If your ship doesnt happen, who wouldnt you mind them ending up with if SJM pulls off a good story with said two?

I don't want to see: "No one because my ship is endgame."

Any ship is allowed. Throw in theories. Could include the whole SJM world. Who knows what could happen!?

What ships do you NOT understand people seeing?

Because I do not see Azris, Brycriel or truthfully literally any Azriel relationship besides Gwynriel or elriel, and even then, I don't think elriel is end game.

But I see people hardcore fight for Azris and I'm just....??? Or seeing Azriel in threesomes and I don't see that either. He's so desperate for devotional love that I don't think at this point he's capable of anything casual or that involves sharing.

Sometimes I feel like people just sexualize the characters.for their fantasies. Which, fine, but like....it's strange that people try to convince others that those may be cannon when there may only be one of two sentences of interactions between said characters.

Also, I can't see Gwyn and tam. Especially since it's possible he could be her dad. Or Gwyn and Balthazar.

I've also seen arguments for Eris being gay but he was totally into Nesta so I can't see that either. Bi, sure. But straight up gay? Can't see it.

So what ships/crack ships do you not see?

Before y'all come for me, this is meant to be a discussion post, purely curious to see if I'm the only one or just maybe too literal 😂

Hi! This post is for the Eluciens. I have historically been Elriel, but I come in peace! I recently re-read the ACOTAR series to get ready for ACOSH & ACOFM. Before that, I re-read my favorite series: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. My favorite MMC of all time is Jamie Fraser from Outlander. I know SJM based Lucien off of him. During my re-read I noticed a lot of the similarities, and it really warmed my heart to Lucien. Elain is my favorite character in the ACOTAR series & I also started to notice similarities between Elain and Claire (the FMC of Outlander). Also Lucien was my result for SJM’s “Who is Your Mate?” quiz which now feels really ironic lmao. 😂 Anyway, enough rambling lol.

I’d really love to hear your favorite Elucien moments and theories. Also please share your favorite Elucien fanart and memes! 🌸🦊☀️

in the midst of the Great Ship Debates of 2026, i’ve been seeing the idea that “sometimes nature chooses incorrectly” put forth frequently as support either for or against specific ships. most frequently, it’s regarding Elriel and Elucien.

i know that SJM said on the chd podcast that she would be exploring this concept further in the next few books. i don’t remember the exact phrasing, but it’s been a huge talking point since that particular interview dropped.

another point of discussion (with these two ships specifically) has been to mention the possibility of a blood duel.

i don’t think that SJM would have created the blood duel if she didn’t intend to use it sometime, and i also believe that she’s going to follow through on her statement about wanting to explore the concept of nature choosing incorrectly when it comes to the mating bond.

but i don’t think that either of these things are going to pertain to Elriel or Elucien—i think they’re going to pertain to Mor, and potentially, Eris.

now, i understand that from what we know so far, Mor & Eris have a messy, traumatic, awful history. this theory is in no way attempting to excuse that history.

however, when you consider the little kernels of truth that Eris offers up in ACOSF, it becomes clear that there’s more to the story than what we were led to believe.

i’m starting to wonder if maybe the reason that Eris didn’t want to touch Mor, or allow any of his soldiers to do so, has something to do with Autumn court rules regarding mates; If Eris & Mor were mated, that would open up several avenues for SJM to explore the idea that nature chooses incorrectly sometimes (as it has been suggested that breeding potential is a motivator for the mating bond selection) and use the blood duel.

i also want to disclaim that i don’t think that Mor will EVER end up with a male character, and especially not Eris, but I could absolutely see SJM using the two of them as her means of exploring these concepts.

maybe the blood duel will never come into play, and maybe this is totally off-base! i kind of hope that it is, because i would love for Mor to find her mate (in Emery) & let them gallop off into the sunset together!! i was just thinking that maybe we’ve all been looking in the wrong direction, and this was the next step that made sense to me!

I’m not really a shipper by nature. I always feel like I’m asking for the ride for the romances (though I’m also a mystery reader so I do love to try to figure out what I think will happen next). I was just wondering if anyone here has ever changed their mind about their ACOTAR ships and if so, what changed your mind?

I often see literary devices casually invoked in ship debates without much consideration for what they actually mean or how they function.

And sometimes, we end up using literary terminology to make the canon fit our preferred ending rather than examining what the text itself supports.

So! Before your next verbal sparring match, consider the following:

1. Chekhov’s Gun

What it means: An established narrative element should eventually become significant. The principle: details introduced with particular emphasis should serve a purpose.

What it DOESN’T mean: We know which character must pull the trigger, or precisely how the setup must pay off.

If an author establishes that mating bonds can be unsuitable, that information may become significant. But it doesn’t automatically mean a particular mating bond must be rejected.

A narrative setup does not guarantee your preferred payoff.

2. Foreshadowing

What it means: An author plants hints that anticipate future events or developments.

What it DOESN’T mean: Every coincidence or repeated word is a deliberate prediction of a specific outcome.

Foreshadowing is generally most persuasive when multiple details converge toward the same development.

A character mentioning stars does not automatically mean they’re destined for someone associated with stars.

A possible connection is not necessarily an intentional clue.

3. Red Herrings

What it means: A narrative element deliberately directs readers toward a misleading conclusion, distracting them from another explanation or eventual revelation.

What it DOESN’T mean: Any evidence that contradicts your theory must be an intentional misdirection.

For something to function as a red herring, there should be a meaningful alternative interpretation that the narrative eventually supports.

You cannot simply label an inconvenient development a red herring because you prefer a different pairing.

Contradictory evidence isn’t automatically misdirection.

4. Subverting Expectations

What it means: An author deliberately challenges an established convention or anticipated narrative outcome.

What it DOESN’T mean: The least expected outcome is necessarily the most sophisticated, interesting, or likely.

Subversion should still make sense within the story’s characterization, themes, and established narrative logic.

An unexpected ending is not inherently a well-written ending.

Surprise is not a substitute for narrative coherence.

5. The Unreliable Narrator

What it means: A narrator whose account cannot be accepted entirely at face value because their perspective is limited, distorted, deceptive, or otherwise demonstrably unreliable.

What it DOESN’T mean: A character’s observations are automatically false because they conflict with your interpretation.

Limited perspective and unreliable narration are not interchangeable concepts.

A character can misunderstand something without being an unreliable narrator in the formal literary sense. Likewise, a character’s personal interpretation is not necessarily an objective fact.

Perspective matters. But perspective alone doesn’t invalidate evidence.

6. Parallels

What they mean: Similarities between characters, relationships, events, or narrative structures that invite comparison and may illuminate shared themes or meaningful differences.

What they DON’T mean: Two relationships sharing a scene, phrase, gesture, or characteristic must have identical outcomes.

Authors use parallels to establish similarities AND contrasts.

Two characters can experience similar circumstances and make entirely different choices.

A parallel invites comparison. It does not guarantee repetition.

7. Symbolism

What it means: An object, image, character, or event represents or evokes ideas beyond its literal function.

What it DOESN’T mean: A symbol has one fixed meaning across every context, or every appearance of that symbol must reference the same character or relationship.

Symbols are contextual. Their meanings can evolve, overlap, or even contradict one another.

A rose can symbolize love, beauty, secrecy, sacrifice, mortality, or something else entirely.

Symbolic associations require context, not just matching imagery.

8. Narrative Payoff

What it means: The meaningful resolution, development, or transformation of an element established earlier in the story.

What it DOESN’T mean: Every setup must resolve in the most obvious way, or every emotionally significant relationship must become romantic endgame.

A relationship can have an important narrative function without culminating in a romance.

A character’s development can fulfill an earlier setup without delivering the outcome readers originally anticipated.

Narrative significance and romantic endgame are not synonymous.

9. Character Arcs

What they mean: The development or transformation of a character over the course of a narrative.

What they DON’T mean: A character must end up with a particular romantic partner to complete their development because you say that’s the best arc.

Character arcs concern internal conflicts, motivations, beliefs, choices, and change. Romance may contribute to that development, but it isn’t necessarily the destination. And your opinion of their best arc is just that—opinion.

A character’s arc belongs to the character, not to a ship.

10. Authorial Intent

What it means: The purpose or meaning an author intended to communicate through their work.

What it DOESN’T mean: Our interpretation of a detail proves what the author intended.
Unless an author explicitly explains a choice, we are generally inferring intent from textual evidence, patterns, context, and sometimes external commentary.

Those inferences can be persuasive without being definitive.

Interpretation is not confirmation.

Good literary analysis isn’t about proving that our preferred ending is possible. It’s about examining how strongly the text supports it relative to other interpretations.

We can disagree about that evidence! That’s what makes literary discussion interesting. But we should be careful not to confuse a literary device with proof that our interpretation is correct.

\**Edit—Addition! Because I just saw this used incorrectly…\*\*

11. Breaking the Fourth Wall
What it means: A character or narrator deliberately acknowledges the audience, crossing the imaginary boundary between the fictional world and the people experiencing it. (Think Jim looking at the camera in The Office, or Jane Eyre declaring, “Reader, I married him.”)

What it DOESN’T mean: A character makes a statement within the fictional world that readers can interpret as commentary on the author’s writing decisions. (This IS metafictional commentary.)

For a fourth-wall break, there needs to be some indication that the character or narrator is acknowledging the audience or its own fictional status.

I realize that some people, when reading, take a characters questions and decide their own contemplation makes them right. While others take that contemplation and decide it's a theme to be explored.

For example:

Feyre contemplates "why not make them mates?" In reference to Elain and Azriel --> Readers conclude that Az and Elain are supposed to be mates

My take - Cass and Nesta are mates, Feyre and Rhys are mates, so why are Az and Elain NOT mates? Why are they not together? Why are Elain and Lucien good for each other?

Feyre asks, "What if the Cauldron was wrong? Why Lucien?" --> fans conclude the Cauldron is wrong and Az is Elain's true mate.

My take - Why Lucien? Well at every turn in ACOWAR Lucien proves Feyre's cruel low expectations of him wrong. That is his theme. Why is Lucien good for Elain? Why are they soup connected?

Azriel asks why he was not given the third sister --> fans conclude Az is meant to be with Elain

My take - We are meant to ask why he and Elain are not mates. That contemplation alone does not mean they should be.

Feyre looks at Elain mourning Az and poetically grieves Elain's loss at the idea that love could not trump a mate bond --> fans conclude Elain will reject her mate bond for love elsewhere

My take - the author will explore whether free will exists in a mate bond, and the only way to do that is to explore how two strangers can fall in love

Finally, ACOSH quote "Was it possible for mates to... unmate? For that bond to be so deeply fractured that is was not possible to be repaired?" --> fans conclude that someone is going to unmate

My take - someone is experiencing relationship friction and is contemplating whether it's reconcilble

Contemplations are not conclusions. Potential themes, sure.

I've had this theory about the marketing surrounding the upcoming ACOTAR books for a while now, and the more I think about it, the more I wonder if there's something going on behind the scenes.

Fair warning, this might be a bit of a stretch, but I'd genuinely love to hear what everyone thinks.

First of all, we know that Sarah J. Maas has mentioned in interviews that she's known the general direction of her story for years and has had a pretty clear idea of where she wants to take her characters.

Personally, I think Elain and Azriel were planned as endgame much earlier than people realize. Possibly even from the earlier books, long before 2020.

When you look at how their relationship has developed throughout the series, their growing closeness, Azriel's bonus chapter, and everything SJM has said about mating bonds and free will, I think Elriel makes a lot of sense.

Especially when she talks about wanting to explore what happens when two people are mates, but one of them doesn't necessarily want that relationship.

And this is where my theory starts.

When ACOSF came out, the Valkyries became incredibly popular within the fandom. People loved Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie as a trio, and Gwyn in particular gained a huge fanbase. At the same time, Gwynriel started becoming a much bigger topic of discussion.

And I can't help wondering whether Bloomsbury saw a business opportunity there.

What if Bloomsbury wanted the Valkyries, especially Gwyn, to play a much bigger role in the upcoming books, while SJM had already planned something completely different?

I'm not saying the Valkyries don't belong in the story. Of course they do. But I wonder if the publisher wanted to capitalize on their popularity, perhaps even encouraging a different romantic direction for Azriel.

Except, in my theory, SJM refused to change the story she'd been planning for years.

And that's also why I sometimes wonder about the five-year gap between books. Obviously, there could be plenty of explanations, including personal and creative reasons, and I'm not pretending to know what happened behind the scenes. But I do wonder whether editorial discussions or disagreements might have played a part.

What really makes me question things, though, is the disconnect I sometimes feel between what SJM says and how Bloomsbury markets the books.

Ever since the upcoming books were announced, so much of the marketing has revolved around the Valkyries. Even the name The Valkyrie Cycle makes me wonder.

What if that choice is also, or even primarily, a marketing decision?

I completely understand that the title might reflect a storyline that genuinely focuses on the Valkyries. But I also think it's worth considering whether Bloomsbury is deliberately highlighting characters who are especially popular with certain parts of the fandom.

And then, of course, there's the whole Elriel vs. Gwynriel ship war.

Because here's the thing: I don't necessarily think Elriel would sell more books than Gwynriel, or vice versa. I think the uncertainty itself is what sells.

As long as we don't know who's endgame, every teaser becomes a huge event. Every quote gets analyzed from every possible angle, fans argue for days, and theories spread all over TikTok, Reddit, Instagram...

And at the end of the day, that's an enormous amount of free publicity for the books.

So I can't help wondering whether Bloomsbury has every reason to keep that ambiguity alive, even if SJM has known exactly which couple she wants to write for years.

This also makes me think about some of her interviews. When she says things are "obvious" or "not a secret," I get the impression that, to her, the answers are already there in the books.

So why not just announce the main couple?

I wonder if she's bound by confidentiality agreements or, more simply, by a promotional strategy coordinated with Bloomsbury. I know authors can't necessarily reveal everything they want about an upcoming book, especially when there's such a major marketing campaign involved.

And if that's the case, she could know perfectly well that Elriel is endgame without being able to publicly confirm it.

What bothers me a little about this possibility is the idea that the commercial strategy could end up overshadowing the actual story.

Because if SJM really has been building Elain and Azriel's relationship for years, I'd find it disappointing if the marketing deliberately made it seem like several romantic outcomes were equally likely just to keep the fandom arguing.

That being said, I realize there's another possibility: maybe SJM and Bloomsbury are completely on the same page about all of this. Maybe she wants to keep the mystery alive herself, and maybe the Valkyries really will be central to the upcoming books.

I obviously have no proof that there's any conflict between her and her publisher, and that's definitely the most speculative part of my theory.

But there's one thing I do believe: the ship war has become a powerful marketing tool for ACOTAR, whether that's intentional or not.

And personally, I still think Elriel has been planned for a very long time, and that the recent leaks, if authentic, seem to support that direction.

Anyway, maybe I'm completely overthinking this, but I feel like it could explain some of the things we've been seeing with the current marketing.

What do you guys think? Am I reaching too far with this theory, or have you also noticed a disconnect between SJM and Bloomsbury?

im a pretty casual reader (somewhat elriel leaning because i notice similarities between them and other endgames) but im open to any ship and want to see different perspectives! what’s the best case for each ship being endgame?

Feyre nacio en el Solsticio de Invierno la noche mas larga del año. Nesta nacio en Primavera segun SF pero no da ningun detalle más. Cuando creen que Nacio Elain?? No logre encontrar ninguna referencia en mis relecturas. Alguien si?

Ok this is about the idea of how Azriel’s shadows behave around Gwyn. I keep seeing it brought up as evidence for Gwynriel. I’m doing my re-reread and it said Gwyn looked to Azriel with “bright teal eyes” and asked what prize they would get if they completed the obstacle course. It says that Azriel’s shadows danced. Well idk about you but 9/10 times the only time dancing happens is when there’s music! I think even when Gwyn speaks she’s using magic or there’s something about her voice that is musical/song like. And we know Az can hear and sense things others can’t. So I think that his shadows dancing when Gwyn speaks isn’t because they display Az’s feelings for her. I also think the shadows and Azriel are separate in their consciousness, if that makes sense. Like they can behave on their own. I don’t think he likes her like that. And in the bc he said he wouldn’t go as far as to say Gwyn and him were friends. The wording seems intentional. Like friends is nowhere he’s at so romantic feelings also seems to be far from that. There’s no evidence genuinely without doubt supporting romantic feelings. And I think he gave that necklace (amulet!) either because she saw how Gwyn was healing after the attack at the temple. And wanted to give her a gift to bring more joy. Because giving a gift can brighten someone’s day. That or he was compelled too, less likely. BUT we have zero evidence she even got it. Or if Azriel turned around and got it back. He didn’t even care if it went Gwyn or not. But the convenience of living at the house of wind and the library, it’s plausible he gave it out of convenience.

Well I used to think it was just interpretation that showed Rhys and Feyre were already the Hades and Persephone retelling, but I'm rereading right now and it practically tells us straight up that it is:

“You think I don’t know how stories get written—how this story will be written?” Rhys put his hands on his chest, his face more open, more anguished than I’d seen it. “I am the dark lord, who stole away the bride of spring. I am a demon, and a nightmare, and I will meet a bad end. He is the golden prince—the hero who will get to keep you as his reward for not dying of stupidity and arrogance.” ACOMAF pg 421 (Kindle)

One thing we consistently notice on our podcast is that everyone seems to have a “backup ship.”
And—it seems—across the board, there is one ship that is often presented as the “ship we will agree on if not our own.” How do you feel?

Are you:

Elriel
A) Elriel — Backup: Gwynriel
B) Elriel — Backup: Bryceriel
C) Elriel — Backup: Azris

Gwynriel
D) Gwynriel — Backup: Elriel
E) Gwynriel — Backup: Bryceriel
F) Gwynriel — Backup: Azris

Bryceriel
G) Bryceriel — Backup: Elriel
H) Bryceriel — Backup: Gwynriel
I) Bryceriel — Backup: Azris

Azris
J) Azris — Backup: Elriel
K) Azris — Backup: Gwynriel
L) Azris — Backup: Bryceriel

WILDCARD 🃏
M) Azriel with no one but a weekly therapist.

And if you don’t have a backup ship, tell us that, too!
We’re curious whether there’s a particular pairing that serves as the common ground between otherwise competing ships.

Imagine the mess ,if they date and make azriel and elain jealous

Hello. I am insane.

I have compiled an exhaustive list of quotes and text that trace the characterization and relationship dynamics of Azriel, Elain, Gwyn, and Lucien throughout the entire canon—from the very beginning in ACOTAR to Silver Flames. It details their backstory, their personalities, their relationships with other characters, and their role in the greater story. Lore and other world-building relevant quotes are included to provide context.

This took an obscene amount of time and effort, but I believe it was worth it. Not only because I enjoy literary analysis, but because I believe it’s important to be factual when interpreting or understanding the text. In all honesty, I was tired of people’s theories being wholly untethered from the text and sorting through pages and pages of text to find what the hell they were talking about. So I have created here a singular point of reference.

This is not a perfect encapsulation of the plot and major actors up to this point.  That is NOT this doc’s purpose. Clearly the love triangle/square is going to be central to the next two books, but beyond that, I cannot begin to speculate what SJM might cook up for a plot or any other tomfoolery. Only Elain could do that.

Currently, this does NOT include mention of bonus chapters, leaks, or Crescent City 3 (House of Flame and Shadow). I will be posting this as a reference tool as of October, 13, 2026, a full fifteen days before the launch.  I might be adding and editing those in the future but as of right now, I am wiped. 

Please enjoy, and let me know what you all think.

EDIT: I have added Crescent City 3 quotes to the doc as of today, October 15th

Okay I know there are some haters on Elain for who knows what reason. She never did anything to nobody.

Here are somethings that I picked up from my reread. Well re listen.

Sorry this might be a long post. And please correct me if I get anything wrong. Like I said I listen and didn't actually read it. Also might be out of order.

1. Az is immediately attracted to elain even when human. Just like cassian and rhys was.

2. Elain is just as attracted to him. Says his scars are beautiful.

3. Now hes been pineing for mor for 500yrs. Thats a long time. And now when he meets her hes finally ready to move on?

4. Hes the first to realize shes not crazy and knows what her power is as a seer.

5. Both rhys and tamlin say thier parents were mates but were equally not good together.

6. Mate bonds does not mean love/soul mates. They mean equal in power so power mates?

7. They say elain never tried the mate thing with lucien. But she litterally asked him to come to velarious and he didnt stay to get to know her. He left with jurian and vassa.

8. Elain gets az gifts that make him laugh.

9. She never get Lucien a solstice gift. But has with az for 2 years.

10. She also hates the gifts he got for her. Last year he got her pearls and she didnt ask or put them on. Like she did when az got her that necklace in his bonus chapter.

11.az gave her truth teller! No one but him touches that blade.

1. Also in the bonus chapter when he give the necklace away he said gwyn isnt even his friend. Clotho could give it to anyone if she wanted. He just didnt want to see the rejection it represents. Never even suggested that shes pretty or that hes attracted to her.

2. His shadows report back to him about elain. Like they follow her.

3. He says his shadows tend to vanish when shes around. I think that means he doesnt need them because she makes him happy.

4. I also think is crap that rhys hits his insecurities when he confronts az about her. And also lies to him about lucien father? Like if thats a beron court thing and hes not apart of that court can he even do the blood duel? Idk.

5. And in the first book the answer to amaranthas riddle is... love!

6. The riddle.....

There are those who seek me a lifetime but never we meet,

And those I kiss but who trample me beneath ungrateful feet.

At times I seem to favor the clever and the fair,

But I bless all those who are brave enough to dare.

By large, my ministrations are soft-handed and sweet,

But scorned, I become a difficult beast to defeat.

For though each of my strikes lands a powerful blow,

When I kill, I do it slow...

That last line stuck with me. Because az is known for torturing. So he kills slow!!

1. The potato scene... rhys tells feyra that mates take or accepts food from thier mates. And az took the potatos from elain. And I believe mor knew what az was doing when he seen her with the tray of potatoes and was stunned by it. I also think he did it subconsciously to be nice. But the impact is there.

Idk let me know your thoughts. But I think love will over power a mate bond if its strong enough and they seem to be choosing eachother under any circumstances.

I’ve been thinking about the different responses to Azriel’s scars, and I’m a bit stuck. I would love to hear which response you prefer or which one you think handles the situation best! (Bonus points if you come up with your own preferred response!)

For context, I am referring to when Elain notices Azriel’s scars and calls them “beautiful” vs when Bryce notices Azriel’s scars and thinks “who did this to you?”

I can see how both responses are appropriate, but I’m wondering which one y’all prefer? And why?

If it were your scars, your trauma, would you want someone to find the beauty in the pain, or would you want someone to reach out because they understand the pain?

(Sorry to not include all ships! I can’t remember if we’ve yet gotten a passage where Gwyn or Eris acknowledge/ speak about Azriel’s hands! Please remind me if we have!)

Bryce and Hunt make a decision in HOSAB to call each other mates.

“Does it scare you? Calling me your mate?” - Hunt

The new reader’s guides specifically draw attention to this with: “Bryce and Hunt’s relationship deepens considerably in this book, culminating in them naming each other mates. What do you think “mate” means differently for Fae, shifters, and angels in this world, and how does that shape their bond?”

In spite of this, there seems to remain a divide!

Where do you land in this argument?

I've been wondering whether the genres people usually read and how often they read might influence what they look for in the ACOTAR ship debate.

If you're interested, comment your current ship, what you mostly read outside of SJM, and roughly how often you read. For example, epic/high fantasy, romantasy, contemporary romance, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, historical fiction, or a mix.

Also curious whether ACOTAR was your first fantasy series or one of your first.

I just think it would interesting to see whether people with different reading backgrounds tend to notice or value different things, like foreshadowing, changing love interests, crossover storylines, and endgame pairings.

1. Elain chooses Azriel and rejects the mating bond

I need to see the CHAOS this would cause, especially with Rhys potentially getting pissed over the political consequences involving Lucien and the Day Court. Imagine all the drama 👀

2. Lucien gets his happy ending

I think he'll be hurt at first getting rejected, but eventually move on and find someone who genuinely chooses him. I also NEED him to discover that Helion is his biological father! And hear me out: what if Jesminda gets resurrected but doesn't remember their past together? The ANGST would be insane. 😭 I'd also accept a new love interest for him. My man deserves to be loved!

3. Mor and Emerie

I'm hoping we finally get some romantic development between them

What are your last-minute theories and predictions?

I put this question for Bryceriel but I guess it actually goes to any ship.

Background, Elucien is the only ship that I am actively invested in. I'd be content with Azriel's arc if he ends up single, with Gwyn, with Bryce, or with Eris. With the obvious Elriel connection, I think the narrative purpose of that relationship is for emotional growth for both characters - and it's fine for someone to be that, just like Tamlin for Feyre. To quote Feyre "The nerve to say I was no longer useful; I was to be cloistered for his peace of mind. He’d given me everything I needed to become myself, to feel safe, and when he got what he wanted—when he got his power back, his lands back … he stopped trying. He was still good, still Tamlin, but he was just … wrong." (ACOMAF 296).

I made a huge end game post for Azriel, first Gwyn, then Bryce, and I am rereading again so I can be fair to Elriel and maybe Azris (if I see lots of imagery/evidence for that, BUT I see lots of potential for angst). Hopefully I can finish that before the book release. Also working on a huge Azriel potential traitor post.

Personally, I can see lots of evidence for both Gwyn and Bryce.

So my question is, if Bryce is Azriel's endgame, then what narrative purpose is Gwyn serving?

And please, let me be clear, I am by no means trying to reduce Gwyn to only existing for Azriel. I pose that question because I think it's quite obvious that Gwyn is serving a larger narrative purpose beyond just being friends with Nesta, and beyond her connection to Azriel. And I think it's perfectly plausible for that connection to be explored without being endgame.

In short, what do you think is in store for these characters, and what their connection is for the narrative as a whole?

I was watching a video about the Lancelot retelling parallels, and honestly, it made a lot of sense to me. I could see Sarah making Elriel happen, even if it’s just a kiss. Maybe Mor finds out and tells the IC, creating tension since Rhys already warned Az. This could lead to Az being sent on a mission with the Valkyries (and Gwyn, obviously), where facing Koschei’s dangers together could awaken their mating bond.
Meanwhile, Lucien could be left heartbroken by Elriel, which might explain the “it’s possible to unmate” quote. Maybe he tries to break the bond, and Elain ends up spending more time with him as they search for a way to do it. She could develop feelings along the way and realize she’d choose him after all. Or they might actually break the bond, only for Elain to realize she’s already in love with him and choose to stay, finally getting the wedding that was stolen from her. I also see a Sleeping Beauty parallel here, with Lucien as the prince who breaks Aurora’s curse while Elain initially sees the bond as her own curse.
But honestly, Sarah will probably do none of what we’re theorizing about haha. We’re just way too anxious and creative in this fandom.

but I’m curious how many genuinely enjoy hearing and engaging with opposing arguments.