profoundbeliever

[profoundbeliever]

Disclaimer: includes major spoilers from HOEAB and HOSAB. I did my best to include accurate and correct information.

[profoundbeliever]

Anybody else getting ready for a re-read!?!?

Bookmarks came from a small shop called markthatpage!

[profoundbeliever]

More From Blood and Ash Resources!

For those of you asking about the Hawke POV Scene, you can access it here

You can join Jennifer L Armentrout's Blood and Ash Series Spoilers Group here

You will find:

teasers for A Shadow in the Ember (the FBAA Prequel/Companion Novel)

JLA answers fan questions (descriptions of characters, shutting down theories that aren't accurate, explaining some worldbuilding stuff more clearly)

people post fan art/theories/questions

You can join Jennifer L Armentrout's Reader group here (more discussion of her other books)

You can join Jennifer L Armentrout's Discord (with specific channels for the Blood and Ash Series) here

[profoundbeliever]

Bookish

New bookish shop alert!! 

[profoundbeliever]

I can see this! But also, keeping in mind I’m an Elriel shipper, I could get behind an Eris and Elaine ship! 

Eris and Rhys are literally the same person in different fonts.

[profoundbeliever]

Love this!

Why Elriel is most definitely a Sleeping Beauty Retelling!

Since this was brought up a few days ago I cannot get the idea out my head that Sarah is basing Elriel’s story on Sleeping Beauty, and now we know she hid crumbs in her other books, alongside a quick browse of her pinterest boards it seems more and more likely! Especially since she loves her retellings.

A daughter was born, and they called her Aurora. Yes, they named her after the dawn for she filled their lives with sunshine. 

Listen well, all of you. The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her. She’ll walk in springtime wherever she goes!

There are so many parallels between Elain and Aurora, they are both beloved by all, kind creatures who thrive in springtime. Aurora is named for after the dawn because she filled their lives with sunshine, A) tell me this isn’t Elain and B) the meaning of her name;

Elaine as a girl’s name is of Greek origin meaning “sun ray or shining light”.

Yet another parallel is Aurora believing they still treat her as a child, who does that remind you of?

Oh, dear. Why do they still treat me like a child? 

Even if love is full of thorns, I’d still embrace it. I know that in between those thorns there is a rose worth all the pain.

Could this be any more spot on? We have spoken extensively about Elains, not only willingness to get her hands dirty but the pleasure she derives from creating something beautiful from her labour. If this isn’t a metaphor for Azriel and their future situation I don’t know what is… 

This is very important, it keeps getting brought back up in text to show us Elain is going to fight through the bad to get to what she wants. Her hands might bruise and bloody in the process but she will to do it to enjoy the fruits of her labour.

Which leads me to why even further than a Sleeping Beauty retelling I think it will be Elain saving Azriel and breaking a curse/spell. Let us look to SJM’s pinterest board shall we!

These are just a few of the SB reminiscent pins she has saved, one of the more recent ones in the bottom right. Notice it is the girl saving the man, tell me you do not get immediate Elriel vibes from that, the roses, the colours.

There also seems to be a lot of cursed/chained art too, I definitely think something is going to happen to Azriel that Elain has to save him from, my best guess would be Koschei. 

Elain’s story thus far has heavily emphasised on choice, as we have seen through her interactions with Lucien and their bond overall, hence why I think it will be her making the choice to save him rather than him coming for her.

He has already saved her, it is time for her to shine. It would also grant her the opportunity to explore her own agency, and not what is expected of her.

 A ray of hope there still may be in this, the gift I give to thee. Not in death, but just in sleep, the fateful prophecy you’ll keep, and from this slumber you shall wake, when true love’s kiss, the spell shall break.

I think that it is interesting considering she is a seer, that Sleeping Beauty has so many references to visions, fate and so on, after the Azriel POV where we are shown he clearly believes it is fate that three sisters would all fall for three bothers.

Almost like it is… Fate. 

This will be the ultimate moment where Elain gets to decide her future and potentially follow her own fate. Not to mention we know the Cauldron loves Elain and gifted her with her abilities, could this be another tie-in, gifting her the ability to wake/heal Azriel? 

But see the gracious whim of fate - why, ‘tis the self-same peasant maid, who won the heart of our noble prince but yesterday. She is indeed, most wondrous fair, gold of sunshine in her hair, Lips that shame the red rose, in ageless sleep, she finds repose. The years roll by, but a hundred years to a steadfast heart, are but a day. And now, the gates of a dungeon part, and our prince is free to go his way. Off he rides, on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall! To wake his love, with love’s first kiss, and prove that true love conquers all! 

Love’s first kiss? Could this be why she didn’t allow them to kiss in the hallway… Anything is possible but the parallels are certainly interesting at this point you can’t deny! 

Also here are a few more little crumbs she could have been planting through the series, the colours we most see Elain in are pinks and blues and the most run along joke through the movie is her dress being changed from one colour to the other… Nothing major but certainly interesting.

These were by no means the only references to her wearing those colours I am just trying to be brief. 

Not to mention Roses really took a bigger role in ACOSF in regards to associating them with Elain, while she certainly had past references to them before but adding in her fathers gifts and Azriels gift both being roses. Hmmmmmmm.

There was a few more little things but I would love to hear everyone else’s thoughts!!!! If not SB what retelling would you think? I am a die hard Hades/Persephone fan so I am sad that is already been done because LBR they are perfect for it hahah

[profoundbeliever]

Does anyone know if anyone has put out the transcription of the sarah j maas tour for acosf?? Or maybe a recording of it??

[profoundbeliever]

Okay hear me out, what if...sjm is planning to eventually do a crossover of all three worlds!? We already know that there are portals to these worlds (i.e. Amren).

Juuuuust saying...that would be kind of awesome

[profoundbeliever]

First of all... dont come at me with the “But Azriel’s shadows danced with Gwyn but they disappear when he’s with Elain” bullshit because let me tell you something:

HIS SHADOWS DO NOT LIKE THE LIGHT.

THEY DONT LIKE SUNLIGHT.

THEY TEND TO DISSAPEAR WHEN IS BRIGHT DAY.

Az said, his shadows lingering in the archway, as if fearful of the bright sunlight in the ring.

A shadow curled around Azriel’s neck, the only one brave enough to face the sunlight.

Because his shadows were born in the dark, in that dark cell when he was a kid.

Born in a lightless, airless prison meant to break him. Instead, he had learned its language.

In the centuries I’d known him, he’d said little about his life, those years in his father’s keep, locked in darkness. Perhaps the shadowsinger gift had come to him then, perhaps he’d taught himself the language of shadow and wind and stone.

But what was it one thing that he desperately needed when he was in that cell? More than his mother? More than a friend?

LIGHT

And who is always described as the sun? As the day? Who’s always described as full of light?

ELAIN

Why do his shadows disappear when he’s with Elain?

Because she’s the light he needs the most.

Because his shadows are not needed.

He doesn’t need to hide from her.

He doesn’t need his shadows to help him get through her company. To protect himself.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing on that face, on his scent. The shadows, whatever the hell they were, hid too well.

The shadows gathered around his shoulders, like they were indeed whispering to him, shielding him, perhaps.

And don’t get it twisted... his shadows might take some time off when he’s in her company but they are always ready to throw hands to protect Elain.

They’re always ready to strike, ready to help him protect her.

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

And this scene here makes me think she used Azriel’s shadows. There’s no more explanation.

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

Why Elain’s actions are always compared to Azriel or his shadows? Unless...... unless she might have her own and this is all foreshadowing.

“Don’t,” Elain said flatly, starting once more into a walk, veils of steam drifting past her shoulders from the roasted rosemary potatoes in her hands, as if they were Azriel’s shadows. “She won’t listen.”

And why Azriel’s shadows always try to hide his emotions when Elain’s is brought up?

“You and Nesta are wanted down there.” “Because of the shit with Elain?”

Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?”

Cassian waved a hand. “A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened.

Cassian blew out a breath. “I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.”

“It’s about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.”

“It’s bad, then.” Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az.

“You all right?” His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready, and Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.

Not you all out there trying to convice yourself and others that these two are not endgame.

[profoundbeliever]

Do we know how many more ACOTAR books are coming?? I’m assuming for sure we’ll be getting Azriel/Elaine/Gwyn/Lucien next. Or at least I’m assuming we are...I mean sjm made of point of creating a triangle (square? If we include lucien?) HOW MANY MORE BOOKS ARE WE GETTING!!? 

And how long will we have to suffer until we get the next one. Yes I am aware that ACOSF just came out two days ago lol. Also aware that I am incredibly impatient. 

sjm...I’m looking at you!

[profoundbeliever]

This is def by far my favorite art for Elriel that I’ve seen thus far!

Death and The Fawn

[profoundbeliever]

Lucien, Jurian, and Vassa

The Band of Exiles™

[profoundbeliever]

Ohhhh man, I'd forgotten that the covers don't match 😒😒

[profoundbeliever]

If I had to describe that Az bonus chapter in just gifs

⚠️ Spoilers (kinda) ahead..you have been warned! ⚠️

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[profoundbeliever]

Hi! Can I grab the bonus chapter? Ashe.Howells@gmail.com

Sent!

[profoundbeliever]

To anyone that wants the azriel bonus chapter...I'm willing to share mine!!