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friendly reminder that SJM didn’t write Azriel asking “What if the cauldron was wrong?” and then him promptly finding out the cauldron was corrupted in the last book just for it to be right in the end, fyi

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ya lit meme: throne of glass series by sarah j maas

“They joined hands. So the world ended. And the next one began.”

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For Azriel, Elain is the sun. And when the sun comes out, the shadows disappear

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How do you think hofas sets up elain’s book?

I have posted on this a lot. I’m linking all my random thoughts below. Even though Elain wasn’t in the book explicitly, there was a ton of set-up.

Why I think Elriels are right about corrupted bonds

Breadcrumbs

Healing the land

ACOSF + HOFAS

Hot Takes

Song of the Land

@wingedblooms :

Blooming Dreams

Heart of the Night Court

Excerpts

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it's canon that gwyn is not attracted to azriel.

it's canon that azriel is not attracted to gwyn.

it's also canon that azriel is attracted to elain.

it's also canon that elain is attracted to azriel.

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"for you, i would" is such a gentle and sweet love language like no maybe i wouldn't usually do this but i would love to do it if it would make you happy.

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Me watching other fandoms get monthly update on the upcoming books from the author while acotar fandom was so far gone from their insane theories and beliefs. Dare I say, some magically get Bachelors Degree in Psychology Major in Faep*rn and Complex Literature

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Azriel cleared his throat. “Nesta’s waiting.” “She’s here?” Helion practically shimmered with golden light.

next up: Nesta and Helion are mates because her presence practically made Helion glow.

omg you're right anon. how could we not see it? we just don't have the reading comprehension. :(

Tamlin and Feyre are also mates.

Also Aelin and Lorcan.

And Cassian and Baby Wings.

Gwyn wasn't even there for Azriel's spark! We just can never understand SJM's long game.

Oh well, Nelion it is! One sentence is all we need for a ship, idc about any other interactions. There was a glow. A spark will follow. SJM didn't say there WASN'T A SPARK? It probably happened during private idk ambassador lessons or something. We all know Cassian is just Nesta's "Tamlin" anyways right!?!?!?

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I’m just saying

If a guy gave me a necklace - especially not even directly, but through someone else - and it had zero connection to me, my personality, or our relationship, I honestly wouldn’t be that excited.

And if I ever found out the necklace was actually meant for someone else - someone who literally asked him to put it on her - and they practically made out over it in public? Yeah, I’d absolutely lose it.

But idk, maybe we have different standards in relationships… 🤨

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It's 2025 and there are still people in this fandom fully supporting abusers, claiming they redeemed themselves. Hating the MCs of the series. And yes, still believing the pliant bone theory. I truly regret the day boy moms and misogynistic people reached this fandom

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For someone who's confident on their ship but post 20 canva edits every week, with hundreds of insta stories, pasting the texts on all social media platform all talking about Elriel. Sure.

You know, I’m pretty over this fandom and have episodic MIA moments bc it’s tiresome and we get no new info. We’re left rehashing the same shit repetitively for years. It’s pointless. If I have a new idea or thought, I’ll post and catch up on here, but I’m honestly just tired and annoyed.

That being said, you know what I’m not doing? Spending my limited free time trying to debunk the other ship. I see so few posts actually offering ideas and potential plot lines. Very few to no posts about what the book would actually be about.

Are you guys not so f-ing tired of this?

But you know what I see? “Why ______ argument about Elriel isn’t valid.” “Why Elriel are just lust and nothing more.” “Why the 50+ Elriel scenes mean nothing.” Are you guys not tired? It doesn’t give security and confidence in your ship to be in anons arguing about your perception of the invalidity of one ship without any insight on what the hell your beloved ship will even be doing. What the story will be about. How it will serve the overarching plot.

Come into my anons with that instead of more shit from the bonus chapter. Or if it is about the bonus chapter, tell me what you think of the other bonus from ACOSF. Tell me what you think about the odyssey parallels. Don’t just troll. Give me your real thoughts. On the books. Not lives with Steph from 2021.

Stop wasting time just trying to debunk another ship so yours can sail. Give me ideas and thoughts. If you’re trying to convince me and other Elriels, give us your thoughts and ideas. Give us your theories.

Tell me, what do you think your book will be about? Why do you think Azriel loaned truth teller to Elain? Why do you think Elain got Az a gift 2 years in a row and not Lucien. Come into my anons with ideas. Do you think these scenes are insignificant? The people want to know.

I’m again asking:

1. Why is Azriel unaware of the mating bond? Why didn’t he react like Cassian did to Nesta being taken into the BR?

2. Why is Azriel still fantasizing about another woman when he’s around his alleged mate every date and she’s a few floors down?

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Damn, if this is Elain I'll literally forgive her and would promote her books again bcs this is just chef's kiss

If this is what I think it could be and comes back up, I will forgive Sarah for my grievances against her crimes.

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as much as i love to see evil twisted little freaks, there is just something way more compelling about characters who are unflinchingly Good and kind despite the horrors they've endured

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The good plot twists aren't the ones that are wild left turns out of nowhere, they're the ones that make all the other little things that didn't quite add up before suddenly click

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Quick tips for writing kisses

⇰ the pause. THE PAUSE. like “are we doing this? oh god we’re doing this.”

⇰ looking at each other’s mouths like it’s a life-or-death decision

⇰ someone whispering “can I?” or “just once” before going for it and RUINING ME EMOTIONALLY

⇰ hands. gripping shirts. cupping faces. hovering like “do I touch?? I WANNA TOUCH”

⇰ breath hitching?? yes. shakiness?? absolutely.

⇰ that stupid moment where one of them pulls back a few inches like “wait are you sure” and the other just goes for it again

⇰ kissing like they’re scared it’ll be the last time

⇰ kissing like they’ve been waiting ten goddamn years

⇰ teeth clashing awkwardly and both laughing about it but STILL FEELING IT

⇰ one of them freezing for a second mid-kiss because the feelings just hit

⇰ the post-kiss moment of “uh. so. yeah.” where neither knows what the hell just happened

⇰ OR the post-kiss forehead touch. destroy me.

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The Progression of Elain and Azriel’s Relationship.

Let me preface this by saying this is LONG. 

After a second read through of ACOSF, I really think it’s clear that Elriel will be featured in the next book. Sooo, book by book, I’ve complied excerpts that show the progression of Elain and Azriel’s relationship and why I think the next book will feature them. I’m not going to be adding a lot of commentary, just my general interpretation of the scene. The excerpts speak for themselves. 

Keep reading

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Look, we can debate ships all day at a micro level, but if you step back and really look at the patterns in SJM’s writing, Elriel stands out — not just as possible, but as narratively inevitable.

Here’s why.

1. SJM doesn’t do "easy" couples.

Gwynriel — as it currently stands — is too easy. There’s no real conflict between them aside from Azriel’s lingering feelings for Elain, which actually make Gwyn feel more like a stepping stone in his arc than a long-term match.

In contrast, Elriel is full of conflict:

• Forbidden love

• The deconstruction of Azriel's reverent beliefs of fate, The Cauldron, and 'sacred' mating bonds which have religious connotations that parallel religion, God and faith.

• Family expectations (duty versus desire)

• Azriel’s feelings of unworthiness especially pertaining to Elain's 'purity' (the juxtaposition of dark and light)

This is classic SJM material. She loves slow burns, angst, longing, and earned love — not convenience.

Sidenote: Gwyn does have a continued healing journey that will - if written realistically - have an impact on potential romantic/sexual relationships and can be a 'conflict' that is overcomed. This would be a beautiful story of patience and tenderness between two parties healing, however it just feels wrong when we know the intense desires Azriel has for Elain. I don't think intertwining Gwyn's trauma-based backstory with a love triangle is fair no matter which pair are endgame.

2. The "rejection of the mating bond" theme is being seeded.

SJM is clearly wanting us to question the idea of the mating bond as destiny. Elain has shown zero romantic interest in Lucien, her "fated" mate. Meanwhile, Azriel has begun openly questioning the Cauldron and its authority over fate — that's not a throwaway detail.

This suggests a major upcoming theme:

What if love is choice, not fate?

And that makes Elriel — choosing each other despite the bond — far more powerful and narratively rich than defaulting to Gwynriel or Elucien.

3. Elain’s arc is incomplete — and it’s pointing toward agency.

We’ve had three books watching Elain stay soft-spoken, mysterious, and underestimated. What we do know so far is she has:

• A seer’s gift we don’t fully understand

• A connection to shadows

• Subtle moments of strength and insight (and the not so subtle moment of stabbing the King of Hybern)

• Ties to The Cauldron and possibly Koschei

Regardless, "Boring", "weak", "quiet", "nothing to offer", "just the pretty one" are some of the negative things both characters and readers have labelled Elain. But she’s rejecting passivity, slowly but surely. We are going to learn a hell of a lot about her in book 6 so be prepared for those labels to be dismantled in the most interesting ways.

Along with being privvy to her POVs and her character development, pairing her with Azriel would subvert the exact box people keep trying to put her in — and SJM loves that kind of twist.

4. Gwynriel’s necklace moment was NOT romantic.

Azriel gave Gwyn the necklace meant for Elain — not a romantic gesture, but felt more a moment of guilt and repression. He literally clasped the necklace around Elain's neck seconds before nearly succumbing to his aching hunger to have her. The next day he gives it to Gwyn after a command from Rhys to stay away... That’s not a new love blooming. That’s emotional displacement.

It feels like a mistake he’ll have to confront down the line. And SJM loves to make her characters face the consequences of avoidance.

Sidenote: Elriel endgame will also mean Rhysand will have to eventually confront the fact he forbade Azriel from being with and potentially losing the love of his life - further adding conflict and the eventual resolution between two brothers.

5. There’s too much already built between Elain and Azriel.

SJM has been quietly but consistently threading Elriel moments over four books (two years book time) — something she typically only does for ships that matter long-term. We see:

• The peace, the mutual comfort and ease of their time spent together

• Stolen glances, watching each other from across the room

• Making each other blush and laugh (like no other can, according to Feyre POV)

• Azriel trusting Elain with Truth-Teller (he's never let anyone touch it before and now he offers it without prompt to Elain)

• Even if it meant dying, Azriel willingly risked his life to save Elain from Hybern

• Acceptance of his shadows, his scars and his dark presence

• And...

One chapter. That’s all it took for us to realise the extent of his desire for Elain (and hers for him) wasn’t just a casual crush. It was intense. Reverent. Controlled only by shame and guilt. You don’t give a side ship that kind of emotional weight if it’s not going somewhere.

So… why are the lines so blurred between the ships?

Because SJM loves the long game. She did this with Feysand. With Nessian. Every time we think we know the direction, she shifts the lens, makes it hurt, and then lands the emotional blow with the "right" couple at the right time. Elain and Azriel are not easy. They're messy. Forbidden. Guilt-ridden. Full of yearning. But that’s exactly what makes it beautiful — and earned.

Some love stories are written in stars. Elriel is written in shadow and light — carved out of longing, acceptance and the courage of choosing love over destiny. It’s the kind of love that rewrites fate — and lingers long after the final page. This is why I believe Elriel will be the greatest love story told in the ACOTAR series.