THIS IS IT, YOU GUYS. THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK OF A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN. It’s finally over. Jesus wept.
We’re in the denouement now. Previously, the entire story (or something) happened. The King died, a kazillion people died, and – most importantly – none of the main characters were hurt. And now the post-war peace talks begin amongst all the survivors who allied together, bringing together immortal fae High Lords with mortal human queens, rich dudes, and (checks notes) Jurian.
In other words, damn straight we’re setting up the sequels! There’s money to be made from this franchise yet! Because I guess the most technically generous thing I can say about A Court of Wings and Ruin is that it probably didn’t satisfy anyone’s appetite for more stories that take place in the world of ACOTAR.
A Court of Wings and Ruin: Chapter 80
Feyre tells us that the first meeting didn’t result in any breakthroughs, but “channels were made.” She narrates that she told the others her story, from her years in poverty on the human side of the wall to, uh, “the love I had found and let go, the love that had healed and saved me.” I’m so glad that Feyre learned about international diplomacy over the course of this series.
And when I was done, Miryam and Drakon stepped forward to tell their own story.
Another glimmer of proof—that humans and Fae could not only work together, live together, but become so much more.
I’m so glad that the one constant in these books is that we only ever just get to hear about Miryam and Drakon, even where they’re right there.
Others chime in with their own stories, including the ones about “Relations that had not gone well” and “Crimes committed”, which Feyre says “was a start” even though this sounds fucking awful. No one can agree on whether they need to make a new wall. I’m fucking screaming for no particular reason why would a long pointless conflict prolonging discourse about building a wall be infuriating to me who can say
It would take time. Time, and healing, and trust.
And I wondered if the road ahead—the road to true peace—would perhaps be the hardest and longest one yet.
Imagine being Sarah J Maas’s editor and reading that sentence at the end of this 700-page book. It almost sounds like a threat.
So it sounds like the future of this series involves even more 400-page-long middle sections where people talk about maybe making alliances or not that don’t really matter in the end when something else resolves the plot instead. Cool. Cool. Can we do more? What if the sequels also had… (checks notes) Jurian?
Jurian leaned against the opposite door frame. “Queen Vassa offered me a place within her court.” […]
“Are you going to accept?”
Jurian’s face was solemn—tired. “What sort of court can a cursed queen have? She’s bound to that death-lord—she has to go back to his lake on the continent at some point.”
What’s sad is that this actually sounds a thousand times more interesting than the book I just read. Although I guess that still has nothing to do with Jurian. I still don’t get what he’s doing anywhere he goes.
Speaking of characters who never did anything that mattered, let’s find out what’s next for Lucien!
I gave Lucien a note to hand to him if he saw him. Which I knew—I knew he would. There was a stop that Lucien had to make before he came here, he’d said. I knew where he meant.
Oh, ok, or Tamlin. We can do that instead. Bye, Lucien. Seems fitting that your final contribution to this book is just going on trips with subplots that stopped being interesting.
My note to Tamlin was short. It conveyed everything I needed to say.
Thank you.
I hope you find happiness, too.
And I did. Not just for what he’d done for Rhys, but … Even for an immortal, there was not enough time in life to waste it on hatred.
girl have you read literally any of these books that is all any of you do
Feyre continues asking characters what the story should be about in the next book. She picks poorly.
“So,” I said to my sisters. “What now?”
Nesta just turned and went up the stairs, each step slow and stiff. She shut her door with a decisive click once she got to her bedroom.
Oh, Nesta. I’ll miss you most of all, scarecrow.
Feyre and Elain talk about how they’ll help Nesta come to terms with everything that’s happened eventually, when they’re all ready. The superfriends all enjoy being back in their home that they never thought they’d live to see again.
“Come on,” Mor said, slinging her arm around Azriel’s shoulders, then one carefully around Cassian’s and leading them toward the sitting room. “We need a drink.”
“We’re opening the fancy bottles,” Cassian called over his shoulder to Rhys
That seem like the sort of thing you should do before you go off to a battle you’re certain you’ll all die in to anyone else?
Two more short chapters left! Ariel, please end our pain! Gosh, we’re really almost done. Kinda seems like we should mark the occasion somehow. What could we do that really captures the spirit of A Court of Wings and Ruin?
Yeah, that seems appropriate. ON SALE NOW. (In case you’re wondering why this post went up a day early, it’s because this mug is literally on sale 27% off right now until Tuesday-ish.)
If you enjoyed today’s post, please consider buying the BBGT writers a cup of coffee? We could put that coffee in our new Cheddar Scallywag the Pirate Mouse mugs omg imagine please help us achieve this dream