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✨Elriel Month Day 17: Hold Tight and Don’t Make A Sound✨

I did this piece because I want Azriel to finally feel comfortable about his hands and scars, knowing that Elain fully accepts him as he is. She is not afraid of him and has complete trust in him.

…

Ps. Um, so yeah, I did a thing and took the prompt literally. Lol, I am once again begging SJM to get their book out of the dungeon, I beg.

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Love and beauty • Elain Archeron 🌸

(we’re all in agreement about Hannah Dodd right?)

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Francesca Bridgerton 🤝 Elain Archeron

being the gentle, soft-hearted beauty who just wants a peaceful, quiet life with a love who understands her

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She’s so elain coded I can’t get over it 😭😭😭

HANNAH DODD AS FRANCESCA BRIDGERTON BRIDGERTON SEASON THREE: PART ONE

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that time azriel stayed awake every night for a year staring at the trivial thing that made him truly laugh for the first time in a decade.

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Isn't it literally crazy that....

*ToG spoilers*

Elain is an anagram for Aelin.

Elain smells like jasmine and honey and Aelin smells like jasmine and lemon verbena.

Rowan smells like snow and pine and Azriel smells like night chilled mist and cedar.

Both couples have the line "given to another" used for them during scenes regarding a possible mistake made by fate because they both believe that they are mated to someone who is somehow mated to someone else, despite their soul deep connection and mate-like feelings.

Isn't that crazy?

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If I held you close to my heart

And mended all of your scars

If I risked it all for the night

Baby, you and I could fall in love…

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Azriel's ongoing theme is to find...

PEACE. WITHIN AND AROUND HIM

To realize that he is:

Worthy of love

Loved by his family for WHO he is as a person

Not defined by his traumatic past and actions

Allowed to fight for who or what he wants

This male has been:

Locked up in a cell for ELEVEN years by his stepmother, only being let out an hour a day and an hour a WEEK to see his mother

Burned ruthlessly by his half brothers at the age of eleven, resulting in burns on his hands that didn't fully heal, leaving scars (which he's STILL extremely self-conscious about after 500 years)

Surrounded by darkness and shadows for years without sunlight as a child

Forbidden to train and fly while he lived with his father, something that's taught to Illyarians as a BABY

Shipped off to an Illyarian camp when his father found out he was a shadowsinger

Mocked as a bastard child alongside Rhys and Cassian

Hated by the Illyarians for his immense power due to being a bastard child (Illyarians valued patricharcy more than anything)

Separated from his friends for seven years during the war. (Rhys' father was FEARFUL of the bat boys being together because of their power)

Assigned as the spymaster by Rhys' father and was forced to do all his dirty work (we don't know what ALL Rhys' father made Azriel do during the war, and he was a ruthless male)

Pinning over Mor for over 500 years, even finding out Cassian slept with her

Thinking he is only of value to his friends for his work as a spymaster

Almost killed twice (once when trying to save Elain from Hybern and second when he was pierced by an ash arrow)

Finally able to move on from Mor, finding solace and peace with Elain (who is interested in him as well) only to be ordered to stay away from her due to Lucien being her mate ( even though she doesn’t show interest in Lucien)

Azriel needs some all-around PEACE in his life.

What about a love interest?

The fandom seems to debate on this topic, but one thing for sure is that he doesn't need to be "challenged" by someone... Where do we even see THAT being anywhere in the books?

Here's what we are shown...

1. Where do we find him most at peace/relaxed?

With Elain

Even Feyre states that Elain would find PEACE and QUIET with Azriel... and liked the idea...

With Elain

2. Who do we find Azriel's focus on?

Elain

3. Where do we find the IC being the most surprised by Azriels reactions/actions?

With Elain

4. Who does Azriel ALWAYS try to beat Feyre to greet/assist?

Elain

5. Who does Azriel always volunteer to help?

(Omg I hit my limit with photos 🤣)

But I strode to my seat—nestled between Amren and Mor—in time to see Elain say to Azriel, “Hello.” Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

Elain

6. Who stills Azriel's razor-sharp thoughts?

Too many razor-sharp thoughts sliced him any time he grew still long enough for them to strike."....

Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"

His head went quiet.

Elain

7. Who was Azriel willing to give up his LIFE to save?

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

Elain

8. Who openly accepts Azriel's scars, one of his BIGGEST insecurities?

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks,

Elain

9. Who actually SEES him and notices his needs?

“I had Madja make it for me,” Elain explained. Azriel’s brows narrowed at the mention of the family’s preferred healer. “It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.” Silence. Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” Silence again. Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed.

Elain

10. Who is Azriel thinking about every night?

He had only allowed himself these thoughts in the dead of night. Had only allowed his hand to fist his cock and think about her then, when even his shadows had gone to sleep. How that beautiful face might appear as he entered her, what sounds she'd make

Elain

11. Who does Azriel want to kiss and have a lovely pussy eating feast on?

Wrong -- it was so wrong.  

He didn't care.  

He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue --

Elain

ELAIN IS THE ANSWER TO HIS PEACE...

TO HELPING HIM FIND PEACE WITHIN AND AROUND HIM.

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Just a friendly reminder that although people are free to interpret things as they wish, there is a very good reason Azriel used the wording he did in his bonus chapter to describe Elain's mating bond with Lucien. TOG spoilers ahead

Azriel bonus chapter:

The reveal that Aelin and Rowan are true mates:

Both couples experienced intense distress over having mate like feelings for someone who was mated to someone else. Sarah both repeated Cassian and Nesta bonus chapter lines to showcase Azriel's feelings for Elain (begging on his knees for a taste, eyes nearly rolling into the back of their heads at the scent) and she used repeat language that nods to another mating bond that wasn't a true match in her universe.

If you are going to say Sarah doesn't do anything unintentionally, then you have to ask yourself about *why* she would use such a controversial line that turned half the fandom against Az and started calling him an entitled incel who only wants to use Elain for sex.

True mates being "given to another" is not a new SJM concept.

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something I’ve been thinking about today. in acotar book 1, when feyre is leaving the human lands the second time to go save tamlin she tells nesta, “but ash wood seems to work. Take my money and buy a damned grove of it for Elain to attend.”

I wonder if Elain heard this conversation? and ultimately her relationship with Graysen came not originally out of love but out of necessity? In acowar Elain tells them they need to get Graysen to allow the humans to take shelter in his fortress. did she seek him out bc of the fact he had guards and ash wood and high walls to protect her and Nesta? a big part of me wonders if she got with Graysen so quickly while feyre was gone because she heard what feyre said and knew it was the only action she could take to keep her and Nesta safe, not knowing if feyre would come back or not. I think eventually she did come to love him, but I truly don’t think she sought him out for that reason. She’s smarter than they peg her for, it just so happened the faerie hater she learned to love for protection hated her in the end for a fate she didn’t choose. I have so many thoughts on this.

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༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙩: 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

✮♱✮ art by @oli_diart

✮♱✮ commissioned by @throughstarlitfields & me.

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

It’s the greatest pleasure to have worked with the wonderful and lovely @oli_diart and @throughstarlitfields to bring yall this beautiful Elriel piece for @elriel-month with these 2 at Rosehall! @throughstarlitfields and I couldn’t be more happy with this beautiful, stunning piece! We wanted to share a tender moment of Elain and Azriel at Rosehall for the first time, and fully and finally beginning their relationship and embracing and accepting each other’s homes and their pasts.

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

✮♱✮ commissioned for @elriel-month

✮♱✮ characters are Elain Archeron & Azriel.

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

✮♱✮ likes, saves, and shares are always appreciated!

✮♱✮ no reposts allowed.

༉‧₊˚🕯️🖤❀༉‧₊˚.

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In the next book I'm gonna need Elain to go back to being a little bit creepy, a little ominous, a little foreboding, a little spooky, a little off-putting, just a little.

I want her freaking people out, consciously and on purpose this time.

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This has absolutely nothing to do with the usual content I have on here, but I’ve been writing a bit lately and finally feel ready to share I guess? it’s nice to find people who relate to the things you have a hard time expressing. So anyways here is the first of many.

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So you mean to tell me that after all of these:

ACOMAF ch24

Elain rasped, “Nice to meet you,” before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor.

A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel’s mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silent

But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.

Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, “Can you truly fly?” He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, “Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind.” “That’s very beautiful,” she said. “Is it not—frightening, though? To fly so high?” “It is sometimes,” Azriel said.

Elain, noticing Azriel’s ease as proof that things weren’t indeed about to go badly, offered one of her own as well.

ACOMAF Ch49

And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.” I smiled at the thought—at how handsome they would be together.

Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.

ACOMAF ch57

Cassian and Azriel on either side of the bay of windows where Elain and Nesta stood in their finery,

ACOWAR Ch24

Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms[... ] He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door. Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face.

Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?”

But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm.

I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks,

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports,

ACOWAR Ch24

“Why not make them mates?” I mused. “Why Lucien?”

What if”—I jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—“that is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn’t?”

“A mating bond can be rejected,”

ACOWAR Ch30

“Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.” “I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand

The two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still.

ACOWAR Ch32

“Elain is fine,” Rhys said. “Azriel was at the town house.

ACOWAR Ch28

“See what he can do. If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it’s a mate.”

ACOWAR Ch32

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

ACOWAR Ch33

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.

ACOWAR Ch50

while shadows gathered around Azriel, Elain at his side, wide-eyed at the spymaster’s display.

Then Azriel, gently taking Elain’s hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt her.

ACOWAR Ch 63

But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”

ACOWAR Ch64

Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

ACOWAR Ch65

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time

Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.

ACOWAR Ch69

Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option. “This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.”

He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.”

Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade.

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife.

ACOWAR Ch80

“What now?” Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room.

ACOFAS Ch7

To know when and if Lucien sought her out. What they did together. “You sure about that?” I asked quietly. Azriel’s Siphons guttered, the stones turning as dark and foreboding as the deepest sea. “Where did Lucien go.”

Nothing. Absolutely nothing on that face, on his scent. The shadows, whatever the hell they were, hid too well. Too much. Azriel only said coldly, “If Lucien kills Graysen, then good riddance.”

ACOFAS Ch12

“Don’t,” Elain said flatly, starting once more into a walk, veils of steam drifting past her shoulders from the roasted rosemary potatoes in her hands, as if they were Azriel’s shadows.

Azriel emerged from the sitting room, a glass of wine in hand and wings tucked back to reveal his fine, yet simple black jacket and pants. I felt, more than saw, my sister go still as he approached. // in time to see Elain say to Azriel, “Hello.” Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her.

But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

Azriel didn’t let go. “Wait until everyone is seated before eating.” // Elain swept in, apron gone and hair rebraided.

ACOFAS Ch16

Azriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. [...]“No,” Azriel said, not turning from the window. [...] Azriel remained at the window [...] Azriel said, turning from the garden window at last.

ACOFAS Ch 19

I found Elain studying it, beautiful in her amethyst-colored gown. I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysand’s—the fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, “Happy Solstice.”

ACOFAS Ch20

“I had Madja make it for me,” Elain explained. Azriel’s brows narrowed at the mention of the family’s preferred healer. “It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.” Silence. Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.”

Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous. [...] Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

ACOFAS Ch22

It was three by the time the others went to bed [...] Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house

ACOSF Ch19

Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?” Cassian waved a hand. “A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened

ACOSF Ch21

Feyre smiled. “Elain was the only one who guessed. She caught me vomiting two mornings in a row.” She nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s got you beat for secret-keeping.”

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

ACOSF, Ch22

Azriel stiffened. “I know. I helped rescue Elain, after all.” Az hadn’t so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybern’s war-camp.

He was still happy to be Mor’s buffer with Azriel, but there’d been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel … those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if he’d given up. After five hundred years, he’d somehow given up.//

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

ACOSF Ch29

Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.”

ACOSF ch31

Feyre said, “We won’t allow any harm to come to Elain. Rhys warded her this morning, and we have eyes on her at all times.” “Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said. “Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with soft menace.

ACOSF Ch44

"Like you two,” she said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel. Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement.

ACOSF Ch57

Feyre and Rhys took their thrones, and Nesta and Elain came to stand at the foot of the dais, between him (Cassian) and Azriel.

ACOSF Ch58

She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.

Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. [...]Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly,

“My shadows don’t like the flames so much.” A pretty lie. She’d seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer.

Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn’t stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn’t go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.

Plus the Bonus Chapter:

He didn’t need his shadows to read her tone, the slight tightening of her face.

She hadn’t bought her mate a present. But she’d gotten Azriel one last year—a headache powder he kept on his nightstand at the House of Wind. Not to use, but just to look at. Which he’d done every night he’d sleep there. Or attempted to sleep there.

Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldn’t stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.

Elain’s large brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that. Just as he knew she was well aware of why Azriel so rarely came to family dinners these days.

Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They’d always prone to vanish when she was around.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, “Put it on me?”

He knew it was wrong, but there he was, sliding the necklace around her. Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin. Letting them brush the side of her throat, savoring the velvet-soft texture. Elain shivered, and he took a damn long time fastening the clasp.

Until his palm lay flat against her neck. It had never gone this far. They’d exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. Wrong—it was so wrong. He didn’t care.

What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue— Azriel’s cock strained behind his pants, aching so fiercely he could hardly think. He prayed she didn’t peer down. Prayed she didn’t understand the shift in his scent.

He had only allowed these thoughts in the dead of the night. Had only allowed his hand to fist his cock and think about her then, when even his shadows had gone to sleep. How that beautiful face might appear as he entered her, what sounds she’d make.

Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He’d beg on his knees for a chance to taste it. But Azriel just stroked her neck again.

She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars.

Offer and permission. He nearly groaned with relief and need as he lowered his head toward hers.

“What if the Cauldron was wrong?” // . “The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it’s possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another.” He had never before dared speak the words aloud.

Azriel scowled. “I think Lucien will never be good enough for her, and she has no interest in him, anyway.”

"You can’t order me to do that.”

“I’ll defeat him with little effort.” Pure arrogance laced every word, but it was true.

After all of this people still believes these are not enough for Elain and Azriel to be "pretty obvious" endgame? That these are not enough build up? These aren't romantic? This is not the author setting a slow-burn romance? These aren't endgame material? Lol this is how authors build up romance you guys. This is the author setting them up for their book.

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The way Elain rushed to make herself pretty when Azriel grabbed the potatoes.

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azriel is down bad crying at the gym (training ring same thing tbh)

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Because it’s gotten so incredibly popular over the years, I feel like this notion gets ignored a lot, but I don’t mind saying it:

The ACOTAR series isn’t for everyone.

There are themes, characters, and plot lines that not everyone will like or enjoy. In fact, I’d argue that ACOTAR is really for people that love and indulge in High Fantasy, and knows that putting excessive modern day expectations on High Fantasy is NOT realistic. It’s for people who enjoy classic themes and motifs, as well as fantasy romance and all that entails.

So when I see people hate the IC, Rhysand, Feyre, Nessian, Elriel, and the structure of the Fae world, all I can think is…yeah, this story might not be for you.

Maybe, if you hate all the main characters and the main storyline, you should read something else??