Even though he’s been shortchanged by the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, Lucien Vanserra is still a fan favorite despite his limited page time and the memes about him prove it. Lucien has had a rough go of it in the ACOTAR series. Even before it began, he had to deal with watching his father kill his lover, being banished from the only home he ever knew, having his eyeball ripped out, then being trapped for 50 years unable to get a fox mask off his face. Not great times.

Despite it all, Lucien has maintained his dry sense of humor and quick wit, which has endeared him to readers. That, and his sense of loyalty and compassion, have made him a favorite that fans are eager to see get more time. Hopefully, Lucien and other supporting characters will get bigger roles in the next ACOTAR book. Until then, at least there are plenty of Court of Thorns and Roses memes focusing on Lucien to tide everyone over.

10

Lucien Makes His Own House

Poor Lucien. Right now in the ACOTAR books, he’s a man without a home. Even in A Court of Thorns and Roses, Lucien was already living in his adopted home of the Spring Court after having been banished by his father from the Autumn Court. After his lengthy travels and his (understandable) betrayal of Tamlin, he now can no longer even go back to the Spring Court. Instead, he’s made a new life with his Band of Exiles and found family of Jurian and Vassa. The worst thing is how cruel and dismissive the other characters seem to be about the fact that Lucien has lost every home he’s ever had and is just trying to make the best of it.

9

Lucien Is All Of Us

Lucien does not get nearly enough credit for being the ride-or-die friend he is to Tamlin. First, he watches his friend run his Spring Court in a way that is questionable at best. Then he watches his friend deal with his PTSD in the absolute worst way possible and attempt to control what he can’t by locking up the love of his life, all while dealing with PTSD himself. Then he attempts to still reason with his friend after Tamlin has gone full feral in the woods. Through it all, he remained loyal to a fault and forgiving of Tamlin’s awkward nature. He’s the bestie Tamlin never truly appreciated.

8

Get With The Winning Team, Man

Look, it’s pretty clear to anyone who can read subtext that Lucien knew exactly what Feyre was doing the whole time after she returned to the Spring Court to spy on them. The only reason he didn’t do anything about is because he privately agreed with her, and knew Tamlin wasn’t in a good headspace to make the right decisions for the Spring Court’s people or Prythian. Still, that pesky loyalty to Tamlin – and the fact that without Tamlin’s favor, he’d be homeless – Lucien couldn’t outright help Feyre sabotage Tamlin’s deal with Hybern. In the end, though, Lucien put himself over what he felt he owed Tamlin and joined the winning team.

7

Lucien: Yeah, That’s…A Problem

Lucien realizing Feyre can’t read right as they were in the middle of the second trial wasn’t funny…but it was funny in hindsight. There’s just something extra hilariously awful in a “the universe is out to get me” sort of way that it was Lucien, of all people, who was with Feyre during the trial. With Lucien’s quick wit and irony, you know there had to be at least a small part of him that could truly appreciate the unexpected twist of realizing Feyre was illiterate when the very thing she needed to do to save his life was read. You can almost hear the “Cauldron boil me, is this really how I’m going to die?” now.

6

Lucien To The Cauldron: Am I A Joke To You?

Some people give Lucien grief for telling Elain she was his mate immediately after she exited the Cauldron, but if they’re being honest with themselves, he only blurted it out in surprise because he was utterly gobsmacked. It’s not like he was any happier about it than Elain was at the time. There were two people saddled with that fate, not just one. Even now, it’s not like it’s a pleasant connection for him. The Court of Thorns and Roses books have explained the mating bond can be torturous if not returned. Lucien should be commended for keeping that fact from Elain, and also for making himself scarce so as not to pressure her.

5

Lucien’s Got Daddy Issues That Only He Doesn’t Know About

Right now in the Court of Thorns and Roses series, Lucien has so many issues that he’s got issues he doesn’t even know about yet. Despite so much of his life being framed and shaped by his cruel father, Beron, he doesn’t even know it’s the magnificent Helion who is his real father. At this rate, everyone in the Inner Circle and half the High Lords of Prythian will know who Lucien’s real father is before Lucien does. When he finds out – and he will – there will be a reckoning. But, hey, more evidence to support the theory that Lucien will become Prythian’s High King in ACOTAR, right?

4

Oh, That Is So Unsanitary

So far, everyone in the Night Court treats Lucien so poorly and dismissively that it’s only a matter of time until something like this happens. Still, this is absolutely something Cassian would do. Heck, it’s not entirely out of the question that he’s already tried to do it off the page, especially when drunk. Just call him the Rocket Raccoon of the Night Court, and Lucien as his poor, oblivious target. Still, it begs the question: could Lucien still see through his enchanted eye if it weren’t attached? How far does that connection stretch? Hopefully, for Lucien’s sake, he never has to find out.

3

In Fairness…Just About Everyone Has

Also related to the real dad thing is the fact that, once Lucien finds out Helion is his father, that is only part of the shockwave sure to hit him. After processing the fact that Beron was never his real father, Lucien will then have to grapple with the fact his mother, the Lady of Autumn, had an affair with Helion. Even though it’s understandable, it’s still a big truth to process. And after all that, every time Lucien looks at Morrigan – honestly, half of Prythian, at this point – he’s going to struggle not to think about the fact they had sex with his dad. So, so many people have had sex with his dad. Good luck with that, Lucien.

2

Dad Mode Lucien Is Best Lucien

So often in A Court of Thorns and Roses, despite Tamlin being the one who took Feyre hostage, it was Lucien who was left to babysit her and show her the ropes of how the Fae lands operate. Of course, Feyre always immediately fell into the contrary female protagonist trope and did the opposite of what she was told to do, even if it had been for her own good. At a certain point, even the eternally patient Lucien Vanserra lost his cool when Feyre put herself in danger. It’s especially understandable as he knew that Tamlin would somehow blame him for Feyre’s dumb choices.

1

Lucien: …She’s Not Wrong, Though

After A Court of Thorns and Roses ended on a high note, man, things must have been real, real awkward around the Spring Court for Lucien in A Court of Mist and Fury after Feyre left. Tamlin was already socially awkward and taciturn at the best of times, which was taxing at times for the witty, talkative Lucien, even if he’d never admit it. After Feyre left Tamlin to stew before finally sending him a Dear John letter weeks later, it was a hellish time for Lucien as he walked on eggshells around his volatile friend while the Spring Court fell apart. Again, Tamlin truly does not deserve Lucien.