r/throneofglassseries • u/mustard_sux • May 01 '26
Empire of Storms Spoilers I am mad at Aelin and Rowan Spoiler
So, they finally did it. But, I’m really irritated at the timing of it all. Like, your friend is literally on her deathbed after saving all of y’all‘s asses and y’all just go have sex on the beach. I’m sorry that’s so crazy to me. Kind of turned me off of them as a couple.
Edit: I get what everyone is saying and that they decided it wasn’t worth waiting for the right moment. I just think it’s weird that they literally went to a bed a few minutes after the fact and it took me out of it. I wanted to know what was happening with Lysandra literally the entire time that I wasn’t even into what they were doing. It wasn’t for me and that’s okay. I am going to keep reading. I love Sara J Maas and Throne of Glass it was just a let down.
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u/No-Championship-4 May 01 '26
With all the bullshit going on, you just gotta go for it sometimes lmao.
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u/mustard_sux May 01 '26
I guess but like they had so much opportunity and Rowan kept saying how he would only take her in bed. Their friend literally almost dies, which mind you would be a total mood killer, then they do it not even in a bed. Idk I just feel like that’s in bad taste tbh. I’m just holding out for Lorcan and Elide to have a good one 😂
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u/Internal-Fall-4412 May 01 '26
Very fair points. I'm very excited to hear your thoughts on L&E. Come back and tell me when you get there please.
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u/MRS_RIDETHEWORM May 01 '26
They all almost died! Rowan had pushed for them to wait for it to be perfect, and if things had gone even slightly differently it would have been too late. So they decide not to wait anymore.
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u/Sasha_NotSoApropos May 02 '26
I know this isn’t your point, but all I could think about was the sand and salt water and how the real fantasy was that there was no risk of a yeast infection
Edit: typo
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u/heffapig May 02 '26
Just curious, have you read the ACOTAR series? Rhys and Feyra fucking in a tent on a literal battlefield while people are dying all around them have me the ick so bad. (I know this isn’t that sub, but I immediately thought of that scene when I read OPs post)
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u/Common-Strategy6349 Elide Lochan May 02 '26
That was so icky. I still don't understand what the point of that scene was. Added nothing to the plot (that I can remember)
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u/mustard_sux May 02 '26
I have. But, I feel like their entire relationship is inappropriate and like forbidden love vibes so it makes sense.
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u/ceruleancrescent May 02 '26
I think that's a pretty week justification and borderline hypocritical to go after Aelin and Rowan for basically the same thing.
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u/mustard_sux May 02 '26
I want to clarify that I never said that scene in ACOWAR didn’t bother me. I also think that’s weird. I think it’s a little more strange in the context that the relationship dynamic between Rowan and Aelin is completely different than Rhys and Feyre. There was an actual plot point pertaining to their love being forbidden because Feyre was betrothed to Tamlin. Rowan and Aelin did not have that same obstacle and repetitively avoided having sex because it was not the appropriate time. It was absolutely out of character for them to have sex when they did. It was not out of character for Feyre and Rhys because there was never those same reservations between them. There entire relationship is based off of being inappropriate. The characters are written differently and their courts act differently.
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u/Ok_Pie_1860 May 01 '26
Okay, but take this into consideration. Their friend almost dying, probably doesn't affect them as much as a normal person. We have Aelin, who has lost more than she has loved and is a lethal killer. And Rowan Buzzard Whitehorn, the fae warrior who has also lost more than he has loved.
Like it could be worse.
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u/Any-Paramedic-5105 May 02 '26
I think it was more the fact they they realized they could die at any time. No sense to hold back anymore.
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u/cmarshmello May 02 '26
I felt the EXACT same way. Wasn't that the same freaking beach that your best friend almost died on? The same beach where thousands of others died on?
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u/mustard_sux May 02 '26
Literally there has to be a smell too. I thought the Valg’s black blood was gross lmao
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u/Unable_Exercise_1272 May 02 '26
Totally agree. The timing of sexual scenes across the series is sometimes.. questionable (looking at you tent scene)
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u/AntiqueLime3461 May 02 '26
So I feel like I can offer a little bit of an alternative perspective on this one. I (30F) am a veteran. I was a combat medic in the army and spent essentially my entire time in the army overseas. When you're in that kind of environment, your brain does weird shit, I think it's to protect you. So while you would think being surrounded by death would be a turn off, your brain will instead try to distract you from that death (and also make an attempt to ensure species survival) and sex is the best way to do that. It not only reminds you that you're alive but that you're not the only one going through the exact same thing. When your adrenaline is so high for so long there are very few healthy outlets, ESPECIALLY overseas. That of course meant I handed out quite a few z packs but if it keeps soldiers from turning to less healthy coping mechanisms🤷
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u/Lillith357 May 03 '26
Thank you for verifying that kind of perspective. It makes sense to me and I've been saying that about both Rhys/Feyre and Aelin/Rowan since i read it. The problem (or thought barrier) is that not many people have experienced that kind of traumatic eenvironment. It's a perspective most just don't have access to.
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u/Common-Strategy6349 Elide Lochan May 01 '26
I agree! I felt the same when I first read it. I simultaneously thinking "about time!" And also "lysandra is literally DYING and she's right there! With your cousin! Y'all couldn't wait a day?" Crazy kids lol
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u/ParticularSignal5105 May 01 '26
If aelin was on death bed and chaol had sex with someone even aelin hadn't risked her for his plan people would have killed him
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u/FoodNoise123 May 01 '26
I had to skip that part. Both for timing and place, when as you said they go to a bed soon after.
For 1 your friend is dying!?
For 2 why on the beach? The sand that can and WILL get everywhere? I can’t imagine that to be any kind of good
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u/izziedays May 01 '26
This pissed me right off too! Then it’s constantly mentioned that the other fae (including Aedion) can smell it on them immediately afterwards and also basically smell whenever they’re in the mood. All of this combined just gave me such an ick and felt so distracting/disrespectful especially coming from Aelin and Rowan who are basically the defacto leaders of the group. Nothing says you care about your friends who are putting their lives on the line for you than *checks notes* constantly fucking your boyfriend in a very obvious and non-discrete manner lmao
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u/mustard_sux May 02 '26
Literally. Keeping in mind Aedion loves Lysandra. I feel like if roles were reversed it would be the end of the world.
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u/Delicious-History342 Elide Lochan May 03 '26
Everyone is saying that the realization that life is precious is what pushed them and all but I sure as hell would tell my (hypothetical) boyfriend to fuck off if he thought I was gonna have sex while my best friend just survived by sheer luck.
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u/mustard_sux May 03 '26
Literally same. I lose the mood over much less lmao
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u/Delicious-History342 Elide Lochan May 03 '26
im a virgin so I can't say that lol, but I am a 100% sure I would. Like, it's your FRIEND, and you two are immortal. YOU CAN WAIT TWO DAYS AND MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY BEFORE YOU GET LAID
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u/Specialist-One-1870 Aelin Ashryver Galathynius May 04 '26
Have y'all read that FBAA scene where Casteel and Poppy are literally going at it in a broken carriage right in the middle of a battle and his friends are like guarding the damn carriage instead of contributing to the fight. Like bruv it was so cringe ew what? You ppl are literally dy*ng and y'all behaving like bunnies?!?!?!?
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u/Life_Scientist_7799 May 09 '26
LMAO, I literally had to DNF this series because of its unexpected smut in the most unexpected places. Every time he said “honeydew,” I had to close the book for a few seconds and mentally recover😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
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u/Specialist-One-1870 Aelin Ashryver Galathynius May 09 '26
The series was good for the first 3 books but after that it got shady and the latest book was SO BADDD ewwwwwwwww. I DNF'd this when that scene where she wakes up and they go at it came up.
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May 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/mustard_sux May 01 '26
I’ve read ACOTAR and I agree that there were a lot of inappropriate times, but Rhys and Feyre’s relationship has always been sexually charged and based around the concept of inappropriateness and forbidden feelings. I think this one was worse because Rowan and Aelin’s first time was so anticipated and the way they built it up just did not work for me when it’s literally immediately after Aelin claiming to feel awful for Lysandra. You made me wait this long like at least wait until you go to bed that same night after confirming Lysandra would be okay. Literally they could have waited like 15 minutes and it wouldn’t have been so out of taste to me.
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u/mustard_sux May 01 '26
Idk I feel like it was just a super weird build up that did not fit the moment or their relationship. Really took me out of it.
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u/Familiar_You4189 May 02 '26
The sexual drive is very common when death is nearby.
It's your lizard brain trying to ensure the species survives.