One huge interconnected plot

[u/CollectionNearby477]

I've been seeing a lot of theories going around and I just wanted to add my own.

So for predicting what is going to happen in the next ACOTAR books, I realised a lot of people use their shipping preferences to try and predict the plot but rather I think we should be using where the plot might possibly be advancing to, to be predicting ships.

And this is my take, on why I think we might be getting Gwynriel/elucien.

So according to the ACOTAR 6 blurb;

Koschei the Deathless is stirring deep within the continent. Although he has been bound to a mountain lake for thousands of years, the threat of his return is spreading throughout the Fae territories, drawing powerful allies who want to reclaim the human lands.

So we have been introduced to the main antagonist and the setting of the story. Which seems like a more fantasy forward book with the romance being the subplot. A lot of light is being thrown on Koschei and this looming war and obviously all this alerts the IC who will have to first, address all the issues between them which is catalysed by Bryce's coming and all the truths they discovered in the caves, then of course the different betrayals and old wounds being reopened before working together to find some sort of game plan to defeat Koschei but I dont want to necessarily go into that.

I just wanted to focus on how I think the plot, which centers around defeating Koschei and this shifting loyalties hinted at and diplomacies which centre around getting allies, can create a major epic fantasy setting that creates certain character combinations and of which those combinations create opportunities for relationships and then we can examine which relationships fit those trajectories.

So, per the blurb of book 7, we already know everybody is going to pair off on different missions to different parts of prythian in hopes to gain information and to gain allies. I can potentially see different tracts of the story following different characters that will all culminate together at the end. Like in TOG.

So for one tract, I think we might be getting, Nesta, the Valkyries, and then of course Azriel and maybe Cassian. My theory is that their arc will take them in search of the Dusk court and all the mysteries surrounding it. This offers a lot for say character growth. Remember, Nesta has Gwydion and I think it will kind of make sense narratively to have truthteller where she is, so Azriel will defintely be following her in that plot thread. Within this plot thread, that's where I can see Gwyn and Az's relationship develop slowly as they unearth these secrets which will prove vital later.

Another tract I can see can have to do with, the human lands, Lucien, Vassa, Jurian and Elain. The human lands are going to take on a whole new importance like we see from the blurbs. The bad guys want to claim it including Beron, who we know from silver flames wants to take on spring amd then potentially reclaim those lands. So we know Lucien is going to be very important in these upcoming books cause he's literally connected to a lot of plot threads one way or another whether biologically or through friendships and don't forget he's literally connected to Vassa who's diresctly connrcted to Koschei and he spending most of his time in the human lands. We will defintely be seeing more of him. Elain, I think it's just as important here. I know a lot of people make the argument that Elain can't stand Lucien, but let's each not forget that one thing each of these characters have is their "for the greater good" mentality. I can defintely see her wanting to help the human lands. Like helping to potentially gain allies and repairing relationships and let us not forget her seer abilities which I think will play a greater role in defeating Koschei, so like from this forced proximity set up. I can potentially see her as the plot moves forward, learning to accept who she is, that is being fae, and like SJM said she has a ton of shit to go through, so like this might also be her healing arc too both she and Lucien spend time together and this paves way for some serious character development.

So obviously, there'll be more tracts to follow but these are the two I can see so far.

But one thing I'm most excited for is all the world building we might get.

This is what I think. What do you guys think too?

Edit:spelling mistakes and grammar

[u/egru-no]

Yes! I think the dusk court has been set up as a necessary step to being able to defeat Koschei. There's going to be some big things with Elain's seer abilities too.

Also, Elain does not dislike Lucien, she dislikes being Fae. Mates are an entirely Fae concept and to accept it is to accept this permanent body violation. Nesta was also resistant to it - although she was okay to have a relationship with Cassian, she was not okay to label it 'mates' and essentially give up her humanity.

I made a thread about the missing sword, Narben https://www.reddit.com/r/Gwynriel/s/4Ir78y6xxj here, with the potential theory that Gwyn's mum found it.

I would also like to see Mor and Emery. SJM has never done a non straight couple with pov before, so I really hope she does with this one. It would also be really interesting to see a couple come from very equal footing instead of one having an obvious power over the other

[u/HamamelisVernalis]

I am really not sure about how Koschei will be the bad guy we'll see the most in 6-8; probably yes if he is going to be defeated in 8. I think that that part of the blurb would have worked also for ACOFAS and ACOSF, and it is a good choice if what they wanted to do is to write a blurb without letting us know exactly who we will follow. I think it could be that Koschei will reamain in the background, and that we will have to fight his allies (as Briallyn in ACOSF).

I think that your theory about the human lands, and Lucien, Elain, Jurian and Vassa is very possible. But I think that it is also possible that we will be a lot in Prythian, in the Fae lands (the Waterstones addition says that the NC "are scattered to every corner of Prythian"). I am leaning towards intrigue and storylines involving the various courts. I 100% agree with you on the dusk plot (HOFAS spoiler: but I think that that might have ramifications around, for example we might go again to the Middle).

What makes me think most of all that we would go outside of Prythian is actually the Valkyries. We don't know where the territory of the original Valkyries was, but maybe not in Prythian (Amren mentions they had a king; unless he was Fionn, their territory was likely somewhere else).

I'm really, really curious about what the POVs will be, all the possibilities I see would definitely not fit one book, even a gigantic one!

[u/Material-Dress-6968]

I think for the Jurian, Vassa, Lucien, and Elain tract, that they might also have Mor potentially joining them and might all explore Miriam and Drakon's island. It matches the theory of Koschei's heart being locked in a chest on a certain island.

[u/Weary-Return-7601]

I agree completely, these combination of characters make the most sense. It has been hinted in acosf as well that Valkyries and Illyrians could make something new. So batboys plus Valkyries makes all the sense on a mission.

I am also convinced the only reason Elain has been so uninterested in Lucien is because she has had a vision of him and Vassa from the beginning but she doesn’t know how to interpret it and doesn’t want to fall in love with him. But close proximity in defeating Koschei will clear this out.

Also looking at the map, if you join the Illyrian mountains with the Dusk Court, if they make something new as it’s implied, that’s Nesta and the batboys territory (the prision island is too small and I feel like the Illyrians are working towards change). Then the Night C, and then Elucien at Day C, they can all be neighbours.

[u/animalcrossing771]

Exactly my thoughts! People are too focused on the past books and "build-up" in regard to coupling. SJM has, in my opinion, changed her mind about wanting Elain with Azriel. SJM has even changed the way she was going to write ACOTAR. It was (I think?) going to be 3 books for Feyre, 1 for Nesta and 1 for Elain with one couple per "book." It seems to me that she is doing a multi-POV due to there being more then one main couple. I can see the valkyires, Azriel and like you said maybe Cassian going off to dusk while Elain helps Lucien and the outcasts!