i'm literally begging people to relearn how to use earbuds and headphones. i don't wanna hear your fucking tiktok while im waiting for my flight.

100% this.

I think the Hunger Games series sits in a similar literary position to The Lord of the Rings, as a piece of literature (by a Catholic author) that sparked a whole new subgenre and then gets blamed for flaws that exist in the copycat books and aren’t actually part of the original.

Like, despite what parodies might say, Katniss is nowhere near the stereotypical “unqualified teenager chosen to lead a rebellion for no good reason”.  The entire point is that she’s not leading the rebellion. She’s a traumatized teenager who has emotional reactions to the horrors in her society, and is constantly being reined in by more experienced adults who have to tell her, “No, this is not how you fight the government, you are going to get people killed.” She’s not the upstart teenager showing the brainless adults what to do–she’s a teenager being manipulated by smarter and more experienced adults. She has no power in the rebellion except as a useful piece of propaganda, and the entire trilogy is her straining against that role. It’s much more realistic and far more nuanced than anyone who dismisses it as “stereotypical YA dystopian” gives it credit for.

And the misconceptions don’t end there. The Hunger Games has no “stereotypical YA love triangle”–yes, there are two potential love interests, but the romance is so not the point. There’s a war going on! Katniss has more important things to worry about than boys! The romance was never about her choosing between two hot boys–it’s about choosing between two diametrically opposed worldviews. Will she choose anger and war, or compassion and peace? Of course a trilogy filled with the horrors of war ends with her marriage to the peace-loving Peeta. Unlike some of the YA dystopian copycats, the romance here is part of the message, not just something to pacify readers who expect “hot love triangles” in their YA. 

The worldbuilding in the Hunger Games trilogy is simplistic and not realistic, but unlike some of her imitators, Collins does this because she has something to say, not because she’s cobbling together a grim and gritty dystopia that’s “similar to the Hunger Games”. The worldbuilding has an allegorical function, kept simple so we can see beyond it to what Collins is really saying–and it’s nothing so comforting as “we need to fight the evil people who are ruining society”. The Capitol’s not just the powerful, greedy bad guys–the Capitol is us, First World America, living in luxury while we ignore the problems of the rest of the world, and thinking of other nations largely in terms of what resources we can get from them. This simplistic world is a sparsely set stage that lets us explore the larger themes about exploitation and war and the horrors people will commit for the sake of their bread and circuses, meant to make us think deeper about what separates a hero from a villain.

There’s a reason these books became a literary phenomenon. There’s a reason that dozens upon dozens of authors attempted to imitate them. But these imitators can’t capture that same genius, largely because they’re trying to imitate the trappings of another book, and failing to capture the larger and more meaningful message underneath. Make a copy of a copy of a copy, and you’ll wind up with something far removed from the original masterpiece. But we shouldn’t make the mistake of blaming those flaws on the original work.

I love you hated female characters. I love you female characters who are flawed. I love you female characters who mess up and try to do the right thing after. I love you female characters who get the undeserved vitriol from fans. I love you female characters who fans completely condemn because of one mistake they made. I love you female characters who fans completely condemn because of one mistake they made as a child. I love you female characters who people blame for ripping apart their ships instead of the larger forces that be. I love you female characters who get all the hate as the male characters who do worse in canon get absolutely none. I love you female characters who get hated on because they told a man “no.”

@officialvalkyrieweek | Valkyrie Week: Day 06 - Valkyries  

Nesta opened the brown paper and beheld a stack of pagesfilled with writing. At the top of the first page, it merely said, ChapterTwenty-One. Sheread the first few lines beneath it, then nearly dropped the pages. “This—thisis about us.”

Gwyn beamed. “I convinced Merrill to add us into thepenultimate chapter. She even let me write it—with her ownannotations, of course. But it’s about therebirth of the Valkyries. About what we’re doing.”

Nesta had no words. Emerie’s hands were once more shaking asshe leafed through the pages. “You had this much to sayabout us?” Emerie said,choking on a laugh.

Gwyn rubbed her hands together. “With more to come.”

Nesta read a line at random on the fifth page. Whether thesun beat hot on their brows or freezing rain turned their bones toice, Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyneth arrived atpractice each morning, ready to …

The back of her throat ached; her eyes stung. “We’re in a book.”

Gwyn’s fingers slid into hers, squeezing tight. Nestalooked up to find her holding Emerie’s free hand as well. Gwyn smiledagain, her eyes bright. “Our stories are worthtelling.”

- ACOSF

Art by: _inkye

Commissioned by: @melphss & @llibiarts

go watch Barbie

I work at a movie theater.

And personally? To be in the tickets booth, and see young girls, teenagers, adult women, coming in to see Barbie,

the most highlighter pink outfits, some of them coming in with the dolls they’re dressed as, laughing to each other, cheering for each other,

to see the men they’re coming to see it with, dressed in pink, cheering them on, taking their pictures with smiles and cheers in the lobby at the photo op

touches something so deep in me

I can’t say any nuances of the movie that haven’t already been said, but like, fuck man, love is so deep and so kind and to be able to see glimpses of it from behind my little ticket desk makes me a little less nihilistic.

“I'd never heard of a glamour not working. . But Nesta's mind was so entirely her own; she had put up such strong walls— of steel and iron and ash wood— that even a High Lord's magic couldn't pierce them.”- Acotar page 264

NESSIAN FIC WRITERS

Hi! Here’s some awesome Nessian fic writers if you’re looking for Nessian fics! I wanted to add more, but unfortunately you can only tag 50 people in a post… I’ll definitely add on tho! Let me know if u want me to add you or if the link for your Masterlist is wrong. :)

—————

@acourtofmarauders - Masterlist

@aelin-and-feyre - Masterlist

@caotica-e-quieta - Masterlist

@charincharge - Masterlist

@cinaja - Masterlist

@darling-cas - Masterlist

@dawninlatin - Masterlist

@deathbytitanium - Masterlist

@empress-ofbloodshed - Masterlist

@featherymalignancy - Masterlist

@feyesand - Masterlist

@fireheart-of-your-dreams - Masterlist

@flowerflamestars - Masterlist

@happy-smiling-things - Masterlist

@herpowerisdeath - Masterlist

@highqueenofelfhame - Masterlist

@howtotameyourillyrian - Masterlist

@illyrianwitchling - Masterlist

@itsyouraveragebooklover - Masterlist

@julemmaes - Masterlist

@ladynestaarcheron - Masterlist

@lady-therion - Masterlist

@ladyvanserra - Masterlist

@librarian-of-orynth - Masterlist

@louiseleblancdiggory - Masterlist

@maastrash - Masterlist

@maas-trash - Masterlist

@mariamuses - Masterlist

@mightymorphingayagenda - Masterlist

@modernbookfae - Masterlist

@nightcourtcinnamonroll - Masterlist

@noodlecatposts - Masterlist

@perseusannabeth - Masterlist

@propshophannah - Masterlist

@thebluemartini - Masterlist

@theoverlyenthusiasticwriter - Masterlist

@thewayshedreamed - Masterlist

@queen-archeron - Masterlist

@radientwings - Masterlist

@regolithheart - Masterlist

@rhysanoodle - Masterlist

@rhysismydaddy - Masterlist

@rhyswhitethorn - Masterlist

@sarahjtrash - Masterlist

@secretlynestaarcheron - Masterlist

@sensitiveillyrian - Masterlist

@stardustsroses - Masterlist

@swishandflickwit - Masterlist

@tacmc - Masterlist

@wingsofanillyrian - Masterlist

Adding on in case you’re literally addicted to Nessian and need to read more amazing fics:

@abigail-nicole - Masterlist

@accidental-rambler - Masterlist

@acourtofabsandillyrians - Masterlist

@aelin-queen-of-terrasen - Masterlist

@an-upset-librarian - Masterlist

@bloodshrike-helene - Masterlist

@bookofmirth - Masterlist

@b00kworm - Masterlist

@ceremoany - Masterlist

@cloudywriter - Masterlist

@court-of-fandoms-and-art - Masterlist

@d0riansgray - Masterlist

@duskandstarlight - Masterlist

@escapingtheconstrictingboxes - Masterlist

@florrama - Masterlist

@fuzzballsheltiepants - Masterlist

@galathynius - Masterlist

@glassandroses - Masterlist

@getalittlecountry - Masterlist

@goldbooksblack - Masterlist

@illyrianbats - Masterlist

@illyriantremors - Masterlist

@kay-emm-gee - Masterlist

@mercxrial - Masterlist

@missarcheron - Masterlist

@ncssian - Masterlist

@nightcourthighlordrhysand - Masterlist

@ourbooksuniverse - Masterlist

@pterodactylichexameter - Masterlist

@rayonfrozenwings - Masterlist

@ritamordio19 - Masterlist

@rufousnmacska - Masterlist

@rhysand-vs-fenrys - Masterlist

@samayla - Masterlist

@saphie3243 - Masterlist

@sarah-bae-maas - Masterlist

@sayosdreams - Masterlist

@shyvioletcat - Masterlist

@snelbz - Masterlist

@starofvelaris - Masterlist

@stokingthemidnightflame - Masterlist

@thatbitchydonutcollector - Masterlist

@typicalmidnightsoul - Masterlist

@unhealthyklarolineobsession - Masterlist

@valamerys - Masterlist

@verifiefangirl - Masterlist

@vidalinav - Masterlist

@wildlyglittering - Masterlist

@writevswrong - Masterlist

@wyndle - Masterlist

((This list is partially just for my own benefit since I found a lot of new Nessian fics while making this lol. Also I debated it but I was like whatever and decided to include myself in this list so I hope u don’t mind😅 Anyway, let me know if there’s anyone else who should be added to this list.))

Enjoy! Seriously tho, this ended up taking a fairly long time to make so I hope it’s useful 💗

Part 2 of this list can be found here

Nesta Archeron is for the girls who prefer anger over fear. the girls who prefer actions over words. the girls who are scared of their emotions. the girls who love smutty romance books. the girls who are secret hopeless romantics. the girls who fear getting close to people and then losing them. the girls who find it hard to make friends. the girls who grew up way too fast. the girls who are hard to impress. the girls who dont know how to be soft and are learning over time. the girls who are always cold. the girls who have confidence but no self esteem.

I like that Neata doesn't smile. I like that Nesta is unimpressed. I like that Nesta doesn't fake nice and conform to those around her. I like that Nesta feels most comfortable in conservative clothing. I like that Nesta enjoys quiet activities like reading. I like that Nesta shows she cares through her actions and nor cheap words. I like that Nesta never betrayed her sisters bec of a man feeding her ego. I like that Nesta is who got the Priestesses to start training. I like that Nesta loves to dance. I like that Nesta's trauma isn't stereotypical. I like that Nesta is polarizing and complex. I like that Nesta critically challenges what it means to be a female character. I like that Nesta challenges readers to face their internalized misogyny. I like that Nesta challenges readers to dig deeper instead of relying on what is being spoonfed to them

I just really like Nesta

I don't understand why this fandom thinks the characters who were abused as children and grow up to suffer from depression and self-loathing somehow need to be "redeemed".

Chaol, Nesta, Azriel, and Eris don't need redemption. This fandom just hates them because they actually show symptoms of abuse and signs of mental health issues. God forbid.

These characters don't need a redemption. They need to heal from the abuse that no one shielded them from and learn to love themselves.

Nesta Archeron deserved better, and I will die on that hill. Was she a mean older sister? Yes. Does she deserve to be held accountable for that? Absolutely. But that is something that should have been handled between the Archeron sisters.

The truth is, they all had issues they should have resolved together. Elain also did nothing in the cabin, but because she’s sweet it’s okay that she also didn’t hunt. Feyre told the IC the bad things about her sisters, while leaving out the good parts. She also was the reason they ended up in the cauldron. Nesta shouldn’t have been so bitter and cold to her family, she should have shown her love better. Not one of them was perfect, but Nesta is everyone’s target because she’s not sweet and submissive.

They all have stuff to own up to, but they should have done that together. And the IC targeting Nesta, especially after Feyre tells them to stop is bullshit and my girl deserved better.

The poor girl didn’t even get an “I love you” in her book. Instead she got a man who seemed to hate her and want nothing to do with her, and when she’s broken suddenly he loves her because she’s not fighting him anymore.

Nesta went to the wall to rescue Feyre. She fought in a war. She killed a King. She was expected to heal in such little time when Elain was given months, and still isn’t completely healed. She was told not to drink and sleep around, when it is said in the books how the IC handled their first war/battles, and how they cope with their trauma. And again, it’s okay for them, but not Nesta. Only when Nesta gave up her powers was she ever welcomed in their Court.

So yes, I will die on the hill of “Nesta deserved better”. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

The way people are willing to forget every thing Rhysand did under the mountain but aren’t willing to forget Nesta telling Feyre she stinks

Sigh

Warnings: accusations of treason, torture, death, suicide, betrayal, blood (this is kind of dark so read with caution)

18+ MINORS DON'T INTERACT

A/N: Well I finally got done with this piece. Honestly it just might be my favorite thing that I have ever written, so here it is: my magnum opus. I truly hope anyone reading it feels at least a part of the emotion I tried pouring into this and if you like it please do let me know what you think! This fic soo much effort and emotion from my end so your comments really make it all worth it)

(Inspired by the song Eleanor Rigby- Cody Fry Although I don't believe I could do justice to the song, this fic is not nearly as emotional or dramatic as I wanted it to be. But then again how do you live up to this masterpiece of a song?)

..............................................................................................

Azriel had never been one for afternoon picnics or eating apple pie under its own apple tree or relationships at all, come to think of it. But as it turns out, having a mate does change a person. Your personality, your very soul starts shifting; learning, becoming better acclimated to its lost twin. You begin doing things you would never have imagined just to make them happy. And that is how he ended up here; sprawled across a blanket, his back to the vast apple tree with his mate in his arms, munching on her hand made pies. Then again, Azriel would eat anything his mate blessed him with, just because he knew how happy it made her when he complimented her cooking.

The air was not stifling, despite the fact that they were well into the summer months. Summers here weren’t that long. Mostly because of the towering mountains surrounding the city that blessed them with good weather. But the two months that they did have summer were the worst out of the entire year. Velaris was usually boiling this time of year. However it seemed like the Mother had blessed them with good weather this time.

So they were lounging outside their sea side home, basking in the summer sun before it became insufferable. A few months later Azriel would reminisce this exact moment, try to relish in the meagre happiness its fading memory would provide and beat himself up for taking it for granted. But then again it wasn’t his fault. How could they have known they were happy? That this was all the happiness they would get?

people want realistic trauma depictions until they get it. suddenly they're toxic and abusers and it's not okay. they don't want the real truth of how it can be as a trauma survivor. they want beautifully broken people that are ✨inspirational✨ and bonus points if that character is a woman

One of my absolute favorite descriptions of Nesta from ACOMAF and my warmest gratitude to Keiko for delivering this stunning illustration. 🥰❤️

@nestaarcheronweek

defending evil and hated female characters online is a full time job and i clock in every single morning.