Stephanie’s comment > Likes and Comments

Hello! Great points. While I disagree with some of them, I do agree with you on some stuff. For example, we have a limited perspective (mostly from Feyre) on who Tamlin really is. Though I will argue that Lucien, Alis and Rhys all do comment on him being "good" so those comments coupled with Feyre's assessment of his character seem to be enough to convince me. And while I agree with you that these might be limited assessments, I would argue that this is all we ever have in books. What i mean is that we, as readers, can only come up with who someone's true character really is by observing their actions directly or by the narrator's assessment of them. And in Tamlin's case, I'd say both the narrator (Feyre) and his actions do consistently show someone of good character. I do understand that we can read between the lines to get more information but, in Tamlin's case, there are only a few instances where his motivations aren't entirely clear and we therefore have to read between the lines (i.e. staying silent during her trials on the mountain). Also, I'd argue that Feyre is a very reliable narrator. While she is defensive at first and doesn't open up and therefore interprets Tamlin's intentions at first (like when she thinks he is mocking her because he cannot read), SJM paints it very obviously that Feyre is being defensive and just doesn't want to open herself up. The Feyre that falls in love with Tamlin has a much clearer head and her opinions on the events that are transpiring are not only more reliable, but SJM paints them as reliable as well. Point is that your reliable protagonist of the story, along with every other major character in ACOTAR, even Rhys, all comment on Tamlin being of sound and good character. Reading between the lines without stretching to find stuff that isn't there only works when the author is trying to do that. I think I would argue that SJM was not trying to do that in this book. And the fact that she
supposedly wrote this book a LONG TIME ago (either you or someone else mentioned that she started writing it when she was 16!) points to the more likely conclusion that she changed her mind on who Feyre's love interest would be. But more power to her if this second book ends up making that believable.

Another thing I don't really understand is how we can defend Rhys' actions on the mountain (as you do in point 1 and 3) but then somehow condemn Tamlin's. In my opinion, Rhys used Feyre for a means to his own ends. He wanted Amartantha gone. The ways he goes about it are at some times cruel but, you know what? I actually don't mind that he did this stuff. While I think there is some issues with his character when it comes to consent, all in all I think that if you are in war and you want to take down a tyrant who can literally kill everyone in your court in the blink of an eye (as Rhys claims that Amaranthaa can), then using one person to get there is understandable. Yeah, sucks for Feyre that at times he was very cruel (like when he physically tortures her by hurting her broken arm), but I understand it. I agree that he wasn't THAT bad to her and the skimpy dresses/dancing could ultimately be shown to have the end goal of protecting both himself AND Feyre.
But then why is this blatant using of her somehow ok and explainable, yet the few things that Tamlin does have no redeemable explination? You say that Tamlin didn't help her during the trials in the mountain. I'm actually apt to believe you on that. I think he had given up and didn't know how to help her. I don't think he did this because he was a bad guy or didn't love her, though. For reasons we don't understand yet (other than perhaps he was at a loss for what to do), he didn't do much more than send Lucien to help her. I mean, what could he have done? I don't know. Amarantha did NOT give him any of the freedom that Rhys got so he couldn't have helped her in the same way Rhys did. And Lucien does say that he keeps quiet because he doesn't want to do anything that will hurt her chances with Amarantha more (remember: Amarantha WANTS Tamlin. Perhaps if he defends and speaks up for Feyre too much, he fears that Feyre will get punished more). But I agree that this left me saying "CMON TAMLIN! DO MORE!!!" Even Lucien says that while Tamlin is doing what he can, he is playing a dangerous game. So i'm ok with having a problem with his actions here. But i think its problematic to put all this blame on Tamlin here and try and use this as proof he is a bad guy, yet take the stance that "Yeah Rhys did bad stuff but there was a reason!" I definitely think you are entitled to like Rhys' actions on the mountain more, but i don't think its correct to glorify them while demonizing Tamlin's.
Last thing: The whole "he didn't say anything to her at all untif after he got caught trying to have sex with her in a dark corner. Real charmer that one." ---> I don't mean this to come off as rude but I think this is being willfully ignorant of what really transpired. These two people loved each other passionately. Tamlin probably thought all hope was lost and Feyre was going to die. In the first moment he saw that they had a chance to be together, he takes advantage of it and she follows him. They are both just as passionately trying to have sex with each other. They didn't have time for words nor did they need them. When they are broken apart by Rhys (and he does what Rhys says because he wants to keep Feyre safe), he says "i love you" before he leaves. This isn't some guy that is horny and trying to get away with banging Feyre when he has a second. This is someone he has shown he truly loves over and over (so much so that he gets on the floor and BEGS Rhys not to report that Feyre was at the Spring Court in that scene where she tells Rhys her name is Claire Beddor). She loves him, he loves her. They have a passionate encounter. There is nothing trashy about this scene nor is this showing Tamlin's bad character. So to paint it as such seems to me that you are stretching and looking for ways to dislike Tamlin or perhaps that you read too much into things that weren't there. *** I really hope I don't sound rude here, I don't mean to at all. Forgive me if I do!!

Sorry, I didn't see your comment until today. :)

In response to two of your points:

1. I suppose that I do condemn Tamlin's actions (or inaction as it were) more than Rhys's...but I do so because I had/have the expectation that because Tam loved Feyre, he should have done more to help her. The more times I reread the last third of the book, the more angry I get at Tamlin, honestly. My defense of Rhys has just as much to do with my disgust at Tamlin's lack of ability (willingness?) to help her as anything. We can question Rhys's motives all we want, but at the end of the day, he had a plan and he did everything he could to make that plan a reality. And he helped Feyre even though he didn't owe her anything. Tam, on the other hand, who should have had MORE motivation to help Feyre, allowed himself to be paralyzed into inaction. He LET her fight his battles. And I just can't respect that (as much as I like strong female characters, his lack of action on his and his court's behalf was just cowardly). Given the "epic love story" we'd been fed in the first two thirds of the book, our expectations for Tam, SHOULD have rightfully been higher. He failed her and he failed his people and THAT'S why I lost respect for his character. And that's why I can criticize his actions as much as I praise Rhys's.

2. Ironically, the "sex in a corner" scene you find so touching is perhaps the one I find most disgusting. I do actually think that Feyre was the instigator in that scene (as much if not more than Tamlin), but it doesn't change the fact that when I read it, all I see is that Tamlin, when faced with a few moments alone with Feyre for the first time in 3 months, decides that he'd rather bang her in a dark corner (no words necessary), than simply ask her how she was faring after all the horrors she'd been through (for his sake, I might add), or I don't know, try to help her in some way. Again, it comes back to respect. I think it showed a lack of respect for Feyre and I can't respect a character who would do that. So, in the end, it really is a matter of perspective - that we can both look at the same scene and see two very different things.

And I don't think you sound rude, just passionate. Nothing wrong with that. :)

Last but not least, I have now read ACOMAF (view spoiler)[and I stand by every single thing I said. (hide spoiler)]

In response to Stephanie's comment:
1. In ACOTAR it was stated very clearly that Tamlin couldn't speak up or show any emotions in front of Amarantha, for fear of provoking her to take her anger out on Feyre, making the situation worse for her. I've read ACOTAR a few times and I'm pretty sure Tamlin's silence was explained a few times.
2. The sex in the corner scene: in reality I don't think there was anything Tamlin could have said or done to change Feyre's mind or turn the situation around in any way. From memory Feyre herself
wondered if that was her last chance to be with Tamlin before facing her death. So the passion they shared in that scene was fitting in the scheme of things.

And no I don't think that not making sexual advances on Feyre makes Rhys's drugging her forgivable. He put her in a really humiliating situation, with the dress, the humiliating dance she performed while under the influence of the drug, and explained it
away in the second book as his way to make her forget the pain she was going through. And this is why even though i savoured the romantic development between Feyre and Rhys in ACOMAF I couldn't find it in my heart to really root for them, with the way both Tamlin's and Rhys' characters are handled.

@Gina I understand that Tamlin felt he couldn't speak up in front of Amarantha, but he clearly had opportunities to communicate with other people when she wasn't around (he sent Lucien to Feyre's cell on at least one occasion) and he was obviously able to wander around without Amarantha that last night. I think it's incorrect to assume that he was completely helpless to act on her behalf. I think he chose not to, either out of paralyzing fear or because that's simply how he deals with a crisis. Ultimately, we see plenty of evidence in ACOMAF that inaction, regardless of the reason, is part of his MO. He's a perfect foil for Rhys in that respect.

As for the sex in a corner scene - it takes two to tango. Feyre may have been the instigator in that scene, but that didn't mean Tamlin couldn't have pulled back at least long enough to ask her how she was doing. As I recall, that DID come up in ACOMAF so I don't think I'm completely out of line in my way of thinking.

And as for what Rhys did to Feyre - that's the risk an author takes when choosing to write a character in that way. You can either view Rhys's actions (and Feyre's humiliation) as sacrifices made for the greater good or not. SJM clearly means for them to be viewed as acceptable sacrifices given the circumstances, but again, perspective.

@stephanie Really liked the points you made! Couldn't agree more.