The books cannot be read as standalone novels

So, if they know nothing, why not a blue-teal-white color scheme? Why not ribbons, swords, or mermaids? Why not an orange-pink color scheme? Why not foxes? Why does it involve shadows, pink petals, roses, and a pink-and-blue and pink-and-black color scheme?

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.”

It did not have to go to Elain first(and describe elain perfectly btw) and Clotho did not have to be in that chapter at all. He did not have to give it to her instead.

They never once question the purpose of Clotho taking the necklace from him. Especially when Clotho is the name of one of the 3 Fates of greek mythology. Clotho wasn’t necessary in that scene unless she was playing a greater more symbolic role.

Cuz he’s depressed without elain and can’t care enough to try to be clean shaved??

Also do we think elain secretly likes it😛😛😛

As an artist when drawing the bat boys, I’ve always wondered if the fae/illyrians actually had facial hair or body hair.

1. “Elain will hook up with az but will end up with lucien all in the same book.”

-if a fmc does hook up with someone before the end of the book that isnt their endgame its a nameless faceless person not a main character who has had a lot of romantic build up with that fmc already.

2. “Elain will reject lucien then IN THE SAME BOOK decide she actually wants to be with him anyways”

-that entirely undermines the point of free will and rejecting the bond in the first place if it takes a hundred pages to change your mind. Sjm doesnt write wishy washy back and forth characters like that. Elain has been consistent in how she feels about Lucien. I have read ONE series where this scenario has happened and those two characters had a very intense passionate chemistry and feelings for each other. And it took like 3 acosf sized books to fix what happened.

3. “Elain will choose az but he will choose gwyn”🥴

-Give me a break. You legitimately think SJM would write an MMC like this???? Are you joking? Gwyn would deserve better than a gross man like that let alone Elain. People who think this should raise their standards for men.

4. Elain will end up alone

-THIS IS A ROMANCE NOVEL. Elain deserves a love story just like everyone else and its super weird that you think she should end up alone.

💙🩷

This is not how romance novels are written. Especially when its a standalone book in a prexisting series with established characters who have had 4-5 books of story build up already.

AND that is 100% not how Sarah J Maas writes romance and couples.

The fact that SJM is giving Elain a choice and an option thas not her mate when she never brought this issue up with Feyre or Nesta means Elain will make that choice to break the bond.

They do body shots off each other.

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien.

Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly.