In this spoiler-packed breakdown of chapter 39 of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Ariel and Corryn dive head-first into the infamous “paint and party” scenes. This week, we’re unpacking one of the most divisive moments in the entire ACOTAR series: Feyre being paraded around Under the Mountain as Rhy’s “plaything.”

We break down why this scene is still hard to stomach; the loss of Feyre’s bodily autonomy, the use of faerie wine, and the way Sarah J. Maas blurs the line between survival and spectacle. But with the hindsight of A Court of Mist and Fury, we revisit Rhy’s reasoning and how this moment is a key part of his rebellion against Amarantha.

From the paint that proves Feyre isn’t violated to the dark genius behind Rhys’s public performance, we explore whether his actions were truly protection, manipulation, or both. We also meet the twin servants Nuala and Cerridwen for the first time, see Tarquin’s tragic debut, and discuss how Sarah J. Maas writes moral grayness better than almost anyone.

Whether you think Rhysand is a hero, a villain, or a mysterious third thing—you’re welcome and we’re sorry.

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New episodes every week—one spoiler-free and one spoiler-filled.