u/dewdrops07

Hi everyone! My partner and I are currently debating this because we’re both confused about the necklace situation in Azriel’s bonus chapter for ACOTAR 5 (ACOSF) which we literally just discovered existed today. This bonus chapter lowkey irritated us both.

Spoilers for the entire SJM universe below:👇

My main question: How does Azriel get the necklace back? And what was he thinking?!

In the bonus chapter, Azriel puts the necklace on Elain, gets interrupted by Rhysand, and later gifts what appears to be the same necklace to Gwyn. But we never actually see what happens to it in between.

I keep seeing explanations mistakenly repeated in discussions as though they’re established canon:

1) Elain gave it back. We never see this happen. The last time we see the necklace with Elain, it’s still around her neck when Azriel leaves.

2) Azriel took it back himself. We never see this happen, either.
Both are theories, not confirmed explanations. The text simply tells us that Azriel finds the necklace again the following morning.
Could Rhysand have taken it? Could the House of Wind have somehow been involved? There are possibilities, but none are confirmed as far as I can tell.

The only concrete detail we get is that the following morning, Azriel “found Elain’s necklace amid the pile” of presents at the River House. It’s back in his possession, mixed in with his other gifts, but we’re never told how it got there.

Am I missing an actual textual clue, or is this genuinely left unexplained? I know we’re meant to assume or infer Elaine left it but you truly never know with SJM so it’s worth wondering. I’m hesitant to treat fan theories as canon when the book itself doesn’t establish what happened.

🎁And can we talk about the decision to regift it in the first place? Azriel’s treating the Night Court like a Secret Santa exchange, recycling romantic gestures within the same friend group until one person accepts. 😭 Sir, these women have to see each other!

Honestly, this whole situation has soured my perception of Azriel. The necklace felt like a meaningful gesture, and regifting it makes that gesture feel less personal to both potential pairings. It also makes me question his judgment and credibility in a way I hadn’t before. It lessens his connection are care for Elaine. Is lessens his gesture to Gwyn. Is lessens the impact of his decision making. It weakens him altogether and gives off the vibes of the weird guy just trying to find anyone to make him feel good about himself. Like that one guy at the bar that can’t find a connection so just keeps going to the next girl. Idk that’s definitely too harsh but this chapter shocked me and felt very out of character, or like I was reading a fanfic.

And please, no “he’s just being a dumb boy” justifications. This is a 500+ year-old fae warrior man, not a teenage boy who doesn’t know any better to gift a meaningful item twice. I think we can critique his romantic decisions without excusing them as boyish stupidity.

At this point, I honestly don’t want either Elain or Gwyn to end up with him because they both deserve better than a man who apparently can’t figure out what he wants or give a gift without creating a mess. And this has even watered down my dream ship of Azriel and Bryce… at this point, I don’t even feel silly for that, Azriel seems to smile for whichever girl is nice to him. Gwyn asked why he’s a shadow singer and that little line brought a smile to his face and next thing you know he’s giving her an anonymous gift. Idk…. How am I supposed to root for him with anyone when this whole situation makes him look so indecisive and careless with other people’s feelings?

What are your interpretations of the necklace situation? And has it changed how you view Azriel?

Has anyone else had this happen locally? I’m in central California and the main hospital in our city is no longer hiring CNAs and doing a “restructure” to how they provide care. All CNA work is performed by LVNs now… I didn’t even know that was possible or allowed? I dont think LVNs get signed off on our same skills? [EDIT to add: poor word choice here. I know LVNs absolutely CAN do CNA stuff, but haven’t experienced that nor do I think they should have to. LVNs I worked with in LTC did not do CNA responsibilities, their hands are full with the more nuanced patient care while we CNAs did the physical patient care tasks and ADLs].

Regardless it feels like that’s just one more barrier to working being removed with there being less jobs and now less hospital work experience for those of us wanting to go into nursing…

Google says it’s not possible or legal for LVNs to replace CNAs or to make the do this work but I have friends who work there and they said it’s common knowledge now that there’s no hired CNAs and won’t be again due ti these new structures….

So crazy to me! And those poor LVNs doing the opposite of what they signed up for

Is a 10-year employment gap a total kiss of death for a new nurse these days?

My school requires a CNA cert to apply, so I just finished my clinicals. It's our last week and my classmates are already getting hired for CNA jobs to work during pre-reqs. This Fall I start the main nursing pre-reqs since I have everything but that… so I’ll do Anatomy —> Phys —> Microbio (for the next 3 semesters).

It's giving me major anxiety that I should add part time CNA work on top of it. I haven't worked a paid job in years (only volunteering), and by the time I graduate nursing school, it will be a 10-year gap.

But I have learning disabilities and need a perfect GPA to get accepted. I also just wanted to lock-in for school. If I work, my grades will suffer. If I don't work, my CNA cert will expire in 2 years and I feel like I'll be lagging behind other applicants.

Should I protect my GPA and focus 100% on school? Or will hospitals completely reject a new grad RN with a 10-year employment gap in this hiring economy?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in a 10-week CNA program through my local community college. The program has been great, and clinicals at a long-term care facility have been intense but valuable.

I decided on CNA because I felt pretty lost after an injury took me out of work almost seven years ago. I’m in my mid-30s and started the CNA program while taking nursing prerequisites because I was considering becoming an RN. Nursing seemed like a path that could offer stability, good opportunities, and meaningful work, and I hoped CNA clinicals would help me figure out if it was the right fit before committing further.

The problem is that I still feel pretty neutral about it? I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either. I think I’m good at the work, especially when I’m connecting one-on-one with residents, and there are definitely meaningful moments. But there are also hard moments, especially when dementia causes someone who was kind and grateful five minutes ago to become angry or verbally abusive.

I guess I expected some big “this is my calling” moment, and it just hasn’t happened. I don’t feel any more certain about working as a CNA or becoming a RN than I did before starting the program.

For those who went from CNA to nursing, what convinced you it was worth continuing? Was there a point where it clicked, or did you just keep moving forward despite feeling unsure?

For those who stayed in healthcare, how did you know it was right for you? And for those who left the field, what made you realize it wasn’t?

Is it normal to feel this detached while figuring things out, or is that usually a sign you’re on the wrong path?