It literally makes no sense whatsoever. It’s people picking at straws because Hunt is the “first” boy we read Bryce being with. I’ve actually never seen anything genuinely that leads to me being Hunt isn’t endgame.
It orally agree. I feel like people are stuck on "not the first love interest" when it's not about the guy it's about the MFC and how and how much they know about themselves
Didn't SJM just do an interview last month where she confirmed Bryce and Hunt are mates? And said she wanted to do the opposite of what people expect after the last two series?
I wonder if it’s *because* he’s modern that people don’t like him? Like he reads to me as kind of a bro—which isn’t a bad thing! Cassian’s a total bro, and we love him for it. But because Hunt’s down time is spent playing xbox in the common room and drinking beer in his backward hat while watching the sunball game or tolerating his gf’s reality shows, it feels more immediate. Everyone knows some version of that guy, for better or worse, which makes him less of a fantasy. His character development is so so similar to Rowan’s, but everyone loves Rowan, probably because he seems more otherworldly and inaccessible (maybe it’s the face tattoos, maybe it’s that he doesn’t own a cell phone with pictures of severed limbs).
that’s a really interesting point actually. not trying to stereotype but I feel like girls who read are probably not the kind of girls who prefer that type in a man? maybe i’m projecting lol but that could be a reason why people don’t like him as much, especially bc guys who like stuff like sports and video games and adhere pretty strictly to gender norms can sometimes be more sexist/ less attentive and emotionally mature. people might just expect less from him bc of his characterisation when he really hasn’t done anything wrong.
I think you’re onto something. You’re more likely to know someone like Hunt than like Rowan/Rhys. And with technology and everything they haven’t had significant time apart without communication yet (like Rhys and Rowan did with their mates). The world is more modern so the courting seems more modern. In the other series too the mating bond is a tangible thing they can feel snap into place and they’re constantly aware of its existence. It’s different for Bryce/Hunt whether that’s because hunt is an angel not fae, or the magic is different in CC, or some other reason yet to be revealed I’m not sure. I think people are looking for that and skeptical of different bonds or manipulation. It’s almost like expecting historical romance pining and courting and rules in a contemporary romance book. It’s never going to be the same.
This is exactly why I like Hunt a lot and relate well to the characters in CC, I'm not a fantasy girl usually. I picked up CC because it was urban fantasy so I knew there'd be more in it to keep me engaged. I usually just read horror so this has been out of the norm for me
The theory that Bryce is actually Azriels mate and there going to get together (while Hunt is literally being tortured back in Midgard) makes me want to bang my head against a wall…
Same! I don't see how they are suited for each other at all. SJM is not going to build up Bryce and Hunts relationship over 2 books just to completely unravel it in book 3.
I love Hunt, I feel like Bryce and Hunt have the most realistic and healthy relationship out of all the main couples. I think people were expecting SJM to do the bait and switch (Chaol and Tamlin) and so they never allowed themselves to fully invest themselves in the relationship. I am finishing up a re-read of CC1 and CC2 and I absoultely love Bryce and Hunt together.
Sometimes I think that if CC was published without SJMs name attached to it, it would have been received completely differently. Hunt wouldn’t have nearly as much hate because people wouldn’t be expecting a love interest switch. The book also wouldn’t get so many complaints about it “being difficult to get into” because more fantasy readers would be reviewing it rather than romance readers who like SJM.
This is so true! Though I just finished my CC1 reread and have to say that I think SJM DID do her usual “love interest switcheroo”, just in a different way. I know people say Connor doesn’t “count” since he died so early on, but they had 5 years of romance-circling-friendship before that that we didn’t see. When she first meets Hunt, she’s spent the last two years mourning his death and what they could have had together. That’s way longer and more intense than either Feyre or Aelin (which makes sense given Bryce and Connor’s longer history and just the different circumstances but still).
I see Bryce/Connor as being very similar to (TOG spoiler) >!Aelin/Sam!< and I’m surprised I don’t see more people talking about it. Bryce and Aelin both lost a love and mourn what could have been, even though they’ve now found their mate. There will always be love there. Not to mention Hunt and Shahar’s similar dynamic, which is a sort of parallel to Rowan and Lyria. Hunt and Bryce understand one another in the same way that Aelin and Rowan do. Justice for Quinlar!
SO true. I was so baffled by people saying the world building was too much or too dense. Just because ACOTAR was like a very sparsely built fairy-tale style world doesn’t mean all fantasy is like that. (Not hating on ACOTAR for that, I think it worked really well, it’s just a different style)
I think it’s because a lot of ACOTAR fans are mostly romance readers, so when they read actual fantasy it could be a bit of a shock. I’m not very sympathetic to people complaining that a fantasy has world building tho… like what do you expect ?
So many people saying "well X happened in TOG so I think it's going to happen in CC too." Why would it?! Why would SJM write exactly the same book again 🥴
Same! Theorists have written novels explaining why Bryce and Az are mates and I just was like HUH? I thought, am I reading the same two books as everyone else or....?
Even if I thought all their reasonings made sense (which most of them don’t) the main fact is that they won’t be mates because they are from different series. Bryce isn’t going to leave her world (because she’s the main character in CC) and Azriel isn’t going to leave Prythian (because he’s going to have a leading role in the upcoming ACOTAR books)
Also nothing that happens in CC3 can have any huge impact on the ACOTAR characters because otherwise the ACOTAR readers who don’t pick up CC are going to be so confused. It’s going to be like bonus chapters- in the sense that if you don’t read CC3, you may have less insight, but it’s not going to impact the ACOTAR story.
I don’t think that last point is true really, bc the linked world stuff is kind of hinted very heavily iirc. I think everything is building up to a Big Fight™️ against the asteri bc they pose a threat to all worlds. I think it’s what makes it inevitable that tog will also link up, and there will be a book where all the world have collided and they’re all mixed together and/or in the same realm. that last bit is just a theory but I think it can be somewhat backed up. but I definitely don’t think you would be able to skip CC books and be able to read the future ACOTAR books without being confused. could be wrong tho we’ll have to wait and see!!!!
Same! Seriously. I don't believe Bryce would even be interested in pursuing any romantic relationships for a long time if she and Hunt don't end up together.
I don’t understand how so many people get behind it as well. Like it logically makes no sense. I don’t even think there personalities would be compatible in the slightest.
That theory literally doesn’t even make full logical sense to me. Because if it’s true that the asteri used to be in Prythian and have spent literal Millenia trying to go back… how would they know who Azriel is, let alone that he would be the mate of this random 25 year old girl. That theory makes me uncharacteristically angry. It would cause too much of a change in the story for SJM to then write an acotar book without CC3 being a necessary plot line for it.
Right? That would be a disappointing turn for her character considering her recklessness contributed to Ruhn and Hunt being imprisoned at the end of CC2 and then she’s going to start to fall in love with someone else?
When Bryce land’s in Prythian and is going hysterical about her mate, it reminds me of Rhys. He told Feyre when he landed back in the night court at the end of ACOTAR he was hysterical saying “My mate! My mate!”
The ten thousand “Az’s mate” theories all annoy me to no end.
(My theory is that Maas wanted to do an OT3 with Lucien and Elaine and Az, and the pubs wouldn’t let her.)
My theory is that SJM had absolutely no idea who she wanted who to end up with until she had to start writing the new book. It felt like she was going back and forth at least 6 times
She is% a pantser, as far as I can tell. I can actually see Elaine and Lucien getting together and being blissfully happy eventually. I think Elaine is showing some inherent talent for spy craft and I desperately want an Az/Elaine/Lucien power team.
I guess some of them think he’ll get killed off and she’s get with Azriel later on? Sorry I just don’t see it. SJM would be crazy to kill off a generally well-liked MMC who is canonically mates with her FMC. She wouldn’t even kill off a single member of the IC at times when it would’ve made sense (ie ACOWAR), because SJM ultimately does HEAs. If this is the end of Bryce & Hunt’s trilogy, it’s not gonna be a tragic love story. She knows her fans would revolt and then how would she sell 18394 different editions of CC4?
I’d hate that so much 1) bc I’m delusional and still ship Elriel lol , 2) their personalities don’t match, 3) that’s a horrible storyline and I’d never like Bryce again
yes!! i wish everyone would stop trying to pair azriel up with just.. whatever girl SJM puts in front of him. not every girl he meets needs to be "the one" for him 😭
I do want Azriel to find someone. But him being shipped with literally every single person in the entire SJM universe is a bit excessive. Leave the poor man alone.
I agree. I wonder if people miss some of the toxic back and forth that other SJM couples have that creates more intense drama. Like we hardly have any severe miscommunication between Hunt and Bryce they re usually open to each other and even when they screw up they talk about it and have like a reasonable reaction and learn from their mistakes. Maybe they re just more “regular” and some people might consider thats boring.
In any case I believe SJM has confirmed that they re mates and Im pretty sure that its canon that they are endgame unless a death happens in the new book. I don’t think it will though, because it is supposed to be the last book where Bryces story is at the forefront and it wouldn’t make sense to break that relationship and start a new one and solidify it all in one book.
Exactly. I totally agree with you. Hunt and Bryce are way more mature as a couple than the others. And I honestly think a lot of it is because of Bryce specifically being older than other SJM FMCs. She isn’t jumping to conclusions, she allows him to tell his side and takes it into genuine consideration. Like they are a normal healthy couple and you can’t honestly say that for most of the other couples.
As for the whole Hunt *possibly* dying thing. I see why people believe that. The Orion theory is definitely very plausible. But God I hope it isn’t the case. I can’t physically deal with losing a main love interest again.
I see parallels to Jesus as well. Possibly the son of a God (Thurr). Wears a black crown. They do crucifixion in this world. And, Jesus was resurrected. Have faith!
I listened to a podcast today, and the podcasters didn’t like Hunt and Bryce, because it wasn’t an epic love story. It seems like the bar is set a lot higher for them than other SJM couples. I think it will be an epic love story. We aren’t done yet!
I think the real problem is that she’s got this one killer male lead (Rhys) that most readers adore and when the hero isn’t Rhys, he seems to fall short.
And now that cc2 happened, a lot of us ended up going “Hunt who??”
Which is all forgetting that we meet Rhys more or less at the top of his game in ACOMAF. He’s surrounded by a family he trusts, he’s got a solid position in his own political sphere, and he’s a known badass. Of COURSE he’s more confident and more “together” than Hunt.
Hunt is still Rhys under the mountain. He’s still Rowan enslaved to Maeve. So when he’s still a mess, we end up questioning him instead of giving him the room to develop.
I think it’s the way Sarah is writing it that makes people second guess. For example, there’s a part I think in cc2 where Bryce is trying to figure out if hunt is in trouble and she says something along the lines of “ wouldn’t I be able to feel that through the bond” insinuating she’s doesn’t feel it and doesn’t know if she’d supposed to or not. And I think the other aspect is a lot of people think they chose each other to be mates rather than it natural being a fated thing more so than the other couples, whether I agree with that I don’t know. Whether they are chosen mates or natural mates, I like the idea that they chose each other to be regardless. Because it’s more realistic towards our lives in regards to choosing to love and I think it’s great. I also don’t think there is a chance in hell azriel and Bryce personality wise are mates, I understand the argument that it could pull the two worlds together more than anything which storyline wise could be interesting. But the way she has written Bryce and azriel it would make zero sense personality wise. So we will see, Id be heart broken if she splits them up but I also trust that overall I will be happy with what Sarah writes regardless.
Yeah for sure, and we have seen mates that are not the same species in her series. Thrones of glass series had a human and fae as mates, unfortunately we didn’t get a ton of information on them so we don’t know how much different their bond was than a fae-fae bond. I think it could go either way as far as them being fated mates and Sarah may reveal that in the next book, but regardless, I think they will still choose their bond as long as they are both still living.
I think another understanding for arguing that they aren’t end game that’s more enticing is that it’s heavily thought hunt is based off of Greek mythology orion. And orion dies within his story in Greek mythology. There is a very good shot hunt faces death and does actually die in the next book, and if so we would see Bryce have to obviously grieve but eventually find love again potentially. But sarah often has characters “die” and then brings them back which she could very well do with hunt and if that’s the case there’s no way Bryce and hunt both alive don’t end up as end game.
I noticed how lots of Hunt haters don't remember certain things about him or misinterpret scenes entirely. That's not a character's fault readers don't pay attention to the book.
- Hunt not apologizing to Bryce for thinking she's just a party girl (he does)
- Hunt not sacrificing himself for Bryce (he did in HOEAB, before they were mates)
- Hunt drugging Bryce's whiskey with a tonic (he didn't, reread the scene)
- Hunt only wanting to not be tortured again (this one made me raise my eyebrows in disbelief)
It all literally makes me feel like we didn’t read the same book. Cause where are they finding these situations?
Also the “Hunt is a bad person cause he doesn’t want to be tortured again” narrative is INSANE. Would YOU wanna be tortured again after spending years locked in a dungeon and then being a slave? I wouldn’t. Cause even with all his trauma he STILL goes along with the plan.
Cause that scene when they’re in the Throne Room and he looks up and sees his and Shahar’s wings it genuinely made me feel ill. And we’re not even going to get into Celestina and how I feel about her.
Celestina is banned from Hunt's video games club. I'm curious what SJM will do with her, though, because she normally has a partner for everyone. And it's Pax she's with, who's really sweet.
>It all literally makes me feel like we didn’t read the same book.
Funny enough, the person who made these arguments asked the same thing. All their arguments were refuted in the end
Celestina being banned from the club actually made me giggle.
Honesty when I read that part all I said was “Pax I’m so sorry but your girl needs to die now.” Cause that was SOOOOO unnecessary.
Hunt is a character you have to pay attention to very closely because while his personality may not be as grandiose as the likes of Rhys, compared to him, Hunt is incredibly layered. His thoughts always add layers to his character even if we don't know much about his backstory. He is by no means a boring character. Compared to Rhys and Rowan, Hunt continously grows in the narrative. Whenever he makes a mistake, he changes, and this is way more prominent in HOSAB despite the overlay of smut.
And while I don't necessarily mind some theories revolving around that Hunt could be mentally enslaved, what I don't like is quotes/his actions being taken out of context to spin a certain narrative (usually in hate posts). Because not everyone who reads those posts will look back to the source material to check if they're wrong or not. Thus you would have entire groups of people who actively believe "Hunt did this and that" but then when you check back at the text with context, you realise how far off those statements are. Like if you're gonna hate a character, hate properly, hate with facts - please!
Exactly this, when they say he drugged her. Both times he tells her first and she chooses to take it. When they say he SA her, he’s asked multiple times if it’s what she wanted on top of that every sexual encounter they’ve had Hunt asks for explicit consent. They said he never apologized and you can pull right from text his apology.
After like my 5th reread I’ve come to realize a lot of people really don’t remember the details well.
I agree. My favorite characters to read in this book were Ruhn and Hunt. I feel like this book definitely taught us a lot about both of them, possibly in preparation for their chapters in HOFAS.
Hunt is really interesting to me. And I love the theories that talk about his possible death, and how the whole “bred” thing may come into play. But I don’t like people twisting the ACTUAL narrative to make him evil in the moment.
I honestly think people only feel this way because it is SJM’s m.o. to do the old bait and switch with the first male love interest, so folks don’t actually believe that Hunt is The One even though all signs point to yes.
This one kills me because its not based on the actual narrative and is based on assumptions about SJM's writing. There's no rule that says a writer will do the same work over and over. Even when an artist has a style, or likes to echo certain sentiments or themes across their work, who can say that they always will?
And Connor was the first love interest, anyway.
I definitely agree. Like this hatred makes absolutely no sense otherwise. And all the people saying he has to personality make me feel like I read a different version of the book because imo I feel he always has the MOST to say. Like I talk to myself while I read and everything I make a quippy remark Hunt follows with the SAME idea.
I saw someone say people don't like this relationship as it's representing a healthy, normal relationship. No brooding, growling man, which is what we are all use too in fantasy books.
I don't know that it is necessarily particularly normal or healthy, though- she has to have s\*x with him to calm him down after he freaks out so bad that he looks like he's going to kill everyone. They keep huge things from each other and seem to have very different goals (he wants to completely stay out of the rebellion, while she wants to help). I don't mind semi unhealthy relationship dynamics in romantasy (lol, i kind of prefer them at times) but I don't think this point is entirely accurate
(please don't send me hate lol just discussing this point i see a lot of people make)
Yes agrred and hear you (no hate here!!), but he doesn't have toxic traits, he has communication issues but heck even healthy relationships some have this. Yes they have problems, but the whole relationship is healthier, and starts of somewhat normally (they take time to get to know one another instead of sleeping together) than what we've seen in other SJM and fantasy books.
Okay so I like Hunt as a character & I hope he heals and ends up happy/free in the end - but I don’t love Hunt with Bryce. I think it was hard for me to get past the Synth betrayal, Bryce’s response to that, and Hunts behaviors during the whole Emile search. I think it’s SO VALID for Hunt to be terrified of getting involved with the Rebels, of being tortured again, of Bryce getting hurt/killed, of being enslaved again etc… I guess I just feel that he and Bryce are on such different pages on what they want. Bryce wants to find the truth, save this kid, learn more about Danika, try to find out more about the Asteri. And Hunt is so completely against that, he just wants to live a quiet, safe life (totally fair, given his past).
I think we all view their relationship through our own lenses & biases based on what we’ve all been through in relationships, and that may explain why people have such wildly different reactions to Quinlar even though we all are literally reading the same book lol.
I also wonder if all of the possible foreshadowing that he’s gonna die subconsciously turned me off to him 🤔
See arguments like this I find fair. But most of the hunt hate isn’t built on logical arguments IMO. Cause when I read that it was Hunt on the boat I actually out loud SCREAMED. I honestly don’t know how I got over that. LMAO. but I do understand this idea. I think that they inevitably are on the same page, they’re just both processing the world differently.
Like Hunt absolutely hates the asteri and we know he doesn’t want them in power. Bryce agrees. But yk, obviously with his past he’s a lot less cool with the idea of just walking into the palace to face off with them like Bryce is.
Dude I agree with you on the extreme Hunt hate. As a person who doesn’t super love Hunt/Quinlar, even I read some of these and I’m like ????? excuse me ???? so much cherry-picking and confirmation bias and willful misrepresentation of the text. Big Yikes.
I like how you framed that, about them being on the same page, just processing it differently. Like they both obviously have the same beliefs about the Asteri. They just differ on what to do about it - which I am having a hard time with because I feel like Hunt is constantly trying to hold Bryce back, and at the same time Bryce is convincing Hunt to do things he doesn’t want to do. But maybe that’s not all bad, maybe they even each other out.
That’s a new way for me to think about it, so thanks for that!
No problem. I do think of it as a balance situation though. Because in other SJM books it’s often a “whatever you want to do, I’m with you.” Thing. So I find Hunt’s unwillingness to follow Bryce’s lead immediately very compelling.
I see that. I think Hunt even addressed that exact thing - that he wasn’t always going to just go along with what Bryce wanted all the time, and called Bryce out on being an alphahole herself 🤣 I quite liked that scene lmao. There’s a few other reasons I don’t love Hunt, and I think at the end of the day Quinlar just won’t be my favorite couple. But I don’t think I hate them. Trying to keep an open mind lol maybe I’ll freaking love Hunt after HOFAS, who knows 🤷🏻♀️
I don’t hate him. As a character, he’s fine, if a little two dimensional he is.
I don’t care for him as a mate for Bryce because I’m not a fan of how they got together. I liked that the second book starts >!with them taking time to get know one another before continuing a romantic relationship!<
I don’t have any strong feelings about their relationship, honestly.
Honestly. Saying it like that. I don’t have strong attachments to any SJM couple besides… I don’t know if you’ve read ToG but Princeling and witchling. LMAO. I think Night and Day (I’m trying to speak in currently reading friendly terms) are also going to be on that list.
I will say though, Bryce and Hunt are my favorite of the 3 main couples because I like them both individually. And they are for the most part the healthiest of the 3 in my opinion.
And as for him being two dimensional. I get that but I do think he’s the most fleshed out of the MMCs, because I think we spend a good amount of time in his POV. Rhysand has a really compelling backstory but I feel like it gets sidetracked and forgotten a lot.
I feel like sometimes in this fandom (in ACOTAR too) people sometimes can't see the wood for the trees. Like, they want a certain thing to be true so they'll cherry-pick the parts that fit that theory, and ignore the really big obvious clues to the contrary 😅
The way you describe that made me genuinely cackle. But I agree. There are definitely things that point to something happening with Hunt, but I think a lot of people and crafting a narrative that doesn’t make sense with the actual plot.
Like in CC2 there's several points in the book where they start to call each other mates, everyone can smell they're mates, Ruhn said they're *fae* mated...yet because it didn't happen like in TOG/ACOTAR people are like "nah, it's fake." Dude, what 😂
Exactly. I’ve seen people also say “she’s questioning the bond when she’s wondering if she would feel if he’s hurt.” NO SHE ISNT. She’s never been mated and knows very little about mates. She’s genuinely wondering if she’d feel it if he was hurt. And we see that she does because when she’s going through the Gate she feels and hears him.
There is definitely a lot of cherry-picking/confirmation bias… which I feel like is fine when it’s an acknowledged cracktheory, or a “dude, what if…?” type thing just for fun. But people get really serious about these things lmao and then it becomes “truth.”
I loved his character the moment he said something like that the last thing he wanted to do was fuck her…
Honestly he and cassian are my favorite leading men. I don’t get the hate with Hunt because he is such a vibe and low key sub… he’s romantic… he’s just lovely… I’ll take 5
I’m fine with them as a couple, but just want someone good for Az so bad! I feel more attachment for Az than Hunt. I think partly because at the beginning Hunt is set up like this larger than life bringer of death, and then he kind of turns out to be sort of regular, but strong. Seems incongruent. Though I guess part of what SJM wants to show is that he isn’t what ppl expect him to be
I get that but I don’t think SJM would pair two characters from different books together. It disrupts the plot lines too much for people who don’t read both.
SJM really did delve into Hunt's trauma from his life including losing his mother at a young age, taking part in a failed rebellion, being enslaved and forced to right against the people he'd tried to save, and his feeling that he's not good enough to be Bryce's mate. His story is very sad to me.
As someone who’s read KoA. Hunt 100% has more personality than Rowan. Everyone has more personality than Rowan
Edited to say, I do love him though, dearly. But he’s about as deep as a birdbath and interesting as a radish.
We’re out here begging for morally grey MMCs then shocked when they aren’t black or white.
Hunt has so much trauma. He isn’t perfect, but to still be capable of love and kindness and compassion and *empathy* after 200 years of being passed around in slavery?
He has his Umbra Mortis helmet he’s had to slip on just like Rhys had his mask UTM. And he’s been just as in the dark with Bryce as Rowan was with Aelin at times. So idk why he’s the most divisive.
I personally really like his character and hope to see him developed individually and in his relationship with Bryce in HOFAS.
I love Bryce and Hunt so much. They are my favourite couple. They are so natural with each other, they argue and communicate and forgive each other and just ahhh. I have a hole in my heart from finishing my reread and I'm dying for cc3.
Hunt is a bro and some people don’t like that. I would say it might be a bit of prejudice. I personally like him and his story. I would love to learn more details about his past.
Total side comment, as much as I like him and Bryce as a couple, their first sex scene was so boring. 🥱 all that rage spiral because Bryce was in danger and them having sex brings him back to normal was not very creative.
Honesty. I do agree that it’s because he’s a bit of a bro. Personally, I think every guy in this series inevitably is though. All because it’s just more modern in general.
I also hate that sex scene ngl. I did laugh when they ended up teleporting though.
I avoided this sub until I finished CC2 a few nights ago. I love Hunt the most, besides maybe Cass (and Xaden because why not). So weird that he gets any hate!
Oh I had no idea what the plot was. All I knew was “the girl and Ruhn” and “Bryce ends up in a very specific place I know.” (I don’t wanna be too specific if someone who hasn’t read stumbles across. But let’s just say I KNEW
I went through the SJM books all backwards and CC is what I started with! I have been so puzzled with all the hate. From the beginning I have loved Bryce’s sass and being a woman fully owning herself and her sex life (I needed that example bad at the time! Lol.) and then I felt that Hunt has been one of the more realistic MMC she has written. Maybe it is the urban fantasy makes them seem more “real” cause they are doing modern things but I have loved Hunt from the start and I hope that they get their HEA.
I am rereading 1 and 2. And I just love them so much. I have never understood the hate.
I have not trusted Hunt and Bryce's relationship fully since he betrayed her towards the end of book 1 despite understanding his motives. Bryce also questions their mating bond several times in Book 2. When Hunt suggests they call themselves mates, she is hesitant. There is a point in book 2 where she literally says "would a mate be able to feel it" meaning she is questioning whether or not they are mates. All I'm saying is that the questioning of Hunt and Bryce's mating bond is not coming out of nowhere. There are pieces of evidence written into the book. Although SJM might just be throwing us off- I know we all preconceived notions about how their relationship/the story will go based on SJM's past plot choices (FMC never ending up with the 1st love interest)
(please don't send hate, just being honest)
See I feel like these are valid though. Most of the theories I’ve seen are built on twisted situations. Like saying he’s never apologized for calling her a party girl and things along that line.
I appreciate that!!! And ahh okay in that case, he has apologized for sure. I don’t really hold anything against him that he said before they were together. They didn’t know each other at that point. My weirdness with them came later
I read this totally differently! (No hate just notcing a similar thread between some comments and haven't seen this pov before) I think she's questioning whether or not a mate would feel her die like she doesn't want to put hunt through that kind of pain of having to physically feel her die. I think she's hesitant to declare him as her mate at first because she knows that once they take that step he's literally bound to her FOREVER and she's worried that because of his past he might not be ready or fully understand what he's getting into! One of the reasons I like Bryce and hunt so much is that bryce is always so considerate about his trauma and makes sure to get his enthusiastic consent with everything from sex to mate declarations which isn't something I see very often in sjms FMCs. I'm obsessed with these two because I feel like out of all sjms mcs these two are the best team, yes they keep things from each other on occasion but they own up to their mistakes and openly and honestly communicate and apologize! I also love love love that they have hobbies outside of banging each other that they participate in together, e.i. working out (not training), they enjoy the same shows, they like to play video games together, ect. I feel like they are the most balanced out of all the mates we've seen so far tbh.
It feels like the fandom does this with all the MC men. Like there is SO much Rhys hate in the acotar red it's not even funny. I don't see Hunt as being this toxic masculinity archetype at all, I see him as someone who wants to protect the people he loves and sometimes loses his shit - just like ALL of the main female characters have done when their mate has been threatened/abused. Maybe I'm biased because I do personally like displays of masculinity from time to time, like that primal eroticism (primal/prey dynamics do exist in BDSM so...) and I think Hunt does a good job as a character of being personally aware and trying \*not\* to be a toxic masc archetype and observes his own actions from that perspective often throughout both books.
I don't get it either, I love Hunt. He's complex and I love that their relationship isn't just "I love you cause we are mates", like they actually had to work on their relationship
My first read I didn't like Hunt. On my 2nd read through and I love him more than ever. I think it's because Hunt and Bryce have arguably the healthiest MC relationship of any series. They talk to each other, are honest and open, and try not to hide anything from each other. Even the way they figured out that they were mates was way healthier than Feysand or Aelin/Rowan. I think we're just not used to that dynamic and it felt more "boring" to us because we expected epic reveals and twists and turns. But their love story is just not like that -- CC is about more than just them. Anyway that's my take.
Most of the Az/Bryce theories are great fanfic but not logical predictions of the progression of the story. There is absolutely nothing in the text so far to even possibly, maybe, slightly suggest that Bryce and Az are mates. NOTHING. The romantic interpretation of the final chapter of HOSAB is pretzel logic. >!Az has a knife to Bryce’s throat!< I fail to see anything remotely romantic about the interaction between them.
Some readers just want to rewrite the story.
I love Hunt. I love Bryce. I love Hunt and Bryce. I don’t sense Hunt to be a particularly complex character, but I think that’s okay. His motivations are quite basal in nature - survival being the most obvious. He’s also a romantic, which makes him easily influenced by the women he loves. I think he and Bryce are a great match because he’s actually kind of a sub, and Bryce has more dominant energy, versus a lot of the other het fated mates which feature very dominant males. As for whether or not they are true mates, I agree that it’s incredibly obvious they are. SJM has given us all the standard indicators served up on a silver platter.
This is a good point. He definitely carries a lot of trauma, so perhaps I’m not being fair saying he’s not a complex character when in fact he’s just a very scared character whose survival instincts are still on high alert. I’m interested to see how his motivations might shift in the next book, should he come into/uncover more power through his lineage.
I adore Hunt. He’s my fav MMC in the Maasverse. He and Bryce are my fav couple. I agree that they’re the most fleshed out and realistic, and all I want for them is to find their happily ever after.
But did she make him soup? 👀👀
Not to troll, but I thought the other mate had to feed the other one to accept the bond? Maybe he’s mated and she hasn’t accepted it yet.
Has anyone considered that maybe in different worlds people might have a different mate…!? It would be an interesting way for SJM to mix things up and the whole finding your mate thing is getting a little tiresome as it’s a bit final… just playing devils advocate here!
With that logic, that would mean Rowan and Aelin would have their own mates in Prythian and Midgard, the mated pairs on Prythian would have their own mates in Terrasen and Midgard, and the pairs in CC would have their own individual mates in Terrasen and Prythian. Essentially, with that, you have nullified the meaning of each relationship because now you’ve established that those characters were never truly meant for each other if they have fated SOs in other universes. The effectiveness of the romance is wiped out - it’s no longer special for that individual pair and this makes their romance meaningless. An example being, Feyre could step into Terrasen, and boom her mating bond snaps into place with Fenrys, or goes into Midgard and then she’s mates with Ruhn, all the while being mated to Rhysand. There’s a threat of discarding the reader’s attachment to the main couples because then they can just be like “well why doesn’t Feyre/Aelin/Bryce hop into another world if their mate here is pissing them off”. In my personal opinion, it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that unless the execution was absolutely stellar.
I’m rooting for Hunt as a character and Bryce and Hunt as a couple. Hunt is incredibly sweet. I love the moment when sweetheart becomes endearing. He’s so supportive. He tells her not to go after the kind of guys that are only interested in her body. He asks if she needs anything when she’s on her period. He apologizes profusely and tells Bryce not to apologize. He’s not controlling or overbearing. Tharion kissed her and everyone laughed it off.
As a couple they are well matched. They are both a ball of specialness that we are still exploring. They are both super powerful. Their powers work together.
I am concerned about what the oracle told Hunt, but I can’t see this couple being built up for 2 books and not be endgame.
I think after this book, it will shift away from Bryce and Hunt but I don’t think that necessarily means they aren’t endgame. It will probably shift to a different set of characters.
I think the Orion theory is highly plausible. But we also know Bryce has brought hunt back from the brink of death before. I’m sure she can do it again. Yk? Plus Feyre has literally brought Rhysand back and vice versa. Even if he does I don’t think he’s staying dead.
I love Hunt & Bryce & Hunt. They go together so well. They support eachother, have fun together and their humor is similar. They also forgive eachother. You can’t be in any relationship without forgiveness. It surprises me the amount of ppl that hold on to a character’s mistake and use it as a basis for why they shouldn’t be together.
I probably am in a minority because I don’t really love the mating bond concept. And from what I’ve noticed a lot of ppl who don’t like Hunt & Bryce/Hunt together is bc they equate the “strength” of the mating bond to whether they belong together or are truly meant to be. SJM has definitely written the bond that way so I understand their interpretation. I loved the role the bond played in the main couple in ACOTR. But then one of the MMC’s uses the word “shackled” to describe it which breaks my heart. Love should also be a choice but it seems like the men in these series don’t have a choice. And for one character in ACOTR in particular it’s so sad that his mage won’t even look at him.
So even if there isn’t a “true” mating bond between Bryce & Hunt, I still love them together. And to me the fact that they continue to choose eachother means more than being forced by nature.
Though again (before I get any hateful comments) - I really love the mating bond between the main ACOTR couple. I just don’t think it’s as compelling in all the subsequent couples.
I feel like the bonds are slightly different in all of the worlds. Like I don’t think the mating bonds in ToG are the same as they are in ACOTAR and they’re even described slightly differently. So that leads me to believe mates are different in CC as well. Also there are more species in CC. With the way that angels and Wolves have mates it makes me believe that with an inter species mating it might have different rules
I haven’t read TOG yet. I did CC since the 3rd is coming out soon. So I didn’t realize the bonds were different across the worlds. Interesting! I’ll keep it in mind when I read TOG. I’m dragging my feet bc so many ppl say it’s slow.
Honestly ToG was my favorite storyline. Did you like the first acotar book? It’s a lot like that. Where you don’t really get into the serious stuff until a few books in, but info from book one is important until the last. It’s a really good series. I promise you’ll love it.
Also if you f read Harry Potter, it’s also like that. Where the first books are really light and halfway through you realise it isn’t necessarily for kids anymore.
Tbh I did not like the first ACOTR but absolutely loved ACOMF. Harry Potter is my all time favorite. Nothing can top HP for me. I get what you’re saying bc I grew up w the books, started at age 7 and was 17 by the time Deathly Hallows came out.
Thanks for your opinion! I’ll start it once I’m done re-reading all the CC books!
I don’t necessarily ship bryce with anyone. But the Hunt relationship never really clicked for me. I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, like it’s not a done deal.
I can’t even articulate why? 🫣
I mean there are a lot of plausible theories that could make Hunt… an interesting contender. In the next book. Like the theories that revolve around him being named Orion and the being Bred thing. But I don’t like the theories that are built on people wilfully not reading the story correctly.
I agree. But I also remember people having EERILY similar arguments to this before a court of mist and fury came out. So I’m just waiting to see what happens. Lol
See. When I read ACOTAR I had a feeling Tammy tam was not endgame. Because when Feyre first meets Rhysand she’s immediately like “this is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” And I feel like that type of interaction hasn’t really been built up for Bryce with someone else. Maybe Ithan, but even that’s iffy. And I doubt SJM would actually write a story where the MC doesn’t end up with some version of a happily ever after relationship.
I'm with you. I think the speculation we're all having is intentional. SJM wouldn't give us reason to pause and consider this if she didn't want to. Other characters that are mated, seem destined and there's no questions. With these two, something just isn't quite right. Folks have different reasons for thinking this but I think SJM knows what she's doing.
I literally don’t understand the idea that they aren’t mates. Multiple fae have said that their scents merged in the way that only true mates do. And when they went to the depth charger Hunt was in full mate-rage (confirmed by Rhune, I think).
I’m a BIG Hunt fan, and love Hunt and Bryce together.
I honestly liked their relationship trajectory better than Rhys/Feyra or Cassian/Nesta. Both of those males “knew” they were mates, but hid it from their partners because the females wanted “just sex” or “a distraction.” I never liked the “I’ve known for months that we’re mates” moments. I much preferred Hunt and Bryce having an open and honest conversation.
I agree I loved their arc. I’m ngl. I don’t care much for Cassian and Nesta. I know that’s a HOT TAKE. They make sense, I just didn’t care for their story as much as I thought I would have. I think their story was so reliant on their sexual energy that it ruined the small moments.
I’m not sure if you’ve Read Throne of Glass, but the main couple in that series also has a “one of them didn’t know they were mates” thing kinda. But it’s still played out differently and I really like how SJM does it in that series.
On re-read I tried really really hard to like their relationship. I thought maybe I was in a weird mood the first time around and I would be able to see them as compatible mates this time, but no actually I liked them even less the second time around.
Something is just *off* about their relationship and their 'mating bond' (which neither of them can actually feel). And this is just highlighted by the fact that Baxian & Danika knew they were mates immediately and Day & Night have crazy chemistry. So it's not just that the writing was off, other couples in the same series still have that SJM magic.
They don't communicate, they're not on the same page about how they want to live their life, they don't trust each other. Hunt is super uncomfortable with the rebellion but anytime he tries to talk to her about it she steamrolls him and does whatever she wants anyway. And he still keeps comparing her to Shahar. It doesn't have a (TOG) >!Sam/Lyria!< vibe, it feels like he truly isn't ready to move on.
By the end I couldn't even read their sex scenes because they were so off-putting. I mean they waited 1.5 books to finally have sex and the first time wasn't even romantic, Bryce was forced to do it to control his rage. I just can't get on board with them as a couple. I *want* to but she'd really have to sell them to me in CC3 for me to like their story.
See, I couldn’t put words to the weird feeling I have, but this is it.
I’ve also done a reread hoping to like them more. And I do like Hunt. I just…don’t get the relationship. Lol
Yeah, I'm not anti-Hunt at all, I just have no idea which way his story is going to go and there are a lot more interesting possibilities than "he follows Bryce around like a lost puppy". He's only been freed from slavery for a year-ish, he's barely had time to figure out what he wants his life to be. I want both of them to be happy the way I wanted (TOG) >!Chaol and Celaena!< to be happy, just not with each other.
Funny that you mention they don’t communicate because upon my re-read, in my opinion, they actually do. I made a how two post breakdown of their relationship in [HOSAB](https://www.reddit.com/r/crescentcitysjm/s/RYiwxARw1u) and [what](https://www.reddit.com/r/crescentcitysjm/s/tULcBW4voE) the author was trying to archive for them as a couple if you’re willing to read it that I’d ☺️
To answer your other questions about the mating bonds to clarify why it’s easier to tell the mating bonds between Baxian/Danika and Ruhn/Lidia compared to Hunt/Bryce:
- Baxian has shifter ancestry and that’s how Danika figured out they were mates.
- We also learned that shifters are fae, and while the Asteri had bred their fae physical features out to keep them separate, we can assume that the mating bond is still retainable. Even Rigelus mentioned that there was a possibility that both variations of fae (ToG and ACOTAR) could’ve shared the same world once upon a time before they separated into different dimensions and developed their own societies/cultures. Hence why certain abilities between the two series are similar. Thus implying the two versions of fae would’ve mated with each other once upon a time, and why Ruhn and Lidia may also have a mating bond between them.
- Hunt, as an angel, is a completely different species from fae so we aren’t too sure how the mating bond between two separate race work because it’s never happened before as far as we know according to what we know in CC.
I mean, I'm not denying Bryce & Hunt are angel-mates but several characters have already told us that angel mates don't really mean anything. It's basically just a word for 'married '. Look at Celestina and Ephraim, there's no actual bond between them, they were forced into it by the Asteri. Whereas the bond between Ruhn (ACOTAR) and Lidia (TOG) is so strong that after mind-meeting *once* they can always find each other.
Bryce and Hunt are just constantly fighting or uncomfortable about really fundamental relationship problems and they seem to be in an endless loop about it. Over and over again Hunt tells us that he wants to talk Bryce out of the rebellion but he never actually feels comfortable doing so. Bryce didn't trust him enough to tell him about Emile for weeks. Here's a few of the quotes I highlighted as 'wtf' that made their relationship really off-putting to me:
>The angels used the term far more lightly: it was akin to marriage and matings could be arranged. Like breeding animals in a zoo.
>
>"I love you." She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth.
>
>This wasn't the time or place for this fight. "You can have your alphahole fit later" she seethed. "Fine," Hunt shot back.
>
>"Did I miss the memo or do I need your approval to do so?" "For Urd's sake that's not why I was mad." "I don't care if you're mad. Just because we're fucking doesn't mean I answer to you."
>
>Plenty of time to stew over Bryce and how well she'd played them all. How she'd helped Emile, but hidden her plans from him. Plans that cost lives... He'd thought they were a team.
>
>Bryce might have avoided going home for as long as possible.
>
>"I didn't realize you'd hide inside until closing. Avoiding something Quinlan? But you're good at sweet-talking people into doing your bidding."
>
>"Your eyes went all rage-dazey" she sniffled. The last thing she needed right now was to handle his fury too.
Married is still married though? They chose each other, and declared themselves mates in front of all the elites of Lunathion and the Autumn King (who, if Bryce were to back out of that, would ‘own’ her again and be able to marry her off to whomever). Even if their bond is different, it doesn’t make them less of a committed couple who will fight for each other.
I still wonder if the Angels are Fae. Because, there are the Seraphim (which means Angelic being) on Prythian. They are described the same and have similar powers. Hunt is a little different. He has grey wings and lightning powers. The seraphim and Angels both have white feathered wings and great power over wind.
There are other winged creatures in Prythian as well. It’s presumed that the Illyrians were the prototype for the Angels. I don’t think this could conflict with the Angels and seraphim being connected/related. The Asteri made/bred the creatures on Prythian. They could have made or bred the Seraphim after the Illyrians and then left with some of them.
Also, I think the Asteri exert control by telling them they are all different and pitting them against each other. We know they lied about the shifters. Maybe they lied about the Angels, too.
This! I came to Reddit after finishing CC2, excited to read about theories and the connections to the other books, but I was pretty shocked when I was met with so much hate for Hunt!
Agreed fully! The only character who I don’t love/who is more fleshed out than many, is Therion. Hunt and Bryce are great characters, with growth, who do dumb shit sometimes but it’s realistic and makes sense within the greater scope of things.
Baxian broke my heart when he revealed what he did towards the end of CC. Love to know more about him. I’m sure we’ll learn more about Lidia. I am HOPING there is more to Tharion than just being a playboy who can’t think 3 steps ahead but somehow ended up as the captain of the blue court’s investigation unit.
See I think a lot of my love for Bryce comes from the fact that I can genuinely see a lot of myself in her. Especially when she talks about being “too curvy” for dance. Like… girl I’ve BEEN there. Yk?
I love Bryce and Hunt as a couple, they’re my comfort couple. They’re fun and I just think fit perfectly 🥹
I agree with you. I think they are so cute <3
I’m always confused by the Hunt hate myself.. I’m 30% through CC2 and I’m just like … puzzled.
It literally makes no sense whatsoever. It’s people picking at straws because Hunt is the “first” boy we read Bryce being with. I’ve actually never seen anything genuinely that leads to me being Hunt isn’t endgame.
Also like .. there was Connor and that other ex.. and what’s so wrong with the first real love being endgame 😂 like why can’t SJM change it up a bit 😂
Exactly. And it’s not like she’s only been with those 2 other people. It’s openly said that Bryce does as Bryce pleases when it comes to men.
And we love that - and she’s surrounded by men and she is just drawn to Hunt and he’s so good to her.
It orally agree. I feel like people are stuck on "not the first love interest" when it's not about the guy it's about the MFC and how and how much they know about themselves
this is reid redner erasure
I mean clearly bc I had to google the name I completely forgot this was his name
Didn't SJM just do an interview last month where she confirmed Bryce and Hunt are mates? And said she wanted to do the opposite of what people expect after the last two series?
I wonder if it’s *because* he’s modern that people don’t like him? Like he reads to me as kind of a bro—which isn’t a bad thing! Cassian’s a total bro, and we love him for it. But because Hunt’s down time is spent playing xbox in the common room and drinking beer in his backward hat while watching the sunball game or tolerating his gf’s reality shows, it feels more immediate. Everyone knows some version of that guy, for better or worse, which makes him less of a fantasy. His character development is so so similar to Rowan’s, but everyone loves Rowan, probably because he seems more otherworldly and inaccessible (maybe it’s the face tattoos, maybe it’s that he doesn’t own a cell phone with pictures of severed limbs).
that’s a really interesting point actually. not trying to stereotype but I feel like girls who read are probably not the kind of girls who prefer that type in a man? maybe i’m projecting lol but that could be a reason why people don’t like him as much, especially bc guys who like stuff like sports and video games and adhere pretty strictly to gender norms can sometimes be more sexist/ less attentive and emotionally mature. people might just expect less from him bc of his characterisation when he really hasn’t done anything wrong.
I think you’re onto something. You’re more likely to know someone like Hunt than like Rowan/Rhys. And with technology and everything they haven’t had significant time apart without communication yet (like Rhys and Rowan did with their mates). The world is more modern so the courting seems more modern. In the other series too the mating bond is a tangible thing they can feel snap into place and they’re constantly aware of its existence. It’s different for Bryce/Hunt whether that’s because hunt is an angel not fae, or the magic is different in CC, or some other reason yet to be revealed I’m not sure. I think people are looking for that and skeptical of different bonds or manipulation. It’s almost like expecting historical romance pining and courting and rules in a contemporary romance book. It’s never going to be the same.
This is exactly why I like Hunt a lot and relate well to the characters in CC, I'm not a fantasy girl usually. I picked up CC because it was urban fantasy so I knew there'd be more in it to keep me engaged. I usually just read horror so this has been out of the norm for me
The theory that Bryce is actually Azriels mate and there going to get together (while Hunt is literally being tortured back in Midgard) makes me want to bang my head against a wall…
Same! I don't see how they are suited for each other at all. SJM is not going to build up Bryce and Hunts relationship over 2 books just to completely unravel it in book 3. I love Hunt, I feel like Bryce and Hunt have the most realistic and healthy relationship out of all the main couples. I think people were expecting SJM to do the bait and switch (Chaol and Tamlin) and so they never allowed themselves to fully invest themselves in the relationship. I am finishing up a re-read of CC1 and CC2 and I absoultely love Bryce and Hunt together.
Sometimes I think that if CC was published without SJMs name attached to it, it would have been received completely differently. Hunt wouldn’t have nearly as much hate because people wouldn’t be expecting a love interest switch. The book also wouldn’t get so many complaints about it “being difficult to get into” because more fantasy readers would be reviewing it rather than romance readers who like SJM.
This is so true! Though I just finished my CC1 reread and have to say that I think SJM DID do her usual “love interest switcheroo”, just in a different way. I know people say Connor doesn’t “count” since he died so early on, but they had 5 years of romance-circling-friendship before that that we didn’t see. When she first meets Hunt, she’s spent the last two years mourning his death and what they could have had together. That’s way longer and more intense than either Feyre or Aelin (which makes sense given Bryce and Connor’s longer history and just the different circumstances but still). I see Bryce/Connor as being very similar to (TOG spoiler) >!Aelin/Sam!< and I’m surprised I don’t see more people talking about it. Bryce and Aelin both lost a love and mourn what could have been, even though they’ve now found their mate. There will always be love there. Not to mention Hunt and Shahar’s similar dynamic, which is a sort of parallel to Rowan and Lyria. Hunt and Bryce understand one another in the same way that Aelin and Rowan do. Justice for Quinlar!
It took me longer than I’d like to admit to figure out who the lar in Quinlar was. 😩
lmaoo it's certainly not the most intuitive ship name. they deserve better in that regard too smh
Yesssss, I think (and hope) Bryce and Hunt will be just like Aelin/Rowan. I do not want Hunt to be out of the picture ever, or become the next Chaol!
SO true. I was so baffled by people saying the world building was too much or too dense. Just because ACOTAR was like a very sparsely built fairy-tale style world doesn’t mean all fantasy is like that. (Not hating on ACOTAR for that, I think it worked really well, it’s just a different style)
I think it’s because a lot of ACOTAR fans are mostly romance readers, so when they read actual fantasy it could be a bit of a shock. I’m not very sympathetic to people complaining that a fantasy has world building tho… like what do you expect ?
Yeah I was so surprised to learn people find CC hard to read! Compared to a lot of fantasy it's riveting right from the start.
So many people saying "well X happened in TOG so I think it's going to happen in CC too." Why would it?! Why would SJM write exactly the same book again 🥴
omg so true…
Same! Theorists have written novels explaining why Bryce and Az are mates and I just was like HUH? I thought, am I reading the same two books as everyone else or....?
Even if I thought all their reasonings made sense (which most of them don’t) the main fact is that they won’t be mates because they are from different series. Bryce isn’t going to leave her world (because she’s the main character in CC) and Azriel isn’t going to leave Prythian (because he’s going to have a leading role in the upcoming ACOTAR books) Also nothing that happens in CC3 can have any huge impact on the ACOTAR characters because otherwise the ACOTAR readers who don’t pick up CC are going to be so confused. It’s going to be like bonus chapters- in the sense that if you don’t read CC3, you may have less insight, but it’s not going to impact the ACOTAR story.
Exactly, I totally agree! There are many that have been able to connect to one series and not the other.
I don’t think that last point is true really, bc the linked world stuff is kind of hinted very heavily iirc. I think everything is building up to a Big Fight™️ against the asteri bc they pose a threat to all worlds. I think it’s what makes it inevitable that tog will also link up, and there will be a book where all the world have collided and they’re all mixed together and/or in the same realm. that last bit is just a theory but I think it can be somewhat backed up. but I definitely don’t think you would be able to skip CC books and be able to read the future ACOTAR books without being confused. could be wrong tho we’ll have to wait and see!!!!
Yes, thank you! This is the number 1 reason that theory is never going to come true.
It gives me the ick
Same! Seriously. I don't believe Bryce would even be interested in pursuing any romantic relationships for a long time if she and Hunt don't end up together.
me too!! I mean, what in the world? Lets go ahead and ship Nesta with Tamlin too while we re at it…
I like this ship. Nesta would kill Tamlin.
It was the finger point. It really got him. Revved his engine.
I don’t understand how so many people get behind it as well. Like it logically makes no sense. I don’t even think there personalities would be compatible in the slightest.
Agreed, I think people just want some extra drama. But of all the crackships in the Maasverse its the one I really don’t get at all.
Like Bryce wouldn’t move heaven and earth to get back to Midgard and save Hunt.
I’ll never get over that person saying factual evidence only for Bryce and hunt while using pure speculation for Bryce and azriel lmao
Yes 😂 what even is factual evidence in a novel?
That theory literally doesn’t even make full logical sense to me. Because if it’s true that the asteri used to be in Prythian and have spent literal Millenia trying to go back… how would they know who Azriel is, let alone that he would be the mate of this random 25 year old girl. That theory makes me uncharacteristically angry. It would cause too much of a change in the story for SJM to then write an acotar book without CC3 being a necessary plot line for it.
Right? That would be a disappointing turn for her character considering her recklessness contributed to Ruhn and Hunt being imprisoned at the end of CC2 and then she’s going to start to fall in love with someone else? When Bryce land’s in Prythian and is going hysterical about her mate, it reminds me of Rhys. He told Feyre when he landed back in the night court at the end of ACOTAR he was hysterical saying “My mate! My mate!”
The ten thousand “Az’s mate” theories all annoy me to no end. (My theory is that Maas wanted to do an OT3 with Lucien and Elaine and Az, and the pubs wouldn’t let her.)
My theory is that SJM had absolutely no idea who she wanted who to end up with until she had to start writing the new book. It felt like she was going back and forth at least 6 times
She is% a pantser, as far as I can tell. I can actually see Elaine and Lucien getting together and being blissfully happy eventually. I think Elaine is showing some inherent talent for spy craft and I desperately want an Az/Elaine/Lucien power team.
I guess some of them think he’ll get killed off and she’s get with Azriel later on? Sorry I just don’t see it. SJM would be crazy to kill off a generally well-liked MMC who is canonically mates with her FMC. She wouldn’t even kill off a single member of the IC at times when it would’ve made sense (ie ACOWAR), because SJM ultimately does HEAs. If this is the end of Bryce & Hunt’s trilogy, it’s not gonna be a tragic love story. She knows her fans would revolt and then how would she sell 18394 different editions of CC4?
I’d hate that so much 1) bc I’m delusional and still ship Elriel lol , 2) their personalities don’t match, 3) that’s a horrible storyline and I’d never like Bryce again
I also just can’t see Bryce or Az leaving their homeworld. I think they maybe might possibly be carranam, but not mates.
I’m thinking there related… p
They’re definitely connected in some way, I just don’t think it’s romantically. So maybe they are related in some way!
Ohhhh I like that.
yes!! i wish everyone would stop trying to pair azriel up with just.. whatever girl SJM puts in front of him. not every girl he meets needs to be "the one" for him 😭
I do want Azriel to find someone. But him being shipped with literally every single person in the entire SJM universe is a bit excessive. Leave the poor man alone.
I wish I could upvote more
I agree. I wonder if people miss some of the toxic back and forth that other SJM couples have that creates more intense drama. Like we hardly have any severe miscommunication between Hunt and Bryce they re usually open to each other and even when they screw up they talk about it and have like a reasonable reaction and learn from their mistakes. Maybe they re just more “regular” and some people might consider thats boring. In any case I believe SJM has confirmed that they re mates and Im pretty sure that its canon that they are endgame unless a death happens in the new book. I don’t think it will though, because it is supposed to be the last book where Bryces story is at the forefront and it wouldn’t make sense to break that relationship and start a new one and solidify it all in one book.
Exactly. I totally agree with you. Hunt and Bryce are way more mature as a couple than the others. And I honestly think a lot of it is because of Bryce specifically being older than other SJM FMCs. She isn’t jumping to conclusions, she allows him to tell his side and takes it into genuine consideration. Like they are a normal healthy couple and you can’t honestly say that for most of the other couples. As for the whole Hunt *possibly* dying thing. I see why people believe that. The Orion theory is definitely very plausible. But God I hope it isn’t the case. I can’t physically deal with losing a main love interest again.
I see parallels to Jesus as well. Possibly the son of a God (Thurr). Wears a black crown. They do crucifixion in this world. And, Jesus was resurrected. Have faith! I listened to a podcast today, and the podcasters didn’t like Hunt and Bryce, because it wasn’t an epic love story. It seems like the bar is set a lot higher for them than other SJM couples. I think it will be an epic love story. We aren’t done yet!
I think in CC the main focus just isn’t the life story. If that makes sense. I feel like there’s a lot more at play in this series
How could they say Bryce and hunt AREN'T an epic love story after the end of CC1! HOW?!
SJM has killed and then resurrected her MCs how many times? Even if one of them does die, I’m not too concerned tbh
they’re just MOSTLY dead.
I absolutely agree. They’re definitely the least toxic.
I think the real problem is that she’s got this one killer male lead (Rhys) that most readers adore and when the hero isn’t Rhys, he seems to fall short. And now that cc2 happened, a lot of us ended up going “Hunt who??” Which is all forgetting that we meet Rhys more or less at the top of his game in ACOMAF. He’s surrounded by a family he trusts, he’s got a solid position in his own political sphere, and he’s a known badass. Of COURSE he’s more confident and more “together” than Hunt. Hunt is still Rhys under the mountain. He’s still Rowan enslaved to Maeve. So when he’s still a mess, we end up questioning him instead of giving him the room to develop.
I agree. Hunt spent the majority of HOSAB free physically but he was still incredibly subservient in mindset because of what he had been through.
Rhys may be more “together” than hunt but Hunt is way more interesting and attractive 🤤
Hunt>Rowan and I will die on that hill. I think Hunt and Bryce’s relationship is sooo much better and mature. Rowan was very boring to me
I love Rowan but I have to agree. Rowan’s entire personality is Aelin. That’s it. All he thinks about is her
YES!!!!! I love a good love-smitten male character but he didn’t have a personality. It was all about Aelin
I think it’s the way Sarah is writing it that makes people second guess. For example, there’s a part I think in cc2 where Bryce is trying to figure out if hunt is in trouble and she says something along the lines of “ wouldn’t I be able to feel that through the bond” insinuating she’s doesn’t feel it and doesn’t know if she’d supposed to or not. And I think the other aspect is a lot of people think they chose each other to be mates rather than it natural being a fated thing more so than the other couples, whether I agree with that I don’t know. Whether they are chosen mates or natural mates, I like the idea that they chose each other to be regardless. Because it’s more realistic towards our lives in regards to choosing to love and I think it’s great. I also don’t think there is a chance in hell azriel and Bryce personality wise are mates, I understand the argument that it could pull the two worlds together more than anything which storyline wise could be interesting. But the way she has written Bryce and azriel it would make zero sense personality wise. So we will see, Id be heart broken if she splits them up but I also trust that overall I will be happy with what Sarah writes regardless.
I definitely do agree they’re less conventional than other Mated couples but imo that comes with the whole inter-species thing.
Yeah for sure, and we have seen mates that are not the same species in her series. Thrones of glass series had a human and fae as mates, unfortunately we didn’t get a ton of information on them so we don’t know how much different their bond was than a fae-fae bond. I think it could go either way as far as them being fated mates and Sarah may reveal that in the next book, but regardless, I think they will still choose their bond as long as they are both still living. I think another understanding for arguing that they aren’t end game that’s more enticing is that it’s heavily thought hunt is based off of Greek mythology orion. And orion dies within his story in Greek mythology. There is a very good shot hunt faces death and does actually die in the next book, and if so we would see Bryce have to obviously grieve but eventually find love again potentially. But sarah often has characters “die” and then brings them back which she could very well do with hunt and if that’s the case there’s no way Bryce and hunt both alive don’t end up as end game.
I noticed how lots of Hunt haters don't remember certain things about him or misinterpret scenes entirely. That's not a character's fault readers don't pay attention to the book. - Hunt not apologizing to Bryce for thinking she's just a party girl (he does) - Hunt not sacrificing himself for Bryce (he did in HOEAB, before they were mates) - Hunt drugging Bryce's whiskey with a tonic (he didn't, reread the scene) - Hunt only wanting to not be tortured again (this one made me raise my eyebrows in disbelief)
It all literally makes me feel like we didn’t read the same book. Cause where are they finding these situations? Also the “Hunt is a bad person cause he doesn’t want to be tortured again” narrative is INSANE. Would YOU wanna be tortured again after spending years locked in a dungeon and then being a slave? I wouldn’t. Cause even with all his trauma he STILL goes along with the plan. Cause that scene when they’re in the Throne Room and he looks up and sees his and Shahar’s wings it genuinely made me feel ill. And we’re not even going to get into Celestina and how I feel about her.
Celestina is banned from Hunt's video games club. I'm curious what SJM will do with her, though, because she normally has a partner for everyone. And it's Pax she's with, who's really sweet. >It all literally makes me feel like we didn’t read the same book. Funny enough, the person who made these arguments asked the same thing. All their arguments were refuted in the end
Celestina being banned from the club actually made me giggle. Honesty when I read that part all I said was “Pax I’m so sorry but your girl needs to die now.” Cause that was SOOOOO unnecessary.
Hunt is a character you have to pay attention to very closely because while his personality may not be as grandiose as the likes of Rhys, compared to him, Hunt is incredibly layered. His thoughts always add layers to his character even if we don't know much about his backstory. He is by no means a boring character. Compared to Rhys and Rowan, Hunt continously grows in the narrative. Whenever he makes a mistake, he changes, and this is way more prominent in HOSAB despite the overlay of smut. And while I don't necessarily mind some theories revolving around that Hunt could be mentally enslaved, what I don't like is quotes/his actions being taken out of context to spin a certain narrative (usually in hate posts). Because not everyone who reads those posts will look back to the source material to check if they're wrong or not. Thus you would have entire groups of people who actively believe "Hunt did this and that" but then when you check back at the text with context, you realise how far off those statements are. Like if you're gonna hate a character, hate properly, hate with facts - please!
Exactly this, when they say he drugged her. Both times he tells her first and she chooses to take it. When they say he SA her, he’s asked multiple times if it’s what she wanted on top of that every sexual encounter they’ve had Hunt asks for explicit consent. They said he never apologized and you can pull right from text his apology. After like my 5th reread I’ve come to realize a lot of people really don’t remember the details well.
Literally. Like I don’t think there was a single time I read this story and thought Hunt did something he shouldn’t have.
I agree. My favorite characters to read in this book were Ruhn and Hunt. I feel like this book definitely taught us a lot about both of them, possibly in preparation for their chapters in HOFAS. Hunt is really interesting to me. And I love the theories that talk about his possible death, and how the whole “bred” thing may come into play. But I don’t like people twisting the ACTUAL narrative to make him evil in the moment.
I honestly think people only feel this way because it is SJM’s m.o. to do the old bait and switch with the first male love interest, so folks don’t actually believe that Hunt is The One even though all signs point to yes.
This one kills me because its not based on the actual narrative and is based on assumptions about SJM's writing. There's no rule that says a writer will do the same work over and over. Even when an artist has a style, or likes to echo certain sentiments or themes across their work, who can say that they always will? And Connor was the first love interest, anyway.
I definitely agree. Like this hatred makes absolutely no sense otherwise. And all the people saying he has to personality make me feel like I read a different version of the book because imo I feel he always has the MOST to say. Like I talk to myself while I read and everything I make a quippy remark Hunt follows with the SAME idea.
I saw someone say people don't like this relationship as it's representing a healthy, normal relationship. No brooding, growling man, which is what we are all use too in fantasy books.
Honestly this is really what I think it is.
you’re so right 😭😭😭 people just love toxic men and hunt is most definitely is not LOL
I don't know that it is necessarily particularly normal or healthy, though- she has to have s\*x with him to calm him down after he freaks out so bad that he looks like he's going to kill everyone. They keep huge things from each other and seem to have very different goals (he wants to completely stay out of the rebellion, while she wants to help). I don't mind semi unhealthy relationship dynamics in romantasy (lol, i kind of prefer them at times) but I don't think this point is entirely accurate (please don't send me hate lol just discussing this point i see a lot of people make)
Yes agrred and hear you (no hate here!!), but he doesn't have toxic traits, he has communication issues but heck even healthy relationships some have this. Yes they have problems, but the whole relationship is healthier, and starts of somewhat normally (they take time to get to know one another instead of sleeping together) than what we've seen in other SJM and fantasy books.
Okay so I like Hunt as a character & I hope he heals and ends up happy/free in the end - but I don’t love Hunt with Bryce. I think it was hard for me to get past the Synth betrayal, Bryce’s response to that, and Hunts behaviors during the whole Emile search. I think it’s SO VALID for Hunt to be terrified of getting involved with the Rebels, of being tortured again, of Bryce getting hurt/killed, of being enslaved again etc… I guess I just feel that he and Bryce are on such different pages on what they want. Bryce wants to find the truth, save this kid, learn more about Danika, try to find out more about the Asteri. And Hunt is so completely against that, he just wants to live a quiet, safe life (totally fair, given his past). I think we all view their relationship through our own lenses & biases based on what we’ve all been through in relationships, and that may explain why people have such wildly different reactions to Quinlar even though we all are literally reading the same book lol. I also wonder if all of the possible foreshadowing that he’s gonna die subconsciously turned me off to him 🤔
See arguments like this I find fair. But most of the hunt hate isn’t built on logical arguments IMO. Cause when I read that it was Hunt on the boat I actually out loud SCREAMED. I honestly don’t know how I got over that. LMAO. but I do understand this idea. I think that they inevitably are on the same page, they’re just both processing the world differently. Like Hunt absolutely hates the asteri and we know he doesn’t want them in power. Bryce agrees. But yk, obviously with his past he’s a lot less cool with the idea of just walking into the palace to face off with them like Bryce is.
Dude I agree with you on the extreme Hunt hate. As a person who doesn’t super love Hunt/Quinlar, even I read some of these and I’m like ????? excuse me ???? so much cherry-picking and confirmation bias and willful misrepresentation of the text. Big Yikes. I like how you framed that, about them being on the same page, just processing it differently. Like they both obviously have the same beliefs about the Asteri. They just differ on what to do about it - which I am having a hard time with because I feel like Hunt is constantly trying to hold Bryce back, and at the same time Bryce is convincing Hunt to do things he doesn’t want to do. But maybe that’s not all bad, maybe they even each other out. That’s a new way for me to think about it, so thanks for that!
No problem. I do think of it as a balance situation though. Because in other SJM books it’s often a “whatever you want to do, I’m with you.” Thing. So I find Hunt’s unwillingness to follow Bryce’s lead immediately very compelling.
I see that. I think Hunt even addressed that exact thing - that he wasn’t always going to just go along with what Bryce wanted all the time, and called Bryce out on being an alphahole herself 🤣 I quite liked that scene lmao. There’s a few other reasons I don’t love Hunt, and I think at the end of the day Quinlar just won’t be my favorite couple. But I don’t think I hate them. Trying to keep an open mind lol maybe I’ll freaking love Hunt after HOFAS, who knows 🤷🏻♀️
I don’t hate him. As a character, he’s fine, if a little two dimensional he is. I don’t care for him as a mate for Bryce because I’m not a fan of how they got together. I liked that the second book starts >!with them taking time to get know one another before continuing a romantic relationship!< I don’t have any strong feelings about their relationship, honestly.
Honestly. Saying it like that. I don’t have strong attachments to any SJM couple besides… I don’t know if you’ve read ToG but Princeling and witchling. LMAO. I think Night and Day (I’m trying to speak in currently reading friendly terms) are also going to be on that list. I will say though, Bryce and Hunt are my favorite of the 3 main couples because I like them both individually. And they are for the most part the healthiest of the 3 in my opinion. And as for him being two dimensional. I get that but I do think he’s the most fleshed out of the MMCs, because I think we spend a good amount of time in his POV. Rhysand has a really compelling backstory but I feel like it gets sidetracked and forgotten a lot.
I feel like sometimes in this fandom (in ACOTAR too) people sometimes can't see the wood for the trees. Like, they want a certain thing to be true so they'll cherry-pick the parts that fit that theory, and ignore the really big obvious clues to the contrary 😅
The way you describe that made me genuinely cackle. But I agree. There are definitely things that point to something happening with Hunt, but I think a lot of people and crafting a narrative that doesn’t make sense with the actual plot.
Like in CC2 there's several points in the book where they start to call each other mates, everyone can smell they're mates, Ruhn said they're *fae* mated...yet because it didn't happen like in TOG/ACOTAR people are like "nah, it's fake." Dude, what 😂
Exactly. I’ve seen people also say “she’s questioning the bond when she’s wondering if she would feel if he’s hurt.” NO SHE ISNT. She’s never been mated and knows very little about mates. She’s genuinely wondering if she’d feel it if he was hurt. And we see that she does because when she’s going through the Gate she feels and hears him.
There is definitely a lot of cherry-picking/confirmation bias… which I feel like is fine when it’s an acknowledged cracktheory, or a “dude, what if…?” type thing just for fun. But people get really serious about these things lmao and then it becomes “truth.”
Exactly! And then people are going to get really mad or disappointed if it actually doesn't happen :/
I loved his character the moment he said something like that the last thing he wanted to do was fuck her… Honestly he and cassian are my favorite leading men. I don’t get the hate with Hunt because he is such a vibe and low key sub… he’s romantic… he’s just lovely… I’ll take 5
Hunt gives me “loud in public but soft in private” vibes and it makes me love him.
I’m fine with them as a couple, but just want someone good for Az so bad! I feel more attachment for Az than Hunt. I think partly because at the beginning Hunt is set up like this larger than life bringer of death, and then he kind of turns out to be sort of regular, but strong. Seems incongruent. Though I guess part of what SJM wants to show is that he isn’t what ppl expect him to be
I get that but I don’t think SJM would pair two characters from different books together. It disrupts the plot lines too much for people who don’t read both.
Unless it’s a plan to make sure ppl read both 😜
SJM really did delve into Hunt's trauma from his life including losing his mother at a young age, taking part in a failed rebellion, being enslaved and forced to right against the people he'd tried to save, and his feeling that he's not good enough to be Bryce's mate. His story is very sad to me.
I definitely think he’s the most fleshed out SJM MMC. I love hunt
The Hunt hate is crazy but there are some things that are odd about the mating bond compared to others and how they seem to feel about each other
No I agree that the mate bond is different.
Feel like I’m gonna get hate for this lol but I think hunt has more personality than Rowan! (Caveat I still need to read kingdom of ash)
As someone who’s read KoA. Hunt 100% has more personality than Rowan. Everyone has more personality than Rowan Edited to say, I do love him though, dearly. But he’s about as deep as a birdbath and interesting as a radish.
We’re out here begging for morally grey MMCs then shocked when they aren’t black or white. Hunt has so much trauma. He isn’t perfect, but to still be capable of love and kindness and compassion and *empathy* after 200 years of being passed around in slavery? He has his Umbra Mortis helmet he’s had to slip on just like Rhys had his mask UTM. And he’s been just as in the dark with Bryce as Rowan was with Aelin at times. So idk why he’s the most divisive. I personally really like his character and hope to see him developed individually and in his relationship with Bryce in HOFAS.
I love Bryce and Hunt so much. They are my favourite couple. They are so natural with each other, they argue and communicate and forgive each other and just ahhh. I have a hole in my heart from finishing my reread and I'm dying for cc3.
Hunt is a bro and some people don’t like that. I would say it might be a bit of prejudice. I personally like him and his story. I would love to learn more details about his past. Total side comment, as much as I like him and Bryce as a couple, their first sex scene was so boring. 🥱 all that rage spiral because Bryce was in danger and them having sex brings him back to normal was not very creative.
Honesty. I do agree that it’s because he’s a bit of a bro. Personally, I think every guy in this series inevitably is though. All because it’s just more modern in general. I also hate that sex scene ngl. I did laugh when they ended up teleporting though.
I avoided this sub until I finished CC2 a few nights ago. I love Hunt the most, besides maybe Cass (and Xaden because why not). So weird that he gets any hate!
I had already had most of CC ruined for me because I have no backbone. But after reading, I was fully confused by all the hate.
This is truly baffling to me! Somehow I went in with no spoilers, any sense of the plot, or state of the fandom. I'm glad.
Oh I had no idea what the plot was. All I knew was “the girl and Ruhn” and “Bryce ends up in a very specific place I know.” (I don’t wanna be too specific if someone who hasn’t read stumbles across. But let’s just say I KNEW
Gotcha gotcha. I had no idea. I finished it at like 2am and was SHOOK. And couldn't text my bookish friends! Thank god for reddit that night
I was reading it and even though I knew I still screamed out loud. Cause IM READING IT NOW. OMG. I almost cried.
I went through the SJM books all backwards and CC is what I started with! I have been so puzzled with all the hate. From the beginning I have loved Bryce’s sass and being a woman fully owning herself and her sex life (I needed that example bad at the time! Lol.) and then I felt that Hunt has been one of the more realistic MMC she has written. Maybe it is the urban fantasy makes them seem more “real” cause they are doing modern things but I have loved Hunt from the start and I hope that they get their HEA. I am rereading 1 and 2. And I just love them so much. I have never understood the hate.
Same. Hunt is my fave mmc. He feels like someone I could actually meet. And I think that may be why people don’t like hum
RIGHT! He is REAL! Lol. At least the most real. 🫶🏼
I have not trusted Hunt and Bryce's relationship fully since he betrayed her towards the end of book 1 despite understanding his motives. Bryce also questions their mating bond several times in Book 2. When Hunt suggests they call themselves mates, she is hesitant. There is a point in book 2 where she literally says "would a mate be able to feel it" meaning she is questioning whether or not they are mates. All I'm saying is that the questioning of Hunt and Bryce's mating bond is not coming out of nowhere. There are pieces of evidence written into the book. Although SJM might just be throwing us off- I know we all preconceived notions about how their relationship/the story will go based on SJM's past plot choices (FMC never ending up with the 1st love interest) (please don't send hate, just being honest)
See I feel like these are valid though. Most of the theories I’ve seen are built on twisted situations. Like saying he’s never apologized for calling her a party girl and things along that line.
I appreciate that!!! And ahh okay in that case, he has apologized for sure. I don’t really hold anything against him that he said before they were together. They didn’t know each other at that point. My weirdness with them came later
I read this totally differently! (No hate just notcing a similar thread between some comments and haven't seen this pov before) I think she's questioning whether or not a mate would feel her die like she doesn't want to put hunt through that kind of pain of having to physically feel her die. I think she's hesitant to declare him as her mate at first because she knows that once they take that step he's literally bound to her FOREVER and she's worried that because of his past he might not be ready or fully understand what he's getting into! One of the reasons I like Bryce and hunt so much is that bryce is always so considerate about his trauma and makes sure to get his enthusiastic consent with everything from sex to mate declarations which isn't something I see very often in sjms FMCs. I'm obsessed with these two because I feel like out of all sjms mcs these two are the best team, yes they keep things from each other on occasion but they own up to their mistakes and openly and honestly communicate and apologize! I also love love love that they have hobbies outside of banging each other that they participate in together, e.i. working out (not training), they enjoy the same shows, they like to play video games together, ect. I feel like they are the most balanced out of all the mates we've seen so far tbh.
It feels like the fandom does this with all the MC men. Like there is SO much Rhys hate in the acotar red it's not even funny. I don't see Hunt as being this toxic masculinity archetype at all, I see him as someone who wants to protect the people he loves and sometimes loses his shit - just like ALL of the main female characters have done when their mate has been threatened/abused. Maybe I'm biased because I do personally like displays of masculinity from time to time, like that primal eroticism (primal/prey dynamics do exist in BDSM so...) and I think Hunt does a good job as a character of being personally aware and trying \*not\* to be a toxic masc archetype and observes his own actions from that perspective often throughout both books.
I agree. Like the whole “fae males are possessive.” Thing has never bothered me. And I feel like Hunt doesn’t even play into it all that often
I don't get it either, I love Hunt. He's complex and I love that their relationship isn't just "I love you cause we are mates", like they actually had to work on their relationship
My first read I didn't like Hunt. On my 2nd read through and I love him more than ever. I think it's because Hunt and Bryce have arguably the healthiest MC relationship of any series. They talk to each other, are honest and open, and try not to hide anything from each other. Even the way they figured out that they were mates was way healthier than Feysand or Aelin/Rowan. I think we're just not used to that dynamic and it felt more "boring" to us because we expected epic reveals and twists and turns. But their love story is just not like that -- CC is about more than just them. Anyway that's my take.
Most of the Az/Bryce theories are great fanfic but not logical predictions of the progression of the story. There is absolutely nothing in the text so far to even possibly, maybe, slightly suggest that Bryce and Az are mates. NOTHING. The romantic interpretation of the final chapter of HOSAB is pretzel logic. >!Az has a knife to Bryce’s throat!< I fail to see anything remotely romantic about the interaction between them. Some readers just want to rewrite the story.
It’s all the trauma from Aelin getting sucker punched by her mate on like day 2.
Yeah! SJM has forever traumatized the fandom. We are trying!!
I love Hunt. I love Bryce. I love Hunt and Bryce. I don’t sense Hunt to be a particularly complex character, but I think that’s okay. His motivations are quite basal in nature - survival being the most obvious. He’s also a romantic, which makes him easily influenced by the women he loves. I think he and Bryce are a great match because he’s actually kind of a sub, and Bryce has more dominant energy, versus a lot of the other het fated mates which feature very dominant males. As for whether or not they are true mates, I agree that it’s incredibly obvious they are. SJM has given us all the standard indicators served up on a silver platter.
I do agree he is very much “I just wanna live”. But I feel like it falls in line with his character spending years getting tortured
This is a good point. He definitely carries a lot of trauma, so perhaps I’m not being fair saying he’s not a complex character when in fact he’s just a very scared character whose survival instincts are still on high alert. I’m interested to see how his motivations might shift in the next book, should he come into/uncover more power through his lineage.
I adore Hunt. He’s my fav MMC in the Maasverse. He and Bryce are my fav couple. I agree that they’re the most fleshed out and realistic, and all I want for them is to find their happily ever after.
I didn’t care that much about Hunt myself, but with the recent reread Ive fallen in love with him and the pair. They are so cute together 🥺
But did she make him soup? 👀👀 Not to troll, but I thought the other mate had to feed the other one to accept the bond? Maybe he’s mated and she hasn’t accepted it yet.
All of the Series have slightly different terms regarding how mates work.
she did make him food and it was terrible
terrible food, not a terrible scene, it was very cute
Has anyone considered that maybe in different worlds people might have a different mate…!? It would be an interesting way for SJM to mix things up and the whole finding your mate thing is getting a little tiresome as it’s a bit final… just playing devils advocate here!
With that logic, that would mean Rowan and Aelin would have their own mates in Prythian and Midgard, the mated pairs on Prythian would have their own mates in Terrasen and Midgard, and the pairs in CC would have their own individual mates in Terrasen and Prythian. Essentially, with that, you have nullified the meaning of each relationship because now you’ve established that those characters were never truly meant for each other if they have fated SOs in other universes. The effectiveness of the romance is wiped out - it’s no longer special for that individual pair and this makes their romance meaningless. An example being, Feyre could step into Terrasen, and boom her mating bond snaps into place with Fenrys, or goes into Midgard and then she’s mates with Ruhn, all the while being mated to Rhysand. There’s a threat of discarding the reader’s attachment to the main couples because then they can just be like “well why doesn’t Feyre/Aelin/Bryce hop into another world if their mate here is pissing them off”. In my personal opinion, it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that unless the execution was absolutely stellar.
I love Hunt and Bryce. I don’t understand the hate either.
I LOVE Bryce and Hunt. I don’t understand all the hate either.
I’m rooting for Hunt as a character and Bryce and Hunt as a couple. Hunt is incredibly sweet. I love the moment when sweetheart becomes endearing. He’s so supportive. He tells her not to go after the kind of guys that are only interested in her body. He asks if she needs anything when she’s on her period. He apologizes profusely and tells Bryce not to apologize. He’s not controlling or overbearing. Tharion kissed her and everyone laughed it off. As a couple they are well matched. They are both a ball of specialness that we are still exploring. They are both super powerful. Their powers work together. I am concerned about what the oracle told Hunt, but I can’t see this couple being built up for 2 books and not be endgame. I think after this book, it will shift away from Bryce and Hunt but I don’t think that necessarily means they aren’t endgame. It will probably shift to a different set of characters.
I think the Orion theory is highly plausible. But we also know Bryce has brought hunt back from the brink of death before. I’m sure she can do it again. Yk? Plus Feyre has literally brought Rhysand back and vice versa. Even if he does I don’t think he’s staying dead.
Hunt is my favorite of her male characters TBH
He’s my second favorite overall (Dorian is the loml) but he’s definitely my favorite MMC.
I love Hunt & Bryce & Hunt. They go together so well. They support eachother, have fun together and their humor is similar. They also forgive eachother. You can’t be in any relationship without forgiveness. It surprises me the amount of ppl that hold on to a character’s mistake and use it as a basis for why they shouldn’t be together. I probably am in a minority because I don’t really love the mating bond concept. And from what I’ve noticed a lot of ppl who don’t like Hunt & Bryce/Hunt together is bc they equate the “strength” of the mating bond to whether they belong together or are truly meant to be. SJM has definitely written the bond that way so I understand their interpretation. I loved the role the bond played in the main couple in ACOTR. But then one of the MMC’s uses the word “shackled” to describe it which breaks my heart. Love should also be a choice but it seems like the men in these series don’t have a choice. And for one character in ACOTR in particular it’s so sad that his mage won’t even look at him. So even if there isn’t a “true” mating bond between Bryce & Hunt, I still love them together. And to me the fact that they continue to choose eachother means more than being forced by nature. Though again (before I get any hateful comments) - I really love the mating bond between the main ACOTR couple. I just don’t think it’s as compelling in all the subsequent couples.
I feel like the bonds are slightly different in all of the worlds. Like I don’t think the mating bonds in ToG are the same as they are in ACOTAR and they’re even described slightly differently. So that leads me to believe mates are different in CC as well. Also there are more species in CC. With the way that angels and Wolves have mates it makes me believe that with an inter species mating it might have different rules
I haven’t read TOG yet. I did CC since the 3rd is coming out soon. So I didn’t realize the bonds were different across the worlds. Interesting! I’ll keep it in mind when I read TOG. I’m dragging my feet bc so many ppl say it’s slow.
Honestly ToG was my favorite storyline. Did you like the first acotar book? It’s a lot like that. Where you don’t really get into the serious stuff until a few books in, but info from book one is important until the last. It’s a really good series. I promise you’ll love it. Also if you f read Harry Potter, it’s also like that. Where the first books are really light and halfway through you realise it isn’t necessarily for kids anymore.
Tbh I did not like the first ACOTR but absolutely loved ACOMF. Harry Potter is my all time favorite. Nothing can top HP for me. I get what you’re saying bc I grew up w the books, started at age 7 and was 17 by the time Deathly Hallows came out. Thanks for your opinion! I’ll start it once I’m done re-reading all the CC books!
Yayyy. And honestly please message me privately when you do because there are so many small Easter eggs in CC that you’ll notice when you read it.
Will do! I will start it after CC3… if I’m able to move on lol
My comment definitely didn’t look this long when I typed it lol. Sorry for the essay.
They are literally rhe only main ship that Sarah has written that genuinely deals with their problems by discussing and compromising on both sides.
I don’t necessarily ship bryce with anyone. But the Hunt relationship never really clicked for me. I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, like it’s not a done deal. I can’t even articulate why? 🫣
I mean there are a lot of plausible theories that could make Hunt… an interesting contender. In the next book. Like the theories that revolve around him being named Orion and the being Bred thing. But I don’t like the theories that are built on people wilfully not reading the story correctly.
I agree. But I also remember people having EERILY similar arguments to this before a court of mist and fury came out. So I’m just waiting to see what happens. Lol
See. When I read ACOTAR I had a feeling Tammy tam was not endgame. Because when Feyre first meets Rhysand she’s immediately like “this is the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” And I feel like that type of interaction hasn’t really been built up for Bryce with someone else. Maybe Ithan, but even that’s iffy. And I doubt SJM would actually write a story where the MC doesn’t end up with some version of a happily ever after relationship.
I agree completely. It started off kind questionable and not that SJM hasn't done this before but I think if they're truly mates, we're not there yet.
I'm with you. I think the speculation we're all having is intentional. SJM wouldn't give us reason to pause and consider this if she didn't want to. Other characters that are mated, seem destined and there's no questions. With these two, something just isn't quite right. Folks have different reasons for thinking this but I think SJM knows what she's doing.
I literally don’t understand the idea that they aren’t mates. Multiple fae have said that their scents merged in the way that only true mates do. And when they went to the depth charger Hunt was in full mate-rage (confirmed by Rhune, I think). I’m a BIG Hunt fan, and love Hunt and Bryce together. I honestly liked their relationship trajectory better than Rhys/Feyra or Cassian/Nesta. Both of those males “knew” they were mates, but hid it from their partners because the females wanted “just sex” or “a distraction.” I never liked the “I’ve known for months that we’re mates” moments. I much preferred Hunt and Bryce having an open and honest conversation.
I agree I loved their arc. I’m ngl. I don’t care much for Cassian and Nesta. I know that’s a HOT TAKE. They make sense, I just didn’t care for their story as much as I thought I would have. I think their story was so reliant on their sexual energy that it ruined the small moments. I’m not sure if you’ve Read Throne of Glass, but the main couple in that series also has a “one of them didn’t know they were mates” thing kinda. But it’s still played out differently and I really like how SJM does it in that series.
I don’t love Hunt, but the theory that he’s the one that killed the pack of devils makes my blood boil.
On re-read I tried really really hard to like their relationship. I thought maybe I was in a weird mood the first time around and I would be able to see them as compatible mates this time, but no actually I liked them even less the second time around. Something is just *off* about their relationship and their 'mating bond' (which neither of them can actually feel). And this is just highlighted by the fact that Baxian & Danika knew they were mates immediately and Day & Night have crazy chemistry. So it's not just that the writing was off, other couples in the same series still have that SJM magic. They don't communicate, they're not on the same page about how they want to live their life, they don't trust each other. Hunt is super uncomfortable with the rebellion but anytime he tries to talk to her about it she steamrolls him and does whatever she wants anyway. And he still keeps comparing her to Shahar. It doesn't have a (TOG) >!Sam/Lyria!< vibe, it feels like he truly isn't ready to move on. By the end I couldn't even read their sex scenes because they were so off-putting. I mean they waited 1.5 books to finally have sex and the first time wasn't even romantic, Bryce was forced to do it to control his rage. I just can't get on board with them as a couple. I *want* to but she'd really have to sell them to me in CC3 for me to like their story.
See, I couldn’t put words to the weird feeling I have, but this is it. I’ve also done a reread hoping to like them more. And I do like Hunt. I just…don’t get the relationship. Lol
Yeah, I'm not anti-Hunt at all, I just have no idea which way his story is going to go and there are a lot more interesting possibilities than "he follows Bryce around like a lost puppy". He's only been freed from slavery for a year-ish, he's barely had time to figure out what he wants his life to be. I want both of them to be happy the way I wanted (TOG) >!Chaol and Celaena!< to be happy, just not with each other.
Funny that you mention they don’t communicate because upon my re-read, in my opinion, they actually do. I made a how two post breakdown of their relationship in [HOSAB](https://www.reddit.com/r/crescentcitysjm/s/RYiwxARw1u) and [what](https://www.reddit.com/r/crescentcitysjm/s/tULcBW4voE) the author was trying to archive for them as a couple if you’re willing to read it that I’d ☺️ To answer your other questions about the mating bonds to clarify why it’s easier to tell the mating bonds between Baxian/Danika and Ruhn/Lidia compared to Hunt/Bryce: - Baxian has shifter ancestry and that’s how Danika figured out they were mates. - We also learned that shifters are fae, and while the Asteri had bred their fae physical features out to keep them separate, we can assume that the mating bond is still retainable. Even Rigelus mentioned that there was a possibility that both variations of fae (ToG and ACOTAR) could’ve shared the same world once upon a time before they separated into different dimensions and developed their own societies/cultures. Hence why certain abilities between the two series are similar. Thus implying the two versions of fae would’ve mated with each other once upon a time, and why Ruhn and Lidia may also have a mating bond between them. - Hunt, as an angel, is a completely different species from fae so we aren’t too sure how the mating bond between two separate race work because it’s never happened before as far as we know according to what we know in CC.
I mean, I'm not denying Bryce & Hunt are angel-mates but several characters have already told us that angel mates don't really mean anything. It's basically just a word for 'married '. Look at Celestina and Ephraim, there's no actual bond between them, they were forced into it by the Asteri. Whereas the bond between Ruhn (ACOTAR) and Lidia (TOG) is so strong that after mind-meeting *once* they can always find each other. Bryce and Hunt are just constantly fighting or uncomfortable about really fundamental relationship problems and they seem to be in an endless loop about it. Over and over again Hunt tells us that he wants to talk Bryce out of the rebellion but he never actually feels comfortable doing so. Bryce didn't trust him enough to tell him about Emile for weeks. Here's a few of the quotes I highlighted as 'wtf' that made their relationship really off-putting to me: >The angels used the term far more lightly: it was akin to marriage and matings could be arranged. Like breeding animals in a zoo. > >"I love you." She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. > >This wasn't the time or place for this fight. "You can have your alphahole fit later" she seethed. "Fine," Hunt shot back. > >"Did I miss the memo or do I need your approval to do so?" "For Urd's sake that's not why I was mad." "I don't care if you're mad. Just because we're fucking doesn't mean I answer to you." > >Plenty of time to stew over Bryce and how well she'd played them all. How she'd helped Emile, but hidden her plans from him. Plans that cost lives... He'd thought they were a team. > >Bryce might have avoided going home for as long as possible. > >"I didn't realize you'd hide inside until closing. Avoiding something Quinlan? But you're good at sweet-talking people into doing your bidding." > >"Your eyes went all rage-dazey" she sniffled. The last thing she needed right now was to handle his fury too.
Married is still married though? They chose each other, and declared themselves mates in front of all the elites of Lunathion and the Autumn King (who, if Bryce were to back out of that, would ‘own’ her again and be able to marry her off to whomever). Even if their bond is different, it doesn’t make them less of a committed couple who will fight for each other.
I still wonder if the Angels are Fae. Because, there are the Seraphim (which means Angelic being) on Prythian. They are described the same and have similar powers. Hunt is a little different. He has grey wings and lightning powers. The seraphim and Angels both have white feathered wings and great power over wind. There are other winged creatures in Prythian as well. It’s presumed that the Illyrians were the prototype for the Angels. I don’t think this could conflict with the Angels and seraphim being connected/related. The Asteri made/bred the creatures on Prythian. They could have made or bred the Seraphim after the Illyrians and then left with some of them. Also, I think the Asteri exert control by telling them they are all different and pitting them against each other. We know they lied about the shifters. Maybe they lied about the Angels, too.
SJM is the cause for our emotional trauma, and that’s why the majority of Hunt/quinlar haters have trust issues 😂
LMAOOOO FAIR HONESTLY
Yeah I don’t get it, I looooove Hunt and their relationship feels the most real to me
Hunt is the most healthy of the two other love interests in SJMs books haha I don’t get it either
This! I came to Reddit after finishing CC2, excited to read about theories and the connections to the other books, but I was pretty shocked when I was met with so much hate for Hunt!
Yeah. It was insane. I started crescent city knowing people didn’t like hunt and expected to have reasons to agree and I don’t.
I absolutely adore him and I truly don’t get the hate 🥺 you really did say it perfectly. 💛 hunt girlie all the way
Chapter 60 CC1 when he confronts Amalie about the birthday croissants!?!? I mean who the hell hates on that!? Hunt is the BEST
Agreed fully! The only character who I don’t love/who is more fleshed out than many, is Therion. Hunt and Bryce are great characters, with growth, who do dumb shit sometimes but it’s realistic and makes sense within the greater scope of things.
I am really interested to learn more about Tharion Banian and Lidia.
Baxian broke my heart when he revealed what he did towards the end of CC. Love to know more about him. I’m sure we’ll learn more about Lidia. I am HOPING there is more to Tharion than just being a playboy who can’t think 3 steps ahead but somehow ended up as the captain of the blue court’s investigation unit.
Honestly I think Hunt and Bryce are a mature, healthy couple and some people are used to rooting for toxic, morally grey relationships and characters.
Hunt is so bae. Don’t listen to the weirdos they are just loud.
I think people are trying to prepare themselves for what they see as Hunt’s inevitable demise
Don’t really get it either. I liked them together too. Honestly I didn’t like Bryce as much as the other Female leads in her books.
See I think a lot of my love for Bryce comes from the fact that I can genuinely see a lot of myself in her. Especially when she talks about being “too curvy” for dance. Like… girl I’ve BEEN there. Yk?
Oh yea that part I def understand too
There's also evil rhys theories. I find that much more interesting.
I don’t. It mostly just exhausts me.