Let me set the scene: Feyre DIED. Suffered PTSD. Had nightmares. Lost weight. Was puking her guts out. And Tamlin just… didn't notice? WHAT?
Now look — hot take incoming — I get why he locked her away. He also had PTSD from Under the Mountain. He watched the love of his life die for him, got her back, but now she's not even human anymore. That's A LOT. And he had his people to think about. I'm not defending him. But he had his own shit — he just handled it like a complete jackass.
First half of this book I was still holding out hope for Lucien and Feyre. Still didn't vibe with Rhysand. Second half? I started warming up to his dry humor, but I wasn't fully converted yet. Also the mate reveal was way too obvious — saw it coming from a mile away.
Now. Velaris. One way ticket PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Watching Feyre heal there — learning to read, write, be independent, find herself again — that was everything. The Night Court itself? Ick. Gave me the creeps. But Velaris is where I want to LIVE.
The Inner Circle rankings, since you asked: Cassian is my baby. Funny? Hot? Powerful? MAN BUN???? Say less. Amren — OBSESSED, I want her. Mor — loved the sass, loved the drinking, I want to go out with her, also I clocked her being gay immediately. Azriel? Controversial opinion but… I don't get it. Yes he's hot and built like a god but WHAT ELSE? He's a blank canvas that can fight. Sorry not sorry.
The Suriel scene was everything. This tea-spilling bag of bones becoming a key plot device? "Stay with the High Lord." ICONIC. I loved every second of that creature's screen time.
Other moments I lived for: Feyre throwing her shoe at Rhysand (YAAAS QUEEN), the "Rhysand is the most handsome High Lord" bit being so tongue-in-cheek hilarious, and her whole revenge arc against the Spring Court had me FERAL.
The mating bond sex-on-the-paint scene was beautiful. The confession was gorgeous — though also lowkey gaslighting, but a 19-year-old in love isn't going to see that until she's much older. The spice overall was plain by today's standards, but for the time? It worked. Although I will say — Feyre is an unreliable narrator because in book one Tamlin's massive situation was the end-all-be-all, and then Rhys hits it and suddenly it's "same same but he's hotter and has wings"?? Girl, pick a lane. 😂
This is where Feyre started becoming someone I could root for. She stopped being whiny, started growing, started being a BADASS. And this book showed me that Lucien — my beloved Lucien — was never going to end up with her. I still want him to be happy. Just… not with Feyre.
🌙 5/5 stars. Velaris owns my soul and the Suriel owns my heart.