🧸

WITH ALL THE LUST!

GIVE ME EYE FU*KING FROM ACROSS BALLROOMS.

Give me pulled hair and Azriel biting Elain’s 👄

Shadows caressing naked skin.

Give me Azriel’s eyes rolling to the back of his head at just catching a whiff of her scent …

Give me elain taking charge…

Again.. give me the lust since that’s all the anti’s say they are 😆

I can’t wait. 😛

if ga’s treated ga as a (…crack) theory, I think the fandom would’ve been a lot better. there’s nothing that has happened between ga for anti’s to really grasp onto, meanwhile elriel is integrated into the story. theories are natural within fandoms, but when the people that are so attached to the theory become delusional and ignore what is CANON-not theories but the actual CANON- we end up here. I don’t know if it’s the jealousy, but the anti’s in this fandom are so toxic that they genuinely need to read a non fiction book and reevaluate themselves.

elriel’s are the furthest in the shipping war from being the delusional ones. if the bonus chapter is so important because it ends Elriel and brings to life another ship, why wasn’t it reprinted with feysand’s bc? that would seem to be pretty important if it really ends the ship that has been built up since acomaf.

oh and better yet, why didn’t Lucien have a bonus chapter? The pov of the bonus chapters matter, because anti’s saw Azriel had a bonus chapter and began to argue that “no Elain isn’t next, Azriel is” but we’re not stupid, we know Elain’s book is next. The male character who has the bc pov is the love interest. 🦭

That first line is the truth that's been echoing within the shipwars for the last 5 years.

Gwynriel is essentially elriel, they've just replaced Elain with an fmc they can self-insert with and deem more worthy/deserving of Azriel.

Its that simple. Ofc, you'll have people come away from acosf enjoying whatever small amount of interactions Gwynriel had. Just like people came away from acotar liking Feyre and Lucien. Or in acosf, people liked the idea of Nesta x Eris. That's normal.

Whats not normal is turning a ship built on nothing and trying to equalise it to a ship that has been buildinb up steadily for the last few books.

You can see chemistry between two characters and their interactions. That does not mean the author has set them up as a couple. This is something gwynriels don't understand. In the book thats meant to set up Gwynriel, they barely interact until like more than 50% in. And throughout acosf, Sjm goes out of her way to tell us about elriel. Their charged glance. Azriels secret. The way he reacted when he learnt Nesta and Elain fought. Etc etc.

Logically, why the hell is Sjm foreshadowing a couple for the next spinoff...in a standalone book? She started foreshadowing Nessian in acomaf. And you're telling me she waited another 3 books to start foreshadowing Azriels love interest? The author who LOVES spreading seeds in advance, foreshadows a couple within one book? That too - the foreshadowing consists of what? a glance? a comment?

These people are an example of the rising literacy crisis levels. They can't even tell when something is a parallel or not. Or even a difference between a metaphor vs what's actually happening.

Gwynriels have always been toxic, the fandom became rabid after their arrival. It was like "Gwynriel! Gwynriel! All Hail Gwynriel and the Great Gwyneth" under every tt video. The ship became so viral bcs it branched off of acotar's popularity and it was built on engagement farming.

Its so funny calling the stans who ship two CANON love interests delusional.

THIS. Correct me if im wrong but I dont think Azriels bonus ever got reprinted. It was only sold to a few hundred or maybe a thousand people. It was very limited. If Azriels bonus was SO important, it would have recently been reprinted or resurfaced.

Exactly, Gwynriels argued Gwyn and Az were next because they knew that the male who had the bonus was the next Li. Cassian had wings & ember, after Rhysand -> He was the next male Li. Azriel had his bonus, after Cass -> He will be the next male Li. Lucien hasnt had a bonus. He hasn't had a focus in either pov. Elains book has been confirmed, she appears in both bonus chapters, Sim hinted at elains book in an acosf interview, in acofas she tells us she knows the first two spinoffs and then later admits to researching and planning elains book.

Azriel the Shadowsinger

Inner circle Night Court portraits

Mor: Oh my gosh, Mini Mor!

Feyre: Elain, these are wonderful!

Rhys: Your cookie looks absolutely delicious, Feyre Darling

Cassian: Hey, why are Azriel's wings bigger than mine!

Elain: Um...

IF the warrior ever stopped quietly loving Mor.

fast forward three books...

“He was still happy to be Mor’s buffer with Azriel, but there’d been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel … those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if he’d given up. After five hundred years, he’d somehow given up. Cassian couldn’t think why.”

Cassian couldn’t think WHY

A part of me finds it amusing that the Elain haters are missing the key point SJM has repeatedly made about Elain. It’s something even Cassian recognizes in Silver Flames. Her sisters, who love her and have spent the most time with her, are unreliable narrators when it comes to Elain. They either get her intentions wrong (loyal dog in Nesta’s case) or are repeatedly surprised when she doesn’t break down into tears or faints during difficult situations (Feyre’s case). Her haters find her boring and bland because she’s intentionally been painted that way to be brushed aside and forgotten for a reason. The previous POVs aren’t paying attention to her and that’s why she has the most potential to play with.

ACOTAR 6-8 is meant to surprise the reader about Elain. She is a thing of secret, lovely beauty that few truly see because they see her at surface value only. She’s meant to be boxed in as the bland, pretty girl with nothing else to offer so that we, together with the inner court, are shocked by her power and inner depth.

SJM gives us a few glimpses and clues into that depth, reminding us to take notice. Some examples:

Bravery, strength and self worth:

“I belong to no one”

“And that entitles him to my time, my affections?”

“I went into the Cauldron too”

There’s a reason SJM gave her the KoH stabbing rights and wanted her to be an active, brave participant in her rescue. She’s literally hitting us over the head here saying that Elain is not a delicate flower. She’s more. Take notice!

She’s an Archeron too:

Aside from showing her temper with wishing the queens burn in hell and her fight with Nesta, she is also unbothered by the High Lord and his second-in-command. She waves her hand in dismissal at Rhys’ commanding question in Silver Flames and holds her ground with Amren in Frost and Starlight.

More insightful than expected:

Cassian recognized that she wasn’t the loyal dog Nesta painted her out to be but paid attention and understood the social complexities around her. She also figured out the pregnancy before anyone else and understands Azriel better than those closest to him. I’m looking forward to reading about her breaking free of the shallow box her mother put her in.

More than a pretty face:

Lucien clearly sees her with new eyes when she turns out to be a seer, which reinforces why they’re ill-suited. As her mate, all he saw was a pretty face and nothing more.

We know Eris is playing 3D chess and I’m pretty sure he was assessing the Kingslayer and the fae who is equal in power to his future high lord brother at the Court of Nightmares.

I, personally, can’t wait to meet the IMAX, full-scale Elain as SJM intended her to be viewed.

He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue. Azriel’s cock strained behind his pants, aching so fiercely he could hardly think. He prayed she didn’t peer down. Prayed she didn’t understand the shift in his scent.

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒕. 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”

…

“𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔.”

This is the last interaction we see between Elain and Azriel in ACOSF and I think it perfectly sets the stage for their romance. Their feelings have been slowly building for multiple books now and tension like that can’t be kept secret for long.

This commission by the talented thiaperezart captures the mutual yearning and desire between Elain and Azriel so beautifully! Fingers crossed we finally get to see Azriel on his knees for the woman he’s been so desperate for in the new books 💖

Art by thiaperezart on instagram and commissioned by me

Characters belong to Sarah J. Maas

Feyre: some peace and queit probably she will cling to Az—

Azriel:*carrying her bridal style* SHE WANTS ME TO SHOW HER THE GARDEN ACTUALLY...MOVE...AND MY HANDS ARE BEAUTIFUL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOU BEAUTUFIL FAE BEING*blushes*

Feyre: the plants are growing nicely in the gar—

Azriel: I WILL TAKE HER THERE SHOW IT TO HER. SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB. COME TAKE MY HAND

feyre: happy sols—

Azriel: HAPPY SOLSTICE!

Sarah talked about consent in hosab interview.

It is so important to me to have that there.

That is vital to me

I know she is talking about sexual scenes in that interview but when you look at Elain’s scenes with Azriel... it is Azriel asking and Elain giving “consent” if that make sense.

This scene... Elain was in the HoW the whole time and Azriel carries her down to Town House and she is just agreeing to go to garden with him.

“Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elain’s golden-brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders.He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door.Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once.” Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.”

Or this... again with garden. She is going with him.

“I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went.”

I think these are pretty important when you think about Elain’s arc being about choice. She was turned Fae against her will and then she came out of Cauldron and learned that she has a mate... a fae mate who she spend her whole life being afraid of. Also her mother saw Elain “as barely more than a doll to dress up,” It was never about her choice. And we have Rhys saying this in Feysand bonus chapter.

“Maybe she was never given the chance to be that way.” I whipped my head toward him. “ You think I stifle her?” Rhys held up his hands. “Not you alone.” He surveyed the study as he thought. “But I wonder if everyone has spent so long assuming Elain is sweet and innocent that she felt she had to be that way or else she’d disappoint you all.” He sighed toward the ceiling. “With time and safety, perhaps we’ll see a different side of her emerge.”

So Sarah saying consent being important to her and Elain’s arc is being about choice is pretty important.

And when you look at the bonus... it is Elain who initiates the touching and she is the one giving “offer and permission”

“Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away. She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. "Here.”

“Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?”

“Azriel's fingers lingered at her nape, atop the first knob of her spine. Slowly, Elain pivoted into his touch. Until his palm lay flat against her neck.”

“I should go," Elain said, but made no move to leave.”

“Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He'd beg on his knees for a chance to taste it. But Azriel just stroked her neck again. Elain shuddered, drifting closer.”

“But he could have this. This one moment, and maybe a taste, and that would be it.  “Yes" Elain breathed, like she read the decision.”

“Azriel's hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elain's mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission.”

Sarah talked about consent in hosab interview.

It is so important to me to have that there.

That is vital to me

I know she is talking about sexual scenes in that interview but when you look at Elain’s scenes with Azriel... it is Azriel asking and Elain giving “consent” if that make sense.

This scene... Elain was in the HoW the whole time and Azriel carries her down to Town House and she is just agreeing to go to garden with him.

“Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elain’s golden-brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders.He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door.Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once.” Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.”

Or this... again with garden. She is going with him.

“I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went.”

I think these are pretty important when you think about Elain’s arc being about choice. She was turned Fae against her will and then she came out of Cauldron and learned that she has a mate... a fae mate who she spend her whole life being afraid of. Also her mother saw Elain “as barely more than a doll to dress up,” It was never about her choice. And we have Rhys saying this in Feysand bonus chapter.

“Maybe she was never given the chance to be that way.” I whipped my head toward him. “ You think I stifle her?” Rhys held up his hands. “Not you alone.” He surveyed the study as he thought. “But I wonder if everyone has spent so long assuming Elain is sweet and innocent that she felt she had to be that way or else she’d disappoint you all.” He sighed toward the ceiling. “With time and safety, perhaps we’ll see a different side of her emerge.”

So Sarah saying consent being important to her and Elain’s arc is being about choice is pretty important.

And when you look at the bonus... it is Elain who initiates the touching and she is the one giving “offer and permission”

“Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away. She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. "Here.”

“Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?”

“Azriel's fingers lingered at her nape, atop the first knob of her spine. Slowly, Elain pivoted into his touch. Until his palm lay flat against her neck.”

“I should go," Elain said, but made no move to leave.”

“Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He'd beg on his knees for a chance to taste it. But Azriel just stroked her neck again. Elain shuddered, drifting closer.”

“But he could have this. This one moment, and maybe a taste, and that would be it.  “Yes" Elain breathed, like she read the decision.”

“Azriel's hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elain's mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission.”

Whenever they make a claim (e.g. Gwyn is Azriel's mate), ask them where in the book this happened.

When you point out Azriel's shadows react to everyone and when they retreat, it's when he's happy and with people he loves

When you ask them to show you where Gwyn shows interest in Azriel

When you show them in the book the exact sentence where Gwyn blushed at Rhysand

When you say the necklace was bought with Elain in mind

Did it ever occur to you to read the words the SJM has written in all of her book series?

Mating bonds can be rejected, mating bonds can be FABRICATED by outside powers.

Also did it ever occur to you that Azriel could be her mate? He's shown mate behavior towards her far more than ANY male in this series.

Do you know what context clues are? Nuance? Red herrings? COMPREHENSION?

NOT crack theories not born from canon. NOT fan fiction. NOT headcanons written out by people who have not even read the other series or read ACOTAR more than once.

After reading all of that, I genuinely hope the next book is about Elain. I hope Books 6/7/8 give us her POV, and that SJM writes her character so well that everyone who doubted her has to eat their words.

Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room.

Acofas

Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” Silence again. Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous. Cassian and Rhys joined him, the former grabbing the glass bottle from Azriel’s hand and examining it. “Brilliant,” Cassian said. Elain smiled again, ducking her head. Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

Acosf

And then Elain burst out laughing. Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath. Nesta just stared, torn between questions and wanting to throw herself into the icy Sidra. “I— I’m so sorry—” Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. “You’ve never said such a thing to me!” She laughed again. “I think that’s a good sign, isn’t it?” Nesta shook her head slowly, not understanding. Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. “I was just checking on dessert,” Elain explained as they approached the doorway and Azriel. Nesta met the shadowsinger’s stare and he gave her a nod. Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

Bonus chapter

Two small, bean-shaped fabric blobs lay within. Elain murmured, "You put them in your ears, and they block any sound. With Nesta and Cassian living there with you..."  He chuckled, unable to suppress the impulse. "No wonder you didn't want me to open it in front of everyone."   Elain’s mouth twitched into a smile. "Nesta wouldn't appreciate the joke.” He offered her a smile back. "I wasn't sure if I should give you your present."  

And then...the bonus again. :(

Antis: no

Sarah: lucien is responsible for Elain's trauma

Antis: he is not

Sarah: Elain is kind and she will have a book

Antis: she is evil and we dont see her as fmc material

Sarah: I dont wanna fit into a box

Antis: you are a fated mates author. Done

Sarah: bryce and hunt are mates

Antis: bryce and azriel got it

Sarah: nessian is endgame

Antis: cassian hates nesta

Sarah: tamlin is abusive

Antis: wel...feyre...rhys they are evil. Poor tamtam.

Sarah: rhys is my love forever

Antis: rhys is evil got it.

Sarah: mating bonds could be wrong