I Should’ve Known How ACOTAR’s Under The Mountain Story Would End After Seeing Tamlin’s Name

A Court of Thorns & Roses‘ ending sees Feyre solving Amarantha’s riddle and breaking Tamlin’s curse, and the book’s finale should have been obvious as soon as the latter’s name appeared on the page. Sarah J. Maas’ first ACOTAR book focuses primarily on the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin, which revolves around a curse. Tamlin brings Feyre to the Spring Court as a punishment for killing his friend, but his real motive is the desire to break a curse — one that requires a human girl to fall in love with him.

This eventually happens, and Feyre manages to save Tamlin and Prythian at the end of the book. She accomplishes this after facing three trails while Under the Mountain, as well as by solving Amarantha’s mysterious riddle. Her revelation that “love” is the answer to the riddle is what truly frees Tamlin and his people. And Feyre’s journey and its consequences are connected to the inspiration for Tamlin’s name, as well as several other stories.

ACOTAR’s Influence For Tamlin’s Name Explained

It Comes From A Scottish Ballad

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Maas draws inspiration from a number of myths and fairy tales in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Tamlin’s name comes from one of them: The Ballad of Tam Lin. This Scottish ballad tells the story of a woman who encounters a man in the forest of Carterhaugh and becomes pregnant with his child (via Mythos Blog). Although she believes the man to be one of the fair folk known for inhabiting the forest, the story’s lead discovers that he’s a mortal like her. He’s also in danger, as the fairies plan to sacrifice him as a tithe to Hell.

The woman can save her love, but only if she overcomes a challenge. She must hold onto him as the faeries lead him to his fate, and she can’t let go — no matter what shape the Faerie Queen forces him to take. The ballad ends with the woman succeeding in saving her love, much to the Faerie Queen’s disappointment. It’s easy to see how Feyre and Tamlin’s story mirrors this ballad, even if A Court of Thorns & Roses changes some of the details.

How ACOTAR Changes The Biggest Details Of The Old Ballad

Feyre Faces More Trials, Tamlin Is Actually One Of The Fae, & They Don’t Have A Happy Ending

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Tamlin’s name makes the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses obvious, as Feyre faces tests — much like the woman in the Scottish ballad — and frees the man she loves. However, Maas’ book changes some major elements of the story that inspired it. For one, Feyre undergoes three trials and solves a riddle in order to save Tamlin, while the woman in The Ballad of Tam Lin only faces one test. Adding to Feyre’s journey raises the stakes and makes the climax of the first ACOTAR book last longer, so it’s easy to see why Maas makes this change.

Additionally, Tamlin is one of the Fae in ACOTAR, and he needs to be saved from a curse, not a ritualistic sacrifice. This changes the dynamic of his situation and Feyre’s struggle. Plus, the two don’t actually stay together after the events of the first ACOTAR book. This marks a change from the ballad, which concludes with its main characters living happily ever after. Feyre goes on to discover that Rhysand is her mate, a major twist in A Court of Mist and Fury. But those who only read ACOTAR will see the resemblance to The Ballad of Tam Lin.

Other Myths And Folklore A Court Of Thorns & Roses Borrows From

Beauty & The Beast And Folklore About Faeries Also Inspired Maas’ Book

The Ballad of Tamlin isn’t the only bit of folklore that inspired A Court of Thorns and Roses. In fact, Maas pulled from multiple places while writing her story. Among the most obvious is Beauty and the Beast, a fairy tale that also bears a heavy resemblance to Feyre and Tamlin’s story. Feyre being forced to stay at the Spring Court, falling in love with her captor, and breaking the curse that consumes him is reminiscent of Belle’s journey in Beauty and the Beast. There’s little doubt the fairy tale served as inspiration for ACOTAR alongside The Ballad of Tam Lin.

Additionally, fairy folklore factors into the main story of A Court of Thorns and Roses, as many tales about fairies depict them as living underground and trapping mortals with their trickery. The former is likely responsible for Feyre and Tamlin going Under the Mountain, while the latter is yet another inspiration for Feyre’s situation. All these stories come together in Maas’ work, and A Court of Thorns and Roses successfully spins them into an original narrative that’s just as entertaining.

Source: Mythos Blog