#a little bit of elriel in the end because why not?

[primulagoldworthy]

I just came across a podcast with Lucien's VA (from 12/2024) He was asked about his thoughts on Elain and Lucien and replied:

"Okay, so part of the reason why I hold back: I'm so sc- I love the fandom but I'm also so scared of them. You know what I mean?"

Yes, yes, we know what you mean, Gabriel.

He was reluctant to answer the pairing question. Can't blame the man. 🌷☀️

Also this interview was made by podcasters who lean more towards Elriel, but try to interpret the whole book as it is written:

So I felt like he was balancing in between and choosing his words wisely (especially since they mentioned that they believe Elriel is the thing before he shared his thoughts on the matter):

"I, too, agree that they will make each other better. Because I love Lucien so much. I think if he was to be romantically paired with someone, I would want it to start, start pure, to start right. [...] I think if you wanna do right by that character, I don't think a mate for him can just be another thing of circumstance. It has to be something he chooses. I think both Elain and Lucien, they need real agency. He is an emissary but his agency was all through Tamlin, and then there's always this discussions with Elain not needing more agency, but could stand to have a little bit more in comparison to Feyre. And I think a friendship where they both kind of shape each other for the better is such a more impactful ending than any romantic pairing that can happen. I want so much for Lucien in terms of his happy ending. It has to come from within, before it can come out. Cause I think he loved Jesminda, but she has almost become a tragic ideal for him. She's been immortalized in this way. And Elain, he doesn't know much about her, so she could also very well be a living ideal, but still an ideal. And I think - I see Lucien as a character who's going to, like, disappear and go off on adventures [...] I see him traveling. I want Lucien and Elain to go off and travel. They need to see, they need to, you know, especially Elain [was interrupted here, as the mods said how nice it would be if they traveled 'just as friends'].

"There were so many laughs I had to do with Lucien in the first book. I have a feeling she'd laught a lot with him. I just picture him just knocking his head back and just laughing and having a great time just traveling with, with Elain. [...]

"Elain's been just the sister who has been groomed just to, you know, be beautiful and sweet and kind, and find somebody. But she also deserves to have her rogue moment. Were she's just like, does something so completely unexpected. And I also kind of want her to go a little crazy [...]"

We're blessed to have voice actors who love their characters so much! I'll listen to their Graphic Audio version over and over again.

You can listen to the whole podcast here:

[elrielffs]

Isn’t it a funny coincidence that Elriel shippers mostly like the Inner Circle, Mor, Nesta, Feyre, Elain, Cassian, Rhys?

But Gwynriel shippers are always (maybe some exceptions) anti-Inner Circle, anti-Mor/Rhys/Feysand/Cassian, anti-Nessian, anti-any main character, anti-ACOTAR (some cases or literally hating almost every main character). But they are ONLY pro-Nesta and pro-Azriel, additionally to pro-Valkyries who are not like the majority morally grey characters

The perfect characters, like Azriel (because we only got one pov and they turned him into headcanon to fit the fanon Gwyn version) or like Gwyn (who can’t do anything wrong) or Emerie-who? That Illyrian woman who was set up since ACOFAS but she can’t be with Azriel so who cares

And then they expect the next book to be: Nesta/Azriel POVs, or Azriel/Gwyn

Yup, it's funny isn't it?

There are plenty of Nesta and ACSOF fans that like the IC and the books. This isn't about them.

But there are some people that read ACOTAR because they heard it was big, it's the next Harry Potter, Twilight, etc, it blew up on Booktok and what not and from either slight curiosity or fear of missing out, or maybe they liked TOG and thought that they would like everything SJM, read the first 3 books of ACOTAR and didn't like it.

Which is fine. Everyone has different taste...but instead of moving on they decided to talk about how bad it is and not in a, oh this isn't for me way, but trying to moralize why it's bad, why they don't like it or the characters when honestly, it's not that deep.

Then comes ACOSF and thru Nesta they have confirmation bias forgetting that Nesta is...not healed for the majority of that book. Most Nesta Stans (not fans STANS) like Nesta when she's unhealed. They don't take into account the last bit of ACOSF. Nesta hating the IC, Rhysand, the NC to them was great because they hate the books forgetting that at the end, Nesta has made peace with herself and NC, IC, Rhysand because it was never about hating them, it was about Nesta. No matter where Nesta was, as long as she remained as she was, she was going to be the same hateful person. I also think a lot of is has people overly identifying with Nesta and retroactively trying to find reasons to dislike the NC like she does at first in order to be, "I'M JUST LIKE NESTA!!"

Not saying that you have to like the NC, Rhysand, and the IC but I mean, if you want to enjoy the books? Probably?? Because people who liked the unhealed Nesta pov want more of that, that's why there's all these theories of Nesta getting more books, Nessian breaking up, etc because they think they'll get more ammo for how the books are bad or the characters or whatever. And that's just not gonna happen.

They forget that Nesta is healed now, she's no longer the nasty mean girl that they can live vicariously through, she's happily mated and in love with Nessian and she is part of the NC and the IC.

And every one knows that for Elain and Elriel that puts a kabash on what they want from the series. That removes the IC hate, NC hate, Rhysand hate...but also they wouldn't get that in another Nesta book anyways.

They like Azriel for now but even with just the glimpse of his POV when he doesn't act like they want, he becomes the most disgusting MC. As soon as the book is out and he's with Elain, they'll hate him too.

There's also alot to be said about interpretation vs author intent and each book falls on a different scale on how far you can pull one or the other and I think for SJM, at the end of the day, author intent is how people should view the book because SJM is an OBVIOUS writer and her work leaves little room for interpretation imo. SJM does not intend for Rhysand to be evil, you can interpret it that way sure, but you are ruining the books and experience of reading them that way.

And that's the crux. If you see the books that way, you see them that way. And that means the books aren't for you but instead of moving on people are hanging on making the fandom horrible (seriously you can't even go to the reddit without supposedly fans hating almost every aspect of this series except for like 3 characters) and making wild theories that are never going to happen because it's based on their interpretation instead of SJM's intent.

And no the books aren’t above criticism but most of what I see isn’t criticism in good faith, it’s just hating to hate.

Anyone can read these books any way they want, it's their time and their money if they buy them but I don't understand spending so much energy on something you just obviously...don't like and hoping it turns into something it never was and never will be. The books are about the Night Court and Feysand and their family and friends and always will be the central focal point.

[elainsgirl]

I know you guys are threatened by Gwynriel but it's not a crackship. This is a crackship: A crack ship is a ship that is highly ridiculous, bizarre, disturbing, and/or unlikely to ever become canon. The characters don't have any chemistry, never interact, are in different canons or timelines, are different species, one is an inanimate object, etc. Gwyn and Azriel have chemistry, enough so that they've won more than half the fandom. They've got positive and playful interactions. Sarah chose to end Azriel's bonus with him feeling a spark in his chest for Gwyn and thinking of the image of her happy as a thing of secret, lovely beauty. If this had happened between elriel, you would be using it as evidence for your ship. But all Azriel says about Elain is that he hasn't thought past his sexual fantasies. Hardly romantic.

Saying that she's a lightsinger is a theory, not a fact. Even then, that means that Sarah intentionally added Gwyn as a red herring because she knew that readers would see Az's interaction with Gwyn as romantic. She wanted to cause the ship war on purpose. Don't blame the readers, take it up with Sarah

Why would Gwynriel be a threat? Az isn’t attracted to Gwyn. Doesn’t even see her as a friend. Never thought off her after their session, cared so little he didnt show much of a reaction to Gwyn particularly being taken in the rite. sure, he smiled at the thought off her but it’s not like his behavior changed towards Gwyn after solstice. In fact, despite spending time with Gwyn, even giving her private sessions, whose on his mind? Elain. Gwyn means nothing romantic to him. So No anon, we aren’t threatened by your little ship.

Gwynriel is unlikely to be canon given what Mass has said about the spinoffs and literally all the foreshadowing in the past 3 books + BOTH bonuses (Azriels isnt the only important bonus) and quite frankly most people do find it ridiculous you’re shipping Az with someone he wouldn’t call a friend, in the same breath he’s wanting to beg on his knees for another woman. So, Gwynriel ticks two checkboxes of your “crackship” list and that’s sufficient.

Here’s the harsh truth: the only reason gwynriel is popular is due to how hated Elain is as a character. Chemistry is subjective. People found chemistry between Feyre and Lucien. Nesta and Eris. Bryce and Azriel - anon, are any of those ships endgame? No. Are any of those ships foreshadowed? Nope. Just bcs YOU found chemistry between two characters doesn’t mean it’s intentional by the author or the author feels said chemistry between those two characters. If - at any point - within acosf, Mass felt chemistry between Gwyn and Az, elriel would have never been romantic/have shown attraction for each other. The first part of Azriels’ bonus between him and Elain would not have been written. Why wouldn’t they have positive interactions??? So, now any time Az has a “positive” interaction with someone, that means they can be shipped? This is the reason we have brycerials. You guys think - any small interaction Az has with a woman means they’re endgame and that’s foreshadowing. At least Az held Bryce’s hand instead of ignoring it like Gwyns…yikes. “Playful” where? When Gwyn made him chuckle with a joke? Rlly? Thats all you got? A bit sad ngl.

Yh Azriels bonus ended with him thinking of Gwyns smile - not inherently romantic - but one of Cassians’ final povs in acofas was an interaction with Emerie, AFTER his fight with Nesta leading some people to believe Cass x Em would be a thing in acosf. What matters anon, is what came off it? He smiled at the thought of Gwyn -> yet no where in acosf is there a clear shift or any subtle shift even that Az views Gwyn differently or vice versa. Az felt glow & sparkle (which according to gwynriels is mate behaviour) -> yet he showed no mate behaviour towards Gwyn at all thus contradicting the theory him and gwyn are mates.

If Az had felt glow and sparkle for Elain yet showed no mate behaviour, no anon. I genuinely would not claim elriel are mates. Its illogical. If he smiled at the thought of Elain yet nothing has changed in their dynamic after, again, how can I use it as evidence when nothings come off it? Its moot. Useless. Pointless.

So like Feyre telling Rhys she only wants a fun time and nothing serious with him and he agreed? Nesta telling Cass the same and they agreed? If Az had thought of a future with elain without her input = entitlement.

As to your last point you’re right. She did add Gwyn as a red herring knowing she would be shipped with Az. The same technique was used when Emerie was included in Cassians pov. What happened? People like you actually believe Mass would introduce Azriels li so late into the series, in a limited bonus. That she isn’t going to follow the mythology she clearly has laid out and instead make Gwyn and Az happen. That she would break apart a couple thats been building up for books for a new ship thats not even a ship yet within canon. YOU fell for the marketing technique. This whole shipwar has increased acotar’s popularity and kept the fandom alive and waiting for the next book, which is a huge success for Mass. Mass never told you to ship gwynriel. She never made them romantic. Gwynriels just can’t understand that when a man and a woman interact it isn’t always romantic.

[acourtofthought]

Listen being in the fandom, and observing this shipwars made me realize how much I have always been a golden retriever girlie. I would take them over the toxic “dark brooding” men anytime, any day. That’s also another reason why I changed from being unsure about Elriel or Elucien to completely loving Elucien. Coming out of the books I could not for the life of me understand the obsession with Azriel, I legit skimmed past him in the books, he was just there, nothing more nothing less. Yes he did some stuff, but he was still just there, he never moved me compared to Lucien or even Rhys and Cass, who could also be considered dark and brooding. However, after reading his BC when he gave Gwyn the same necklace he bought for Elain, or when he was talking about Elain like she was a property??? I was like yep that’s it for me. I just didn’t care who he ended up with any more, I was wondering why the girlies were still obsessed with him then I realized what his prototype was and it made sense why I didn’t care for him.

It’s a big thing in the romance world as well. The girlies only like the dark men. Whenever I tell my friends that I don’t like dark and brooding MMCs, they look at me like I am crazy, and tell me how boring golden retriever men are, but they just don’t get it.

Anyways, anytime I see a Lucien lover, I just know they are a golden retriever girlie. We are in the minority but we most definitely get ittttt. This is another reason why I became firmly an Elucien, because there is no way Elain is not written as a golden retriever girlie, I SEE HER, the dark and brooding can be intriguing but in the end the golden retrievers are just it. And Elain might not know it now but in the end she will get it and I can’t wait.

A friend and I were talking about something the other day, how the Shadow Daddy MMC is starting to feel a bit overplayed at this point and how Sarah has a chance to usher in the next big thing with a MMC like Lucien.

It's not that Sarah was the first to introduce us to Shadow Daddy's but she was the first to make them a super popular thing and the market is now oversaturated with them, with others trying to capture their own success because they believe that's what readers want. And she wouldn't be the first to write a MMC who breaks that mold, one who is sly and cunning but does not have the dark haired brooding thing going on, but is instead just a genuinely good, emotionally mature guy however she could be the most popular author to give that archetype mass appeal.

I don't hate Az but he kind feels like a Rhys knock-off with less emotional maturity and that makes him undesirable to me in terms of a book boyfriend (he's a Wirkin compared to a Birkin). At least with Rhys, despite his own issues with his own self-worth, he still set aside his problems to be there for the girl. With Az, he kind of makes his problems with himself everyone else's problem, where they all have to be aware of what sets him off and tiptoe around him (confirmed by Mor) so it becomes "me, me, me" instead of "her, her her". And he doesn't even have a bond with any of these women, can you imagine what he'd be like in Lucien's shoes? If he had a confirmed mate who was ignoring him?

I don't know, after marriage and kids and realizing all the work that goes into putting the needs of little people first over your own, I've found I have less interest in reading / dealing with men who need to be babied. You start to see the difference between someone who actually doesn't have the ability to fully process things and behave a certain way as their frontal lobe is still being developed and someone who should know better because they are supposed to be the mature adult.

That's not to say Az won't be an interesting character to read about but he's definitely not someone I would want to date or find fictionally romantically appealing.

But Lucien? He reads as a MAN. He's struggling but he's not making it anyone else's problem. He's out there respecting everyone despite the way they treat him, making himself helpful even to those who don't think much of him. He puts Elain first, walking away so she can be happy even though we see it's a physical and emotional struggle for him. He stays away because he believes it's what she wants despite how much it bothers him. Az stays away because he is putting his own feelings first, not because it's what is best for her.

I think the fandom is so divided on Lucien because people allow certain characters opinions of Lucien to sway their opinions rather than realizing that those characters opinions are pretty biased. To realize everything Lucien has been up against since book 1 and how he's never done anything but the best he can with the limited power he's had so far while putting the needs of everyone else over his own.

I do hope when Sarah gives him his POV in a book, everyone will finally see exactly why he's always been one of her favorites.

And you're right, Elain is 100% a Golden Retriever girl and the only reason she was drawn to Az in the first place is he's pretending to be one around her though that's the furthest thing from the truth.

[stargirlie25]

so many people say that Elucien and Gwynriel would be boring but Vassien and Elriel would be so much fun!

NAURRNAURNAUR

There is nothing forbidden abt elriel lets be honest. The only reason rhysand forbid them is not because he hates them its because he saw that it is just lust. Not some emotional bridge between them. Do we remember when Feyre went into luciens mind and she sensed what he was feeling towards elain? Its safe to say Rhysand did just that with azriel and then forbid it because his feelings are not even serious!! Do you seriously think Rhysand would forbid elriel if Azriel was falling in love with Elain? No. If he saw that they were in love, he would accept it and protect them because in ACOWAR he said that Elain would be supported if she decided against the bond. If later in the series Azriel said, ''i love Elain and she loves me'' Rhysand would 100% be supportive. The only thing in the way of elriel is Elain herself.

Now that we got rid of the fake forbidden aspect, what about Elain and Azriel. No forbidden love. Just Elain and Azriel. They are both accepting each other with wide arms. There is nothing interesting about that. In real life sure. Although now you have to think. In a book that only has words and leaves everything up to your imagination how would Elriel be interesting besides plots? No in real life your partner does not have to challenge you. Although in a high fantasy novel with these specific characters, they do nothing for each other. Elain would not help Azriel grow and Azriel would not help Elain grow. Lets be honest they both need growth. Azriel would just try to protect her and push down the idea of Elain doing big things. Not that its her fault but his shadows would continue to hide from her. They are apart of him! Elain and Azriel do have an understanding between each other but so does cassian/feyre and nesta/rhysand. I never thought they were romantic until ACOFAS. Also reading about another sister finding herself in the night court and a bat boy will bore me to death. Elriels have no other reason to say they are interesting other than forbidden love and plots. Its gone so far to say Elain will be a spy like azriel. ''The hewn city troubled her'' and so will every place Azriel tends to spy in.

Why do i think Gwynriel will be more interesting?

Well first off the fact that we figured out facts about Azriel when he was with Gwyn. Eg, He sings and sleeps with a dagger. Obviously yes his shadows! Although his shadows have been intimate with others but they do something they have never done with anybody, they dance and sing. They lighten around Elain AND Mor. SJM made these two women take away the darkness of Azriel. Then she inserts another, who embraces this darkness and smiles at them. There is multiple times where his shadows are out and he is not happy or he is stressed. I see some people say this is a bad thing. No not really. Azriel is aloud to be upset without there having to be a deeper reason. Also his shadows hid from koschei but who cares about that! Its important to note that he is happy/calm with Gwyn PLUS his shadows are out. That is growth. Not only for Azriel but for Gwyn also. Cassian AND Azriel made Gwyn feel stronger. In the start of ACOSF Gwyn says shadowsinger but towards the end she says Azriel. After the traumatic event, she feels comfortable around him. A man. That is growth. Not to mention after Azriel showed her how, she was able to cut the ribbon and become the first Valkyrie. She had been trying for weeks but after that one little lesson with Az, she cut the damn thing. Lets also note the fact that Azriel likes his space (got that from gwyn) and he isnt ever really taken by suprise. Although can you just imagine all of Azriels walls are up yet Gwyn makes her way in? It makes sense! Azriel said he is never really taken by suprise but Gwyn does that. IMO Azriel showed no personality for a lot of the books till he is with Gwyn. Now i can make a little bit of sense of who he is. Gwyn can simply answer a question and he can simply answer. It's easier on him.

Now Elucien my babies!!!!!!!!!!

We know that there is canon proof that Elain does not belong in the night court and that it sucks the general life out of her. Lucien has been struggling to find a home for so long and yes he has found friends eg,jurian and vassa although i highly doubt the human lands are his home. Elain has also made friends (nuala and cerridwen) although the night court still sucks the life from her. It makes sense though, darkness does suck away lightness. Now ive said before that the day court makes sense for both lucien and elain. For lucien, He can live in a place full of light (which is what he needs) and he can have a proper father figure and find a place where he is fully excepted. For Elain it also makes lots of sense. The day court helps people grow and Elain helps flowers grow. Not to mention it is still connected to the night court because feyre says that rhysands full beats form is helions beast forms are parallel and perpendicular at the same time! So she would still be connected to her sisters and friends. Besides all of this, Elain and Lucien have not yet found themselves. They have tried to find a physical home but there is still something missing. IMO i think Elucien will have the bond in which ''Home is not a place, it's a person'' They have always been the light in dark families so them together? Perfect! I also think Lucien would help Elain blossom. The buds in her mind are closed but light can help them grow! I think it's important to remember that Elain likes to help. She would help the servants at her home back in the human lands and she would help nuala and cerridwen. Although as if right now, every single member of the ic (except maybe amren) coddles her. It always, Elain doesnt go near- or Elain shouldn't- as if she does not have a voice and choice. HAHAHAHA IT RHYMES anyways given how Lucien acts, i feel as though he would help her be stronger in a gentle way. He himself does not like to be coddled or underestimated and says safe is boring. He would for sure understand elain!

Anyways there is much more deeper reasoning but this was all i had energy to write!

[loveyazy]

Hi! So I haven't read acotar (well a little bit but it didn't hook me) but I've been reading your posts about the upcoming book and I'm so curious, I don't know these characters but the second hand gossip is fun and I'm rooting for them lol when does the book come out? when will it be announced who the protagonists are?

JSHDKAKJSD I had written so much on my phone but then I closed all the apps and I lost it so hopefully I can remember most of it still.

The thing is it's OBVIOUS it's going to be Elain. She has even said in this interview x at 25:00. I don't know why people genuinely think GWYN is going to be the next book 🫠. Her purpose was to help Nesta. Outside of that, there is not much left to tell of her story. It's done. TBH, I completely forgot she even existed after I finished reading ACOSF. Like I kept seeing posts about her on my insta discover, and I was like who tf is Gwyn? 💀

Also just... ELAIN IS THE THIRD ARCHERON SISTER. How can it NOT be about her when Feyre had the first three and then Nesta had the fourth? Like it's so painfully obvious. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just delusional.

Even if it's not Elain and it happens to be Mor, it's NOT going to be Gwyn before Elain LMFAO.

But this is why I think it's going to be Elriel and not Elucien.

Firstly, Koschei the Deathless. The story follows Ivan marries his THREE SISTERS to THREE WIZARDS.

Ivan saw his three sisters wed to the first suitors who came across them—wizards in the form of birds.

Hmmm THREE SISTERS. BIRDS >>>> BATS. 👀

Eventually Ivan goes on to defeat Koschei with the help of his sisters and their husbands.

And then we have another Koschei retelling. The FOX and the FIREBIRD. Listen Sarah was not subtle with the names. Vasalisa >> Vassa. Lucien had a fox mask in ACOTAR, making him the obvious fox. You can read more on it here but I'm going to do a quick summary.

A king has a garden that produces one gold apple a day, but it was stolen every night. He promised half his kingdom to whichever son could catch the thief. He has three sons, and they all tried to catch it. The third son saw the firebird and shot at it, and hit the bird in the wing, but it escaped and left behind a golden feather. The king wants the fire bird and promises whoever brings the fire bird alive would get half the kingdom and be the heir. So they all go out to find the Fire Bird, and they all encounter a Red Fox.

The fox approaches each prince, and asks for something to eat, but the first two shoot at it. The third prince shares his food. So the Red Fox takes him to the palace where the fire bird is and tells him how to grab the fire bird by putting it in the wooden cage, not the golden. Well, the prince says how can a lovely bird be in a wooden cage and proceeds to put it back in the golden, but then basically sounds an alarm and he gets arrested. The King tells him to bring him back a golden man.

The fox says he'll help the prince, but of course the prince is a dumbass and goes I'm gonna choose the pretty one instead of the one the fox told me to choose and he gets arrested and this king says bring back Princess Goldilocks from the Golden Palace in the Black Sea.

Anyways it goes on and the third brother is betrayed by his other two, and the fox brings him back to life. In the end he gets the kingdom, the firebird, Goldilocks, etc. The fox is very instrumental in this story.

SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ALL OF ACOTAR

We have hints that Lucien and Vassa are very close. They talk to each other. Plus they live together along with Jurian.

Plus if it was going to be Elucien there would be hints that Elain even had romantic feelings for him. Even a little attraction. She doesn't. She literally stares at a boiling tea kettle until he leaves because she doesn't want to spend any time with him.

She wants nothing to do with him. And yes sure she says she doesn't want a male, but remember that she is still dealing with the traumatic events of being forced into the cauldron and being changed.

This though, happens a year later with Azriel...

Imagine seeing this in the most recent book, and thinking they're like siblings. Sounds like the antis have some sort of incesty weird freaky ass sibling relationships. 😬

This also happens in the book, which I believe is during the same time? But Az's was a bonus chapter and this was available to everyone.

Elain is not herself around Lucien. I don't understand how anyone can see their relationship and think that's going to be endgame. This was the most recent book.

Even before ACOSF, Nesta and Cassian had this in the previous book that alluded to their romance.

But there is absolutely nothing to allude to any sort of Elucien romance. Elain wants NOTHING to do with Lucien. And honestly, I don't blame her. Who would? He was a part of the most traumatic thing that ever happened to her.

I'll never understand Elucien shippers. If you like Lucien, why would you ship him with someone who wants nothing to do with him? If you like Elain why would you ship her with someone she wants nothing to do with?

I'm 10000000% convinced the Elucien shippers are just Gwynriels who ship them so they can have their ship justified, but most of their evidence is just their headcanons, and them not being able to read between the lines and interpreting things very wrong.

[rosanna-writer]

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Answer and then tag three or more creators to keep the game going! Thank you to everyone who tagged me!

(If you're in my answers consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play!!)

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024? 220,811 but some of those aren't mine because collab fic

2. How many fics did you complete this year? 12! but a lot of them are oneshots

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year? Two, if you count the abandoned one

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote? The fics written with friends in mind, so Love at First Sight's for Suckers, Baby, I'm the One to Beat, The Great War, and you're in the kitchen humming

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style? I think Knuckles Bruised Like Violets was my first no-magic modern AU? And inspired by a specific real life event, which isn't my usual thing

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception? I'm kinda shocked by how many hits I got on You All Over Me, and the ratio of hits to kudos is definitely out of sync with what I normally expect. I have my suspicions as to why - it's omegaverse but with a male omega and female alpha, so I think a pretty decently sized chunk of people didn't read the tags and noped out halfway through the fic when they realized Feyre was knotting Rhys and not vice versa. Or maybe that's pessimistic and it's hella re-reads, idk

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!) It was expected for a non-smutty rare pair drabble, but now i've read all of the books beside your bed didn't get a ton of traction

8. Who is an artist that inspired you? I was lucky to get a few peeks of things in process that friends shared, and I find that so inspiring. It's like a little peek behind the curtain as the magic happens! @stickyelectrons, @gracieart, @witchlingsandwyverns, @santkazoya all come to mind!

9. Who is an author that inspired you? Oh my goddddd so many people! @witch-and-her-witcher and @violetasteracademic for tackling ambitious, sprawling interconnected fics; you two are creating whole damn universes and I am in awe. I can see the influence of @thesistersarcheron and @the-lonelybarricade inspiring how I write things like Feysand's interpersonal dynamics (Rhys is insane and pspspsing his feral cat of a wife who may or may not know she's his wife) and daemati abilities (everything's happening in their brains, but ya gotta bring it to life with some physicality, if that makes sense?). And I quietly ask myself "what would @whatishowedyouinthedark and @belabellissima do?" when I'm staring at my document trying to make the whole thing a bit more sexy/bloody/generally insane <3

10. Who is a new author you discovered? So many new people who feel like they've been here forever!!!! @violetasteracademic, @lady-bluebird-luv, @tunaababee, @astra-aeterna, @trappedoutside124, @beesays and there's probably at least like ten more?

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start? @gaeleria was just chatting and whoops @feysand-hivemind was born!

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of? I set out to challenge myself to write a bigger variety of pairings in 2024. In 2023, I'd only written Feysand and Gwynriel, but this year I tried my hand at Elriel, Elucien, Gywnlain and Feyrhysien for a few oneshots and event week fics. yay for setting a goal and doing it!

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year? I've been writing fic on and off since I was a kid, but I've been writing for ACOTAR for almost two years now. 2024 was really the first time I've been a consistent enough writer in a fandom to become sort of a "known quantity" - people sometimes recognize my username, and I've written enough fics to identify patterns. Writing feels a bit different when you think your audience (even if it's just a handful of regular AO3 commenters lol) is coming in with a set of expectations. It's not pressure per se and doesn't stress me out, but once you've written enough, there's a new awareness of when you're deviating from your style or not.

Sierra Simone has some free worksheets from the course she teaches on writing erotic romance (you can find them here, highly recommend!), and the exercises for identifying voice ("What makes your work, your work?", "when a reader picks up a book written by me, they can expect _____.", etc) got me thinking a lot about this kind of thing. You can really only start to wrap your head around voice/style once you have a body of work to reflect on, and that takes time.

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers? Don't be a weenie about asking for beta reads, and when you do have a beta, interrogate them a lil. We all get squirrelly and wanna just yeet the document at them and then go hide forever. But asking them to read for something specific - "Is xyz confusing?", "Do you think this feels like a cop-out or am I doing the right thing by keeping it simple?", "Were there any parts you were tempted to skim?", etc - can really help you grow. Sometimes comments on a document are enough, but sometimes it needs to be more of a conversation.

You are not being annoying by asking for a beta read. It's not a burdensome thing to put on someone. We ALL need a second set of eyes, and we're in this together!

15. What are your creative goals for 2025? I'm trying not to start new multichapter fics until I make good progress on my two "open" ones. So more oneshots for the vibes and then lock in and crank out chapters for we said hello and Baby, I'm the One to Beat!

[monowritestoomuch]

ACOTAR ELUCIEN VS ELRIEL RANT

I’ve been asked to voice my opinion about this topic numerous times, and here’s what I’m gonna say:

I don’t give two damns about either one! You heard me!

The arguments annoy me to the hells because it’s one person going “I like my classic flower girl and emo shadow angst fest” vs “I like my nature girl and a fire boy awkward fest”

Two sides of the same coin

Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of Elain or Azriel. I remember reading for the first time and within the first few pages I told my friend who had recommended me the book that she seemed bitchy and empty, she has a bit more personality now but idk just never my favorite.

I would like to see more of her character in future books before I make my entire assumption and assimilate my opinions

However, Azriel never stuck out to me. Kinda basic shadowboy ngl. And I know I’m about to have every SINGLE AZRIEL GIRLIE BE LIKE “dOnT u tALk cRaP AboUT OuR MAn”

I can and I will. Deal with it.

He’s never stuck out for me cuz he has no personality besides flirt and I have big wings. It’s not that I hate him, it’s just that I wish he was given more personality if SJM would do that, but I don’t think so.

And for the love of god, leave Gwyn alone, like bro, 😭😭😭 what did she do???? Let her, Emerie and Nesta gossip and fight and do their stuff, stop character assaulting the redheads ppl! 🫵🫵🫵

HOWEVER

LUCIEN IS MY BOY. MY TOKEN NORMAL GUY IN THE SEA OF CRAZIES AND COOKS IN THIS SERIES

Lucien. Everyone’s favorite flirt who doesn’t try to be more than he is. He’s subtle and a little bit of an asshole but he has personality! And flare, and a good ass backstory!

I honestly only want him to be happy, I could care less about the other two I just want Lucien to get a break from his copious amounts of PTSD from his long crappy-esc life

Another thing, BRING BACK JESMINDA

SJM, you already revived a ton of others, why not Jesminda? She was one of the best characters in the whole book series and she was literally dead. Like, she was one of the few stable relationships Lucien had and she died.

Now hear me out when I say this, Lucien should maybe stay single, for the time being, for his mental health

He needs to heal too, don’t forget that, let him heal with Jurian and Vassa and not be seen as a spy or as a shady guy when he needs a break.

Not to mention he’s apparently in the spring court rn so we’ll see more of that

anyway, tldr, Idgaf abt either ship, both can suck it idc which ends up cannon, the arguing is stupid, don’t send threats to one another, be adults, Lucien needs therapy, the end

[msshadowqueen]

although i am definetly elucien,i want to put one thing out there-elucien is not confirmed,neither is gwynriel or elriel for that matter because i honestly feel like miss janet will just go with the most popular ship at that point of time for the next book, and the reason why sooooo much ships even exist is because she has no idea wtf she is doing and just does whatever for aesthetic,cuz she has a huge cult- i mean fanbase who will buy and support whatever peice if shit she writes.....like idek what is going on at this point,we satrted with tension b/w cas,az and mor, cuz cas hooked up with his so called bff's crush loooooooooong ago in their 500 years of useless life,then he gives a long winded explanation in acosf of why he had to "kill" any sort of feelings for mor,but for some reason she still "takes his breath away" and he gifts her lingerie for christmas.....i am not even opening that can of worms,then we have this tension b/w az and mor but turns out mor is gay for some reason,then elain has a beatuful,hot,intelligent and tortured mate but we have tension b/w a cardboard cut out az and elain......sometimes there are scenes b/w them that indicate they can end up together(a nightmare really,but it might possible since sarah thinks it's important that every family member live in the same city) but elain never really rejected her hot mate and some scenes show she might actually care about him and then we have az who has this mentality of a 10 year old who wants the the same toys as his friends(three brothers,three sister mentality) and suddenly we have tension between him and another girl who he trains.......did i miss smth??like what even is going on here!!!! it's as if she wants got level complicated relationship,though she could never even in seven lifetimes ever pull off smth like that cuz she doesn't have that level of nuance or creativity,it's obvious she was not going for that but it smh ended up being like that which just shows the level of this author's impulsiveness and lack of intricate thinking........it's just indian soap opera minus the mother in law

SJM is really weird about making chosen families, especially in ACOTAR. I don't know why she made everyone into each other. That Mor being gay thing was a retcon and makes very little sense to me. I think it would make more sense for any of the Archerons to be gay, or even Gwyn and Emerie, but that's what happens with straight white authors sometimes. They make the most random characters gay for "representation," but they have no idea what they're doing. As for that bonus chapter, I do think it was a little bit of fan service to include the "elriel" part as well as convenient for her plot to push Azriel into Gwyn's arms and Elain into Lucien's arms, because after ACOWAR she had compared Elain and Azriel to siblings, but someone must have told her about the popular elriel ship and that was her response. Before ACOFAS, Elriel wasn't even a possibility in the author's view. I still think it's a very low possibility based on how the BC was arranged, but it could technically happen, in which case I will never pick up a SJM book again. But...not to give SJM a ton of credit or anything, but she tends to go in whatever route she wants to go regardless of who the loudest fans are. She gave Chaol a book in a time when Chaol was highly unpopular in the fandom (not for me, I never stopped loving that man) and it turned out to be her best written book ever. So I don't think Azriel being super popular or Elriel fans being the loudest (not the most popular) will have an impact on the next book's ship. It makes little to no sense to me for her to go in the Elriel direction, especially after she made Lucien think Jesminda was his mate for so long, then was initially going to make Nesta his mate, only to have him wind up with a different Archeron sister. After all that, plus everything she put him through, to give him a rejected mate? Bah, not happening. Lucien is her Jamie Fraser inspired character, she loves him regardless of what certain fans in the fandom might think. And she has always been a fated mates writer. I am crying at the Indian soap opera comparison because ACOTAR does feel like that at times with the cringey drama and sexual tension🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I do think ACOTAR is too heavily romance focused which is why TOG is SJM's best written series.

[elainsweetcobalt]

I think the main reason why Elriel was seen as the most toxic side of the fandom is because everytime other ships post something about Elain and Az and the million reasons why they shouldn't be together, Elriels comes out and refute it. I've always seen it on every platform. Elriels will always throw canons and it was seen as form of attack or aggressiveness.

The sad thing is only Elriels actions are seen and condemned but not the people who created baits, or post lies on the internet. The person who lies about sources and having direct contact with BB was never called out. The mole on the fb group was never called out. The blog created to bully Elriels, the elriel artists and commissioner getting bullied out of the fandom, the disrespect toward Elriel arts, the constant bullying and side remarks, and alienation to Elriels was never seen. People overlook at that because they refuse to hear what's truly happening. There are so many noises on different sides but they are the only ones allowed to share their feelings but once an Elriel did it? Once they share what they truly feel because they're also human? They get condemned. There's always a public call out. #shamelriel was the recent disappointing thing I've seen recently, followed by constant naming towards an entire group. And at the end of the day, people are convinced it is Elriels who are still "creating" dramas and toxicity.

I think Elriels should never be condemned for preferring Elain and Azriel together and for replying or reblogging someone post to clear up lies and twisting facts. Most Elriels existed since 2016, there's dramas but never this kind of attack that has been happening since 2021. I truly admire those who are here for long, those who chose to speak up and those who wished to stay silent. I know whatever Elriel does, (either keeping things private or sharing their feelings and thoughts on the internet) will be deemed negatively.

It'll be not for long though, hopefully, because acotar 5 is coming. And I wish all these petty nonsense would eventually stop.

So hold on a little longer Elriels! Most Feysand stans loves Elriels too. We may never engage on the shipwar but we can see. I know some Feysands and Elriels aren't besties but it doesn't mean we hate one because we love both. (Especially that most Elriels are Feysand stan first)

There's nothing wrong if you speak up, nothing wrong if you all wanted to clear everything. Definitely nothing wrong for loving Elain and Az (individual and together) I understand the desperate want to not be labeled as toxic because you're only here to enjoy a ship. All these noises? It'll eventually die down, you'll laugh at it someday, but the important thing is the space and friendship you created (like what your fellow Elriel said here days ago).

I promise, you guys are not the drama 💛

Ps: so many Elriel arts and fanfics lately, I'll go and support it too! And also so many new Elriels! New fanfic writers and artists, new blogs every week showing their love to Elriels. I've seen how Elriels grows on here, tiktok, twitter, and Instagram. It is very exciting 💛

Pss: tumblr may seem as not the safe space anymore unlike pre acosf, but be sure that it still is. It is because most Elriels I see truly love the ship and are very welcoming, true and warm! People will still come and find this space safe because of you guys.

Hi Anon Thanks for that message and sorry for taking so long to reply, the last few days have been a bit overwhelming and I stayed away from my inbox as some questions are not as nice as yours.

I think I agree with much of what you said although I would like to add a few things I don't think this is about ship there are some people who say "what nonsense arguing over ships" but some things go further when people are having behaviors questionable, the most decent thing would be to look at what is happening and if it is a behavior that needs to be addressed it should be done mainly if that behavior is affecting different people, we elriels are also human and many times it is painful to see what happens in this fandom, too I think people talk a lot about "my right" and forget the fact that others, if you make a violent post, don't expect people to respond with love and kindness, we all have the right to react and get angry or sad, but as little as possible. as adults is to keep ourselves as decent people and look for solutions. Thanks again for your question I really appreciate it and I hope that at some point this fandom will be what it was before and what it always should be a place to be a fan and have a good time with your friends and people who enjoy the same things as you ❤️

[grimseverity]

Get ready, this is a doozy:

• Have Feyre actually communicate with the likes of Tarquin and Tamlin during MAF and WAR to form actual alliances and break the NC’s penchant for distrust. Would have loved to have seen Tamlin and Feyre use his alliance to break down Hybern from the inside and show some actual genuine communication.

• Have the Ouroboros curse actually have lasting consequences, such as a slow encroaching madness or hallucinations or something else that Feyre has to deal with for the rest of her life.

• Have Nesta actually got on a healing journey instead of bat boy boot camp. Actually just rewrite ACOSF altogether xD

• Remove the pregnancy plot, it was utterly unneeded.

• Have Rhys lose his powers from having died and have to learn how to wield all the powers of the high lords like Feyre did.

• Maybe do away with the Nessian and Elriel romances entirely and just make ACOTAR a Why Choose with Feyre and all three bat boys. I like their dynamic with her more than the current ships especially in MAF and early WAR.

• Give the King of Hybern a GODDAMN NAME! And also show the nuances about Hybern’s culture and people instead of just making them all evil with thinly veiled Hiberniphobia and anti Irish sentiment.

• Make two of the fey that Feyre kills under the mountain people she knew from the SC, like Alis. It would have had a stronger impact as a traumatizing event for her.

• Do away with Calanmai, it’s a gross rapey feeling festival that had no purpose beyond artificial sexual tension.

• Have Tamlin and Amarantha be Mates: explains her obsession with him that literally makes her conquest of Prythian go on pause, and also why Tamlin has a sudden character change (even though I despise it), because killing your Mate would be seen as an affront to the Cauldron and the Mother and break something in the person.

• Have Cassian have lost his wings at the end of MAF so he can deal with that struggle of disability and leading a group of winged people without wings of his own.

• Have Amren stay dead, she literally has no further reason to be here.

• Show more trauma reactions from Feyre towards Rhys and her experiences UTM that aren’t solely blamed on Tamlin, like her flinching at his touch from the dancing/paint, refusing alcohol due to her sickness.

• Change Feyre to only have a little bit of power from the high lords, instead of the ridiculous shit she does in the books with little training. She only has a kernel of their power, not a massive amount.

• Give me Gay Mates. It’s overdue.

• Focus on the fallout if Rhys imposing Jim Crow laws in Velaris against the Court of nightmares. Show how the CoN and the Illyrians are not all completely backwards or evil, because I highly doubt every single person in those cultures is evil. Give me a Night Court civil war NOW.

• Have Feyre and Rhys just have less sex. It’s unneeded especially in tents next to dying soldiers fighting for their way of life.

I’m sure I have more…

If you could change anything in Acotar, what would it be? You can add an explanation if you like! Comment or reblog.

For me, it would be

Tamlin and Feyre do part ways but they talk things through beforehand and end on good terms.

Rhysand giving Feyre a REAL apology for what he did to her under the mountain. Or that he doesn't do it at all.

Have Cassian stand up for Nesta more.

Make Mor an actual girl's girl and have her protect the women and children in Hewn city.

Have someone actually care for and fight for Illyria and the women, put an end to the wing clipping FOR GOOD. The Valkyries will be in charge with Emerie as the leader.

[elainsgirl]

I’ve just read a random Elucien post about the next book and Gwynriel here. Nothing against the author, it was interesting to see a different perspective. I liked her post and the clear writing. We agreed that the next book is Elain’s and that Elain/Lucien are not the most important characters of the continuing series (Feysand hello)

What was hilarious is how even the GA/EL shipper couldn’t brainstorm the plot or a book for Gwynriel 😂 It was theorized that the spinoffs are about sisters (+ Feyre’s early books), that Valkyries will protect the portals and some plot about time travel (I didn’t get it, what time travel??), and eventually the ACOTAR series will lead to a crossover. The author mentioned that maybe Gwyn and Azriel will have their TRIOLOGY GIRL, which will eventually usher everyone to join in the ultimate battle

No longer the — no one cares to read about Illyria for the second time, I thought we wanted to get out of the NC 🫡 — Illyrian plot. I don’t get how Gwyn with zero powers or anything unique (literally there’s another ginger singing Valkyries priestess who Azriel trained) will lead books, but I didn’t get the time travel subplot either. ALSO forget that Prison chose Bryce, forget that Elain is associated with life, forget that Bryce has more connection to the land and starsword of her ancestors — it will be Azriel and Gwyn to rule with their Truth-Teller + Starsword connection not the Bryceriel plot but with Gwyn.

Gwyn wields Bryce’s sword; Gwyn rules Bryce’s land; Gwyn is Starborn because Bryce is the only Starbirn with all powers; Gwyn is the Feyre/Aelin/Bryce of the new triology 🥹

I will never understand eluciens thinking the next book is elains. Im sorry because how are you genuinely thinking that after everything Az was included in….Lucien will get a pov before him? 😭 but anyways,

Many have tried anon, they haven’t been successful in coming up with a gwynriel plot. Vaguely all I know is: Az and Gwyn for some reason will go to Illyria to sort it out and where Az can make up with them because how dare he dislike his own people who have constantly mocked him? And ofc Emerie is tagging along because…well gwynriels have to include her in this subplot to prevent it from becoming problematic and then Netaa comes in and her, gwyn and az go to the prison and revive it and then Nesta becomes HL in a gwynriel book because…why would Mass make her a Hl in her own book…that doesn’t make sense. And Gwyn will wield Gwydion because y’know. GWYn and GWYdion - Can we take a moment and appreciate how complex and thought out that connection is. And I think there’s an autumn plot thrown in there? Not to sure and All I know the book ends w Gwyn riding on a pegasus with ribbons attached as Az looks on and is like “yh! Thats my mate!” - what a story.

why…why are we time travelling. What is the reason and how are we getting there? What portals? And why the valkryies? Arent they a FIGHTING unit? Shouldn’t they be practicing how to fight? But we already have a crossover and the next book is during and after it, do they want another crossover? And why on earth would we get another one? With which universe? How does this move the overall plot forward because it just all seems so random.

nah…tell me you’re joking. They want an entire…TRIOLOGY for Gwynriel? My god the ego & audacity of gwynriels are so strong. And the delusion is rlly something, gwynriel are not feysand. Mass is not writing 3 novels on Gwynriel. She isn’t trying to ruin her career.

all im taking fron this is 1) most gwynriels are high on their own headcanons and 2) they just basically steal everyone else’s plot because how on earth does a crackship lile brycerial have more of a solid plotline then Gwynriel - im sorry thats just downright embarrassing. Gwynriels have rlly just taken a little bit of everything from each ships’ theorised plot especially elriels.

They now that gwyn isn’t significant especially when compared to THE archeron sisters hence why Nesta always plays a big role in their theorised book.

Omg. You’re so right anon. A side character we JUST met is definitely the centre fmc of all 3 massiverses, Gwyn the great who will lead those that join her into an insufferable triology all about god knows what becomes Mass certainly doesnt know - she’s out here writing an elriel book. Filled with a sane, tangible plot.

[acourtofthought]

Me again and on the same day, so... I hope I'm not being annoying...

But what do you think about ccity3? (if you have already read it)

I may end up releasing some spoilers, so if you don't want to risk it, don't continue reading!!

I mean, more specifically what do you think about the shadows of Az, Ruhn and Comarc?

Today I saw an E/riel girl saying that the shadows disappear when they (Ruhn and Comarc) are comfortable, so they insisted again that Az's shadows disappearing with Elain is a good sign... I don't believe it's the same thing, definitely.

(But I don't have much context from Ccity, I haven't read them yet. Well, just the third one to see my girl Ness and Az)

And if you've already read it, what did you think of the Bryce&Az&Ness extra, the ending in particular; from shadows dancing to Az humming; of the exact words "could have sworn" being used in both of Az's extras twice;

And the song "Stone Mother"; Do you think it has a "meaning" for the future? I've seen people saying this is about Elain, I particularly agree with something I read about it having some connection to his mother (who was briefly mentioned during the extra)

They distorted a part claiming that the shadows danced with Bryce's cell phone, but that doesn't happen. I've never met an Elriel who played fair, they're always trying to change what was said. (Some said they were very confident after Ccity3, and I honestly didn't understand why)

Well, maybe I'm just super paranoid, looking for a little Gwynriel in every line... lol

I actually feel special to have gotten two asks in a day from you so thank you!!

I think if we were to compile a list of everything Az's shadows have ever done from start to finish in series, we'd find conflicting information.

I imagine there was a time where SJM did not truly know what she was doing with Az's shadows or what she wanted them to do for a particular love interest because she wasn't even sure that Az was getting a book early on.

And I think it's also a bit difficult for us to compare them to Cormac because the way Az's shadows came to him is unique. We're told that they came to Az while he was born in the dungeon, an airless, light-less prison where he learned the language of the shadows and it's difficult to say if the relationship he developed with them is equal to that of those with similar powers. Ruhn and Rhys share similar powers however it's evident that Rhys is by far and away much more powerful.

Az's shadows aren't exactly "him". They seem to be a bit sentient when you consider that he tells us they keep him company, that they whisper to him. He is not fully in control of his shadows at all times, they told him to sleep and he thought on how he wished he could.

I'm not saying we'd want Az's shadows to be swarming and ready to strike like snakes at all times, that's clearly not a good thing for either Az or the shadows. But having them tend to vanish around someone when he tells us they've been his companion would be like a friend who you grow up with start disappearing anytime your girlfriend came around. Wouldn't it be better if his shadows remained but were at rest or calm?

That's not the narrative SJM put out there for his shadows around Elain in SF though. They skittered away from her, he says they tend to vanish when she's around. It's clear that in SF Az is not in a great place so for E/riels to say they disappear around her because he's calm and that's a good thing is a complete contradiction to him thinking on how he's been ignoring her because he's bothered by her bond. She clearly does not bring him peace.

In the same book we're told that his shadows are afraid of the Sun and in HOFAS, we get more evidence that they don't hold up to light very well.

When you consider how SJM often connects Elain to light and sunshine it seems pretty obvious that she's telling us Elain's penchant for those things is not going to compliment what we know of Az's shadows.

She also could not have made it more clear that the shadows responded to Gwyn in a way they never did with Elain. They danced and twirled with her breath, they were content to sit on Az's shoulders and watch when before the shadows were trying to get him to bed, they sang in response to her song (just as they sang in response to Az's humming). Saying they vanish around one female while having them curious and a bit playful with another, even if it's only in relation to her powers (as E/riels like to claim) is still better for the shadows......which are a part of Az but not fully him. They don't need to love Gwyn because the shadows are not possibly mated to Gwyn. But if Az is mated to Gwyn and his shadows have a bit of a thing for her song then is that not an extremely symbiotic relationship for all parties involved?

I'm not even sure Azriel understood the lyrics of the song because Nesta says she couldn't understand them so maybe it was truly just the melody that captivated Az. And the way the melody was described is a lot like the music of the priestesses service.

As likes music.

Gwyn is a singer.

Az himself began humming once the phone stopped playing.

They share a common interest and that's a valid thing to comment on in regards to a ship.

If Az was aware of the lyrics and the lyrics had to do with the Stone Mother legend than I'd hope no one would be trying to turn the words into anything ship related as the legend is Native American and Elain and Gwyn are white. But to your point, it could have something to do with his mother as she is Illyrian.

[casuallivi]

Azriel Week 2022. Day 2. Tragic Backstory

A Mother’s Love

Words: 1683

I was writing a HC, 200 words, 300.. them i got this, lol! Enjoy :D

Nyx uncontrollable angry crying got even louder once Azriel entered his bedroom.

"Save me!" Feyre pleaded with dark circles. “He’s been like this for an hour. I’ve bathe him, fed him, changed his dipper,” she waved the dirty dipper in his face before discharging in the laundry hamper. “Twice! I’m out of ideas.”

The High Lady buttoned Nyx’ green jumper and passed the baby to Azriel, who kept the screaming goblin at an arm’s length.

“Actually, I came for his father.”

He tried to pass the baby back to Feyre, who dived under his arm. “Rhys went to fetch Mor, and if I don’t go to the bathroom right now, I’ll explode! Hold him for me.”

She ran from the room, leaving Azriel and Nyx alone. The baby took one look at him, trembled his lips and cried harder. The shadows fretted around him, searching for the cause of his distress, not understanding what he needed to calm down. Azriel knew exactly what he needed. He marched to the light switch, turning the faelights down, the room being brighten only by the gentle hue of purple starts glowing in the ceiling. He cleared his throat.

"My mother liked to sing." The illyrian words came out raspy, the letters needing a harsher enunciation than the common tongue. "Every time she visited, she would sing to me."

Azriel placed his nephew chest to chest, holding him closer, tighter, giving all the warmth a child should receive. All the warmth he was never allowed to have. Swallowing the lump in throat, Azriel starting to hum the ancient lullaby, Nyx stopping his loud crying slowly, blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears, glued to Azriel’s lips. His chubby little hand touching his face as if he would be able to capture the words, ripping a smile from his uncle ��a rare feature to accomplish, only achieved with ease by two members of this family.

Baby of mine, don’t be afraid Mommy is with you, everyday The dark will never, keep us apart When you close your eyes, that’s where I’ll be Holding your hand, guarding your sleep Baby of mine, don’t be afraid Mommy is with you, everyday They don’t know how precious you are But mommy knows, you are her shining star.

Azriel hadn’t heard that song in centuries, yet the melody came to him easily, the rude Illyrian language transformed into soft, soothing sentences. The heart of a mother trying to reach her stolen son. The song always took him back to his childhood day, unfortunately for him, the warm memories of his mom weren’t the only thing that resurface, the ugly side of his youth was there too.

Azriel spent the first years of his childhood locked in dark cell, his existence being nothing more than a punchbag for twisted family. The only person who ever loved him was his mother, a woman who Azriel was barely allowed to see save for an hourly visit once a week. With time, even this small happiness was taken away from him when his father’s children decided it would be fun to play with fae quick healing by burn his hands. From that day on, his stepmother forbade his mother from visiting, an vain attempt to hide the damage from his father.

Azriel was locked away in a worse cell. He had company on the first day, provided by a torch burning on the stone wall, placed way to far to give him a proper view of the other cell. All empty, save for his. When the light went all, Azriel was left completely alone for Cauldron knows how long, the deafening silence being broken only by his shallow breaths. He endured the pain, endured the suffering, endured the silence. He was his mother’s brave boy, after all. But one day. One day the pain of loneliness was to much for the poor malnourished boy.

That day Azriel sang.

The same song his mother always sang to him, the words barely making past his chapped lips, way too dehydrated to cry properly. That’s when they came to him. The shadows. His ugliest sin and prettiest salvation. His dark undying companions, nuzzling against his tired limbs, mending his threadbare smelly clothes, slipping under him to keep him away from the cold floor, draping over him as a blanket, the weight mimic the hug he could no longer receive. Once they started whispering inside his mind, Azriel thought he had finally gone crazy, closing his eyes and drifting into a restless sleep. Maybe death would pity him and take him that night, end his miserable life.

Except the only thing that ended that night was his status as a forgotten child. Azriel woke up with a start, alone, his brothers’ evil laughter and snarls traveling down the basement, metal bats rasping against the bars of his cells. They opened the cell to torment him, as they always did, grabbing Azriel by his collar, hurting his sickly wings, kicking and punching him. Except this time the beating was interrupted brutally. A swarm of shadows melted from the walls, the ceiling, the floor, attacking his brothers, their screams waking the house upstairs, bringing a mass of new faces into view. As Azriel cowered on the farthest corner of his cell, terrified the shadows would punish him too, the males goaded around him.

“A shadowsinger!”

“Cauldron boil me!”

“Congratulations, warlord!”

“By the cauldron, look at him!”

“A shadowsinger, my lord!”

“Everyone will fear your camp!”

The poor kid lifted his eyes, catching sight of his stepmother. She was lived with anger as he had never seen, kneeling with her injured sons in the circle of her arms. His father, on the other hand, had an expression other than disdain in his face for the first time since Azriel had known him. Later he would come to realize the expression in his father’s eyes was not pride, but jealousy. Inspite of Azriel being his son, his father’s camp allowed no bastards, only pure blood Illyrians. He prohibited Azriel from training in his camp, sending him to the cruelest Illyrian camp known by their kind, Camp Hellblaze. That’s when Rhysand’s mother’s found him, interceded for him, brought him to the same camp as her child, allowed Azriel in her home as if he was her own, treated him with the same kindness and rules she applied to the others, taught him what a real family looked like.

Nyx watched his uncle with fascination until his eyes began to lose focus, his soft eyelids struggling to keep open, his fist tightly curled on Azriel’s shirt. The shadowsinger repeated the lyrics again, humming long after the lullaby was finished. The vibrations of the music combined with a succession of tender smacks in Nyx bum were enough to get him asleep. Still, Azriel cradled him for a little longer, the baby’s smell comforting his dark heart, keeping his mind away from the dark memories of his past.

“I can’t believe he slept.” He turned at the sound of Feyre’s incredulous voice, her eyes shinning with relief. "What kind of magic is that? I was humming just like you taught me, yet he wouldn't settle for nothing."

She approached the illiryans, peering around Azriel’s arm to catch a glimpse of Nyx peacefully in his arms. “Little traitor,” she hissed at her son. Azriel loosed the tiny fist, and put the baby on his cradle. Soon as he was done with Nyx, Feyre replaced him, grabbing his arms dramatically.

"Unbelievable. Az, they don't treat you right in the house of wind, do they? I bet they don't know how to appreciate you. You should come live with me. I’ll appreciate you!"

"Don't let Rhys hear that."

"So what if he hears? I'm being serious right now. You don’t even have to stay in your assigned room, you can choose whichever free room you like… Scratch that, I can make you an even bigger room! Just say the word and I'll treat you really well, promise!"

Azriel extracted himself from his cling High Lady, the maniac expression on her face revealing how little she had slept in the last couple of days.

"You look tired."

Feyre let out a long breath, disappointed with his lack of interest in her proposition.

"Nyx is teething. Being a mom is hard! I have no time anymore. I knew Elain was my angel, but I didn’t know how much she really did until she was gone. Nyx misses her too, she said she would come see him today. I wonder if she ran into L–" she stopped talking suddenly, her eyes growing distant as they went when she was using her daemanti powers. “Rhys is almost home.”

Azriel bobbed his head,

“Then I’ll wait in the office.”

“…Okay,” Feyre clamped her lips, but didn’t comment on him using the opportunity to escape from her. She couldn’t blame him, Azriel wasn’t a talker, he had probably used all his words for the day. She waved at him. “Thank you, Az. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Feyre.”

When Azriel exited the room, his eyes went wild at the sight of Elain standing beside the doorway. Her head reclined against the wall, her eyes closed, her body perfectly still, half-hidden within the shadows casted by the big armoire in the hallway.

“Feyre keeps trying to figure how you calm Nyx down, but I know your secret.” She opened her eyes. Big brown eyes shining so bright his heart skipped inside his chest, a gentle smile dancing on her lips, “your voice is very beautiful.”

“He must like the sound of your voice,” she pushed away from the wall, “and your lullabies.” Without sparing him a second glance, Elain circled Azriel and went into the baby’s room, Feyre happy hushes finding his ears even thought he couldn’t discern a word of what she was saying, probably greeting her sister.

In the end, Azriel stood frozen in the hallway longer than it was acceptable, blinking his senses back to life before his brother returned to find him standing there like an idiot.

[cleobel]

Fun fact, before FAS and Lucien saying he and Vassa were living with Jurian I thought she could possibly be the Tarquin to Lucien's Feyre and make Elain a little jealous, especially because before reading SF and Gwyn I thought Sarah would make Elain actually have a minor romance with Azriel—before accepting Lucien—and, no longer having Feyre to rely on, Lucien would benefit from having a close friend to cheer him up and unwittingly make Elain feel possessive. However finding out Vassa had the prized bickering dynamic with Jurian put that theory in the reject pile, though I still think she and Jurian will be their confidants when he need to vent a bit and when he's not being their third wheel lmao.

As for why Elriels still ship them and think they will be canon, well they love quoting Feyre's art titles (just see how they hyped up "Death and his lovely fawn" and it's not even canon), and she called them "Lord of Fire and Bird of Fire" and wondered if they had "found each other". Also, yes, because they did seem close and much in sync at the end of WAR. That part is what actually made me come up with my past theory. It's not that it's not enough to make a ship but... I mean... It's painfully obvious that Vassien is not very popular (to be generous djsksk), and mostly shipped to ease the way for Elriel...

Okay, I need to ask.. where did the Vassa x Lucien ship even come from? Just bc they talked once on page and Lucien seemed comfortable? He was like that with Feyre in the first book… I’m calling it, Jurian and Vassa are his new (and improved) Feyre and Tamlin. Man’s a professional third wheel.

[deathsweetblossoms]

Azriel's Bonus Chapter, Mating Bonds, and Mor(e)

This was another find that had me PAUSE (if "YELLING SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS" can be likened to a simple "pause" then, okay.) Disclaimer: we talk about a potential mating bond between Azriel and Mor in this analysis, but I still tie it back to Elriel in the end.

I had intended to debrief each bonus chapter, but instead of approaching Azriel's in the simplistic way I approached Feyre's, I want to zero in on this one particular breadcrumb because ... WHAT?

"if Lucien finds out you're pursuing her, he has every right to defend the bond as he sees fit. Including invoking the Blood Duel."

Azriel hears Rhys say this, balks, and then thinks about how there was one other time, before this one, where he had thought about invoking the duel against Eris and Beron for Mor. /ALARM BELLS/INSTANT ANXIETY ATTACK/SARAH WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT.

Look me in the eyes and tell me this isn't weird. If we break down what Rhys is warning to it's simplest form:

Lucien, as the mated male, has the right to invoke the Duel for someone who posseses a threat to his mating bond (aka, if some other male wants his lady, he can fight to the death for ownership of his lady. An outdated duel, for sure, because...why does the female get no say? This seems like something Mor would vehemently want to run away from, or do anything in her power to avoid getting roped into. Think about it - why is she so desperate for freedom?)

When Azriel thinks about how he wanted to invoke the Duel for Mor, he says he seriously considered invoking it against Eris and Beron both "despite being an outsider".

So my question is, uh... WHY would he invoke the Blood Duel for Mor? Can it be invoked in a non-mating bond situation? I laughed off the theory of Azriel and Mor being mates but now I'm kind of like, WAIT. WTF IS GOING ON HERE? Because Mor was set up in essentially an arranged marriage with Eris, correct? So, that can be perceived as a direct mating bond threat, which Azriel could have invoked had they, in fact, been mated.

Also, as if my poor nerves weren't already suffering, Rhys even asks, "What about Mor?" which always drove me a little bit crazy because you're telling me all-knowing, all-seeing Rhys, who constantly told Feyre to stay out of it, DIDN'T NOTICE that Mor wants nothing to do with Azriel? And "prefers women" anyway??? Why would he even bring Mor into the conversation when they're discussing Elain and tenuous political alliances that would implode if Azriel pursued her? What is this, high school???!?!

*RIPPING MY OWN HAIR OUT*

But also, it explains a lot in terms of Mor being scared shitless of Azriel's response when she's threatened. If SHE also knows that they're mates, it would make sense for her character to want to run as fast and far away as possible to avoid putting him in that sort of mate-induced rage to invoke something like that.

It also explains "What if the cauldron made a mistake", as in, if he's somewhat aware of a potential bond between him and Mor, he is also aware that the cauldron CAN MAKE A MISTAKE. Because it did with them. Mor clearly prefers something else, and pursuing something else would make her happier although she still has a lot of love for Azriel and they remain friends.

See also: A Brief Overview of Feyre's Bonus Chapter and Analyzing the Necklace, The Mother, & Azriel's Bonus Chapter

Below the cut is some Elriel leaning theory and screaming given the above information.

So consider this: both Elain and Azriel have mates but they still end up choosing each other. WHAT A WILD STORY. You cannot tell me you wouldn't be on the EDGE OF YOUR SEAT over something like this?!?! Especially if Elriel would be a threat to *checks notes* the fragile political alliances of The Autumn Court, The Spring Court, Jurian and Vassa?

So with all of that hanging over their heads, and with their own mates, these two still choose each other?!

Oh, man, oh man. I would be losing my shit. IDK about you all. But..ooooo I would EAT THIS UP.