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Whoever invented "open in app" links that redirect you to the app store instead of actually opening the app even when you already have the app installed on your phone should be involuntarily turned into a beanbag chair

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Autumn day in the woods 🥨🍂

@natureaestheticdreams for more✨

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V.E. Schwab, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

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One thing I’ve noticed is how Gwynriels never give Gwyn her own story.

All theories I’ve seen involving her in future books revolve around her in relation to Azriel’s story. It’s always something like:

“Gwyn is going to help fix Illyria with Azriel”

“Gwyn is going to heal with Az”

There’s never a storyline that’s about HER.

I don’t think the reason is because they don’t want her to have her own story, I think it’s because they cannot connect her to the overarching plot without sticking her with Az.

Because that’s the thing: Gwyn has 0 connection to the plot. Any connections are only through her proximity to the IC. But that’s not enough for an independent story, and the fact that Gwynriels can’t come up with one for her proves that point.

Any MC in this series should be able to move the plot forward independent of their romantic relationship.

And this series, first and foremost, is about WOMEN. Women take the lead in this story.

They do not exist in relation to the men around them. They are active participants in the plot who also find love.

Gwyn, as it stands, doesn’t fulfill that. Could she? Sure, in theory. But we have no canon information to indicate she could carry her own book.

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For me, this is what I like about Elriel.

For the first time we would have a couple whose conflicts are external, not internal. A couple who WANTS to be together but, for reasons outside of their control, can’t be.

SJM has pretty much only ever written couples whose conflicts were internal. And they’re always mates, too. She’s ostensibly written the same love story about 7 times, just from different angles.

Like you pointed out, it’s Rowan and Aelin, Bryce and Hunt, Chaol and Yrene. But it’s also Cassian and Nesta, Feyre and Rhys, Elide and Lorcan, Ruhn and Lidia. Elain and Lucien would just be another addition to this list.

And look, if it happens it happens. These are fictional characters and at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. But I crave Elriel for a breath of fresh air and something completely different.

I think the idea of secret lovers and forbidden love is exciting. I think the idea of a rejected mating bond is fascinating. I think the idea of two people choosing each other over fate is more powerful than the alternative.

We know from the Today interview in January that SJM is interested in exploring rejected mating bonds. If she were to actually do it, she currently has the setup for it with Elain and Lucien. I just think it would be an amazing read.

One reason I’m hesitant to believe Elain and Azriel will happen is that they’ve already almost kissed, and clearly have feelings for each other (to what extent is open to interpretation), and there aren’t any clear signs of conflict between the two of them. I’m not sure what obstacles they will have to overcome when it comes to their relationship with each other. I only bring this up because all of SJM’s major couples don’t start off romantically or on good terms. Aelin and Rowan hated each other. Bryce and Hunt tolerated each other, and became friends first. Yrene despised Chaol. Feyre couldn’t stand Rhysand. Cassian and Nesta were at each other’s throats. I’m seeing a common theme here. Right now there are major obstacles for Elucien. So I feel like they make sense.

I’m not saying Elriel is impossible, but what are the obstacles for Azriel and Elain that don’t involve Lucien, or Rhysand forbidding them from being together?

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While we simply have to agree to disagree on our ships, your reasoning here is fair and balanced and I respect your opinion even if I don’t share it. Thank you for coming in peace 💙

But my question is, how is Gwyn's presence in the bonus chapter *not* meant to be a red herring?

Az and Gwyn getting together would be a huge deviation from the setup Az has with Elain in the actual books. SJM isn't going to completely change the direction of the plot in a bonus chapter the majority of readers won't see. That simply doesn't make any sense.

Seriously, when has a bonus chapter ever had an effect on the direction of the plot? Their whole purpose is to fill in some gaps/give extra context/offer some fluff.

I would also like to point out the similarities between Nesta's thoughts/feelings towards Gwyn in SF and Azriel's in the bonus chapter.

"The priestess drew up to her full height, which was slightly taller than average for Fae females. A crackling sort of energy buzzed around her, and Nesta's power grumbled in answer." - ACOSF ch. 9

"Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer." - Az BC

"She honestly didn't know why she wished to see Gwyn." - ACOSF ch. 14

"A bell rang seven times somewhere nearby. (...) Gwyn sang, a faint glow seeming to radiate from her. (...) She'd never heard such music. Like a spell, a dream given form. (...) Something beckoned in Gwyn's song, in a way the others' hadn't. Like Gwyn was calling only to her, her voice full of sunshine and joy and unshakeable determination." - ACOSF ch. 52

"Instead, he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind, standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening. (...) Something sparked in Azriel's chest. (...) For whatever reason, he could see it." - Az BC

THIS is why so many Elriels think that the bonus chapter doesn't set up another couple, but instead gives more weight to the lightsinger theory.

There are too many similarities between how Nest and Azriel both react to Gwyn for this to be a coincidence.

And the fact that Azriel gets to the library at 7, which is when Gwyn sings (singing being the source of her power), it explains why he has these strong but seemingly inexplicable reactions. It's not a mating bond, it's Gwyn's lightsinging.

(However, I do want to add that I don't think this is being done purposefully on Gwyn's part.)

It makes way more sense narratively for the bonus chapter to make it look like Az may have another love interest when, in actuality, it's giving more evidence of another character's power, something already heavily hinted at in the main story.

You simply cannot convince me that there is any romantic tension between Az and Gwyn when the two don't even exchange any words until 80% of the way through ACOSF and she showed no interest in him romantically. And we are not going to see that tension for the first time in a bonus chapter that most people won't read.

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But my question is, how is Gwyn's presence in the bonus chapter *not* meant to be a red herring?

Az and Gwyn getting together would be a huge deviation from the setup Az has with Elain in the actual books. SJM isn't going to completely change the direction of the plot in a bonus chapter the majority of readers won't see. That simply doesn't make any sense.

Seriously, when has a bonus chapter ever had an effect on the direction of the plot? Their whole purpose is to fill in some gaps/give extra context/offer some fluff.

I would also like to point out the similarities between Nesta's thoughts/feelings towards Gwyn in SF and Azriel's in the bonus chapter.

"The priestess drew up to her full height, which was slightly taller than average for Fae females. A crackling sort of energy buzzed around her, and Nesta's power grumbled in answer." - ACOSF ch. 9

"Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer." - Az BC

"She honestly didn't know why she wished to see Gwyn." - ACOSF ch. 14

"A bell rang seven times somewhere nearby. (...) Gwyn sang, a faint glow seeming to radiate from her. (...) She'd never heard such music. Like a spell, a dream given form. (...) Something beckoned in Gwyn's song, in a way the others' hadn't. Like Gwyn was calling only to her, her voice full of sunshine and joy and unshakeable determination." - ACOSF ch. 52

"Instead, he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind, standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening. (...) Something sparked in Azriel's chest. (...) For whatever reason, he could see it." - Az BC

THIS is why so many Elriels think that the bonus chapter doesn't set up another couple, but instead gives more weight to the lightsinger theory.

There are too many similarities between how Nest and Azriel both react to Gwyn for this to be a coincidence.

And the fact that Azriel gets to the library at 7, which is when Gwyn sings (singing being the source of her power), it explains why he has these strong but seemingly inexplicable reactions. It's not a mating bond, it's Gwyn's lightsinging.

(However, I do want to add that I don't think this is being done purposefully on Gwyn's part.)

It makes way more sense narratively for the bonus chapter to make it look like Az may have another love interest when, in actuality, it's giving more evidence of another character's power, something already heavily hinted at in the main story.

You simply cannot convince me that there is any romantic tension between Az and Gwyn when the two don't even exchange any words until 80% of the way through ACOSF and she showed no interest in him romantically. And we are not going to see that tension for the first time in a bonus chapter that most people won't read.

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Death and His Lovely Fawn

Rhys told Feyre she should paint it when she got home. Do you think she ever actually did?

And that she’s just waiting for Elain and Azriel to get together to show it off?

I like to think so

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Azriel won’t get a book

This is a really popular want in the fandom because we love our shadow man. And while I definitely think we’ll get his POV, I think it would be akin to Cassian’s as the LI for whoever he ends up with (this is not a shipping post btw).

However, I often see it argued that because Chaol got a book in the ToG series, that means SJM is open to writing books for male MCs and, thus, Azriel can have his own book.

But I don’t see Azriel getting his own book when Rhys didn’t. Or Cassian for that matter. I don’t think it makes sense for only one bat boy to get their own book.

To me, if we were to ever have a male MC book in this series, there’s only one obvious choice: Lucien.

Between his broken relationship with Tamlin, the fact that Helion is his father, the shit with his brothers, his place in the Band of Exiles, his closeness with Vassa and her association with Koschei, and the possibility of a rejected mating bond, there’s a lot to unpack with our favorite fox boy.

And, personally, I see some similarities between Lucien and Chaol. They’re both exiles who value their friendships with their friend who is also a ruler, and they always try to do the right thing and put others before themselves.

Like, would I be hyped for an Azriel book? Yes!!! But I think Lucien would make a whole lot more sense

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I think that fact that one of the Murder Twins has an entirely different name in CC3 than he did when he was first named Ruhn's CC2 bonus chapter serves to show that we shouldn't be taking what happens in these bonus chapters so damn seriously.

They are BONUS content to supplement the story of the book they are attached to, not to set up the next story. If that were the case, they would be in every copy of the book or they would be epilogues.

I genuinely wish the Az bonus chapter didn't exist. That one piece of bonus content has made this entire fandom so toxic.

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Am I an Elriel shipper? 100%

Do I believe it is the most logical ship based on foreshadowing from 3 books and a novella, plus it fitting in with the current overarching plot? Undoubtedly.

Could an E*ucien endgame scenario make sense (as the main couple) in the next book based on the current overarching plot? Absolutely.

Could a G*ynriel endgame scenario make sense (as the main couple) in the next book based on the current overarching plot? Absolutely not.

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Come on, y'all. Elriel is happening

The recent TIME and Today interviews made one thing clear to me: SJM is interested in exploring new types of relationships in her stories.

One thing I see a lot from Gw*nriels and El*ciens is that "SJM is a fated mates author" and "she always writes couples that don't want to be together at the beginning."

And while, yes, those two things have been true for many of the couples that she's written, to say that's the only thing she capable of/willing to write is insulting imo. And the recent interviews, especially the one with Today, show me that she's ready to explore something new, which only Elriel would give us.

Let's take a look at how her previous couples compare with one another:

Rowaelin - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Feysand - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Nessian - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Elorcan - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Quinlar - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Laedion - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Ridia - mates + didn't want to be together at first

Chaorene - didn't want to be together at first

There's a pattern there for sure, so I can understand why people would assume El*cien is endgame despite evidence to the contrary in the text. They would certainly fit into the "mates + didn't want to be together at first" category. And because of Gwyn's trauma, the same may be true for her as well. Why do we assume she would want to be in a romantic relationship when she's not ready to leave the library yet? Mating bond or no, she has a lot of healing to do without the influence of a male.

But I digress. If SJM is interested in exploring something different than what she's already written time as time again (albeit with variations), Elriel is what's going to deliver.

For the first time, we would have a main couple who want to be together, but instead of the usual internal forces keeping them apart, it's external ones. Political ones.

She's never given us that before. She's never explored a rejected mating bond before. She's never done a secret romance before. All of those things would come with Elriel, whereas the other two ships would just be more variations on the same love story she's already told no less than 7 times.

I genuinely can't understand why people actively don't want Elriel. It doesn't have to be your favorite ship, but to entirely denounce it when it's not only the most logical but also the one that would give us something brand new is insane to me.

Let's not pigeonhole SJM by saying she's only capable of writing one type of love story, especially when she's explicitly telling us she's excited to explore something new.

3 brothers, 3 sisters would be cliche if all three couples were mates, but I think we'll end up with those pairings not because of the mating bond but in spite of it.

Every character reluctantly ending up with their mate is far lazier writing if you ask me.

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Some Elriel evidence that doesn't get much attention.

First of all, if you're just having fun with your ships, you do you, man. I'm not here to rain on your parade.

However, there are so many people out there that are CONVINCED of Elucien/Gwynriel that I can't take it anymore and I have to throw in my two cents, so here we go. I'm gonna break it down by ship.

Elucien

There's no way, bro. And we can set aside the fact that if that ship were to sail it would be the same sort of love story as Nessian (reluctant mates).

The most obvious thing to discuss here is that Elain is clearly not interested. And neither, to some extent, is Lucien.

Let's look back to ACOWAR when Lucien talks to Elain in the library. He thinks about Jesminda. "[She] had loved him without question, without hesitation. She had chosen him. Elain had been...thrown at him."

Like Azriel, Lucien wants to be chosen. He's had it before and he sees the value in it. Unfortunately, he's a fae male and he has a hard time ignoring his instincts where his mate is concerned, so he keeps trying. Even though he can hardly stand to be in the same room as her. Whereas Vassa...

Elain, on the other hand, has absolutely no interest in a mating bond. After Graysen breaks her heart in ACOWAR, Feyre says, "Some sliver of hope had been shattered today. That Graysen would still love her, marry her--and that love would trump even a mating bond."

Obviously, that quote is in direct reference to her ex-fiance, but we see Elain reconfirm that desire in ACOFAS when she tells Feyre explicitly that she doesn't want a mate. I don't think it's personal to Lucien, I think she rejects the idea of being told who she should be with. Of being robbed of choice.

We learn from Nesta in ACOSF that their mother always said Elain would marry for "love and beauty". I think for Elain, a mating bond is not the same as love. Also, small aside, but who is constantly regarded as the most beautiful of the bat boys?

We haven't seen them have a conversation about their mating bond yet because why would we? That will happen in Elain's book (which is most likely next).

Gwynriel

I feel like this one is more dangerous to get into so I'll tread lightly.

Firstly, the majority of evidence for this ship comes from a bonus chapter that the majority of the fandom doesn't even know exists. Anyone who listens to the audiobooks doesn't know about it unless they poke around ACOTAR stuff online.

It doesn't make sense for an author to essentially change the entire trajectory of a story in a bonus chapter that most people don't know about.

Also, I think a big problem with the BC is that people read it after they finish the book, so it can feel like the most recent thing to happen in the story, but it's not. It happens about 2/3 of the way through ACOSF and a lot happens after that.

But before we get into that, let's talk about the shadows. People lose their damn minds that Az's shadows dance for Gwyn and vanish for Elain. The truth of it is that we don't know what dancing shadows actually mean, though. It's the first time we've seen it happen. However, we have seen his shadows vanish for someone other than Elain.

In ACOMAF, when Feyre meets the IC for the first time, they vanish for Mor. "Mor patted Azriel on the shoulder as she dodged his outstretched wing...The lurking shadows vanished entirely as Azriel's head dipped a bit."

So we know that the shadows vanish in the presence of someone Azriel has romantic feelings for, but we don't know what makes them dance.

Then, at the end of the BC (after he said he didn't even consider Gwyn to be a friend) he feels a spark of joy in his chest. Good. My shadow man deserves happiness.

But we know that it doesn't last because at the very next training right after Solstice, Neta comments that Az is "More aloof than usual" which clearly shows us that he is far more hung up on what happened with Elain than whatever may or may not be going on with Gwyn.

For her part, Gwyn becomes more comfortable around Azriel after Solstice. We love to see it because the poor girl has been so traumatized and, like Az, she deserves to be happy.

However, at no point does Nesta or Cassian suspect there to be any romantic connection between them. Not like how Nesta did with Az and Elain. ("His secret to tell. Never hers.").

And then at the climax of the book, Gwyn is thrown into the Blood Rite. At no point is Az even half as frantic as Cassian (which a mate would be) and he is way more preoccupied with whatever's going on with Eris.

At the end, when Nesta is getting ready for her mating ceremony, Gwyn tells her that she's not ready to leave the House of Wind again. Poor thing has been re-traumatized because of what happens in the BR and can't stand to leave the House. And y'all think she's ready for any kind of romantic relationship??

Nah, let Gwyn heal without the influence of a male.

Elriel

So I'm got gonna talk about the rescue, him figuring out she's a seer, giving her Truth Teller, or any of the usual stuff because that's been said and said and I have nothing to add to it.

Instead, I want to talk about what I believe their trope will be and share my evidence with the class. Cool? Cool.

Okay, so, I think we all know that if Elriel is endgame then their trope will be forbidden lovers.

Personally, I am of the opinion that the purpose of Az's bonus chapter was to confirm that for us, not suddenly change the entire trajectory of the story.

But forbidden lovers makes so much sense for Elriel because of what we've seen in the books, not just the BC.

Looking at ACOMAF again, Mor tells Feyre, "'Azriel's got no shortage of lovers, though, don't worry. He's just better at keeping them secret than we are.'"

Then, in ACOSF, when Feyre's talking about how Elain figured out she was pregnant first, she says to Azriel, "'I think she's got you beat for secret-keeping'".

So it's already in-canon that Azriel can keep his lovers secret very well and that Elain is just good at secrets in general.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE

A moment I never see anyone talk about is something that Cassian observes at a family dinner. "Elain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie's garden. Cassian didn't know why he suspected this wasn't true. There had been some tightness in Elain's face when she said it. Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around, but the male remained in the human lands with Jurian and Vassa."

Elain already has secrets the IC aren't privy to. So what's one more?

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Mor and Az are mates?

I like this theory a lot and it makes sense. We know that the mating bond doesn't always pair people who are well suited for each other (ex. Tamlin and Rhys's parents). It stands to reason that fate would pair Az and Mor together because they are so powerful.

And we know that the feeling is much stronger in males than it is females.

Rhys also says at one point that it can be difficult to tell that the mating bond is there before it snaps into place. It's very possible that it snapped into place for Az but not Mor and that's why they can't sense it. It would explain why he's never been able to move on from her in 500 years, why he's so protective of her, and why he's so blind to the fact that she likes the ladies even though he's literally always going with her to a gay bar and he's, you know, a spy.

It would also explain why Mor, even though she clearly doesn't want him because he's Rhys's friend and, more importantly, prefers females. To me it doesn't make sense that she would string him along for so long just because she doesn't want to come out to the IC.

We know she values her little found family more than anything I think what she's really afraid of is rejecting the bond and breaking apart the family.

I have a sub-theory that Az found out about Mor liking females when she told Feyre. They had the conversation at the edge of a forest. What is there a lot of in a forest? Shadows. I think the shadows heard and told him. At the time, he clearly already had feelings towards Elain (this was right after the rescue) and we see his feelings towards her grow in ACOFAS.

Then in ACOSF we see it more and it's specifically mentioned that Az no longer seems to be interested in Mor. I think Az has finally moved on and has allowed himself to embrace his feelings towards Elain, even if he doesn't act on them (in the bonus chapter it was Elain who made the first move. I don't think Az ever would have).

It's not an air-tight theory, but I think it makes a lot of sense given what we know about the characters and the mating bond. Let me know your thoughts!

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have a relationship thats mature enough to sit down and be like “ look this is our problem and this is how we’re gonna fix it..” SIMPLE

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my dog took a bullet for me

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Sun rays shine on the warm breath of a polar bear