“I belong to no one!”

Just another hitchhiker on the romantasy bandwagon. #Elriel is my current Roman Empire.

[wondrous-sonder]

Random thought: Azriel hides his jealousy and doesn’t act when Mor would sleep with other people to push him away.

But I wonder if he’s going to be “Fuck that! That’s not happening in front of me” if other males get a little too close with Elain in the next book. I’m not glorifying possessiveness but in the bounds of a fantasy book, I could get behind Az becoming a little unhinged when it comes to Elain.

[wondrous-sonder]

Do you think Book 6/7 will go through any of this backstory?

ACOMAF:

- Azriel’s POV of Elain convincing staff to leave the house and maybe getting a glimpse into how well-liked she is or his POV of their first meal together

- The breakfast/tea scene after the sisters meet the bat boys

- The regular visits that Azriel made to the mortal lands to learn about developments with the queens

- Az’s POV of the sisters going into the cauldron

- What those weeks in the House of Wind were like post-Cauldron when the sisters were newly turned and before Feyre & Lucien arrive

ACOWAR:

- Either POV during their first flight to the townhouse (bridal-style foyer moment + context for “beautiful”)

- Az peacocking his wingspan in the garden

- Garden conversations between Elriel that made Azriel feel comfortable to escort Elain by the hand to the garden when he’s so touch-averse

- What they were doing in the townhouse alone when the Raven twins attacked

- Where Azriel went when he winnowed away abruptly after staring at a frail Elain on the staircase i.e. Detective Mor’s first clue into their connection

- The visions she was sharing with him beforehand that prompted him to ask her what she saw when everyone else didn’t know how to respond to her

- How she befriends the twins and Azriel’s interactions with the group

- What truth Mor sees every time she is left in shock/awe of them

- Either POV when he winnows them to Windhaven with his shadows for the first time and hopefully Az’s POV of having her around so many Illyrians that he distrusts

- What went through both their minds during the rescue scene

- Returning truth teller scene

- Any conversations about her mourning her dad

ACOFAS:

- Az’s feelings about Elain taking off the engagement ring

- The continued interaction post “Happy Solstice” at the window

- The 3am garden plans conversation

- Potentially talking about Rosehall and his mother

ACOSF:

- Her pain at Nesta’s rejection and trauma trajectory and/or Az updating her on Nesta’s progress

- The final straw that convinced Az that he couldn’t trust himself to be near her anymore and moving to the House of Wind

- The waltz in the Court of Nightmares that likely made her glow the next day

- Does she have visions of herself with Az?

- Did she pull any threads for the inner court based on her visions e.g. requesting that Nesta be present for Feyre’s birth because she knew that her survival depended on it (not saying this actually happened). Although technically her saving Nesta and Cassian with Hybern snowballs into saving Rhys, Feyre and Nyx.

What did I miss?

[wondrous-sonder]

She just gets him

Rhys (his daemati brother who has known him for 500 years):

“Az’s expressionless face was precisely the reason he’d never lost to us at cards. “Why should I be the judge of that?”

“You mean to tell me that you weren’t bluffing when you said you didn’t track Lucien’s every movement?”

Nothing. Absolutely nothing on that face, on his scent. The shadows, whatever the hell they were, hid too well. Too much.”

Elain:

“He left the rest unspoken. Because her mate was here, sleeping a level up. Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldn't stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.

Elain's large brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that. Just as he knew she was well aware of why Azriel so rarely came to family dinners these days.”

“Yes" Elain breathed, like she read the decision.

It’s taken over 500 years for someone to understand him so well that they can read him so effortlessly. It’s why he values the headache powder more than the countless knives he’s received. He finally feels seen and cared for.

Excerpts From:

A Court of Frost and Starlight & A Court of Silver Flames: Bonus Content (A Court of Thorns and Roses) by Sarah J. Maas

[wondrous-sonder]

Why Elain likely has multiple powers?

Whilst I’m not a big fan of framing this from a male character’s POV, I’m bringing it up because I don’t think this perspective gets talked about enough.

We know that Eris Vanserra is smart and cunning. He clearly knows something about the Sister Peaks, probably has spies in the Night Court and is generally more aware than people realise:

“We don’t know why they exist, but do you not find it strange that two out of the three have underground palaces carved into them?”

And I think he shows repeated interest in his brother’s mate for a reason.

“Pity you didn't bring the other sister. I hear our little brother's mate is quite the beauty.”

Elain has essentially been hidden at this point. Who are his sources?

“Nesta barely glanced to Eris, who pulled his assessing gaze from Elain to stare at the eldest Archeron sister”

Why he’s likely interested?

1) Mates are equal in power

2) He’s likely aware that Lucien could be the next High Lord of the Day Court

3) It’s highly unlikely that he isn’t aware of his brother’s multiple powers (fire, spell cleaving, healing, winnowing, etc)

4) Again, mates are supposedly equal. So if Lucien has multiple powers and will likely rival other high lords, his mate will likely be very powerful too.

5) The Cauldron loves Elain and would likely want to bestow her with a mate worthy of her power/s (even if it doesn’t have the best love matchmaking skills)

Don’t come at me! This is just a theory and I love all ACOTAR characters including your favourite redheads even if I am an Elain stan and an Elriel.

Excerpts from: A Court of Wings and Ruin & A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

[wondrous-sonder]

Does anyone else think that shipping Azriel with Nesta’s best friend would sideline him as a character?

I think the Valkyries are each amazing characters in their own right and a Valkyrie spinoff would be great but the next 3 books are not realistically going to be about them.

Azriel, who is already pretty sidelined in the current books, is only really going to feature in Cassian and Nesta’s arcs if his main love interest is Gwyn.

I don’t think SJM would give him a bonus chapter and a side quest in her multiverse if she wanted him to always be the bridesmaid and never the bride.

[wondrous-sonder]

Theory: Book 6 takes place 3 days after ACOSF

There’s no way we’re missing the first crowd gathering (Nesta and Cassian’s mating ceremony) which forces Azriel and Elain to be in close proximity of each other. Also, likely one of the few occasions where Elain may naturally witness and misinterpret any sort of friendly dynamic between Azriel and Gwyn since she also mentioned that she might be there.

Does the necklace present itself here? I personally think the misunderstanding trope will be brought in early so Elain forces herself to maintain some distance from Azriel. Let the slow burn and tension begin…

And then random flashbacks of their budding romance in the last two years as they attempt to ignore each other, resulting in a monumental breakdown and potential confession🔥🌶️ and a lengthy yearning period

It will also help move the Koschei plot forward and open the doors for Elain to have interactions with Lucien so that the love triangle/bond-breaking decision is somewhat more complex than it currently stands.

The bond rejection decision feels too easy unless she genuinely connects with Lucien (even on a friendship level) and sincerely cares enough about him to not want him supposedly going mad. Lucien & Elain are both one-dimensional characters in each other’s narratives so I foresee book 6 using the Koschei plot line to develop enough of a relationship between Lucien and Elain so that the bond-breaking is an impactful decision and leaves the audience reeling even if we are happy for an Elriel endgame 💖💙.

I’ve read some anti-Lucien posts and “Lucien will be the betrayer” posts but I don’t think SJM has ever rooted against Lucien and I think she is building him up to be worthy of being a high lord’s heir. He wouldn’t be the sole heir to the Day Court and have shown bravery on numerous occasions only to be vilified later on. I think we’re meant to struggle with the decision to reject Lucien as a mate because he’s not a Beron, he is worthy of love (just maybe not Elain’s and vice versa). I think the bond breaking will likely be a mutual decision or involve spell-cleaving but book 6 is meant to make it hard for us to root for it without some heartbreak. Just a theory 🤷‍♀️

[wondrous-sonder]

Guess who’s volunteering to teach hand-to-hand combat or maybe just self defense in ACOTAR 6?

“He drawled, “Nothing at all. We’re starting on hand-to-hand combat.”

“My least favorite,” Azriel said.

Toeing off her boots, Nesta asked, “Why?”

“Az observed her, striding barefoot into the ring. “I like swordplay better. Hand-to-hand is too close for my tastes.”

“He doesn’t like getting a face full of someone’s armpit sweat,” Cassian said, chuckling.”

Getting close to a face full of honey and jasmine doesn’t count 🤭.

Excerpt From

A Court of Silver Flames

Sarah J. Maas

[wondrous-sonder]

Answering Elain’s questions:

Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, “Can you truly fly?”

He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, “Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind.

“That’s very beautiful,” she said. “Is it not—frightening, though? To fly so high?”

“It is sometimes,” Azriel said. Cassian tore his relentless attention from Nesta long enough to nod his agreement. “If you are caught in a storm, if the current drops away. But we are trained so thoroughly that the fear is gone before we’re out of swaddling.”

Answering Gwyn’s questions:

"Do you sing?”

He blinked. It wasn't every day that people took him by surprise, but..."Why do you ask?"

“They call you shadowsinger. Is it because you sing?"

“I ​am​ a shadowsinger--it's not a title that someone just made.”

She shrugged again, irreverently. *Az narrowed his eyes, studying her*. "Do you, though?" she pressed. "Sing?"

Azriel couldn't help his soft chuckle. "Yes."

She opened her mouth to ask more, but he didn't feel like explaining. Or demonstrating, since that was surely what she'd ask next.

Both interactions are cute but one hits different in terms of how much he’s willing to put himself out there and share more than what’s necessary.

Excerpt From

A Court of Silver Flames

Sarah J. Maas