| Name | Vassa |
|---|---|
| Age | Mid 20s (ACOWAR) |
| Species | Human |
| Status | Alive |
| Kingdom | Scythia |
| Rank/Title | Mortal Queen, Queen of Scythia |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Reddish-gold |
| Family | Unnamed Father |
| Appears in | A Court of Wings and Ruin |
Contents
Biography / History
Early Life
Vassa is one of the Mortal Queens and the only one who refuses to ally with Hybern. She sees through Jurian’s claims from the beginning and warns the other queens that Hybern’s resurrection of him is a sign of danger. Fearing her influence, the queens secretly sell her to the death-lord Koschei, who curses her to become a firebird by day and a woman by night, binding her to a remote lake on the Continent.
A Court of Mist and Fury
When the queens meet with the Night Court, they lie and claim Vassa is “too ill” to attend. Only later does Demetra reveal that Vassa is not sick, hinting that something far worse has happened to her.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Elain’s seer powers reveal Vassa’s true fate: she is trapped at Koschei’s lake alongside other cursed women, all forced into birdlike forms. Lucien volunteers to find her, but by the time he arrives, Feyre’s father has already bargained with Koschei for Vassa’s temporary freedom so she can join the fight against Hybern.
Vassa travels with Feyre’s father and Lucien to battle, forming a bond with both men along the way. In her firebird form, she burns through Hybern’s armies during the final confrontation.
After the war, Vassa meets Feyre and Nesta, offering condolences for their father’s death, calling him a better father to her than her own. She then asks Feyre to try to break her curse, though neither Feyre nor Helion can help. Before returning to the lake, Vassa invites Jurian to join her future court, recognizing his loyalty to mortals throughout the war.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Vassa settles in a manor in the Mortal Lands with Jurian and Lucien, forming a tight alliance known as the Band of Exiles.
A Court of Silver Flames
When Cassian visits the Band of Exiles, Vassa explains more about her curse: the queens sold her to Koschei in exchange for whispered promises, and Koschei’s every move is calculated toward breaking free from the lake. She also warns that Briallyn may be responsible for several missing soldiers and confirms that the Mortal Queens cannot winnow unless they are together.
Appearance
Vassa is described as a strikingly beautiful mortal queen, with:
- Freckled golden-brown skin
- Silky reddish-gold hair
- Large, up-tilted cerulean blue eyes framed by thick lashes and dark brows
Firebird Form
By day, Vassa transforms into a firebird—fast as a shooting star, vibrant red, gold, and white like molten metal, trailing sparks and embers across the waves. As her transformation approaches, flames seem to flicker in her eyes.
Personality
Vassa is fiery, sharp-minded, and fiercely resilient. Her spirit remains unbroken despite betrayal, captivity, and the curse that binds her.
Key traits
- Smart and perceptive:
Vassa immediately sees through Jurian’s deception and warns the other queens against allying with Hybern, urging them to rally their armies. - Fiery and untamed:
She has a bold, spirited nature and refuses to be cowed by authority or danger. Lucien even notes that she has a “foul temper and a fouler mouth.” - Strong-willed and enduring:
Despite being cursed, enslaved by Koschei, and abandoned by her fellow queens, Vassa maintains her determination and refuses to yield. - Courageous:
She joins the war against Hybern without hesitation, using both her human form and firebird form to fight for freedom.
Powers & Abilities
Firebird Curse
Vassa is bound by a powerful spell that transforms her into a firebird during the day. This form is woven into her very blood, giving her:
- Immense destructive power
- Explosive fire and heat capable of decimating armies
- High speed and aerial mobility
In the final battle against Hybern, her firebird form burns through enemy legions, turning the tide of war.
Winnowing
Like the other Mortal Queens, Vassa can winnow, but only when the queens are together, a shared ability granted to them after the War.
Relationships
| Lucien Vanserra | Vassa first meets Lucien when he sets out to find her and ask for her help in the war against Hybern—and, if possible, to aid in breaking her curse. During their journey together, they grow close and form a genuine friendship. After the war, Lucien visits her frequently and eventually chooses to live with Vassa and Jurian in their manor near the human lands. The three become a tight-knit group, referring to themselves as the Band of Exiles. |
|---|---|
| Jurian | Vassa first meets Jurian when Hybern sends him to the Mortal Queens as an emissary. Jurian later admits that Vassa immediately saw through his lies and warned the other queens to prepare their armies if he had truly been reborn. After the war, Vassa invites Jurian to join her court, and he accepts. He and Vassa share a similar vision for the future of the human territories, and together with Lucien, they form a close-knit trio known as the Band of Exiles. Jurian and Vassa frequently tease and challenge each other—so much so that, during Winter Solstice, Lucien comments that the two are “at each other’s throats, as they like to be.” |
