Media: Publish article after article about how Elain’s book is likely next with Azriel as the love interest.

Elriels: Share articles excitedly, and discuss the possibility that Sarah’s team or BB is involved in this in some way.

Gw*nriels: “Elriels are so delusional. You can’t rely on any of these articles. SJM has nothing to do with them, and these authors don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Me: Then explain to me, slowly, why NONE of the articles from legitimate publications center gw*nriel as the likely next couple, and most don’t even mention the possibility of gw*nriel. Gw*nriel fans are EXTREMELY vocal in the fandom, so (most of if not all of) these authors are aware of the ship, and yet they still don’t discuss it as a legitimate possibility. Why not??? Please, explain it to me. I’ll wait!!

Yet another article, from another journalist, discussing the future of ACOTAR series with Elain/Elriel mentioned as the MC(s).

Here come the accusations that Elriels are delusional and using these “unofficial” opinion pieces as confirmation.

Here’s the thing: I don’t see any Elriels saying a random journalist is confirmation of anything or official news of the future of ACOTAR. I see Elriels rejoicing that independent journalists are coming to the very same conclusions we have come to for years while being told we’re “idiots,” “filth,” “can’t read,” etc etc.

I see Elriels feeling validated that these journalists are coming to the same logical conclusions we have come to for years.

1. Elain is next

2. Elain has a choice in front of her between predestined fate and the potential of love. The choice to reject what isn’t right for her for somebody she loves and wants. There will be a reckoning concerning mating bonds and the pieces will come together that have been foreshadowed and put before us throughout the books about mating bonds.

3. Mating bond rejection has been foreshadowed and the mating bond between Elucien seems fishy and uncomfortable for both Lucien and Elain.

4. There is something between Elain and Azriel as has been shown book after book.

5. The most logical pov of the next book is the remaining Archeron sister- Elain.

This is what we have been saying for years. Journalists see the same thing and have been publishing articles saying that they see what we do.

That’s all. It’s really not that serious. Nobody is singing from the rooftops that this is confirmation. That it’s from BB. That it’s from Sarah.

We’re called crazy over The Book of Flowers, Bambi sweatshirt, various journal articles, etc. Nobody I know of believes these things are confirmation. They think they are possibly little fun hints. Nothing more. Nothing less.

All Elriels are saying is that it’s validating to read that non-fandom journalists see what we see.

That’s all.

The bonus chapter that ended Nessian

This is honestly really surprising to me. Apparently there are people out there that think Nesta and Cassian are going to end up together. Have they not read their bonus chapter? SJM effectively ended them.

First of all, the way they think about each other is not romantic at all:

Cassian has no idea where he stands with her, and as you can see, he is so unhealthily obsessed with Nesta that he can't stop thinking about her and literally rushed to interact with her even though she doesn't even like him and is mean to him! If Sarah wanted this be be romantic, she could have made totally different choices. We could have learned they shared secret touches or looks, have their fingers trembling or breath catching around each other. But no, just confusion and unhealthy obsession on Cassian's part. Honestly, he kinda seems like an incel here.

Worse than that, it's clear he obviously only lusts after her:

He literally has not said one thing about her personality! He's just weirdly obsessed with her boobs and her scent and is just thinking about him stroking her. If we were supposed to have gleaned he has real feelings for her, and not just lust, couldn't Sarah have added something more sweet and personal here? I don't know. Maybe he could have brought her a thoughtful present that shows how much he sees and understands her when no one else does. But no. He just wants to get laid and touch her boobs. Honestly, ugh.

And let's not even get started about the Mor thing!

Cassian slept with Mor because he was jealous of Azriel! And if you recall, in ACOMAF Morrigan said Cassian just wants what he can't have and it has driven Cassian crazy for centuries that Mor never wanted him again after they slept together once. Rhys confirms this too.

Nesta clearly is not interested in Cassian. In fact, she knees him in the balls right after this. Honestly? This actually seems like a really toxic perpetuation of the Mor situation. Cassian yet again wants what he can't have, and it is actually in the canon text that he has this problem. Also, notice that he's ashamed of this situation and embarrassed to tell Mor about it? That's not a very good setup for a romance. He should have the full support of his friends and family in order for Nessian to work.

He calls himself stupid, he knows it's wrong, he just doesn't care for a moment because of the lust. Again, Nesta knees him in the balls. Not interested. Take a hint you creepy incel! And even though he was fully planning on devouring her lips, he is clearly not anymore!

But here's the real nail in the coffin:

Nesta forbids him from coming back. She threatens that she'll scream if he does and she is only willing to work with and talk to anyone but him. How is he supposed to get around that? How is their relationship supposed to develop if he is forbidden from talking to her and seeing her? I just don't understand how this is supposed to resolve in the books. At least hundreds, if not a few thousand of the tens or hundreds of thousands of SJM readers have read this bonus chapter. There's no way to come back from this.

Also- did you notice in ACOFAS Nessian's same drama is still playing out, but SJM interestingly enough introduces a character named Emerie and they have a scene together? Seems like SJM is clearly telling us Nessian isn't happening and setting up a new love interest for Cassian. Based on their limited interactions, it's actually really obvious to me that they are a much better fit and there is already a ton of foreshadowing that they are endgame. In fact, I think they are mates!

I swear this has nothing to do with the fact that I dislike Nesta. I mean, do I dislike her, and do I think Cassian deserves better? Yeah. But that's not relevant here. What's relevant is text and foreshadowing and the fact that I don't like Nesta and think Cassian deserves better because I've self inserted myself into Sarah's writing and want her to do what I want and I don't want Archeron sisters I don't like winding up with a bat boy I love.

Wait no... Ignore that second part I didn't mean to type that out.

Eternal Consolation Prize

@elriel-month | Powers & Possibilities

I've had this idea in my head since reading HOFAS (iykyk), and I'm so excited to share this one with you. Feysand are villains in this one, don't at me. It just made an interesting twist.

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Trigger warnings: Some angst and canon-compliant violence

Word Count: 2,196

This fic will be posted on AO3 only. Read the beginning below or click here to head to AO3.

ELUCIEN | GWYNRIEL — MAASVERSE SPOILERS

I tend to see posts and videos from a multitude of people who seem to be reluctant to accept foreshadowing in the ACOTAR books—specifically regarding the endgame couples to finish out the overall series. As this post is simply beating a dead horse down, I find that it is very much needed as a specific group of people lack the capacity to understand the books.

Foreshadowing is not meant to be obvious. There are, of course, cases where it is relatively obvious, but only within the parameters of back-to-back scenes. Foreshadowing is meant to be picked up on, but to be fully understand later on in the story when everything comes to fruition. Examples of foreshadowing include color descriptions, specific use of language, emphasis on certain scenes, emphasis surrounding specific objects, et cetera. If something happens obviously and you can read the scene as-is, it is not foreshadowing.

I see many people who ship Elriel claim that there is buildup across the entire series that foreshadows why they will be endgame. As the books do not support that claim, it is outlandish and a spread of misinformation. Allow me to disprove this theory using the books alone:

— 🌸 ACOTAR: Zero interactions between Elain and Azriel as Azriel had not been introduced as a character yet. This book highlighted Feyre surmising that Elain would thrive within the Spring Court, that her sister enjoyed typical emissary work, and instead introduced Lucien as a character.

— 🦢 ACOMAF: This is the first book where Elain and Azriel met, as is this is where many Elriels like to claim that the Elriel build-up begins. However, this book says otherwise. Elain and Azriel’s first meeting is neutral, quiet conversation to ease a tense situation as Nesta/Feyre/Cassian/Rhys were creating an uncomfortable atmosphere and Elain meant to ease it. This book highlighted how in love Azriel was with Mor and how Elain was engaged to Grayson. Many Elriels also claim that the color of Elain’s dress in this first meeting—being cobalt—is indicative of endgame between she and Azriel. However, cobalt is also the signature color of Grayson’s family crest. Their interactions die out after that first meeting and instead focus on Feysand again. The throne room scene in Hybern also showed the beginning of Elucien and their mate bond, while Azriel was on the floor reaching for Mor. (I go more into this on my Tik Tok page: @oristian)

— 🔥 ACOWAR: When Feyre returns to the Night Court after her month in Spring, she finds that Elain has been within a catatonic state for the entirety of that month and has shown no signs of recovering—that is, until Lucien came along. Elain began eating and moving around once he came and after tugging on the mating bond, her visions first started showing. themselves. Everyone likes to credit Azriel for most of this, but all that Azriel did (take her to the garden) was suggested previously by Lucien. Lucien, who was not able to be alone with her due to Nesta and Feyre. Next, everyone tends to say that Azriel “saw” Elain when he named her power. “What we need is …” Contradicts such a thing. Naming a power does not cure someone of their trauma. Lucien is also canonically the first character to take Elain’s visions seriously and went in search of Vassa, ultimately finding Papa Archeron and creating an even deeper connection into the Koschei plot arc with Elain. This is also where we get the iconic half-step on the stair scene.

Elain is now kidnapped by the cauldron portraying itself as Graysen—Elain wanting so badly to be with her previous lover. This is a scene where many Elriels claim that it is supportive of Elriel being endgame. However, it is within character for Azriel to save someone, especially people close to him. Certainly, Elain being appreciative of being saved and kissing him on the cheek is cute, but that is not enough “foreshadowing” for an endgame. Next, Azriel hands her Truth Teller after Elain refused other weapons. Elain is hesitant and only agrees to take it once Feyre chimes in that she will not have to use it. Juxtapose this with Elain immediately giving it back after the battle is over, not saying a word, and instead falling into conversation with Lucien. Lucien, who is canonically the only character to credit her for assisting with ending the King of Hybern.

— 🌨️ ACOFAS: This is the buffer book that was meant to do two things: Establish Nessian as the next couple for the following book, and establish a clear love triangle between Azriel/Elain/Lucien. Elriels use this book to drive the idea of an Elriel endgame. While this book has scenes between Elain and Azriel, there is unfortunately no foreshadowing present enough to support that claim. This novella emphasizes, from a conversation between Rhys and Feyre, that Azriel may be inclined towards Elain due to her having traits that may remind him of his mother (Freud). We also have Solstice where Lucien brings Elain a gift—a gift that fully reflects her interests—Elain brings Azriel a gift, but Azriel does not bring Elain a gift. Azriel even questioning beforehand if he has to get the sisters a gift at all. Elain’s gift being superficial and more of a joke than anything truly meaningful to them as a relationship.

— 🗡️ ACOSF: The book that ended Elriel. We have this book set up as PRE-BONUS CHAPTER | BONUS CHAPTER | POST BONUS CHAPTER. In the pre-bonus chapter, we have a few scenes between Elain and Azriel that is a glance, or a very small interaction. The infamous scene that Elriels like to use to “prove” that his shadows actually like Elain is the scene where Cassian says that Nesta upset Elain and his shadows seemed poised to strike. His shadows reacted to his anger, not to Elain. Next, the Solstice scene where Azriel refused to be within the room due to the mating bond between Elain and Lucien and Nesta seeing that he was interested in Elain—which is never brought up again, however we do get a scene post bonus chapter of Nesta encouraging Gwyn and Azriel by calling him the “new ribbon.”

The bonus chapter ended Elriel officially as endgame. The chapter is told from Azriel’s POV and documents his lustful thoughts of Elain and how he wants a mate, hurt and confused why his brothers had two of the Archeron sisters and the third was given away to another male. Rhysand even asking Azriel what his plans are after seducing Elain and Azriel having none “past the fantasies he pleasures himself to.” This is also a chapter where Elriels like to claim that Elriel is a forbidden romance. ACOWAR Rhys clearly objects to this being the case. (I have a video on my Tik Tok going over this @oristian) The bonus chapter then moves to Azriel finding Gwyn, his shadows not warning him of her presence at the HoW. His shadows are curious about her and dance with her breath. Azriel then finds out that Elain rejected his necklace—the only Solstice gift that he has gotten her, and one he expressed as “nothing extraordinary”—and the next morning finds him re-gifting such to Gwyn. Azriel can picture her eyes lighting up at the gift and he smiles—this is also where mate language is used to describe the spark in his chest at the thought of her and the glow of the thought. “A thing of secret, lovely beauty.” A line that was used twice—one to describe the necklace, and another time to describe the thought of Gwyn.

Post bonus chapter has zero interactions between Elain and Azriel. The interactions between Azriel and Gwyn are charged and witty. Energetic. This is also where we see Azriel’s siphons glowing darker at the thought of the Valkyries in the Great Rite—the first instance that this has happened.

Next, we go into the last two remaining plot arcs: Koschei and Dusk Court. Both ACOSF and HOFAS have set Nesta up as the driver for the Dusk Court arc, with Azriel as the character to follow. With SJM’s Bloomsbury contract slating her to have two more main books with dual POV romantic interests, the Dusk Court arc book would only make sense having Gwyn and Azriel as the FMC and MMC of that arc. The Koschei arc has been carefully crafted for Elain and Lucien to be the FMC and MMC of that book, with both of them being set up for this since ACOWAR. Elain with her visions of Vassa, the lake, and Koschei’s black box, and Lucien being tied to Papa Archeron and Vassa and the mortals. (I have a video on my Tik Tok that goes more in depth with this @oristian)

— SUMMARY: Elain and Azriel do not have multiple books of foreshadowing, a Gwynriel and Elucien endgame is not fanservice, and the remaining two plot arcs do not support an Elriel endgame. If you have any problems with that, take it up with SJM.

Since you put this in the Elriel tag, I’m taking the initiative to respond to this from my Elriel perspective.

I think you’re debunking things without all of the facts to aim for your narrative which is fine but let me write this out and explain from my own.

This will be extremely long.

First, regarding the art of foreshadowing:

Moving on…

ACOTAR

Where our story begins. Indeed, there has not been a singular interaction between Elriel in this book as Azriel was never introduced and Elain was back in the Human Lands. Nothing has been set into motion here just yet.

I personally don’t count this book as a part of the tension building. Obviously. I don’t think the other elriels here do either.

Feyre had indeed surmised that she’d love Spring because of the flowers. And that’s true. Elain does love flowers.

People use that blind thought from Feyre as a means to say that Elain will find her place in Spring, amongst all other crazy theories I’ve seen some of you say. But this fact will be debunked later on.

ACOMAF

Where the seeds of the true story, Elriel’s story, has been sown into the soil.

When the 2 Illyrians met the 2 sisters, both males stilled. Not one, both. Pretty odd, considering that if it was just Cassian stilling toward Nesta, nobody would bat an eye.

And it was Cassian and Nesta who ended up being an endgame couple. Now who else stilled? Oh, right, Azriel. And who else remains? Elain.

On that day, Elain was wearing cobalt blue. Yes, it is the signature color that her lover at the time, Graysen had for his family.

But no one can deny that it is the same exact color of Azriel’s siphons.

Then at the dinner. Azriel smiled at Elain, who was clenching her fork when Cass sat beside her.

Tension raised between Cassian and Nesta, who were borderline arguing. Cass had let down bombs upon bombs of razor sharp facts that cast unease across everyone at the table.

Elain’s voice wobbled when she spoke up, saying that the general hatred that humans had for Fae was molded into them. That they were raised that way.

And it was Azriel, no one else, who empathized with her. Who spoke and said “I can imagine.” with a smile on his face.

His words allowed her to reinforce herself, to sit up and continue speaking about how Feyre was the one who helped them. How Nesta and Elain herself alone were to blame for not taking responsibility as the older siblings.

Then after Feyre pleaded with Nesta to start over and move on, Elain was the one to keep a conversation going.

“Can you truly fly?”

Mr. “I don’t need to resort to poetry” over here, resorted to poetry in explaining that they can fly. That they are born hearing the song of wind. And I swear, if somebody says that such words aren’t poetry— lol.

ACOMAF does highlight how in love Az is with Mor, no one I’ve seen has denied it. No one I’ve seen has said that Az had immediately flipped the switch and fell in love with her here. But the simple fact that Az not only stilled beside Cassian for the sisters, that he was the one to provide her comfort at the dinner table with a smile and showing his own empathy, to us, or to me, something has taken root.

We can see that Azriel and Elain, right off the bat, have some form of understanding on a vague and small basis. And don’t forget that Feyre noted that Elain would most likely take to Azriel for some peace and quiet.

So again, nothing drastic here. But seeds have been sown. No budding yet, no blooming, but let it grow.

ACOWAR

This book was jam packed full of growth for that seed in the soil.

Upon Feyre’s return, she does discover that Elain had been in an extremely depressive and murky state. She’d refused to leave her room, refused to eat, refused to speak. And when she did speak, it was in utter riddles. Everyone thought she was going clinically insane. She was actively thinning from the fact that she wasn’t taking care of herself.

Lucien merely claimed that she needed sunlight, to go outside, to do something. I think that’s what any person would say about someone going through the things that Elain was. He didn’t try to do anything with her, aside from being forced to speak with her. Except I believe on one occasion where Elain was talking to him about him betraying “us”. Betraying everyone.

Lucien’s arrival didn’t do crap to help her. Nothing.

After Madja herself said that “If anyone can sense what’s amiss, it’s a mate”.

And Lucien didn’t truly sense anything. Do we forget the fact that he stumbled over these words? ⬇️

“Should we—does she need …?”

But who cut him off?

Azriel last name Shadowsinger, with “She doesn’t need anything.”

His words called Elain’s gaze to him, and when he said that the Cauldron had made her into a seer, all of the sudden she started to speak normally toward Mor, asking if that was true.

No one has ever said that naming her ability is curing trauma. Because that’s not what this is.

Then this line was coined by Feyre:

Azriel continued to question Elain about what she saw, and when everyone understood, when Azriel and Elain herself understood what she was saying and seeing, all the sudden her eyes had been freed from that “murky realm”, Feyre called it.

Lucien left after that— To find Vassa because no one else could. Rhys had specifically said that he needed his Inner Circle to remain in the Night Court.

After that whole thing, later in the book we find that Elain was doing something. Baking with the wraith twins in the kitchen.

Countless times in ACOWAR had Azriel shown initiation in taking Elain to the gardens, carrying her through thresholds, merely having silent alone time with each other, etc. and what’s more?

Feyre began making note of the absence of his shadows when he was with her and the fact that he’d slowly been paying less attention to Mor and more to Elain.

Now I’m assuming that we all have in our right minds, an understanding of those shadows. That they only disappear when there’s overwhelming amounts of light and when he is surrounded by people that he is truly happy and comfortable around. This has been shown around Cassian, around Mor, around Elain.

I’ll address more about them later since they’re so controversial for the entire fandom.

Then there’s the war camp rescue. Azriel avidly saying with cold rage that he’d go get Elain. Even when Nesta herself said he’d die? When Rhysand and Cassian were leaning towards going later as a group?

Azriel effectively and mentally said “hell no” and went with Feyre on his own accord, against everyone else’s instruction to get her instantly. Dont forget that he was the one to notice her absence. Not her sisters, not Nesta, not Feyre. I don’t know what else to say to you here because this is mate esc behavior.

Then Elain did kiss him on the cheek as thanks. Regardless of him bleeding out, regardless of him stumbling and worrying not for himself but worrying about getting harmless chains off of her? Peak mate esc behavior again.

That is romantic chemistry being built right before your eyes.

Then we have the Truth-Teller scene that people commonly downplay. Where Elain turned down Cassian’s knife, only to accept Azriel’s. Hesitant she was to take TT, his words to her had convinced her about taking that blade.

Even when she claimed she didn’t know how to use it. Even after Feyre herself claimed that she won’t have to use that blade.

Don’t forget that it’s foreshadowing enough that Feyre painted the image in her mind of them holding that blade together. The two so at odds and so different, life to death hand in hand with that knife.

Then we have her returning it. Elain went to clean TT and give it back to Azriel because it’s his. Not hers. Why would she keep it? Wordlessly pushing it into his hands and walking away is not a tell tale sign of her having some form of rejection for him or the knife in general. She’d just killed a man for the first time for crying out loud. Give this girl a break.

All of this happened in one book. One. Book. You can’t downplay it all as just regular development with no clear cut chemistry.

ACOFAS

That seed has sprouted and begun to bloom.

I keep seeing people say that this book indeed was meant to do many things.

Bridging the gap between the trilogy to make way for the new portion of the series.

To establish Nessian’s drastic development.

To set up a love triangle between Elain, Azriel, and Lucien.

Now I am going to, with my full chest, say that there won’t be a love triangle.

What love triangle is there to have???

Lucien doesn’t love her, from what we’ve seen. From what Feyre has given us.

That male has more chemistry with Vassa than he does Elain, funnily enough.

Lucien, the male who compared her to his dead ex lover, who really didn’t know anything of what she needed, who didn’t even initiate much of anything with her because it was clear that she didn’t want him around. Unless he was forced by Feyre of course. Who also searches for any reason to avoid Elain just as she does him?

That Lucien?

Lmao.

The only possible thing right now with the current textual evidence that would ever warrant a “love triangle” is the fact that Lucien would only ever want to try for Elain because she’s been thrown at him as a mate. Obligation and instinct. No love, no other feelings.

So that’s pretty damn one sided if you ask me.

I also have absolutely no recollection of Azriel being gravitated towards Elain because of his mother? Where is that from? What chapter? What’s the context?

Then we have that god forsaken solstice situation.

Rhysand quite literally told the bat boys not to gift anything to Nesta and Elain. Thats why Azriel didn’t get anything for her.

Lucien gave Elain gloves that she entirely disregarded and didn’t even look at twice. She didn’t want them. Feyre made note later on about it, that she prefers hard work without magical gloves.

Goes to show how everyone in the Inner Circle really doesn’t know Elain. Not even her sisters. Feyre had marveled at the fact that she’s showing parts of herself that they’ve never seen before.

Showing grit and baring her fangs to Nesta, casually coming in with thorns in her hands, refusing to use those gloves, showing initiative and openly saying “find me when you wish to begin” back in ACOWAR. No one has an understanding of Elain like Az has.

Then Elain’s gag gift to Azriel. I know you like to make it seem like it’s super unimportant and just a joke but if we’re talking about the possibility and sheer chemistry of Elriel as a ship, this is big.

Everyone was suprised that Azriel laughed at her gag gift. The gag gift that was seemingly so unimportant on the surface but holds so much value to Azriel.

The very male who said “this will be invaluable.” And invaluable it is to him, since he looks at it and keeps it close every night.

Then we have Azriel and Elain staying up until at least 3 am alone together. To talk together. We don’t know when they went to bed since we were in Feyre’s head, she of whom went upstairs at around 3 am.

No chemistry between Elriel still? Okay.

ACOSF

Your favorite book. The book that ended the Elriel ship, as you and many others say.

Pre-BC:

Yes, Azriel and Elain still talked and had some form of communication. Obviously. Because there’s nothing between them that would cause a mandatory cleft.

Quite easy to contemplate, I think.

The BC:

The seed sprout has fully bloomed into something now. All it needs is more nurturing, something that it’s being deprived of.

Do we not recall that Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, forbade Azriel himself from being around Elain???

Babes, I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this. That alone just created the forbbiden love trope.

Let me say it again.

Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, forbade Azriel from being around Elain.

“You are to stay away from her.”

Ringing no bells? Thats somehow not a forbidden love trope? Okay. I digress.

Post-BC:

Of course Azriel isn’t talking to her. So much happened in that short time span, in one night. He’s painfully heeding his orders.

Don’t forget that Azriel was so pissed off about it that he put rocks in snowballs and lost his 299 year winning streak for that annual snowball fight.

He was pissed.

I’m not going to go all the way down the rabbit hole that is addressing the infamous claim “He only lusted after Elain anyway”.

To say such a thing is quite insensitive and disrespectful to his character. Goes to show how so many people really misunderstand him.

And as if Cassian wasn’t so down bad for Nesta too. Just like Rhys was for Feyre. But when Az does it for Elain, all the sudden it’s a crime.

Don’t forget that Elain reciprocated and actually initiated. It was because of her that he even made any move that night.

This bring me to the critical point that I’ve asked myself all the time.

Why the hell would Azriel Shadowsinger plan to seduce Elain, to get with her in general when he hates himself so much, when he feels undeserving of her, when he knew that his words about the almost kiss had hurt her, when Rhys pulled rank and ordered him away from her, and when Fate is already spun against him seeing as she has a mate???

The entire deck of cards is quite literally stacked against him.

He has no reason to believe that he has a chance with Elain. Hence why he isn’t fighting for his love for her. Hence why he didn’t tell Rhysand how he feels.

Regarding his shadows and the presence of Gwyn:

HOFAS, CC3’s bonus chapter that featured Nesta and Az, has effectively and further debunked that whole “Azriel’s shadows love Gwyn because they sang in answer to her breath or voice.” claim.

Allow me to elaborate.

Azriel’s shadows recoil and react to stimuli, whether that stimuli be magical or reflect off of who they know he’s safe around.

Az’s shadows danced to Bryce’s music in that bonus chapter.

And Gwyn is literally overflowing with siren imagery. When she sings in ACOSF, Nesta is drawn to her voice and lured in. Gwyn’s hair glows when she sings and Nesta made note that she wasn’t certain whether Gwyn herself knew that or not.

And for the love of god, the “you’re the new ribbon Az.” line:

Tell me you can’t discern the difference between platonic and romantic banter without telling me you can’t discern the difference between platonic and romantic banter.

Every single instance in ACOSF that involves Azriel being around Gwyn for training, for example Gwyn’s loud laugh, is quite obviously platonic.

Her laughing loud enough to briefly gain the attention of absolutely everyone in the room? Come on now. That is a natural reaction to look over in the direction of a loud noise.

Regarding the BC and the sparky sparky glow glow thing in his chest, I always interpreted it as Azriel being happy that someone, anyone, in this case Gwyn, could have that necklace without any emotional baggage.

Better to give it away to someone who could enjoy such an anonymous gift rather than take it back to where he bought it from.

This necklace that caused so much harm in so little time, Azriel wanted to get rid of. You may ask “well why didn’t he just take it back to where he got it from?”

Why do that when first, out of convenience, he could just go down stairs and give it away. And second, the possibility of Az being lured down to the library being present?

Gwyn and her oblivious luring abilities, remember?

This doesn’t make her evil either. I see so many people on the other side saying we as Elriels think she’ll be evil or that she is evil. Thats not the case. We think she’s unaware.

Anyways.

He “found himself” going down there with the intent to give that necklace away to anyone who would take it.

“Well, he named Gwyn.”

Logically speaking, of course he would. She was the first person that he ran into after the shitshow that was the night before.

And then there were two:

The Dusk Court and Koschei. I’m sorry, what could Gwyn possibly do that could legit combat something like Koschei?

You’d think that Dusk and Koschei together would have hurdles that involved the requirement of abilities of a Made being. Such as, dare I say, Elain Archeron the Kingslayer herself.

I’m not saying that Gwyn won’t have presence in the next book because I’m certain that she will. But to be Azriel’s partner and lover and mate? Doubtful. Very doubtful. There’s just not enough evidence in the current text to come to that conclusion logically vs what’s going on with Elriel together.

Why can he smell elucien’s bond when no one else can?

Why does such a thing physically hurt and sicken him to sense?

Why does he agonize so much over Elain to the point where he can hardly take care of himself?

Why is he always so instinctively protective over Elain? And yes, I am bringing up the “shadows poised as snakes, ready to strike” against Nesta.

Azriel was willing and waiting to scrap it out with Nesta over Elain. Let’s be real now.

I could continue, but I think I’ve said enough. This post is long enough as is.

My lovely Conclusion:

Kindly, remain in denial about all of this as you like. To blatantly say there is absolutely nothing, no foreshadowing, no chemistry, no tension, no forbidden love tropes, no miscommunication tropes, and that Elriel as a whole has sunk from one bonus chapter that isn’t even available to casual readers especially outside of the US, is painfully and laughably ignorant.

We’ll see soon enough what’s going to happen. But I think the texts that SJM has given us is more than enough of a tell tale sign for what’s to come. She has given us everything we need.

Oh and by the way. The foreshadowing is obvious because that’s how it should be. Peak linear writing, my friend. 🤍

Since you want to play, this will be fun :)

I always advocate for critical reading comprehension to be taught in schools, as it does seem a large majority of adults lack that skill. You are almost always so close to the mark, but you take what you read at a surface level and miss the underlying themes and foreshadowing that are being hurdled. For someone who managed to list out what foreshadowing is, you seem to consistently miss it. Such is as follows:

— 🦢 ACOMAF: Your first statement is false and misleading, as all I had to was pull up Chapter 24 to see that Cassian and Azriel both had no such reaction to seeing Nesta and Elain. It was, in fact, the sisters who had a reaction. As follows (page 252):

I also found it to be interesting, on the very next page, that Azriel’s shadows were not present when meeting Elain—as they tend to not be:

For the dinner scene, you are reading too far into it based on context. Elain has always been canonically shown to be a peacemaker and it is well within her character to want to bring a tense atmosphere down so that everyone can calm. As Azriel was the only one not engaged within the debacle, it only makes sense that her conversation would involve him. As for the dress, once again Elain was engaged to Graysen and the color is his family’s staple color. We have also seen Nesta wear cobalt, and the fae from ACOTAR who died had cobalt skin—are they in reference to Azriel? The only inclination of foreshadowing of her dress would be in reference to the love triangle.

Following that, you mention Azriel speaking to her. His smile was described as bland in that scene—not really a positive point in your favor, unfortunately. The “seeds” would exist if the two characters mentioned had any of the above: Character chemistry, were not tied canonically to other love interests at that time, and were involved in scenes that could be read as romantic. ACOMAF solely reads as platonic for Elain and Azriel.

Azriel and Mor during the Hybern scene when Elain was turned fae. Not once did Azriel make a move towards her, or even react to her. Instead:

Now, we have Lucien in regards to Elain and his reaction to her during this scene:

— 🔥 ACOWAR: I am glad that you brought up Madja saying that a mate would know what she needed because you only further proved my point with Lucien vs Azriel’s reaction towards her. Elain had been in the House of Wind for the entire month that Feyre had been away, with Azriel being one of the people around her during that time. In that entire month timeframe, Elain had not shown a single sign of improvement until Lucien came. His presence, him tugging on the bond, helped her. She began eating, moving around, and speaking. Lucien suggesting that she go outside parallels with Elain herself saying that all she needed is sunshine.

Now, with the Vassa plot. Lucien immediately sprung into action. He has now tied himself into the Koschei plot line from this alone. Saying that Vassa and Lucien have more chemistry than Elain and Lucien is your way of attempting to invalidate Elucien and find a gutter to move Lucien out of the picture—Vassa and Lucien interacted canonically once. The language used around Jurian and Vassa, however, is typically how SJM writes her endgame couples.

Once again, naming a power and being understanding of that power does not mean that someone would be endgame. Look at Throne of Glass with Manon and Elide. Manon concluding that Elide was part witch. Look at Nesta. Her power was not named by Cassian, but by others and she and Cassian are endgame. Using that as a mean and method to claim “foreshadowing” and buildup means nothing when you compare such to other situations similar. Feyre was the one who discovered Lucien’s true father and that will lead to him understanding abilities he has that has probably confused him before—are Feyre and Lucien endgame? On top of that, Elain and Azriel still read as platonic. SJM herself in an interview saying that they have a sibling like relationship.

His shadows both appear and disappear at different moments, even acting playful around others (Feyre and Gwyn). However, the only two people they canonically always disappear from are Mor and Elain. If your statement that they disappear when he’s happy and content is true, then why are they present when he’s relaxed and joking with Cassian in ACOSF, or when he’s around his brothers? You have to paint the whole picture.

Now, I never said that Azriel was not interested in Elain—my claims have been that there is nothing within the books that express an Elriel endgame (which is proven by the books alone). Azriel is still within character in this scene if you compare how he reacts to others. If it was Feyre was would kidnapped, both he and Rhys would have wrecked havoc to get her back. Certainly it could have been amplified by his attraction to Elain, but it still fits within the parameters of his character. (Elain kissing him is not mate behavior, FYI.) On top of all of this, Elain has canonically credited Feyre for her rescue (ACOSF), not Azriel.

Now, allow us to speak about Truth Teller. Elain was not going to take it until Feyre spoke up. The moment is certainly touching, but it also falls on par with both Azriel and how he is around the women he’s interested in. As for Elain giving it back, after reading that scene, it was Nesta last with the blade. As for the painting, if you’re using Feyre’s paintings as foreshadowing I would honestly suggest you stop. The title itself is enough to derail the Elriel endgame theory as both Rhysand and Nesta have also been coined as Death by Feyre.

Elain and Lucien in ACOWAR:

Lucien still being the only character canonically to credit Elain with helping kill the King of Hybern. Lucien also being the only character to be certain that Elain was alright after the battle.

A reminder: Elain was distraught and begging for Graysen in this book. She still wears his engagement ring.

— 🌨️ ACOFAS: You have multiple statements that are incorrect in this section. As expected. Allow me to help. First, the statement I made that Rhys was explaining how Azriel acted in regards to his mother:

Now, I want to talk about why your love triangle statement is both wrong and baseless. Not only are you attempting to invalidate Lucien, you seem to lack the capacity to pick up on the foreshadowing and symbolism surrounding them. I planned to add this at the end, but allow us to talk logically. We know that SJM originally planned on Nesta and Lucien to be mates from the start, but decided in ACOMAF that Nesta and Cassian and Elain and Lucien fit better together. She then spent the next few years (back when she was more social online) speaking about Elucien and talking about them in interviews. Why go through so much trouble just for the bond to be rejected? And, say the bond is rejected, why would that happen in a book with Lucien not in it so the reader could gain his immediate POV as rejected bonds affect the male more. That alone is enough to deduct that Elucien will be endgame.

As for Lucien comparing her to Jesminda, you have to think critically about this. He was in love with her and they both believed that they were mates—he was waiting for the bond to snap between them. Now, he is grappling with the fact that he has a mate (previously believing that he would never now that Jesminda is dead) and that his previous lover was killed for no reason. It’s very similar to Sorscha/Dorian/Manon.

As for the Solstice gift, Azriel asked if he had to get a gift for the sisters and when told no he was relieved. The gift that Elain got him … Is strange to be thought of as “big” for an endgame couple. It truly was just a funny gift.

As I mentioned, yes still no chemistry between Elain and Azriel. They read as flat. That also has to do with people trying to force an endgame on them when we have yet to have Elain’s POV to see her thoughts on the whole situation.

— 🗡️ ACOSF: A forbidden romance is when two characters are madly in love with one another, but outside forces are keeping them apart. This could be social, societal, political, or familial forces that are forcing them to be apart. Their coupling would be dangerous for some demographic of people. And you are attempting to place that trope on Elain and Azriel. Rhysand himself in ACOWAR made it clear that he would respect the choice that Elain makes. If she wants Azriel and does not want Lucien, that is a choice that he would respect. What Rhysand is saying to Azriel is it is not right to be pursing Elain while the bond to Lucien is still intact. All Elain has to do is reject the bond and she and Azriel would be free to be together to their heart’s content. The only thing that could be “bad” in regard to them getting together is if Azriel harms Lucien. As Lucien is not the type to harm others, nor would he harm Azriel as he both respects him and would never want to hurt Elain, there’s nothing keeping them apart enough to call them forbidden. In fact, the Inner Circle would rather them be together. It may be difficult to understand, but I do believe in you.

Saying that Azriel only lusts for Elain isn’t harmful towards his character for a few reasons. 1) We don’t know much about his character aside from the fanon personality thrown onto him, 2) His POV in the bonus chapter made it clear his intentions, “he could have this moment, a taste, and that would be all.” Azriel is currently in a state of limerence. As for your statement regarding Azriel and his insecurity of himself—if he truly wanted her, he would.

As for Gwyn, her voice was also a conduit for Nesta scrying and finding the Harp. Azriel and his shadows’ reaction to Gwyn is the very first we have seen of such. To play it off because you aren’t pleased with the person receiving such attention being Gwyn, I would suggest that you take it up with SJM. She is the one who wrote those scenes the way that she did. She even based Gwyn off of her best friend—who is a known Gwynriel fan—and was excited to show said friend the bonus chapter. Her friend used to be an Elriel shipper until both ACOSF and the bonus chapter.

The bond smell. Amren could smell Feysand’s bond … Is she actually meant to be with one of them?

You have said enough, yet so little at the same time. I’m actually very impressed. It reminded me of when I taught middle schools after school during college.

As for the Koschei arc, my post outlined it enough that saying Elain is not canonically part of it is wrong. Ignoring ACOSF and HOFAS to claim that Elain is going to be the one to resurge the Dusk Court is purposefully ignoring canon to establish your own narrative. Gwyn has a multitude of symbolism that ties her to Dusk—her name being synonymous with Fionn, the Maker of Gwydion, and now Gwydion is within Nesta’s possession. Gwydion, the twin to Truth Teller. Together, according the Crescent City, “our people will unite.” Elain is the only character canonically that has seen Koschei’s box, which is his weakness according to lore. Again, if you are upset at canon, take it up with SJM.

— CONCLUSION: That was fun. I always enjoy going back and forth with Elriels because you guys always seem to read the books so differently from how they are meant to be read. Have a good one!

i have to wonder if your life is so boring you must resort to disrespecting strangers on the internet, just to feel something.

maybe it's just this ship war. maybe you need to touch grass.

either way, people that shout so loudly of their reading comprehension skills are often the ones that are trying to compensate for such an absence in the first place.

for example, when you boast of your reading comprehension skills, my interpretation is that you are actually quite insecure, in not only your abilities, but your theories too. because why else would you invade a space that calls both of these things into question, just to boast about how secure you are in your convictions?

money talks, wealth whispers. i do believe intelligence may follow that same pattern.

ELUCIEN | GWYNRIEL — MAASVERSE SPOILERS

I tend to see posts and videos from a multitude of people who seem to be reluctant to accept foreshadowing in the ACOTAR books—specifically regarding the endgame couples to finish out the overall series. As this post is simply beating a dead horse down, I find that it is very much needed as a specific group of people lack the capacity to understand the books.

Foreshadowing is not meant to be obvious. There are, of course, cases where it is relatively obvious, but only within the parameters of back-to-back scenes. Foreshadowing is meant to be picked up on, but to be fully understand later on in the story when everything comes to fruition. Examples of foreshadowing include color descriptions, specific use of language, emphasis on certain scenes, emphasis surrounding specific objects, et cetera. If something happens obviously and you can read the scene as-is, it is not foreshadowing.

I see many people who ship Elriel claim that there is buildup across the entire series that foreshadows why they will be endgame. As the books do not support that claim, it is outlandish and a spread of misinformation. Allow me to disprove this theory using the books alone:

— 🌸 ACOTAR: Zero interactions between Elain and Azriel as Azriel had not been introduced as a character yet. This book highlighted Feyre surmising that Elain would thrive within the Spring Court, that her sister enjoyed typical emissary work, and instead introduced Lucien as a character.

— 🦢 ACOMAF: This is the first book where Elain and Azriel met, as is this is where many Elriels like to claim that the Elriel build-up begins. However, this book says otherwise. Elain and Azriel’s first meeting is neutral, quiet conversation to ease a tense situation as Nesta/Feyre/Cassian/Rhys were creating an uncomfortable atmosphere and Elain meant to ease it. This book highlighted how in love Azriel was with Mor and how Elain was engaged to Grayson. Many Elriels also claim that the color of Elain’s dress in this first meeting—being cobalt—is indicative of endgame between she and Azriel. However, cobalt is also the signature color of Grayson’s family crest. Their interactions die out after that first meeting and instead focus on Feysand again. The throne room scene in Hybern also showed the beginning of Elucien and their mate bond, while Azriel was on the floor reaching for Mor. (I go more into this on my Tik Tok page: @oristian)

— 🔥 ACOWAR: When Feyre returns to the Night Court after her month in Spring, she finds that Elain has been within a catatonic state for the entirety of that month and has shown no signs of recovering—that is, until Lucien came along. Elain began eating and moving around once he came and after tugging on the mating bond, her visions first started showing. themselves. Everyone likes to credit Azriel for most of this, but all that Azriel did (take her to the garden) was suggested previously by Lucien. Lucien, who was not able to be alone with her due to Nesta and Feyre. Next, everyone tends to say that Azriel “saw” Elain when he named her power. “What we need is …” Contradicts such a thing. Naming a power does not cure someone of their trauma. Lucien is also canonically the first character to take Elain’s visions seriously and went in search of Vassa, ultimately finding Papa Archeron and creating an even deeper connection into the Koschei plot arc with Elain. This is also where we get the iconic half-step on the stair scene.

Elain is now kidnapped by the cauldron portraying itself as Graysen—Elain wanting so badly to be with her previous lover. This is a scene where many Elriels claim that it is supportive of Elriel being endgame. However, it is within character for Azriel to save someone, especially people close to him. Certainly, Elain being appreciative of being saved and kissing him on the cheek is cute, but that is not enough “foreshadowing” for an endgame. Next, Azriel hands her Truth Teller after Elain refused other weapons. Elain is hesitant and only agrees to take it once Feyre chimes in that she will not have to use it. Juxtapose this with Elain immediately giving it back after the battle is over, not saying a word, and instead falling into conversation with Lucien. Lucien, who is canonically the only character to credit her for assisting with ending the King of Hybern.

— 🌨️ ACOFAS: This is the buffer book that was meant to do two things: Establish Nessian as the next couple for the following book, and establish a clear love triangle between Azriel/Elain/Lucien. Elriels use this book to drive the idea of an Elriel endgame. While this book has scenes between Elain and Azriel, there is unfortunately no foreshadowing present enough to support that claim. This novella emphasizes, from a conversation between Rhys and Feyre, that Azriel may be inclined towards Elain due to her having traits that may remind him of his mother (Freud). We also have Solstice where Lucien brings Elain a gift—a gift that fully reflects her interests—Elain brings Azriel a gift, but Azriel does not bring Elain a gift. Azriel even questioning beforehand if he has to get the sisters a gift at all. Elain’s gift being superficial and more of a joke than anything truly meaningful to them as a relationship.

— 🗡️ ACOSF: The book that ended Elriel. We have this book set up as PRE-BONUS CHAPTER | BONUS CHAPTER | POST BONUS CHAPTER. In the pre-bonus chapter, we have a few scenes between Elain and Azriel that is a glance, or a very small interaction. The infamous scene that Elriels like to use to “prove” that his shadows actually like Elain is the scene where Cassian says that Nesta upset Elain and his shadows seemed poised to strike. His shadows reacted to his anger, not to Elain. Next, the Solstice scene where Azriel refused to be within the room due to the mating bond between Elain and Lucien and Nesta seeing that he was interested in Elain—which is never brought up again, however we do get a scene post bonus chapter of Nesta encouraging Gwyn and Azriel by calling him the “new ribbon.”

The bonus chapter ended Elriel officially as endgame. The chapter is told from Azriel’s POV and documents his lustful thoughts of Elain and how he wants a mate, hurt and confused why his brothers had two of the Archeron sisters and the third was given away to another male. Rhysand even asking Azriel what his plans are after seducing Elain and Azriel having none “past the fantasies he pleasures himself to.” This is also a chapter where Elriels like to claim that Elriel is a forbidden romance. ACOWAR Rhys clearly objects to this being the case. (I have a video on my Tik Tok going over this @oristian) The bonus chapter then moves to Azriel finding Gwyn, his shadows not warning him of her presence at the HoW. His shadows are curious about her and dance with her breath. Azriel then finds out that Elain rejected his necklace—the only Solstice gift that he has gotten her, and one he expressed as “nothing extraordinary”—and the next morning finds him re-gifting such to Gwyn. Azriel can picture her eyes lighting up at the gift and he smiles—this is also where mate language is used to describe the spark in his chest at the thought of her and the glow of the thought. “A thing of secret, lovely beauty.” A line that was used twice—one to describe the necklace, and another time to describe the thought of Gwyn.

Post bonus chapter has zero interactions between Elain and Azriel. The interactions between Azriel and Gwyn are charged and witty. Energetic. This is also where we see Azriel’s siphons glowing darker at the thought of the Valkyries in the Great Rite—the first instance that this has happened.

Next, we go into the last two remaining plot arcs: Koschei and Dusk Court. Both ACOSF and HOFAS have set Nesta up as the driver for the Dusk Court arc, with Azriel as the character to follow. With SJM’s Bloomsbury contract slating her to have two more main books with dual POV romantic interests, the Dusk Court arc book would only make sense having Gwyn and Azriel as the FMC and MMC of that arc. The Koschei arc has been carefully crafted for Elain and Lucien to be the FMC and MMC of that book, with both of them being set up for this since ACOWAR. Elain with her visions of Vassa, the lake, and Koschei’s black box, and Lucien being tied to Papa Archeron and Vassa and the mortals. (I have a video on my Tik Tok that goes more in depth with this @oristian)

— SUMMARY: Elain and Azriel do not have multiple books of foreshadowing, a Gwynriel and Elucien endgame is not fanservice, and the remaining two plot arcs do not support an Elriel endgame. If you have any problems with that, take it up with SJM.

Since you put this in the Elriel tag, I’m taking the initiative to respond to this from my Elriel perspective.

I think you’re debunking things without all of the facts to aim for your narrative which is fine but let me write this out and explain from my own.

This will be extremely long.

First, regarding the art of foreshadowing:

Moving on…

ACOTAR

Where our story begins. Indeed, there has not been a singular interaction between Elriel in this book as Azriel was never introduced and Elain was back in the Human Lands. Nothing has been set into motion here just yet.

I personally don’t count this book as a part of the tension building. Obviously. I don’t think the other elriels here do either.

Feyre had indeed surmised that she’d love Spring because of the flowers. And that’s true. Elain does love flowers.

People use that blind thought from Feyre as a means to say that Elain will find her place in Spring, amongst all other crazy theories I’ve seen some of you say. But this fact will be debunked later on.

ACOMAF

Where the seeds of the true story, Elriel’s story, has been sown into the soil.

When the 2 Illyrians met the 2 sisters, both males stilled. Not one, both. Pretty odd, considering that if it was just Cassian stilling toward Nesta, nobody would bat an eye.

And it was Cassian and Nesta who ended up being an endgame couple. Now who else stilled? Oh, right, Azriel. And who else remains? Elain.

On that day, Elain was wearing cobalt blue. Yes, it is the signature color that her lover at the time, Graysen had for his family.

But no one can deny that it is the same exact color of Azriel’s siphons.

Then at the dinner. Azriel smiled at Elain, who was clenching her fork when Cass sat beside her.

Tension raised between Cassian and Nesta, who were borderline arguing. Cass had let down bombs upon bombs of razor sharp facts that cast unease across everyone at the table.

Elain’s voice wobbled when she spoke up, saying that the general hatred that humans had for Fae was molded into them. That they were raised that way.

And it was Azriel, no one else, who empathized with her. Who spoke and said “I can imagine.” with a smile on his face.

His words allowed her to reinforce herself, to sit up and continue speaking about how Feyre was the one who helped them. How Nesta and Elain herself alone were to blame for not taking responsibility as the older siblings.

Then after Feyre pleaded with Nesta to start over and move on, Elain was the one to keep a conversation going.

“Can you truly fly?”

Mr. “I don’t need to resort to poetry” over here, resorted to poetry in explaining that they can fly. That they are born hearing the song of wind. And I swear, if somebody says that such words aren’t poetry— lol.

ACOMAF does highlight how in love Az is with Mor, no one I’ve seen has denied it. No one I’ve seen has said that Az had immediately flipped the switch and fell in love with her here. But the simple fact that Az not only stilled beside Cassian for the sisters, that he was the one to provide her comfort at the dinner table with a smile and showing his own empathy, to us, or to me, something has taken root.

We can see that Azriel and Elain, right off the bat, have some form of understanding on a vague and small basis. And don’t forget that Feyre noted that Elain would most likely take to Azriel for some peace and quiet.

So again, nothing drastic here. But seeds have been sown. No budding yet, no blooming, but let it grow.

ACOWAR

This book was jam packed full of growth for that seed in the soil.

Upon Feyre’s return, she does discover that Elain had been in an extremely depressive and murky state. She’d refused to leave her room, refused to eat, refused to speak. And when she did speak, it was in utter riddles. Everyone thought she was going clinically insane. She was actively thinning from the fact that she wasn’t taking care of herself.

Lucien merely claimed that she needed sunlight, to go outside, to do something. I think that’s what any person would say about someone going through the things that Elain was. He didn’t try to do anything with her, aside from being forced to speak with her. Except I believe on one occasion where Elain was talking to him about him betraying “us”. Betraying everyone.

Lucien’s arrival didn’t do crap to help her. Nothing.

After Madja herself said that “If anyone can sense what’s amiss, it’s a mate”.

And Lucien didn’t truly sense anything. Do we forget the fact that he stumbled over these words? ⬇️

“Should we—does she need …?”

But who cut him off?

Azriel last name Shadowsinger, with “She doesn’t need anything.”

His words called Elain’s gaze to him, and when he said that the Cauldron had made her into a seer, all of the sudden she started to speak normally toward Mor, asking if that was true.

No one has ever said that naming her ability is curing trauma. Because that’s not what this is.

Then this line was coined by Feyre:

Azriel continued to question Elain about what she saw, and when everyone understood, when Azriel and Elain herself understood what she was saying and seeing, all the sudden her eyes had been freed from that “murky realm”, Feyre called it.

Lucien left after that— To find Vassa because no one else could. Rhys had specifically said that he needed his Inner Circle to remain in the Night Court.

After that whole thing, later in the book we find that Elain was doing something. Baking with the wraith twins in the kitchen.

Countless times in ACOWAR had Azriel shown initiation in taking Elain to the gardens, carrying her through thresholds, merely having silent alone time with each other, etc. and what’s more?

Feyre began making note of the absence of his shadows when he was with her and the fact that he’d slowly been paying less attention to Mor and more to Elain.

Now I’m assuming that we all have in our right minds, an understanding of those shadows. That they only disappear when there’s overwhelming amounts of light and when he is surrounded by people that he is truly happy and comfortable around. This has been shown around Cassian, around Mor, around Elain.

I’ll address more about them later since they’re so controversial for the entire fandom.

Then there’s the war camp rescue. Azriel avidly saying with cold rage that he’d go get Elain. Even when Nesta herself said he’d die? When Rhysand and Cassian were leaning towards going later as a group?

Azriel effectively and mentally said “hell no” and went with Feyre on his own accord, against everyone else’s instruction to get her instantly. Dont forget that he was the one to notice her absence. Not her sisters, not Nesta, not Feyre. I don’t know what else to say to you here because this is mate esc behavior.

Then Elain did kiss him on the cheek as thanks. Regardless of him bleeding out, regardless of him stumbling and worrying not for himself but worrying about getting harmless chains off of her? Peak mate esc behavior again.

That is romantic chemistry being built right before your eyes.

Then we have the Truth-Teller scene that people commonly downplay. Where Elain turned down Cassian’s knife, only to accept Azriel’s. Hesitant she was to take TT, his words to her had convinced her about taking that blade.

Even when she claimed she didn’t know how to use it. Even after Feyre herself claimed that she won’t have to use that blade.

Don’t forget that it’s foreshadowing enough that Feyre painted the image in her mind of them holding that blade together. The two so at odds and so different, life to death hand in hand with that knife.

Then we have her returning it. Elain went to clean TT and give it back to Azriel because it’s his. Not hers. Why would she keep it? Wordlessly pushing it into his hands and walking away is not a tell tale sign of her having some form of rejection for him or the knife in general. She’d just killed a man for the first time for crying out loud. Give this girl a break.

All of this happened in one book. One. Book. You can’t downplay it all as just regular development with no clear cut chemistry.

ACOFAS

That seed has sprouted and begun to bloom.

I keep seeing people say that this book indeed was meant to do many things.

Bridging the gap between the trilogy to make way for the new portion of the series.

To establish Nessian’s drastic development.

To set up a love triangle between Elain, Azriel, and Lucien.

Now I am going to, with my full chest, say that there won’t be a love triangle.

What love triangle is there to have???

Lucien doesn’t love her, from what we’ve seen. From what Feyre has given us.

That male has more chemistry with Vassa than he does Elain, funnily enough.

Lucien, the male who compared her to his dead ex lover, who really didn’t know anything of what she needed, who didn’t even initiate much of anything with her because it was clear that she didn’t want him around. Unless he was forced by Feyre of course. Who also searches for any reason to avoid Elain just as she does him?

That Lucien?

Lmao.

The only possible thing right now with the current textual evidence that would ever warrant a “love triangle” is the fact that Lucien would only ever want to try for Elain because she’s been thrown at him as a mate. Obligation and instinct. No love, no other feelings.

So that’s pretty damn one sided if you ask me.

I also have absolutely no recollection of Azriel being gravitated towards Elain because of his mother? Where is that from? What chapter? What’s the context?

Then we have that god forsaken solstice situation.

Rhysand quite literally told the bat boys not to gift anything to Nesta and Elain. Thats why Azriel didn’t get anything for her.

Lucien gave Elain gloves that she entirely disregarded and didn’t even look at twice. She didn’t want them. Feyre made note later on about it, that she prefers hard work without magical gloves.

Goes to show how everyone in the Inner Circle really doesn’t know Elain. Not even her sisters. Feyre had marveled at the fact that she’s showing parts of herself that they’ve never seen before.

Showing grit and baring her fangs to Nesta, casually coming in with thorns in her hands, refusing to use those gloves, showing initiative and openly saying “find me when you wish to begin” back in ACOWAR. No one has an understanding of Elain like Az has.

Then Elain’s gag gift to Azriel. I know you like to make it seem like it’s super unimportant and just a joke but if we’re talking about the possibility and sheer chemistry of Elriel as a ship, this is big.

Everyone was suprised that Azriel laughed at her gag gift. The gag gift that was seemingly so unimportant on the surface but holds so much value to Azriel.

The very male who said “this will be invaluable.” And invaluable it is to him, since he looks at it and keeps it close every night.

Then we have Azriel and Elain staying up until at least 3 am alone together. To talk together. We don’t know when they went to bed since we were in Feyre’s head, she of whom went upstairs at around 3 am.

No chemistry between Elriel still? Okay.

ACOSF

Your favorite book. The book that ended the Elriel ship, as you and many others say.

Pre-BC:

Yes, Azriel and Elain still talked and had some form of communication. Obviously. Because there’s nothing between them that would cause a mandatory cleft.

Quite easy to contemplate, I think.

The BC:

The seed sprout has fully bloomed into something now. All it needs is more nurturing, something that it’s being deprived of.

Do we not recall that Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, forbade Azriel himself from being around Elain???

Babes, I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this. That alone just created the forbbiden love trope.

Let me say it again.

Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, forbade Azriel from being around Elain.

“You are to stay away from her.”

Ringing no bells? Thats somehow not a forbidden love trope? Okay. I digress.

Post-BC:

Of course Azriel isn’t talking to her. So much happened in that short time span, in one night. He’s painfully heeding his orders.

Don’t forget that Azriel was so pissed off about it that he put rocks in snowballs and lost his 299 year winning streak for that annual snowball fight.

He was pissed.

I’m not going to go all the way down the rabbit hole that is addressing the infamous claim “He only lusted after Elain anyway”.

To say such a thing is quite insensitive and disrespectful to his character. Goes to show how so many people really misunderstand him.

And as if Cassian wasn’t so down bad for Nesta too. Just like Rhys was for Feyre. But when Az does it for Elain, all the sudden it’s a crime.

Don’t forget that Elain reciprocated and actually initiated. It was because of her that he even made any move that night.

This bring me to the critical point that I’ve asked myself all the time.

Why the hell would Azriel Shadowsinger plan to seduce Elain, to get with her in general when he hates himself so much, when he feels undeserving of her, when he knew that his words about the almost kiss had hurt her, when Rhys pulled rank and ordered him away from her, and when Fate is already spun against him seeing as she has a mate???

The entire deck of cards is quite literally stacked against him.

He has no reason to believe that he has a chance with Elain. Hence why he isn’t fighting for his love for her. Hence why he didn’t tell Rhysand how he feels.

Regarding his shadows and the presence of Gwyn:

HOFAS, CC3’s bonus chapter that featured Nesta and Az, has effectively and further debunked that whole “Azriel’s shadows love Gwyn because they sang in answer to her breath or voice.” claim.

Allow me to elaborate.

Azriel’s shadows recoil and react to stimuli, whether that stimuli be magical or reflect off of who they know he’s safe around.

Az’s shadows danced to Bryce’s music in that bonus chapter.

And Gwyn is literally overflowing with siren imagery. When she sings in ACOSF, Nesta is drawn to her voice and lured in. Gwyn’s hair glows when she sings and Nesta made note that she wasn’t certain whether Gwyn herself knew that or not.

And for the love of god, the “you’re the new ribbon Az.” line:

Tell me you can’t discern the difference between platonic and romantic banter without telling me you can’t discern the difference between platonic and romantic banter.

Every single instance in ACOSF that involves Azriel being around Gwyn for training, for example Gwyn’s loud laugh, is quite obviously platonic.

Her laughing loud enough to briefly gain the attention of absolutely everyone in the room? Come on now. That is a natural reaction to look over in the direction of a loud noise.

Regarding the BC and the sparky sparky glow glow thing in his chest, I always interpreted it as Azriel being happy that someone, anyone, in this case Gwyn, could have that necklace without any emotional baggage.

Better to give it away to someone who could enjoy such an anonymous gift rather than take it back to where he bought it from.

This necklace that caused so much harm in so little time, Azriel wanted to get rid of. You may ask “well why didn’t he just take it back to where he got it from?”

Why do that when first, out of convenience, he could just go down stairs and give it away. And second, the possibility of Az being lured down to the library being present?

Gwyn and her oblivious luring abilities, remember?

This doesn’t make her evil either. I see so many people on the other side saying we as Elriels think she’ll be evil or that she is evil. Thats not the case. We think she’s unaware.

Anyways.

He “found himself” going down there with the intent to give that necklace away to anyone who would take it.

“Well, he named Gwyn.”

Logically speaking, of course he would. She was the first person that he ran into after the shitshow that was the night before.

And then there were two:

The Dusk Court and Koschei. I’m sorry, what could Gwyn possibly do that could legit combat something like Koschei?

You’d think that Dusk and Koschei together would have hurdles that involved the requirement of abilities of a Made being. Such as, dare I say, Elain Archeron the Kingslayer herself.

I’m not saying that Gwyn won’t have presence in the next book because I’m certain that she will. But to be Azriel’s partner and lover and mate? Doubtful. Very doubtful. There’s just not enough evidence in the current text to come to that conclusion logically vs what’s going on with Elriel together.

Why can he smell elucien’s bond when no one else can?

Why does such a thing physically hurt and sicken him to sense?

Why does he agonize so much over Elain to the point where he can hardly take care of himself?

Why is he always so instinctively protective over Elain? And yes, I am bringing up the “shadows poised as snakes, ready to strike” against Nesta.

Azriel was willing and waiting to scrap it out with Nesta over Elain. Let’s be real now.

I could continue, but I think I’ve said enough. This post is long enough as is.

My lovely Conclusion:

Kindly, remain in denial about all of this as you like. To blatantly say there is absolutely nothing, no foreshadowing, no chemistry, no tension, no forbidden love tropes, no miscommunication tropes, and that Elriel as a whole has sunk from one bonus chapter that isn’t even available to casual readers especially outside of the US, is painfully and laughably ignorant.

We’ll see soon enough what’s going to happen. But I think the texts that SJM has given us is more than enough of a tell tale sign for what’s to come. She has given us everything we need.

Oh and by the way. The foreshadowing is obvious because that’s how it should be. Peak linear writing, my friend. 🤍

A Court of Dancing Shadows

As Recorded by Gwyneth Berdara

A potential summary and description of the Azriel Gwyn Nesta book idea* that is floating around, the plot of which I can’t stop thinking about and trying to imagine:

Follow Az and Gwyn in dual POV as Az and Nesta go on a journey to revive dusk and establish Valkyrie HQ with Gwyn as their sidekick.

Gwyn is there as an official scribe, making sure this gets recorded for Prythian history (I mean what else is her role?), but also I guess as Az’s girlfriend? (I am refraining from continuing down this path of thought before I say something bad.)

Gwyn’s POVs focus on Nesta, what she does, how she uses the Starborn power or whatever to revive dusk (I know I know Nesta’s power is death, how are she and Az, whose power is shadows, going to bring the land back to life? It’s not my job to answer these questions. This is their story. But I digress.), and also how obsessed Gwyn is with Az and his shadows.

Gwyn almost gets eaten by a Wyrm. Nesta saves her with a Trove weapon Gwyn can’t wield.

And while they travel the land, at night, Gwyn sings around the campfire and Az’s shadows dance. Az sometimes joins in the singing. Nesta watches. And then Gwyn and Az sneak away from Nesta once she’s asleep to f*ck. Hopefully she doesn’t hear.

One brother, one sister, and a bestie (and the shadows who love her).

Cassian is…nowhere to be found on this journey lol. Nesta could leave him behind (and he let her apparently).

And we get more Valkyrie training scenes and get to see them ride the Pegasi after they free Dusk and establish Valkyrie HQ.

Oh, and Gwyn somehow heals Az (even though I thought Az needed therapy first?) and makes him love Illyrians again.

The end!

I can’t 🤣🤣🤣

*this is a shitpost and a joke but also…..someone please help me understand what the actual plot and romance and storyline of this book would be because I’m at a loss.

For the love of god, please stop putting Elain’s arc on Azriel! It’s NOT about HIS choice. It IS about HERS. Elain, who has had every decision made for her. Elain who has never gotten to voice what she wanted. Elain, who’s own mother used her as a pawn to wed off one day so they could live well.

ELAIN’S ARC IS ABOUT MAKING A CHOICE FOR HERSELF. 👏👏👏

There is no love triangle between Elain, Az, and Gwyn. There is no love square between them three and Lucien. It is Elain’s love triangle between Az and Lucien. Her choice between what the Cauldron shoved at her or what she truly wants.

Ship whoever you want. But stop changing the narrative that the next book is about Azriel picking between two women (because really? Ew.).

Elain: the female who’s never had a choice.

Azriel: the male who’s never been chosen.

It’s literally right there!!

Fuck, okay. Rant over.

Truly disgusting that grown women in this fandom need to be reminded that many Elriels are survivors too and our dislike of gwynriel doesn’t erase or invalidate our traumas.

I’m glad that many have found Gwyn’s character and that her story has helped them, but that doesn’t mean that people who don’t like Gwyn, or don’t want her and Azriel to be together haven’t experienced SA.

You do not support survivors, you support Gwynriels. And that’s fine. But it’s disgusting to tear down survivors that are Elriels simply over a ship.

The Elriel who theorized that Gwyn lied about her SA was immediately (and rightly) called out by all of the fandom, including many other Elriels. I wonder if any Gwynriels will call out the disgusting behavior that invalidates the trauma of real people in the fandom, or do we not matter simply bc our ship preference differs from your own?

Call us horrible all you want, but we aren’t the ones tearing down survivors on the internet over a damn ship and hoping karma comes for us.

Your true colors are showing.

there HAS to be a reason for this

@thefangirlofhp @fawnandshadows @sakurakittypeach

im a one of us is lying a good girls guide to murder the inheritance games girlie by heart

20 days!!! 🐉

Cinnamon Girl — A Caraval Story

Pairings: Tella x Jacks, Tella x Dante

Summary: Set in Finale, Tella finds herself at a crossroads

Rating: M

Warnings: Mature themes, language

Word Count: 1.4k

MY LOVE!!! You have been in my life for over a year now (and frankly I’m not sure how that’s possible because I swear we just met the other day) and I’m so incredibly grateful to call you my friend! You make me laugh until I’m in tears and you have brightened up my life in so many ways. I hope you have an amazing day @sakurakittypeach !! 🤍🤍

Tella…thought she knew where she was, but it was getting so hard to tell these days…She found herself wandering aimlessly through the streets of Valenda, but she always found herself going back to the same place.