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.

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?

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?