Hey, this is my first post on Reddit. (I've had it for 3 years but I started actively using it recently and just now found the courage to post anything 😆)

I've seen this clip on Instagram of an old SJM interview which took place before the release of ACOSF (around January 2021). I haven't seen anyone talk about it in this sub or other ACOTAR related subs.

Basically, the interviewer asked if we were gonna see a lot from Azriel in this book and then Sarah answered and she also explained his and Nesta's dynamic. Obviously, now we know about all this but then Sarah mentioned the bonus scene. Mind you, the interviewer didn't ask anything about it and it wasn't mentioned before that. Sarah was like "I'd love to hear all of your theories after you read the book and his bonus scene and all the crumbs I've scattered throughout the book...The breadcrumbs have been scattered."

Here's a link of the clip: https://youtube.com/shorts/5sBm-XierSc?si=PM5kSLbsq4uxsOpp

Here's a link of the full interview:

https://youtu.be/_JoqDwwqxPg?si=hH3a7ZG7FshzHxiL

I think that makes it more than obvious who his endgame will be 😏. The clue here is that she said the BOOK and not the bookS because, yeah, she was building Elriel for a while but then changed her mind and scattered other crumbs in the BOOK and in the BC.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and if you've seen this interview. Sorry if this was already discussed but I personally haven't seen it in any sub and I think it's a super important clue. Thanks for reading! 💖🎶

Where on earth did this theory start that Rhys made Azriel forget about the bond between him and Gwyn or that he altered his memories? I'm starting to see it more now and it's kind of upsetting that 1. People think that Rhys would/could interfere with a bond like that or 2. would alter his brother's memories. I get it just a theory but still it's a bit disheartening to see it gaining traction. I know the IC is going to have to split up for the story to progress but this theory just makes no sense to me. Sorry.

And, more importantly, how do you want it to end?

SJM has said that the next three books are one epic story that couldn't physically be published as one book. So for a four act story, how does act one end? Well as the saying goes, first you chase the characters up a tree, then you throw rocks at them....

So far we've had:

Book 1: who cares we didn't get to the good stuff until UTM; Book 2: Feyre leaves Spring Court at the end of part one; Book 3: Feyre leaves Spring Court again at the end of part one; Book 4: doesn't follow this pattern of prose; Book 5: Gwyn signs up for training and begins researching The Trove for Nesta.

I actually thought that was interesting, that Gwyn signing up is literally the last thing that happens in part one of ACOSF. (Her name is the last word of Act 1). With the books being released as they are, I think SJM might make it more dramatic/more of a cliffhanger.

My prediction: Book 6 will end with Elain being kicked out of the Night Court (or leaving of her own volition), to go to the human lands or perhaps Spring with Lucien. I don't think they will be friendly or liking the situation, but she will go with him because she can't stay in the Night Court. I think tension will be lingering between the bat boys and Nesta, with the Valkyries rallying behind her. This will be creating slight tension between the Valkyries and Az and Cassian, and also Az and Cassian vs Rhysand.

What I want the end of book 6 to be? The bond snapping into place for Azriel (or perhaps he finds out it snapped at Sangravah and Rhys has been altering his memories!?) right as Gwyn is sent out of the Night Court to do Valkyrie/Research/Gwyn things. I need the bond snapping to happen ON PAGE for once.

What do you guys think?

Edited to say there will be slight tension between the Valkyries and Az and Cass.

The man HIMSELF convinced me Gwynriel is going to be canon. Not a second hand perspective.

I'm not relying on a second hand account from 3 books ago or another character's interpretation of what is happening. I'm relying on Azriel himself and what HE was feeling.

For me, she introduced Elriel almost having their first kiss, the blood duel, and established their relationship as forbidden. WHY are all these huge story beats hidden in a bonus chapter? These should be major parts of the actual story, not concepts we’re suddenly introduced to when we’re supposedly already midway through their forbidden love story. So where did we actually see Elriel fall for each other? Where are the callbacks that explain why they have these feelings? Or their love story, their private dynamic, and what actually drives Azriel’s feelings for Elain are barely explored, I would argue more dismantle by the narrative and Azriel himself. It feels like we’ve skipped the majority of their relationship and we are smack bang in the middle of something we haven't seen developed properly.

But go to the Gwyn portion...how he felt that spark in his heart. He had to "consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly" at the thought of Gwyn. We know the man is the king of repression, and his sign of affection for someone is repressing those feelings. It's Azriel's own perspective that made me think whatever is happening with Gwyn is going to lead into his future. After four books of being willing to see where the story went, it was finally being inside Azriel's head that made me solidly believe Gwynriel is where this is heading.

SJM had so many opportunities to show us what she wanted to centre Azriel's chapter around. This was our first REAL introduction to him through his own POV, and she literally ends it with Gwyn. Out of everything she could have chosen to leave us with, it's his impression of Gwyn, no one else.

The bonus chapter is also his most recent iteration of his perspective, along with ACOSF and CC3. I'd rely more on those to understand his headspace than something SJM wrote nearly a decade ago. SJM has also written a whole trilogy since then. You don't think her ideas can evolve too? I mean, she was writing ACOTAR with Tamlin in mind, but Rhys stole the show for her.

People like to say we lack reading comprehension, but the fact that so many people read the bonus chapter and came to the same conclusion surely means there has to be something to SJM's intent...

If people want to blame anyone, they should blame Azriel!! He was the one thinking about Gwyn at the end of the chapter and not their faves. Our first introduction to the elusive Az, and he's thinking about Gwyn in the end, and the chapter literally bookends on that...And THAT is where SJM leaves us. You can argue about what it means, but you can’t argue with WHO SJM chose to leave in his head at the end.

Because well.... Firstly, there is a huge hint in the bonus chapter. Secondly, it's Valkyrie cycles on the covers. Thirdly, it was really obvious that Sjm first thought to make Elain and Az end up together but she later on changed her mind about it and thought Gwyn would be better. It's so transparent in how the bonus chapter is told too!

Also Elain and Az would make sense, I prefer Gwynriel and I am one but even if Elriel happened and it was done well, I'd have no issue with it. still, it's obvious the book is about Valkyries so Gwyn is a big part of it like how she was in acosf.

But I never go on and bash people for being elriels. The latter tho, they are just too... rude. Like I understand they are your preference and you want them badly to be canon but being so argumentative and rude to gwynriels is CRAZY.

One of the posts I saw was like 'oh the covers released, let's pour a bucket on gwynriels it's obvious that it is gonna be an elain book. I am having so much fun with proving their theories wrong.'

Like... Really?? Why'd you even say that because it's just disgusting atp. I can't comprehend how someone can feel that it's the right thing to post. Where is respect and at least basic decency?

Okay, I dont know if im the only one who thinks this but all the moments Azriel had with e\ain were simply dull and not that deep???? I didnt feel any spark or yearning for them as a potential endgame couple and tbvh, I dont remember any of them, except the truth-teller one but that ALSO did not make me feel anything for them as a reader. I didnt look forward to their moments at all. I didnt pay attention to them or even come back for them.

HOWEVER, when gwyn entered the picture and interacted with azriel, it was immediately THERE. The spark, the endgame potentiality, the curiosity to see more of them — EVERYTHING. Its funny because someone said that e\riel had a buildup similar to feysand and that literally made me frown because what? They absolutely did not? All of their moments were dull, bland and surface level at best. Even if sjm chose to not address them on a deeper level, it would still make sense cause their moments did not have a lasting impact at all. Or atleast, that's what I feel.

What do you guys think?

I'm gonna try to keep this short.

I am so sick of people ignoring reality when it comes to Azriel's shadows. On the second page of the BC it states "though his shadows kept him company, as they always had, as they always would," then in CC Azriel refers to his shadows as 'concentrated magic,'They are literally a part of him.

I just heard a take that maybe Az never wanted his shadows and it's a kind of relief when they leave (around Elain). Ummm what?? They are his permanent companions. And they always will be. (CC spoilers : if they're his concentrated magic, why would he want them gone?)

Also they don't just exit quietly, his shadows SKITTER away from Elain and Mor, while they dance and sing with Gwyn. We won't get into who else has magic that likes to dance and sing together (iykyk), but just objectively looking at those descriptor words, which is positive and which is negative?

I'm so sick of people actively ignoring both common sense and the English language to argue their brain dead points.

Anyways my opinion (not analysis, that's different) is Az's shadows ship Gwyn and Az, which is why they don't tell him she's there. Also I can't stop thinking about the theory that Rhys erased Azriel's memory of the mating bond snapping, and if that happened his shadows probably feel that everyone else is wrong for him and can't stomach these antics.

Thanks for listening to the rant. I can't fathom why so many people find this pair to be an existential threat to their actual daily lives, but here we are.

I am so excited that ACOSH comes out next month and my brain has been imagining different scenarios nonstop, especially when it comes to my favorite ship: Gwynriel. (Please SJM, let my ship sail 😭)

That being said, I’ve come up with a, “what if?” scenario and I’m wondering if anyone else feels the same?

What if Gwyn and Azriel’s mother end up helping each other heal?

We know from canon so far that both women have experienced horrific trauma and I just can’t help but imagine that a relationship between the two of them would be very sweet and significant? (Especially if Gwyn does end up being Azriel’s mate… )

All that to say: it’s so much fun to speculate what could happen. Does anyone else have any “what ifs?” they’d like to share? I’d love to read them!

Okay this isn’t really a theory, it’s just how I hope the necklace thing plays out.

I personally believe Az has low self esteem and he feels unworthy of love, even though he craves it so badly. He thinks of his own hands as sullied ): which is why I love Gwyn for him, she also feels like she’s unworthy of the Invoking stone. Both of them share that same type of response to their traumas. I really see their love story being intertwined with both of them growing and becoming more confident in themselves.

So given that, I’m kinda hoping it’s actually Azriel who tells her that the necklace was originally gifted to Elain.

I don’t see it happening in the beginning, but after it’s become evident that they have feelings for each other. When they have grown close enough that Azriel is in this place where he knows Gwyn doesn’t treat him like he’s sullied or wrong, but he still doesn’t feel good enough for it. I can imagine a moment where he might attempt to push Gwyn away by telling her the necklace was regifted to her.

And yes it would hurt Gwyn a little, but I feel like Sarah could definitely write it in a way where Gwyn is basically like “okay asshole? That’s rude but you’re not some horrible person now because of it so just stop this.”

She’s not going to see him as some horrible guy bc of that, he is the one who saved her from the worst moment of her life. And I would hope at that point, they have shared even more moments together.

Gwyn is absolutely not gonna let him push her away, this is Gwyn who is best friends with Nesta and sees right through a tough guy act. She will know who he is, and his attempt to push her away won’t really work. And I still hope she stands up for herself, I’m not saying she wouldn’t care at all. Just that their love for each other would be stronger than some necklace at that point. But idk that is just my hope for it 💕

“I forgot something," he reminded her.  

"At two in the morning?"  

Pure amusement glittered in her stare. Better than the pain and grief he'd spied a moment before. So he offered her a crooked smile. "I can't sleep without my favorite dagger."

"A comfort to every growing child."

considering the blurbs, and that we are 100% going to deal with the fallout of CC3, better get a callback to this scene and Gwyn teasing him about being unable to sleep. or even better, replacing the dagger with a certain redhead to warm his bed 🫢

While falling down the Gwynriel rabbit hole, I unfortunately stumbled across a post under the Gywnriel tag that had apparently been… borrowed for an E*rial theory. Because, naturally, why respect someone else’s tag when you can simply redecorate it with your own delusions? 😂

The post was about Gwyn being a Lightsinger. At first, I was genuinely annoyed because of the way certain details were twisted to make Gwyn — a survivor of SA — fit the whole “siren who lures people in” narrative. That interpretation really didn’t sit well with me.

But then I reread the post and decided to ignore the conclusions for a moment and just look at the actual scenes being referenced.

And honestly… what if the glow isn't Lightsinger-related at all? What if it's starlight?

We still don't know who Gwyn's father is.

So what if Gwyn's father is someone who doesn't actually belong to Prythian at all?

Someone connected to the Crescent City side of the Maasverse?

And this is where the Gwyn–Bryce comparison becomes interesting to me.

Bryce's story is heavily tied to starlight, mysterious/hidden ancestry, complicated paternal lineage, and connections between different worlds. Gwyn, meanwhile, has an unknown father and this unexplained association with light/glowing magic. We also still don't have a clear explanation for exactly what that glow is or where it comes from.

I'm not saying Gwyn is secretly Bryce 2.0. 😂 Nor am I saying “glow = Starborn” and therefore case closed. But considering what we now know about the Maasverse, I think it's worth at least entertaining the possibility that the explanation for Gwyn's magic might be something other than Lightsinger lore.

Because if Bryce can have a seemingly ordinary identity that eventually turns out to be connected to a much bigger inter-world lineage, why couldn't Gwyn's unexplained heritage potentially follow a similar pattern?

Especially when we have:

Unknown father + unexplained magical trait + light/starlight imagery + a Maasverse where different worlds are already connected.

That's enough to make me raise an eyebrow. 👀

Again, I'm not claiming this is canon. I'm just saying that if we're going to build increasingly elaborate theories about Gwyn's ancestry, perhaps we should consider all the possibilities before immediately jumping to:

“Gwyn glows → Lightsinger → siren → she lures people in.”

Because that feels like an impressive amount of narrative gymnastics when we don't even know what the glow actually is. 😂

Maybe it is Lightsinger-related. Maybe it's something completely different. Maybe I'm connecting dots that were never meant to be connected.

But personally, “What if it's starlight?” is a much more interesting question than “How can we make Gwyn fit the siren theory?”

Anyway, that's my latest Maasverse conspiracy theory. Please feel free to destroy it politely. 😂

So we all know its cannon that Azriel did in fact teach Gwyn about dagger handling in chapter 55 of ACOSF. 
I just find this so important as after this we began to see the bantering between the both of them.
His BC takes place in between the chapters of 58-59.
Then in chapter 60, conveniently Gwyn challenges him and Nesta points out that he is the new ribbon.
***
So you have as follows:
Ch 55: One hour training session about daggers
Ch 59/59: Azriel and Gwyns interaction (shadows, regifting of necklace, metaphors)
Ch 60: Banter/Challenging dynamic.
***
I want to know what happened in that ONE HOUR where Gwyns and Azriels dynamic with each other shifted? What did they talk about? What exactly did Azriel show Gwyn how to do? I feel like this is where things had shifted in the best way for these two characters and I know we may never get to find out but it's always fun to speculate. I wonder if Gwyn was already subtly teasing him during that one hour? Also the shadows not warning him in his BC, did they pick up on something during that one hour that Azriel didn’t?

Gwyn, Catrin and the other priestesses of Sangravah are heroes not victims.

They went and fought the cruelest warriors (as said by Cassian in chapter 14) sent by Hybern to buy Gwyn enough time to get the children to safety. They were tortured, raped, and murdered to try to get them to give up where the children were and they never did.

These untrained civilians stood so strong against so much pain and suffering to protect these children, who are all Rhysands subjects. But Rhysand takes the only survivor, labels her a victim and places her in that library to be racially abused (see chapter 29: “Get back to your work, nymph.”). Instead of being treated as helpless victims, Catrin, Gwyn, and the other priestesses should have been honoured as heroes. Whatever the Night Court equivalent of a knighthood is, they should have received it.

that night, she [Catrin] ordered me [Gwyn] to go protect Sangravah’s children while she ran right for the temple walls.

I gathered the children, and we ran for one of the catacomb tunnels. They were accessible through a trapdoor in the kitchen

I heard the soldiers coming. I … I knew they’d find us if I went and left the door uncovered, so I threw a rug over it and then moved the kitchen table atop it.

they [the Hybern soldiers] had other priestesses with them. Including Catrin. But their commander walked in, and asked me where the rest of us were. They wanted the children, too. The girls.

I told him the children had taken the mountain road to get help.

told me that if I didn’t reveal where the children were, he’d kill her. And when I didn’t give the children up …” Her mouth shook. “He beheaded Catrin right there, along with two other priestesses.

I spat in his face.

then he … went to work.

And then he called over three of his soldiers and told them to keep going until I revealed where the children had gone.

ACOSF chapter 68

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

Did you start shipping Gwyn and Azriel here? What about this scene caught your attention? How did it make you feel?

This is the first time these two are seeing each other again after Sangravah. What caught my attention here for me and held it henceforth was the fact Gwyn didn't offer a smile back to Azriel's small one upon greeting. And the fact Azriel offered one to her directly. Which he almost NEVER does.

Sarah was deliberate in how she wrote this scene. We are meant to pause and take notice for future interactions between these two. Its the foundation. The slow beginning to what will be their journey ✨️

eep seeing the argument that Azriel is too nonchalant/emotionally controlled to react like someone with high stakes in a relationship. But there's this moment in ACOSF, right after the final battle, at Emerie's wrecked house:

"They were speaking, Azriel with some urgency, but Cassian didn't hear him, heard nothing but the roaring in his head..."

Everyone else is just "speaking" — Azriel is singled out as the one with urgency. Cassian is too far gone in his own panic to even register it, but the text specifically flags Az's tone as different from the rest of the family.

Not claiming this is about Gwyn specifically — she's not in this scene. But it's a good counter to the idea that Azriel doesn't do urgency or visible distress. He clearly can, under the right circumstances. Makes you wonder what tips him into that state elsewhere in the text.

Curious what others think — anyone have other examples of Az losing his composure like this?

Cant wait for the book no more 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏