A ​Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4) A ​Court of Silver Flames question


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Did anyone else find the way Rhys treated Feyre in this book a little weird?
Chinara Guliyeva Chinara Aug 23, 2021 01:48AM
Now, listen. Before anyone starts planning my slow death, this is just my opinion and something that stood out to me a couple of times while reading the book.

The way Rhys treated Feyre in this book was (while not completely similar) a bit alarmingly close to Tamlin, and I will explain why:

Before I start, I have to mention that in the books before this one, a lot of the reason why their relationship was so special and why Feyre chose to be with Rhysand was because he gave her the liberty to do what she wanted, always gave her a choice, etc. (which in my opinion is also a bit problematic, because a man having to give you the right to choose is a bit anti-feminist in my opinion).

However, in this book, Feyre didn't get much of a choice in anything, and the situation seemed to be very similar to the one she had in the spring court in ACOMAF, except in this book she was portrayed as happy and Rhys as a stand-up guy while in ACOMAF she was miserable and Tamlin was an irredeemable asshole.

My first complaint is 'the shield'. For those who don't remember, in the book while Feyre was pregnant Rhysand put an impenetrable shield around her that masked her scent and did not even allow for others to touch her (when Cassian tried to kiss her on the cheek, it physically stopped him). Now, in the book Feyre laughed this off as a case of 'worrisome Rhys', but I was a bit perplexed - especially when it was so similar to how Tamlin caged her in the house in ACOMAF. You could argue that she consented to this, but I am wondering if she had actually gotten much of a choice, and if being so distanced from human contact affected her. Plus, Rhysand made a whole deal in the books about believing in Feyre and her ability to fend for herself, although that all seemed to fly out the window when she was pregnant.

My second point, and the one that disturbed me the most, was him deciding not to tell her she and her baby were at risk from a birth complication. Not only that, but he had the audacity to gather the whole inner circle and VOTE on it. I will not accept any arguments telling me he didn't want to worry her - this was unacceptable. Was he willing to let her die in ignorance, not knowing her death was approaching? Nesta was deemed the villain in the situation for telling Feyre, and she was so scorned for it that Rhysand kicked her out of Velaris, but he himself faced no repercussions. Feyre just forgave him and everyone who was in on this, and it reminded me once again of ACOMAF, where Tamlin was written off as a complete asshole for keeping things from her. Where was that energy in this book?

Lastly, it was mentioned that even after the baby was born, Feyre had supervision while going on walks with him. Again, as someone who emphasized the fact that she could protect herself and trusted to make her own decisions, sending her off with babysitters was a bit of an anticlimactic choice on his part. In fact, it resembled the sentries Tamlin would always send her off with if she wished to leave the manor.

I'm open to discuss this topic, but in my opinion, Rhys' behavior in this book was a bit abusive and very different from how his character was written before.



i think it’s (excuse my language) complete bullshit the way that Rhys didn’t tell Feyre the risk. He had no right to keep things from her and after how he preached he would never keep anything from her, he keeps the biggest secret of all!?! Like what!?! This is so out of character for him and definitely gives me Tamlin vibes. And also how Nesta was the bad person for actually telling her. I would want to know if there is a chance i could die, even though Rhys didn’t want to worry her it’s her right to know. Also how Rhys treats Nesta like crap is also shitty of him. After all no one ever says anything to Elaine and they both had flaws and faults like letting Feyre go out into the woods but BOTH of them not just Nesta.


I do totally agree, I really wonder what SJM was thinking when she was writing some of this stuff. The way that even now, in ACOSF, Tamlin is being berated and punished, shows that SJM clearly thinks that what he did to Feyre in the past was a bad thing. The other characters don't even treat Lucien that favorably, just by association. But somehow when Rhysand does similar (and with the pregnancy thing, worse) things, they're okay? Somehow Nesta is the bad guy for telling Feyre something that she should have known about her own body, her own pregnancy, her own baby?! WTF!


Yeah, he was very akin to Tamlin in this book. The fact that Feyre and the other characters just rolled their eyes and were just like "typical Rhysand" made me feel icky.


I completely agree I was very confused by the way Rhys acted in this book. His treatment of Feyre some I could understand like the shield but his treatment of the inner circle surrounding Feyre really rubbed me wrong and especially when he chose not to tell her the pregnancy risks. I really wish we got to see her side and feelings more.
Another thing is his treatment and resentment towards Nesta always made me so angry, especially in this book. I know Nesta had her faults but he never treated Elain with such discourse. While yes Nesta was struggling a lot, to me that makes his treatment of her worse.


Will noone mention the whole dieing in childbirth idiocity itself? How the whole thing could have been avoided if they had chanced Feyre shifting to Illyrian biology? How she didn't chance it, because doctor was not sure if it will have any effect on the baby, yet all three of them dieing was deemed the only acceptable option?
Does noone else feels this book was NOT written by Maas? Every character was different from previous books? How there is no plot or subplot and the writing itself is dragging and does not sound like Maas rapid storytelling?

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Chiara F I agree that it was a stupid plot topic. She could have shifted to Ilyrian, either immediately after learning of it, which probably wouldn't have been ...more
Sep 28, 2023 09:25AM · flag

Yes, the pregnancy plot was unnecessary from the start, really wish SJM hadn’t gone down that road - but that’s personal taste. The way the characters changed almost beyond recognition in the novella though…that’s such a shame. Some of the most powerful bits of SJM’s writing were the independence of Feyre, and the games she was willing to play with Rhysand. Not exactly feminist, but less problematic than turning into a bland babymaker. I’m going to pretend their story stopped after the trilogy.


I find this whole book a conflict. Made me drop the series. One. They litterly trash Tamlin for not helping Feyer while depressed but......everyone does that to Nesta for a year. Also why wouldn't Rys let Feyre know???What is the point? And why wouldn't she just shift during pregnancy last min? This whole book made me decide it was a trilogy and nothing exist after the first three. I swear someone else is writing them


I really liked Rhys but reading that book felt weird. It was like he was out of character, I felt that the author was making him do things that felt wrong and unnatural for this character just because she needed them for the plot. I didn’t like it, she could have found other ways. Specially the way he handled Nesta’s trauma, he, above all people, knows trauma so I thought he could have been nicer with her. I don’t know, everything he did I felt was too forced and so out of character.


The difference between Rhys in this book and all the previous ones if the perspective of the narrator. In the previous books, Feyre doesn’t know what he is or isn’t keeping from her. She knows she loves him, and we see the world through that lens. However- we do find out that he was hiding the bit about them being mates, right? In ACOSF- we get the story from Nestas perspective. She doesn’t like Rhys so it’s natural that our view of him in this book would make us feel that way too, that he’s manipulative, and secretive. Remember- the entire court knew they were mates before feyre. So same here in silver flames, with the childbirth thing. He his it from her, but from an outside perspective- we see how that gives us the Ick.

SJM did an incredible job here- Turing someone we wholeheartedly adored, into someone who kind of makes us feel a little unsure or even dislike a little bit, simply by showing us the same actions, from a new point of view. Rhys was the same throughout. It was our perspective that’s changed.

Artfully done.


Bro he was concerned the love of his fricken life was gonna die, give him a break.


I couldn't agree more and I'm super grateful for everyone here who's voicing it.

I think it was extremely problematic writing and it totally broke my enjoyment of the series. I agree with what other people said about it strongly reminding us of Tamlin's treatment of Feyre -- but being worse because now we're talking life and death. It's Feyre's body and she should have the final choice in what happens to it. Withholding this essential information from her -- but also going so far as to inform all of her closest people and then swearing them to silence?? It's totally out of alignment with the original narrative of the books -- and also a problematic plotline.

(Not to mention the silly barrier she wrote to Feyre morphing to her Illyrian form early pregnancy...it bothered me the whole book. Seems like that would have been a no-brainer easy option, possibly with lower risk? IDK, it feels like SJM just had to write that one sentence in to try to make this weak and problematic plot hold water...)

Also, the fact that people who feel this way about the plot have to be worried about the multitudes of BookTok coming for their life over it is also problematic. The fact that society just brushed by this plotline with hearts on their eyes is gross.

It also opened my eyes to the fact that the writing is just bad. And now I can't close my eyes to that fact, so it feels like all of SJM's books are off the table for me. At the beginning of ACOTAR, the writing was fun and a bit trite -- but kind of to be expected with the romantasy genre (I guess??). But then in ACOSF, the use of this plotline was just weak, but also upsetting for those of us here. When a plot is non-sensical enough that it is frustrating for the audience -- that is bad writing.

(Not to mention at the end of the book when Cassian and Azriel are staking out that castle on the other continent and it's just such an obvious trap that our master of war tactics and our spymaster fall into?? It makes no sense.)

The fact that the entire plot hinges on Feyre secretly dying from her pregnancy so that Nesta can "redeem" herself by using her power to save the baby and alter Feyre's body for childbirth....it's just bad and annoying and also problematic.

So then I went on and tried to read Throne of Glass because it's supposed to be about a badass female assassin...but then she spends most of the first book sitting in her fancy rooms in the castle, wearing dresses, and playing piano...while men were telling her that she has to hide her power... Idk, after what I read in ACOSF it felt like I could no longer trust SJM with the strong female character, you know? So I gave up.

If anyone has some book suggestions for actually strong female leads that also aren't problematic plot-wise, I'm all ears! I just read Priory of the Orange Tree, and I enjoyed it a lot. It is more dense than any ACOTAR book though.


I breezed through the first books...but when it came to ACOSF, it took me twice as long to get through it. I admire Nesta's character, and this isn't about her, but the characters felt off in this book. Perhaps it is just because its through Nesta's POV, but the characters I fell in love with in the first books were not the same in this one. I think the pregnancy should have been written a bit better so as to not intrude on Nesta's storyline and not serve as a way to put Feyre in the sidelines (I feel like there could have been a better plot device as an excuse for why Feyre couldn't help with the Trove/ the Queens).


Yes. I hated Rhys in Silver Flame.
I can get behind the shield because Feyre though is strong, also still is new to being Fae and having Fae magic. Though sometimes she mentions "mastery" of said magic, she is no where close to it. Plus her using all the magic can be exhausting on top of pregnancy. I think it is one of those things they talked about and found that is actually very logical to have said shield.

And Yes, I very much loath how Nesta was treated in this book. Yes she deserved some of it, but there was so much that was unnecessary. And how everyone was mad at Nest for revealing the truth because she wanted to 'hurt' Feyre? But did she really? Or did she want Feyre to see what kind of BS was going on. Nesta just found out that is was VOTED on what 'to do with her'. So of course, when Feyre comes in as she is working through those emotions, she is going she probably made the connection they were doing the same thing to her and wanted her to know.
And then having Nesta feel bad for it? Like she should have apologized for the timing of it and not telling her sooner. But what she did was the right thing none the less.


Omg yes, I completely agree! Feyre went from being our badass queen who would stand up for herself to a pretty little housewife ( which is exactly what people get mad at Tamiln for). Like I get that Rhys wants to protect her and all but did he rlly have to be annoying about it. Like he wants her to be independent but then he straight up puts an IMPENETRABLE shied around her as a COMPRMISE. like having it from Nestas POV made it so much better to show us how other perceive them.


I'm late to the party here, but I finished ACOSF yesterday and this has been bothering me ALL DAY.. I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt this way at least.

I wish she had written Nes & Cass's story somehow completely separate from the other characters, because the comment above that said she basically just used Rhys/Feyre/Mor however she needed for plot is 100% how I feel. It's like she just entirely changed their personalities and how they treat people just to serve Nesta's arc.

SJM made us LOVE these characters for 3 books, and now we get 700 pages of Nesta's POV (I know Cassian's is there too but it didn't do much to balance things IMO) where she pretty much hates them the entire time (sometimes w reason) and that's pretty freaking jarring since these are supposed to be our heros!

I know she announced ACOTAR #6 recently, I'm not sure who that's going to focus on but please please please SJM write Feysand like you did in ACOMAF, I beg you


Rhysand was completely stripped of everything that made him attractive both to Feyre and me as a reader. Likewise, I did not find a trace of Feyre's fire-y, free spirited, independent, warrior queen nature in her character in this book. Like, yes, I've always found her annoying but in ACOSF she and Rhys and their relationship was completely insufferable. The judgement they passed on others - namely Nesta - was unprecedented and completely unwarranted especially given their self proclaimed understanding natures. Their whole bond was based on independence, mutual respect, and understanding that patience is the strongest virtue you can have to give respectful space to a loved one who is processing trauma (which allows for growth). If their characters aren't given any further character growth they might as well be written out. (Last thing - did they NEED to get pregnant right away? she's been an immortal for all of 5 min and immediately becomes pregnant? when it's a near impossible feat for the rest of the Fae community???? be real.)

U 25x33
Victoria Lol right?? The instant pregnancy ploy was sooo bleh. I was like, really?? You've got literal eternity... ...more
Dec 19, 2024 11:01AM

I saw that when ACOSF was written Sarah was in her pregnancy. It is suspected that affected the writing because of what she was personally going through. I also agree Rhys was different in that book and I did not like it at all, very controlling and he lied. I get why he tried to hide it she was pregnant but he was wrong for denying her the chance to know and also help or prepare. I read that Sarah had difficulty and needed a c-section. Maybe she was projecting her emotions and fears onto Rhys' character. After I read about that stuff I looked at the book differently in terms of Feyre and Rhys with their actions.


Chinara wrote: "Now, listen. Before anyone starts planning my slow death, this is just my opinion and something that stood out to me a couple of times while reading the book.

The way Rhys treated Feyre in this b..."


I agree with this, and I think Feyre probably felt pressured to have the shield and let Rhys do it because of the whole mate-primal-instinct-to-protect thing, but this does not excuse Rhys not telling Feyre about the danger.
Honestly, I sort of like that Rhys does not tell her, not because I agree with what he did but because it shows that even Rhysand is not perfect, he does make mistakes, and imo, it is really in his nature to do this, because Rhys is the kind of guy who shoulders all the burden and wants to fix any issues that arise before the ones he love find out about it. So he was hoping he would be able to find a solution before he told Feyre.
Of course, Rhys should have told Feyre as soon as he found out, considering it is her life and more her concern than his, but that is why I believe he did it.


I didn't like Rhys in this in this book either. I get it that he was high on emotions and fear and tension for the pregnancy, but that's no excuse. For the shield, i don't actually see much of a problem: they did talk about it (even if we readers didn't learn of it until later, they mutually agreed on it) and i thing Feyre wanted that shield in place to protect her son as well. You mention that she'd powerful and can protect herself, but they did say that she shouldn't use her powers as it could have a weird effect on the baby's development. So during the pregnancy she was basically defenseless, that's why i think the shield was also approved and encouraged by her.

In regards of him not telling her about the risks to the pregnancy there is no excuse, that he discussed it with others and not her also in inexcusable. She proved time and again that she can bare this kind of information, and she could have had ideas on how to deal with it, considering she's the one that knows her own powers best. And she had every right to end the pregnancy after learning of the risks considering it's her life! I'm sure she wouldn't have, but she had the right to make that decision, and that early in the pregnancy it probably would have been safe for her to do so. While when she learned of it from Nesta, it was too late for that choice.

After the birth, that she has to have babysitters following her all the time is not ok either. At this point she is not defenseless anymore, she's more than capable of defending herself and the baby, especially in Velaris!

I understand why Nesta doesn't like Rhysand. I can more or less understand why Cassian is defending Rhys even from her though: they've been friends/brothers for 500 years, he knows the male is a way that Nesta doesn't, he feels guilty for what happened with Amarantha, and we need to keep in mind that they are Fae not humans. While Nesta (and probably us human readers as well) don't have a full understanding of those strong fae protective instincts towards their mates, Cassian understands Rhys on that front. I do think that much of the protectiveness of Rhys is biological and instinctual and natural to their biology. Not culture, but biology. there is little you can do against your biology, and as fae you probably wouldn't need to even consider going against that instinct, it because it's natural. but it's a concept that for us humans (and for Nesta, and Feyre) is harder to accept.


Rhys just turned into a lil bitch boy IMO. Like what happened to cool lad ?! Rhys is just like “ah yes feminism I support 🤝🙌” until it comes to something that a female had the right to know about 💩


I agree with you! I like Rhys but he was a total ass in the book (and in previous books he has been too), although I think this time Sarah did this for the plot, I mean, to give Nesta a good reason to be mad at him, to tell her sister of this AND cause a fight.
Do you know what I mean??
(Sorry for my poor English).


Rhys from the previous books would never hide the danger of the pregnancy to her, I just find it completely out of character for him. I think they just needed a reason for Nesta to hate Rhys besides the "I hate that they are happy, I hate that they are a family and I'm left out even though I have made no effort to be apart of their family."
And the shield I kinda get it but it went to far, and I didn't like that we didn't see how Feyre really felt about it.


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