Why Azriel Suddenly Seems More Like Lucien
HOFAS SPOILERS
Also, DO NOT MAKE THIS ABOUT THE SHIPS/ START UP SHIP ARGUMENTS. I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT MY BOY.
I've been seeing a lot of people talk about how Azriel’s behavior seems out of character/mimicking Lucien. And I don't really blame anyone for having these takes, truly! Azriel is very understated, and if you're not actively looking for it (as I suspect most people aren't, I didn't even notice these seeds until I started analyzing him to write him properly. Genuinely no shade to anyone who didn't notice what I did.) it's very easy to miss.
First, let's look at how similar Lucien and Azriel actually are, even before HOFAS:
Lucien grew up in an abusive household where his father held some type of power within the community. His mother was abused, and his half-siblings treated him poorly.
Lucien was able to escape his family, having to kill one of his brothers in the process, and found family ties to a friend in a position of power. Lucien actively plays a part in his Court. His position requires him to gather intel and was noted to have spy-like responsibilities.
Lucien seems to not have a true “home”, especially after ACOFAS. He doesn't seem to “fit” or belong anywhere other than with the Band of Exiles. He's often “othered” or seen as an outcast.
Azriel grew up in an abusive household where his father held some type of power within the community. His mother was abused, and his half-siblings and stepmother tortured him.
Azriel was able to escape his family and was noted by Rhys to have done something to his brothers for revenge. He found family ties to a friend in a position of power. Azriel actively plays a part in his Court. His position requires him to gather intel, as he is the spymaster and also a torturer.
Azriel doesn't seem to “fit” or belong anywhere per his admission to Feyre in ACOMAF.
“I don’t really know where I fit in anymore,” I admitted, perhaps only because the wind was screeching around us and Rhys had already winnowed ahead to where Cassian’s dark form flew— beyond the wall. “I’ve been alive almost five and a half centuries, and I’m not sure of that, either,” Azriel said.
So while these are general character beats, they are also major ones. All of these aspects play a huge role in how both characters are being/will be developed.
Now, the moment in ACOMAF when Azriel confesses to Feyre that he doesn’t know where he fits in, subtle as it is, is a huge character moment in my opinion. This is a pretty big admission from someone normally reserved/who doesn't let his feelings show. Rhys even mentions in his POV in ACOFAS that he and Cassian could spend hours trying to get Az to crack and tell them what he's thinking/feeling, and he doesn't.
Why is this situation different?
Because Azriel is good at recognizing people's needs due to his empathy.
He's willing to open up to people when he can see they need encouragement. He can lower those guards to help other people.
This is exactly what happened in the Truth-Teller scene with Elain, he parted with something he normally doesn't/something he finds comfort in having because she needed something that made her feel safe. (And if anyone understands how necessary it is to feel safe through not having that comfort, it’s Azriel.)
“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.”
Additionally, this is the second instance in which Cassian volunteered to help Elain in some way, and either he was shot down or refused, and thus Azriel stepped in.
In the first instance, Azriel had been internally debating when he said "I'm getting her back", per Feyre's observation of how his voice sounded. He knew it was risky, but it was also apparent that if Azriel didn't act or step in, then who would?
This aspect of his character was already hinted at earlier in ACOMAF by Feyre.
Azriel just shook his head. “I’ll go. The Prison sentries know me—what I am.” I wondered if the shadowsinger was usually the first to throw himself into danger.
This is then cemented by his decision to go into Hybern’s camp and rescue Elain. Cassian was shot down by Nesta. Rhys is a High Lord, he can't risk an infiltration mission like that. If Hybern captured him, they'd all be fucked without his power on the battlefield. Azriel is a shadowsinger, his skill set perfectly compliments stealthy rescue missions.
Saving people is a major part of Azriel’s character psychology.
Why is that?
Well, who saved Azriel from his father's cell in the basement? Who got him out?
No one.
Azriel was never rescued, he was released. Those are very different things, especially when his next living place was the brutal environment of an Illyrian war camp.
With his trauma and empathy, regardless of where you stand on ships, it makes sense he would risk his life to rescue someone. Especially someone vulnerable or in an environment they cannot escape on their own like he was as a child.
Furthermore, Azriel went with Mor to rescue the priestess’ at Sangravah. Azriel murdered every male that had touched Gwyn, and then covered her with his cloak after her brutal assault. He also knew not to touch her since she had just been violated by males, so Mor carried her out.
Azriel saved Mor from dying when she was left at the Autumn Court border.
It’s not a coincidence that all of Azriel’s love interests, confirmed or highly suspected, are people he had a hand in rescuing.
It’s also not a coincidence that the two females he’s confirmed to have an attraction to are both unwillingly tied to Beron’s sons.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if it’s later revealed that part of Azriel’s draw to Elain is founded on him trying to “redeem” his “failure to save Mor” from Eris. Lucien being Eris’ brother is enough for Azriel to unfairly believe them to be similar enough to warrant his disdain. He could very well unconsciously be trying to “save” Elain from Lucien as he incorrectly expects something similar to happen.
I hope that at some point, Azriel does have a moment where he realizes that he is unfair to Lucien and that they are actually quite similar and could get along very well. Because if there’s anyone who should know that just because you share blood with your half-brothers, it doesn’t mean you’re like them, it’s Azriel.
And I hope that happens because, despite his disdain and unfair view of Lucien, Azriel is also generally shown to be thoughtful as well as empathetic.
A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel’s mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers whiteknuckled on that fork, but he kept silent…Elain cast pleading eyes on Rhys, then Azriel, such mortal fear coating her features, her scent. “We are raised this way. We hear stories of your kind crossing the wall to hurt us. Our own neighbor, Clare Beddor, was taken, her family murdered …”...Elain said, “It’s all very disorienting.” “I can imagine,” Azriel said. Cassian flashed him a glare. But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit. I wondered if Rhys’s spymaster often got his information through stone-cold manners as much as stealth and shadows.”
“I was still sore enough the next day that I had to send word to Cassian I wasn’t training with him. Or Azriel. A mistake, perhaps, given that both of them showed up at the door to the town house within minutes, the former demanding what the hell was wrong with me, the latter bearing a tin of salve to help with the aches in my back. I thanked Azriel for the salve and told Cassian to mind his own business.” 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.” Rhys was frowning, Cassian and Mor were both grimacing, and Azriel … It was pity on his beautiful face. Pity and sorrow as he watched my sister. Azriel plucked up the small folded silver wand within and unfurled it. One end held a clip, the other a small glass sphere. “You can attach this to whatever book you’re reading, and the little ball of faelight will shine. So you don’t have to squint when you’re reading at night.” Nesta touched the glass ball, no bigger than her thumbnail, and faelight flickered within, casting a bright, easy glow upon her lap. She tapped it again and it turned off. And then she jumped to her feet and flung her arms around Azriel. The room went silent for a beat. But Azriel chuckled and squeezed her gently. Cassian smiled to see it— to see them. “Thank you,” Nesta said, quickly pulling away to marvel at the device. “It’s brilliant.” Azriel blushed and stepped back, shadows swirling.
He also has his sharp-tongued, witty moments as well.
“…when Azriel clarified, “Cassian also excels at pissing everyone off. Especially amongst our friends. So, as a friend of Rhysand … good luck.” “No word on Bryaxis, I take it.” I peered toward the marble beneath my boots, as if I could see all the way to the library beneath this mountain and the now-empty lower levels that had once been occupied. Az studied the floor as well. “Not a whisper. Or a scream, for that matter.” I chuckled. My brother had a sly, wicked sense of humor. Azriel straightened a sagging section of garland over the windowsill. “It’s almost like you two tried to make it as ugly as possible.” “Pick on someone your own size,” Cassian said to Amren, shoveling roast chicken into his mouth. “I’d feel bad for the mice,” Azriel muttered.
And he proves his worth to himself and others by what he can do for them.
When Rhys was done, his spymaster said, “I’ll contact my sources in the Summer Court about where the half of the Book of Breathings is hidden. I can fly into the human world myself to figure out where they’re keeping their part of the Book before we ask them for it.” “No need,” Rhys said. “And I don’t trust this information, even with your sources, with anyone outside of this room. Save for Amren.” “They can be trusted,” Azriel said with quiet steel, his scarred hands clenching at his leather-cladsides. “We’re not taking risks where this is concerned,” Rhys merely said. He held Azriel’s stare, and I could almost hear the silent words Rhys added, It is no judgment or reflection on you, Az. Not at all. But Azriel yielded no tinge of emotion as he nodded, his hands unfurling.
So, for me, as someone who writes Azriel's POV and studied all these scenes before doing so, the things Azriel did/said in HOFAS seem in the realm of possibility/believability for his character to me.
However, I don’t think that means that we had a smooth transition into this version of Azriel though. I’ll compare the scene with Nesta and the Mask and my own writing in the hopes of illustrating what I mean (and yes of course I’m going to take an opportunity to plug my fic lol)
Don’t worry, it’s a platonic interaction.
HOFAS:
“Cassian’s waiting for you, Nesta,” Azriel said—tone gentling. “Take off the Mask.” Nesta stayed silent, Ataraxia ready in her hand. One swipe, and Azriel would be dead. “He’s waiting for you at the House of Wind,” Azriel went on. “At home.” Another blink from Nesta. The silver fire banked a little. Like whoever Cassian was, and whatever the House of Wind was … they might be the only things capable of fighting the siren song of the Mask. “Gwyn and Emerie are waiting,” Azriel pushed. “And Feyre and Elain.” The silver flame flared at that. Then Azriel said, “Nyx is waiting, too.” The silver flame went out entirely. The Mask fell from Nesta’s face, clattering on the stone. Nesta swayed, but Azriel was there, catching her, bringing her to his chest, scarred hands stroking her hair. “Thank the Mother,” he breathed. “Thank the Mother.”
My fic: (ACOSAR)
Azriel hummed, taking it all in. His shadows flickered in response to the animated wave of Solara’s hands, appearing to listen intently. "She sounds remarkable," he said, his tone sincere. "She is," Solara confirmed, a soft smile touching her lips. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Well, properly, at least. I wrote to her, letting her know I was leaving.” “She'll understand," Azriel reassured her quietly. "If she's anything like you say, I'm sure she won't hold it against you." "I know she'll understand," Solara agreed, deflating slightly. "But it's not really about that." Her normal vibrance flickered like a candle in a breeze, eyes turning downcast as she folded her arms across her chest… …Azriel took a step closer to her, his wings stretching slightly. The closest to Solara curled around her, bathing in the light; the veins visible through the membranous flesh. "Then what is it really about?" he pressed gently, coaxingly. His eyes bore into hers, pleading with her to let him help. …Solara could not return to Exandria. "We'll find a way for you to see her again," Azriel said. As if of its own volition, his hand found her bicep. The light touch of his hand seemed to banish the tension from her almost instantly. She never shied from his touch despite the vile, warped skin of his hands…"...I promise."... …"I think... I think I'll be okay here." Solara said quietly, her gaze meeting his again... ..."I think you will thrive here," Azriel agreed. “Prythian may not be as wondrous as Exandria, but it is a place full of beauty. And I know one thing for certain; we will never leave you. We all have hundreds, if not thousands, of years ahead of us. You will never be forced to outlive those you care about ever again.” With another reassuring squeeze of her arm, Azriel gently guided her forward as he strode towards the entrance to the manor.
I wanted to point this out mainly because in my writing, that’s after ten chapters of seeing their relationship develop. His reactions to Nesta and my OC are similar. And I wrote that in May of 2023, well before I read HOFAS.
I'm not putting it there as an example to say my writing is as good as SJM's (obviously), but more so saying it is a fair assessment of his character's potential growth and behavior further down the line. If I picked up on it from what she wrote thus far, before HOFAS, I think it's probably where she plans for him to go.
With Az and Nesta, while we know they get along and likely could become closer, we don’t see the build-up to this level of closeness in HOFAS.
Unfortunately, it likely happened in those six months between ACOSF and HOFAS, and I don’t know if SJM plans to expand on that at all.
So, to sum everything up, essentially:
Do I think Azriel’s treatment of Nesta is in-character? Yes.
But do I think the execution is there for it to make sense that he's developed to this point? No.
I don't believe SJM is making him "mimic" Lucien because they're already similar in key aspects. Azriel does have tendencies to be caring yet smart-mouthed. I think SJM skipped a bunch of steps with Az’s development. Which makes me very sad, and I hope we do get to see it.
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED talk!
