teasunbee

[teasunbee]

Wow, what an interesting post on Gwyn's powers, possible narrative theories and such a convincing explanation as to why the end of Azriel's Extra Chapter seemed off... 🧜🏻‍♀️

Shadowsingers and Lightsingers

This post is a follow-up to my earlier post on why I think Gwyn is a lightsinger, and is going to be a hodgepodge of questions and theories that I have been thinking about since a convo with @mrspettyferr, so bear with me 😂 But I think some of this explains what the purpose and meaning of Gwyn’s part of Az’s chapter might be (to me at least)

What exactly is a shadowsinger?

We obviously know that Az is a shadowsinger, and we know (assume?) he can communicate with shadows, and he might have some control over them. But what powers does a shadowsinger have? What does Az do as a shadowsinger? What is the extent of his powers? I haven’t done a full reread of the series to gather clues about this, but my recollection is our knowledge is pretty limited. (I would love if people could drop their knowledge in the comments, or maybe I’ll go mining for them and do a follow-up post).

I imagine a not minor part of Elriel’s book (I’m just assuming for the sake of this post, sorry) is going to be learning about Az’s powers and what he really does. And I wonder if part of Gwyn’s role is going to help show us that organically

What exactly is a lightsinger?

(Again, I’m just assuming for the purposes of this post that Gwyn is a lightsinger). So we learned from Cassian what the legends say about lightsingers:

There are lightsingers: lovely, ethereal beings who will lure you, appearing as friendly faces when you are lost. Only when you’re in their arms will you see their true faces, and they aren’t fair at all. The horror of it is the last thing you see before they drown you in the big. But they kill for sport, not food.

Now we don’t know how much of this is legend versus true, and we don’t know how this will work for Gwyn, since it seems like she might be descended from lightsingers (maybe why her grandmother could lure the autumn court high fae), or have a different type of power that is more akin to a shadowsinger, just the opposite.

We also know that Gwyn’s power is alluring (and I mean that in the truest sense of the word. It lured people in). For example:

Gwyn’s hair seemed to glow brighter with her song, skin radiating a beckoning light. Drawing any listener in.

But what are a lightsinger’s powers? What are the extent of them? How similar are they to a shadowsinger’s powers?

The bonus chapter

The more I read the bonus chapter, the more convinced I am that it served three purposes: to essentially confirm Elriel’s feelings for each other for Elriel’s book, to set up some conflict for Elriel’s book (Rhys and the necklace), and to set up the Gwyn is a lightsinger plot for the next book.

Not only does Sarah really hit us over the head with the singing stuff and how Az’s shadows are curious about her, which is what really brought home the lightsinger theory for me, but Az seems to be...lured by Gwyn. What if (intentionally or not, I’m leaning towards not), Gwyn has cast some sort of spell over him? And credit goes to @mrspettyferr for this part of the theory, but Gwyn as a lightsinger seems to be based off of mermaid legends and the sirens, who would lure unsuspecting males in with their beautiful songs and then, well, kill them lol.

First, Gwyn’s singing follows him and his shadows seem to sing back:

Then, Az “finds himself” at the library instead of returning the necklace:

**Something very interesting about this passage that @hacawijo pointed out in her excellent analysis of the bonus chapter. Az finds himself at the library as the clock chimes 7. We know that the priestesses sing at dusk, and when Nesta went, it was 7. Was gwyn singing with the priestesses, and her singing called to Az and lured him to the library that evening? It would make sense that the singing might have been slightly before 7 that evening, since the solstice is the longest night of the year, so dusk would be earlier than evening than it was when Nesta attended.

And finally the image of Gwyn smiling appears in his head “for whatever reason” and glows inside him:

So what if Az’s reactions to Gwyn are because she has somehow inadvertently used her powers on him to lure him to her. And that’s what draws him to the library to give Gwyn the necklace, and that’s what causes the image of her to become implanted in his mind and glow deep down inside him. The use of the word “glow” in that paragraph stood out to me and harkened back to the descriptions of Gwyn glowing when she sings. And he almost seems perplexed or surprised by it when it happens—maybe because it’s outside of his control?

Is the last line harkening to Gwyn’s “secret”—that she’s a lightsinger?

Theories for ACOTAR 5

Obviously, I don’t know if this is actually what went down at the end of the bonus chapter. But if it did, I imagine Az is going to figure it out at some point and confront Gwyn about it. And that after some conflict, he will offer to help teach her how to be a singer and how to control her powers. (Honestly, I imagine this is the form their relationship is going to take regardless of whether she’s cast some sort of spell on him).

I think that these training sessions will parallel Az’s training sessions with Feyre in ACOWAR. Those really served three purposes I guess: Feyre learned how to fly, which was essential to later plot; we learned about the mechanics of flying and more about Illyrians generally; and we got the Nephelle prophecy.

I imagine Gwyn’s training sessions being a similarly small part of the plot, and serving three purposes: teach gwyn to use her powers, which will be essential to the later plot (maybe Gwyn helps Elain see through the mist to the prison? Maybe she will do something to help defeat Koschei?); we will learn about singers and the extent of their power; and we will learn something unknown from Az that will play an essential role later.

There’s also the possibility that Gwyn is...bad. I don’t know that I see this happening given how important she is to Nesta, and the role the Valkyries are going to play, but it’s a possibility. It’s also a possibility that Koschei through Merrill will try to control Gwyn, or maybe she already is starting to be controlled...(I have a crack theory about this I wrote later here)

Anyways, I can’t wait to learn about singers and their powers, and see the role they’re going to play in future books. And I could see Gwyn and Elain working together given Elain’s seeing powers (maybe even Elain, Gwyn and Az).

And I’m really excited to hear everyone else’s thoughts and theories.

[teasunbee]

Look, we can debate ships all day at a micro level, but if you step back and really look at the patterns in SJM’s writing, Elriel stands out — not just as possible, but as narratively inevitable.

Here’s why.

1. SJM doesn’t do "easy" couples.

Gwynriel — as it currently stands — is too easy. There’s no real conflict between them aside from Azriel’s lingering feelings for Elain, which actually make Gwyn feel more like a stepping stone in his arc than a long-term match.

In contrast, Elriel is full of conflict:

• Forbidden love

• The deconstruction of Azriel's reverent beliefs of fate, The Cauldron, and 'sacred' mating bonds which have religious connotations that parallel religion, God and faith.

• Family expectations (duty versus desire)

• Azriel’s feelings of unworthiness especially pertaining to Elain's 'purity' (the juxtaposition of dark and light)

This is classic SJM material. She loves slow burns, angst, longing, and earned love — not convenience.

Sidenote: Gwyn does have a continued healing journey that will - if written realistically - have an impact on potential romantic/sexual relationships and can be considered a 'conflict' that is overcomed. This would be a beautiful story of patience and tenderness between two parties healing, however it just feels wrong when we know the intense desires Azriel has for Elain. I don't think intertwining Gwyn's trauma-based backstory with a love triangle is fair no matter which pair are endgame.

2. The "rejection of the mating bond" theme is being seeded.

SJM is clearly wanting us to question the idea of the mating bond as destiny. Elain has shown zero romantic interest in Lucien, her "fated" mate. Meanwhile, Azriel has begun openly questioning the Cauldron and its authority over fate — that's not a throwaway detail.

This suggests a major upcoming theme:

What if love is choice, not fate?

And that makes Elriel — choosing each other despite the bond — far more powerful and narratively rich than defaulting to Gwynriel or Elucien. And arguably, more interesting than Feysand and Nessian where ultimately their fated bonds might be seen to take away autonomy when revealed so late in their respective connections.

Elain has something both her sisters didn't have knowing about her bond so early in the game, and that is CHOICE. Choosing love is far more meaningful than having fate decide, wouldn't you agree?

3. Elain’s arc is incomplete — and it’s pointing toward agency.

We’ve had three books watching Elain stay soft-spoken, mysterious, and underestimated. What we do know so far is she has:

• A seer’s gift we don’t fully understand

• A connection to shadows

• Subtle moments of strength and insight (and the not so subtle moment of stabbing the King of Hybern)

• Ties to The Cauldron and possibly Koschei

Regardless, "boring", "weak", "quiet", "nothing to offer", "just the pretty one" are some of the negative things both characters and readers have labelled Elain. But she’s rejecting passivity, slowly but surely. We are going to learn a hell of a lot about her in book 6 so be prepared for those labels to be dismantled in the most interesting of ways.

Readers have hypothesised that Elain ending up with Lucien makes most sense because he's a nice guy, it's uncomplicated and they are cauldron-fated mates. Even knowing she doesn't want him at all. Or god forbid, Tamlin... based on the fact she likes flowers... so should belong in Spring Court? (The fact she'd be paired off with her younger sister's abusive ex is very ick to me but more for another post - Not to say Tamlin doesn't deserve a redemption arc, but let it not be through Elain).

What about pairing off the couple who have shown each other love, care, understanding, tenderness, deep longing despite their surface level differences of dark and light?

Along with finally being privvy to Elain's POVs and the development of her character, pairing her with Azriel would subvert the exact box people keep trying to put her in — and SJM loves that kind of twist.

4. Gwynriel’s necklace moment was NOT romantic.

Azriel gave Gwyn the necklace meant for Elain — not a romantic gesture, but more a moment of guilt and repression. He clasped the necklace around Elain's neck seconds before nearly succumbing to his aching hunger to have her. The next day he gives it to Gwyn after a direct command from Rhys to stay away... That doesn't sound like a new love blooming. That sounds more like emotional displacement.

Any potentially romantic development made between Gwyn and Azriel in book 6 feels like a mistake he’ll have to confront further down the line. And SJM loves to make her characters face the consequences of avoidance.

Sidenote: Elriel endgame will also mean Rhysand will have to eventually confront the fact he forbade Azriel from being with and potentially losing the love of his life - further adding conflict and the eventual resolution between two brothers.

5. There’s too much already built between Elain and Azriel.

SJM has been quietly but consistently threading Elriel moments over four books (two years book time) — something she typically only does for ships that matter long-term. We see:

• The peace, the mutual comfort and ease of their time spent together

• Stolen glances, watching each other from across the room

• Making each other blush and laugh (like no other can, according to Feyre POV)

• Azriel's understanding of Elain in her most vulnerable time, more so than even her sisters and Mate

• Azriel trusting Elain with Truth-Teller (he's never let anyone touch it before and he offered it to her without prompt)

• Even if it meant dying, Azriel willingly risking his life to save Elain from Hybern

• Elain's acceptance of his shadows, his scars and his dark presence

• And...

One chapter. That’s all it took for us to realise his desire for Elain (and hers for him) wasn’t just a casual crush. It was intense. Reverent. Controlled only by shame and guilt. You don’t give a side ship that kind of emotional weight if it’s not going somewhere.

So… why are the lines so blurred between the ships?

Because SJM loves the long game. She did this with Feysand. With Nessian. Every time we think we know the direction, she shifts the lens, makes it hurt, and then lands the emotional blow with the "right" couple at the right time. Elain and Azriel are not easy. They're messy. Forbidden. Guilt-ridden. Full of yearning. But that’s exactly what makes it beautiful — and earned.

Some love stories are written in stars. Elriel is written in shadow and light — carved out of longing, acceptance and the courage of choosing love over destiny. It’s the kind of love that rewrites fate — and lingers long after the final page. This is why I believe Elriel will be the greatest love story told in the ACOTAR series.

[teasunbee]

Hear me out...

For Elain and Azriel to be endgame, Elain has to reject her Mating bond with Lucien BUT it would always feel incomplete and wrong when Azriel's mate could be out there. The 'what ifs' on who his mate is, has she been born yet or is she out there waiting could cause big problems in their relationship - in any relationship - moving forward.

SO.

I really think we will finally have the resolution scene between Azriel and Mor with the big reveal that they are also Mates. Some evidence that points to this is:

• 500 years of pining over someone screams unrequited Mating bond.

• Mor choosing Cassian to sleep with to get out of the marriage between her and Eris instead of Azriel makes sense as she needed a way out but didn't want to commit to the bond when in her heart she wasn't sure if being with Azriel was what she truly wanted.

• When Mor and Feyre spoke for the first time about her sexuality, there was such an emphasis on how much she needed to talk to Azriel about it and didn't know how to. (That was book 3 so it makes sense that SJM has left this conversation to unfold until the next book when she's also left breadcrumbs asking readers to think about the potential of rejecting Mating bonds).

• The fact that Azriel is a shadowsinger and wouldn't know that Mor is bi/gay is strange. His shadows tell him 99.9% everything. Knowing this he must have been in such a painful position, in limbo, not being able to act on/reveal his feelings for years, possibly hoping she choose him regardless.

• The torment he would have gone through not being accepted for hundreds of years is SO Azriel. And I think this will add to his own insecurities of not being chosen and being rejected and finally being accepted by Elain (which we've already seen her do in small moments).

• In Azriel's chapter Rhysand says "What about Mor?" when Azriel is defending the near kiss with Elain - Rhysand knows there's a bond. Why else mention Mor in that situation when neither of them have made a move for centuries?

I believe BOTH Elain and Azriel will reject Mating bonds to be together in book 6 ❤️

I'm also praying in book 6 SJM will revisit the most poignant moments between Azriel and Elain from previous books but told through their POVs.

• Their first meeting.

• Azriel being there for Elain during her most vulnerable time e.g. the hand holding into the townhouse garden.

• Azriel saving Elain from Hybern's clutches.

• The stolen glances (e.g. Azriel being gravitated towards her laugh).

• Elain making Azriel laugh like Feyre has never heard before.

I think the reason why so many people are anti Elriel is 1. Elain's character development has barely begun making her feel a few steps behind most of the other characters in terms of depth but more importantly 2. those beautiful moments we have had between them have been told through other people's POVs. We have yet to read/see the true extent of how Elain and Azriel feel for each other (apart from that lustful moment in the hidden chapter), when for the other couples, their love stories were only cemented in the fandom during ACOMAF and ACOSF when we were privvy to their perspectives.

The surface has only been scratched regarding Az and Elain's connection and for there to already be so many Elriel fans before we get a chance to read their inner most thoughts and feelings... I think so many more people will fall in love with both Elain and the idea of Elain X Azriel in book 6.

What do you guys think?

Painting by Nadine Dagbaeva

[teasunbee]

Who else can see this happening in a sex scene between Azriel and Elain in the upcoming book 6?

Elain licking/sucking/kissing Azriel's scarred fingers... and then his response to that...

Equal measures of hot and beautiful ❤️‍🔥