#nice talk

Yeah, the older books haven’t changed, sure. But the story isn’t over. And the bonus chapter? That didn’t show up out of nowhere. It gave us a real look at Azriel’s feelings and the mess he’s in, it wasn’t just for drama or fake-out purposes. SJM loves her plot twists, and if you’ve read her other stuff, you know she’s not afraid to steer the story somewhere unexpected.

If we’re being real, there’s a good chance Az’s actual love interest hasn’t even gotten her spotlight yet. SJM has a habit of playing the long game, she introduces characters early on, lets them simmer in the background, and then boom: they’re suddenly central. Think about how Nesta was just “the difficult sister” until she became the heart of ACOSF. So maybe Az’s story hasn’t really started yet in the romance department. Maybe Gwyn and Elain are there to reflect parts of his journey, healing, temptation, restraint but the person who truly matches his depth, shadows and all, might still be waiting in the wings. That’d fit his whole vibe too: the quiet one whose story takes time to unfold. It would be the ultimate twist if all the ship wars were for nothing because his real match was never even in the ring yet.

Look, Gwyn’s a great character, resilient, hopeful, and full of light after everything she’s been through. She’s got this bright, bubbly, almost sunbeam-like presence that’s always trying to uplift and move forward. Az, on the other hand, is the quiet storm. He’s layered, heavy with guilt and responsibility, and tends to internalize everything. He is not going to change completely. Gwyn could be great for helping him heal in the short term, but long-term? That mismatch might start to show. She’s got this optimistic fire, while he lives in the shadows, literally and emotionally. It’s not that opposites can’t work, but sometimes being too opposite means one person is always overcompensating, or one starts to dim themselves just to match the other’s wavelength. Gwyn deserves someone who can meet her in the light, not someone still working through decades of darkness. And Az might need someone who doesn’t just contrast him, but understands the weight he carries because they’ve carried something similar themselves.

Hi! Then it’s mutual, because I also understand your perspective. We’re readers, and we’re not in control of what the author decides to do, that’s a fact. She can always change the course of what she’s written and come up with a major plot twist. However, I don’t believe for even a second that this is her plan (which doesn’t mean I control her decisions). It’s true that Sarah likes to surprise her readers - for example, I’m rereading TOG right now and I can imagine how Rowan’s introduction must have felt for readers.

But something that stands out in Sarah’s writing, especially when it comes to couples, is the hints she leaves throughout her books... we knew Nesta and Cassian would be endgame, right? We even had a strong sense about Rhys and Feyre after that first impactful meeting between them. Hunt and Bryce were also clearly meant to be from the beginning and, speaking of TOG, I always understood that Chaol would never be Aelin’s person (nor Dorian). But why? Precisely because the author leaves important clues about what she’s developing for her characters. Her couples are known for having early and significant build-up, chemistry, a certain spark, something different that doesn’t happen with non-canon ships.

And that’s where Gwynriel comes in, because that’s exactly what she did with the two of them. Sarah purposefully tied Gwyn’s past to Azriel, and throughout ACOSF, she gave us countless interactions that didn’t need to be there unless she wanted to make a point. In the bonus chapter, she cemented what had already been shown in ACOSF: she included her signature “mate language” between Gwynriel.

Now, about what you mentioned - that Gwyn wouldn’t work with Azriel in the long run because she’s “happy, cheerful,” and so on - I have to disagree. I’ve mentioned this on my other account, but there’s SO much more to Gwyn that Sarah already made clear in ACOSF and will likely explore further in the next book (if it’s Gwynriel’s). That “darkness” that follows Azriel due to his trauma isn’t exclusive to him. On the contrary, Gwyn went through something I’d argue is more extreme and violent than what most characters have experienced. She’s the character who saw her own sister be decapitated (I repeat: decapitated) right in front of her, and then she was raped while her sister’s body lay on the ground beside her.