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For everyone who is still confused: Truth-teller is one of the many victims of SJM's narrative inconsistencies (meant with no malice).
In ACOMAF truth-teller is an object that is very singularly tied to Azriel. Azriel is the Night Court's spymaster, assassin and torturer so his weapon holds particular signficance for him. Azriel being a rather reserved character, truth-teller offers some insight into his interiority although it is actually not mentioned very many times (only four times in total!). It's a sharp and ruthlessly efficient weapon which he clearly treasures. The name is a sort of multi-layered metaphor for the object, his philosophy, and Azriel himself. It communicates that he takes no pleasure in torturing enemies (such as the Attor) but he does not shy away from being cruel when necessary. It's a symbol for the moral ambiguity that runs as a theme throughout this book.
I am not exactly sure what SJM was cooking up at the time but it is pretty clear that truth-teller was also supposed to establish a meaningful connection between Azriel and Mor, with her power being "truth" (though to this day we don't know what that means). The similarity in motif is just too obvious to ignore. So I think it's fair to say that as of ACOMAF truth-teller is an object that is deeply personal to Azriel and acted as a marker of symmetry with Mor who we can infer was his intended endgame at the time (and, yes, she definitely was).
With ACOWAR the Mor romance plot was cancelled and in this book truth-teller becomes the blade he lends Elain, now the second woman associated with it. Both Rhys and Cassian make it known (each in their own way) that it's a big deal that Azriel is letting someone else not even use but only just touch the dagger. I don't think that it's a misinterpretation to say that this was a significant moment for Azriel as a character and for his romantic potential with Elain. In my mind, this scene was the single biggest indicator that SJM was seriously exploring this option and truth-teller became an important signifier of their relationship (yes, even though Elain returned it).
In ACOSF truth-teller isn't mentioned very much but there is a scene that stands out. Truth-teller is the blade Nesta uses to draw a drop of blood from her finger to ward off the mask with Helion's help. It's a tiny moment but worth noting here. Previously, we had been told specifically that Azriel doesn't let just anyone use that blade. Now he is offering it to do something as mundane as prick Nesta's finger for the wards? Narratively, there was absolutely no reason for them to use truth-teller for this. It could have been any dagger (literally every character in acotar is known to carry multiple at all times). So the particular use of Azriel's intimately important blade stands out. Remember: Rhys and Cassian gawked at Azriel letting anyone else so much as touch the blade in the previous book. Though it's minor, it is still a breech from the previously established canon.
In HOFAS we then learn that truth-teller is actually the twin blade to Gwydion and that they were together forged and dipped in the Cauldron to help Fionn and Theia defeat the Daglan. When Bryce shows up in Prythian, she takes (steals) truth-teller to defeat the Asteri. When she returns it, she hands it to Nesta, not Azriel.
Truth-teller also gets a power upgrade: the ability to "unmake" things and, when paired with Gwydion, open portals to other worlds. We learn that truth-teller sings and glows when near its twin. As of HOFAS truth-teller has been elevated into a much bigger role. It is now an object that has passed through multiple hands: Azriel, Elain, Bryce, and even Nesta. It relates directly to Bryce and the starborn line as well as the very origin of the world of Prythian.
And I think this has two narrative implications:
(1) Truth-teller is still an object associated with Azriel and SJM bestowing such a role on it is intentional. We already knew that Azriel would play a bigger role in future ACOTAR books but this further confirms his importance for the plot going forward.
(2) However, what this also means is that truth-teller is no longer just an object that is uniquely and intimately tied to Azriel as a person. It is no longer the object that uniquely communicates his interiority. Azriel is not the one who unlocks its true powers. He is simply the custodian of an important magical object that has existed long before him and has a purpose of its own. The blade has since been used by a handful of people, including, but not limited to Elain. And I would argue the fact that the object was repurposed this way dilutes the significance of Azriel's gesture of lending it to Elain. Not from an in-world perspective - truth-teller still holds personal significance to him and the fact that he entrusted Elain with it still matters. But as a narrative motif, it is now a much weaker symbol of Elain and Azriel's unique bond because truth-teller's role in this world now far outweighs the role it played in their relationship. If truth-teller is meant to be an object to signify Elain and Azriel's relationship, it is an odd choice to have it pass through so many hands, tie it directly to another character (even more innately than Azriel himself) and send the blade between worlds to defeat another civilisation's villains.
Truth-teller started as a symbolic object unique to Azriel. It is this version of truth-teller that he handed to Elain during the war and that is what gave this gesture narrative weight. But since then, the meaning and significance of the object was expanded far beyond what it meant to Azriel on an emotional level; it has been depersonalised. This is not a natural development of the plot - it is a retcon. And I would caution against making any predictions about Azriel's romantic plotline using truth-teller as evidence.
I agree, however, you are forgetting that Azriel is also Starborn and only he (so far) can acticage its truth magic. We see him use it on Bryce when it turns cold and warm whether she is lying or telling the truth. Rhys asks for confirmation. Elain never wielded its truth power. Neither did Nesta. Therefore, it's still intimately tied to Azriel wielding its potential defensive magic.
i love the way she pulls him by the hair for a kiss. for this art, i chose perse, which i didn't choose to illustrate one but three arts for gwynriel weeks, she became a friend and we even exchanged several theories about gwynriel, which made the process very fun and very cool to work on it! i thank you perse, for your time and dedication to illustrating so perfectly and being so nice.
Rhys asks Eris if he would be willing to give up his first born. Eris says no. I donβt think SJM put this in for shits and giggles. I think itβs because he has/had a first born.
Gwynβs mom was parented by a River Nymph and someone high enough up in the Autumn court, for her to be allowed to live in the treehouse.
Rhys taunts Lucien about how sad his mom was when he defected to Spring. For him to know that, he wouldβve been around her. Under the mountain. So, during the 50 years.
And we know that Amaranth would let them out to play on Fire Night.
Lucien left because his lover was killed by his father and brothers.
Eris refused to help kill them, and it cost him.
Gwynβs mom was sent away from the treehouse to live with the Priestesses.
What if she was Erisβs first born and was sent away to punish Eris for refusing his father?
Then Gwyn would be Erisβs granddaughter.
Maaaybeee Iβm seeing something that not there? Or maybe Iβm seeing something that is?
imagine your friend tells you she danced with this guy at a party and he got so horny he tried to make a deal for her hand in marriage by the end of the night and it turns out to be your grandpa
Eris is Gwyn's father. Only a sentry would be on border duty and dumb enough to be seduced by a nymph. As a prince, he wouldn't be there. I'd bet anything that her grandfather was one of Beron's sentries/guards.
Now, remember that we saw Eris grovel to Amarantha in the scene UTM when she asked for Feyre's name. It was said by Rhys and Lucien that she let those who grovel out for important court business.
We learn from Lucien that each Court has a Great Rite [only Spring calls it Calanmai...and Gwyn DIDN'T]. Amarantha wouldn't want to rule over dead lands. Of course, she would send Eris in lieu of Beron, because she would not trust the High Lords to leave.
Let's also remember that he and Gwyn can both scent people from far away. That their magic both "crackles" around Nesta. That they are both survivors of horrors and they have the same dry humor.
On top of that, Sangravah has to be the Autumn Court temple.
Cesere is the Night Court's temple (solar Courts). Itica is the Continent's. So the Seasonal Courts would've needed one. We know there wasnt one in Spring til Ianthe.
Autumn makes sense because Beron sent her mother away to the temple after the Spring nymphs rejected her...he wouldn't have jurisdiction to send her to another Court. ALSO, in ACOWAR, Lucien explains to Feyre that as a young male he went around and learned all about Autumn's people...a few scenes later he notices the rug in Rhys's library and says that according to the dyes, it came from Sangravah.
Therefore, Gwyn grew up in the Autumn Court and Sangravah is Autumn's temple. [Hence why Beron didn't give a shit when they were attacked, similar to Lady As sisters. It's probably where he sends all the half-breeds. It's also probably why Azriel's shadows had to tell him/them to go. He knows what it's like to be attacked (plus...mate bond sensing shit..how did he know to automatically go to the kitchen (where she was) and he slaughtered *all* of the ones hurting her lol)]
Gwyn claims her and Catrin looked for their father...BUT Eris would've been bound by Amarantha to return back UTM after the Rite (like Rhys), therefore, never knowing they existed.
But there is way way way more clues too. I have a whole highlight on my IG.
She is 100% his daughter. And tbh the delicious drama coming from her being Eris's daughter, but Azriel's mate will be DELICIOUS.
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I've been seeing more and more people try to say Tamlin is Gwyn's father, and that's wild to me. There is nothing that supports that aside from people twisting what was actually said about Calanmai. Anyway, here is a ramble I typed up.
Tamlin has enough going on, and I can't see SJM giving him a child on top of that, IMO.
Gwyn doesn't say "Calanmai" she says "Great Rite". Everyone in Spring calls it Calanmai bc it falls on the Equinox.
Every Court has a Great Rite (Lucien says this).
Sangravah isn't in Spring since Spring didn't have a working temple until Ianthe fixed it up in MaF.
The most clues point to Eris being her father, IMO.
Gwyn has crackling magic around Nesta, which is the same as Eris when he is around Nesta.
Rhys says people who groveled to Amarantha were let out for important occasions and we saw Eris groveling--the Rite would be an important occasion bc it would be useless to rule over dead lands, and she would never risk semding the High Lords. She would send the next best, which would be Eris for Autumn.
Gwyn mentions the Forest House, aka Beron is who sent her mother to Sangravah. He would have no jurisdiction to send anyone to another Court, so it has to be an Autumn Temple. This is confirmed twice. Once when Lucien said he learned about all his people as a kid then recognized the rug from Sangravah, and then when Gwyn said she had to send some of the kids up the rocky mountain paths to get help, and theres a small mountain range in Autumn on the map.
It would also make sense that there are 3 temples in 3 fae territories. Cesere is in Night for the Solar Courts. Itica is on the continent. And Sangravah is in Autumn for the Seasonal Courts.
Eris is adamant that he wouldn't willingly give his firstborn to Rhysand. I think this discussion was very purposeful and not for nothing.
Feyre and Cassian both say that his offer to Nesta was something other than lust beneath his offer to marry her. They just didn't know what. We know Nesta is closest to Gwyn.
Gwyn says a male didn't claim twin girls. Tamlin wasn't UTM at the time, so there would've been nothing stopping him from claiming them. Whereas Eris would've had to go back UTM and wasn't there when they asked around, but even still, Beron murdered Jesminda for being Lesser Fae. He wouldn't risk claiming them and Beron killing them.
The only two people who have been shown to be able to scent people from large distances are Eris and Gwyn. Eris when he scents Mor on the air and Gwyn when she scents Deirdre on the air.
Gwyn has coppery hair, not blondish, and the A.C line has red hair from Lady A.
Eris allowed Rhys in his mind for their allyship. SOMETHING he saw made him wholly believe Eris meant no harm to Night. I think the most convincing would be the safety of his child...Rhys could know. They know about Helion and Lucien too!
There's a tonnn more, but these are the main points. See the linked highlight on IG if you're interested. π₯°π₯°π₯π₯
AND JUST AS A REFRESHER:
ALL the High Lords perform their own Rite in their OWN lands. For the following year. We dont know when, though. Prob to do with their own seasons and such. Calanmai, aka May Day, and Fire Night, is the celebration of the Spring Equinox. The party.
Spring's Great Rite just happens to be done the same day in the Spring Court. So Spring uses Calanmai as an umbrella word for both.
See Instagram 'ErisGwynsDad' highlights from Mel R. (@booksnwriting)
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And of course also for slide 4, we know the Valg fought the fae in ToG too. But my brain is explodingggg. He and his ancestors totally flipped the script, too!!!
I donβt understand how people canβt see how delicious Elucienβs romantic potential is. Like donβt you see??? They didnβt want each other!! Thatβs the point!!! That makes it interesting!! They find each other so fucking hot and donβt know what to do about it at all!!! They are completely unaware of how perfect they are for each other!!
You canβt tell me that Nesta stays with Cassian because she actually loves him. She is still stuck in the mindset that she doesnβt deserve love or happiness and believes that overgrown bat is her punishment.
AU where Nesta dies on that hike, and her death triggers a curse.
The Inner Circle wakes up in the very same cabin Feyre grew up in...except they're all human now. No powers. No wings. No magic.
Zero, zip, zilch, nada.
Outside the cabin is an endless forest. It doesn't matter which direction they walk or how many days they travel. There is no village, no civilization, no escape. The forest simply loops back in on itself, giving them no exits or roads. They've spent centuries as fae nobles with servants, estates, limitless resources, and magic to solve every inconvenience. Now they're expected to survive exactly as the Acheron sisters did.
Let's see them figure out how to chop firewood before winter.
Let's see them hunt with empty stomachs and no guarantee they'll come home with anything.
Let's see Amren refuse to lift a finger because manual labor is "beneath her," only to get yelled at by the IC for not contributing and comparing her to Nesta.
Let's see Rhysand and Mor be totally unprepared for this life because the radiance and privilege of their Court is all they know, slowly realizing that starvation makes people cruel. That fear breeds resentment. That exhaustion destroys patience. Most of all, let's see how long it takes before they start turning on one another. Let's see them accuse each other of not helping, going out to hunt, cooking, cleaning, gardening, all the things Nesta and Elain did while Feyre was out hunting.
Because eventually they'll be forced to confront the truth they spent years ignoring:
Nesta wasn't the big bad monster who forced her youngest sister to hunt because she was never raised to wield a weapon, and she was a literal child with a father who should have stepped up to the plate.
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Thesan is my second favorite High Lord after Tamlin!
His quote "this does not bode well" is legit a staple in my life (and I told his voice actor David [who also plays Cormac] this when I interviewed him!)
BUT the one thing that bothers me about Thesan art is that they forget he is HALF Asian (Xianic).
I say that because Thesan canonically has his fathers light brown hair, and it's wavy-ish. Not black/straight hair.
And this one is the many issues I have with the ACOTAR fandom. They claim their renditions are canon when they are 100% not. And this goes for any character.
The ones that are wrong the most:
Thesan having black/long/straight hair (it's light brown, shorter, wavy).
Varian and Cresseida having blue eyes (their eyes are brown)
Any of the near-immortal characters having facial hair [I see this with Cassian especially] (SJM fae/Illyrians/angels etc DO NOT have facial hair in any series, and Feyre mentions body hair is just a sprinkle)
Luciens scar being some three pronged claw mark (when it's one dragged line from brow to jaw from Ams ONE fingernail). And let's not even get INTO how they see his metal eye...
Rhys having creepy electric purple/lavender eyes (his eyes are DEEP BLUE only *tinged* violet in certain light--think Elizabeth Taylor) [This also goes for Ruhn and Lorin!]
The Archerons hair either being way too dark or way too light. (Their hair is golden-brown.) A mix of blonde and brunette. Aka dirty blonde or light brown (my natural color...I call it field mouse brown. In some states, it's called dishwater blonde)
Lady A made to look like she's a 40+ year old human woman (when she looks the same age as her sons) [similar to Ruhn/Lorin]
Beron looking 60+, with a half gray beard, and just totally unfae, when he is the one that looks around 45-50 but STILL handsome/ethereal. (Which makes sense bc he is over 1100 going by timeline).
Viviane having ice blue eyes like Kallias (when they're actually a deep sapphire.)
And last but CERTAINLY not least bc this one I fight for my life with-- Helion being portrayed as A BLACK MAN. (SJM has stated he is Persian, and SJM's coloring book artist Charlie Bowater had a full conversation about Helion's European features, including his nose and broader brow, etc). [There is a reason Lucien is so white passing nobody knew Beron wasn't actually his father.]
It ticks me off bc it takes less than 30 seconds to fact-check a description!
