mikaelsqns

[mikaelsqns]

HOSAB Spoilers

While I'm reluctant to make too many claims about what House of Sky and Breath might tell us about upcoming books in the ACOTAR series, I think it does make one thing clear: Azriel's book is next.

Let's start with the obvious. Azriel is the one who finds Bryce (HOSAB, 793), and he's the one who wields Truth Teller, the twin weapon to the Starsword (HOSAB, 796).

Anyone who could winnow or fly could have found Bryce at the end of HOSAB. We would have recognized Cassian about as quickly as Azriel, and can you imagine if Feyre had be the one to find her? I don't think that with this moment, SJM was going for the fan screams. I think she was foreshadowing, and I think it's likely that Azriel was uniquely able to detect Bryce's presence, which could have enormous implications.

I know that Nesta will likely be an important character in this arc because of her ability to locate objects Made by the Cauldron, but it's notable that she isn't highlighted in the final chapter of HOSAB. Her powers will come into play, but perhaps they're not central.

Moving on to Truth Teller, we know from House of Earth and Blood that the Starsword needs to be reunited with its twin knife (HOEAB, 458) in order to reunite the Fae. This might mean the meeting at the end of HOSAB, or it could mean more, particularly if Bryce needs to take Truth Teller back with her to Midgard. It could mean that Azriel has to travel with Bryce, or it could mean that Bryce just needs to take the knife with her. If she takes the knife, though, she will likely need to bring it back... especially since it's Azriel's, and this is a character who sleeps with a dagger under his pillow. Either way, this involvement is going to have some impact on his arc. At minimum, Azriel somehow got this very special blade in his possession. It marks him in some way. But it could mean even more.

After all, Bryce has to travel through worlds sometime in the course of the next book, whether to Hel, Midgard, or back to another planet. What we don't know is whether she will go there alone. While any ACOTAR character who can winnow seems like a potential candidate for traveling with Bryce, assuming that that power can link up with the Horn, Azriel seems the likeliest because, as Nesta and Cassian point out in ACOSF, his ability to winnow is different from that of the other characters:

"Illyrians do possess magic on one night a year, though: the night before the Blood Rite, when the war-band leaders can winnow the drugged novices into the wilds. Don't even ask me why that is. No one knows." "Azriel can winnow all the time, though." "Az is different. In a lot of ways." His tone didn't invite further questioning. (ACOSF, 191)

Is it possible that his unique method of winnowing, which, based on ACOMAF (240) and ACOSF (349), seems to be tied to being a shadowsinger rather than the usual winnowing power in Prythian, could make him an ideal candidate to travel with Bryce, with her connection to the Avallen fae?

In terms of knowledge and motivation, there are only a few characters in ACOTAR who seem particularly interested in other worlds: Rhys, Amren, Merrill, Gwyn, and Azriel. Cassian points out Rhys' and Azriel's interest early on in ACOSF (37), Amren has a vested interest and firsthand knowledge of other worlds, and Gwyn is helping Merrill research her theories of other worlds (154). I think it's reasonable to assume that these characters are going to be important during the Bryce-in-Prythian arc.

Incidentally, I also think that this is another subtle hint that Azriel and Gwyn are going to be drawn together more in the next ACOTAR books... but let's assume that happens in ACOTAR5, not in what I think will be Bryce's relatively short stint in Prythian.

Finally, in ACOSF, we see Azriel's "shadows curled around him, snakes ready to strike" (101). In HOSAB, SJM describe's Ruhn's shadows in a similar fashion, writing that, "His shadows swirled up his left arm like twining snakes" (57). Not only are their powers similar (though Azriel's abilities are more like Cormac's with the shadows + winnowing and no daemati abilities), but SJM uses the same metaphor to describe them. She wants us to see this.

While Bryce directly compares Ruhn and Rhys, we know that Rhys' arc in ACOTAR is more or less complete. He also has the bargain with Feyre that leaves him vulnerable, making him a bad candidate to go to other worlds or lead an army. Azriel, meanwhile, feels more disconnected from the Inner Circle (see: his bonus chapter in ACOSF; there are no page numbers, alas!) and, as spymaster and Carynthian, is able to gather information while being an active warrior. There are a lot of possibilities for what he could do! Even if it's just passing along information while he hands Bryce Truth Teller.

In terms of other similarities, this is how Bryce describes Azriel's wings: "Great, black wings. A demon's wings." (793) This evokes Hunt's description of Apollion's wings: "Wings rustled nearby -- not the soft feathers of his wings, but something leathery. Dry." (237)

We know that Bryce needs to go to Hel, and we know now that Hel is not a literal hell but rather another world (758). The comparison between Apollion's wings and Azriel's/the Illyrian's isn't an accident. Since we are likely going to see Hel in CC3, this similarity is likely to be important.

Given all the mysteries that swirl around Azriel, his possession of Truth Teller, his interest in other worlds, and his connections to some pivotal characters in HOSAB, it seems really likely that CC3 is going to set up his arc in ACOTAR5. As SJM once said... it seems pretty obvious.

[mikaelsqns]

Lucie and James Herondale: Demon blood and special powers

Jace Herondale: Angel blood and super special powers

Kit Herondale: Faerie blood, first heir blood and very very, potentially dangerous, special powers

Will Herondale, sitting in a corner: well I ate a vampire once-

[mikaelsqns]

“Azriel doesn’t even consider Gwyn a friend!”

Azriel’s Shadows:

[mikaelsqns]

Gwyn is not the only sa acotar character.

So stop pretending to give a shit.

Nesta, rhys, and lucien are sa survivors to but I don't see you opposing them on having sex.

Just because you hate the ship and the female character you just give out fake concers to avoid the art,which is disgusting.

So stop ruining it for others.

[mikaelsqns]

I hope this little treat will bring a beautiful smile to your faces🤍 I hold this scene so close to my heart so I am absolutely in love with this piece and the emotions it conveys🤍

Artist credit: faithfularts._ (link to art post here)

[mikaelsqns]

The question:

How can Gwynriel be a ship when they barely had any scenes together?

The answer:

The same reason we rooted for Rhysand after the way he treated Feyre in ACOTAR. SJM showed us the potential.

Just because you missed it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there and it certainly doesn’t mean anyone is a misogynist.

[mikaelsqns]

No, no, no. We’ve gotta get you out of the habit of twisting the narrative

An Elriel posted:

People didn’t just ask “where tf Elain’s bookmark was.” They reprimanded the creator for not featuring their preferred character. I don’t know how to explain to you why that is incredibly rude and unnecessary. Here are some of the comments that were put beneath the post intended to promote the bookmarks and on the artists page:

Then, if commenting on their disappointment in the content wasn’t bizarre and childish enough, we have another Elriel on tumblr encouraging people to boycott the small businesses for not featuring a fictional character. Like making an argument to negatively impact creator’s livelihood if they ever draw Elriel for not featuring Elain.

It reportedly comes from one my “favorite” Elriels who consistently contradicts herself and flings around accusations of “anti-feminism” while encouraging her followers to boycott female creators on behalf of fictional women:

I cannot roll my eyes far enough back in my head at the phrase:

“Elain Erasure.”

Not featuring your fave character is not a good enough reason to use the word “erasure.” Elain is a fictional character with mountains of fan art. As she has become less prevalent in the most recent books, less fanart has been made. When her book (with Lucien of course) is released, I’m certain there will be a flood of Elain fanart ripe for the picking.

But you’ve of course, agreed not to support anyone making it so I expect you’ll just do without so just knock yourselves out I guess.

I understand the comments are not “aggressive” but they are rude and unacceptable. The “Elriel bad” is no false agenda. It’s blatantly true and you prove it time after time without fail. More reliable than a damn Nokia.

You wouldn’t go into a small business, decide to buy nothing, then stand in the middle of the store shit-talking their wares.

You only do it to guilt the artist and punish real women for offending fictional women — women that don’t even exist.

This post lacks my normal silly tone - I recognize that. But that’s because the livelihood of female creators is important and I’m tired of seeing them disparaged and harassed in the name of “feminism” to defend Elain.

Enough with the fake feminism for Elain Archeron.

[mikaelsqns]

[mikaelsqns]

I’m gonna be helpful real quick…

So the word you want is “canon”

Right now you’re using “cannon” which is this:

Coincidentally though, cannons were often used for sinking ships. Kinda like Elriel after that bonus chapter.

Because if he’s imagining Gwyn’s smile and giving her jewelry when he doesn’t “consider her a friend” imagine what’s gonna happen now that she’s his new ribbon.

[mikaelsqns]

Just thought I'd say, technically it would be better to say 800+ because there is 898 pokemon but 700+ isn't wrong. 700 just makes it seem like there are less Pokemon than there actually are.

Helen to Julian

Hey Julian,

Thanks for your letter! We’ve never been to Cirenworth but it sounds beautiful. Funny to think of quiet, modest Jem and Tessa living in a turreted MANOR HOUSE. It sounds like Kit’s settled in well and really become part of their family, which is wonderful to hear. And we need more pictures of Mina! Never enough pictures of Mina! I will drop a line to Tessa immediately.

But mostly I wanted to say: please don’t worry yourself about Ty and Kit. You’ve got a house to renovate and fairy renovators to manage and a ghost to help and a curse to break…it’s a lot on your plate already. You know Ty, and you know he always speaks his mind. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want to talk with us about Kit. Whatever happened between them (and yes, we’re curious, of course we’re curious!) we have to respect his wishes.

Besides, you remember being a teenager. It is a time of HIGHEST DRAMA. (Uh, admittedly, your teenage years contain some specific drama that most people’s don’t, e.g. the civil war in the Clave, Malcolm, you turning into a glowing giant stomping on people.) (Yes, we know you didn’t actually stomp on anyone.) With a little more time and distance from whatever happened, I bet Ty will eventually come around and want to talk about it. We just need to give him time. And maybe Ty needs more time than most people. (For instance, it turns out he needs more time than Kit.)

Either way, please don’t worry too much. You know as well as I do that Ty is stronger than he seems. He’ll be all right.

Thanks for the picture, which Aline is going to have printed out at the drugstore so we can hang it on our well. I think we’ll put it in the kitchen—I miss our CHAOS BREAKFASTS. (Aline has come by to read this and she says that she is going to switch her primary Shadowhunter weapon and start training to fight with Chaos Breakfasts.) Here’s a photo for you in return! Tavvy has gotten deeply into Pokemon, which is very cute and also worrying. Will memorizing 700+ imaginary monsters get in the way of his learning the names of actual demon types or weapons? We worry he won’t be able to tell the difference between a glaive, a guisarme, and a bec de corbin!

Love you, love to Emma and hey, love to the ghost, ghosts need love too,

Helen

[mikaelsqns]

Meanwhile, after a party at Feysand’s

Cassian: Why is Azriel holding a crying Gwyn on the bathroom floor?

Nesta: She’s drunk.

Emerie: And she heard that Azriel has a mate.

Cassian:

Cassian: but.. she’s Azriel’s mate?

Nesta: yes we KNOW that, Cassian

[mikaelsqns]

Gwyn: Ten months ago, I married my best friend

Gwyn: Azriel and Cassian are still angry, but Nesta and I were drunk and thought it was funny

Nesta: Plus, Emerie encouraged us to go all the way

[mikaelsqns]

Azriel going to sleep every night knowing his brothers are happily mated

[mikaelsqns]

Gwyn: Azriel no longer has any survival skills, his need to win against me has completely replaced them.

Nesta: That can’t be true..

Gwyn: *smirks* Watch this.

Gwyn: *yells* Hey Az! I’ll race you to the bottom of the stairs!

Azriel: *throws himself out a window & crashes on the ground*

Azriel: *yells in the distance* Ha! I wiN.

@gwynrielweek2022

[mikaelsqns]

Rhys: *explains about Illyrian wingspan correlation*

Nesta: So who has the biggest wingspan?

Rhys and Cassian: *at the same time, sighing* Azriel.

Gwyn: *leans toward Nesta* I win.

Nesta: You know, not everything is a competition, Gwyneth.

Gwyn: Says the loser.

[mikaelsqns]

Gwyn: Man, it sure is *muggy* out today.

Azriel:

Gwyn:

Azriel: 🤨

Gwyn: 😬

Azriel:

Azriel: If I go outside and see all of our coffee mugs on the lawn so help me god, Berdara.

Nesta & Emerie: *snickering in the distance*

@gwynrielweek2022

[mikaelsqns]

How do you read this:

"Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it.

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty."

And not think Gwyn and Azriel are endgame

And he didn't even consider her a friend back then