#and this is only reading through 2/3 of ACOWAR

[abisexualperspective]

Reasons why Azriel & Eris are mates:

Shared/similar traumas - f*cked families

Fire & Ice

Az is a pretty boy who likes when ppl are mean to him VS Eris has a sharp tongue...and likes to put it to good use 😉

No shadows without light (aka fire)

SJM says Az is kinky...Eris likes to play

Scary, well feared exteriors & soft, kind interiors

Because I said so.

[chunkypossum]

Eris Week 2024 Master List

I knew I wanted to participate in @erisweekofficial this year but I think I went nuts. I did surprise myself at only making complete things this time. NO WIP YAY! I have also decided that I hate everything I have ever written but you’re getting it anyway 🤣

Going through the final edits in the next couple of days. Here's a rundown….

*Summaries if the summaries were written by Bad Lip Reading ...

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Day 1: Bonds and Bargains || Under the Weeping Beech

22k words || READ ON AO3 || Eris X Azriel

PLUS AZRIS ART

I made Mor's power of truth more interesting, got carried away, bon appetit.

*Disclaimer DO NOT actually read this one. Major Character deaths, hurt NO comfort, You're not going to like Mor or what I've done to her etc etc

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Day 2: Childhood and Legacy || Patience of Princes

6k words || READ ON AO3 || Background AZRIS

PLUS ERIS ART: Legacy of Autumn

Prince Eris has a tough day, his momma tells him a story.

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Day 3: Healing || Mother Save us from Your Twisted Fate PART 2

4k words || READ ON AO3 || Azriel X Eris

PLUS AZRIS ART

Eris is alive but at what cost to his soul? Can Azriel and Eris bring each other back from the edge of the void they have spent the last few months lost in?

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Day 5: War || Wings and Steel

2k words || READ ON AO3 || Implied Azris

PLUS ERIS ART: Atop the Knoll

Eris successfully holds up his end of the bargain and manages to bring aid to the Hybern battle in ACOWAR.

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Day 6: AU || Travelers in the Bayou

6k words || READ ON AO3 || Azriel X Eris

PLUS AZRIS ART

Eris is trying to live a quiet life in the backwaters of a forgotten town, hoping himself to be forgotten when trouble walks in.

*This is an excerpt from a full fic I am working on that I managed to turn into a one shot from Eris' POV

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Day 7: FREE DAY || ERIS ART

Surprise Surprise... I somehow managed to make them all involve AZRIS in some way soooo...

Holla at ya boi if you want on or off the Azris tag train :

@talibunny30 @iftheshoef1tz @born-to-riot @fell-in-luvs @fieldofdaisiies @aktrain @honeysuckle-daydreams13 @secret-third-thing @acourtofladydeath @pippsmcgee @youvereachedthenearest-lovergirl @baileybird71 @skyesayshi @yanny-77 @areyoudreaminof @unanswered-stars @futurehunt @ninthcircleofprythian @matrixsss @going-through-shit @c-starstuff-man0 @jules-writes-stories @the-darkestminds @krowiathemythologynerd @cauldronblssd @hieragalbatorixdottir @yourlazykitkat @hellolordling @climbthemountain2020 @lilah-asteria  @shadowsandlint @acourtofbatboydreams @theeternalstruggle @christeareads @molcat07 

[olenvasynyt]

Top 3 most controversial acotar takes/opinions, now☄️

Uh nooooo only my top three? Alrighty. These are going to be very harsh:

1. I have read the ACOTAR series at least 3 times since 2021 and I very often skim chapters every week for posts and videos. And I will be fully honest, I never want to reread the series ever again because of Feyre. I dislike her biases, her hypocrisy, her habit of ignoring other people’s POVs and the mistakes she’s made. I hate her excuses and her blindness and selfishness and how she treats everyone who is not in the IC. I hate how she treats Tamlin and Lucien. I physically cannot reread ACOWAR without flinching at all of the stuff she does, ESPECIALLY her taking down Spring out of revenge. I do not like her as an FMC and I’m glad we have moved past her story and onto other characters.

2. I think the fanbase’s hatred for Tamlin is so extreme and it is heavily influenced by Feyre’s own biases, as well as stupid memes on tiktok. If you take a second to look at the story from Tamlin’s perspective, you can easily understand his actions. With Hybern, EVERYONE FORGETS THAT 1. He was not part of the Archeron Sister’s kidnapping, that was Ianthe. It’s literally explained by Hybern in the book. And 2. He was playing as a double agent, which is hinted at many many times and it is something we later discover. I would go into it more but I feel like that’s its own post that many people have made before.

3. I don’t think SJM is the best writer. I know writers can retcon, especially in huge series like this, but she uses retconning as a crutch, and it’s very frustrating. She has so many inconsistencies and plot holes and inconveniences that personally bother me. I think her world building in ACOTAR is so flat and not thought out at all, and her magic system is even worse. Most of her villains, not just in ACOTAR but in her other series, are not that good idk. She also has a habit of the typical villain monologue that I am getting so sick of and I literally skip the part of the human queen during the Blood Rite because I think it’s so badly written 😭😂

And here’s some random ones just for fun with no to little explanation (I couldn’t do just 3 LMAO sorry)

4. ACOTAR would be better in 3rd POV limited and we can still get the mystery of the world, Feyre’s biases, etc. A lot of problems I have would be solved if we got the POVs of other characters

5. I would like Rhys so much more if he was revealed to be a villain

6. Lucien is one of the only characters I genuinely enjoy, and I’m holding out for him. If he did not exist, I would not be reading ACOTAR at all

7. The IC are awful for how they treat Nesta and I DESPISE THE “intervention” they put her through. It was not a real intervention and readers should not try to defend it in that way

8. This fanbase is filled with too many straight normies who have never experienced a fanbase before and refuse to broaden their minds and think beyond canon. Tamsand would be the most popular ship in any other fanbase. There would be more sexuality and gender headcanons. Trans headcanons, trans fanfics, m-preg fanfics, etc etc. But I guess this is a very popular fantasy romance so I get why those aren’t popular but I should not have to explain why it’s okay to ship ships that aren’t canon, and why people often insert their heteronormative fantasies in queer ships (looking at you Azris)

[lovemyromance]

Nahhh bc why did I see yet another post doubting N&C's part in Elain's future story???

Those are her FRIENDS. It has been acknowledged by both Elain and Nesta. Rhys paying them doesn't matter? He pays them to take care of his house, not take care of Elain.

If Rhys paying bills is suddenly a reason to doubt a friendship, then Nesta & Gwyn can't be true friends either because Rhys allows Gwyn to live in the library for free. Like I'm sorry, but it's icky and stupid to use either of those as an argument against true friendship.

Then I saw another post saying "Oh N&C don't have buildup to be friends of Elain. They don't have enough main character energy to get their own book so they can't be her friends."

My brother in Christ. Not everyone and their momma is going to get a book. We're not gonna sit here and read about Bryaxis's harrowing backstory or get a detailed POV from Tarquin about Cassian's summer court adventure. Not everyone needs to be a main character because then it would be ridiculous and confusing and nobody would stand out??

Also tf you mean build up? Why do we need build up for characters that are meant to be supporting characters? Especially, outside the book there supposed to be "found family/friends" in??

This is such a ridiculous argument. That's like saying "Oh Gwyn & Emerie can't be Nesta's true found family because they don't have enough buildup". Like ahem, let me remind everyone that Emerie was only brought up in ACOFAS (and people shipped her with Cassian, so she def wasn't gonna be Nesta's bestie). Gwyn didn't even EXIST until halfway through ACOSF.

So don't sit here and tell me N&C don't have enough development to be Elain's found family. They are supporting characters. Their job... is to support Elain's journey. Which they have lowkey been doing in the background since the moment they baked bread together in ACOWAR.

The difference here is that Elriels understand the role of a supporting character. We're not out here screaming that Nuala is so important to the plot of acotar and inventing theories for her to save Dusk court because we see her for what she is - a supporting character.

That is what Gwyn & Emerie are to Nesta. Supporting characters. But nobody is ready to hear that 🙄

Y'all out here trynna turn Gwyn into the savior of Illyria and turning around and saying "well N&C aren't important enough for a story" like hello - they don't have to be?? You're the ones who think Gwyn is gonna save everyone and their dog and you're mad that Elriels don't have that same level of delusion towards N&C? Like sorry we're rational ? Sorry we recognize that Elain will get a book with likely Azriel and her found family will be N&C, but neither N&C will get a book bc they're just side characters?

At least we not out here saying Elain's gonna be besties w a man who made a GR joke about her TO her mate 🙄.

Apparently, the rules of friendship are:

1. You cannot earn a living if it in any way relates to your friend

2. You have to be an important character and save a part of Prythian yourself before you can be deemed relevant enough to be a friend

3. You can make jokes about someone being g*r*ped and still be their friend because "you were just putting on a mask" even tho literally nobody forced you to say that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Y'all are being crazy trying to make excuses for men again, and I'm not standing for it. Go to sit in a corner and think about what you've done 😒

[rizzoreads88]

People are crazy. SJM has hinted at a possible Ezriel romance since ACOMAF. They have shared a lot of sweet moments, and she immediately felt comfortable with him, even when she was traumatized after the Cauldron. I mean, Cassian mentions that Azriel finally got over Mor, and people really think that Azriel, who spent 500 years pinning after Mor, moved on only because of lust?

It’s funny that Azriel was after Mor for so long but never actually made a move even though to his knowledge she was single that whole time���Yet he makes a move on Elain.. Makes you wonder how strong his feelings must be for elain….

1) The antis always like to use the one line where he says “he hadn’t planned further then the fantasies” and use that as absolute truth and throw everything else away. Just because he says he hasnt made any plans yet doesn’t mean he hasn’t thought further… why would he be making plans to be with her as of now she has a mate and is seen as off limits to him… which Rhysand reinforces in the bonus chapter. Sure if people want to take one snippet and focus on just that and throw everything else away they can…but we’ve gotten many moments between them that proves he cares.

2)In the same bonus chapter azriel talks about having razor sharp thoughts but his head going quiet around elain, how he saved her soltice gift from the year before and keeps it on his dresser and looks at it every night… also how he knows her so well he didn’t need his shadows to read her. If azriel ever did or said even 1 of these things for Gwy* the Gwy*riels would be screaming from the rooftops azriel was in love with her. but because he does these things for Elain and not who they ship him with they try to reduce it down to “just lust”

3)He lent his prized possession to Elain and no one else. That’s just just?!

4) The man was willing to die to rescue her. Then when he does actually rescue her and brings her back he is injured and bleeding but refuses to go get looked at until he knows she’s ok. He straight up carries her to them and tells them to get Helion to get these chains off of her. I mean when he saved gwy* from sangravah he did none of that. He hands her off to mor and continues on his mission and never even checks up on her after. But with Elain he goes through all this and it’s just lust?

5) and the antis are alll going to say “well we have to go by what he says it’s his own pov” ok but it’s funny that when Luci*n says he wants to go see if she is worth it or that he can’t stand to be around elain anymore then it’s a different story.. then they say we can’t just go by what Luci*n says we have to look at his actions. But also when feyre goes into Luci*ns head when he first goes to visit Elain In acowar what was the first thing he thought? “She hadn’t yet turned toward him, but the ravages of her fasting were evident enough. Touch her, smell her, taste her—“ acowar. So when we are in his head he notices how frail she is yet still fantasizes about what he wants to do to her… but yet where is everyone saying he just lusts after her? Now to be fair I do think Luci*n cares for her I’m just showing how they pick and choose when to use this argument and not.

6)Azriel is upset after the bonus chapter takes place that nesta and cassian point out how he is even more moodier and aloof after soltice. He’s this upset but “it’s just lust”

7) it’s said multiple times Azriel can get anyone he wants and he’s had multiple lovers over the years but yet he’s focused on Elain, spends time with her just hanging out in the garden yet “it’s just lust”. ?

We know it’s not just lust with Azriel and Elain. We know they know it’s not just lust with Azriel and Elain. They just try to diminish them because Azriel doesn’t want who they ship him with.

[acourtofthought]

So I saw your ask about Elain and why she’s your favorite character, what scenes made you like her, headcanons.

I was wondering if wondering if you answer those same questions but with Lucien ❤️

Hi there ❤️ and here you are:

1. Why is Lucien one of your favorite characters?

Lucien is the guy you aren't automatically programmed to want in romantasy. He's not dark and brooding, he doesn't have blue, gray, green, or black as night eyes, he doesn't have shadow powers, he doesn't hate everyone and everything but her. Really, he's the comic relief who in most other series would remain a side character. But what Sarah has done with the comic relief is make him hot. Muscular. With gorgeous red hair. Really intelligent. With a secret heritage that's going to make him just as powerful as the other most powerful players in their world.

Sarah has taken the sidekick and set him up to be just about as powerful as the lead of her trilogy. It's almost unheard of.

But he's been such a good guy the entire time. He's not betraying people, stabbing them in the back. He's not hounding Elain, trying to snark his way into gaining her attention, not seducing her, not trying to make her jealous. Dude could probably wipe out Az if he wanted at this point with the hints of his Day Court powers beginning to peak through but instead he just stands aside and lets everyone do their thing even if he's hurt as a result.

Lucien is not only fantasy book boyfriend material but he's also a lot closer to real life boyfriend material, the kind who is already mature all on his own and readily apologizes for his mistakes, where he doesn't need a girl to fix him.

Where so many other MMCs are carbon copies of one another Lucien stands out as being one of a kind.

2. Is there a specific scene that made you like him?

Literally every scene. I was a Rhys girlie during my first read but he hasn't stood up to the test of time. Not that I hate Rhys now or anything but there's been many MMC since then who rank much higher for me. Lucien remains in my top 5 and I can't even imagine what it would feel like to have an entire book from his POV.

While I love every scene he's in I was beside myself getting his POV in ACOWAR.

3. What theories/headcanons do you have for Lucien?

Possible contender for High King wielding Gwydion, that his beast form might be a dragon, that he and Elain performing Calanmai might stop the lands from dying further, that he'll be the one to break through the spells and wards at the Human Queens castle.

[lotus222]

Okay.

I only meant to make one SJM post cause Ik how certain girls like to tussle

But since the gwynriels and elucians decided to mess w me EVEN THO I SAID TO LOOK AWAY IF YOU GET EASILY TRIGGERED…

There is only one thing to do:

Talk more about why Elriel is not based in delusion — unlike some ships (not naming names, if you take offense that’s your mind questioning things)

Again, I am giving my PERSONAL OPINION. I even said at the end of my last post that I am not the author and I will love & respect whatever SJM does, which some of y’all can’t echo. That’s sad. This is a fictional world.

DISCLAIMER: if you’re easily triggered by elriel/elucian/gwynriel…l o o k a w a y

DISCLAIMER#2: I am unapologetic cause this is my page :)

Also, stop hitting my line with the “I wasn’t going to respond to this but…” or “you’re so anti…” like 1, if you weren’t going to respond, then don’t. It’s not that serious where the world is BEGGING for your opinion. And 2, I’m not anti anything, I’m pro-logic, again if that offends you then that’s a convo for you and you not you and me.

Now onto the main event…

Azriel

My mans is being dragged through the mud both in the books and online. We say we “love him” but are ignoring what he wants and babes, that’s Elain. If you don’t like her personally, that’s not how Az is feeling, that’s how YOURE feeling. Gwyn has one chapter (+1 sentence) of where I can even attempt to grasp at what Gwynriel’s quote as bible, but again, AZ AND ELAIN HAVE 3 BOOKS. Y’all are acting like Rhys in Az’s bonus chapter and if Rhys couldn’t make his stance acceptable, y’all definitely can’t.

Elain

Again, I say, if you do not like the lady pictured above, stop reading ACOTAR cause she ain’t going anywhere. To be so for real, I didn’t mind Elain at first, meaning I didn’t care whether or not she was included in any story whatsoever. But as I read ACOWAR and ACOFAS, I started realizing that there’s something so lovely about having a character who is innately good and wants/practices peace in a world of animosity and ugliness. She brings beauty in all areas of her life and I think that there’s nothing bad about being “boring” cause that just means your life ain’t a dang mess (*cough* *cough* everybody else in this book)

So here is where I debunk all the claims I have grown tired of ignoring:

• #1 - “He hadn’t gotten that far into his planning beyond the fantasies he’s pleasured himself to.”

(Picture credit: unknown) Get a good look cause that’s what he’s doing at night when he thinks about ELAIN. (It’s canon, so cry to yourself)

So, y’all really think you got us here, huh? So, my man Azriel blatantly admits to thinking of Elain when he wants to be intimate and y’all STILL want your girl to be with this man?

Ugh

Anyway, so Azriel hadn’t planned a relationship with Elain…OKAY???? Did you expect this man to have a map laid out about how he’s going to steal Lucien’s mate??? Do y’all even know Azriel? Like, be so for real rn.

Idk about y’all but when I have a crush on someone, I’m not thinking about how to steal them from the rest of the world, I’m imagining kissing them or going on cute dates. Not how I’ll actually make it happen. And ik y’all do that too with your favorite celebrities so stop playing.

He has a crush. Can you let the man figure out if Elain even wants him to act on it before he plans a 12-step mission on making Lucien disappear forever?

Azriel doesn’t want to force his emotions on anyone (as seen with Mor) so of course he’s not going to act or plot without confirmation that the other person in the party wants that. I.E. why he hadnt tried anything with Mor in all the CENTURIES that he liked her.

So, yeah, consider that point invalid.

• #2 - Lucien is Elain’s mate

(PC: @shauna_the_author) *sigh* This one cannot be dubunked, unfortunately, because it is true. You got me here.

BUT

Elain is more likely to marry Nuala and Cerridwen before she spends the rest of her life with Lucien.

And it has nothing to do with Lucien. It really, really doesn’t. Elain simply doesn’t like him. Y’all were in my comments like “oh he didn’t really sell out Elain and Nesta, he didn’t know”. OKAY. But Elain literally says in ACOWAR that she knows Lucien as two things: Feyre’s friend and the MAN WHO SOLD THEM OUT TO HYBERN

Who cares if it isn’t true, that’s what Elain thinks and with her in mind, you can’t say that this bond means anything more to her than Lucien having some ownership of her which she doesn’t like at all. She even tells Graysen that she doesn’t care Lucien is her mate (“I belong to no one, but my heart belongs to you.”)

Whereas with Azriel, my girl is practically skipping into his arms; talking with him about her dream garden, getting him not one but two solstice gifts, almost-kissing him, recoiling at Cassian’s dagger but actively using Azriel’s…

Idk about y’all but if someone who was fated to be with me was acting this way with another girl, I’d drop him like a hot potatoe. AND AS LUCIEN SHOULD. He deserves someone who wants him, not someone who, as even Lucien said in ACOWAR when he was questioning if Elain was “worth it”, is shackled to him.

I harbor no ill will toward this dreamy man, but it ain’t gonna happen so do Elain a favor and lose her number, k?

• #3 - Sarah wouldn’t do the 3 brothers with 3 sisters, it’s too cliche

Write your own book then. Fan fiction is a thing. If the ONLY thing preventing you to see reason is the possibility of a cliche in a book about kingdoms and fairies and magic then your priorities are so out of shape I won’t even spend the time explaining it to you.

This is SARAH’s WORLD. If she wants to be cliche and have the three female protagonists end up with the three male protagonists then let her. Omg.

• #4 - That Gwynriel scene tho

(NOTE THE PICTURE) Oh, you mean the bonus chapter that featured thoughts about Elain? Not that one? Oh, then maybe you mean the other bonus chapter that featured thoughts about Elain? No? You mean the scene with Gwyn…hmmm

OH! You mean the 2 page conversation about training and why he couldn’t sleep (cause of Elain) and the subsequent regift of Elain’s present to Gwyn. Yeah, I know about that but why are we talking about it? Cause that means Az likes Gwyn? Huh?

That’s how delulu y’all sound. And if I hear another “you’re the ribbon Az”, one more time I’ll scream. THE RIBBON WAS ABOUT TRAINING NOT GWYN WANTING TO SLEEP WITH THE MAN. We are talking about the same girl who hadn’t left a library in god knows how long because of a sexual trauma and y’all are forcing her onto another man??

Gwyn was focused on coming into herself and mastering the ways of the Valkyrie. Nesta meant Gwyn found another obstacle in Az that she would have to overcome to become a Valkyrie. The only man Gwyn was concerned about was Cassian and that’s cause he was getting it on with Nesta. Again, be so for real right now.

I refuse to acknowledge this point until the opposing ships acknowledge the 3 books (+ ACOFAS) of build up between Elain and Azriel.

• #5 - Elain doesn’t belong in the Night Court

This is the last point I’ll mention cause I actually feel bad for dogging the Gwynriels like this, but it had to be done. (Elucians get a pass bc at least their ship is based in evidence)

Elain doesn’t belong in the Night Court, okay, yeah Cassian said that the colors drown her out, I’ll give you that.

But Elain doesn’t know where she belongs anymore, just like Azriel has said about himself. She’s still figuring herself out and what she wants, so it’s okay she looks odd at times or feels at times out of place. Azriel keeps his shadows out 24/7 for the same reason. He doesn’t let anyone past the front he puts on unless he knows it’s safe to. They’re both figuring out how to live their best lives in their current lives.

I’ve heard Dusk Court theories and others but I won’t even repeat those (even tho they’re so good and you should definitely look into them). They just need to find their place in this world (and Cassian was right, Elain DOES NOT BELONG in the Hewn City).

Just like how Nesta didn’t believe she belonged in the Inner Circle, I believe there’s a place for Elain and Azriel where they can be themselves. They just need to find it I.E. their book.

-

Okay, that’s enough slaying of my enemies for one post. Again, this is just my opinion/theories and at the end of the day I’ll be happy with whatever Mrs. Maas gives us as long as she gives us something.

Act correctly or else I’ll be back.

[nikethestatue]

About me

Intro:

I have a lot of new followers (welcome all), so I figured I'll reintroduce myself to you.

I go by Nike and everyone refers to me Nike, so you can too

I've been in the ACOTAR fandom for a while. Officially since 2020, unofficially since 2016.

I first read ACOTAR and ACOMAF, and then ACOWAR came out just as I was finishing the 2 first books. I enjoyed the trilogy, but then kind of lost track of the books and SJM and moved on. Lo and behold, when Covid hit, I went back, re-read the trilogy, then ACOFAS and joined the fandom before the release of ACOSF. Been here ever since then.

I am primarily known as being THE Elriel :), but I also love the 3 sisters for different reasons. I closely identify with Nesta. I love Elain. I like Feyre. I am really not against anyone in the books, though I do genuinely dislike Lucien. He is not my cuppa.

I am not SJM critical, though I may post critiques. But I admire her ability to create characters that make so many people feel so many emotions and have brought hundreds of thousands of readers back to reading.

I am mostly known for writing Elriel fics--there are copious numbers of them at this point. I am known for answering a ton of questions. Writing some metas. Drawing on occasion. But overall, championing Elriel.

I curse fucking a lot and my filter in general is nonexistent and I use words like rape and death and murder and kill and abuse. I am not afraid of words. If you are uncomfortable with that, be warned. I don't sensor myself.

I have opinions which I state firmly and unequivocally.

I am a Sagittarius, and hence, I am blunt as fuck.

I am, however, not an asshole or a bully. I don't like those who are and don't invite abusive behaviors. I don't entertain trolls.

I don't lose my shit. Ever.

I HATE misogyny.

I will not be rude, even to a troll, but I will take them down if I feel like I want to bother.

I don't discuss politics or any real life issues on this blog. I will not state my views or opinions on anything, so please don't ask and don't bother. This is a place for beefy winged faeries and the ladies who love them. That's all.

I am blocked by every Gwynriel and Elucien out there, so no, I usually don't know who said what, because I have no access :)

The only other platform I am active on is Reddit, and no, you may not know my user name.

I don't have TikTok.

I have 2 IGs, but they are not related to the fandom.

Yes, I love Zodiac Academy with a burning passion of a thousand suns and always will. They are my family. I refer to ZA pretty often in various ways, so don't be surprised.

Some of my favourite authors are Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti, Angel Lawson, Lauren Biel, Jade West, JT Geissinger, and Tillie Cole.

I am a Lord of the Rings fan. Not a Harry Potter fan, and though I read the books a million years ago, I don't remember them and I don't know all the references.

I like the colour blue.

I speak 3 languages fluently, and understand 5.

I travel a lot, and mostly bounce between the US and London, UK for my living arrangements.

I share my life with a very large muscular man who literally looks and acts like Cassian. He IS actually 6"5 and he IS in finance. He doesn't have blue eyes or a trust fund though. He indulges my fandom craziness and has some strong opinions on some characters too. He is Team Elriel (out of his own volition).

Lastly, yes, I am real. Not some weirdo behind the screen. People I've met through the fandom have met me in real life, and know me pretty well. Most are surprised by my lack of any social anxiety. :) I am chill and extroverted.

So yeah, I can talk to anyone. So come, and let's be friends.

And of course, Long Live Elriel!

[serickswrites]

1) What was your whump awakening like?

2) Were there specific scenes -- in written or visual media -- that stayed with you?

9) What is your favorite whump trope?

- @eyehartart

Thank you for playing! I love questions :3

Questions from this ask game.

My whump awakening was very sudden. I had always, for as long as I can remember, enjoyed watching and reading about characters getting hurt, but I really thought I was alone in this (and tbh was very embarrassed by it because I thought something was wrong with me). In the early days of tumblr, I wasn't aware of this community and then sort of went inactive for a very long time, but a show that I love (and of course it got canceled) brought me back and that's when I found the whump community. That was a moment for several reasons. 1. I wasn't alone in my enjoyment of what I learned was called whump 2. That there was a whole community of people who enjoyed it and 3. My writing that I had always kept to myself (but had completed nanowrimo 3 times with) may actually have a space in the world. The rest, as they say, is history.

Are there specific scenes that stick with me? Yes. I'll share a couple. My all time favorite movie is the Princes Bride and I can remember as a kid (I watched it so many times we went through 3 VHS tapes and 2 DVD's because I wore them out) just being absolutely captivated by the Pit of Despair AND by Wesley being revived (tbh the whole movie captivated me). There were a lot of movies like that growing up where I was like, please do carry on, while everyone else was cringing. As a teen, I started a book series (definitely not appropriate for a 14 year old to be reading) that was very whumpy and I just loved it. I always found myself wishing things were whumpier. But probably one of the bigger vivid memories is basically all of Supernatural. That show was *chef's kiss* for whump. And then I started Prodigal Son and my sweet blorbo got whumped pretty regularly and I came here and yep it hasn't stopped lol.

As for my favorite whump trope, that is a really, really tough one. Because I love so many. And I love when they work in the story. I would say forced to watch, self sacrifice, or sort of that mistaken/misunerstood identity are my favorites on the regular because they're really hard to fuck up lol. But one that, unfortunately, does get fucked up a lot is mcd. HEAR ME OUT. When a character dies and it advances the plot, when it brings you to your knees, but you understand, that is the pinnacle of whump for me. Because it is so good because all the other characters are emotionally whumped because of it. The angst is just so lovely. Especially when it's been building and building, or you're expecting one character to die but the writer sharply turns left and hits you by surprise with another. But too often it's executed poorly or unnecessary (looking at the writers of Supernatural and The Magicians really, really hard) or even worse yet, it's undone. Like if you're going to kill a character, give them a good death, let them go, and let us mourn. Don't be like oh yeah this previously unknown way to bring someone back to life works now and only works for them (I hate it when it's so clear that a writer clearly intended something to end and had to backtrack when it got popular *cough* ACOWAR *cough*). That said, I don't think every story is advanced by someone dying. I do like characters to live. I also just don't mind having my heart torn apart because my beloved character meets their untimely demise. I realize this one is a very, very unpopular opinion, but hey we can't all like the same things. That's the beauty of this community, there is something for everyone!

Thanks for the ask!

[ladyescapism]

fractured bonds - part 2

summary: Rhys' little sister has always been nothing but loyal to her brother and court. however, the cauldron chooses the most inconvenient male as her mate: Eris Vanserra. will Ryn accept the heir of autumn as her mate? will her family?

a/n: Here is part 2 of my Eris and Rhys' little sister (Ryn) fic. This chapter covers the High Lords meeting in ACOWAR. There isn't any spice or real interaction between the two, yet anyways. my semester is coming to an end, so I will be able to write more, I hope.

part 1 -- part 3

warnings: none, I think

wc: 1,600

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weeks. 

It had been weeks since she’d learned Eris was her mate. 

Sometimes hours would pass, and she would not think of him. But the slightest things would set off any memory Ryn had of Eris. 

She was reading a book after lunch, legs tucked beside her, side pressed against the arm of the sofa, when the book she was reading mentioned the “crisp autumn air” and she could no longer focus. It was a common occurrence these days. A fire would crackle, a dog would bark, or a child with red hair would run past her on the street. She was going to cut down the stupid red maple that was planted by her window soon. 

The High Lord’s meeting was all she could think of. Even after battling alongside Cassian in Adraita, she was preoccupied with seeing Eris. 

A war is upon us, she scolded to herself, and all you can think of is Eris of all people. 

He was her mate, she remembered. It was her instincts driving her to think of him, to want to be near him. It was the mate bond that had her dreaming of him. Dreaming of the night at the Court of Nightmares…

Cassian plopping down next to her, barely missing smashing her toes, and shook her out of her trance. He let out a long breath. 

“How have you been, kiddo?” 

Ryn looked into his warm brown eyes. She knew Cassian would listen to her. He was the one she talked to about crushes, friend drama, and he was the only one that knew how she felt about certain things in her life. Despite all that, he would not react well to her mating bond. 

“I’m about as well as I can be, I suppose.” 

“Adratia was tough.” 

“Understatement.” 

“We got through, though,” Cassian said to her. She swung her legs to the floor and repositioned so that Cassian could pull her smaller frame under his arm. “We always get through.” 

He leaned into him, savoring the warmth of him. 

“Has something been up with you lately,” he asked, chest rumbling as he spoke. “Ever since the Court of Nightmares, you’ve been acting weird.” 

“Just the stress of everything going on and about to go on, that’s all.” 

Cassian could always tell when she was lying. But he would have to see her face. He didn’t move to look at her, so he just hummed in response. 

So they laid there, like they had so many times over the years. It would be the last time they would have the time for a while. 

A dog was barking outside. Eris liked dogs, she remembered. He had mythical hounds that were incredible trackers, she heard. She liked dogs, though she had kept the company of more than a few cats over the years, never a dog. 

She let the safety and warmth of Cassian’s embrace lull her to sleep before he could ask any more questions that she could not answer. 

Gods damn, Ryn thought as she looked in the full-length mirror. I look good. 

The dark blue velvet hugged her hips, nipped her waist, and the built-in corseted top accentuated her breasts and lifted them, without showing too much either. Ryn was thankful for her figure. She had full breasts and hips, and a slender waist from training. Thankfully, she was fully supported, with sturdy straps helping keep everything together. The neckline of the dress offset her broad shoulders, an aspect of her physical appearance she didn’t love. 

She paired the dress with matching blue velvet gloves, and a coordinating set of dainty sapphire and diamond jewelry. The earrings were simple in order to give the diamond collar its proper shine. When she saw it in the market, she knew she just had to have it. 

“Ryn, today, please,” Rhys called up the stairs. 

Without dignifying him with a response, she scooped up her shoes and with one last check of her lipstick, she made her way downstairs. 

Everyone was waiting on her, it seemed. 

Mor was in black. Unusual for her, but her nails were still polished red. Nesta was stunning in blue, like herself. And Feyre. 

Feyre was in one of her mother’s dresses. 

She felt a pang of jealousy looking at Feyre in the glittering gown, looking like it was made to fit her. And the diadem across her head, coordinating to Rhys’. From the family collection. 

Ryn didn’t look at her brother as she passed him to sit on the sofa to fix her shoes. 

The conversation passed around her. She couldn’t hear the conversation over the roaring in her ears. A petty jealousy.

 The trousseau was always for Rhys’ wife, she tried to remind herself. Not having one of her mother’s pieces was a point of contention between her and Rhys for centuries. 

She heard Nesta say something, probably to Cassian. She lifted her head in time to catch him say, “Next time, I’ll come say hello, Emissary.” 

Azriel offered her a hand as she stood from the couch, and as she turned to face the rest of the group. 

“You look beautiful, Kathryn,” Azriel told her. 

She gave Azriel a light smack on the shoulder for the use of her full name. 

“Yes, Ryn,” Feyre added. “You look amazing! Is that one of your mother’s dresses?” 

“Thank you, Az, and Feyre,” she glanced at Rhys for a brief second. “No, it is not.” 

After winnowing arrangements were made, they all went to the Dawn Court. 

After a fun few minutes of ribbing Rhys for not having his homes as well decorated as Thesean’s, they all found their way into the meeting room. Mor ran off to talk with Vivienne, and she felt her bother come to her side. 

“Are you mad about the dress?” 

“No,” she said too quickly. 

“Ryn,” Rhys started. 

“No,” she cut him off, turning to look at him. “I’m not mad. It’s fine. She looks great. Let’s get through this meeting with all our heads and we can fight about this again later.” 

“So, you are mad,” Rhys affirmed. 

“It is not important Rhys,” she sighed. “They are just dresses.” 

Just as Rhys was about to argue with her more, Helion came over and distracted him. Ryn fell into her usual position in the court. A quiet observer. 

While Azriel was the spymaster, she was good at watching people. Az and Ryn had a deal on how to handle situations like this. Az was to watch the outside: find the servant lurking in an antechamber, listen to the footsteps in the hall, and spies by the windows. 

Her job was the people in the room. She watches for body language that suggests that they are nervous or lying. That they’re being just a little to cocky. Decern what is real and what is a show to fake her out. Analyze what people say, their word choices so she can tell if they are hiding a second meaning to trick her with later. Not only was this a useful skill in these situations, once she learned a person’s tells, she could bleed them dry at poker. 

Beron arrived with his family. With Eris. 

Ryn could feel the tension in her neck. Every nerve fired, driving her to look at him. Look at his handsome face. 

But she could not, would not, look at him. She willed herself to look at everyone who spoke. But not him. 

She was panting. She could feel her chest shift faster and faster. Partly from the torture of not letting herself look at Eris, but all of that went away as she heard Rhys explain his time under the mountain again. She heard in the foyer. But seeing her bother, her strong, stubborn, proud big brother be forced to tell this story to win allies nearly killed her. 

Eris was a second thought as Beron began to insult Rhys. 

Blue eyes finally met brown. 

For one second, just for him, she let the tears well, let the emotion through.

“Father,” Eris said snapped softly, never daring to scold his own father. 

Beron huffed but shut up. 

Ryn was failing at her job. She could hear when people spoke, but it was as if she were underwater. She turned her attention to the people that spoke, not letting anyone guess at her despondence. 

The blur of a leather-cased body caught her attention as Azriel lunged across the table at Eris. 

Ryn felt her body rise it her seat. Who she would defend, she did not know. Would she stop Azriel, her brother in many ways for centuries to save the callous, cruel male who had just called her cousin a slut? 

She felt the bile rising in her throat. She fact that she no longer knew who she would defend in an instance was incomprehensible. 

The only steading force was Cassian’s hand on her elbow, bringing her back to her seat. And the only thing that took her attention form Azriel trying to strangle Eris was Feyre’s glittering form oh so perfectlydeescalating the situation. 

She no longer reacted to anything. Not the insults being spewed, not Feyre attacking Beron. She was in a trance. 

Ryn questioned everything. Her loyalty to her family, her morals, right done to the very core of her being. How could she be mated to Eris? If he was her equal, then she must be just as bad as him, right? 

She silently followed Rhys and Feyre back to their rooms, ignoring Cassian’s concerned glances her way. She politely greeted Helion, but remined silent. She let Feyre insult and berate him for not defending the Lady of Autumn. She could care less in that moment if she screwed up any alliances. 

Azriel was as quite as ever, watching Helion and Mor get close. She didn’t ask after her cousin when she left with the High Lord. And it wasn’t the sounds of them fucking that kept her up all night. 

Ryn laid awake that night and questioned everything. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag list:

All works:

@feysandzoyalailover @fanfictioniseverything @humanpersonlasttimeichecked @marina468 @singhillada

Fractured bonds:

@a-mexican-waffle @cafe-inaaa @feiwelinchen @theviewfromtheotherside

[stargirlie25]

Elriel part 1 (pls read it all)

Why elriels think elriel is endgame/mates......and debunking them

1.Azriel finds out Elain is a seer. elriels like to believe they are mates because how on earth did Azriel know? I think its important to note that Azriel has been alive for over 500 years. Meaning he has dealt with all sorts of stuff including seers. Azriel figured out elain was a seer by paying close attention to her. Keep in mind Azriel is a spy after all. He is naturally an observant person. He did not just know in his heart or whatever that Elain was a seer he literally said we need a seer and then concluded that elain was a seer and that was that. I also have talked about how Rhysand figured out Nestas power as well.

2.Azriel was the only one who understood/believed her in ACOWAR. I think this factor is heavily deepened by the fandom. When azriel took elain out to the garden, they were both doing their own thing. It was originally Lucien´s request for elain to be taken to the garden or outside. Lucien felt that she needed that. She gave no indication that she wanted it to lucien but lucien knew. As for Azriel being the only who believed in her, he said ´´She doesnt need anything,were the ones who need a seer´´ he said this in one sentence SJM only made feyre describe what was physically happening although Azriel said that in one go. You would notice if you had not failed english. Everybody thinks that Azriel understood Elain in that moment but truly he is just simply saying that ,we need a seer elain is fine. I do think Lucien believed in her. Lucien travelled all by himself to find the girl from Elains visions.

3.Azriel saved Elain from the hybern camp so they are endgame. This ones cute obviously but feyre went to UTM to save tamlin. Not to mention feylins one was much more intense considering feyre is going against fae untrained and as a human. She also died for him. While Azriel is 500+ and a trained warrior with 7 siphons. Also Aelin risked her like for chaol. I should also mention Cassian offered first. He went to save her as his duty because cassian was injured.

4.Azriel makes Elain feel stronger because he gave her truthteller. Elain only took the blade after Feyre reassured that she would not have to use it. Meaning she did not want to use it. She did not attempt to do anything with it until her sister was in danger. Then she gave it back without a glance. Not to mention Lucien was the only one who gave HER credit for stabbing the king. No one else.

5.Elain was wearing cobalt blue the first time she and Azriel met so they are mates. During the war, it states that Greysens army is lead by a flag which is Cobalt blue. Also this might be a stretch but his eyes are also blue....Due to her devotion to Greysen its a safe assumption on my part to say she wore blue often for Greysen. Lets also note how she still is yet to take off her engagement ring. Although there isnt any really debunking the Elain was in fact wearing blue the first time they met but SJM balanced it out my making Lucien naturally wear the exact color and shade of Elains eyes. Also eris wears cobalt blue too and i dont think they are endgame so not a very strong factor.

6.A charged glance went through Azriel and Elain. They have to be mates. Now i actually have not noticed in any SJM books where a charged glance was mentioned anywhere else. (if you have tell me where) Although the language that is used for Elucien and Gwynriel has been spotted various times being used for classic endgame/mate couples.

7.Rose connections. Azriels mother i believe lived in a place with a name that involves the word rose of some sorts and elain is a rose or she likes to plant roses. During the series Elain is referred to Light and fawn. It is said she likes to plant flowers. That is does not equal that she is a rose. That´s like saying feyre is paint and Nesta is books or dancing. Its MY personal opinion that Elain is not a flower she is light and i have a whole post on that. Rhysand gives a sketchbook to feyre so she could draw(because she loves to paint),Cassian gives a book she could read and then a music player thing where she could listen to music (because she loves to read and dance and often gets lost in music) Azriel gives Elain a rose necklace because she likes flowers. Lucien however got her enchanted gloves that she can use to garden.

8.Smile and blushes blooming on Azriels face. Bloom connects with flowers. Once again Elain is not a flower. This is just a smile that has nothing to do with mates because, “ Nesta couldn't stop it then. The answering smile that bloomed through her at last stealing across her face, bright as the dawn.” Does this mean Nesta and Elain are actually mates? Or when, ´´A smile bloomed on her red—her bloody mouth. She smiled in my general direction. Revealing blood-coated teeth. Stryga. The Weaver had waited.´´ So basically Elain and the weaver are actually mates!

9.Azriel is Elains first choice after being turned fae. First of all, the bond does not take away Elains choices. It only seems that way because Greyson dumped her because of it. Not to mention, Elain choses not to reject the bond when everybody would not care a bit if she did. It actually lets us see who Elain stans truly are. When they think choice they think a romantic partner which is actually giving elain a limited amount of choice and is a very gross standard. She is more than that. She has made plenty of choices since being turned fae. She chose to stay in the night court, make nuala and cerridwen her friends, distance herself with nesta, except gifts from lucien, chose to stay away from lucien which everybody supports. Choice does not result in a man. Or saying Azriel will finally be Elains choice. I get that Azriel was in love with mor but you cant blame her for that. She is interested in women. The love of her life was married to another so mor is dealing with her own stuff. It was Azriels choice to continue to love her. Although yes Elain can chose Azriel but it really isnt a special concept because Gwyn could chose him to and Azriel would be her number 1 first choice. Not that it matters what number you are because many endgame couples have never been 1st choice it just depends on the love you have for your partner.

10.Bread and roses. As stupid as it sounds, it can be a strong factor but first lets analyze that actual scene. So Azriel takes bryce to the town house which smells like bread and roses. Many fans say that this is because Elain and Azriel live together..... i dont think so because Azriel stays in the house of wind through out ACOSF to simply ignore Elain at all times. After Rhysand warns him about panting after Elain he only agrees with himself further that he should be away from Elain. So i really dont think they live together. Not in a long shot. Also do you really think Rhysand would allow Elain and Azriel to live together. No he would not. I also believe in a way SJM actually shut down this theory. Im just going to leave a link here where someone points it out :https://bookofmirth.tumblr.com/post/680250498032566272/when-and-how-does-sjm-shut-down-the-bread-and So yeah dont be delusional!

Anyways im going to make a part two but also tell me some other reasons why you ship elriel (dont be too deep with it!)

i tried to be unbiased here idk if i did well

[merymoonbeam]

Seiðr-Swan lake- Elain and Vassa theory

this post is going to be a little chaotic but bare with me here because we are gonna connect a lot of theories in this one.

what I will be talking about in this post:

Seidr magic and how it connects to Elain.

Goddess Freyja and Elain-Vassa connections.

Swan lake retelling

@wingedblooms has a post about Elain being a witch. And in that post she talks about seidr. we are gonna dive more into that and how it might connect to elain's arc and upcoming books.

So let's start with what is Seiðr?

Seidr (pronounced “SAY-der;” Old Norseseiðr, “cord, string, snare”[1]) is a form of pre-Christian Norse magic and shamanism concerned with discerning the course of fate and working within its structure to bring about change, which was done by symbolically weaving new events into being.[2] To do this, the practitioner, with ritual distaff in hand,[3] entered an ecstatic trance in order to be able to interact with the world of spirit.

so basically...it is a type of magic done by changing the course of fate and weaving new events into being. They use a distaff and there is trance.

So let's continue. Seidr is described as weaving new events into being. Let's see Elain's connection with that.

in acowar we have this scene. Elain talking about Cassian's death. But later in the book while KoH was going to kill them, Elain steps out of a shadow to stab the king through the throat.

Nesta’s nostrils flared, but Elain peered up at Cassian, blinking twice. “He snapped your wings, broke your bones.” I tried to shut out the sound of Cassian’s scream—the memory of the spraying blood. Nesta stared at her plate. Elain, at least, was out of her room, but … “It’ll take more than that to kill me,” Cassian said with a smirk that didn’t meet his eyes. Elain only said to Cassian, “No, it will not.”

I knew they’d both die the moment that power hit them. Anything, I begged the Cauldron. Anything— The king’s hand began to drop. And then halted. A choking noise came out of him. For a moment, I thought the Cauldron had answered my pleas. But as a black blade broke through the king’s throat, spraying blood, I realized someone else had. Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

so Elain changed the course of fate by saving them. this also contects to Azriel's talk about Nephelle Philosophy.

I raised a brow. Azriel shrugged. “We—Rhys, Cass, and I—will occasionally remind each other that what we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength. And that the most unlikely person can alter the course of history.” “The Nephelle Philosophy.”

Now the part about "trance" with seidr.

While Elain is looking for the Suriel. She closes her eyes.

Elain again glanced at the map. At me. Then closed her eyes. Her eyes shifted beneath her lids, the skin so delicate and colorless that the blue veins beneath were like small streams. “It moves …,” she whispered. “It moves through the world like … like the breath of the western wind.” “Where is it headed?” Her finger lifted, hovering over the map, the courts. Slowly, she set it down. “There,” she breathed. “It is going there. Now.”

another scene.

He asked Elain, “There is another queen?” Elain squinted, as if the question required some inner clarification, some … path into looking the right way at whatever had addled and plagued her. “Yes.”

so....in a way she is going into some type of trance. I have another post about mystics&seers and they connect to each other if you wanna read.

so that's out of the way. It is now time for ritual distaff.

While looking for distaff I found this.

As an adjective, the term distaff is used to describe the female side of a family. The corresponding term for the male side of a family is the "spear" side.

so it is interesting that is used for the female side of the family and male side of the family is "spear"...I had a post about the fourth dread trove being a spear or maybe narben being a spear in my wild hunt theory post so it is a little interesting detail. also @offtorivendell talked about spear of lugh in her dusk court post.

moving on more about distaff. While searching I found this detail.

In Norse mythology, the goddess Frigg spins clouds from her bejewelled distaff in the Norse constellation known as Frigg's Spinning Wheel (Friggerock, also known as Orion's belt).[6]

We are gonna dive more into Frigg in a second but before that we have to talk about Orion's belt. We are gonna make a connection here.

Frigg uses distaff to control Orion's belt. We know an Orion. Hunt's name is Orion. And Hunt is Bryce's mate. We also know Bryce comes from the line of Theai who was a starborn. @offtorivendell talks about it in here that how Theai in mythology is the goddess of sight and light. Bryce is starborn so...light. and Who is a seer? Elain...sight. Just thought it was an interesting detail.

Now...onto the Frigg.

Frigg (pronounced “FRIG;” Old NorseFrigg, “Beloved”[1]), sometimes Anglicized as “Frigga,” is the highest-ranking of the Aesir goddesses. She’s the wife of Odin, the leader of the gods, and the mother of Baldur.

She is a goddess and Odin's wife.

Strangely for a goddess of her high position, the surviving primary sources on Norse mythology give only sparse and casual accounts of anything related to her personality, deeds, or other attributes. The specifics they do discuss, however, are not unique to Frigg, but are instead shared by both her and Freya, a goddess who belongs to both the Aesir and the Vanir tribes of deities. From these similarities, combined with the two goddesses’ mutual evolution from the earlier Germanic goddess Frija, we can see that Frigg and Freya were only nominally distinct figures by the late Viking Age, when our sources were recorded, and that these two figures, who had formerly been the same deity, were still practically the same personage in everything but name.

basically Frigg and Freyja are the same.

What is interesting is that both Freyja and Frigg are Völva...a seer. I made a post about Völuspá poem(told by a völva) in Norse myth where I talked about how sarah might use it for the next book as a inspiration for Elain and upcoming crossover.

Like Freya, Frigg is depicted as a völva, a Viking Age practitioner of the form of Norse magic known as seidr.

so now let's look into Freyja.

Freya (Old Norse Freyja, “Lady”) is one of the preeminent goddesses in Norse mythology. She’s a member of the Vanir tribe of deities, but became an honorary member of the Aesir gods after the Aesir-Vanir War. 

In Norse mythology, Freyja (Old Norse "(the) Lady") is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr (magic for seeing and influencing the future).

As you can see Frejya can do Seidr magic.

Another thing is...Freyja has a necklace and a cloak.

Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvíni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers.

So how might these be relevant for acotar plot?

We already know a necklace that is connected with Elain. Azriel literally bought a necklace for her.

But tonight, here in the dark and quiet, with no one to see…He pulled the small velvet box from the shadows around him. Opened it for her. Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around. The golden necklace seemed ordinary - its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

so I think sarah might have gotten the inspiration from Freyja.

it is also interesting that Freyja's necklace's name has this. It is a "neck-ring"

The name is an Old Norse compound brísinga-men whose second element is men "(ornamental) neck-ring (of precious metal), torc".

And @offtorivendell has a post about how the necklace scene between Elain and Azriel reads like a wedding imaginary.

Now about Freyja's cloak. this is where we connect to Vassa.

We know sarah wants to write swan lake retelling.

So I went to look at swan lake. It is a ballet. that is well known. We are gonna look into its origin.

There is no evidence to prove who wrote the original libretto, or where the idea for the plot came from. Russian and German folk tales have been proposed as possible sources, including "The Stolen Veil" by Johann Karl August Musäus, but both those tales differ significantly from the ballet.[5]

the origin might come from German or Russian folk tales. We are gonna dive into the German tales. German tales are called "Volksmärchen der Deutschen" and when you go that page you can see "the stolen veil" by Johann Karl August Musäus in there.

"The stolen veil" name is interesting because well...the fourth dread trove was veiled in shadows in Acosf. I don't think it is nothing but a word similarity but it was interesting.

A fourth object lay on the altar, veiled in shadow. But she couldn’t make out more than a gleam of age-worn bone—

Also @silverlinedeyes remembered me that she wrote a post about how Elain might use cloak of void. she talks about in this post if you wanna read it. And the fact that Frejya has a cloak of falcon feathers was an interesting connection.

Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvíni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers.

Back to Swan lake.

"The stolen veil" is by Johann Karl August Musäus. and when you go to page of the story. It gives you information about swan maidens in the story.

The swan maiden is a mythical creature who shapeshifts from human form to swan form. The key to the transformation is usually a swan skin, or a garment with swan feathers attached. In folktales of this type, the male character spies the maiden, typically by some body of water (usually bathing), then snatches away the feather garment (or some other article of clothing), which prevents her from flying away (or swimming away, or renders her helpless in some other manner), forcing her to become his wife.

So they have a "swan skin" with swan feathers which helps them shapeshift.

This reminded me of Frejya's falcon feather. Tho Frejya uses it to fly not shapeshift but swan maidens and Freyja both having feathers is interesting.

Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvíni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers.

So maybe we would see Vassa with a swan skin to turn into human? Or maybe others who are trapped in the lake by koschei??

so that's all. Thanks for reading.

[moodymelanist]

The fandom is so lucky to have you! We appreciate having you here and all that you contribute to it ❤️❤️

1. What brought you into the fandom?

2. What character(s) do you feel the most connected to and why?

3. Out of all of SJM’s books, which one means the most to you and why?

4. Out of all of the SJM couples (fanon, canon, endgame, etc) which one means the most to you and why?

Keep doing you ❤️

aw thank you so much 🥹🩷

I actually got into ao3 around late 2020/early 2021 (I think the first acotar fic I read was Rhys’ POV for acomaf actually lol). But I realized how little modern au there was for nessian… and the rest was history

I feel very connected to Nesta. I’m technically a middle child but I was socialized as the oldest daughter (my older sister is 10 years older than me, for some context) so I heavily relate to a lot of the things she experienced, family-dynamic wise. Personality-wise I think I’m most similar to Gwyn or Cassian but nesta is my girl through and through.

I’ve only read acotar but I’d say probably acowar, but specifically the Nessian scenes. We had so much potential then…

Nessian. I just love them together so much, and seeing what my fellow writers do with them just makes my heart so happy. I love making them fall in love across different lifetimes and universes and even in different bodies (looking at you, genderbent Nessian AUs). I also have a soft spot for Neris but specifically in fanon 😂

[msbrownwithacrown]

I have an unhinged theory.

But I haven't read Acomaf/Acowar in a while, so I'm still getting more receipts and seeing where this deep dive takes me...but I kinda want to share the gist of it with you all because it's blowing my mind.

It goes along with the theory of Rhys being a villain and a master manipulator throughout the entire series. (Support for this and to what end is a whole other conversation).

Anyway, I think he's mind-controlling Elain.

In that, I think he's interfering with Elain's perception of her mating bond with Lucien. I'll get to the why in a moment. But, the current signs I have included to support this theory are as follows:

1. The moment right after Lucien breaks free of Hyberns Bonds and after Nesta was being placed in the Cauldron, we see that the guards "at last let Rhysand kneel beside me."

-Unhinged Theory Time: What if Rhys was colluding with Hybern (more on this later) and after witnessing Luciens power and the possible threat this posed to a nefarious, secret long term plan, he was "released" conviently at that precise moment. Perhaps, to allow him to secretly manipulate the Cauldron, or Nesta and Elain at their weakest points.

2. Rhys's chapter in Acomaf. Please note Rhys saying this line: "Perhaps Lucien being Elain's mate would help - somehow. I'd find a way."

-Unhinged Theory Time: That line potentially could sound caring. Although, we're left wondering what it could help with exactly as it isn't specified (taking down the spring court? Hybern? Secret plan??) . Whatever it may be, the idea of him seeing how it could help....not how HE could help them. Not how HE could help his mates sister, Elain, but how IT could help... makes me it read it with a more sinister tone. Because from a villain's pov ...it shows he is scheming about what to do with that bond. And how he can potentially influence, interfere, or do whatever with it

3. Elain, in Acowar. Talking in riddles. Feyre observes that she appears empty, silent, and hollow. (Usually interpreted as trauma response, grief, new SEER abilities, but... what if it's because her mind is being manipulated?) Also, all her curtains are pulled back to let in much sun as possible, "as if any bit of darkness was abhorrent. As if to chase it away." Again trauma, grief, new overwhelming senses/abilities.. but let's go to

-Unhinged Theory Time: What if her response to darkness is because she has shadows in her mind. Hence, the obscene amount of light. The incoherent sentences. The silence and emptiness Feyre is witnessing. Of if her perception of her mating bond is being interfered with, it would possibly explain her confusion and mental anguish.

I'm going to end this post by pointing out that Rhysand doing this could be caused by his distrust of Lucien. Not only, because of past differences, but because of Luciens' seemingly Wyrdmarked eye that can see through spells & glamours, his ability to do vast research, his powers, and his bravery of standing up to Amarantha.

Full disclosure. Just doing this for fun. This isn't my hill to rest on, so the theory is not as thorough pre-sharing, as I would like it to be...but there was enough there to make me pause and go hmm.

[acourtofthought]

@thevalkyriesshadow received the above anon which they responded to perfectly. I've noticed an uptick in anti anons that are being sent out to Elucien's / Gwynriels today. Funny how that seems to coincide with a day dedicated to the celebration of Elain Archeron. The funniest part about this particular anon, which I've seen echoed before from other anti's is this line: "His storyline has been reduced more every single book"

This opinion proves that they have not read the books outside of specific mentions of Elain and Az. It was in SF that Sarah chose to connect Beron to Koschei. Beron who is the man that murdered Lucien's first love and tormented him his entire life. A fact that Sarah made sure to remind us of TWICE in SF. It was in SF that Sarah chose to have Beron set his sights on the weakened Spring Court. The court that only Lucien has true access to at this point which is the reason Az unhappily declared they needed to permanently station him there to be their eyes and ears because of Tamlin's depressed state which is not getting better. It was the Spring Court that Sarah chose to write Cassian saying "With a new war possible and Briallyn up to her bullshit with Koschei, we need a strong ally. We need the Spring Court's forces". See paragraph directly above. Lucien is their contact to Spring, it will only be through Lucien and (most likely his mate) that they can actually obtain an ally in the Spring Courts forces since Tamlin wants nothing to do with the rest of them. It was Eris that Sarah chose to attach to Nessian's story. Eris who showed regret over the state of his strained relationship with Lucien in ACOWAR, Eris being LUCIEN'S brother and all that. Eris who went to visit Lucien's current home in ACOSF. It was in SF that Sarah wrote Lucien looking out the window as if he were setting his sights on his target (Koschei). Lucien who we're reminded of being friends with Vassa and Jurian and Koschei who told them to tell his Vassa that he's waiting. Do some truly believe Vassa will return to his lake and Lucien just won't care? It was in SF that Sarah wrote Lucien still looking at Elain with longing. You're telling me she's forgotten about his character yet made sure to remind all readers of what a loyal king he still is to his mate after two years?

It was in SF that Sarah chose to connect Helion to a trove item (the mask). Helion being Lucien's secret father which we know is a major plot point yet to be revealed. Chose to build upon the friendship between Rhys and Helion so we could learn information about the Day Court which we know Lucien will eventually discover through his birthright. It was in SF that Sarah wrote Feyre as sending Lucien to check on Nesta and report back. Meaning she values what Lucien has to say. It was in SF that Sarah retconned Lucien's journey to the continent. Rather than having him meet Elain's father, Vassa, and the Seraphim already on their way and telling them exactly where they needed to go she's changed it so Lucien was at Koschei's lake with Elain's father.

OP to the anon is right, it wouldn't make sense for Lucien to be in Nessian's story because he's not Cassian or Nesta's friend. Nesta only started coming around to him about 2/3 of the way through her story when she began asking after his friends, the Spring Court and thought Elain was a wretch for sitting away from him. But that doesn't change that Sarah found a dozen different ways to connect Lucien to every single outstanding plot in SF. Trove? Check. Koschei? Check. Spring Court? Check. Beron? Check. A link to Rhys and Feyre not only through the information only he can provide but his mating bond to Feyre's sister? Check. "Lucien isn't a favorite because she didn't make him part of the IC" Or......Sarah could have realized that there was no need to limit herself by placing all her main characters in a single court? That's like saying Sarah doesn't like Dorian because she gave him a kingdom outside Terrasen?

Doing a search for the number of times Lucien's name is mentioned in SF is not going to prove anything the way some think it does. First off, Chaol was only mentioned on page 4 times before his book and that was only because characters were thinking about him. Second because there is no plot for Beron, Koschei, Vassa, Eris, Elain, Tamlin, Helion that won't also effect Lucien directly.

[saccharinerose]

Final thoughts on ACOWAR + the trilogy as a whole

I am done. I am never, EVER touching a single book by SJM again. I dipped my toes into ToG and decided that it was not for me and, with the rest of the series looming overhead, also decided that it wasn't even worth reading ironically. I gave ACOTAR a try and thought "Hey, it's only a trilogy. How bad can it be?" It was very bad. ACOTAR was mostly boring and unremarkable, with the most egregious problem being the beginning of SJM's systematic butchering of fae mythology and turning them into omegaverse alphas - just without the knots. ACOMAF was HORRID and the 3 days it took me to read felt like half an eternity and I had a headache for the entire time. ACOWAR is marginally better than ACOMAF, instead of horrid it's just bad and occasionally infuriating. I learned from ACOMAF and spaced out my reading time, so I only got a headache on the third day of reading it and then decided to take a 5 day break. The first section of the book was just me rolling my eyes until they fell out of my skull. Tamlin in this first section is a prime example of what I like to call a hatesink. We are meant to hate him and nothing else. I didn't even really give a shit about him being a shitty person bc it didn't matter! Feyre hates him and we are supposed to hate him, regardless of what he does. He could have been kicking puppies and knitting sweaters for orphans in consecutive scenes and Feyre would literally have the same internal narration about how much she hates him and how she can't wait to make him miserable. I was over it after 2 paragraphs, I didn't feel anything, no satisfaction, no nothing. Finally leaving the Spring Court was a relief but it was short-lived when we returned to Velaris with Lucien. GOOD GOD, is the Inner Circle as infuriating pile of people. I needed someone to throw hands. Either the Inner Circle with each other and someone on the outside with one of them, preferably Rhysand. Can someone knock a couple of Rhysand's teeth out? PLEASE?? I get why Lucien didn't do it. If he so much as smacked someone from the IC over the head, I 100% believe Rhysand would throw a huge temper tantrum like the toddler he is, and pulverize him but someone else could have... Mor should have AT LEAST attempted to slap him for the shit he pulled with Keir and Eris. Nesta's hands could've been rated E for everyone at, like, any point in the book. Maybe I just want to see Rhysand get socked in the face... Pre-war the threat of Hybern fell kind of... flat after two pairs of Importantly Titled people from Hybern, one pair of which boasts about how they have a thousand years of experience on Feyre, almost immidiately get offed by either our protagonists or whatever much more interesting eldritch horror lives in their basement. What a threat, I was at the edge of my seat, worried the King of Hybern will send over some more schmucks to get axed. It doesn't help that they have less character depth than a Powerpuff Girls villain... SJM seems to have some sort of allergy to having Feyre acknowledge her mistakes. On two seperate occasions, she was just starting to recognize an action she took might have been a mistake because of the consequences it had, then Rhysand swooped in to make sure she won't. She directly paved the way for Hybern to attack the Summer Court and lay siege to Adriata, killing hundreds of innocent people, by bringing down the Spring Court. The fucking King of Hybern himself verbally thanks her for it! She made a mistake, fueled by her desire for revenge but the narrative, through Rhysand, REFUSES to acknowledge it as a mistake. The protagonists are Always Right even when they're not. Her violent outburst at the meeting of the High Lords was the same story. The meeting in itself was the singular most frustrating thing I have ever read. Not one, not two but three times did someone from the Night Court have a violent outburst because of things someone said and they were the ones who called the meeting. I know the book tried to convince us Tamlin was the one with a short temper but holy shit, none of IC are any better?? You people are flying off the handle left and right? Say what you will, but at least Tamlin kept his jabs verbally this time. Reading about the meeting was like watching a bunch of magically superpowered toddlers. How have some of these Courts managed to stay functioning with these people as their leaders? None of them read like decades or even centuries old people... At least I now have a better understanding of the mentality of backseat gamers... The sex scenes were placed at some of the weirdest parts. Like the one time Rhysand and Feyre had a quickie just after she got back from her exhausting multi-day treck from the Spring Court while Lucien was waiting in the entrance hall of the house in his dirty, tattered clothes... And of course, who could forget the blowjob to the live surround-sound of people's death throes. Seems like a bit of a mood killer, I don't know if I could get hard in that situation. The battle scenes in and of itself, especially when the actual big-scale war started? Holy shit these scenes were BORING. I really don't know how SJM managed to make an all-out war between two factions of ludicrously powerful magical beings boring but she managed it. Utterly tensionless drivel. At no point was I ever under the impression that any of the main characters or sympathetic secondary characters would die or get permanently injured in some way. And the deaths we did have... didn't elicit much of a reaction beyond a shrug. Feyre's dad was barely in the first book, completely written out of the second and then appears at the end of the third just to be murdered in front of our protagonist and her sisters and I'm supposed to care? The Bone Carver and the Weaver are paper-thin "ooohh so scary" ancient eldritch beings who both bite it pretty unceremoniously and, again, I'm supposed to care? Literally didn't even react to the death of the King of Hybern beyond a shrug. I also find it funny how so many, arguably important characters just... remain nameless. The main antagonist, the Big Bad? He's just "the King of Hybern". Lucien's mother, the Lady of the Autumn Court, who saved the protagonist's life in book one? She doesn't have a name either! The father of our protagonist? You guessed it, nameless! Rhysand's mother and sister, whose deaths were the catalyst for his and Tamlin's feud? Fuck them, I guess. But you can fucking bet your ass Feyre's two maids in Velaris, who have literally zero personality or plot importance, have names. One of them is named after fucking Cerridwen. Closing thought, can we talk about how SJM gave the singular most bombass aesthetic, night sky and stars, to Rhysand - the literal most dripless person in the history of fiction. It's always just tunics or jackets with no description beyond being black. Even Rhysand's fucking wedding ring (or equivalent there of) is just a silver band. The most he ever did with accessories was wear a crown of raven feathers. Rhysand is the equivalent of that picture of Ed Sheeran in a t-shirt next to a glammed-up Beyonce. He is the male actor showing up the MET gala in a simple black suit, regardless of theme. No drip, no style, no fashion, just boring.