reckless romantic 🦋

Elriel, obviously

[merymoonbeam]

We talked about how Azriel wanted to save eris insted of freaking out like Cassian because of Valkyries being thrown into the blood rite but after last live with sarah... cass wasn’t even with azriel in the first place. He was watching nesta while Azriel was off saving eris 😀

Cassian was not off with azriel like with the whole Eris thing

And this is how the actual book turned out:

Cassian couldn’t breathe. Hadn’t been able to breathe or speak for long minutes now. His family had arrived, and they all surrounded him in the wrecked bedroom of Emerie’s house. They were speaking, Azriel with some urgency, but Cassian didn’t hear him, heard nothing but the roaring in his head before he said to no one in particular, “I’m going after them.”

“Cassian’s stomach turned over. Nesta and her friends—his friends—were in the Rite. And he could do nothing to interfere, not without damning them all. His hands shook. “So, what—we just sit on our asses for a week and wait?” The idea was abhorrent. Feyre gripped his trembling fingers, squeezing tight. “Did you— Cassian, weren’t you listening at all when we got here?” No. He’d barely heard anything. Azriel said tightly, “My spies got word that Eris has been captured by Briallyn. She sent his remaining soldiers after him while he was out hunting with his hounds. They grabbed him and somehow, they were all winnowed back to her palace. I’m guessing using Koschei’s power.” “I don’t care.” Cassian aimed for the doorway. Even if … Fuck. Hadn’t he been the one to tell Rhys not to go after those soldiers? To leave them be? He was a fool. He’d left an armed enemy in his blind spot and forgotten about it. But Eris could rot for all he cared.Az said, “We have to get him out.”

You can clearly see the difference between Cassian’s reaction to Azriel’s... like he went to save the male he hated instead of freaking out like Cassian. And they expect me to believe their ginger fave and azriel are mates? PLEASE! When we have this scene with Azriel and Elain:

“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.”

When this elriel scene was reminded to us three times in acosf:

Elain had been stolen by the Cauldron and saved by Azriel and Feyre.

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.

“Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said. “Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation. He’d gone with Feyre into the heart of Hybern’s camp to save Elain—he knew the risk.

The guy didn’t hesitate to go to heart of the Hybern’s war-camp even though he could die to save Elain but he was talking about Eris while Vallyries were thrown into the blood rite 😀

[shadowedpetals]

Last night I was rereading this scene from ACOWAR and noticed something... I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it, but I still find it interesting:

In the scene, Elain talks about what she heard through her visions and Azriel immediately picks up on it, meanwhile, Feyre keeps questioning her but Elain just keeps rambling about the visions ignoring hee entirely. Then Azriel asks, “What did you see?” and that’s the impressive part: Elain never actually said she saw anything; she never specified it was visual, but when he asks her, she answers him directly even turning back to look at him:

That moment; him realizing that what she was describing was something she’d seen--basically makes Azriel the one who realizes she’s a seer, even before he says it outright chapters later!

Like how was he able to piece that together when everyone including her "mate" thought she’d gone mad? I know it could be part of his abilities as a shadowsinger and spymaster, but the way he connects the dots really gives off mate-behavior. Which brings me back to what Madja said about the bond--how it’s a bridge between souls:

It almost feels like Azriel, without even realizing it, already sensed what was happening to Elain... that he understood her in a way that only he could. 💙🩷

[recklessromantic]

"If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it's a mate."

This is so beautiful! What a nice catch. ✨🦇🌹

[nyxreads]

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

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.

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

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 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,

Got inspired by @protectorofvel on twt 🫶🏼

[recklessromantic]

Precious canon Elriel moments 💖🫠🥹

[megumitaichou]

[thepinkcobrasworld]

How I sleep every night knowing that I don't need a character to leave the NC or turn evil for my ship to sail

[mixedindy]

[mortalfae7]

I’m telling you E/uciens have strange morals

Why are they so against personal agency?? I’ll never get that 😭

[greenleaf777]

“Fate to override agency” aka rape and force

[recklessromantic]

It actually makes me so sad to read comments like this. Sad and also very disturbing to read, to be honest.

[musicaesvida7493]

2026 Reads

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Mass

“It’s their tradition, though,” Elain countered, her face still flushed with the cold. “One that they fought and died to protect in the war. Perhaps that’s the better way to think of it, rather than feeling guilty. To remember that this day means something to them. All of them, regardless of who has more, who has less, and in celebrating the traditions, even through the presents, we honor those who fought for its very existence, for the peace this city now has.”

[recklessromantic]

Love this quote from Elain and love this book! 💝🌌

[ofduskcourts]

What can blind an oracle, the answer being a form of light, and Gwyn potentially being a Lightsinger would really very much line up why we might have seen Gwyn in that bonus chapter.

Just saying.

[dapucha]

Gwy*riel fans see the bonus chapter as confirmation of Gwy*riel.

I'm just seeing SJM seeding the story of the forbidden love of Az with Elain and Gwyn being in the middle and not in a good way.

I have said it before, but as far as I can tell, Gwyn is that OI common Wolf in Sheep's Clothing manipulative girl who appears all sweet and innocent. And well-written (which is not very common). We don't have her POV, but the characters who do and spend time with her are affected by her powers, appearing in a good way but actually not.

Also, the fact that Gwyn's origins are so... secretive. There's something that girl is hiding.

She, being secretly a lightsinger, is Not Good. She, being from river fae blood, either. Remember the supposed extinct kelpie.

There are hidden forces. Hidden stories. Things the characters are not aware and neither are we the readers. There's something amiss in the story that I believe SJM will explore with Az and Elain, who are the Spy and the Seer. Who better than them to discover the secrets the world ignore?

[deathsweetblossoms]

Here’s a question:

Does Er!s EVER mention Elain in Azriel’s presence after this?

Because I’m like 80% sure he continues to badger Mor in Azriel’s presence after this, but ELAIN????

What did he whisper to Er!s???

@melrielsworld

[katsum50]

I’ve always wondered if it were Elain being mentioned that set him off because honestly what Eris said wasn’t even the worst he’s done in front of Azriel.

[recklessromantic]

I'm SO CURIOUS about what really happened in this scene! Hopefully we'll find answers in the upcoming books!!! 🩷💙

[elrieluniverse]

But she started. “Elain—”

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

[najuanjuu]

"Azriel and Elain sneaking a little midnight snack."

♡

"What if he's written mine on my upper thigh only in my mind?"

#elriel #acotar

♡

comm by: me (@/commelain on ig) and @/acyace03 on X

art by: @/shy.illustrator on IG

[elainsgirl]

Interesting how elriels are celebrating the day Elain and Az first met, when a smile bloomed onto his face because of her. When Elain was put at ease by him. The book that gave us the iconic quote,

“Elain would probably cling to Azriel for some peace and quiet, I smiled at the thought of how handsome they’d look together”

Yet eluciens are celebrating the day Elains agency was taken away from her. When she was forcefully bonded to a male she did not know, one who she cringed away from. The male, who in Sarah’s own own words, “was involved in bringing you into this world and betraying you and shoving you into the cauldron.”

Another fundamental difference between eluciens and elriels - and which shippers clearly love Elain more.

[recklessromantic]

Elucien = anti Elain.

Elriel = pro Elain.

Shocking, I know, yet so simple.

[nikethestatue]

Azriel doesn't willingly seek anyone out except for Elain.

Azriel. Does. NOT. Willingly. Seek. Anyone. Out. Except. For. Elain.

He does not seek out Mor.

He does not seek out Gwyn.

He does not seek out Bryce.

Any priestesses. Amren. He doesn't seek out Feyre. Or Nesta.

Only Elain. Where he literally TAKES HER BY THE HAND and basically says, You are coming with me. Because I WANT TO BE WITH YOU.

He flies with her (without her asking). He goes on a suicidal rescue mission for her. He takes her hand and puts Truth-Teller in it. He beats everyone, including his High Lady, to wish Elain a Happy Solstice. He looks out the windows in search of Elain.

The difference between 'sit, I'll take care of it' and 'It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running, ' is pretty startling.

Twist this as one may, the fact remains the same. Azriel is only interested in Elain.

[recklessromantic]

Love this!🩷💙🥹I actually got chills reading this.

[bright-side20]

Acowar

“Do you think she and Lucien match well?” (...) “You know them better than I do. But I will say that Lucien is loyal—fiercely so.” “So is Azriel.” “Azriel,” Rhys said, “has been preoccupied with the same female for the past five hundred years." “Wouldn’t the mating bond have snapped into place for them if it exists?” Rhys’s eyes shuttered. “I think that is a question Azriel has been asking himself every day since he met Mor.”

SF

Rhysand blinked. “What of Mor, Az?”   Azriel ignored the question. “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.   Rhys’s face drained of color. “You believe you deserve to be her mate?”

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

Turns out Azriel has been asking himself why Elain isn't his mate. It always makes me laugh, Rhys was like that wasn't on my bingo card.

[saralozoyart]

Another late night doodle of a goth bat boy and his flowery crush

[recklessromantic]

Beautiful Elriel! <3

[sakurakittypeach]

lucien does not have the trappings of a future MMC. he is constantly written out of the narrative, emasculated on purpose, supposedly powerful but not enough to gain any kind of notoriety. frankly, if you put him in the lineup of previous SJM leads, Rowan, Dorian, Hunt, Rhys and Cassian, he just does not belong there. he's not a part of the team.

similarly, gwyn doesn't have any of the defining characteristics of a FMC. she has met the objective that drove her story forward, (becoming a valkyrie), there are no further avenues of significant plot for her that are relevant in the wider acotar universe, and she's just not powerful enough. additionally, she has no established connection to feyre, who is the epicentre of the acotar world through a storytelling lens.

it's so obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that these two just aren't main character material.

SJM doesn't like lucien enough to write about him for over 1000+ pages, and gwyn doesn't have enough story to tell to span those pages either.

it's obvious the only remaining choices are elain and azriel. there is no other option.

from a marketing perspective the casual (majority) audience doesn't care enough about gwyn or lucien to care to read three whole books telling their story when there are other, more important and interesting characters.

elucien is a plot device.

gwynriel was once emeriel which was once moriel. it's another L in a long line of Ls

elriel is the only way.