swi22y

No wonder she didn’t wish to speak to anyone about it—didn’t wish to bear witness on our behalf. It had been mere seconds for us while she’d gone under. I had never asked either of my sisters how long it had been for them inside that Cauldron.

Feyre thinks this in acowar about how long it had been for Nesta and Elain inside the Cauldron when it was seconds for them...

With Nesta we know from acosf prologue that it was seconds for her as well...

What if Acotar 6 is about that period of time? Elain being inside the Cauldron. Perhaps watching how the world(s) were created, Theia and the Dusk Court, the Cauldron. How Fionn made Gwydion using its magic, as he made the Truth-Teller. Fionn uniting the territories of Prythian, becoming High King and making Theia his High Queen, as the perfect foreshadowing for the Feysand HK/HQ storyline (if SJM wants this). All of that — the present, the future. All the possible futures, all the shards of the future, all the possibilities. Erilea and the Throne of Glass world.

Adding on to @merymoonbeam and @manuwritestales ideas:

what if Elain lived out an entire lifetime with Graysen?

what if Elain lived "through" the life/lives of characters from other times or worlds? (Olenna, Mala, Maeve's owl, etc)

what if Elain stuck in the Void, communicated with someone who could hear the Void, like Azriel?

what if Azriel heard Elain when he was a child in his father's cell, and that's how Azriel became a shadowsinger? The shadows might not be vanishing from Elain, but returning to her

For @elriel-month 𝔻𝕒𝕪 27: 𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙

"𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑠..."

Before there was "blatant, unrestricted touching", Elain and Azriel shared many quiet moments alone, walking through the gardens or sitting together in the peace and quiet of nature. Touch is not something Azriel is comfortable with many people, he hides his hands and avoids touching others for fear of seeing their disgust at his scars. However, from the very beginning of their 2.5 years of friendship, Elain never balked from him or his touch. That first day in the Townhouse, when he offered her his arm to show her the garden, Elain took it, looked at his hands and called them beautiful. From that moment on, Azriel kept reaching out, taking every opportunity to seek her touch.

This beautiful, Regency era inspired piece was created by talented artist pinkykei.art (in) who captured the essence of that blooming attraction and tenderness between Elain and Azriel. Thank you for bringing to life the scene stuck in my head.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🌸.☘︎ ݁˖⟡⋆˚࿔

Art by pinkykei.art (in)

Commissioned by me: @lentejita25

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🌸.☘︎ ݁˖⟡⋆˚࿔

PLEASE NO REPOSTS

I'm so sick and tired of "has to" when it comes to the next ACOTAR book(s).

When it comes to a fiction series, the only thing a book really has to do is move the plot forward and do so in a way that makes internal sense (to the universe as set up previously). There are other elements attached to this, like character development, subplots, individual arcs, etc, but that's like...bare minimum. We can extrapolate what MAY come of previous setups, we can have personal preference regarding what would make the story good, but neither of those things have any actual bearing on the story the author decides to tell.

There are very few things that the next book "has to" do, in reality. I'd argue that the only things it has to do are:

Resolve Elain's mating bond situation

Move the queen/war/Koschei plotline forward

Both of those things have to make sense INTERNALLY. To the world of the characters. That's it.

Everything else, including the details and the outcomes of those two points, are theory. Some theories are more well-connected to the established plot threads than others, but they're all still theories.

The next book does not "have to" be Nesta's POV or multi-POV because Bryce gave Gwydion to Nesta. There are a lot of potential outcomes from Gwydion being in Prythian at all, being given to Nesta, etc.

Neither Elain nor Nesta "have to" be the ruler of the Dusk Court. We don't even know that there will for sure be rulers of the courts by the end of the series.

Random side characters you, personally, have taken an in-depth interest in do not "have to" have their stories told in-depth on page.

We do not "have to" get the POV of every single character in order to expand the world we've seen so far, we just need a main character whose plot doesn't necessitate staying in one place most of the time.

Yes, SJM could theoretically "do anything," but realistically she's set up plot threads for a reason. She's going to use those to develop the story further. Some of it will likely fall in line with text-based theories, some of it may not. Some of it may seem to and then take a twist nobody expected. But all of it will have to make internal sense to the universe and to the story SJM is telling. There are a lot of ways to tell a story.

🚨MASSIVE ACOTAR AND CC SPOILERS (especially in the last 2 slides)🚨

🌸Why Elain Archeron is NOT a Passive Character Pt 2 🌸

🌸Why Elain Archeron is NOT a Passive Character Pt 1🌸 (ACOTAR SPOILERS)

The removed product description:

"The sixth instalment in the internationally bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series brings readers back to the seductive, dangerous realm of the Fae. With high-stakes romance, deadly intrigue, and unforgettable characters, this highly anticipated novel continues the sweeping saga that has captivated millions of fans worldwide.

Sarah J. Maas expands her beloved romantasy universe with an epic new story filled with powerful alliances, shifting loyalties, and the lingering consequences of war. As old wounds resurface and new threats emerge, the courts of Prythian must confront a future where fate, love, and power collide.

Perfect for readers who crave immersive fantasy worlds, intense romance, and emotionally driven storytelling, this next chapter promises more of the magic, passion, and drama that made the series a global sensation.

Whether you're returning to Prythian or discovering the series for the first time, A Court of Thorns and Roses continues to deliver addictive storytelling, unforgettable characters, and a world that will keep you turning pages late into the night."

MightyApe.co.nz still have the product description up for ACOTAR 7:

"The epic saga of Prythian continues in the highly anticipated seventh instalment of the global fantasy phenomenon.

Return to the breathtaking world of the Fae in the next thrilling chapter of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. With powerful magic, dangerous political intrigue, and unforgettable romance, this latest instalment expands the sweeping story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.

As tensions rise across the courts and old alliances are tested, the fate of Prythian hangs in the balance. Secrets long buried begin to surface, new enemies emerge from the shadows, and the choices of a few may determine the future of the entire realm.

Blending breathtaking fantasy adventure with emotionally charged romance and richly layered world-building, Sarah J. Maas delivers another unmissable chapter in the addictive romantasy series fans can’t get enough of.

Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, powerful heroines, and intense slow-burn romance, this next book promises high stakes, shocking twists, and the unforgettable storytelling that defines the ACOTAR universe."

My assessment?

They sound pretty generic, but it is a bit sus that the ACOTAR 6 description got taken down.

Best to assume they are likely placeholders though. It's not very reassuring that MightApe has tagged both book listings under "Throne of Glass series". And they have the listed that ACOTAR 6 is releasing in January 2027 (not October 2026).

And if they do end up being true, then no harm done!

Links:

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/mn/buy/kogan-international-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-6-41199942/