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nightcourtreader · 11 months ago

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Azriel's Plotlines

After my acotar series re-read & reading HOFAS. I think that SJM gave us clear plotlines for Azriel. Or at least potential ones for him to tackle. And since I think that Gwyn would be his love interest, I think Gwyn has a clear connection to these plotlines as well. Which I think includes Illyria/illyrians/ramiel, the autumn court, the prison & the valkryies.

This contains HOFAS spoilers by the way!

Illyria/Ilyrians

* SJM introduced the Illyrian plot line early on in acomaf. When we first heard about them we learned that some Illyrians sided with amarantha & had rebellion groups which Rhys, Cassian & Azriel all hunted down & killed, causing unrest in the Illyrian camp.

* In acomaf, we also learned how the Illyrian men treat their women & how it's been a long standing issue. And we know it's still a problem today despite Cassian trying to make progress.

* In acowar, the illyrians fought in the war but in acofas it was clear that afterward they were upset with the bat boys because some soldiers died in the war and didn't get to come home. Causing more unrest. And pissing Azriel off because he said that they trained for that exact reason and he called them hypocrites despite Rhysand trying to show Azriel the illyrians side of things. But it was explained that Cassian help fix the unrest and rebellions in the Illyrian camps and they knew that the blood rite would also help with that unrest in the early scenes of acosf.

* By the end of acosf. It was made clear that the Illyrians weren't happy that the valkyies participated in the blood qualifier and the blood rite. No matter if the Valkyries joked about it, it has been well known that the illyrians take the blood rite quite seriously to the point that they have a law that no one can interfere with the blood rite, not even the damn high lord. They hold that tradition sacred. And there are other Illyrians who lived in the blood rite that can confirm that the Valkyries killed other fellow Illyrians, do you think that will sit well with the illyrians with their twisted views about women? I don’t think so. It’s going to be a future conflict in a for sure.

* From the jump once we were introduced to Azriel, it was clear that Azriel hated the Illyrians. Whereas the other batboys do not. Azriel is an Illyrian whether he likes it or not, he’s going to have to come to terms with it. Because if he hates the Illyrians, then that means in part he hates himself. Which is a long standing issue with him.

* Cassian told us in acomaf, that the Illyrians don't like high fae and don't like it when high fae try to tell them what to do. So the illyrians def don't like the fact that Rhys is halfbreed and SJM didn't fully tackle Illyria through Cassian, despite Cassian being their general and especially since she gave Cassian a plot line of learning to be a courtier. So I think it makes sense to give the plotline to Azriel.

* The Illyrians have rebelled before, toed the line of rebellion in acofas and can rebel again with the events of acosf. The Illyrians can out right refuse to fight with the night court in an upcoming war. They make up majority of the night court armies. If they don’t fight, the night court won’t have a standing army.

* I think this connects to Gwyn because she participated in the blood rite alongside nesta & Emerie. Gwyn herself stated that the Illyrians were going to be furious. Emerie, an illryian herself stated they would be in hysterics for decades. I believe there is going to be conflict with the valkryies & the Illyrians. Nesta wants to build an all female unit. Cassian is trying to train Illyrian women. What if nesta starts recruiting Illyrian women?

* In HOFAS, we also learned that Truth Teller was once wielded by Enalius, one of the first illyrians and the male the illyrians honor with the blood rite. Another illyrian connection for Azriel. And Truth Teller also came into Fionn’s possession, who was prythian’s first and only high king. Theia stole the blade from Fionn’s dead body.

* We know Azriel’s shadowsingers abilities came to him when he was locked in a dungeon at his fathers estate and his father threw him in the camp at the age of 11 after he recognized Azriel’s abilities so either he found that knife somewhere in illryia or the NC or somewhere completely different. Hopefully we find out.

Ramiel

* In acofas Cassian said ramiel always felt alive somehow, awake.

* In acosf, Eris said that “Unsurprisingly, the Illyrians were never curious enough to see what secrets lie beneath Ramiel. If it, too, was carved up like the others by ancient hands.” Why does Eris of all people mention this?

* In HOFAS, Vesperus, the Asteri told Bryce, nesta & Azriel while they were are the prison isle, that the asteri hid pockets of their power around the lands and asked have they looked at the bottom of every sacred mountain, at the roots. We all know the 3 famous sacred mountains in prythian. Ramiel, the mountain in the middle, and the prison itself. Which Eris also confirms in acosf.

* In acosf, when we got the daglan’s backstory, we were told that the asteri/daglan were rushing to get to the top of ramiel due to that black monolith on top but Enalius held them off. In acosf, we found out that the black stone is able to teleport & heal the people that touch it. Gwyn & Emerie found themselves in a parlor at the river house and they stated that they think the stone knew where Gwyn and Emerie were needed most. So did the daglan/asteri thought that the stone will transport them home? Or at least to another planet they could infiltrate.

* It’s been highly speculated that the 3 stars that are the insignia of the night court are the names of 3 daglan/asteri. Or it could be names for the first Illyrians. Who knows. Hopefully we find out more on that.

* Also, the Illyrians are the only ones permitted to be on ramiel & the illyrians aren’t even allowed to be on ramiel until the blood rite. And the blood rite is the time the Illyrians have powers. Why? And if that rule is in place, then I just know the illryians are definitely mad that nesta and Gwyn participated in the blood rite since they are not illryian.

* But I definitely think there’s something under ramiel. It’s been hinted at too many times that something is there. It hasn’t been explored enough. Especially with the rule no one is permitted on it until the blood rite.

Gwyneth Bedara

* As people already know, I think Azriel’s love interest/mate is Gwyn of course. SJM dropped too many hints and used the same wording for mates in the Crescent City series when it comes to gwynriel.

* I think the two would be a friends to lovers story.

* Gwyn would be a perfect counterpart to Azriel’s pov.

* Gwyn has been in the library since acomaf when it was mentioned that sangravah was raided. She said she’s tired of living in the library and she finally came out of it when it came to training on the top of the house of wind. And she was fully away from the house of wind when she went to go comfort nesta at emerie’s house & when she was forced into the blood rite at the end of acosf. But despite learning to be a warrior, finally coming out of the library, SJM had her go back into the end, after Gwyn said their stories are worth telling, do you really think her story is going to end with her permanently staying in the library? I hope not.

* Gwyn has been described as glowing and having crackling energy, so we don’t know what powers she possess, so hopefully we find that out too.

* A big arc for Gwyn will be definitely just getting out of the library and I would really love to see how her journey will go because she really deserves to live a happy life after all she’s been through.

The Autumn Court/Beron

* Besides the night court, the autumn court was the second most talked about court in acosf, to the point where Eris made several appearances throughout acosf.

* In acowar, the night court agreed to support Eris’s claim to the throne when the time comes. To the point that Eris suggested that Rhys kills Beron before the war even started. At the very end of acowar, in text it stated “Eris continued by as if he hadn’t heard it, but didn’t sneer at least. Rather—he just nodded at Rhys. It was silent promise enough: soon. Soon, perhaps, Eris would finally take what he desired—and call in our debt.”

* It’s clear that Beron has become a huge problem and a huge liability to prythian. In acowar, he didn’t want to fight with the rest of the courts against Hybern. And now in acosf he’s aligned with Briallyn and is looking to align with Koschei.

* Beron is so much of a problem that Cassian said “But no one had been able to decide which was the bigger threat for them: Briallyn and Koschei, or Beron’s willingness to ally with them.” Beron is so much of a problem that they were trying to decide who was worse Briallyn & Koschei or Beron.

* In acosf, Eris also confirmed that Beron wanted to take over Spring Court lands. Quite honestly, Beron is the one who is putting the Spring Court into danger. No one else wants spring court lands. Autumn and Summer are the two courts bordering Spring. The others don’t have the direct chance to take over spring because they have to go through summer and autumn. Tarquin is too good of a male to try to take over Spring. He even took spring court citizens in during acowar.

* Eris also told us this at the end of acosf “My father is furious that his ally is dead, but he’s not deterred. Koschei remains in play, and Beron might very well be stupid enough to establish an alliance with him, too. I hope that whatever Morrigan is doing in Vallahan will counteract the damage my father will unleash.” Doesn’t it sound like Beron once again is going to be a problem?

* With Eris wanting Beron gone, it’s quite clear that Eris doesn’t want to do it himself, that’s why he keeps encouraging Rhys to do the dirty work. But wouldn’t Azriel be a perfect candidate since you know he’s a spy master & torturer? He can easily do it with Eris helping him get into the forest house and without it coming back onto Eris and the Night court.

* In HOFAS, Einar, aka the autumn king, wanted to use Bryce to go to prythian. I think it’s obvious that Einar is distantly related to the Autumn Court in prythian. Despite knowing the autumn court was formed after the fae went into Midgard and left prythian. Both Einar and autumn court residents have the famous red hair and the fire power. Then the way Einar and Beron are just alike. Like why would Einar label himself as the autumn king?

* We know that Bryce & Ruhn are starborn because of their father’s bloodline, and if Einars blood line is from the autumn court blood line, or related to it. Who’s to say that anyone in the autumn court in prythian couldn’t also have starborn power?

* Now Gywn has a clear autumn court connection. Her grandfather is an autumn court male & her mother was born in the autumn court. Which I think that’s where both Gywn and Catrin were born. But I think that Gwyn’s grandmother is from the spring court. Gwyns mother was given the chance to be with her mother’s people in spring or be in the forest house of autumn. We know beron is the oldest high lord. We know that he has a say about who comes and goes into the forest house but gwyns mother was given the option to stay in the forest house. Coincidence? I think not.

* I think sangravah is in autumn; the spring court didn’t have a standing temple around the time that Gwyn & cartrin were conceived and born. The Spring court temple was being rebuilt early on in acomaf before it was even stated that the temples were being sacked, Feyre mentioned this. Rhys nor Feyre ever mentioned sangravah when Rhys went to go visit the temple in Cesere multiple times in acomaf & acofas and Rhys only mentioned that one of their temples got sacked for the cauldron foot. Not 2. So I don’t think sangravah is in the night court. Plus it wouldn’t make sense to hide 2 cauldron’s foots in the same court. Plus Lucien also identified sangravah rugs in the house of wind in acowar. Lucien has never been to the night court before acowar, so he either had to see sangravah in spring or in autumn. And since spring didn’t have a temple, it had to be autumn.

* It’s not a coincidence that SJM connected Gwyn to autumn and then expanded on autumn in acosf. I’m wondering will Gwyn go back to get closure on Catrin’s death or if sangravah is even still standing.

The Prison

* Essentially, I think the prison is definitely something that nesta will deal with. But she’s close friends with Azriel and Gwyn and Azriel was there when they learned about the history of the prison.

* Like after reading HOFAS, SJM already left us clues about the prison in acosf. One meeting between Cassian, nesta & Eris showed that, this is what Eris had to say about the prison. “We don’t know why they exist, but do you not find it strange that two out of the three sister mountains have underground palaces carved into them?” “I’d hardly call the Prison a palace,” Cassian cut in. In HOFAS we found out that the prison was in fact a palace at one point. The question is how tf does Eris knows this when the prison gates are keyed to Rhysand’s blood?

* In HOFAS, Bryce, nesta & Azriel go to the prison and find out that it was once a palace which turned into a horrible dark prison to hide 1/3 of Theias star, just how the entire island of Avallen turned gray and dead to hide 1/3 of Theias star. When bryce took part of theias star from avallen, the land turned fresh with life. When she took the star from the prison, she instantly left so we don’t know the outcome of the prison isle.

* But Bryce herself thought that after she left the prison that it too turned back to what it used to be, a fresh island full of life. We also see at the end of HOFAS, baxian called Bryce and hunt to let them know that Pegasus were on Avallen like days later. And they appeared out of no where. Who’s to say Pegasus aren’t going to pop up at the prison now since they belonged to Theia? And we all know that Pegasus are connected to the valkryie in lore. The way SJM had the valkryie talk about miniature Pegasus in acosf and even had the house of wind conjure one for them is not a coincidence.

* Then Helion has 7 pairs of Pegasus, the holy number across sjm’s universes.

* Bryce told nesta to figure out why nesta had the 8 pointed star on her back and gave her the starsword. If Pegasus are going to live there wouldn’t it be perfect for the prison isle to be a valkryie base? @bookofmirths theorized on it and I totally agree. Nesta said in acosf that she wanted to be the general of a female unit.

* I connect this to Azriel because he was there when they found out the history of the prison, he’s still teaching the valkryies, and he’s like 1 of the 4 people that is closest to nesta besides Cassian, Emerie and Gwyn.

* Now the real question is what the heck is going to happen with the creatures in the prison if the isle did transform back to its original state?

* I think nesta in the end will be ruling the dusk court as a valkryie general. The dread trove is connected to the prison and it literally answers to nesta on command. And she now has the starsword. Tho I highly doubt it if she keeps it since she has Atraxia. But I think nesta will def need help getting it together as a valkryie base and like I said, since her and Azriel are good friends I can see him helping her. And we all know the valkryies are going to be right there by her side.

The Valkryies

* Since I think we’ll get a gwynriel book, it’s no brainer that I believe that it would include the Valkyrie.

* Their story is not over. SJM didn’t make the valkryie a major acosf plot point for nothing.

* At the ending of acosf SJM made it be known that the Valkyrie are still training with Cassian & Azriel’s help.

* There are only like a handful of valkryies, I really believe that SJM is going to have more women join the valkryie unit.

* I honestly think SJM is prepping the acotar world for another war with koschei or maybe with the continent. She wouldn’t have nesta wanting to be in charge of a unit of females for nothing. And then further giving nesta more plot development in HOFAS was very deliberate. Honestly, if nesta didn’t already have her story, I would think her book was next.

The shadows

* they came to him when he was locked up in his father’s estate when he was a child & they’re the reason his father threw him in the Illyrian camp finally, to train at age 11.

* I think it’s kind of clear that Azriel’s shadows are sentient

* We know they don’t like sunlight and when they’re hiding him, it can only be when it’s dark.

* They talk to him.

* They are his spies.

* But we also learned new information about them in HOFAS, the fact that they can detect when a person is lying & they cannot turn solid like how Cormac’s shadows were.

* Also it’s clear that the shadows like hearing their favorites sing. They dance around them 😂

Mor

* Mor said that she wanted to come train with the valkryie when she comes back from over seas and I think this gives the perfect opportunity for Azriel and Mor to finally have a mature conversation.

* I personally don’t believe Mor has to out herself to Azriel but I think she will let him know that she never felt that way about him and it was never because something was wrong with him.

* I do think that Azriel has lingering feelings for Mor but I don’t think he’s in love with her any longer.

* Personally I tbink also SJM can build up Mor and Emerie as well, if she decides to go that route.

Azriel's family

* in acofas it was hinted at that Azriel’s mom was still alive and he was going to give her a winter solstice present. And who knows how often he goes to visit her.

* In acosf, Cassian questioned why Azriel’s mom never came to the house of wind library to stay, and we all know what priestess lives there.

* In HOFAS, in the Walmart bonus chapter, Azriel also revealed that his mother is anything but awful.

* From Azriel’s backstory we learned that he had 2 older stepbrothers, his father and step mom and how they all neglected him and abused him. Rhys said they punished his brothers and what we have seen so far I don’t think it was ever confirmed whether his “family” were dead.

What are you guys thoughts about Azriel’s and his potential plot lines?

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