#Anti e/riel

[winterinvelaris]

the difference is that Azriel yearns for Elain to be his and Lucien yearns to be Elain's. the difference is that Azriel likes the idea of someone being "for him" and in his mind Elain will have to do and Lucien never wanted to feel this way for someone again but he just can't help it when it comes to Elain.

[moonfawnx]

me when my endgame was solidified by

“something sparked in azriels chest”

and

“for whatever reason…he could see it”

[winterinvelaris]

All of this, and the same applies to Azriel.

A major theme of the ACOTAR series is the power of fate and the idea that everything happens for a reason. This is a very religious/spiritual belief as well, and we know that Sarah loves to put her religion in her writing. The whole idea of fate in the ACOTAR series is not that it's this awful thing that rips choice away. The idea is that our main cast are uniquely good individuals and the Mother has a soft spot for them. She's constantly working to give them the best fate she can.

As of ACOSF, we have Azriel questioning his faith in fate, mating bonds, and the Mother. Based on previous themes of this series, which option seems more likely:

A) A story where Azriel's doubts are solidified, his misbeliefs are never challenged, he's been right this whole time, his feelings don't change, and the benevolent depiction of fate in ACOTAR goes right out the window

OR

B) A story where Azriel's faith is restored, he's guided down a healthier path, he was wrong to view himself as doomed, he discovers his true needs, and the benevolent depiction of fate in ACOTAR is solidified

Why e/riel doesn’t work. This post isn’t about why the characters don’t fit together based on traits. That’s a whole separate story. But e/riel doesn’t work out, simply from a writing perspective.

The only way I could’ve seen e/riel work out is if at the end of ACOSF, Elain is already with Lucien, trying to do what “society expects of her” but there’s foreshadowing that she’s not happy. That way, e/riel would bring growth. Something would change. Imagine e/riel is endgame. At the beginning of Elains book, she is not giving Lucien any chance or attention. She is actively rejecting him. She is also already into Azriel. Nobody is pressuring her to be with Lucien, including Lucien himself.

So we have to ask ourselves: what would change? What growth would it bring her? In stories, and especially SJMs love stories, characters start with wanting A, only to go through this inner journey and realizing that they actually wanted/needed B. Feyre started acomaf with wanting Tamlin, only to later realize she wanted and needed Rhys. Nesta started her book with not wanting anyone, only to later realize she wanted and needed Cassian. Chaol started TOD with wanting Nesryn, only to later realize he needed Yrene. Aelin started HOF with wanting Chaol, only to later realize she wanted and needed Rowan, etc. They all follow the same storytelling pattern. They all started wanting A, and at the end of their stories wanting B. Because that’s what makes a compelling story.

If e/riel happened, it would start with both characters wanting A, and ending with A. Nothing would change. No character growth. No change of paths. No inner journey. If Sarah wanted to go the e/riel route, the only way she could’ve made it work, is if she had Elain accept Lucien. That way her story would start with her thinking she wanted A, and then getting B. The fact that SJM didn’t do this, tells me that she doesn’t intend for e/riel to be endgame.

Now, if you follow this pattern of characters starting with wanting A, and ending up realizing they actually wanted/needed B, the only logical pairings would be Elucien and Gwynriel.

[bluiela]

You know what? Seeing some of the Elriels in TikTok comments really reminded me why I’m beyond relieved to not be part of that community. The sheer level of delusion and arrogance they constantly parade around is actually disturbing — and it’s always the same tired, toxic rhetoric:

“Gwynriels ship Gwyn and Az because they hate Elain.” “They just want Lucien to be happy.” “That one influencer brainwashed thousands into seeing something that doesn’t exist.” “Those thousands are just dumb and gullible.”

Do they hear themselves? The sheer irony of acting like their opinion is gospel in a book series that is literally subjective is laughable.

Most of them started shipping Elriel way back in ACOMAF. The same book that ends with Az almost dying and still protecting Mor and Elain being mated to Lucien. There was nothing substantial between Elain and Azriel then — they just latched onto it because it fed into their romantic fantasy. It’s been pure self-insert since day one.

Meanwhile, many Gwynriels were originally Elriels — until we started reading the actual text. We paid attention. We saw what the story was actually showing us. We grew with the narrative, not against it. But Elriels? They’ve been clinging to... potatoes and fantasies that Mor and Azriel have already had and done but better, ignoring canon development.

What’s truly disgusting is the tone — the condescending, cult-like idea that thousands of readers are too stupid to interpret the same pages correctly unless it aligns with the Elriel agenda. That’s not just arrogant — that’s toxic as hell.

It's rooted in superiority complex.

They genuinely think their interpretation is the only one that’s valid. That anyone who sees a different connection — based on the same text — must be an idiot. That’s not confidence in your ship. That’s arrogance masking insecurity. It’s the literary version of “if you don’t agree with me, you’re stupid.” That’s not fandom, that’s fascism.

2. It completely erases subjectivity.

Books, especially character-driven fantasy like ACOTAR, are meant to be interpreted. People relate to different characters and dynamics — that’s the point. But Elriels throw that out the window and label every opposing interpretation as delusional or “influenced.” So basically, they believe readers are incapable of forming their own opinions unless they match theirs. That’s manipulative and condescending as hell.

3. They ignore canon in favor of fantasy.

Most of them started shipping Elriel back in ACOMAF — a book where Azriel is still obsessed with Mor and Elain is literally mated to Lucien. But that didn’t matter to them. They clung to the fantasy of “shy girl x broody boy” and refused to grow with the story. Then Gwyn showed up — with actual, consistent chemistry and emotional development with Azriel — and they lost their minds. Not because it didn’t make sense, but because it threatened their fantasy. That’s not shipping. That’s fanfic delusion overriding canon.

4. They project and self-insert HARD.

A lot of this isn’t even about Elain or Azriel. It’s about readers projecting their own insecurities or fantasies onto Elain. They want to be her. And when someone prefers another character — like Gwyn, who is bold, brave, and actively healing — it feels like a personal attack. So instead of dealing with that discomfort, they lash out and accuse everyone else of “hating Elain” or being “brainwashed.”

Newsflash: Disagreeing with your ship is not hate. Seeing deeper, better-developed dynamics doesn’t mean we’re blind. It means we’re reading the damn books without a self-insert filter.

5. They attack fans, not ships.

I’ve never seen a Gwynriel mock Elriels as people. I’ve seen us disagree with the ship, yes — but the Elriels? They don’t just attack Gwynriel. They attack the fans. Calling us brainwashed, stupid, desperate, sheep. That’s not defending your ship. That’s cult behavior. If your argument only stands when you're insulting thousands of readers, maybe your ship isn't as solid as you think.

So yeah. I’m glad I’m not part of that delusional, toxic mess of a fandom. I’d rather ship something that’s actually supported by character growth and narrative development than sit around worshipping a glorified fanfic pairing from book two and pretending everyone else is insane for evolving past it.

The fact that Gwynriels don't even stoop to their level says everything. We don’t need to attack Elain. We don’t need to scream our ship is “canon” to feel good about it. We’re not insecure.But clearly, they are. And it shows.

[theangryhistoriananna]

So let me get this straight…….we can’t take the multiple comments SJM made about Elucien and their journey as evidence that the ship may be endgame because “she made them so long ago and she probably changed her mind” but yall can take an even older tweet she made and use it as evidence that y’all’s ship was always the plan? (The tweet isn’t even about E/riel it’s literally foreshadowing for a TOG plot twist)

[vanserras4u]

Hello! We - me,eluciensversion,_lady_autumn__- are happy to show you our commission with the most amazing and heartbreaking family! Firstly, we want to thank @lucychanart for creating this amazing piece with Helion,Lucien,and Eris as a fun family portrait, I couldn't have imagined it any better, like I said . There are very few fanarts with Eris and Lucien,and none with Helion and them together, so we had this idea where all them 3 are together 🙏🏻🤎🤎 And of course I want to thank my girls Madeline and Bria for the cooperation ,I can't express how happy I am working with you two 🥹🥹!! HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY to you,Madeline. I wish you the best!!! 🥰✨️

Bria: Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people. @eluciensversion!!!!

We love you!!!

If Helion, Eris, and Lucien had a fourth in their circle, it’d be you Madeline you are charming, fiery, and loyal in all the best ways. Hope your day is as magical as this art @cupofkaveh drew for us 😌

Thank you again, @lucychanart, for making this gorgeous piece for us 💛 always so talented!!!

~

DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT PERMISSION ⚠️

Artist: @lucychanart

COMMISIONERS: @vanserras4u @eluciensversion @_lady__autumn_

Characters belong to Sarah J Maas and Bloomsburypublishing

[moonsofnara]

the duo antis HATE to see coming

[lovely-dragon-of-mine]

I lied, put your clothes back on. We're going to talk about how Lucien abandoned his best friend and protector of 100+ to get a glimpse of Elain and nothing more. He was willing to risk his safety and his life travelling across courts just so he could meet her for a moment.

[happyinternetcollector]

Art by: luciaarandart

[gwyns]

azriel would never, ever, in a million, billion, trillion years reject his mate for elain btw

[l1mmerencee]

“I heard people “I know.

are shipping us?” I started it.”

ac: frostbite.studios

[moonfawnx]

azriel’s shadows when elain is close to azriel

his shadows when gwyn so much as glances to azriel

(cause they know who the endgame is😛)

[gwynethberdarasupremecy]

The fact that Azriel brought up 3 brothers 3 sisters is exactly why it won’t happen. If it happened organically, it would’ve been fine, but the fact that Azriel used it as an argument (and as his only argument) tells me everything I need to know. I’ve never seen a clearer red herring.

[hopelesslyhopeful11]

The book chapter and quote are each from Chapter 21 of ACOTAR and ACOMAF, respectively:

Which is funny because in ACOSF:

It’s time shine like the spark in Azriel’s chest, Gwynriel✨

[theangryhistoriananna]

Reminder that Lucien didn’t start screaming “you’re my mate!” Immediately after Elain came out of the Cauldron.

He broke his bonds, went to her and gave her his jacket, and stood over her while Nesta was thrown in the Cauldron.

When Nesta was dumped out he scooped Elain up in his arms to keep her out of the water.

Nesta grabs Elain away from Lucien and pushes him away screaming at him.

While Nesta then fussed over Elain, Elain ignored her to stare over her shoulder at Lucien. She feels the bond snap first and their eyes meet.

Then Lucien-in a state of fucking shock-whispers quietly “You’re my mate”.

And believe it or not it’s Nesta, not Elain that rejects this statement. Elain just seems to continue to stare at him and then the scene moves on.

That’s how the scene goes down you absolute clowns. Like Feyre says-you don’t get to rewrite the narrative-just cause you don’t like what happened.

[vanserras4u]

Lucien wondering if Elain is worth fighting for is actually the best thing I've seen among all the mated males. He is wondering if she is worth fighting for after getting abandoned and rejected by his closest people • he needs and wants to know his mate before fighting for her,he followed Feyre to the N.C just for that - to get to know her before making any sudden moves - he keeps his distance so he won't make her uncomfortable, and he just respects himself instead of blindly surrendering to the bond like the others. And this is the best thing a mated male can do instead of pressuring his mate,but you all are not ready for this conversation.