Alexis Buchanan

My post-Splintered Harmony theory: I think SJM intentionally “splintered” everyone into their smaller found-family groups for Movements II/III before they all reunite for the final war. Feyre/Rhys/Amren → diplomacy + building alliances Nesta/Cassian/Gwyn/Emerie → Valkyries, priestesses/Bryaxis + Prison/Made objects, with Gwyn healing from the Blood Rite and her past traumas as well as repairing her friendships (could eventually see this moving into her training new women to become Valkyries to teach them how to protect themselves) Lucien/Vassa/Jurian → Koschei + human lands/Autumn/Day, Lucien working through his own grief for Jesminda that he stills carries, Lucien’s parentage and realizing he isn’t actually alone, trying to break Vassa’s curse Elain/Azriel/Mor/Nuala/Cerridwen + their wraith/spy network → Vallahan and finding the Made object, Elain discovering who she is outside everyone’s expectations, Azriel confronting his self-loathing + finally resolving 500 years of history with Mor, and Elriel figuring out what they actually want from each other It feels almost like nostalgia bait tbh, putting everyone back with the people who helped them become who they are for the emotional middle movements, before bringing the sisters, brothers, Valkyries, etc. all back together for Movement IV. I also feel like it’s then obviously priming Elain and Azriel for their own story to finally be told. I absolutely think Elain/Azriel’s healing and romantic arcs will be intertwined with them learning that light and darkness can coexist within the same person, and loving each other not despite those contradictions, but as whole people. I do believe they are endgame after reading what is part one of a massive singular story told across three volumes.

Elriels …after so many years …here we are🥹 I love y’all. So happy to share a fandom with you guys.

Just remember sisters: we have chapter 20 with Elriel wanting each other and Elain being Azriel’s salvation, Elriel true mates, and Elain going with Mor to set up her book (+ we still have four books of build up, all of the merch (the candles, the pictures for the release parties, the puzzle, etc), and the interview comments that point to them). None of that is any less true just bc Gwyn gets half a chapter that most likely exists just to set up her powers as a lightsinger (which we saw coming bc of the bonus chapter) and perhaps her being a villain (this one is more of a maybe or maybe not, but hey, it’s okay to theorize). Don’t let the POV get you down. Gwyn is an intriguing character, and deserves the same kind of build-up to her plot and her powers we known Elain is going to have in ACOFM and Azriel is getting in ACOSH and the rest of the trilogy. That doesn’t mean she’s involved in a romantic plot in the trilogy and based on what we know about lightsingers and how Azriel found her only when he was lost and sad about Elain, that was to hint at her powers. Elriel is in love with each other, but have obstacles they have to face to be together, which is even better for us since Elucien and Gwynriel have no obstacles at all. We still know Elriel is endgame, and that Elain and Azriel are the main characters of this trilogy. We can have the same confidence we did yesterday. :)