14 Tamlin Red Flags You May Have Missed on Your First ACOTAR Read
Anyone who’s read the entirety of Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series knows that Tamlin is essentially a red flag on two feet (or more like four paws these days). But the real question is: did you catch all the flags that were a-flyin’ as early as ACOTAR? Or did you not see the signs until it was too late, like our leading lady Feyre?
I’m not going to lie—I missed A LOT of these warning signs on my first read-through (probably because I was too focused on my favorite flaming-hot fox-boy). But once I did a second (then third, fourth, and fifth) reread, I found that they were damn near impossible to miss.
And while not every single one of these are all that awful on their own, it’s when you view them as a whole that you realize just how toxic Tamlin the Temper-Throwing Tamtrum really is, even well before the trauma of Under the Mountain.
So without further ado, here are 14 Tamlin red flags that you may have missed on your first ACOTAR read:
🚩 1. He immediately knocks Feyre out with magic despite the fact that she’s being totally compliant
I opened my mouth to again ask him for his name, but a growl of annoyance rippled out of him. I didn’t have a chance to struggle, to fight back, when a charged, metallic tang stung my nose. Exhaustion slammed down upon me and blackness swallowed me whole.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 5
What in the hell even was this!? Despite being absolutely terrified, Feyre was doing everything she was told to in following him to Prythian. In fact, she was simply attempting to be amicable when he went and just knocked her out.
For me, this scene screams classic “Tamlin can’t handle his emotions correctly and uses brute strength to control the situation to his advantage.”
🚩 2. He completely disrespects her living situation across the wall, with no regard for who hears him
“And as for the girl, she stays. Unharmed. End of discussion. Her life in that hovel was Hell enough.” My cheeks heated, even while I loosed a tight breath, and I avoided looking at Alis as I felt her eyes slide to me. A hovel—I suppose that’s what our cottage was when compared to this place.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 6
Let me just tell you that this one made my blood boil the first time around and as of my last reread, I’m still fuming.
The blatant disregard and disrespect for the livelihoods of the humans suffering across the wall, especially the one he’s supposed to make fall in love with him, shows Tamlin’s true colors early on!
🚩 3. He literally snarls or growls at Lucien when he says or does something he doesn’t like
“Enough, Lucien,” Tamlin said to his courtier with a snarl. “I don’t want to hear details.” He turned to me, ancient and brutal and unyielding … A moment later, Lucien’s barking laugh echoed into the halls, followed by a sharp, vicious growl that shut him up.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 7
As a number one Lucien stan, I cannot stand the way he is treated by Tamlin from the very jump. I feel like we were made to believe that they have a genuine friendship, but the more you read, the more you realize what an a**hole Tamlin is to Lucien.
It’s like he knows that Lucien has nowhere else to go and takes advantage of this fact by treating him however the hell he wants. MAJOR red flag for me!
🚩 4. He threatens the Archeron family’s security and safety to scare Feyre into staying in Prythian
“I’m going to warn you once,” Tamlin said too softly. “Only once, and then it’s on you, human. I don’t care if you go live somewhere else in Prythian. But if you cross the wall, if you flee, your family will no longer be cared for.”
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 7
I absolutely HATE the way Tamlin uses Feyre’s family against her, especially by threatening the very things she’s worked so hard to provide for them: safety and security.
It’s clear that he knows this is a major weak spot of hers and has no issue using it to control and manipulate her as he sees fit.
🚩 5. He belittles Feyre unnecessarily when she asks why he’s being so generous
“I kill too often as it is,” Tamlin said finally, shrugging his broad shoulders. “And you’re insignificant enough to not ruffle this estate. Unless you decide to start killing us.” A faint warmth bloomed in my cheeks, my neck. Insignificant—yes, I was insignificant to their lives, their power. As insignificant as the fading, chipped designs I’d painted around the cottage.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 7
What is the point of being so condescending and hurtful? I’ve never understood what Tamlin was hoping to gain by constantly belittling Feyre like this.
Especially knowing what we know now about the cure for the curse, it’s even more bewildering that THIS is how he chose to treat the one and only person who could give him and his people any hope for a brighter future.
🚩 6. He appears to have little, if any, control over his claws coming out when he’s angry
But I looked pointedly at his hands, at the razor-sharp tips of those long, curved claws poking through his tanned skin. Noticing my stare, he tucked his hands behind his back.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 7
Tamlin clenched his hands into fists, as if fighting against the claws itching to burst out. But he didn’t reprimand me, didn’t do anything other than prowl back into the house without another word.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 9
Metal groaned as Tamlin’s claws punched out, obliterating the fork. He rose to his feet with a powerful, brutal movement. I tried not to tremble at the contained fury, at how his canines seemed to lengthen as he said, “Where in the forest?”
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 10
He flexed his fingers as if trying to get the claws back in, but they remained out, ready to slice through flesh and bone. “What do you want, Feyre?”
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 10
Tamlin flinched as his claws shot out, slicing his face. But the wounds closed as soon as they opened, leaving only a smear of blood running down his golden skin—which he wiped away with the back of his sleeve.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 16
“No. You’re not.” He clenched and loosened his fingers, again and again, as if trying to keep the claws contained.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 19
Need I say more?
🚩 7. He manipulates Feyre into thinking her staying in Prythian against her will is fulfilling the vow she made to her dying mother
“You are not breaking your vow—you are fulfilling it, and then some, by staying here. Your family is better cared for now than they were when you were there.”
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 11
This one really broke my heart for Feyre. She was already so torn apart with guilt over abandoning her family, and then Tamlin had to go and manipulate her feelings even further by making it seem like they were actually better off without her.
And using the vow she made as an eight-year-old to her dying mother to do so? ICK ICK ICK!!
🚩 8. Feyre is instinctually more comfortable with Lucien, even seeks him out, and is relieved when Tamlin stays away from her
Over the next three days, I found myself joining Lucien on Andras’s old patrol while Tamlin hunted the grounds for the Bogge, unseen by us… I never saw Tamlin around the manor—even at dinner, he spoke little before leaving early—off to continue his hunt, night after night. I didn’t mind his absence. It was a relief, if anything.
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 11
Lucien’s russet eye was bright, though the smile he gave me didn’t meet it. “I’m unavailable today,” he said. He jerked his chin to Tamlin. “He’ll go with you.” … No. I almost said it aloud as I turned pleading eyes to Lucien. Lucien merely patted my shoulder as he passed by. “Perhaps tomorrow, human.”
A Court of Thorns and Roses, Chapter 12
I’m pretty sure this is one of those red flags that we all clocked the first time around because it was just so obvious that Feyre was much more comfortable with Lucien than with Tamlin.
And for the record, I’m 100% convinced that if wasn’t for the stupid curse Lucien would have absolutely blown Tamlin out of the water as Feyre’s first Fae love interest.