Sarah J. Maas, the #1 bestselling author of the Court of Thorns and Roses series, returns to the courts of Prythian . . .
Romance, danger, and intrigue await you in the stunning new installment.
The full Court of Thorns and Roses series 1) A Court of Thorns and Roses 2) A Court of Mist and Fury 3) A Court of Wings and Ruin 4) A Court of Frost and Starlight 5) A Court of Silver Flames
Also available from Sarah J. Maas is the bestselling Crescent City series, beginning with House of Earth and Blood, and the bestselling Throne of Glass series, starting with Throne of Glass.
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 bestselling author of the Throne of Glass, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. She lives in New York City with her family.
This book is most likely going to be about Elain Archeron for many reasons.
Firstly, Elain is an Archeron sister who has been introduced since the first book and the series has always revolved around Feyre. Then, Feyre's sister Nesta received a spin-off, so next should be...Elain.
The ACOTAR series are known for trios. SJM won't skip an Archeron sister for a new character (sorry) and there is lot of textual evidence that points towards Elain. If SJM wanted to delve into new characters, she'd have to wrap up on the arcs of the previous ones such as Elain, Morrigan or Amren.
Moreover, readers have been arguing that Azriel's book is next because of the bonus POV. Mind you, Rhys and Cassian never received "their" own books. They've been the love interests who supported the journeys of the female leads such as Feyre and Nesta. If you believe Azriel is next, it's most likely going to be so he's supporting the journey of a female character. Therefore, Azriel's "book" is not next, but a female one. It's up to you on who you interpret which female, but my belief is Elain because, again, of textual evidence.
If you follow SJM in all her series, she takes several books to build up any ships that are endgame. It does not happen in a single novel. She loves slow burn.
Elain is a seer which is what the next novel needs to locate the fourth trove to stop Koschei. There are pressing matters that are going on in the courts and there is political tension. This is a fantasy series with serious issues going on, not a contemporary NA where the main couple has the time to get to know each other. This is ACOTAR. Elain and Azriel have already established a friendship and they're interactions are entangled with Lucien due to the mating bond.
Elain and Azriel's relationship has been foreshadowed since A Court of Mist and Fury and scattered throughout the series. Re-read the novels and Azriel's bonus POV. Sarah J. Maas will not re-write the book to make it about Azriel's relationship with a new character introduced in the book 5. Especially how in the bonus POV, Azriel made it obvious that he has feelings for Elain. Rhys had only told Azriel to stay away from her because it's would trigger a blood duel with Lucien and potential war between courts. But Azriel admitted it would take him no effort to win that blood duel, meaning he is willing to fight for Elain.
Azriel had given Elain a personalized rose necklace that she returned due to Rhys's interruption, which is similar to how Cassian had given Nesta a gift during her first Winter solstice (that she rejected), but they ultimately got together. Not to mention that Azriel had looked and thought about Elain's gift to him for an entire year until the next one where they exchanged gifts again.
Up until now, Elain has been visibly uncomfortable around Lucien. You can find that evidence throughout the series and she told Lucien that he had betrayed them. She had never shown interest in him, but it is evident she is interested in Azriel which is mutual. That is a setup for the next book, which would be about CHOICE.
Those who say Elain and Azriel's relationship would be obvious and cliché are missing the fact that two mated individuals (Elain and Lucien) getting together would also be obvious, cliché, and repetitive. Reading about choice and free-will, choosing what you want instead of allowing "fate" to decide feels much more liberating to read. To say that Elain should be with Lucien because he is her mate is stripping her of the choice before she gets to even make it in her novel, so that argument is invalid.
Also, notice how Azriel has heightened hearing and Elain can see things others can't. Azriel said in ACOWAR that they needed a seer. Both have special abilities that would be used for spying on other courts and kingdoms, which most likely the plot for the next book, in addition to the blood duel and forbidden-love aspect and angst trope, finding Koschei and the fourth trove, which would be one of Sarah's finest work.
And do you ever think about how sad the Lady of Autumn can't be with Helion because of her mating bond with Beron? Think about how history would repeat itself if Elain ended up with Lucien while being in love with Azriel.
Overall, I can't see Elain with Lucien when he had told Elain they were mates right away, not giving her a choice, which was a mistake because to Elain, choice matters. Usually, two people accept the bond normally when they are unaware of it, they become friends first and then lovers. Elucien is the only mating bond that had been known right away, which means it was doomed from the start because it makes them feel equally shackled.
Therefore, Elain most likely won't end up with a man whose a reminder of what was taken from her-- A choice-- the same person that ignored both their feelings. However, I do believe Lucien will be the person that supports her choice and encourages it, whatever it is, and I also believe he will be getting his own love interest that may have already been suggested.
As for Azriel and Gwyn. Gwyn deserves better than potentially receiving a second-handed gift from Azriel if Clotho had given it to her or not. Clotho knew it wasn't meant for her when she noticed how sad the Shadow-Singer's face was. Because that gift was meant for Elain. It was a rose necklace and roses symbolize love, romance, and secrecy. Azriel had then gone to the House of Wind to distract himself from Elain. He thinks he doesn't deserve her, despite Elain returning those same feelings. Please don't ignore four books of build-up, you're just ignoring canon at this point.
But we'll see more in the next book.
Therefore, I have many reasons to believe that Elucien and Gwynriel are not endgame because SJM would have taken her time fleshing out/developing those ships in the previous novels. Instead, she suggested that they will be platonic friendships. For example, Elain is uncomfortable around Lucien and Gwyn was someone Azriel trained with for a few scenes.
Now to those that think Elain is boring, her character has not been fully fleshed out yet for a reason (because it's reserved for her own book). We will learn more about her which is why we don't know much about her, but we know this: she's a seer, a flower-grower, a kingslayer, a hero of Prythian. That is by far impressive. In Feyre's bonus POV after ACOSF, Rhys says, "we haven't yet seen all that she has to offer." And if you still think Elain's boring, then apply the same logic to Azriel because we have not seen all that he has to offer. Otherwise, it is double standards. People have said she's too "feminine." What is wrong with being feminine? We can embrace any part of femininity, there is no singular shape to it.
To be frank, I am disappointed in the ACOTAR fandom for making sexist and misogynistic jokes about Gwyn and Elain, reducing their characters and worth down to a ship. I've seen people compare their reproductive system. Pliant bones? Not being able to have children? What are y'all on about?
*** Edit: I wrote this in 2021 & it's 2026. After finding out Sarah is writing three novels based on the same storyline, I believe ACOTAR 6 might be multi-pov, alluding to Elain and Azriel's story in ACOTAR 7. Since Acotar 6 is significantly smaller, it seems like it will be an introduction to a wider story. If ACOTAR 6 & 7 were about two couples, wouldn't you think they would be equal in pages? Also, Sarah had shared that this book is one whole story that could not be physically bound in one book.
Regardless, I am excited for Elain's story! Also, I love all the comments! Thank you <3.
Please for the love of all good things do not put Az and Elaine together. Please do not go down that awful trope. We do not need all 3 sisters with all 3 "brothers" of the night court. Have elaine be a strong independent single lady or Az finding anyone else. Literally anyone else. Have elaine grow up and stop being a useless baby woman. Elaine is useless and even more terrible than Nesta. End rant
2/20/2021 Okay, so I am thinking this book will actually wind up being about Azriel. And I just have to say that I am now on board the Azriel and Gwyn ship, so fingers crossed it happens! Gwynriel for the win y’all 💖
I shall thus reserve all my Lucien predictions for book 6 LOL
-- 12/9/2020 I think, at this point, the remaining full-length books will be about the remaining members of the night court. Maybe the novella will be about Lucien.
--- 2016 Let this book be about Lucien!!! He was so underutilized in both ACOMAF and ACOWAR. I need more Lucien in my life.
My fangirl hopes/predictions/theories: But honestly, with Lucien's story, there is still so much to tell. Whether it’s his relationship with Elain, his fractured friendship with Tamlin, or his near non-existent relationship with his family. In ACOWAR, we were hit with two major Lucien-related realizations. Both of which he was not even privy to. I really hope Feyre tells him the truth, and I hope he cares enough to seek to confront those truths. Anyways, I want Lucien to mend fences and really grow as a character.
Everyone is so focused on the romance aspect (and rightfully so). But you know what I wanna see? I wanna see some scheming, some Autumn secrets unraveled along with Dusk and Eris overthrowing Beron to be the High Lord!!!!! GIVE MY MAN HIS THRONEEE
You know what, I was just thinking and I actually feel really bad for the author. Literally no matter which ship she decides on, she’s going to get so much hate by people. Even though these are her babies and her characters, whether she decides on Elriel or Gwynriel she’s bound to disappoint some of her fans and we all know that some people transform their disappointment to hate and cyber bullying. I’m talking about this now cz I was just online and I saw some comments that were truly appalling. I, myself would love for Az to end up with Gwyn but if that doesn’t happen, then for God’s sake people that definitely does NOT give me the right to hate on the author OR on the people who would be happy with the ship that Maas decided on. Either way, please just be nice y’all😂
_____________________________ 🔹Random thoughts: 〰 Although it was hinted at in ACOMAF, my soul will leave my body and never return if this turns out to be about Azriel and Elain.
〰 I hope this isn’t a love triangle situation cz I would hate it. I kind of want the book to start with Az already moving on from Elain and starting to like Gwyn.
〰 If this book doesn’t have an Azriel and Gwyn Karaoke scene I will riot 🎤
〰 I want Gwyn to be a siren and I want us to explore life under the sea (maybe she will have some kind of connection to Tharion, who knows).
〰 I am so ready for all the drama that will unfold because of that stupid necklace lool.
〰 I read a theory that said that Gwyn is Tamlin’s daughter and the only thing I could think of is that the idea of Azriel being Tamlin’s son in law brings literal tears to my eyes.
〰 As the lovely Evelin has pointed out, Az’s shadows sing when they’re around Gwyn. I personally believe that they’re silent around Elain because they’re shriveling with disgust at the thought of their host touching that garden hose. The thought makes me happy😌
Repeat after me: Elriel endgame Elriel endgame Elriel endgame Elriel endgame Elriel endgame Elriel ENDGAME!!!!! ^^ four books of them basically in love with each other will not go to waste just because of some random new character.
March 5th: ⇢ Gwyn and Azriel, that's all I'm asking for. They are perfect 😌
⇢ Elain is extremely boring, I'm not interested in her story at all. Let her die or something.
⇢ I demand Tamlin’s redemption and Rhysand’s last name (stop playing with us, SJM).
⇢ Eris seems nice, I want to know his background story with Mor.
⇢ Are you telling me that Emerie and Mor could be mates? Are you seriously telling me that SJM could write their story? That’s definitely a plot twist 🧐
Since there seems to be a lot of hate going around when it comes to the Azriel/Elain ship, let me throw them some love here - I would LOVE to read about Azriel and Elain's relationship!
Is it kind of cheesy if all three sisters get together with the three 'brothers' of the Night Court? Sure. Do I care? Hell no. Give me some pining and forbidden love and Elain becoming a badass seer and Azriel opening up to her and also everyone else minding their own business when it comes to their relationship. That would be so nice.
P.S. no hate to Gwyn, I really like the girl. But for me, it's kind of...odd with everything she went through, to have her entire purpose in a book potentially be just about a guy. But that's just me.
Alright, I'm going to go wait (not so) patiently for this book to come out. For the love of God, please let it be in a year and not three. <3
What I hope SJM avoids: 1- A love triangle (Elain can end up with whomever just please no feelings for 2 people at once..) 2- Another mission only Elain or Az (I'm supposing this book is about one of them at least) "can do" gets old after using it in every damn series. 3- A magic, that has no clear rules, resolving our problems
What I hope SJm does: AZ AND GWYN RELATIONSHIP. PLEASE. I BEG YOU.
I still need this book to be about Azriel and Elain. I don’t see Azriel and Gwyn at all and I will be so disappointed if it is.
Three sisters, three stories and this is how it should be. It would be so fascinating to read about a relationship that prevails without a mating bond.
OH MY GOD SARAH JUST POSTED WHO THIS BOOK WILL BE ABOUT HERE HERE LOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hi hello, I feel it is my duty to tell you that I was talking to my friend about Azriel and she said 'like that cat from the smurfs? PLEASE I CANT THAT IS IMPRINTED IN MY BRAIN FOREVER
{orginal review}
PEOPLE THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL
OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE. I really hope it is AzrielxGwen and not AzrielxElain. I mean I have heard rumors that Gwen is a light singer and that would be perfect for Az. And she fits his personality so well and would actually fit in with the Night Court while Elain does not. And the bonus chapter of ACOSF gave us that sneak peek so I'm hopeful.
SJM books have got steamier as they go on so could this possibly be more steamy than ACOSF......
*talking to herself* "No that's impossible, nothing can be steamier than that?!"