The discourse around fated mates has become so painfully contradictory that all I can do is laugh.

If you genuinely believe the trope is inherently immoral because it "takes away choice"... why the fuck are you choosing to read books built around that exact trope?

No one is forcing you to read fantasy romance. I don't read dark mafia romance because dub-con and non-con aren't for me. That's called curating your reading. I don't spend a decade demanding those books abandon the very tropes they were written to explore.

SJM has been writing fated mates for well over a decade. It's one of the foundational pillars of her worlds. This didn't suddenly materialize because you got attached to a ship, one that is so painfully obvious a red herring for Elucien.

The author chooses the trope first. Then she builds a narrative to explore it. That's literally how storytelling works.

Some of y'all have self-inserted so hard you've forgotten these are fictional people in a fictional world operating under fictional rules.

SJM has literally explained why she paired certain characters as mates: because she wanted to tell that story. Two people who begin with distance, discomfort, indifference, resentment, and impossible odds discovering whether they can grow into love anyway.

The obstacles aren't proof the mating bond is failing. The obstacles are the story. Complaining that a fated mates romance explores the complications of being fated mates is like complaining a murder mystery has a dead body, enemies-to-lovers starts with conflict, or Game of Thrones has dragons.The trope is the premise. The characters exist to explore it. What's so fucking fake and funny is watching people scream that fated mates are "problematic" while simultaneously insisting their own ship are the real mates. Bitch, pick a fucking lane.

... is the trope immoral, or do you just want it to apply to your favorite couple?

These are fictional characters in a fictional world built around a fictional magical bond. If that isn't your thing, there are thousands upon thousands of romance books built around different relationship dynamics. Go read those.

What I'm tired of is the fake moral outrage over a trope that has been central to SJM's writing for over ten years. Not every book is written for every reader, and authors are under absolutely no obligation to abandon the foundations of their own worlds because a corner of the fandom suddenly decided they don't like one of fantasy romance's most recognizable tropes and we know SJM will never give into fan service, she has continued to write mates as endgame and I can bet she will never change that.

Read it or don't.

But stop acting surprised when a fantasy author writes... fantasy.

Honestly, if I collected half the posts from people suddenly acting morally offended by fated mates and showed them to the fantasy authors I know, they'd laugh. Hell, I think SJM would laugh too. This genre has been playing with magical bonds, destiny, prophecies, soulmates, and fate for decades.

Yes, there are fantasy romances where mates reject or break the bond. And guess what? Nine times out of ten, that's just the setup for a second-chance romance, because the author is still exploring the mate bond as the central narrative device. Spoiler for ZA (Tori HATED Darius, she flat our rejected him, readers were mad and guess what, by the end of the series, they were endgame) Every author uses the trope differently, but they are always endgame because it is what the trope demands.

SJM has been remarkably consistent about how she uses it. She's a HEA writer. Her romances don't end in tragedy or permanent heartbreak, They end with her couples finding their MATE/EQUAL and choosing each other. Whether people like that or not doesn't really matter. It's her story.

Some of y'all aren't even arguing with the text anymore. You're arguing with the genre, the conventions of fantasy romance, and the very storytelling foundation SJM has built her worlds on for over a decade. Then you turn around and act morally superior because you don't like one of the genre's most established tropes. Well... go read another author.

The rest of us are going to keep reading the books the author actually wants to write, not the ones you've rewritten in your head.

I think before everyone starts jumping on the Wagner operas train and how it's influencing SJM or not, y'all should read the "Nazi appropriation" section on his wiki page. Considering SJM is Jewish, I think she would be very hesitant to directly reference and draw inspiration from operas that were used in Nazi propaganda and possibly played in concentration camps.

⋆.⟡Patrochilles⋆. ݁

“He is half my soul, as the poets say”

Shadow’s Favourite for @gwynrielweeksofficial

Azriel’s shadows are as obsessed with Gwyn as we are, so for this prompt, Swetha and I wanted to commission an artwork which captures just that! We adore the fact that his shadows sing and dance for Gwyn, and we simply cannot wait to see how they will react to our lovely Valkyrie in the next books!

Artwork is by the wonderful misbucka who is always a pleasure to work with!

Commissioned by @foreverinelysian and myself

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcL5CbtkYvW/?igsh=MTJld282MmUzYW01aA==&igsi=MTJld282MmUzYW01aA==

More beautiful gwynriel for @gwynrielweeksofficial Commissioned by me, @amandapearls and @acourtdelaluna

Artist is the amazing covaleinne

Shadows' Favorite 💙 | @gwynrielweeksofficial

There will never be anything normal to us about the way Azriel's shadows react to Gwyn. They dance with her breath. They answer her. They're curious about her. And there's something so sweet about these little extensions of him being drawn to the same bright, curious, competitive female who makes his chestspark, too.

Almost like some part of Azriel recognized her before he was ready to recognize it himself.

And speaking of things making us ridiculously happy...

Yesterday we proved Azriel can be hot with a shirt one. Today we share the shirtless art because, while | love you dearly,

@artoffrostandflame, we had to get a shirtless Az, one way or another.

And AJ clearly understood the assignment.

But truly, we can't thank you enough for this one. You are seriously the best, and this commission means so much to us. It's always so special getting to work with you, and we're forever grateful!

Art 🎨 by @artoffrostandflame on IG

Commissioned by @acourtdelaluna @miseryreads @trashforazriel and myself

Characters belong to Sarah J Maas

Please do not repost or upload to Al

“But he couldn't breathe as she faced him fully.”

“She was the most beautiful female he'd ever seen.”

ACOWAR by SJM

The Swan Maidens, Valkyries, and Other Things. An Unhinged Theory.

It's my time to shine!

Have any of you ever wondered what happened to the original Valkyries? What about Koschei and his weird little bird menagerie? What about that box Elain was talking about in ACOWAR?

Well, you've come to the right place! I've had this theory since 2022. But I don't color code or screenshot.

(If you read my long abandoned fic, Future Rust and Future Dust, you'll know where this is headed.)

The OG Valkyries are trapped as Koshei's Swans: We know the OG Valkyries "died" in the War and the survivors disappeared to their shame. But what if they didn't? What if a certain death god snatched up a bunch of beautiful warriors and put them in a nice little menagerie in his prison? Perhaps as SWANS.

Through research, Gwyn figures out where the Valkyries are. And our beloved trio go to the lake to save them. With the help of a certain shadowsinger.

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE:

What the hell did Papa Archeron trade for Vassa's Gap Year? It had to be something big, right? Perhaps a piece of his soul, which in fae terms meant his favorite child?

Elain is on her way to the lake too, perhaps as a prisoner. Maybe she becomes a little bird, or a bride. Much like Marya Morevna in the Russian fairytale, The Death of Koschei the Deathless.

Even though Elain reads more like Vasilia the Beautiful, she knows about the box, just like Koschei's clever and deceptive wife in the tale. She along with her LOVER find the box and destroy Koschei's soul inside. Sounds like a job for Elain's MATE LUCIEN.

We all win. We all get what we want. You're welcome. Have fun.

✨ Art by: babiniarts

✨ Commission & Caption by: @booksmaa

that was my first commission ever!! it's when you take the first super cool reference from Pinterest and enter the saga of finding an artist who would do exactly what you imagine... and i was so lucky to found babiniarts, who answered all my -demanding and super boring 😭 requests and did everything so perfectly. And she's a super nice person to talk to!

and honestly, i think there's something so fitting about this commission that gets me every time i look at it. it's not really about the kisses or the teasing, but about how completely at ease they are with each other.

Gwyn reaching for him without hesitation, leaving little traces of herself all over him, and Azriel - who is usually so guarded and unreadable maoo - simply letting her (as he should 🫶🩷).

there's something so intimate about being allowed that close to someone. about not pulling away. about letting yourself be touched, seen, and wanted.. and letting others see that too. letting them see how loved you are, how wanted you are, and how completely comfortable you feel with someone.

that's one of the things i'm most excited to see in Gwynriel's development. that kind of ease, that kind of intimacy, where they don't have to hide how much they want each other anymore.

(and maybe a little possessive Gwyn too? 🫢)

thank you babiniarts for this amazing piece! you did it perfectly! <3333

do not feed Al, do not use for anti-content, do not repost without permission.

Oh to grow up in a coven of female witches

Ribbons Undone 🗡️💙🤍🩵

@gwynrielweeksofficial

Before we get to the actual undoing of some ribbons, we wanted to start Ribbons Undone with the softer version first, Azriel nuzzled into Gwyn, while that legendary self-control of his is very clearly starting to slip. It's the way he's tucked himself into her neck, the hand wrapped around her jaw, the shadows curling across them both, and Gwyn just completely melting into him.

There's something about imagining Azriel, the male who is always so controlled, so guarded, so careful. finding someone he can be this comfortable and unrestrained with. And naturally, we love the idea of that someone being Gwyn.

He might still have his shirt on for this one, but between the parted lips, that grip and the way he's buried against her neck...

This art was such a special one by @artoffrostandflame, who of course will always rise to the challenge of drawing Azriel with a shirt on and somehow still making him one of the hottest Azriels ever. That buzz cut alone has me weak.

@artoffrostandflame, we adore you, dear. We truly can't put into words how special your art is or how much it means to us. It is always such an honor getting to work with you and something we'll forever be grateful for.

Thank you for this magical piece and for always pouring so much love into everything you create. Everything you touch is magic.

Please do not repost without permission, edit, alter, or use this artwork for Al purposes in any capacity.

Art 🎨 by @artoffrostandflame

@miseryreads @trashforazriel @acourtdelaluna & @norabraveseeker

Characters belong to Sarah J Maas and Bloomsbury

The Jacket™ WIP WOP

Yo @highfaelucien this is what I was talking about… still not sure I’ll finish it though!

I’m also going to take this time to say that I will be tagging my drawings with “acowar spoilers” until June, then it’s on you guys! Also don’t tell me anything, I already know more than I should

I actually have another theory that builds directly off my last post too, Gwyn she may eventually become High Priestess.

And then there’s Azriel.

Azriel will save his people the way Enalius once did.

We already know Enalius died defending Ramiel, choosing to protect his people even at the cost of his own life. SJM already set this up, if given the choice, Azriel would not choose to save the Illyrians. His relationship with his people is complicated, and he carries a deep resentment toward the Illyrian culture that caused him so much suffering.But what if that changes?

Enalius died defending Ramiel. I can see SJM writing Azriel choosing to defend his people as. his ultimate character payoff could be choosing to save his people anyway.

So how does Gwyn fit into all of this?

I think her role will still be tied directly to her priestesshood, even as a Valkyrie.

Because if Oleanna was the High Priestess connected to Gwydion and played a role in helping protect their world from the Daglan, then I don't think it's a coincidence that SJM made Gwyn a priestess before making her a Valkyrie.I think we could see Gwyn's two identities eventually converge. And rather than choosing between those roles, she could embody both.

So what if we're watching history repeat itself, but differently? Oleanna helped save their world through her role as a priestess.

Gwyn could help save theirs through both her priestesshood AND her Valkyrie identity.

And that would make the Valkyries' return especially meaningful. They aren't simply a group of women training together. They could become the next generation of warriors who stand between Prythian and whatever ancient threat eventually comes for them - hence why Nesta and Azriel are involved in the crossover to begin with. .

And that could be such a powerful parallel between Enalius and Azriel, especially if Gwyn is simultaneously following the path of Oleanna, .

Oleanna : High Priestess/Gwydion Enalius: Illyrian warrior/Truth-Teller

=

Gwyn = High Priestess/Valkyrie/Gwydion Azriel = Illyrian warrior/Truth-Teller

SJM isn't repeating their exact stories, she's giving Gwyn and Azriel the opportunity to finish what the previous generation couldn't through Azriel and Gwyn.

Let’s connect a few dots , Lucien Vanserra is the biological child of Helion (The current High Lord of the Day Court) and the Lady of the Autumn Court.

The Lady of the Autumn Court is currently married to Beron Vanserra, who is the High Lord of the Autumn Court, which makes Beron, Lucien’s stepfather. They have six children together, and those children are Lucien’s half brothers because they share the same mother biologically.

Since Lucien’s mother is an Autumn Court female. That makes half of Lucien’s heritage from the Autumn Court. His affinity for fire is from his mother’s very extremely powerful line of fire wielders.

In ACOWAR, when Feyre and Lucien are in the Autumn Court woods. She claims that Lucien seems crafted from the nature that surrounds them. That the woods that surrounded them were Lucien’s by blood and by law.

Lucien was born on Autumn Court soil, if hypothetically Helion knew that Lucien was his child, Beron could still technically fight for custody over Lucien, seeing as how SJM told us on the books that if someone is married to a High Lord and they take their wife without first going through the proper channels than they could declare war. It wouldn’t surprise me if children were also apart of those laws. It was probably why Lucien was raised in the Autumn Court as Beron’s and The Lady of the Autumn Courts son. Helion himself stated that The Lady of the Autumn Court chose to stay. He even reminded Feyre that some situations weren’t as easy to remedy as hers. (Especially when children are involved like in this situation)

All this being said. Just because Lucien was exiled doesn’t mean he still isn’t an Autumn Court male even if he’s also a Day Court male as well. He just has heritage in both courts and it’s odd that a subsection of the fandom can’t accept that.

✨ Art by: @majuandrad

✨ Commission & Caption by: @lovelymoonflower1 & missiemei

Azriel and Gwyn having a pillow fight during another restless night together 🌠🌌

Another one by @majuandrad thank you so much for creating this sweet and fun art of Gwyn and Azriel for us. Always amazing working with you, Maju 🫶

!! Please no reposting without permission from us commissioners and this art is not to be shared on twitter/x !!