I've been seeing some people (specifically Elriels) reference Richard Wagner's the Ring cycle as proof that Azriel and Elain are end game and at the centre of the next books due to the valkyrie cycle. I've looked into it and I think they've got the wrong couple!

Very VERY watered down summary

I've included who I think these characters actually in acotar.

Siegmund - lover of Sieglinde (Helion)

Sieglinde - lover of Sigmund, Wife of Hunding (LoA)

Hunding - husband of Sieglinde (Beron)

Siegfried - child of Siegmund and Sieglinde (Lucien)

Brünnhilde - valkyrie woman (Elain)

Sieglinde is forced into marriage with Hunding. Sieglinde and Siegmund are lovers and end up having a child together called Siegfried.

Brünnhilde defys her father in an attempt to save Siegfried's father Siegmund. As punishment: she is to be stripped of her Valkyrie status and become a mortal woman, to be held in defenceless sleep. She requests that her resting place be surrounded with a circle of perpetual fire that will protect her from all but the bravest of heroes.

Siegfried locates Brünnhilde and due his fearlessness is able to pass through the ring of fire. He wakes her with a kiss. Upon waking she hails the Sun and greets Siegfried as the World's Light.Afraid and hesitant at first to do so, Brünnhilde is eventually won over by Siegfried's love and renounces through her love for him the world of the gods and with it her own powers.

( Twilight of the Gods opera 4), The three goddess' of Nature, gather beside Brünnhilde's rock, weaving the Rope of Destiny. From it they read of the past, the present, and of the future.

Siegfried is tricked into drinking a potion so he forgets his love for Brünnhilde promising to marry another (gutrune) and Mary Brünnhilde to another man (Gunther). Through a series of events Brünnhilde discovers this treachery and devises a plan to kill Siegfried with her new betrothed because she believes he has betrayed her. As he dies, Siegfried remembers his love for Brünnhilde.

Brünnhilde eventually learns of the scheme to trick Siegfried and declares him innocent. She proceeds to ride into his funeral pyre and join him in death.

Obviously I don't think the deaths at the end will happen but I think if there are any parallels between these characters and acotar it's this way rather than Elain & Azriel being true loves like Siegfried & Brünnhilde or being stand ins for Siegmund and sieglinde with Lucien being Gunther or Hunding.

It screams Elucien. Lucien has fire magic so he could pass the ring of fire. He is a child of an affair after his mother was forced into marriage. Elain is hesitant about him and her feelings. His name means Light like worlds light. On the cover of the second book we see a spider WEAVING like a destiny weaver. I don't think Azriel is the bad guy in this, I actually wonder if it could be Koeschi in the place of Gunther. And if course we have the sleeping beauty imagery (a common Elain story therory) of Brünnhilde

I think the valkyrie reference is to the Valkyries we already know (Nesta, Gwyn & emorie) NOT Wagner's opera but if people are insisting on the twilight of the gods imagery... Elucien fits better than any other ship

Either way. The Wagner theory, at its core fits Elucien better than elriel and it's the only thing they currently are using to argue elriel

Edit to clarify similarities, fix typos and make opinions more concise.

SJM has previously said she'd be interested in combining the snow queen with the Wild Swans as a retelling in her stories. I though it would be fun to try and see which way the story would go. I've only included the snow queen because the Wild Swans seems pretty clear to be a Vassa story and I'm not a writer so I have no idea how you would be able to perfectly mesh the two besides a lake being in both of them. 

Gerda - Enclosure, fenced in, protected one, 

Kai - sea, ocean, victory, triumphant music, warrior. 

The Snow Queen summary

There is a Troll Troll Mirror that makes people see the bad in people it one day splits and fall down to earth. Sometimes is lands in people and gives them a cold & bitter disposition. 

Kai and Gerda grow up together growing vegetables and roses. During one spring, Gerda sings a song to Kai about roses "Roses flower in the vale; there we hear Child Jesus' tale! ". After that the sight of roses would always remind Gerda of her love for Kai. 

One summer, Splinters of the broken troll mirror end up in Kai's eye and heart making him cruel and aggressive.  He destroys the gardens and becomes cruel to Gerda and her family as he can only see the bad in them.

The only thing he can look at without seeing anything bad is snowflakes. Whilst studying the snowflakes he is lead away by the snow queen. She kisses him to make him forget about Gerda and she takes him with her to her house in the clouds. 

Everyone assumes Kai has died and drowned in a local river when he is not seen again but Gerda doesn't believe so. She goes to the river and offered her shoes in return of him, the river returns her shoes. So she finds a boat and takes to the river, she comes across a sorceress who makes her forget Kai and the roses. The sorceress make all the roses in her garden hide beneath the soil so Gerda will not remember. One day Gerda sees a rose in the sorcerer's hat and instantly remembers Kai. She begins to cry and the roses in the garden grow from her tears. They tell her Kai is not dead. She runs away from the sorceress and realises it is now Autumn. 

Eventually Gerda locates the snow queens palace and says the Lord's prayer. Her breath takes the shape of angels and allows her past the guards. 

Gerda find Kai alone and immobile on a frozen lake called the mirror of reason. He has been set a task my the snow queen that be must complete to be released. Gerda runs up and kisses him, the kiss releases him from the spell and as Gerda begins to weep happy tears, her tears land on Kai and melt his heart and with it the splinter. Then Kai begins to cry and it washes away the splinter in his eye. Kai and Gerda return home to find that everything at home is the same, and that it is they who have changed; they are now grown up, and are also delighted to see that it is summertime.

Breakdown for each potential couple. with a theory of how it could play out

1. Elain and Lucien

Roses - Lucien was emissary of the spring court which we know has a long affiliation with roses. Lucien also gifted her gloves to assist with her gardening

Singing - no singing that we know of from either of them

Dispositions - Elain is quiet, nurturing & Gentle, Lucien is clever, sarcastic, charming, guarded.

Lucien already trying to free Vassa from koeschi has comes under the spell of a witch mirror (Tog). Upon returning to the night court he becomes cold with Elain and ends up destroying her gardens. He returns to the human lands and comes under a spell from koeschi becoming trapped on the lake. Somehow Elain is spelled to forget Lucien, she remembers him when she sees the gardening gloves he gifts her and then goes onto save him. 

2. Azriel and Gwyn

Roses - the necklace the Azriel left for Gwyn was a rose. As far as we know she was unaware is was from him. 

Singing - we know Gwyn is a singer and so is Azriel 

The lord prayer - we have seen that aRiels shows play with gwyns breath. 

Dispositions - Azriel quiet, protective, observant. Gwyn is competitive, Joyful, Fierce 

Gwyn finds a witch mirror through her research with Merrill and it ends up implanted in her. She turns hostile to everyone and eventually leaves the night court, perhaps destroying the library on her way out. Azriel is somehow spelled to forget her, and during the library clean up he discovers the rose necklace he left for her. This triggers his memory of her and he goes off to recover her and remove the mirror from her. Likely also have her trapped on koeschiis lake 

3. Elain and Azriel

Roses - Azriel gift Elain the rose necklace which she returned to him. 

Singing Azriel is a singer 

Dispositions - Elain is quiet, nurturing & Gentle. Azriel quiet, protective, observant. 

Azriel through his portal travels comes across a witch mirror leading to him becoming infected with the mirror. He turns hostile to the night court and leaves. There is a spy somewhere in the NC who causes them all to forget about him. Elain remembers him somehow, maybe if she sees Gwyn wearing the necklace? and then goes after him to free him from koeschiis lake. 

Azriel & Eris and Bryce & Azriel, sorry shippers! I don't have enough knowledge on these ships to theorise. 

Mor I haven't taken into account either. 

What does everyone think for each couple? 

Be kind please. I put a lot of effort into this and tried to see how it could work from most ships.

I am constantly seeing people RAVE about this book especially on booktok. I was told outlander vibes but with werewolves.

To me it read as almost a direct rip off of Scottish culture/scenes in outlander. The wolves are barbaric and can't be trusted to govern their own society??? That's a straight rip from history of the english and the Scottish highlanders.

It reads at a wattpad fanfic of outlander without the time travel but with wolves. Now....I can understand a vibes read, I can love a vibes read at times but at least warn me.

I ended up skimming from about 60% trying to see if it got better... It didn't

Don't scream to the skys that a book/Series is "INCREDIBLE! The next best thing in romantasy" when it's a vibes read because I enter those books with high hopes and am utterly disappointed. And end up HATING them and distrusting the booktoker.

Now, advertise a book as trashy but a fun time, convoluted but gripping, unoriginal but funny, Utter Nonsense but there is sexy men, completely unhinged but I couldn't look away? I go into it with a clear understanding and can enjoy the book. (I'm looking at you psycho shifters. I am ashamed)

This is the second time it's happened to me. The first was a series that I committed to finishing because people swear by it (rage read the entire series and hated myself), second was obviously wolf king, and now it's happened AGAIN (wings of blood) and in the first 30% of this new book I gave up because I am still angry at Wolf King.

Am I alone in my rage?

I'm gwyenriel and Elucien supporter.

I'm trying get into the heads of other ships just to understand where they are coming from (oh my god are the elriels condescending at times) and I've started to appreciate a lot of fan art.

Personally I look at the fan art of gwyenriel and Elucien and think WOW they are beautiful couples and each individually heighten the beauty of their significant other. Alternatively, I personally haven't seen an elriel art that actually looks like they go together, the art is well executed and beautiful but they just look wrong together and like seperate beings in the same picture

Is this a common observation or am I being closed minded because of my preferred ships?. I'm literally looking at elriel art and Thinking "they look so wrong together, they take away from each other's beauty"

I'm a gwyenriel & Elucien supporter. I am pretty adamant that SJM has been laying clues for those two couples.

But I was wondering if there has been any discussion around a why choose trope being possible for Elain? With Azriel & Lucian or anyone else you ship her with, what are the thoughts?

I have no evidence to support this. Was just wondering if there is any theories out there

Hi all,

I have Libby and have 7 libraries registered on it. None of them have mistborn in ebook or audiobook. This seems so strange. It there a reason his books aren't in libraries?

In Australia btw

Edit.....why are people down voting this post?

What is everyone's opinions? I see the benefits of both and lean towards having Santa in our house. However I'm terrified some adult will randomly tell our child at a very young age (under 6) that Santa isn't real. I've been seeing these horror stories recently and I think that would be pretty damaging to a kids trust and psyche to find out that way at such a young age.

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Hi all,

Starting getting my Christmas gifts organised (I know it's early but I like to be organised)

I have an 8yr old nephew and a brother-in-law that I'm thinking king of buying Pokemon cards for but I don't know where to start. Hoping some fans can actually help me out.

For the nephew I was thinking of this https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pokemon-trading-card-game:-battle-academy-2024-43485390/

He can actually play the game with friends and siblings? If I can get this is it good or should I look for something else. He doesn't have any Pokemon cards but I feel like he's at a good age to start the love.

My brother in law likes to open packs, be genuinely just gets joy of opening them up and seeing what he gets. I don't believe he's ever sold anything but he's considered going to a trade event I think? I just don't know where to start. Should I get lots of the cheaper packs and if so, do you get them all at the same place (or do they release them in lots so he'd have a high chance of getting the same packs that way)? Or do I do one of the more expensive packs? There is so many different types so I have no clue. I'd probably be looking at around $30 spend on him.

Any help would be appreciated otherwise I'm going in blind.

I played bingo blitz on Freecash. One of the offers was to play 60 minutes a day for 40 days, 55 days and 70 days.

My offer stopped tracking at 26 days. I contacted Freecash before the day was up and was told to wait 48hrs and then contact them again. I wanted 48hrs, meanwhile continued play and contacted them again to only be told that they couldn't do anything after 48hrs and I should try a different offer, next time make sure the offer is credited after 1hr..... The exact opposite of what had been told to be 48hrs prior.

Hours wasted playing this game to only get screwed over. Don't support the game and don't support freecash.

I've lost out on about $90 because the app refused to track and freecash refused to credit even with proof of playtime.

I played bingo blitz on Freecash. One of the offers was to play 60 minutes a day for 40 days, 55 days and 70 days.

My offer stopped tracking at 26 days. I contacted Freecash before the day was up and was told to wait 48hrs and then contact them again. I wanted 48hrs, meanwhile continued play and contacted them again to only be told that they couldn't do anything after 48hrs and I should try a different offer, next time make sure the offer is credited after 1hr..... The exact opposite of what had been told to be 48hrs prior.

Hours wasted playing this game to only get screwed over. Don't support the game and don't support freecash.

I've lost out on about $90 because the app refused to track and freecash refused to credit even with proof of playtime.

Hi all,

I used Kin prenatal vitamins in 2024 for my first bub. I'm looking at starting prenatals again in preparation for TTC bub #2. Is kin not on the market anymore?

I remember doing a bunch of research at the time and I settled on Kin from memory It had additional vitamins than some of the others on the market but now it's not a woolies anymore.

What's the best prenatal on the market now?

So I've read a few bdsm dynamic books and I love them. I specifically love the MDom/fsub dynamic.

There was a scene that I read and I'm looking for more.

Essentially he comes home, she is kneeling for him and then he pushes her face into his groin before unbuckling his pants on having her provide oral to him all before he even greets her. I'd love to read more science like this

What I specifically like about the book that I read it in was that they had a very caring relationship outside of the sex, the dynamic was 24/7 and not just during the sex but he was respectful of her as a human being.

Looking for books with PRAISE, kneeling, D/s dynamic, TPE, good girls, Sir, providing service.

Not really looking for degredation, non con, dub con

Okay with age gap 25years or less, daddy dynamic, RH, monstor. Spanking, rough play

I haven't read any alien or historical so I'm not sure if they are my style

Books I've read similar -

Finding Anna by Sherri Hayes

Praise by Sara Cate

Keep me by Sara Cate

Sin City Mafia series by Lane Hart

Highest Bidder series by Lauren Landish & Willow winters

Losers by Harley La Roux

I've just learned how to download epubs from AO3 so please send recs from there as well

Reading a Reverse Harem Dark Romance and you come across this line 😂😂

"My heart wanted them. All four of them. At once. No holes barred. Just us. Together. And delirious ecstasy."

I'm not sure if the author did it on purpose of by accident

{Four horsemen by Sarah Bailey}