#That come to fruition in acosf

[elainsgirl]

I don’t understand how antis say that elucien has as much foreshadowing as elriel. Apart from the unwanted mating bond what romantic moments do they have.

Alright, let’s count without being biased:

Ig him giving Elain his coat in Acomaf? I think thats the absolute bare minimum but for some odd reason its romantacised?

wanting too leave Spring to see if Elain was worth fighting for Elain.

erm. Hmm. Lucien telling them to take Elain out of the house and outside…which Amren and Madja also said

”she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen…she was nothing like Jesminda, Elain had been thrown at him”

Elain taking that halfstep towards him, it wS serving the good angst

A smile blooming on Elains face when she sees Lucien

Lucien fighting his way through the battlefield for her

and them having a conversation in the end of acowar together without anyone else present

Luciens gifts towards Elain if you ignore the fact her smile faded afterwards and she liked none of them enough to use them

I mean some *I* don’t find romantic and the books canonically does not place any significance on more then half these scenes so if we’re going by the books only and whats written to be romantic - 5-8 everything else is twisted interpretation. Now, The *only* foreshadowing that gives some leeway to elucien is Elains connection to sunlight and Lucien being an heir to day HOWEVER neither are connected together through sunlight together and you have to ignore Luciens autumn and fire imagery as that does not fit elucien in anyway. Along w Mass writing the line, “Lord of fire and Bird of Flame” between Vassien. With elucien, you have to disregard a lot of canon context to find some of their scenes romantic hence why you often find elucien’s purposely twisting quotes and scenes to show it in a better light

Ofc let’s look at some elriel scenes, *just from acowar* 1. Elain calling Azriels scars beautiful and not balking away from hin -> he blushes = romantic coded scene

2. Elain and Az chilling together in the garden -> Feyre looking at them and THEN questioning elucien’s bond, “why not make them matss?” - scene written to be significant.

3. Azriel mirroring Cass and going still at the sight of Elain -> we know how Cass feels about Nesta at this point, by having Az copy Cassians action for Elain it places both couples on the same romantic scale - again a purposeful choice by Sjm

4. “A seer” -> Az figuring out what was amiss w elain, Madja said only a mate can do so, so again written to be significant especially when you parallel it to Lucien standing there clueless

5. “You came for me?” -> significant moment for Elain, It wasn’t her mate that came but Azriel

6. Azriel cradling Elain to his chest despite swaying and bleeding

7. Elain rising to her toes and giving him a peck on the cheek -> no need for that, romantically coded again

8. The whole scene where Az gave her truthteller. THAT was written to be monumental, “Death and the lovely fawn” - I would not say this is typically romantic HOWEVER It is peak elriel foreshadowing and lore for their plotline w the prison.

With Elucien, thats all across 4 books. With elriel thats just ONE out of FOUR books. And ALL four books contain even more romantic elriel foreshadowing and plot. 1, 3, 6 and 7 are romantically coded and written. Its not something anyone can argue about. Its the standard formula for a couple written to be romantic and you can find this formula in any romance book. 2, 5 and 8 are significant scenes especially as they’re brought up again within the books, like you can’t argue against the importance of these scenes. As for 4 - its a stark parallel between Lucien and Elain, showing who understands her more.

so no. Elucien may have had some foreshadowing in acomaf and spread thinly throughout acowar but it no where near rivals Elriels scenes and foreshadowing especially as elriels’ are ones written to be remembered and significant. Eluciens aren’t.

[violetasteracademic]

I just finished cc3 and I’m worried the next book will be about nesta. Why do you think the next book is still about elain?

Hello my darling anon! Congrats on finishing CC3, you have sent this to a rare bird in the wild who actually enjoyed the hell out of it despite the flaws. So I hope you had a good time!

I'm a bit nervous to show you guys this side of me. Well, I suppose I've been showing it, but to compile it in such a way is quite another ordeal. That being said, I have toooons of links and resources to share why, for me personally, it is so clear that Nesta's story is *not* over, and Elain's book is undoubtedly next. Both of these things are true, but it has everything to do with the direction of the multiverse, which is very tightly woven, and *not* ACOTAR 5/6, which has been in the works for near a decade. Save this. Come back to it. Take your time working through it. I'm giving you everything, anon!

We have two parts at play: ACOTAR and the new series, which I have no doubt in my mind is Twilight of the Gods (more on that later) so lets start with facts before we move on to theory.

I am positive Elain's book is next because Sarah's messaging has remained 100% consistent since signing on the ACOTOR spinoffs in 2016. Moving forward from ACOWAR, she wrote ACOFAS as a novella to "bridge the gap" between ACOWAR and the spinoffs, and set up the future of ACOTAR. That was completely true for ACOSF, where everything that was set up has come to pass or been expanded on so far. The introduction of the Blood Rite, Nesta's mental health struggles, Morrigan being assigned to Vallahan, and the continued escalation of Elain's relationship with Azriel and Lucien's with the Band of Exiles. We meet Emerie, we learn more about the struggles of the patriarchy in Illyria, so on and so forth.

Then, we have ACOSF. The first dual POV romance of ACOTAR. This was only the beginning of a long term plan of dual POV romances coming to fruition. Here is youtube video from early on in the process describing the spinoffs as standalones that feature a different romantic pairing each book, but form a backbone when united.

By 2020, after ACOSF was announced, Sarah reiterated again that the new spinoff series features a new couple each book, with their own miniature plot and romance resolving within the overarching story of ACOTAR. Here she also shares that she plans to write a *lot* more than what she is contracted for, and has a ton of different ships to choose from. You can watch that here.

And now we move to 2021, after ACOSF was released, and Sarah confirms she always planned to write a book about Elain here.

This is actually a great interview and one of my favorites. You can watch the whole thing here. Eva Chen is a real one.

As far as ACOTAR goes, Sarah has continued to confirm in multiple interviews that her initial plans regarding the spinoffs have not changed, and still largely follow that initial outline she pitched back in 2016. And it was always going to be Nesta and Elain.

I will reiterate, ACOTAR is its own series with its own structure. Every ACOTAR book will feature a new couple with their own romance story. ACOTAR will continue to be exclusively a romance series from here on out. A lot of people speculate a lot of things on the future of ACOTAR. That we'll get a big finale with a multi-pov, that the story will end after Koschei, that we'll have a Kingdom of Ash style book. None of this is true. Sarah is going to keep contracting ACOTAR books until she runs out of couples. If you think this sounds odd, keep in mind that SJM herself is a fan of and grew up on Nalini Singh, who has series that started in 2006/2009 and are still going, featuring a new couple each book:

So, this is not strange behavior for the genre, and I think SJM is excited to have an ongoing fantasy romance series like this. And I'm excited for us to read it!

So, no KoA multi-pov finale. No second Nesta book. ACOTAR is an ongoing romance series with an "unspecified number of books remaining."

Okay! Now let's talk about Nesta! Bone Carver voice: Nestaaaaaaa

I'm going to do something just for you, Anon. And whoever catches this in the next week or so. I left titkok as far as booktok/content making and whatnot and privatized all my videos with my face on them (for a variety of reasons. Some fandom/bullying related, some not) but I did a massive breakdown of SJM's publishing contracts and all of the lore for Twilight of the Gods build up. I did get some of my screenshots from other Tumblr accounts, and linked my sources in the caption! Give this a watch (it's long) and pop back over.

Obviously if you spend some time in the comments section, mostly the questions at large are regarding timeline. I'm happy to chat theory, but focusing on Nesta, it is incredibly important and specific that she had her role in CC3 and that she connected The Valkyrie to Midgard, aka Middle Earth in Norse mythology which is where Twilight of the Gods, aka Ragnarok takes place. We have seen Midgard, Hel, and I have no doubt we will see Asgard.

But take a look at the difference between Nesta and Azriel's journey in CC3. Nesta had a deep emotional arc with Bryce. She developed trust and a relationship with her that Azriel didn't. In the HoFaS bonus chapter, Nesta forged a bond and a relationship with Bryce's mom, Ember. Nesta and Bryce's development is what is important here: Nesta has now created the bridge between the Valkyrie and Midgard. Valkyrie are the chosen fighters of Odin in Twilight of the Gods- the war at Ragnarok.

Twilight of the Gods is coming, fam. Crescent City three also revealed that The Mother, Urd, and Wyrd are all the same entity. The Goddess of all creation and fate. She oversees all worlds, and another important but oft overlooked element in the CC3 crossover is the frequency of the conversations about the Gods:

So yes, Nesta still has a huge arc coming up baby! She is not done. No one is done. But the Valkyrie are gearing up to play a major role in TotG, not the next ACOTAR. I believe this also grounds the continuation of the tension between Nesta and Rhys, and these two powers at odds when it comes to making decisions. Rhys will protect Prythian first. Nesta is building the bridges to other worlds, and is willing to fight alongside them. Rhys has no relationship with Bryce and Midgard. Nesta does. And lets not forget the Pegasi!

CC3 was not about Nesta. It was about Bryce and Nesta. Giving the Starsword back to Nesta is simply because that is who Bryce had a relationship with, and will continue to have a relationship with in the multiverse, not because Nesta is getting another book. Honestly- who else was she supposed to give the sword, Mask, and Truth-Teller back to? Twilight of the Gods will feature characters from all worlds. Sarah confirmed it will be emotional to write because of the old faces we'll see pop up in her Today Show interview here. This interview was thoroughly structured and planned, and released on the same day as HoFaS.

Speaking of the Starsword, let's talk Azriel and his role in CC3. Azriel is now the only person we have seen carry both the Starsword (likely Gwydion from here on out) and Truth-Teller. Light and dark. The power that combined to unleash the magic on Avallen, otherwise known as the Prison/Dusk Court in Prythian. Nesta has her own sword, Ataraxia. We have not seen Nesta touch, wield, or use Gwydion. Only Azriel has.

There is only one other character at home in Prythian who has also wielded and used the full power of one half of that pair of weapons: Elain.

Nesta used Truth-Teller to cut off the kings head, yes, but Elain used Truth-Teller to travel through the shadows across a battlefield with no experience and no training. She held that blade, and it worked to her will, tapping into its magic.

Azriel also learned about the corruption of the Cauldron. This was his primary experience in the crossover- discovering that the Asteri, who force mates and curate bloodlines to create powerful offspring which they then churn through a soul meat grinder for food warped the Cauldron to enact their will. Azriel did not form a relationship with Bryce, or Ember, or form any sort of additional connections to Midgard the way Nesta did. His part of the story revealed the problems at home. His (likely) love interest is the only person who has used his blade there, while Azriel is the only person who has used Gwydion. Bryce notes that Azriel must have some Starborn blood in him. Silene confirms that the Dusk Court can only be nurtured and looked after by Starborn heirs.

So while Nesta's compass in the crossover pointed to Midgard and her developing relationship with Bryce, as well as her clear willingness to work with her, Azriel's compass pointed home. It pointed to his lineage, to the corrupted Cauldron, to being one half of Gwydion and Truth-Teller combining, the Dusk Court. All of which points us to...

Yup. Elain.

If this STILL isn't enough for you, I have made a few additional posts regarding The Glass Coffin (aka Sleeping Beauty, which Bryce plays for Azriel in the HoFaS bonus chapter) and some, but not all of the little Elain coded details in HoFaS. You can find those posts here and here.

I could keep going forever. I can reiterate that there was not one but two ACOSF bonus chapters, and both were about Elain. I can talk about about the fact that SJM always planned to write a book about each sister, and ACOFAS was about- duh- each sister. But this is already so long and full of so many links and resources. The wrap up is this- ACOTAR is now an ongoing dual POV romance series. Until she tells us that is no longer true, it is true. A new couple each book. Nesta and the Valkyrie are key players in Twilight of the Gods. Sarah confirmed she was writing Crescent City and Twilight of the Gods at the same time. The multiverse is happening, and it just takes a little bit of exploration to understand where the characters are likely headed.

I'll end on this note. Azriel and Elain are light and dark. This belongs to them. The bridge of connection between them- Truth-Teller:

Now look at how the combination of the Starsword and Truth-Teller is described in HoFaS, and tell me if it looks familiar to you:

And now alllll together again, fam! Who are the only two characters who have properly wielded and/or tapped into the power of the Starsword and Truth-Teller in Prythian?

Azriel and Elain.

I think that's everything. I hope this comforts you. I genuinely don't ever feel worried or confused. It is all so clear to me how Sarah wove this together, and I think it's absolutely brilliant. Eep! I just get so excited! So take a little bit of my excitement and release the fear. Half of the people making content on this blatantly hate one half of the next book and they willfully ignore that she has had one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, well foreshadowed and woven storylines in the history of SJM's writing. Of course that is only my opinion, but honestly, how could you NOT be impressed and excited?!

I can't wait. I just can't heckin' wait.

If you got through all of this, wow. You're the real MVP.

[yazthebookish]

Here's the thing about speaking on canon especially when it comes to an incomplete series:

Canonically, Celaena and Chaol fell in love.

Canonically, Celaena and Chaol kissed and slept together.

Canonically, by the end of Crown of Midnight Celaena tells Chaol she will always choose him.

If you hold on to that quote especially if you didn't get to Heir of Fire or Queen of Shadows yet, you'll assume Celaena will return because she said she will always choose Chaol.

Did she in the end? No.

The next book planted the first seeds of a potential relationship with Rowan that came to fruition by the following book and specifically towards the end of Queen of Shadows.

This is a big example of how the author is in control of what happens in canon and can shift canon to her own liking (which she did multiple times).

So, when talking about future scenarios and dismissing theories and opinions based on the recent canon information we get (ACOSF) in favor of the canon information from books that were published years ago, that comes off as being selective. That is like choosing to cling to what Celaena says about always choosing Chaol and dismissing the crumbs that are sprinkled in Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows because you're not a fan of the eventual outcome that is Rowaelin (that explains the Chaolena vs Rowaelin ship wars back then from what I was told were quite aggressive).

Just because it's canon that Azriel with Feyre saved Elain (as he did others) or carried her bridal style (which he did with Lucien and I mean she was barely a living being in his arms) or staying up late to discuss garden plans whether people take it as platonic or romantic, but let's take it as romantic—it doesn't mean that it eliminates any future changes in canon from a romantic perspective for Azriel and Elain ending up with different people. Just because people use it as canon doesn't mean it's set in stone especially if the series is incomplete.

Knowing what was foreshadowed in canon can't be done until the series is complete and you get the bigger picture of how the author wrote it. @bookofmirth has an excellent post on foreshadowing and I'm one of the people that fell in the trap of calling things already foreshadowed when it didn't actually happen, that's a theory until proven true to be a foreshadowing.

Readers are not in control of canon, the author is. So people might get disappointed if they cling to past canon to the point they'll be upset if the author decides to take a different direction than what they expected because—again—the author is in control of canon and what she decides to write is what becomes canon and not what the readers assume (even myself).

It doesn't mean past canon does not matter but there are certain plot points such as romantic interests that are easy to switch if the author decides it regardless of what she established canonically in the past—Sarah as an author is known for this it should not come as a surprise. She herself says that she doesn't confirm any couples until she writes the book because she is surprised by where the characters lead her, and in another interview she says she could be in the middle of writing a book and a ship pops up and she sinks the one she originally intended in favor of that. No ship is safe.

So using canon as a defense mechanism is not really that effective when it comes to a future romance until the book for that couple is written on paper.

Also, @acourtofthought did a brilliant post explaining canon that you should check out! This sort of is inspired by hers 🫶🏼

[nikethestatue]

If we elriels happened to be wrong no one can really said we were delusional. The 3X3 connection in the series, MC noticing elriel, the fact that they have a couple name death and the lovely fan and that BC just confirmed that elriels are not delusional that there is something between them. When antis call us dumb and delusional they are just reflecting fear because is canon they want each other noone can denied it. So if for some reason sarah doesn’t want to write elriel because of elain hate no elriel should feel dumb we read it right we got it right but is another thing if the author just decided to change the couple to please fans. Will i feel bad that they are not endgame of course but i will not feel dumb the canon is there telling us regardless of what happens we elriels didn’t read wrong. I have so many elriels feelings discouraged this week after reading HOFAS and it just no right when we are one of the few ship that actually base on canon

So here is what I've learned and, unfortunately, came to realise with SJM and this fandom:

everyone, every side, heavily over-indexes on theories.

Here is the biggest issues and the biggest problem with theorizing about anything that SJM writes--she is an emotional writer. The worst kind of an emotional writer, who uses her characters as vehicles for her own emotional releases. And when it comes to a writer that genuinely falls in love with her characters, that uses them as therapy, that has all these emotional entanglements with them, that hates them, that fantasizes about them--nothing could be theorized in good faith. Because when an emotional writer writes, common sense goes out the window.

We can think 'my god, she's been writing about this for 3 books now, surely this will come to some fruition!' but then, nothing happens, because an emotional writer writes according to their feels and not their plan.

I think since ACOTAR she's become more and more of that kind of writer. Considering her endless gushing over Rhys, her hour long interviews about how she lived through Nesta and how she wrote all of ACOSF as a weird self-help sex fanfic--all of it points to the fact that she allows her current state of mind guide her writing.

I think once she ended the trilogy, plus ACOFAS, she couldn't follow her own plan. A lot of the future books and storylines were set up in ACOFAS, but she veered off the path and started writing random stuff. It definitely shows. Her 3 last books were the longest and also the weakest of all her books.

So I agree with you--the theories ARE correct and the deductions that were made based on her writing ARE correct.

However, whether she is going to actually write what she intended on writing is a whole different question. And sadly, it makes all the theorizing, very wishy washy. It goes for everyone--Elriels, who have the strongest-positioned theories, Gwynriels, even Bryceriels. (Eluciens don't theorize because there is a bond and that's all they care about).

But yes, anything could happen, and nothing might happen. It's not because anyone was wrong, but mostly because SJM lives in her deep feelings.

[acourtofthought]

In the Novella, this was the last scene on page that involved a main character aside from Rhys or Feyre:

Cassian said nothing for a minute, his face a mask of stone. He’d been distant even before we’d gathered around the table in my mother’s old house to deliver the report this morning. Distant since Solstice. I’d bet decent money on why. “It will be a good sign,” Cassian said at last, “when there are twenty girls out there and they’ve shown up for a month straight.” Az snorted softly. “I’ll bet you—” “No bets,” Cassian said. “Not on this.” Az held Cassian’s stare for a moment, cobalt Siphons flickering, and then nodded. Understood. This mission of Cassian’s, hatched years ago and perhaps close to fruition … It went beyond bets for him. Went down to a wound that had never really healed. I slung my arm around Cassian’s shoulders. “Small steps, brother.” I threw him a grin, knowing it didn’t meet my eyes. “Small steps.” For all of us. Our world might very well depend on it.

It was a set up to the plot of ACOSF. That Cassian had been planning to train females to become warriors for years and a hint that the Valkyries would play a major role in the series.

In SF, this was the last scene on page that involved a main character aside from Nesta or Cassian:

Nesta held love in her own heart as she pulled the small, carved rose from her pocket and set it upon the gravestone. A permanent marker of the beauty and good he’d tried to bring into the world.

She found Feyre and Elain waiting halfway down the hill, Nyx now dozing peacefully in Elain’s arms. Her sisters beamed, beckoning her to join.

E/riels love using the fact that Nyx was dozing in Elain's arm as proof of them getting the next book but I don't think it has anything to do with Nyx or which two characters held him last.

I think the focus is on the rose carving. The fact that SJM gave so much attention to a carving that was made for Elain in Nesta's book seems (at least to me) to be a hint that something big is coming for Elain.

She plucked another figurine from the mantel: a rose carved from a dark sort of wood.

“He made this one for Elain. Since it was winter and she missed the flowers.”

Her gaze shifted to the carved wooden rose she’d placed upon the mantel, half-hidden in the shadows beside a figurine of a supple-bodied female, her upraised arms clasping a full moon between them. Some sort of primal goddess—perhaps even the Mother herself. Nesta hadn’t let herself dwell on why she’d felt the need to set the rose there. Why she hadn’t just thrown it in a drawer.

she pulled the small, carved rose from her pocket and set it upon the gravestone. A permanent marker of the beauty and good he’d tried to bring into the world.

In SF, we have Elain being hinted at going to Spring and the continent where Koschei is, we know Vassa's time is coming to an end, we know Lucien was placed in Spring and there are hints that he'll also travel to the continent, we have Lucien showing the markers of a High Lord.

Then the final scene of the book involves Nesta placing the wood carving that represents Elain as a "permanent marker of the beauty and good" in their world.

I'm also certain Elain won't end up training to become a warrior but I could see her journey involving "healing" (which would be the good she brings to their world, through her powers and optimistic and gentle nature). Maybe helping to heal Lucien and Tamlin / Eris's strained relationships, healing the land of Spring and restoring the people's faith in Lucien (considering Lucien tells us they believe that he was complicit in the lies Feyre told which is why he can't live there), and helping free Vassa from her curse (if Vassa's curse is actually a Valg type infection which healers are capable of destroying. Link to that theory here:

I also think the rose carving was symbolic in another way. Nesta has felt the need to protect Elain all her life and when she visits her family's cottage for the last time, she can't help but take this thing that symbolizes Elain. It's her still metaphorically holding on to Elain. She then sets the carving in her home where she see it. She's no longer holding it as tightly as before but she's still keeping it in her line of sight. But at the end of her book, she finally parts with the rose which I think shows Nesta's growth in finally letting go of Elain. That she'll no longer feel the need to protect Elain or tell her what she can do with her life. She's basically freeing Elain so she can head out on her own path.

Really, it's anyone's guess as to who the next ACOTAR book. SJM has said so many different things in so many interviews that an argument can easily be made for Gwynriel or Elucien. But if the novellas final scene (outside of Feysand) hinted at what SF would be about, I wonder if the final scene in SF is hinting at the journey Elain is about to take.

[elains]

One of my greatest fears coming off ACOSF was the High King plot. I absolutely hate the idea of it and I'll be very much screaming on the hill every single time that No High King is Best High King.

And as clunky as HoFaS was and as much I thought the Crossover was a slog, once I finished the book I was hopeful it wouldn't come to fruition. I could spend hours talking about my gripes with the transitions of power at the end, but it seemed kinda clear to me that the Fae Monarchy had to go. And if it has to go in CCity — are they really going to bring it back in ACOTAR?

I don't think so. Fionn currently is looking good in my book, though I'm not sure how he handled humans, so this may be up to change. Silene says he wasn't generous to her mother in regards to Gwydion and that he did not think she was a worthy succesor, but considering what Theia did and what she became, Fionn comes off as nearly prescient. He wanting to abdicate to is a point in his favor — at least it hints at him not being so power hungry he wouldn't even think of succession. He wasn't like Theia in this regard, who Silene herself thinks wanted to curtail their independence and make them loyal followers.

The problem: Fionn's line and Theia's bloodline are one of the same and this book hits us over the head again and again how the Starborn legacy is horror. It's bloody conquest, it's subjugation, it's oppression, it's hunger for power in spite of everything else. This is a theory, but if Rhys truly doesn't know about the, then I think the High Lord who founded Velaris might have been the one to refuse to pass it down the family line, so this history would finally die and the world would forget.

That brings me back to the original point: it doesn't matter how brave and heroic Fionn was because his Starborn daughters and wife tainted it irrevocably. Yes, yes, children shouldn't pay for the sins of their parents, but you cannot claim Fionn's legacy without claiming and acknowledging Theia's. The Starborn Fae haven't been Princes and Kings in Prythian for centuries and they'll never be again because to do so would be to go back.

To centralize power, to remove the courts' independence, autonomy, and right to rule themselves seems a counterpoint to the general theme of CCity of "Fuck the Fae Monarchy". I don't fully trust SJMs not to go "But because it's the good characters, it's fine!".

The High King plot will come up, I think, only to be shot down and buried. The Starborn will never have absolute power in Prythian or Midgard and Prythian. I like to think that Nesta will build over the bones of this legacy, give the Eight Pointed Star a new meaning — the Valkyries as warriors, protectors of the weak and those who seek succor, not their masters.

And Rhys? Rhys will reject the power. If we really end up with someone else primed to be High King (as Amren alluded to when Rhys shot thr idea down), I want to think that just like, they will decide against it.

Prythian will continue to have had only the one High King and it will be better for it.

[emilystheories]

I think you have some great theories but some require so much explanation to make it work and are buried in references and outside sources, we almost get away from what we know - SJM makes whatever lore she pulls from her own. Some are so complex and very specific to the way you analyze, we can't possibly expect SJM to have been on the same wavelength as you. Considering how often SJM retcons and contradicts herself in interviews, I just don't think she's putting in as much work as some fans do with some theories. Yes, she has plot twists and turns, but they aren't overly layered and she's not the best as creating two demensional villains either. She's also made some questionable writing decisions that so many fans never could've predicted. Like, I remember all the wild theories for KOA & ACOSF and none were remotely close to what she planned in terms of plot development aside from the obvious, Nessian as endgame. I think at best, the theories that do come to fruition are the simple ones even causal readers can pick up. I think you have some creative ideas, but I think we are expecting too much from SJM.I think she's a simple gal, who loves writing romance. Will you be disappointed if none of your theories come to be true? If none come true, I hope it doesn't stop you from expressing your thought and blogging, there's so many other fandoms who would appreciate you in their corner.

This is a valid point, so thank you for bringing it up!

I think first and foremost, it goes without saying that most SJM fan theories will (likely) be wrong in some capacity - my own included. I am definitely aware of this, which is why I am intentional with my wording (ie. I will never say "I figured it out!", or try and present my theories as canon facts). For me personally, theorising isn't about trying to be "right" (as that's pretty much impossible); instead, it's about pondering all the different possibilities that SJM could take in future books, and then sharing these possibilities within a community.

As for expecting too much from SJM - I am undecided. I do see where you are coming from, and I especially agree with KOA; a perfect example of this was Elide's character - SJM hinted several times that Elide had Blackbeak blood (which spurred on the creation of many incredible theories), but then it ultimately lead to nothing...? However, I also know that Merrill's hypothesis in ACOSF (about the 11 different dimensions, or as many as 26) is a direct reference to String Theory - and then the Harp, with the 26 strings, represents this. To me, this does indeed suggest that SJM is thinking about her worlds (and how they interact) beyond the surface level.

This is also why I often reference outside sources in my theories (such as mythology or folklore), because to me it is clear that SJM derives so much inspiration from these same sources. For example, Helion appears to be named after "Helios" (Greek god of the sun), and Thesan appears to be named after "Thesan" (Etruscan goddess of dawn). Knowing that SJM is connecting her characters in this way lends itself to questioning the other remaining characters - for example, why is Hunt named after Orion; a famous hunter in Greek mythology? Why is Mor named after The Morrigan; a famous war goddess/shapeshifter/banshee in Celtic mythology? Does it mean something? (Or, are you right, and SJM is just choosing names at random?)

So, I guess I can admit that I do have high expectations of SJM going forward, and that my theories reflect that. However, if SJM does indeed opt for more "basic" storylines in her future books (ie. much less of a crossover than we are anticipating), then it wouldn't be the first time that my theories have failed to account for that. In the past, I have actually posted theories for two well known TV/book series, and both went "viral" within those respective fandoms (I still remember when Reese Witherspoon posted a news article about my theory to her instagram story lmao). However, both times, the author went for a much more "obvious" ending, and as a result, I was on the receiving end of fandom backlash (that my thoughts were too "outlandish," or that my expectations were too high).

But, that's still part of the fun. Honestly, my one true goal is to write my own fantasy series - that way, I am free to include as many "outlandish" twists, turns, and ideas as I wish !! :)

[colorlesschristmastree]

https://www.reddit.com/r/acotar/comments/14dfjcr/acowar_is_making_me_feel_weird_about_rhys_and/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1

Reddit Feyre Anti’s been having a field day being petty bitches 🐀

They make me hope Tamlin dies bc I just know half of them are Tamlin, Lucien or Nesta stan’s. Acosf stan’s who are Anti’s of Feyre or the IC want Gwynriel to happen? Then I’m manifesting Gwynriel never happens even though I don’t care for Az’s ships either way since I can be petty too

I'm not even going to bother to look at that link because redditors rarely have takes that aren't idiotic and I know it's just going to piss me off.

You're just like me though, so many of my acotar opinions that aren't Feysand related are just spite for the fans who I really disagree with. It just makes my blood boil thinking about such rude, often sexist, stupid people getting their way. I want them mad when they see their theories and hopes for the plot not come to fruition.

[chairofchaos]

POSSIBLE THRONE OF GLASS SERIES SPOILERS BELOW and definitely spoilers for ACOSF and TOG in tags!!!!

I'm only going to address one part of this (because I'm not sure I've processed enough of the last half to join that discussion in any sort of productive way) but bear with me.

I saw something the other day where somebody said that they just view the most recent Star Wars trilogy (with Rey and Kylo Ren) as fanfiction that got made into movies. I think I kind of feel that way about reading ACOTAR. It felt like a bridge series to get SJM to another big plot, long, drawn out Big Bad Guy thing, presumably Koschei.

That's not to say that I don't like the ACOTAR books (in fact, I really, REALLY do) but they don't have that same gut punch power as Throne of Glass did for me. What SJM managed to do in Throne of Glass with the complex family and court dynamics of all the nations is just not the same in ACOTAR. While there was the one main character in Throne of Glass, it often felt even more like an ensemble cast, especially towards the end. That progression allowed complexity that I'm not sure we're ready for in the ACOTAR universe yet.

In that regard, I feel like ACOSF was like Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. We get the training arc with the Valkyries, Cassian, and Azriel. We get the introduction to a bigger plot. We have a bunch of threads that are eventually going to get woven into a (hopefully) very rich tapestry, more like the intricate plot of Throne of Glass.

It won't be quite the same, because we won't hold the same main character through all of the books, but SJM set up Nesta to hold a considerable amount of power and ability. I doubt she will set her aside, even if she doesn't remain a main or even POV character in the next books.

Another difference is the stark difference in characterization of some of the main characters from the first three ACOTAR books to ACOSF. No matter your feelings on that or what it may mean for the characters, I think it's safe to say at this point that some things have changed and will likely change further the more books we get. This is part of why in my own mind, I have categorized the first three as their own entity, and consider ACOSF the start of a second tangential series, despite the proximity.

There is so much potential for the story and I'm hoping that SJM will take it and run. Yes, I am actually hopeful. I know it can be easy to hate on SJM for any number of things but I generally prefer to look on the bright side when it comes to my escapism reading (bit of my life philosophy for you, not a critique).

There is potential for rich, deep character, world, and plot development. Only time will tell if it comes to fruition.

Ok I'm getting off my soapbox now. If you got this far, thanks for reading! I welcome your opinions in reblogs/replies.

Nesta doesn't belong in acotar. She is far too complex for such a shallow series. She'd have thrived as a character in ToG. Maybe then she'd have gotten love instead of being treated so poorly by the Fandom to the point people have said she deserved to be raped. literally what the absolute disgusting hell

[silverdreamscapes]

Azriel and Rhys’ conversation in the bonus shouldn’t be taken at face value

There’s been a lot of discussion about the POV, specifically Elain, Gwyn, and the necklace. But for me the most interesting part was the conversation between Azriel and Rhys, and I have a slightly different perspective than some. I don’t think the conversation is something we can take at face value.

Firstly Rhys. I’ve seen a lot of people use his reaction to catching Elriel almost kissing as some sort of proof that Rhys sees Azriel as toxic towards Elain and shouldn’t be with her or they wouldn’t be good for each other. Except, his reaction has nothing to do with Azriel, nothing to do with Elain, and nothing really to do with whether or not Rhys believes they would be healthy or good for each other as a couple. It came purely from a place of anger and the disruption it would cause for him politically and to his alliances. Not about Azriel and Elain as a couple. Rhys’ anger was his prominent emotion, not concern, and from the very beginning he comes at Azriel with hostilty.

Rhys sat at his desk, fury a moonless night across his face.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“(…) he snarled.”

Rhys growled.

“If you need to fuck someone go to a pleasure hall and pay for it.”

“but if I see you panting after her again, I’ll make you regret it.”

And then he brings up his objections, by bringing up the blood duel and the fragile alliances, which are all politically and personally motivated and not specifically about Elain or Azriel’s feelings.

“And your doing so will rip apart any fragile peace and alliances we have, not only with the Autumn court, but also with the Spring court and Jurian and Vassa.”

Which brings me to Azriel. One of the things that is repeatedly brought up by Rhys, Cassian, and other characters is how closed off emotionally Azriel is. How hard he is to read. How he has the best poker face because he never gives anything away. He is someone who is not comfortable sharing his feelings under the best of circumstances, and here he is, caught by Rhys. And the first reaction of his own brother and high lord who he loves and respects, is to be angry and accusatory. It is not the sort of reaction that would engender open, honest conversation and the sharing of feelings. Rhys’ first reaction is hostility and accordingly, Azriel closes himself off, deflects, and ignores Rhy’s questions.

“Azriel donned the frozen mask he perfected while in his father’s dungeon.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Azriel ignored the question.

Which brings us to this exchange.

The way that deserve is italicized, it makes Rhys’ question come off as more of an accusation than a sincere question. And if you notice, Azriel doesn’t actually answer the question, he deflects. If Azriel is already prone to not opening up or sharing his feelings, having someone he loves and respects insinuate that he shouldn’t believe he deserves Elain, is going to make him shut down even more and not want to confide to Rhys anything about his feelings for Elain. We also know he has a lot of shame and guilt about what he feels for Elain and himself in general, and I don’t think he feels he deserves her at all. In fact, it’s the opposite. Of course he isn’t going to answer Rhys’ question, which is why he deflects to Lucien.

And as for the “not planning” part, we need to remember what he said to Cassian in ACOSF, when Cassian asked him if he ever thought about children. He said “it doesn’t matter what I want.” He spent centuries in love with a woman who didn’t return his feelings, no matter how much he wanted otherwise. He now finds himself developing feelings for another female, and she’s mated to someone else, again proving it doesn’t matter what he wants. Children are the future fruition of a relationship with Elain, a woman he thinks he can’t have. Maybe he doesn’t want to get hurt again, and sexual fantasies are the safest thing he can allow himself, but never to allow himself to go beyond that. Why would he “plan” a future…a relationship, marriage, children, love…with a woman he thinks he can’t have and he isn’t even sure reciprocates his feelings, when he spent centuries pining for a woman who didn’t want him in return?

I think there’s a reason that it was Rhys who caught Elriel before their kiss and not Lucien, Gwyn, or anyone else. The entire exchange I think sets up one of the most interesting conflicts for the next book, and it isn’t a love triangle between Elriel/Gwynriel. I think it’s between Rhys and Azriel. Rhys was coming at Azriel from a place of anger and fear immediately after discovering them before he even knew what was going on, and then ordered Azriel to stay away from Elain. Azriel, who already suffers from shame and is prone to shutting down emotionally, wasn’t being honest in that exchange with Rhys and in a way, is an unreliable narrator because he is’t being honest with Rhys by deflecting or outright not answering questions. He’s shut down every emotion but his anger. Which leaves Rhys and therefore the reader, with the impression that Elain might not be more than a sexual attraction, and why he then orders Azriel to pay for sex elsewhere and leave Elain alone. I think this conversation was set up to create obstacles and angst not only between Azriel and Elain, who doesn’t know about Rhys’ order. But Rhys, who thinks a purely sexual attraction could ruin his tenuous political alliances, and Azriel, who was ordered by his brother and high lord to stay away from the woman he wants. The angst and tension is goin to be so good.

[princessofmerchants]

~25 ACOSF Days of Solstice~

A hand slid into Nesta’s, and she found Elain there, shaking and wide-eyed. Nesta squeezed her sister’s fingers. Together, they approached the other side of the bed. And when Elain began praying to the Fae’s foreign gods, to their Mother, Nesta bowed her head, too.

—ACOSF Ch. 76

This chapter is a heavy one. Pregnancy plot coming to its fruition, etc. But more important to me, Nesta wielding all three Dread Trove items. 👀

But my passage isn't directly about either of those.

It's this moment at a dying Feyre's bedside, between Nesta and Elain. It's a moment really between the three of them, and if I may be so bold, the Mother as well.

I softly gasped when I reached this moment during my reread. To have a vulnerably strong moment of openness and care between the Archeron sisters in this room where Death hovers to take one of them away from the others...

To have Elain, who has perhaps struggled most of all with her forced turn to Fae, invoke the Fae gods including the Mother in a prayer for Feyre, and for Nesta, who we recall has been attending the priestesses' evening worship services to fill the part of her that loves music, to join in that prayer...

Nesta who has also been blessed and favored in some way by the Mother throughout this story...

I just think this is a really meaningful and powerful collection of images when considering the series-wide character arcs of the Archeron sisters, as a family and as individuals.

I also think (predict) that this moment situates our thoughts of the three sisters in a way that sets up for what will come in future books.

25 ACOSF Days of Solstice Masterlist

[mystical-blaise]

Briar

Remember her?

If not, and you need a refresher: https://acourtofthornsandroses.fandom.com/wiki/Briar

There was a good while after ACOWAR, until I read ACOSF, that I was shipping her with Azriel. And I wasn't the only one. I had a good friend on board as well. LOL

I know, crackship, right?

But in ACOWAR, since Moriel was not happening, and I did NOT want (still do not want) the other one (the ship who shall not be named for the sake of my sanity), I thought, why not?

Az rescued her too, right? And poor Briar suffered horrible torture and burns in Hybern's camp.

But alas, that did not come to fruition. Also doesn't matter because after the minute Gwyn interacted with Az, I was sold on Gwynriel.

I'm actually curious to see if we'll see Briar again in a novella or in the Mortal Lands when we see more of Vassa and Jurian. To actually give her name tells me there's more to her than just a mere passing. Last we saw, she was on her way to the Winter Court, so fingers crossed.

[nikethestatue]

How do you think Elains book will be? Do you have high hopes for it? I do but after acosf I’m just not sure. There’s so many great things set up but I just dont know if it’ll come to fruition.

Like your post about Nesta, sometimes she’s acts 13 the other times a grown woman. I’m really hoping it’s different for Elain. I just know if she’s seen as weak in any part of the book all the antis will go back to saying she acts like a “child” when really it was Nesta and Gwyn and Emerie. Squealing and making friendship bracelets like ??

I love SJM but i dont know if she was just confused or rushed with Acosf because most of the time Nesta’s character doesn’t make sense and isn’t consistent. I know like “hearing your inner child” type thing but it just seemed very messy.

Also I’m truly hoping for like a Acomaf level for A5 and I think it could be done beautifully but only if SJM really has a grip on the storyline and characters and now adding in all the cross over things I’m just very worried how it’ll actually turn out

I think ACOSF was all about self-insertion for SJM. She admitted being a funk, being emotionally and psychologically, and even physically in a bad place.

Perhaps with the Valkyries, she was relieving her teen friendships--which, unfortunately don't translate to grown women--and maybe wishing for closer female relationships as an adult?

I think she really wanted to write a 'healing' book. A book that is a journey. Without battles and great evil lords to fight. The problem is that it came out awkward, because she is a fantasy writer after all. There have to be battles and all. I get everything--the metaphors of climbing the stairs, the ribbon cutting, the ascending of Ramiel. But it wasn't enough. Especially for a book that's supposed to be about romance.

I am hoping for something lovely and intricate for Elain's book. What gives me hope is that SJM said, numerous times, that Elain 'healed' on her own. So hopefully, no more 'healing journeys'. I do want a romantic book. Fine, bring on the smut, but also....I don't know, feelings?

There is a reason most females don't enjoy straight up porn. Females enjoy smut with a side of story. It doesn't matter what it is and how it's presented, as long as there is something more than just straight up fucking. Unfortunately with Nessian, that's what it mostly was. The love story didn't grab anyone.

I think with Elriel, it wouldn't fit the characters at all, so I am imagining something angsty and passionate. Let's hope!

[yazthebookish]

Im uncomfortable with the argument that Az shouldnt help the Illyrians cause theyre incapable of changing their ways. All I think of is ppl like Emerie who are being hurt by these social structures that IMO can be brought down but ppl are ok with Az leaving them to suffer cause they think his trauma to an entire race of ppl and not the systems of abuse that facilitate it. Also as a POC to see ppl say the only large POC group we have is incapable of not being abusive and sexist feels... wrong

Azriel's hatred towards the Illyrians has been addressed as an issue in the book multiple times and not just a vague concern. It will be dealt with in his book.

“I know you’re not Illyrian, but … amongst their kind, it is considered … inappropriate to touch someone’s wings without permission. Especially females.” Their kind. Not his. (ACOWAR)

“The Illyrians are pieces of shit,” he said too quietly. (ACOFAS)

“Their families have lost something irreplaceable,” I said carefully. Azriel waved a scarred hand, his cobalt Siphon glinting with the movement as his fingers cut through the air. “They’re hypocrites.” “And what would you have me do, then? Disband the largest army in Prythian?” (ACOFAS)

It was healthy, perhaps, for Az to sometimes remember where he’d come from. He still wore the Illyrian leathers. Had not tried to get the tattoos removed. Some part of him was Illyrian still. Always would be. Even if he wished to forget it. (ACOFAS)

“What, we’re doing some role reversal? Az gets to lead the Illyrians now?” “Don’t play stupid,” Rhys said coolly. Cassian rolled his eyes. But they both knew Azriel would sooner disband and destroy Illyria than help it. Convincing their brother that the Illyrians were a people worth saving was still a battle amongst the three of them. (ACOSF)

Confronting his people is part of his healing journey. It cannot be left out. And you're right anon, it doesn't sit well with me that the Illyrians are suffering because of their abusive and sexist system especially towards females including Emerie, Cassian's mother and Azriel's mother.

The Illyrians are capable of change, however that change must be as brutal and stubborn as they are. I can't see the Valkyries led by Emerie be the only drivers of this change, Azriel and Cassian are needed to support them and later Illyrian females fall behind.

It is hurtful to imply that the only largest POC group in the book are incapable of moving forward and adapt to changes especially when their system is in much needed reform. This issue cannot be ignored and swept under the rug.

There are many good and kind Illyrians out there that are victims of these systems. I doubt we will witness great change in one book but I hope at least we witness it's fruition.

[devaneiosinfinitos]

My thoughts on ACOSF

!!!!MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!

I was really looking forward to this book and Nesta and Cassian’s story and I really wanted to love it, but it fell really short. If I were to define ACOSF, I'd say: Wasted potential.

After finishing it and rereading some parts, my conclusion is: there are some pretty cool scenes, but that's not reflected in the rest of the book. I was disappointed and frustrated with several things. I was angry with others and found that many points in the plot were not really developed.

Here are some things that really bothered me (and this will be long):

ENDING RUSHED

I thought the ending was rushed. There were many things happening at the same time and none of them got a proper conclusion. For example, the Blood Rite and the birth. At one point we’re reading about the Blood Rite and how Nesta was fighting the other Illyrians so Emerie and Gwyn could win. Then, Queen Briallyn and Cass arrive, Nesta destroys her and gets the crown and then Azriel and Mor arrive and take them to Feyre. And that’s it. All that build-up for what? For a few paragraphs of Nesta meeting Gwyn and Emerie after the birth and briefly discussing it. And then of Nesta reminiscing of when she told Cass and Az the details of it and they pointed out what needed to be corrected. SERIOUSLY? The birth scene totally took the focus out of Nesta’s at Ramiel and the end of the Blood Rite and the AMAZING victory of Gwyn and Emerie and how well they did on the rite. There were chapters and chapters building up to the conclusion of the Blood Rite and what could come of it and then it was just over. So anticlimactic. Why spend so much time on it and then not even having one character acknowledging how incredible they were? That not only they survived it but Emerie and Gwyn won it and Nesta got so far and pulled an Enalius at the end? So few Illyrians have ever gotten that far and it has always felt like such a great accomplishment that Cass, Az and Rhys completed it, and then here we have women kicking the ass out of the challenge which has been unheard of and we don’t even get Cassian saying how proud he was? There was a lot missing at the end of that narrative. I wanted Cass, Az, and Rhys making a big deal out of their accomplishment. I wanted the Illyrians reactions about their victory and performance and what that could mean moving forward. I wanted more of how Emerie and Gwyn felt winning it and what it meant for them and Nesta to have accomplished that together. What a waste. 

Not to mention, how rushed the entire thing with Briallyn and the crown was. One moment Nesta is destroying her and there lies the crown. And then, there’s Nesta using all three artefacts to stop time and help Feyre. They didn’t even discuss the fact that Briallyn was gone and that now they had the 3 artefacts. I mean, some people in that room didn’t even get to see the crown (Did they even know they managed to get it in the Blood rite?), let alone discuss the significance of it. One of the main plots of the book was the search for the trove, and then when they have all 3 artefacts, that’s just completely brushed over. Again, SERIOUSLY? All these plots and none with a development/conclusion to match the build up.

NESTA’S POWERS

I don’t even know where to start with this one. Every time I remember that Nesta gave up her powers I get pissed all over again.

Nesta’s powers have been hyped up for a long time. A LONG TIME. Now, we finally have her book where we delve into her journey and where her powers are supposed to be fully explored and WE NEVER GET THAT. Thank you for nothing, Sarah. Her powers are not even fully explored and then she gives them up. We never really get to fully understand her powers and get to see her really using them. THERE WAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL. I wanted to see her wreak havoc and fully embrace her powers and become one of the most powerful and deadly characters in Prythian. I wanted to see more of her being in control of her abilities and being her badass self taking a hoard of bad guys out. I wanted to understand the extension of her powers. But nope, just as she’s starting to learn about them, she loses them. SO ANTI-CLIMATIC (it doesn’t matter that apparently there’s a bit left, that’s not the point). When she was engulfed in silver fire in her room and Rhys came running? That’s what I wanted to read about. Nesta never really used her silver flames and we never got to really understand what they meant. Ok, they were cold rather than hot. WHAT ELSE? Why is the book even called A Court of Silver Flames? Isn’t that supposed to indicate that said silver flames will be significant? The most significant thing about them other than the bedroom scene are the silver flames that appear in her eyes, and that was not even fully developed either. Is it only when she’s about to lose control? Or angry? Or emotional? When the silver flames appear in her eyes it’s always highlighted that “nothing Fae looks through them” (this was pointed out more than once) and Cass even says at one point that that’s the being the Bone Carver whispered about and exalted and feared. We had the Bone Carver, a creature of thousands of years, calling Nesta a queen and saying she was as "ancient as the sea" and we have Lucien saying that maybe some things should not be awoken and "mother spare you all" when he sees Nesta training and I feel like all that foreshadowing never really came to fruition. LOOK AT ALL THIS BUILD UP. 

Nesta’s been hyped up as this powerful Death Queen or as this being with great powers and the culmination of her journey in this book resulted in her giving it all up to save Feyre, Rhys and the baby. Rhys, that up until that point hadn’t really done anything that made him worthy of her calling him brother. Since Sarah came up with this death in childbirth plot (I could’ve gone without this one, seriously), yay for Nesta saving them because it’s not like I wanted them to die (I hope they learnt the lesson with that stupid bargain though). But this entire plot could’ve been addressed differently. AND BETTER. In the end, it undermined Nesta's powers narrative. Why build this plot up so much and include so many things that could be considered foreshadowing if you’re not going to fully develop it in the character’s main book?

IC’S BULLSHIT

Ever since ACOFAS, I was waiting for someone (preferably Nesta) to call the IC on their bullshit and their self-righteous hypocrisy. But it never happened. We had that God awful intervention scene and Mor saying bad things and Amren being gratuitously cruel and Rhys insulting Nesta and Feyre taking her freedom away and none of that is ever addressed again. Ok, I get they were trying to help her with their intervention, but they could have approached that very differently and much better. I felt really bad reading that, and they all got away easily with their behaviour towards her. Sometimes it felt like they were kicking a dog who was already down. Especially Amren. She called Nesta a waste of life and Nesta bloody knelt to apologise to her, holy shit, I can’t get over that. And Amren never apologised. I feel like there was a lot of apologising coming from Nesta, but not enough coming from others. The IC were disrespectful towards her many times (and not only in this book), and that’s it. All swept under the rug. 

Later on in the book, Rhys says that Nesta always has a choice at the Night Court. REALLY, RHYS? Are you not tired of contradicting yourself? Because it sure as hell didn’t feel like she did. They even try to use Elain as a way to manipulate Nesta to do what they want. Not to mention that it feels as they are really pressuring Nesta to get better soon and fast (with the exception of Cass, who says she can take however long she wants), but the IC should look at themselves. Mor and Az are still dealing with their traumas after hundreds of years. Cass himself says that it took him years to get over what happened to his mom and what he did (and he still deals with the fact that he often feels inferior for being a bastard). And they want Nesta to be a happy healthy version of herself so soon? Please. I think a scene where their behaviour is addressed would’ve felt earned. I’m pissed that we didn’t get that. And that Nesta didn’t get that. And that because the IC are never called out on their often toxic behaviour (it happens towards Lucien as well), they don’t learn. 

Also, Rhys and the rest of the IC hiding from Feyre what it meant that the baby had wings was a really infuriating move. So so wrong. That type of thing should not be hidden from the person carrying the baby. It’s her life and her body. To be honest, I didn’t like how the pregnancy plot was written at all. I was already expecting that Feyre would get pregnant, but I hoped it would be later in the series for a myriad of reasons. The way it was done here didn’t really work for me, and I think many things didn’t make any sense such as how the birth would (or wouldn’t) work. I mean, Cassian had his guts hanging out of his stomach and lived, but a C-section is not possible? Come on.

RELATIONSHIPS

I think that by the end of the book there were some key things missing in some of the relationships. For example, the relationship between the sisters. It all appears well in the last scene, but I missed a scene where all three of them ACTUALLY talked and discussed things - their relationship and their parents and their past. You know, a decent conversation where they could explain things and ask for forgiveness or also say thank you where it was due.

I also would’ve really liked if Cassian had said “I love you” to Nesta. I don’t doubt his love for her and I know he has loved her for a long time and he has shown that love with attitudes on several occasions, but I think with Nesta, who had never really said “I love you” to anyone (she said it to Feyre for the 1st time in the birth scene), it would’ve meant something to her to hear those words, especially after thinking so little of herself for so long and not feeling worthy of affection and thinking everyone hated her. I think it would’ve felt nice to close that part of her journey with him saying it as well. Also, I kind of missed soft/tender moments between Nessian thoroughout the book. Yeah, they have an angsty relationship and Nesta was in a healing journey and the smut was great, but I think there could’ve been more sweet moments in the middle, you know? Because they only truly recognise the bond at the end, so the fluffiness is mostly focused in the last pages, and I wanted a bit more of that here and there. Not a lot that would change the dynamics of the relationship, but just a bit more that would balance the smut and angst a bit and make me sigh. Sometimes I thought there were too much smut and angst and not enough relationship growth through conversation and softness.

HIGH KING 

I really dislike the High King idea and I have a feeling that’s exactly what Sarah might do. Not long ago, the IC was shitting on Vallahan for wanting to conquer other territories and then there’s Amren saying Rhys should become High King and rule over the entirety of Prythian. Where did that even come from? That entire conversation and everything Amren said was just mindboggling. Not to mention that according to what she said, Rhys would become High King using the weapons that Nesta created. Same weapons that Amren said nobody should use (but it’s ok if it’s Rhys, right? *Eye roll*) and that no one should tell Nesta she could create. Not to mention that the entire idea of all the courts submitting to one ruler/court (in this case, to Rhys) sounds very imperialistic. They should all be aiming to coexist peacefully and harmonically and find ways to work towards that, not using this High King idea as a solution.

Plus, Rhys cannot even unite all of his own court (There’s rebellion building with the Illyrians, there’s the Court of Nightmares and all the problems there…), and Amren wants him to rule over Prythian? Also, something about the Court of Nightmares that I often wonder about. Is Mor the only decent person to be born there? Because I have a hard time believing that there is not another single decent soul in that place. Maybe someone that dreams of going to Velaris and escaping the Court of Nightmares but that just finds themselves trapped there because it’s not like Rhys and the IC give anybody a chance to get away. Do they even look for people that might be suffering there without deserving to? I mean, Mor came from there. Don’t they think there might be others? Even with the agreement they have with Keir in ACOWAR, it’s not like they are open to the idea. And it’s completely fine to want to protect Velaris from the evil and cruelty that exists in the Court of Nightmares, but again, that shouldn’t mean they shouldn’t even contemplate the chance that there might be people there worth of being in Velaris. That doesn’t earn Rhys any points towards the High King thing.

Moreover, that stupid bargain Rhys and Feyre made also doesn’t get him any points. Since learning the baby had wings, Rhys knew the chances of Feyre dying were very high. If she died, he’d die as well. You’d think a responsible ruler would make plans in case that really happened. You know, like talking to the IC and making plans about their next moves and discussing how they should proceed and just analysing the options after his and Feyre’s powers go to who knows who (If it went to Keir… Shouldn’t they prepare for that?). I mean, imagine the chaos that would ensue should Rhys and Feyre die, and it’s never even addressed that Rhys is considering these things. He didn’t even tell Amren, his second in command. Honestly, what a mess. I’m glad Rhys was categorically against it and that it doesn’t seem like he wants that, but it sounds just like Sarah to come up with a plot that the High King title would just fall on Rhys’s lap or be the only way out of a situation and that by becoming High King he’d be saving Prythian of something worse. I’m rolling my eyes just thinking about it.

So… These are just some of the things that bothered me. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t nice things in the book. Like I said in the beginning, there are some cool scenes and specific things that I really liked (such as Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie’s friendship, for example. They are just wonderful. And Nesta and the House of Wind. And Nesta and Azriel (I wanted more of this relationship). And Cassian’s support. And the Valkyries inspiration), but the book in itself? More potential than any other thing. It was a let down.

[psychee92]

We are confident that Elriel will be the couple in the next book (or a future book) after tonight because Sarah has confirmed something that we’ve always known: she has been planning Nesta AND Elain’s stories since ACOMAF, and scattered crumbs foreshadowing both their stories throughout the series.

The stage has been set since the beginning—she’s always known what would come and made a point to specifically add scenes/information/breadcrumbs/hints in each book.

We’ve been saying for YEARS (with receipts) that there was something brewing between Azriel and Elain. We’ve been called delusional, attacked for supporting an “incestuous” pairing (the brother/sister argument), told that our ship was a pipe dream that would never come to fruition, and so on.

So excuse us when we take a moment to rejoice in the fact that WE WERE RIGHT. Other than her sisters, Azriel is the only person Elain has established a relationship/connection with throughout the series, the person she has interacted with the most. If you look at the series as a whole, ACTUALLY LOOK, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Our joy, however, comes from the news that Elain will be getting her own book. Before anything else—any romance—we are all fans of Elain. She’s been hated, insulted, doubted, sidelined by fans for YEARS and, while we’ve always known that she would be getting her own book, hearing it confirmed that she’ll finally get a VOICE, that she’ll finally have the spotlight, is what ultimately overjoys us.

I won’t get into more details—I could spend hours bringing you textual evidence gathered from years and 5 books (ACOSF included) filled with source material—because if you don’t want to see what’s right before your eyes, you won’t. I just wanted to clarify our collective reaction to today’s news.

I think it’s ridiculous that I even have to add this at the end of this post but the fandom has been out of control lately, so here it is: I have nothing against Gwyn or Lucien, and look forward to seeing their own stories unfold on page.