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I don’t really watch a lot of tv shows once in while they’ll be a show I really fuck with and it makes me so so happy to have it uhhhhhhhhhh

About a week ago I needed a lil’ comforting escapism and I made my yearly mistake of returning to a childhood favourite love story of mine, the story of Rhysand and Feyre. It takes about a year to forget how consuming the characters and the world are and how I need to forcefully shake off these books. Last year and this year it was especially hard because a certain fan favourite character’s book is next and the possibilities are endlessly fun—and even more fun to debate. 

This moment before the next book has honestly been so special. The love I have for the things I loved growing up trump anything I feel for the media I consume now. So while I’m fully aware that this level of theorising and discussion about the next work in a large fandom is common, it’s a new and dear phenomenon to me. I hope when we look back on this time it isn’t overshadowed by a minority of internet trolling/hate by inevitable immature fans. 

Azriel was introduced about 9 years ago now and since then the Maas universe has steadily expanded while his story has been breadcrumbed. So of course we’re all insane about this. The character is described as hot and many dismiss the books as ‘faerie porn’ but if you-know-you-know that thirstiness has little to do with this mania. 

I don’t speak for everyone but here’s why I’m obsessed. The Rhys and Feyre story was truly epic-romance and undeniably made waves in the genre. It is what is it is because of the bold choices the author made: the dupe love interest; the story retold from a character’s POV overturning what we knew about previous events in the story; the evil character flipped to good(ish). I’m on the edge of my seat because with all the lore surrounding Azriel, Sarah could do something really ambitious here. In the position she’s in right now she could comfortably write easy book after book pairing up side character after side character and make big money. But even if it doesn’t land, if Sarah attempts to take some sort of big risk with Azriel’s story she will have my utmost respect for pushing the genre even more. I want something truly epic to take place and as fan’s have theorised this is definitely possible.

I’m pretty sure the announcement of the next book is imminent so before any theory is washed away and the moment is over I want to document my summarised thoughts and predictions—and also so I can get it off my chest and stop thinking about this goddamn series. 

The Mor and Az situation makes my head hurt if I think about it too long. I hope when the books are over Sarah is candid about the decisions she made with Mor’s character and whether it changed as she was writing the series. The most plausible explanation for their behaviour for me has to be that they are mates and they are acting like this because rejecting a mating bond has consequences like going insane. It still doesn’t explain why this hasn’t been resolved for centuries however. I love the drama of this and I think it would work great in a story where both Elain and Azriel reject their mates for each other.

Gywn is a new character and I think is hinted as the most likely love interest going forward. The bonus chapter was the only time we have gotten Azriel’s POV and it revealed him to have very shallow feelings for Elain yet something new with Gywn. I have to say with all that we know so far, Gwnriel interests me the least because it seems like an easy, uncomplicated match up. 

As I’m looking for something epic, Bryce being a part of Azriel’s story excites me the most of course. I’m compelled by the easter eggs and parallels. I’ll write down the biggest clues for me here because I think it will be fun to look back on. Azriel unknowingly humming Bryce’s favourite song hours after hearing it. “Bryce watched him for a moment before following, heart heavy in her chest for some reason she couldn’t place”. The two of them having legendary matching weapons. Bryce ‘yanked’ across worlds to Azriel’s feet mirroring Theia and Aidas. For them to end up together something significant would have to take place regarding Hunt and this is the biggest hole in the Bryciel ship for sure. Even if they don’t end up as a couple I would love Bryce to be a piece of Azriel’s story in the coming books because it think there’s a lot of interesting things happening here. 

I want to acknowledge Azris, although I don’t have many thoughts about it, I would be very down for all the drama and court politics that would ensue. 

Lastly regarding Azriel’s powers many have inferred that during his time locked in darkness he learned the language of shadows and became a shadowsinger. I like to think that people are born shadowsingers but Azriel acquired the gift for it. Azriel seems like he is carrying the weight of many burdens so I also like to think that he had to bargain something for these powers when he was child and is paying the consequences of it now.

If you consider that we only hear about Azriel’s character through people who love him he isn’t portrayed as a completely good character. Mainly, he literally tortures people. I always assumed it was written off because the people he is torturing are the ‘bad guys’. However when daemanti exist it is unnecessary and cruel so I am hoping there will be an explanation for this that isn’t something cheap I hope it adds something meaningful. But the author tends to make grey characters turn good so I’m expecting something flimsy such as some people have impenetrable minds...on that note I’m also looking forward to finding out why the truth teller dagger is so special and what it can do. 

Milk or wine? 

Big love, 

✌️ 

12/june/2025

Me trynna find flaws in Hunt now so I don’t feel stupid reading book 2: