UGH I really like it personally. I think the main idea that hooks me is all of their similarities: I love when couples are parallels to each other but they don't realize it at first given the main differences that set them apart. Their powers are different ofc but

1. they are both scarred physcially and emotionally,

2. they were abused by their fathers and brothers,

3. Their mothers might have been used against them in their youth to control them,

4. They were taken in by their friends after a really traumatic experience—Rhys and Rhys’ mother took Az in, Tamlin took Lucien in.  

5. they can still feel distant from their familes (mostly due to different reasons but Az is very antisocial / filled with self-doubt while Lucien has been casted out of his found families multiple times)

6. quick to defend their loved ones

7. both seem really insecure with themselves.  Az seems to think of himself as a monster he avoids looking at his scarred hands.  And Lucien blames himself for a lot of stuff, one of the most important things imo, Jesminda’s death.  It seems like they avoid a lot of parts of themselves.

One of the first sucessful tiktoks of mine was talking about these similarities and ugh I really love it.

I also love the idea of one person being so fucking stressed and fixated but really being a bitch about it (Az lmao) while Lucien is kind of confused at first but then it clicks and he's like ohhhhhh very fun🤭 time to tease

Azriel and Lucien’s “bully with internalized homophobia” to “out of the closet lover” trope has more to back it up than either straight ship, and if these books were by a different author this would absolutely happen in canon.

hmm well I am definitely a diehard gwynriel but tbh i’ll be ok with anything but elriel

However, I am going to take this opportunity to talk about the two ships who actually should have become canon but sjm was too much of a pussy.

choal and dorian. they are in love. they are obviously in love. they love each other. they are soulmates.

Or...Lucriel? (Or is it Gabifer? What do we call Lucifer/Gabriel?)

Maybe I just ship Lucifer/Sam/Gabriel.....SamRiFer? Samifiel?