Another post for you all to enjoy and this time as promised, I'll get into the details of why Gwyn could potentially be one of the MCs of the next book who will share a POV with Azriel and she is also his potential main love interest.
Reminder: if you disagree, carry on.. there's nothing for you to see here ~
Well! First let tik off a few boxes from the MC checklist and whether or not Gwyn meets those requirement that sets her up to be a main character:
✅ Personal history/tragic backstory/dark past
✅ Obstacles/external+internal conflict
✅ Potential romance (existing build-up)
✅ Undiscovered powers (hinted)
✅ Established friendships/bonds/relationships
✅ Healing journey (not achieved)
✅ Goals/motivation (e.g. Valkyries, leaving the library, braving the outside world)
✅ Mysterious identity/origin (father/grandfather)
I could even add a few more but.. this will suffice for now. You'd probably think by now that oh wow I didn't even think about some of these. I'll explain more key points later but let's move on.
After checking off some of the traits that define a main character, then you'll go back to the question.. alright but what will connect Gwyn to the main plot?
I'll answer that so bear with me, it will be a long answer, I think I'll even write them in points to make it easier to read.
So Gwyn's potential was already established and by the end of ACOSF, she became a fan favorite and nope this isn't a statement I made up, she is adored by the fandom. So, Sarah J Maas fulfilled her purpose with the readers, she made them get attached to Gwyn and fall in love with her.
Let's take into consideration that Koschei is the main villain, while we might confront him again in the next book it is unlikely he will be the actual main villain because he is set to be defeated in Book 6. I think Book 6 will heavily involved Vassa due to her curse (and not as an MC since she will have to return to Koschei at some point). There could be another villain in the next book that works for Koschei (like Brillayn was the main villain of ACOSF).
Anyhow, let's get to Gwyn and the plot:
• Gwyn expressed that she is ready to help the Night Court in anyway she can through researching about the Dread Trove. She might be tasked with researching about the fourth trove and we know it's not unheard of that the IC rely on the ancient texts in the library (even Azriel was mention in ACOMAF that he looked up ancient texts to find more about Amren's origins).
• The Valkyries won the Blood Rite but they are not established as Valkyries yet. I don't mean by training, the IC will probably send them on missions. Why'd you think SJM introduced the idea of Valkyries? Why are Cassian and Azriel wasting their time training them? remember there's a looming war. There are some matters regarding the Valkyries that should be resolved.
• From her backstory, we learned that Gwyn is tied to the Autumn Court. Her father and grandfather are still a mystery. It's possible that she is related to the Vanserras considering that Eris will have more presence in the books and he has his own secrets.
• To add to the previous points, we know that the only Court stirring trouble right now is the Autumn Court and its High Lord Beron. After Briallyn's defeat, I'm pretty sure Rhys will assign Azriel on Autumn Court missions (which were not the first time for Az to go on missions there). We had a glimpse of Az's spying missions with Cassian, but in his book we will have more. It's possible that Gwyn as a Valkyrie might join him and through this mission it will bring her closer to uncovering her origins and the possibility of her revisiting Sangravah which will be in the next point.
• Gwyn revisiting Sangravah will be a very crucial moment. One, because she will finally brave going to her sister's grave. Second, she might run into the children she saved during the raid. I see none other than Azriel, the same person that saved her, accompanying her there.
• Gwyn has a power we do not know about yet. Nesta mentions that she felt a cracking energy around Gwyn and we know that the description of crackling often is connected to Fire magic as once described by Feyre when she felt Beron's power. Gwyn might possibly have Fire magic that she did not unleash yet. How will we see that power ignite if she didn't have her own character arc?
• Since we explained the unlikely chance that Koschei will be the main villain of the next book, the next villain could possibly be Merrill. You'd ask what Merrill has to do with anything about this? Let me point out: 1. There is a spy working for Koschei in the Night Court - 2. Koschei sends his messages through the wind - 3. Merrill we know hears the wind whispering even under the the stone - 4. Merrill's obsession with the other worlds is a red flag. And who is connected to Merrill if she is possibly the next villain working with Koschei? Gwyn.
• Gwyn's healing journey. We know by the end of ACOSF that Gwyn still carries the guilt of her sister's death. Still is convinced that she failed her. Still feels unworthy. How will this be resolved if she did not have her own character arc? why did SJM dedicate some pages of ACOSF to develop and give Gwyn this depth? to be a side character? to be Nesta's friend only? SJM doesn't do anything unintentionally.
• Since each book will be a dual POV, let's talk about Gwyn's connection to Azriel and their healing. Azriel and Gwyn's healing will compliment each other. No one will rely on the other to heal, they will go through it together. Gwyn and Az have their own trauma, they were both victims, both of their mothers were unwanted by their people, they share the same low sense of self-worth, they are looked down upon because of their blood, Azriel being a bastard and Gwyn not being a pure High Fae. These dots connect where Gwyn and Azriel are concerned.
• The romance? by now know that Gwyn and Azriel have something going on. Some people will be like "ugh but they'll be friends-to-lovers and that's boring". Well.. for Azriel and Gwyn it will be unique. Why? Intimacy and love is something neither Gwyn and Azriel explored. Gwyn due to her trauma and Azriel due to his infatuation with unattainable women. The one hint we get from ACOSF about Gwyn each exploring about romance is through reading smutty romances introduced to her by Nesta and Emerie. I think that could be considered a step towards her opening up to the possibilities of romance. Gwyn and Azriel won't only be friends to lovers. Gwyn and Azriel will experience true love together for the first time. They will realize that they could love one another despite their wounds and dark pasts. They will find peace in each other and happiness. Two suffering souls who have found one another and finally saw that there is hope. They will together realize that they are worthy of the happiness and they are worthy the love they'll find in each other.
• Potential love interest? We've seen the chemistry "and yes in the few scenes we had of Gwyn and Azriel they do have something called chemistry". Gwyn and Azriel's interactions are not necessarily romantic but what did we get from them? banter, teasing, challenges, and a sweet moment in his POV where we have seen Az being himself around Gwyn and the reactions of his shadows to her which we have never seen before with anyone. No but really, we all know Azriel keeps his emotions within him but he can often feel rage whether it's because of a failed mission or being upset about things not going his way. This rage is taken out when Azriel gets physical in the ring, nothing else calms him. The reason he leaves to the ring on Solstice was to calm his rage but there was Gwyn. After one conversation with her, he calmed down even his shadows. This male that needs to release his rage using physical force was calmed down by one conversation with Gwyn. That's a big sign because she already makes him feel better. Claim as you well about romantic moments between them being non-existent, there is potential. Remember Aelin and Rowan during their training? they did not have romantic scenes yet but (and I'm not comparing exactly) we saw the chemistry, the banter and the potential. Another point to note is that SJM gave both Gwyn and Azriel something in common, singing. We know how much Gwyn loves singing and the fact that we learn that Azriel sings? Nah SJM you're obviously up to something and I love it. I've always believed that Azriel's love interest will be someone that soothes him and big evidence is SJM had shown us that with Gwyn.
These are my predictions, there could be more but SJM could also twist things around and give us more than what we expect with Gwyn and Azriel.
Let's summarize the key points:
• Gwyn's connection to the Autumn Court (her past, Sangravah, spying missions). The Autumn Court drama will be important for both the plot and Gwyn's arc especially if she is connected to the Vanserras.
• The Valkyries in-action outside training (by the end of ACOSF Its reaffirmed that both Cassian and Azriel will help train them to improve their combat skills + Mor will join them "possibly setting up future Mor and Emerie romance").
• Merrill potential villain arc (SJM gave more details about her than necessary)
• Sarah said the next book will have a Pegasus, we know the mini Pegasus loved Gwyn the most and we might see Pegasi become part of the cavalry forces for the Valkyries. We know according to legends that Valkyries rode Pegasi so it will be no surprise of this happened.
• Gwyn being the one to speak on challenging the Illyrians belief and bringing about change could go hand-in-hand with Azriel facing the Illyrians he despises so much. It's a point addressed by both Rhys ans Cassian about that it was still a battle between them about convincing Azriel that the Illyrians are worth saving (mentioned in ACOSF). Maybe with Gwyn, he will look at them differently.
• Gwyn and Azriel's romance (possible mating bond) + I know the necklace drama was set up by SJM intentionally though I doubt it will be a cat fight between Elain and Gwyn, it will be more about Az realizing what he had done and I think Gwyn's reaction will hit him hard.
• Gwyn's healing arc alongside Azriel since they have some connecting dots between them which gives them a stable healing journey.
I think much more will be unveiled in the next book since what we are basing our predictions off are what we have as of ACOSF.
Based on all this, it's possible that Gwyn will be a main character in Azriel's book. While I did not highlight much on what I predict about Azriel's arc but I know being the complex character that he is, Sarah will uncover a lot of secrets about Azriel that will catch us off guard. Especially that Azriel will be around the Valkyries more, we will see more of him with Gwyn and if Mor joined then we could finally witness the talk scene between them.
I don't see Sarah taking the time to develop a character who is a SA survivor, giving her a tragic backstory, has her own trauma and the healing journey that she is yet to go through, giving her multiple layers, making her distinctive due to her nymph blood and her love for singing, making her play a big part in Nesta's healing, connecting her with others especially Azriel, and just making the reader grow attached to her and love her. This is not just a side character or a plot-device to be used and tossed.
I adore Emerie, but even Emerie didn't get this level of attention and development from SJM as Gwyn did and Emerie was introduced in ACOFAS.
One last important point I want to address is: don't claim that Gwyn's healing journey is over. Not when canon says otherwise. Do not dismiss her unhealed wounds and trauma. We've yet to see her journey.
So my hopes for an Azriel book shared with Gwyn are very high because Sarah laid the groundwork for it in ACOSF. I'm really looking forward to it ❤️
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