acourtofthought

[acourtofthought]

what makes seers rare in acotar?

We're not really given an answer as to why they're rare (for example, it's never mentioned that the Daglan went around killing them throughout history or anything like that) but I imagine it's for similar reasons to how there aren't many in other series with seers / oracles. It doesn't read well to have a bunch of people running around predicting the futures because characters aren't really supposed to know their future to an extensive degree. It makes more sense for only a select few to know what's in store for others which keeps things more mysterious.

[acourtofthought]

Tell me how I just had someone come into my video and talk about how "SJM has hinted at not knowing the path on how they come back from the distance that was created." and talking about how she said it felt forced as the characters naturally progressed farther and how this person just FEELS like it was about Lucien and Elain even though SJM never mentioned them.

Sometimes I wonder if these people know how slow burn stories work.

I'd also be curious to know what time frame this was said by SJM or what interview they was referring to and whether that's actually what she said. I have seen so many takes where people claim she said one thing because at this point it's become a game of telephone but when you actually refer back to the specific interview it's something completely different. And even if she did say something along those lines, how do we know she wasn't talking about Chaol and Aelin? Chaol and Nesryn? Feyre and Tamlin? You don't spend 4 books writing about two characters who are mates only to "not know how to come back from the distance she's created". That would be the worst fail by an author ever recorded because she would have wasted so much time and energy writing about the connection Elain and Lucien share (regardless of Elain's regression in ACOFAS) only to say "oopsie!" Also, if she can write Cassian opening the door to Nesta wearing another persons shirt than there's really nothing she can't walk Elain and Lucien back from.

[acourtofthought]

The site for Elain and Lucien's wedding:

[acourtofthought]

Elain: Traumatized.

Lucien: She's traumatized.

Feyre: Something's wrong with Elain! Get a healer in here.

Madja: She's traumatized.

Feyre: That can't be it! There HAS to be another explanation.

Madja:.... Fine then. Have the mate figure it out. Mates always instinctively know.

Lucien: She. Is. Traumatized.

Feyre: But she can't be! I went through stuff, too, and I'm perfectly fine! There's something else! Azriel, do research to figure this out!

Azriel: Ok, I'll be back after doing some research because I don't instinctively know what's going on with her.

Elain: Still traumatized.

Azriel: I'm back from research because, again, I don't have any natural instinct tied to Elain, and I have an answer about something unrelated to her actual problem.

Feyre: Thank the Mother! We now know what's wrong with my sister!

Elain: Still very traumatized.

Elriels: Oh. My. God. Azriel knew what was wrong with Elain when Lucien didn't! He's the only one who truly sees her! They're true mates, and Elriel is coming home!

This is an absolutely spectacular Cliff Notes version of everything that happened and I'll add just a few other points. Elain was not eating, sleeping or drinking for the weeks before Lucien's arrival though Cassian, Rhys, Nesta, Az, etc. were all permitted to enter the HOW. FOR WEEKS. But two days after Lucien's arrival in the NC and stay in the HOW Elain left her room for the very first time. Not only did she leave her room but the one place she chose to visit was the library.....on the exact day that Lucien decided to visit the library. After he demanded Feyre get her outside she began sleeping and drinking. That happened well before Az ever declared she was a seer. Also, after Az declared she was a seer Elain looked to MOR for confirmation. People need to think on that, how Az's word alone was not enough for her. And there's something very important that happened between Az declaring she was a seer and her deciding to learn how to bake / really starting to engage with the others again. Mor, Feyre and Lucien believed in her vision. All Az did was name her power but it was the others who BELIEVED what she was seeing whereas Az didn't think they should bother pursing her vision. When it comes down to it, what would be more important to Elain? Someone labeling her a seer or someone being willing to risk their safety to help bring back an army because of something she "saw"? Az's contribution was insignificant when it came to Elain's recovery and the actual credit should be given to Lucien, Feyre, and Mor.

[acourtofthought]

While it’s totally normal for people to be excited about Taylor and Travis’s engagement, what I find bordering on parasocial creepiness is how Elriels twist a real person’s special life moment into some bizarre Elriel reference. Even if it’s “just a joke,” it comes off as straight-up unhinged behavior.

And again, even if they are joking, they start to argue that “Taylor is an Elriel.” I’m sorry… fucking what? Do we even know if Taylor has ever read these books? Ever even heard of SJM? If she had, it likely would’ve been publicized the way it has been with other models and celebs who’ve mentioned reading it. The way their entire world revolves around Elriel to the point that it’s bleeding into other things, literally everything else in their lives, it’s just fucking obsessive and fucking weird. They need to go outside and fucking touch grass. Elriels are projecting onto anything that moves. Even SJM, that woman can't breathe without them acting like her entire existence is about Elriel. They truly believe SJM's entire writing career is about Elriel. It’s exhausting. They are exhausting. To be this obsessive is going to be their biggest crash out. Maybe find some other hobbies or other interest, because this is beyond normal.

But also............the proposal location had nothing to do with Taylor, lol.

It was Travis's decision to propose in his backyard in his garden, it wasn't something she knew about and my guess is he could not care less about Azriel and Elain and has zero idea what their "aesthetic" even is.

At the end of the day Taylor and Travis have way bigger things to focus on than who Elain ends up with and while it's fun to see something and have it remind us of something it seems pretty obvious that there is no connection between those things at all.

And yeah, I agree that some have gone a bit too far on thinking that the Elain and Az ship is the only thing Sarah thinks about. To believe CC3 was somehow going to be about furthering Elain and Az's romance (instead of the story focusing on the actual characters who belong to that series), to thinking that Sarah talking about possibly wanting to write a wedding scene and how that HAS to mean E/riel (I mean, did SF not end right before Nessian's mating ceremony? Who is to say the next book doesn't start with their marriage) to arguing that there was a bat on a flower book when in actuality it was a blue petal all suggests that they really don't think the author cares about anyone but Az and Elain and that's just not true.

[acourtofthought]

Rhys is described as the night itself, shadows and darkness. Would it make sense for him to be the High Lord of the Day Court even though the Day Court still has night? So yeah, Elain might be full of light herself but when the author writes things like "as if any bit of darkness was abhorrent" and "but wearing black, no matter how much she claimed to be part of this (Night) court...It sucked the life from her" and "the Spring Court had been made for someone like her" referring to her, Sarah is not trying to tell readers that Elain will be the embodiment of light and sunshine while remaining in a place called "the Night Court" when there are other courts like Spring and Day that the author has left a pretty clear path for her to end up at.

[acourtofthought]

When Sarah writes mates, it's not rocket science. The fact that some think Bryce is Azriel's real mate and others think Elain is Azriel's real mate indicates to me that neither is Azriel's mate because why would an author make his mate (if he has one) so confusing? Why are there two different groups who believe the author would write his "real mate" being a female (Bryce or Elain) who the author confirmed on multiple occasions as already having a mate? Az isn't my favorite but even I think it's weird that if you stan him, you're preferred setup for him would be to have a mating bond with someone who is already written to have a mating bond with someone else. That 2/3rds of the FMCs story will already have been about their pull to another only for Az to enter stage left in the last third.

Wouldn't you want Az's story to start from scratch? Where if he does have a mating bond with someone it's reveal doesn't come on the heels of the FMC already going through the initial pull to someone else?

I know Elain is currently keeping her distance from Lucien but it's canon that she has felt drawn to him ever since ACOMAF when she locked eyes with him before he declared they were mates, when she left her room for the first time in weeks once he arrived at the HOW and on the exact day he chose to visit the library, that she could hear his heart, that she felt the tug of their mating bond. Say what you want about Elucien but those moments are a big deal when it comes to two characters just beginning to navigate the thread that ties them together, they are not moments Az will ever share with her as being new since she's already had them with Lucien - Lucien will always be the first.

And Bryce has chosen Hunt. Even if she has a bond with Az she's already fallen in love with and married someone else yet Az is somehow going to be fine remembering her chosen mate for the rest of his life?

Right now the only character (who he's theorized to have a bond with) Az could share these firsts with is Gwyn. Sure, he loved Mor and later became romantically interested in Elain but he's still never had the chance to experience the effects of a mating bond with either and even if he did at a later point with Elain being declared his "true mate", Elain will have already felt the pull of her bond with Lucien. Some theorize her bond with him is fake but it's felt real enough to her that for two years she's believed it's authenticity meaning if she were to suddenly share a bond with Az, the feelings she has of being pulled to him will not be unique and special as she's already been there, done that with Lucien.

[acourtofthought]

is it crazy that I kind of want hellion to be high king instead? 😶

I don't think it's crazy, I'd just be surprised if it happens since there's no real setup for it at this point.

Helion doesn't seem to be as controversial as Rhys but he also doesn't seem to be a major player in the events of their world. If someone is going to be High King I'd think it would be someone we could journey with because they'll have a pov.

Also, Helion is a riot, he's fun to read about, but we don't actually know that much about him.

I think even Mor or Rhys would be more likely than Helion at this point.

[acourtofthought]

do you actually believe that lucien will be high king?

I think there's a decent chance of this happening. I know some believe if it happens it'll be Rhys but right now his story is over and unless Sarah plans on writing a POV for him way down the line it would be an odd title for him to receive when we'd witness the entire thing through someone else's POV and in someone else's romantic / healing arc. Typically the main character is the one who gets the glory / gets to be the hero in their book and Rhys becoming High King would steal a bit of that thunder. Lucien may not end up as the most powerful High Lord but he's set up to be the most connected and well liked High Lord. He's a friend to Spring, to the Night Court, he's the heir to Day, he's also the son of the Lady of Autumn. He made noble friends in other courts growing up and has contacts in the Winter Court. Rhys has many enemies because of how he presented himself over the years whereas Lucien has only ever been "Lucien." He doesn't toss around a title, doesn't flex his power, he's not loyal to just one court which means he has everyone's best interests at heart (including the humans). I really can't think of anyone more suited to the role and I don't foresee Sarah killing Helion. If Elain does become High Lady of Spring that means Lucien is going to need his own purpose and using the Spring Court (which borders the human and fae sides of Prythian) as the seat of the High King, someone who maintains the peace and keeps open communications between the different lands, would be a perfect setup for him.

Am I absolutely confident Lucien will be High King? Definitely not. But if Sarah plans on writing that storyline he is the most logical choice to me.

[acourtofthought]

Do you watch the summer I turned pretty or know about the shipping wars between Conrad/belly shippers and Jeremiah/belly shippers? I saw a tik tok that said Eluciens are the team Jeremiah shippers which is so untrue. Besides Conrad and belly being endgame, Conrad always loved belly. Jeremiah only started liking belly the summer she turned pretty. Jeremiah is the one who cheated on her.

apologies if you have no idea what I’m talking about but I needed to vent about this take because it makes no sense

I do know what you're talking about! ☺️

Conrad had a connection with her first even if it wasn't romantic and Conrad liked her last just like Lucien had a connection to Elain first.

Jeremiah cheated and Az went on to feel something spark in his chest for another female nearly the same day he hurt Elain.

Lucien is Conrad and Jeremiah is Azriel.

Elain doesn't really fit Belly in either scenario because she didn't have a crush on either Az or Lucien first, she was in love with Graysen.

[acourtofthought]

It makes very little sense for an author to write Lucien longing for Elain after learning of her love for Graysen, then Lucien again longing for Elain during the time where she was flirting with someone else (though we're not sure how much of that Lucien is aware of) only for it to amount to nothing.

What would be the point? If Elain is meant to end up with Az then why wasn't he the one to struggle with the realization of her having promised herself to another? I'm supposed to believe her "one true love" got off scott free, feeling absolutely no sorrow over her loving Graysen?

Az is barely suffering when it comes to Elain because he doesn't know the pain that comes from wanting her when she wants another, he's not the one who has proven his loyalty to her even when it seems there's no hope. He literally just latched on to the idea of her when it became convenient for him, once he realized things were probably never going to happen with Mor and once Elain was past the worst of her depression / after she began moving on from Graysen. Sure, he's decided to fixate on an already mated female but Elain is not with Lucien therefore there's no real obstacle for him. Since mated pairs don't HAVE to be together and as it stands she is still single, her having an unaccepted bond means he's free to pursue her if he really wanted to.

A fated mates author is not going to write a character like Lucien, who has been around since book 1, as being put through it for his mate unless she plans on making it all worth it in the end.

[acourtofthought]

in your opinion, is it possible for elucien to view each other as replacements for their previous love interest? or maybe chances of comparing each other to previous love interests?

Definitely not a replacement.

While I'm sure this does happen in life, it's usually when someone is not in a healthy place and struggling to move past an ex (in my opinion this is a bit of what we're seeing with the Elain / Az situation). It's an attempt to hold on to the feelings of what was lost by quickly grabbing on to whatever is convenient no matter if it's right for you or not. But for Elucien, Sarah is not going to write her endgame pairings as still being hung up on what was lost by the time the pairing falls in love. If they are endgame it's going to be because they realize that the person they're currently with is who, regardless of having loved their ex, they were always meant to be with and that their present love is beyond compare. For Elucien I think they'll know that what they had before was real for them, but only in so far as it being what was real for them at that time and when they were at that place in their life. What they'll have with each other by the end of their story though? The depth and intensity of it? I think everything else, no matter what they felt for someone in their past, will pale in comparison.

Will there be comparisons made? I'm sure to some extent yes because I don't think it's possible for someone to be in a current relationship and not compare it to a past one. That doesn't mean negative comparisons are being made though, you just can't always help but thinking "I remember the last time this happened or the last time someone did this" and how that feels different to the now. I think some of those moments will be bittersweet as there was joy at one point and the loss of anything good will always contain sadness but again, in a romance book the current relationship is always going to be written as the ultimate relationship for the MMC and FMC. I know Jesminda is beloved by some in the fandom and this is not to say she wasn't extremely special to Lucien however she will unfortunately never be "better" to Lucien by the end of it all. This is Elain and Lucien's love story (not Lucien and Jesminda) and that means an author is going to write things so that we ultimately root for Elucien, where Elain is better for Lucien in all the ways imaginable, not anyone from his past.

[acourtofthought]

No matter how much some wish it, Elain and Az are not a canon couple:

"If a couple in a book kiss but no longer talk for 5 months are they still a canon couple"

As far as the source material goes, Elain has shown no interest in reconnecting with Az since Solstice which means their moment of almost intimacy is not a canon relationship. It was a brief, one-off event for her and since this is about the females prerogative, Az's thoughts of it shouldn't matter right? If the MMCs wants are important, however, then Lucien's loyalty and longing of over two years will win out over Az in the end because that's just how these things are written.

Considering Az was later shown to be looking at Gwyn (not Elain) with admiration, it's safe to say the plot is moving in a different direction.

[acourtofthought]

I was watching a video by Snowwhitewithanxiety on TikTok and an excellent point was made.

If Lucien had real feelings for Vassa, why isn't he panicked over the little time she has left?

He didn't push Feyre in ACOFAS to search then search again for a way to break her curse. He didn't seem overly stressed about it in ACOSF.

This is a man who crossed through multiple courts without his power to make sure Elain wasn't being harmed by Rhys, someone who stayed in what he recently believed to be an enemy court to help her through her depression, someone who went on a dangerous mission so he could follow through on her vision, someone who slaughtered his way across a battlefield to make sure she was safe.

But when it comes to Vassa, someone others claim he really wants, he never brings up her curse beyond saying "nasty curse" and "she's enjoying her freedom"?

I'm not saying he wants her to go back to Koschei but he's definitely not showing the characteristics of a man running out of time with the love of his life. Acting like his big issue is how jealous he is of Jurian is a bit silly when you consider the actual problems Vassa is facing.

[acourtofthought]

If Sarah didn't need an Elain book to write her falling in love with Azriel (or him falling for her) and she didn't need a Lucien book to write him falling for Vassa (because that's what some in this fandom say has already happened for these characters) then why in the world would she need to wait for Elain's POV to break the bond with Lucien? Am I really supposed to believe these characters somehow fell in love off page with someone who wasn't their mate in someone else's POV but Elain can't end a bond she supposedly doesn't want until she has her own? That a romance can happen before they've even had a book but they can't end something with someone they're not interested in? The obvious reason that Sarah hasn't written Elain breaking the bond, whether it be in a bonus in her own words or from her sister's POV with them being there to support her (as they were there when she confronted Graysen) is because she's not going to break the bond. The only thing that's going to be broken in an Elain book is the bed she shares with Lucien.

[acourtofthought]

I feel like all Elucien’s are collectively just holding our breath for SJM to make some further announcement. I’m challenging myself to read other things until October to not think about it before I start to hyperventilate and obsess again … is this too ambitious you think?

I think it's a good idea to do whatever you feel you need to do to keep yourself sane! The fandom can be so much fun and it's normal to want to dive back into these books as a result, hoping something new will jump out though we've probably read them a hundred times over at this point but I do think it's a good idea to take breaks from it all every so often. It's way too easy to get sucked into the drama and sometimes you need a mental health break.

[acourtofthought]

Elain has only resisted the mating bond, not rejected it.

When you resist something, it's usually not because you don't want it. For example, if you were to offer me ice cream at breakfast I'd resist by saying "no thank you, I don't want any" because I know I shouldn't have sugar that early even though I would love nothing more than to eat the entire container.

However if you were to offer me liver at breakfast I'd tell you no, a hundred times no and I will never want liver at any meal - I'd reject your offer emphatically.

When you reject something, it's pretty cut and dry and there's no confusion involved. It's not a drawn out process, it's the easiest thing to say no.

But Elain hasn't rejected Lucien, she's only resisting their bond and that tells us her feelings are a lot more complex than what some are trying to convince themselves of. But we all know that we can resist something for as long as we want but when we finally give in? It's delicious.