A Court of Thought

Links only seem to work well from a laptop or desktop versus phone.  Also, if the link seems to link you back to the Master List, scroll to the bottom for the actual post.

Includes

Various Posts for the Month of October 2023.docx

An Assortment of Posts Recently Added.docx

Posts from 9-24-23 through 10-1-23.docx

Pro Elain Archeron

Lucien Vanserra (the Man, the Myth, the Legend)

Pro Elucien

Pro Gwynriel

Anti E/riel

Gwyn Theories

ACOTAR 5?

Bonus Chapters

Crossover Posts

Anti Tamlain

Mor Theories

Amren Theory

Not my idea but it did make me go searching....

"I would like to combine folklore from all over the world. Maybe the Russian firebird legends." - Sarah J Mass

“They sold her—to … to some darkness, to some … sorcerer-lord …” She shook her head. “I can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything … save for them. The girls. He keeps other girls—others so like her—but she … By day, she is one form, by night, human again.” “A bird of burning feathers,” I said. “Firebird by day,” Rhys mused, “woman by night … So she’s held captive by this sorcerer-lord?”

"Kastchei (also spelled Koschei) is the immortal sorcerer and primary antagonist. He imprisons innocent princesses and turns men into stone using his dark magic. The benevolent, magical Firebird helps the hero, Prince Ivan, defeat Kastchei by putting his evil subjects to sleep and revealing how to destroy the sorcerer's soul"

The Firebird: A magical creature of light and guardian spirit who is captured by Prince Ivan but offers him a glowing feather in exchange for her freedom (I wonder if this is any way connected to the deal Papa Archeron made for her temporary freedom).

Prince Ivan: The brave hero who enters Kastchei's enchanted garden and seeks to free the ten enchanted princesses.

Kastchei the Deathless: A sinister ruler whose soul is locked inside a magical egg hidden within a casket in his palace. (Palace could equal the castle that had enough spells and wards to trip up even Helion). Anyone who destroys the egg destroys Kastchei himself.

The Climax: When Kastchei's monsters attack Prince Ivan, Ivan waves the Firebird's golden feather. The Firebird casts a spell, forcing Kastchei and his horde to dance frantically until they collapse in exhaustion. The Firebird then helps Ivan destroy the egg, vanquishing the sorcerer.

Her voice hoarsened. “Koschei is no mere sorcerer. He’s confined to the lake only due to an ancient spell. Because he was outsmarted once. Everything he does is to free himself.”

“Why was he imprisoned?” Cassian asked. “The story is too long to tell,” she hedged.

“I fear what may happen if he ever gets free of the lake. If he sees this world on the cusp of disaster and knows he could strike, and strike hard, and make himself its master. As he once tried to do, long ago.” “Those are legends that predate our courts,” Eris said. Vassa nodded. “It is all I have gleaned from my time enslaved to him.”

Lucien stared out the window—as if he could see the lake across a sea and a continent. As if he were setting his target.

“Maybe not.” Eris shifted on his feet, and grimaced again. “But you and yours have more important things to think about than ancient history. My father is furious that his ally is dead, but he’s not deterred. Koschei remains in play, and Beron might very well be stupid enough to establish an alliance with him, too.

Lucien’s hands slackened at his sides. His voice broke as he whispered to Elain, “You’re my mate.”

While we spoke, I said down the bond, Helion is Lucien’s father. Rhys was silent. Then— Holy burning hell. His shock was a shooting star between us.

Helios is the Titan god of the sun in ancient Greek mythology. Personifying the actual sun, he drove a fiery, four-horse chariot across the sky each day.

He’d wanted to enter the dark city in a golden chariot led by four snow-white horses with manes of golden fire, Rhys had told Cassian, but Rhys had forbidden the chariot and horses, and let Helion know that he could winnow in or not come at all. Hence the pegasus. Helion’s idea of a compromise.

Because his light reached everywhere, he was the god of sight who witnessed all secrets.

“I can’t leave it here like this,” I said, refusing to let go of its hand. I didn’t care how Helion had found me. Why he’d found me. He looked to the fallen creature, mouth tightening. “I’ll take care of it.” Burn it—with the power of the sun.

He raised his fist to the door, but the wooden slab pulled away before he could touch it. Lucien’s scarred, handsome face appeared, his golden eye whirring. “I thought I sensed someone else arriving.”

Lineage: Son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, brother to Eos (the dawn) and Selene (the moon).

In Greek mythology Helios was the son of Theia and brother to Selene. (Theia and Silene!!)

"I knew Lucien and Elain were going to be together! Hopefully Mor and Az will end up together too"

"Marrying Rhys sounds fun to me 😍😂"

"I'm not sure what's up with Jurian. He thanked Feyre for helping with Children of the Blessed but he's also a bad guy."

"Dang it - now I started reading for a minute and this book is stressing me out."

"Lucien is off in the human lands looking for the Queen, I'm glad he's helping them." them = the Night Court

"I'm a little freaked out about Elain's vision about Cassian"

"The war started. I don't get why she keeps saying how Rhys is the most powerful High Lord and can do all this insane stuff, but then he never has shown his actual power because his magic keeps getting blocked. I want to see this power. Like these High Lords are supposed to be so powerful they but they never get to use any of this magic."

(When she said the war started, I thought she meant the battle scene but she said they're just getting ready to head to the Summer Court. She was only referring to one of the characters saying "the war has started" but they're heading to the meeting of the HL's).

The best way to convince a group of people to do what you need them to do (like sign a peace treaty) is to gather them together, show them a good time, then work your magic.

I genuinely don’t think I could handle Lucien being rejected, especially if it was for his own brother. Out of all the possible outcomes, that’s probably the one I dread the most. not Elriel but this.

Honestly, I don't know what to think. The idea that we might have to wait another five years is heartbreaking, but I can see some logic in what they're saying.

There are a lot of thoughts about the next book from a lot of different people who have a lot of different ways of viewing things and there's no way to know which of those many thoughts are in line with Sarah's thoughts.

So while those people could have a point with that logic if that's what she said I do have to mention how that argument falls apart when we consider what Sarah said in the video of her doing the ACOTAR bracket. She was trying to decide between Azriel and Rowan and after struggling with her choice picked Az while saying, "I've already explored Rowan but Az is someone I'll be exploring more in the future."

When that was recorded she'd already started writing ACOTAR 6. If "exploring in the future" means Elucien can't be next that means Az is also not next.

"The white flowers in the background appear to be cherry blossoms (also known as sakura). These delicate blooms are a classic symbol of spring and are frequently used in decorative floral arrangements to complement seasonal themes."

White sakura (cherry blossoms) primarily symbolize purity, simplicity, and new beginnings. They are viewed as a pristine, tranquil emblem of a fresh start. Because they bloom at the start of spring, they are universally recognized as symbols of rebirth and brighter days ahead.

That doesn't mean the ACOTAR series can't also be about other characters but one of it's central themes, the thing that inspired Sarah to write the spin-off series, is the future stories of Nesta and Elain.

It is about them discovering who they are as individuals.

It is about them finding where they belong.

It is about them finding who they belong with.

It is about them finding a way they can make a difference in this new world they've found themselves in.

It is about all three sisters learning how to have a healthy relationship with one another because they will never know true peace until they all have peace.

Sarah is giving each of these sisters their own found family but I do think her goal since bringing the sisters back on page has been helping them find their way back to one another, how to mend what was broken between them because of the traumas of their past and present.

Found family is so important but so is family if you can find a way to bridge that gaps between you and I think with Sarah being a HEA romance author that's exactly what we're going to see once Elain's story is told.

At this point, I don’t think I’ll even read the next books, even if she eventually writes Elain’s POV as an afterthought. It’s obvious that whatever she writes for Elain will be overshadowed by other characters and their storylines. After all this time, it feels like Elain is constantly being pushed aside while everyone else gets the spotlight. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Valkyries, and it was always obvious that their story wasn’t finished yet. But Elain’s story hasn’t even begun. That’s what makes it so frustrating. Watching other characters continue to get development and new storylines while Elain is still waiting for her chance in the spotlight is honestly disappointing.

I think it's normal to feel frustrated especially when any side is convinced something is proof of their ship and you're more excited to read someone else's story right now but I think it's important to put a few things into perspective.

Last year Bloomsbury also did an influencer / marketing event that celebrated all the courts of the ACOTAR series. They reblogged BabyNameEnvy's post that talked about the name meanings of Feyre, Rhys, Tamlin and Lucien where she reminded people of how Lucien's name is a nod to his secret heritage. The event also placed heavy emphasis on Autumn and Spring.

Marketing events do not equal confirmation of the next book otherwise that particular event would be telling us that Sarah is about to dive into his story especially because she had already been writing ACOTAR 6/7 at that time.

When the e/riels were celebrating the Elain / Nesta / Ferye bracelets from Alex and Ani using it as proof that clearly Elain's story is next I saw some respond with "the bracelets aren't proof of who the next book is about, it's simply using material that has already been written into the ACOTAR series" and I agree with that. I agree with that as it relates to the reformer class. Anything that is happening now is probably not Sarah "soft launching" the next povs or plot of the next book, it's likely Bloomsbury using existing material to drum up interest in the current ACOTAR series (books 1-5) and they have not only ever stuck with one person to do that. They've used things for Elain, for Nesta, for Feyre. They've used the Inner Circle and the Valkyrie, groups that already exist in the ACOTAR series and are currently responsible for it's success. That does NOT mean she isn't preparing to introduce yet another found family within the next books in order to continue broadening this world.

At the end of the day neither Bloomsbury or Sarah have wanted to tell us who the next book is about or what it's about so to me anything happening right now is just celebrating the ACOTAR series as a whole, not sending secret codes. If secret codes were the way they were going then there are enough secret codes out there for every potential character to be a lead.

Let them celebrate but I'm going to celebrate Elucien because in the books they have had the most story setup and that IS a reason to celebrate. A confirmed mating bond? The only other one to be put into the Cauldron and the one the Cauldron favors? The person who had visions of Vassa and Koschei? The sister who was the one closest to her father and that father made the bargain with Koschei? Lucien who is connected to all remaining plots including Dusk with his ancestral connection to the mask and his secret father having the remaining Pegasus? A character who she said has always been one of her favorites? The third Archeron sister who the author confirmed will be getting a book? One she already did research for? A character she said would share her own real life enegy? A character who she said she teared up over when she wrote that Elain's hope being stronger than Feyre's hate? A character who she said that because she knew early on where she wanted her story to go she was able to plant seeds for it all the way back in book 2 and beyond?

Right now nothing is confirmation though I do feel the books themselves are what set up the next plot, not any influencer events Bloomsbury is doing, ones that Sarah herself hasn't expressed excitement over.

We know Elain's story is worth being told because Sarah confirmed to Eva Chen that she has wanted to tell it for a long time. Based on the nature of her character and the fact that her destiny is not the NC her setup is just looking a bit different. Honorable mention to Mor because Sarah has also set up her story since ACOWAR when she introduced the struggles she was facing with her sexuality and we now know she's off doing things we haven't yet gotten full insight too because she also is not overly connected to Nesta, we know Rhys mentioned her time in the NC was dwindling, but Elain and Mor? Power duo coming up, I feel strongly on that, where they'll both find their place.