why does everyone only think about the love interest?!

[Celia]

I mean, this serie has such a huge background and amazing characters but everything people talk about is otps. I mean, I do have them, but they aren't the most important in the history. Even here in the topics it's all about couples and I feel like everyone is missing out the point. It makes me mad.

[Sara]

i do agree with you that the series is much more than the love interest. there is a lot of world building and background that needs much more attention then who is with who. i think i focused on the romantic interest a little more in this book because maas wanted us to believe that rowan and alien were "just friends" after Heir of Fire , but ended up making the relationship the opposite of what we thought or of what i thought. i think that's why i was confused. i think there is going to be a lot more detail in the next book that might overshadow the love interest.

[[deleted user]]

But the majority of readers read for the romance. Not to be sexist but most of this series demograph is targeted to YA girls. And what do most YA girls like: boys, romance. Look at Twilight, 50 Shades ( which is absolute shit, but a great example), Titanic, Romeo & Juliet (a tragedy but people tote it as one). Romance is a vast and enchanting genre.

SJM says herself in an interview that she plans romance before any other aspects. This is a romantic, action fantasy. Some read it for the romance while others, like me, read for action/intrigue. The romantics are just more vocal about it.

[Jacquelyn]

Celia wrote: "I mean, this serie has such a huge background and amazing characters but everything people talk about is otps. I mean, I do have them, but they aren't the most important in the history. Even here i..."

No. I love talking about Manon and Aedion and even Chaol (though I despise the prick) and Dorian. I really want to know about that weapon and poor Kaltain... But I think there are lots of people like me that love the romance aspect of it and that's the most widely desireable subject for teenage girls (the majority of the series' audience).

[Rebecca]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for starting this thread, because this is exactly the point I've debated making for months but just keep forgetting to actually do.

I'm fine with the romances, and I definitely get into them since I'm invested in the series as a whole, but I wish there was a little less time spent on them. Especially Rowan and Aelin. I can deal with it, it's just... I was really excited at the end of HoF that we were getting two people who were of the opposite sex and who had an intense, loving relationship that was PLATONIC. I just feel like there's not enough of that in YA these days.

And it's just... Maas' world-building is absolutely fantastic, and it should not be as overshadowed by the romances as it is.

I just had to think very hard about what happened action-plot wise with everyone in Rifthold. I remember the stuff with Manon fine (because Manon is just fantastic and I always looked forward to her chapters the most during QoS), but anything I can remember from Rifthold is clouded by Rowan and Aelin being so in love all of a sudden, and Rowan and Aedion with their constant juvenile bickering. (Yeah, I know they're territorial fey males, but there was still too much of it.)

I keep having to reminding myself that it was really only in QoS that the plot's been this badly overrun with the romance. Hopefully it dies down again in the last two books. (...There's only two more books...... *cries all the tears*)

Just out of curiosity, is the romance overrunning the plot and world-building a problem in A Court of Thorns and Roses as well? I plan on reading it sometime this year, but I'd like to know if this is something I should watch out for there as well.

[Jacquelyn]

Rebecca wrote: "Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for starting this thread, because this is exactly the point I've debated making for months but just keep forgetting to actually do.

I'm fine with the romances, and ..."

It's interesting... I didn't really care for Manon's chapters in HOF because it was mostly just boasting about how big and powerful she was and how ruthless she was on the battlefield and with "bedding men" (XD) but then QOS she just made this beautiful change that was amazing to behold like YES Now we finally have a ruler we could get behind! Ruthless but compassionate at the same time!

[Renée]

I dont think its the fault of the readers, but of the writer... The last books main plot was. She is falling for him. He was falling for her. Etc.....

[Celia]

I do agree with that last, QoS was all about romance and less about other topics that, for me as a reader, were a lot more appelieng than who was getting laid in a world full of chaos.
And, Rebecca, for me ACOTAR was a disappointment. I did like it but not so much. It is totally love centric, you should think about that, I was expecting something more ToG and it wasnt. The world and the characters are splendidly well done and it was some enterteining read but I didn't get invested on it. I'm still thinking if I should continue with the next book or jus nah.
And in HoF I expected Manon's chapters the most, I'll admit.

[Jacquelyn]

Celia wrote: "I do agree with that last, QoS was all about romance and less about other topics that, for me as a reader, were a lot more appelieng than who was getting laid in a world full of chaos.
And, Rebecc..."

It wasn't about who is getting laid it was about Aelin finding herself and Rowan finding himself together. And I feel like the romance was equally balanced with Manon's sideplot, Dorian, the King, Lysandra, Aedion, Chaol, the secret weapon, the wards, and then evenly placed between each sideplot were shared moments between Rowan and Aelin whether it be smexy times or little sweet conversations, dealing with past demons, training, jokes. It's all important and I feel like Maas handled it all beautifully because there were A LOT of things going on in this installment!

[Marlie]

I agree that the romance is the least interesting part of these books. She did a good job with the slow build up though. I think that is difficult.

[Aniketa]

Celia wrote: "I mean, this serie has such a huge background and amazing characters but everything people talk about is otps. I mean, I do have them, but they aren't the most important in the history. Even here i..."

Celia you are my soul mate! ^.^

[Tally]

I felt like I was the only one who felt this way about the last book. Sure Maas could have talked on the romance but like there is too much going on in that world for that big ass book to be so heavily focus on otp! All the threads I ever see are about romances and stuff. I would love for people to focus more on the action, the weapons, the evil. Some things I didn't quite understand and would love to hear about other people's theories on it but even in book reviews it's all about otp. I loved HoF simply because of the platonic relationship Aelin had with Rowan and I was praying it would stay that way in this book also. My true pairing is Aelin alone because she has other things to worry about than romance.

[Ann]

Well, to be honest, this is a YA fantasy novel. Most YA novels don't really focus on the world or the plot, but mainly the characters and their relationships with each other.

[[deleted user]]

Anahy wrote: "Well, to be honest, this is a YA fantasy novel. Most YA novels don't really focus on the world or the plot, but mainly the characters and their relationships with each other."

Or that the vast majority likes certain aspects of the story than others. It's just preference.