SARAH J MASS
Nesta: Feyre, Cassian, ACOTAR generally.
This isn’t even half of the problems ACOTAR/TOG has, but this particularly infuriates me in a new type of way.
I believe Nesta has the potential to be a strong woman who’s character — not physical strength, could be strong and powerful. The way her personality and her description is presented towards us indicates this. Sure, I acknowledge that the way she treated Feyre in the past was absolutely unacceptable, and given their situation, was hard for Feyre and we must take this into account. Yes, she is a bitch, but where there is room for redemption, there is a room for recognising faults.
However, to shove someone who’s loathes Pythrian; who hates the Fey, let alone can’t grasp the concept of being among them, and be them; who like Feyre and everyone among them, is still coming to terms and healing from the war, that is also Nesta. Everyone suffers & responds to situations differently. Nesta still suffers from everything that occurred and to shove something she clearly hates is absolutely disgusting.
The problem is, Nesta doesn’t fit in with the Feyre and her Inner Circle’s “perfection”. It is evident she doesn’t want any part of this, and naturally so, because this stems to the hatred and feelings she has towards the Fey. Feyre cannot come to terms with this, clearly. She has her own version of “perfect” Nesta, which clearly isn’t who Nesta is — she’s someone who Feyre is. Feyre feels the undeniable urge to play matchmaker between her and Cassian, who also, cannot accept Nesta, shown during ACOWAR and ACOFAS respectively. The scene when Cassian completely ignores Nesta when Mor walks in during the war, and the fact that after the war he doesn’t attempt to help her heal, only when the situation calls to his advantage.
The whole concept of a relationship between Nesta and Cassian does not represent love, this will eventually lead to toxicity if it isn’t already was.
Nesta herself does not need a male relationship to make her badass, nobody does. A heroine or female MC does not need a relationship to power the plot at all. Nesta and Cassian does not need to be pushed together, and honestly should be recommended given Nesta’s state of mind at the moment.
More broadly, most of SJM’s relation does not, and will never represent healthy love. It is an carefully crafted form of deception towards her readers who think Feysand or Rowaelin are the “ride or die”.
ACOTAR-wise, Nesta herself needs time to heal on her own, and discover herself before she does anything significant with her life; she needs to discover what route she wants her life to take. For Feyre to make these decisions for Nesta herself, is disrespectful. At the end of ACOFAS, this is shown.
Feyre herself is her younger sister, not High Lady. Nesta has firmly and explicitly said so, she does not view her sister as a leader. We need to shed light on the fact that Nesta currently has no place to go, only within her sisters care. Personally, Feyre has no experience of leadership and has only began to grasp her role fairly recently, and clearly, this shift in lifestyle has gotten way over her head. For her to make Nesta’s life decisions and judge her is also unacceptable. Nesta is her older sister; carries the same blood and genes as her, first and foremost. Feyre has no respect for people who aren’t “perfect”, and that extends to family.
Dictating where someone goes, to the point where it’s force, does that sound familiar? Yes, Tamlin. This is no different to when Feyre was trapped in the house, but this time, the setting is going to change to that insufferable war camp where IT IS NOT GOOD FOR NESTA’S HEALING PROCESS. In fact, to knowingly send her to a place where women are treated horribly, especially when she is aware how Nesta is currently, is absolutely despicable. Again, not good leadership or sisterly qualities, are they?
And Rhysand? Ranting about him will make my blood boil. He is a carefully painted version of Tamlin, who’s sex-crazed and subtle about the way he behaves to make everyone seem like his that “feminist” icon. He and Tamlin have similar qualities that is evident if you read between the lines. When in reality, his mate is the High Lady of the “desk”. The fact that he purposely tries to intimidate Nesta during the teaser for the upcoming series, and is satisfied about it until the point where is mate had to intervene? Totally the “feminist” icon, I see. I am aware that he tried to give Nesta jobs, but for what? To please his mate. He even makes jokes about Nesta during ACOWAR, and it occasionally goes too far. What Nesta needs stretches far beyond just jobs — clearly, he is also infuriated that Nesta doesn’t fit into his “perfect” Inner Circle, just like Feyre.
In conclusion, I’m going to hate how this turns out because it’s so clear how it’s going to end, just like Feyre, but with Nesta. The cards are literally in place for Nessian to turn like Feysand. Right now, ACOTAR is leeching with toxicity. I’m so disappointed. Knowing Sarah J Maas, this is inevitable and 100% not what feminism is, or what it stands for. This is abusive, toxic, and I will not read someone who’s basically, a pretty doll. That is not who Nesta was, or will be, or anyone should be.
