The standard kindle edition of acosf was downloaded 200K times. That edition did not include Azriels bonus. So that is 200,000 international readers who did not have access to the bonus. This isn’t takimg into account the acosf standard edition sales from bookstores and booksellers worldwide. It isn’t taking into account the numbers of people who pirated the book either.

That bonus was initially read by a few hundred people who managed to get their hands on a specific edition. It was shared online, so lets add another 50,000, lets be generous, 100,00 people who know about this bonus.

That still leaves more than 100K+ readers who do not know about its existence. Till this day, I see comments, “what bonus chapter? There was a bonus chaper?”. I didn’t know about the bonus until I started following acotar accounts. Many others had no idea. Even know, you have to search for the bonus. Its not easily accessible.

All this to say: Yes, bonuses have foreshadowing for the next book. Yes, they contain crumbs. But they will never be so important. Look at W & E, it was barely mentioned. Nessian’s book did not rely on the events from that bonus.

When people finished acosf, when they read the last page, Ill tell you now: No one came to the conclusion of brycerial or azris. People may have enjoyed Gwyn and Azriels’ interactions in the way people came away from acotar, enjoying feylin and away from acosf enjoying Nesris but no one sat there saying Gwynriel is next. It was after that bonus was read. If it wasn’t made obvious in the standard book itself, then it is not the conclusion Maas intended for you to come to.

She said it was obvious. The book ends with the 3 sisters, two of which we’ve had their story. Azriel was a heavy presence throughout. Look at where elucien vs elriel were left off. The answer has always been obvious as it was made that way in acowar. Just like Nessian was obvious from that book.

People underestimate the foreshadowing in acowar and acofas. If you want to know about the future of the spinoffs especially couples, those are the books to turn too because it contains crumbs for the new spinoffs.

"SJM completely changed the story in favor of Elriel. It's so obvious."

While they have zero credible canon book evidence that Elain wanted to be mated to Lucien.

There are Gwynriels out there that straight up think Elain is evil. It's so cringe. They cannot hide their obvious hate for Elain.

I know it sounds crazy, but bare with me.

In the Throne of Glass series, Rowan was convinced from the moment he first laid eyes on Lyria that she was his mate. He believed that for centuries and every day since, even after falling in love with Aelin.

However, in the end, it was all a trick orchestrated by Maeve to turn him into her servant. What if that’s what went on with Lucien, Elain and The King of Hybern.

What if the King of Hybern (who we all know is NOT an idiot) saw how faltering Lucien’s loyalty to Tamlin was becoming and how dangerous that could be to him during the war, but couldn’t risk killing Lucien and ruining the alliance with Tamlin and The Spring Court. So, as a way to ensure Lucien’s loyalty, he tricked him into believing that Elain was his mate, because he never expected her to get away with the rest of The Court of Dreams at the end of ACOMAF. He expected to have Elain locked away at his side (as she temporarily is in ACOWAR) with Lucien right there, ready to do anything for The King as long as he didn’t harm her.

The King of Hybern had The Cauldron. He broke an unbreakable bond, turned humans into high fae, destroyed the entire wall in the blink of an eye and he almost cleaved the world apart with it. Creating an elaborate illusion is certainly not beyond him.

It would also explain why Lucien, despite always being concerned with Elian’s safety, wasn’t hesitant about leaving her at The Night Court when he left for The Continent. In fact, when he returned, he didn’t even ask about her or try and find her in the middle of a deadly battle where she could be in serious harm. In fact, Elain shows little to no interest in him at all. She is simply indifferent to him.

If Lucien was not Elain’s mate but Azriel was, it would also explain why Azriel was so quick to take a liking to her. He was supposedly in love with Mor for five hundred years, but if both Elain and Mor were in the same room, his attention would always be directed towards Elain. Even Mor noticed it and pointed it out herself.

Elain trusted Azriel enough to not fear him, even though she knew exactly what and who he was, and exactly how dangerous he could be. She was never scared of him. Oh, and here’s the real kicker, Azriel gave her Turthteller. Remember, that weapon that he has never so much as let anyone touch, not even his high lord, not even his brothers or the woman he supposedly loves? He handed it over to her despite barely knowing her.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I find Azriel and Elain as a couple makes more sense to me then Elain and Lucien together, and perhaps I think Azriel and Elain have much better chemistry. However, there were way too many hints and clues pointing towards Elriel, and we all know SJMaas does not just do that for no reason. They could be each other’s temporary romantic interest, but they’ve both had they’re hearts broken by the person they believed they were meant to be with.

2017!!

SJM is getting her tattoos touched up.

Something is coming… 💙🩷

I am flattered to be the fan that got serviced. Sjm has good taste and knows who the real ones are. 💓

Defending a literally bully.

Bullying a person who called out that bully into deactivating and on top of that your leader is celebrating.

Something tells me that if their kiss gets interrupted again, Elain won't let it end there.

This time, she'd be the one closing the distance, taking Azriel by surprise, and finally stealing the kiss they've both been waiting far too long for.

Enough interruptions, enough longing, Elain's getting her kiss.

A huge thank you to @aurithemoon for this absolutely breathtaking comic. I'm completely obsessed with the way you draw Elain and Azriel. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent with us.

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Art by @aurithemoon

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Commissioned by me

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Please do not repost without permission

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Instagram