So it’s fanfiction, right? That she wrote for her own series?

I actually can’t help but admire this, and I’d be a hypocrite to say that I hated the concept. People who know me know that 90% of my 90+ abominations on ao3 are all tagged with ‘established relationship’ and ‘post-canon’ - this kind of sappy shit is jack catnip. I (usually) can’t get enough of it. Even the plot points feel like fanfiction! A Christmas story? Really? I have written established relationship Christmas fanfiction! I’ll admit that! I’m not above it all! Far from it!

Oh, but this is just too much. Too much sugar. Not enough spice. And I get it, as someone who very frequently writes similar shit. It’s a hard balance. The problem is that Maas’ writing style is so breakneck that she doesn’t allow herself to break from a jog to the leisurely walk that this kind of story needs to have in order to work.

There’s stuff here I like. I like the whole conflict with Nesta, even if I’m not entirely sure where Maas is going with it.

What I don’t like is… god. Can someone please explain to me how Rhys is such a cool sexy badass great ruler and yet there’s SO many charities in this singular city that he just donates to? On the reg? Rather than doing anything to solve the actual underlying societal problem? Like, he’s not an eccentric rich philanthropist. He’s HIGH LORD. He has the power and means to enforce fucking UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME.

Eh!!! I still liked it better than Book 3. It felt a titch more self-aware and reflective, but not by much. I just really wish someone would tell Maas to stop using toe curling as sexual foreplay every. single. time.