Jem Carstairs stan, first

It's my time to shine!

Have any of you ever wondered what happened to the original Valkyries? What about Koschei and his weird little bird menagerie? What about that box Elain was talking about in ACOWAR?

Well, you've come to the right place! I've had this theory since 2022. But I don't color code or screenshot.

(If you read my long abandoned fic, Future Rust and Future Dust, you'll know where this is headed.)

The OG Valkyries are trapped as Koshei's Swans: We know the OG Valkyries "died" in the War and the survivors disappeared to their shame. But what if they didn't? What if a certain death god snatched up a bunch of beautiful warriors and put them in a nice little menagerie in his prison? Perhaps as SWANS.

Through research, Gwyn figures out where the Valkyries are. And our beloved trio go to the lake to save them. With the help of a certain shadowsinger.

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE:

What the hell did Papa Archeron trade for Vassa's Gap Year? It had to be something big, right? Perhaps a piece of his soul, which in fae terms meant his favorite child?

Elain is on her way to the lake too, perhaps as a prisoner. Maybe she becomes a little bird, or a bride. Much like Marya Morevna in the Russian fairytale, The Death of Koschei the Deathless.

Even though Elain reads more like Vasilia the Beautiful, she knows about the box, just like Koschei's clever and deceptive wife in the tale. She along with her LOVER find the box and destroy Koschei's soul inside. Sounds like a job for Elain's MATE LUCIEN.

We all win. We all get what we want. You're welcome. Have fun.

Valkyries are going to be a focal point in some capacity.

Multi POV is confirmed. Which POV’s is still to be determined however those descriptions make it very clear the IC is going to be going all over the place

Elucien will be working together. Who the hell else is going to be working in the Human Lands besides Lucien (who is already there) and Elain (the character who has the most connection to humans)

We will see Gwynriel in action together. Currently it feels like the IC is going to be pairing up. Gwyn and Azriel being paired makes the most sense as Nesta would probably be with Cassian and Emerie would most likely be with Mor

Illyrian rebellion is still happening. What could splinter the NC more than the Illyrian’s rebelling or possibly even betraying the IC?

ACOSH will end with the largest cliffhanger ever and catapults the story forward into the IC scattering

These next 3 books are the last ones in the ACOTAR series

Overall, the title and synopsis are very strongly pointing towards Gwynriel and Elucien. They won’t get their own books but rather a multi POV story with the romance being told through there.

Here comes: A Court of FORGOTTEN MELODY

And

A Court of SPLINTERED HARMONY