As an Elucien stan, I've been following all the discussions and theories about ACOTAR's future, especially after the end of HOFAS.
This recent debate about the next three books focusing on just one couple, whether that's Elain and Lucien or Gwyn and Azriel, made me think about something that feels really important: the need for a Multi-POV structure.
I know it's natural for every fandom to want their favorite couple to have the spotlight. But ACOTAR has become so much bigger, especially after HOFAS, that I just can't imagine three huge books being carried by the POVs of only one couple.
Characters like Nesta, Azriel, Lucien, and Elain still have so much left to explore. Even Mor, Eris, Gwyn, Emerie, and maybe even the Lady of Autumn and Helion have storylines that deserve attention.
For Elucien alone, there's already enough material for a book the size of ACOSF or HOFAS. Their bond, the Autumn Court, the Day Court, the human lands, Vassa, Koschei... there's so much going on. But stretching that into three massive books (probably over 2,000 pages combined) feels unlikely.
It's not that Elain isn't important enough. She absolutely is. The issue is the scale of the story. If everything is limited to only Elain's or Lucien's perspective, a lot of other important characters and storylines would inevitably lose space. Sarah herself has said that this universe has expanded, so what would be the point of expanding it if not to explore those stories?
The ending of HOFAS, especially with Nesta and Azriel, doesn't feel like it's setting up a smaller story. It feels like it's opening the door to an even bigger one. A Multi-POV format would let every character get the development they need without forcing one couple to carry the weight of the entire series. Years ago, Sarah even said she'd like to tell the stories of Elain, Mor, and Azriel. What if those stories are now connected?
I honestly think that approach would make the next books richer and more satisfying. It would allow every storyline to grow naturally while keeping the world connected, which is one of the biggest strengths of Maas's writing.
More than anything, I wish the Elucien, Gwynriel, and Valkyrie fandoms would stop fighting each other. The real win isn't having one couple dominate the story. It's getting a Multi-POV series where different relationships, friendships, and character arcs all have room to shine. If that's the direction Sarah takes, I truly believe both Elucien and Gwynriel can reach their canon endgames while giving every major character the attention they deserve.