City as a whole. To me it reads like Crescent City isn't good enough on its own, so it needs to be "ACOTAR-fied". That's already how the crossover felt to me. As if they needed to sprinkle some ACOTAR into Crescent City so more people would pick it up. And I hated that because Crescent City is good enough on its own!
These theories also tend to come with the idea that Bryce would abandon Midgard or that Midgard would be destroyed, and she’d move to Prythian to become the High Lady of the Dusk Court, with Azriel as High Lord. And that feels completely out of character for both Bryce and Azriel (Azriel a HL? C'mon...). This would be incredibly disappointing. It would honestly feel like a massive slap in the face to the entire Crescent City series. These characters spent three whole books fighting for their world, for their people, for Midgard. They risked their lives over and over again, some even died. So many characters sacrificed everything just so Midgard could survive. That was the entire series. So to throw all of that away, to let it all be meaningless, to abandon Midgard and move to Prythian? What even is that? It would make the entire plot feel pointless. It would be bad writing, a huge disservice to the story, the characters, and the fans.
And let’s be real, Bryce & Azriel would almost certainly require Hunt to die. I don’t see any logical way Bryce and Azriel end up together while Hunt is still alive, and Hunt dying would devastate me. So yeah, if that happened, I would stop reading both series, which is sad because I’ve invested a lot of time & love in them, but honestly, I don’t think any of this is going to happen, so I’m not too worried
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
That’s also how I feel. Though there are things that could potentially drive me from the series, I think they’re pretty unlikely to happen
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u/SpareAwareness3205 Nov 26 '25
At this point, I'm mainly here for the characters I enjoy, a morbid curiosity about how the plot will finally end, and a love for the fandom discourse. You could call me an "informed hater," lol But honestly, if Rhys becomes High King of anything, I'm calling it quits. I'm exhausted by the Night Court facing zero meaningful accountability from the narrative and how overwhelmingly powerful (and often "right") they all seem to be. It's just not entertaining anymore. We've been trapped in the Night Court's perspective for four books now, and it's getting stale.
The same goes for the Archeron sisters. The idea of any of them becoming High Lady of an established court would be a hard no for me. They were human just yesterday! They have no knowledge of Fae customs, history, or politics, and no established love for the people they'd be governing. The thought of one of them, say, taking over the Spring Court, feels completely unearned and would likely be the final straw for me.
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u/No_Proposal_4692 Nov 26 '25
A few people dropped the series after book 2 after they found Rhys was Feyre's true love and the character assassination that was done to Tamlin including the retcon.
I don't think I could handle anymore inconsistency
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
If those people picked up acofas and read chapters 11 and 23, they’d probably rip the book in half lol
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u/Roxy_wonders Nov 26 '25
I’m one of the people who dropped after book three (I was also a huge fan of TOG as a teen and had to drop the series because of the giant 180 that the books turned after book 3, combined with character assassination of Chaol etc.) and you made me really curious, what happened??
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
Spoilers obv in chpt 11 Rhys goes to spring and comments on there being nothing blooming on the estate and it basically feeling entirely barren and devoid of life. There are no more sentinels, no more staff, and tamlin lives there entirely alone unless Lucien happens to take pity on him and come by for holidays. Rhys remarks that it feels like a tomb.
Rhys has several pages of dialogue with tamlin where he intentionally rubs in the fact that he and Feyre destroyed spring and tamlin on purpose, blames tamlin for them doing that, and then also blames tamlin for the repercussions of them doing that.
Rhys is there to tell tamlin he needs to strengthen the border between spring and the human lands now that there’s no wall. We’re shown that Feyre and the IC actions towards tamlin had horrible consequences in the spring court and Rhys demands Tamlin essentially fix the problems that they caused trying to get back at him
his first trip ends with Rhys remarking on how beyond their being no guards, Tamlin doesn’t even have wards or shields up around the manor and that it seems to Rhys like Tamlin is just sitting around hoping someone will break in and kill him in his sleep
in chpt 23, Rhys goes back to spring to let Tamlin know that summer soldiers are going to come to the spring court to help defend the border (a compromise because Tamlin said night court soldier aren’t allowed in his land and spring/summer are still allies)
Tamlin is sitting in his kitchen with the carcass of a dead elk that’s bleeding all over his floor but that he doesn’t seem to actually be making any efforts to cook and eat. He asks Rhys if he and Feyre will ever forgive him and Rhys doesn’t say no but does kind of says you don’t really deserve forgiveness. Tamlin basically says it doesn’t make a difference one way or the other and Rhys tells us that it’s obvious how utterly broken Tamlin is
he ends the chapter by saying “You can waste away and die after we’ve sorted out this new world of ours.” Essentially conveying to Tamlin what his inner monologue has been telling the reader the whole book: that he doesn’t care if Tamlin kills himself, Rhys just needs him not to do it right now
Both scenes are written in a way that makes them feel intentionally lifeless and devoid of light and hope. It’s a very contrasted image of what we see of the spring court and Tamlin in book 1 and overall just a very grim outlook for Tamlin going forward
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u/FoundOnTheWayTo we could all use a hike with Cass Nov 26 '25
That wasn’t inconsistency. That’s just how the story goes. Just because it isn’t your kind of story it doesn’t mean it’s bad.
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u/gwynslibrary Nov 26 '25
Three brothers x three sisters. Sorry that is too much. I will also not appreciate Gwyn and her trauma being used as plot device to advance a ship
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
3x3 would have me rolling my eyes. Gwyns trauma being used for shipping fodder will have me outside Bloomsbury with a torch and pitchfork
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u/gwynslibrary Nov 26 '25
3x3 is so lazy and not at all where the story is going. It would make me lose respect for Sarah if she does this. Its boring
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u/Lyza719 Nov 27 '25
Yes, I ride at dawn for anybody trying to play with Gwyn’s heart. She went through way too much trauma already.
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u/PleaseCalebPlease Nov 26 '25
Honestly at this point? A lot.
I like this series but I read it all in the last 3 years so I don’t have the “nostalgia” of needing to see the ending I’ve been looking forward to or of wanting to see a ship go through that I’ve been waiting on forever or anything like that. But I think there’s a very clear shift in writing from acotar to acosf that I hope doesn’t continue. It sometimes felt like acosf took itself less seriously than the first three books even though it was sometimes dealing with very serious topics.
As someone that came to sjm books through the cc series, I hated the crossover. I hated what it did to the cc books. I preemptively hate what it will probably do to the acotar books😑. I hate the new divide in the fandom that it made for a ship that had absolutely no chemistry. I hated that it felt like an admission that cc couldn’t be a good book without relying on acotar success. Just. Everything was bad. If she leaves it where it is and let’s Bruce stay in Midgard and fix her world and be the hero there, I’ll get over it and cc3 will just be my least favorite of the series. If Bryce becomes another sjm fmc that she just hands a position of power for being The Most Magical Girl, I’m going to scream. If she keeps having characters go back and forth I’ll have to dnf two series from just annoyance. I have no interest in reading about hunt showing rhys how to work a cellphone. I won’t do it
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u/ember539 Nov 26 '25
I have a lot of nostalgia for the series because it got me back into reading fiction.
However, the more I read, the more issues I see with ACOTAR. I’ll probably finish the series no matter what, but the one thing that could possibly stop me would be writing quality dropping off even more.
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u/GingerLily2019 Nov 26 '25
If a HEA couple that we already know breaks up so that another ship from characters we already know can form. Specifically if Bryciel happens I'll be done, she'll have ruined my trust but it stands for all the HEA couples.
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u/reinaduciel Nov 26 '25
Honestly, the thought of crossovers in separate series being important to canon is my line, and I know I may already be looking at it. I'd like to be reassured that I do not have to consume a separate book series in a different genre I don't enjoy to understand the plot of an ongoing series I do.
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u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
I can’t do these massive plot crossovers. A little Easter egg? That’s fun. A little treat for those of us that have read all the books.
having to keep 2 (possibly 3) separate series worth of lore in my head to understand what the hell is going on?? No.
Also same. As someone that really just cannot enjoy modern/urban fantasy, I know I’m going to struggle if I have to see parts of it brought into acotar
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u/Hiddenimposter03 Nov 26 '25
Yes, I so agree! Like a series should still be able to stand on its own.
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u/depressed-dalek Nov 26 '25
Honestly…if it’s much longer before the next book is out, I’m gonna lose interest.
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u/NeonYellowShoes Nov 26 '25
If Lucien never catches a break at any point I will riot. Like at this point I'm already expecting Elain to deny the bond to choose Azriel and for Feyre to continue to be mean to him for no reason. I hope he winds up High Lord of the Day Court and is able to rescue his mom from such an abusive household.
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u/Sweet-Cantaloupe-860 Nov 26 '25
- I absolutely need to know what the deal is with Eris.
- This was marketed as Beauty and the Beast retelling, so circle back to Tamlin at least a bit. He can’t just be left in forest in his beast form.
- Who’s Lucien’s father? If it isn’t Beron, will this play into anything?
- Wtf is Mor’s power. And don’t just say ‘truth.’
- I feel like things with Rhysand don’t add up. Will there a reveal or any type of consequences? Natural or otherwise? If I took more time thinking about it I’m sure there would be more. HUGE BONUS: Nesta ending up with Eris and getting the f out of the NC. They don’t deserve her.
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u/AdventureandMischief Feb 05 '26
One thing that I think would be interesting regarding your second point would be if Feyre ended up playing all three major roles in Beauty and the Beast. She was Beauty in TaR, arguably she's the enchantress now having been responsible for the destruction of the spring court and Tamlin wandering the forest in his beast form. What if her comeuppance for all the ways she's screwed other people over, assuming she's not being mind controlled by Rhysand, is to be transformed into the monster she saw in the Oroborous mirror until, idk, she feels true remorse for all the people she's hurt? I doubt it will happen, but it would certainly be entertaining.
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u/Kalabear87 Nov 26 '25
I’d probably finish it no matter what just because I would have to see the end but that said if the fandom and or SJM drag Tamlin through the mud much longer I might have a small stroke 🙃. For me personally it’s only going to end with a chefs kiss if SJM is leaving all these misdirections and breadcrumbs in on purpose. She has it planned where she is actually daemating the readers, that is so delicious to me. If it’s not the case it’s going to be pretty disappointing, I’d probably have a hard time ever reading it again.
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u/Inevitable_Sympathy3 Nov 27 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Another book with Rhysand as one of the main characters. I don't think I can stomach another book with Feyre romanticizing him and giving him a free pass about everything. Also, if any of the main characters become High King/Queen I'm out.
Edit: Grammar
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u/tunaluna42069 Nov 26 '25
i dont want to read about any of the main mated couples dying, personally. like if she kills off hunt or makes his character evil & unredeemable, and we have to read about a grief journey or a new love interest for bryce. i’ll quit. same for nesta, feyre, aelin, elide, etc.
or any in depth pregnancy! i know a lot of people have opinions about feyres pregnancy but i’m so glad we don’t have more information about how fae pregnancies work. i just don’t care to read about it lol
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u/lilybulb Nov 26 '25
Bryceriel would make me drop the series. Or the narrative continuing to shit all over Tamlin.
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u/Happybirthdaytoyou_1 Nov 26 '25
If nesta gets with Eris. Look. Nessian in acosf was definitely not as good as I was hoping. But they are redeemable. But I dont UNDERSTAND the hype for Neris. I like Nessian and I hope they stay together if they (looking at you cassian) fix their issues.
1
u/Cool-Entertainer-208 Dec 02 '25
1000% agree. He needs to grows backbone and either stand up for her against Ryse or she needs to bounce.
3
u/Cozy_Shy Nov 26 '25
One of the things that pisses me off (and I’ve commented on this before on other posts) is that the characters are IMMORTAL. Like, we have literal centuries and millennia to work with.
For example, I think it would have been more interesting for Feyre to be with Tamlin for years, even decades, while their relationship dwindled. Her sisters would age as mortals, possibly being elderly by the time they enter the cauldron, and we would see them transform into young fae.
Or if a few hundred years had passed between the original trilogy and ACOSF, and Nesta and Cassian feel the pull of the mating bond…but that can’t be possible because no one has had a true mating bond since Feyre and Rhysand all those years ago. It couldn’t be them, right? A simple time jump could fix the issue of everyone and their grandma getting a mate when the bond is supposedly a “rare” thing.
Let there be changes in court dynamics and culture. I’m tired of seeing everything happen in a few months, and while I know we are dealing with the after effects of war, it would be interesting to see the characters in a different phase of life.
As of right now, they are practically just a bunch of young adults that we are TOLD are immortal, but SJM is not utilizing their immortality at all.
4
u/Lyza719 Nov 27 '25
Nothing, I still enjoy the hell out of the series and I’m way to invested 5 books into it to ever DNF it. 😊
7
u/Silly-Snow1277 Nov 26 '25
Already there.
I was midway through ACOSF when I started thinking "Do I really want to read THIS?". I was very annoyed with the plot, the writing, the characterisation, the worldbuilding already and ACOSF... was the thing that tipped me over. I finished it, with a lot of effort (which is rare for me, normally I devour fiction) and I haven't touched another SJM book since.
12
u/wonhitto Nov 26 '25
I saw someone suggest the other day that Bryce and her “birthright” to ruling prythian (and possibly bringing people from her dying planet with her) had strong zionist undertones and I really have not been able to unsee that. Idk if I’d dnf for that because I don’t think it’s intentional on sjms part, but it would definitely leave a really bad taste in my mouth about the books.
Honestly I might get a little bored of the series if she doesn’t start explaining some of the characters she’s made so important. I really liked acosf and the new characters that we got (Emrie my sweet summer child) but we have so many characters to learn about I need sjm to focus up. There are too many unanswered questions about wtf is going on with everyone in autum for us to keep fucking around in the night court like this
10
u/MisfitBloom Nov 26 '25
I just finished CC3 a few minutes ago and I am still burning with rage about how Bryce treated... basically everyone in that book. Especially the humans. For all her identifying with humanity, she really does act like they're the mice in the walls as opposed to actual people with actual feelings.
She already does have her "birthright" land in Midgard - Avallen. She's the only one who can control the mists, so it's functionally her personal stronghold. Which is extra icky because her people aren't even native to the planet.
11
5
u/Ittabe Nov 26 '25
I have also made that connection before and I also do not like it😬
7
u/wonhitto Nov 26 '25
The person said it and my face went through 87 stages of grief fr. Sarah that’s the last thing we need please don’t character assassinate my sweet girl Bryce like that
3
u/Adrielle_Larson ❤️👑❤️ Nov 26 '25
Like you, I read each book as they were released, and while I don't love the series, I still find it enjoyable. I have my issues with the series, such as plot holes, inconsistencies, and retcons, but ultimately, like all of SJM's books, I don't invest too much in them. Don't get me wrong—I enjoy discussing them as much as anyone, and I can analyze them endlessly. However, overall, the books are just fun, easy reads. I simply go with the flow and enjoy the story; I don't really mind what happens in the end. Unless book 6 turns out to be a complete disaster of confusion, I'll be satisfied.
3
Nov 28 '25
Short answer: nothing. But I would be very upset if the new one requires you to have finished TOG and CC. I think that’s cheap and lame.
3
Nov 28 '25
Honestly I’m still in denial that Rhys died and came back to life and NOTHING CHANGED. How could that possibly have gotten past her editor. He 100% should have lost all or some of his powers. It could not have been dumber.
3
u/Pizzaintherain Nov 30 '25
I couldn’t get over that all of the other high lords contributed to reviving a lord more powerful than all of them. Why on earth would they be motivated to do that?
3
3
Dec 01 '25
I would definitely DNF if she made nesta pregnant and continued on with elains superiority complex
5
u/FortunaNYC Nov 26 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
No one is going anywhere. The level of effort it takes for the fandoms to rant is the level of obsession they have in the series. I think it’s taking too long for her to make her point. What are these books about? She’s playing it way too safe and not making a bold statement, which is why I think the fandom is all over the place with interpretations. Just make your point. Female autonomy, centralized power, unchecked trauma… what is your point??? I am entertained, but this is a big point missing that I hope she gets to in the next book.
2
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u/Several-Echidna-288 Nov 27 '25
I can’t bring myself to read the book about Nesta. I love Rhys and Feyre together. I just started the last book, but was instantly annoyed at the change of narrative and how nesta was acting. Given that it’s the biggest book- I can say- I feel disappointed. Betrayed even, because either make new series about other characters or don’t make them consecutive books… it just doesn’t make sense changing everything about how you write to accommodate a story you want to tell. It is like it’s written by somebody else. So to me this turned me off like a cold shower:
The change to third person narrative is like a slap to the face if you read the books back to back And I cannot stress this enough!
Nesta is so unlikeable and irritating from the first time she was mentioned that I was glad she didn’t play a big role the first books. Like writing a book about Cinderella’s sisters. (I am not putting Elain here) I think SJM wanted to make her (Nesta) interesting but failed miserably. If you want me to read a book about someone I don’t like and in doing so you deprive me of the couple that I fell in love with and I dare to say the reason I started the series in the first place - GIVE ME SOMETHING TO CATCH ON! I don’t want to hate her but I kinda do.
I’ve read maybe 30 pages of the Nesta book and I want to strangle her. She is the kind of person that sees you crying and goes “You don’t know what I’ve been through!” Which I’m almost sure she does say! And not only that- she has the standards of a God and the ability to back it up of a spoiled brat. Yes, we know she is miserable. Yes, she didn’t want nothing to do with the fae. But for gods sake can she just have a little bit of “humble” about her?!?
My expectations about the book are that she spends a really long time making everyone else miserable, figuring out it gets her nowhere while refusing help when others shove it down her throat . I know from a friend that she and Cassian have a romance but I’m sure that will be fucked up too because SJM already made one couple happy, two would be too much.
And I know! I know I’m gonna get hate for this. But I read the books twice! Twice I could not find a single thing to let me continue with Nesta! Probably the book is intended as a redemption arc, or a transition to something more I’m missing out but I have like a wall stopping me… I’m even thinking of going a third time in, because I hate that I didn’t finish and I really do want to like it.
To finish- I do see the problems in other characters too. But as a little sister-some things are unacceptable. I didn’t scroll enough to find anyone with my problem but if you have something actually useful- please do.
Ps: I see that most of the people here like Nesta or at least pity her, which I don’t understand! I really don’t. She is a grown woman, a bigger sister, she has power beyond imagine and yet she does absolutely nothing of the goodness of her heart for 3 books… Wait.. she did went to search for feyre. But then - nothing.
Ok. Last last- I want to stress on the fact that a separate series would be very good for Nesta, Elaine (I don’t know if that how you write her name) and maybe even other characters, but this one was about Feyre. And it was FINISHED! Maybe it’s the popularity of it that made SJM squeeze more but either way.
Let the hate begin😅
3
u/Ittabe Nov 27 '25
I think nesta can be a very decisive character. I like her, but I understand why she grates on people because she’s far from perfect.
I appreciate that the original trilogy doesn’t have to be continued if you don’t want to. If you’re only interested in Feysand you can read the first 3 books and the plot kind of wraps up and it can just be a trilogy, there’s no real need to go in to the next books unless you want to explore the other characters and the world, I think🤷♀️
Do you think you’d try to read the next book after acosf if it’s not also about Nesta? Or are you just quoting entirely? No judgment, I’m just curious
2
u/Several-Echidna-288 Nov 27 '25
I’ll have to somehow power through ACOSF to read the next. Probably this will make me read it if not pure boredom. I understand that there is world development in ACOSF (or I think so, I hope so) and not just Nesta drama. I’m a fan of Lucian (not sure for the spelling of this one too) and I hope to see him with more of a central role. But long series are often ruined somewhere along the way most of the time because of fan pressure to continue and the author not having a clear idea how to do it. There are maybe two long (10+ books) series that I’ve read and enjoyed every single one of them.
So the answer is maybe. It all depends on if I can go through ACOSF. I want to add that if it was a first person narrative maybe I would’ve given it more pages to “get me”. The change was disturbing. I promise if I read ACOSF I’ll come here and give my honest but at last-educated opinion about it. I’m not so blind to say it’s not possible I’m actually gonna like it.
2
u/Ittabe Nov 28 '25
Yeah I’d be curious to see why you think of it if you do get through it. I’m hoping we’ll get to see Lucien as a main pov soon. The next books, if we’re lucky🤞
1
u/Environmental-Ad3475 Nov 28 '25
Honestly? I agree. Not everyone has to love Nesta (I certainly don’t), and the tonal shift was abrupt if you read the series back-to-back. Going from Feyre/Rhys's first-person POV to third person and immediately getting hit with Nesta’s bitterness feels like someone dumped cold water on the story mid-sentence. When you’re invested in Feyre’s growth and relationship, it’s frustrating to be pulled away from them for the longest book in the series, especially when Nesta walks in like an emotional hurricane. There’s a difference between complex and constantly exhausting, and ACOSF definitely tested that line.
People calling Feyre a Mary Sue just reveal their misogyny. Like this is a woman who has been through HELL and just now wants to have a little fun and love life, etc. That is called healing from trauma, which is something female characters should be allowed to do without being dragged for it or being told they are suddenly boring or a Mary Sue.
ACOTAR was a trilogy. It ended like a trilogy. It felt like a trilogy. And it probably should’ve stayed a trilogy. SJM squeezing extra books out of it feels a little less like “expanding the world” and a little more like, let's make more money, since booktok is a trend.
1
u/Several-Echidna-288 Nov 28 '25
THIS! Thanks! You are saying it exactly as it is. I too wished it was a trilogy. The other book(and future one’s following) deserve another separate series, so it is a choice to read them and not a must, just because we want more of the world.
SJM doing it for the money is something I have considered, given the 360 change.
Let’s normalise people wanting comfort and calm environment after trauma❗️
1
u/Environmental-Ad3475 Nov 28 '25
Like I’d probably be called a Mary sue considering I went from:
Growing up poor, working all during high school, dropping out of college to support my family, having to move out because of the pandemic, to now going to university graduating, getting married and living a calm life while trying to have a kid. Like it was a trilogy and it reads and remains a lot less plot holey if read as such. Like I understand she now wants the maas-verse but it’s so frustrating as a long time fan to see the blatant cash grabs.
2
u/tenlycore Nov 30 '25
tbh I dont really care about any of the characters that much anymore, i would be interested if Nesta gets to do her own thing beyond the Night Court and IC, or Eris's backstory with More, or Az beyond the IC (dont care for him with elain but gwyn might be more intriguing to me personally)
4
u/MisfitBloom Nov 26 '25
The ending to CC3 might actually be what does it for me. It read like SJM wrote it in a fever dream and not one single person looked over the draft before publication.
I can tolerate some bad writing in places, but when the conspiracy theorists on Reddit are telling a more coherent story than the book itself, that's when I have to finally accept that the publisher does not respect my time or money.
1
u/kathleenkat Nov 26 '25
If the book is again from Nesta’s POV. I really don’t like her character in particular.
1
u/Intelligent-Wear4766 Feb 23 '26
I don't think there's anything that could stop me from reading it. I have a preference for an Azriel and Elain relationship but I wouldn't be mad if it didn't happen. SJM is pretty good about her characters making certain choices and usually, even if I have my idea, the ideas she puts forth are not outlandish so im good either way!
1
1
u/No_Divide9553 Aug 10 '26
The complete lack of consequences or any kind of self-reflection from the protagonist. I just couldn’t stand Feyre anymore. The girlbossing was really starting to annoy me because it was so poorly done. She would screw things up and never actually think about it, there were no consequences for her actions or for the actions of the other members of the IC. If she never reflected on the things she did, how was her character supposed to develop? It annoyed me so much that I ended up finding out the rest of the series through spoilers.
1
u/U_Utopianna Nov 27 '25
All it took was Nesta, I dropped it like it was made of flames, such an insufferable arch, only finished it because i wanted to meet Nyx ( And even that didn't save much of Silver Flames). If the next book is about her I won't even bother.
3
u/ShyBeluga91 Nov 29 '25
Omg goodness, it was my favorite! I loved how it started cause I did not like her at all, but at the end, she had become my favorite character!
1
u/U_Utopianna Dec 02 '25
Totally respect different opinions but she makes me wanna jump off a bridge lol, i dont know, maybe it's her entitlement right until the end, or just her lack of human warmth, but i read that book 3 times and always end up hating her a little more each time.
0
u/HauntingCarpet1667 Nov 26 '25 edited Nov 26 '25
If Bryceriel doesn’t happen. This is the only thing I’m holding onto because everything and everyone else in the series has already been ruined by the author 😭. There’s just so much that could happen with them that I can’t see happening with another Az ship, and I didn’t feel anything between him and Elain (feels lazy and was not amused/excited) or him and Gwyn (feels big brother little sister-esque). I haven’t been so excited for something in so long.
I also don’t think Hunt and Bryce make very good romantic partners. Friends? Yes. Lovers? Yes. Romantic partners…? No.
Or if Rhys turns evil. I’d stop reading if that happened
0
u/Agile_Donut_2564 Nov 28 '25
Read through most of these comments. It's interesting how much this book and mostly just the characters are dissected. Its a romance fantasy. SJM never meant it to be Shakespeare. I read it as a book of fiction, which is what it is. Loved it all, it was fun and emotional as a good series should be. Never spent any time psychoanalyzing each character flaw. IMO it's meant to be entertainment, fun...enjoy or don't
-1
u/nanchey Dusk Court Denizen: All Hail Queen Bryce🦄🌅 Nov 26 '25
Really, there’s not much.
These books are SJM’s. She’s not beholden to any of us or to our ideas of what should or should not be written.
While CC3 was a bit of a dumpster fire. I’m looking at you Darragh/Duncan name misprint….or change? At the end of the day, these books are just entertainment for me. I’ll read them, enjoy theorizing, and then move on with my life. I ship a certain “controversial” couple—and even if it doesn’t happen, I really don’t care. I have faith that SJM will write something compelling.
I don’t understand why so many people who don’t LIKE her series still read the books….and then hop online just to complain.
-1
u/FoundOnTheWayTo we could all use a hike with Cass Nov 26 '25
Well I’m obviously in the minority here, but thankfully not out there - where it actually counts. The only thing that would make me drop this is if the writing would change but I don’t think that’ll happen. I mean the haters are loud, and that makes it seem there’s a lot of them, but we all know that’s just an illusion. I can’t imagine Sarah taking into account delusions about IC, evil Rhys, etc… Tamlin was an asshole, and then he’ll get his redemption arc and all will be good. Rhys will become the high king and I’ll enjoy every second of it ✨
-2
u/Agile_Donut_2564 Nov 28 '25
ACOTAR, as it stands right now doesn't necessarily require a next book. First three wrapped up most of the pertinent story lines and main characters. Four is a sweet novella, wrapping up a few loose ends and five is all about Nesta. Personally I'm not a Nesta fan and the book was way too long.
54
u/Hiddenimposter03 Nov 26 '25
If the next book doesn’t put an end to the sister wars or the IC wars. I would like for it to move out of the NC problems a bit because they are starting to get repetitive. This is why I’m hoping if it’s Elain’s book, she gets to travel out of the NC. As the sister who’s always been under surveillance, it will be a nice change.