Nesta and Rhys- Let's Talk About it
Right off the bat I want to make it very clear that I am a fan of Nesta, I was not a fan of her portrayal in ACOSF which is nothing against her character, her healing journey was poorly portrayed. I think HOFAS is just a taste of the Nesta that we have coming in later ACOTAR books, and I am excited.
So let's get to it, this is how I look at the Inner Circle, it has two parts
Inner Circle (Work) I use the word employee to describe the characters, Rhys does pay them but it is mostly just to make the difference in roles more visible– I am not trying to start a workers rights debate.
Inner Circle Family: This is the love, family and friendship part of the IC. This is dinners, and joking around, solstice and fun. This is what we probably most like to think of when we’re reading about the IC. In this, Rhys and Feyre are just members of a found family that love and respect each other. They have a bit more power and sway, but ultimately they are family. This is also where we have just: Cassian, Azriel, Nesta, Mor, Elain, Amren. Just as they are.
Inner Circle Work: This is where your hierarchy comes in. This is where Rhys is the High Lord and Feyre is the High Lady. This is where the roles the others fill out come into play, and this is where Rhys and Feyre can call the shorts without question. Cassian is Lord of Bloodshed, General to the Courts Army: answers to his high lord/lady. Azriel is the Spymaster: answers to his high lord/lady. Nesta is a warrior: answers to her high lord/lady. Mor: answers to her high lord/lady. See where I am going with this? Family and work are separate.
When the different members of the IC are in their role as "employees" of the NC, they answer to Rhys and Feyre, and follow the commands of Rhys and Feyre, High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court. If they choose to not, there are consequences.
So in HOFAS Nesta gives the Mask to Bryce, who brings it back to Midgard to save her world. Is Nesta wrong? Morally, absolutely not. In the sense of what her High Lord has asked of her as a warrior and "employee" of the NC? Yes she is wrong. She put the NC, and everyone in it, including people she loves, in danger.
(Her trust in Bryce would be a whole other post.)
So yes, Rhys, as High Lord and Protector of the Night Court, is f*cking pissed because Nesta gave away a weapon to someone they barely know, to go take on other worldly monsters who could easily take the mask and not only come back and kill everyone Rhys loves and cares for in the NC, but also in Prythian. Nesta went against orders, as "employee" of the NC, and disobeyed her High Lord. He’s not mad at his sister-in-law, he is mad at one of his warriors/employees. His reaction and anger is justified at that moment.
Misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
This is also where I am going to point out that this is not misogynistic because Rhys is mad at a member of his IC for making a poor choice that could have horrible consequences, not because she is a woman. He was furious with Azriel when Az fought him on having feelings for Elain. He gets mad when his employees don't follow orders.
We have seen Rhys and Feyre make decisions because they are High Lord/Lady, and their choice was final. In ACOSF, when Azriel said he was going out spying on Koschei, both Rhys and Feyre said no. Az says he wasn’t asking, challenges Feyre, and Rhys shuts him down because the High Lady said no. Is Az happy? No. Feyre then walks off with him, clearly comforting him, but he ultimately respects the call of his High Lord and Lady.
We have also seen Rhys using his status as High Lord in murky areas, such as in the infamous BC of ACOSF. When Rhys catched Azriel with Elain, he forbids Az from pursuing a relationship with her. Az points out that as a High Lord he can’t dictate that. Rhys counters this with all the political reasons why he can, but realistically he crossed the line of family IC and work IC. Is Azriel going to listen to Rhys? No because his High Lord cannot command who his "employees" love.
And I am not saying I liked reading a scene of Rhys biting Nesta’s head off, I did like reading Ember coming to her rescue and biting off Rhys’, he needs that to happen more. The point is that both characters are acting out and butting heads. That’s normal in both work and family matters. There wouldn’t be a story if Rhys (who we all forget is morally grey btw) goes “Oh well shoot Nesta, I am upset you did that but that’s ok it will work out.”
Tidbit I can’t fit anywhere: I really wish we did see more of a bite from Cassian when Rhys was biting her head off, General or not, Nesta is his mate, and letting Rhys yell at her is not mate energy. The whole scene between Rhys, Nesta, Cassian and Feyre could be its own BC.
Nesta is a complicated character, who deserves her own trilogy to shine in a way that ACOSF did not let her. HOFAS showed the other side of her, the side that was able to snap out of a death trance when she heard the name of her nephew (I felt that so hard.) When she was able to forgive someone who was complicit in her confinement to the HOW, how she was able to see beyond what had been commanded of her and make her own choices.
Nesta is an excellent character, and SJM is working hard to bring out the best in her.
At the end of the day as well we all need to remember that THIS IS A MAKE BELIEVE STORY WITH MAKE BELIEVE PEOPLE AND NONE OF THIS MATTERS! These books are literally like cocaine for our overworked, dopamine searching brains.
