Iāve completely given up hope that sheāll ever tell Elain and Lucienās story. Whether they end up together or not doesnāt even matter anymore. Seeing Valkyrie stans celebrating and saying, āOur stories are worth being toldā just makes me think: apparently everyoneās story is worth telling except Elainās.
At this point, I donāt think Iāll even read the next books, even if she eventually writes Elainās POV as an afterthought. Itās 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. Donāt get me wrong, I love the Valkyries, and it was always obvious that their story wasnāt finished yet. But Elainās story hasnāt even begun. Thatās 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.
It's normal to be disappointed having to wait for anything but remember to put it into perspective too when you sink too low. At the end of the day these are just books and it doesn't mean all that much to be on the winning team. You will still hopefully have your friends, your health, beautiful sunrises to watch and baby animals to cuddle. Entertainment is supposed to be fun and if the ACOTAR series is stressing you out more than entertaining you then take a break from the fandom because it's not going to the thing that matters when you reflect back on the life you've lived.
