offtorivendell

[offtorivendell]

Thank you! If you don't call your own side out for clowning when it suits you/them (and I use that term affectionately, because that's what I call it when I do it myself), then you can't - or shouldn't - turn around and mock others for doing the same thing when it suits them.

Everyone in the fandom does it. Why not let people have fun? It hurts nobody.

I know people are already discrediting Sarah's instagram post today, which is perfectly fine. Of course an author should be able to post about a new album they are enjoying and have that be it. And people are welcome to interpret this however they wish. Confirmation bias is a real thing, and none of us are above it.

For example, I myself am a writer. I spend a lot of time curating playlists that remind me of my characters and help me get in their headspace. I truly believe a lot of writers connect deeply to music and lyrics and poetry that hit dip on themes they explore. So this confirms my bias that Sarah is extremely excited about an amazing song that just dropped by a massive artist that reminds her of her work. That is truly one of the best feelings in the world.

Ana Huang curates playlists for every single one of her couples and books. She both posts them on her website and at the beginning of her books:

These photos were pulled directly from my kindle from her website.

Sarah does have a book announcement coming soon. One of the biggest stars in the world and one of her favorite artists released a song that has an uncanny amount of similar themes to a couple that every major news outlet covering the topic in the past months have suggested is "suspected or likely to be next" and Sarah was genuinely so excited about that song (out of 31 tracks) and said "Thank you for this GIFT."

Just a few weeks ago SJM made a big post about Spring. It was full of flowers, blushes and pinks, and BAKING! All of those things scream Elain, however there was a huge surge of "Sarah is so intentional, she does everything for a reason. There is no way this isn't confirming Lucien or Tamlin endgame." Those same people are now saying that this very pointed instagram post is meaningless and let the woman just post fun stuff that she likes. Sarah also loves flowers and baking in her real life, so that also *could* have just been things Sarah loves and just general ACOTAR buzz since there are new readers every day and the series starts in the Spring Court.

Another important major thing to note is that Sarah frequently states she does not have social media on her phone, she stays out of theory spaces, and she likely does not run her own socials. Most, if not all of her posts are directly related to her books and generating buzz. Her last feed post was about writing the ACOTAR book, and now a song came out that is potentially a perfect fit. This all falls within marketing and generating buzz and conversation. Sarah likely didn't just download instagram to her personal phone, which she avoids like the plague, just to post this one song and then delete it again. It is more likely it fits in with marketing themes.

The truth is, we, as the consumer, do not get to decide the intentions behind a public persona's social media behavior. But when it comes to Sarah's last two instagram stories, it's either both or neither. Either Sarah's flower and baking filled springtime post meant something AND this means something, or neither meant anything.

Sarah is aware everything she does gets dissected. I'm not making a definitive statement whether or not she leans into that, since she hasn't made an outright statement like the queen of easter eggs herself Taylor Swift has.

But there is only one character relevant to both of her instagram stories: Elain Archeron.

Flowers. Baking. Forbidden love.

We don't have to change up the rules or remove anything from the equation to show all signs point to Elain.

[offtorivendell]

I love the balance in this theory, it's such a great parallel. I think you'd love @wingedblooms post about this, she thinks the same!

Two of the sister mountains have been explored. Two of the Archeron sisters have been explored.

One of the sister mountains has not been explored. One of the Archeron sisters has not been explored.

The math is mathing.

#three sisters three mountains #elain archeron

[offtorivendell]

Okay I want to steal 'The Ashen' book three from the future... someone please invent time travel real quick? Ta.

#the ashen #thank you wingedblooms for telling me to read it #the road of bones

[offtorivendell]

IS THIS ANOTHER HINT FOR ELAIN?!?! ELRIEL? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[Verse 1]

Drownin' in the Blue Nile

He sent me "Downtown Lights"

I hadn't heard it in a while

My boredom's bone-deep

This cage was once just fine

Am I allowed to cry?

I dream of crackin' locks

Throwin' my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks

Crashin' into him tonight, he's a paradox

I'm seeing visions

Am I bad or mad or wise?

[Chorus]

What if he's written "Mine" on my upper thigh only in my mind?

I'm slippin', fallin' back into the hedge maze

Oh, what a way to die

I keep recalling things we never did

Messy top lip kiss, how I long for our trips

Without ever touchin' his skin

How can I be guilty as sin?

[Verse 2]

I keep these longings locked

In lowеrcase inside a vault

Someonе told me, "There's no such thing as bad thoughts

Only your actions talk"

These fatal fantasies

Giving way to labored breath takin' all of me

We've already done it in my head, if it's make-believe

Why does it feel like a vow we'll both uphold somehow?

[Chorus]

What if he's written "Mine" on my upper thigh only in my mind?

I'm slippin', fallin' back into the hedge maze

Oh, what a way to die

My bed sheets are ablaze

I've screamed his name

Buildin' up like waves crashin' over my grave

Without ever touchin' his skin

How can I be guilty as sin?

[Bridge]

What if I roll the stone away?

They're gonna crucify me anyway

What if the way you hold me is actually what's holy?

If long-suffering propriety is what they want from me

They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly

I choose you and me religiously

[Chorus]

What if he's written "Mine" on my upper thigh only in my mind?

I'm slippin', fallin' back into the hedge maze

Oh, what a way to die

I keep recalling things we never did

Messy top lip kiss, how I long for our trips

Without ever touchin' his skin

How can I be guilty as sin?

[Outro]

He sent me "Downtown Lights"

I hadn't heard it in a while

Am I allowed to cry?

#if wingedblooms says so it must be true #elain archeron #elriel

[offtorivendell]

I just…I just don’t understand people when they say Elain and Azriel don’t make sense. I picked up on their chemistry during the first meeting and Azriel went all poetic about how it feels to fly. They had the subtle chemistry while Nesta and Cassian were enemies to lovers right off the bat.

Now with five books worth of buildup and subtle moments here and there then a full blown bonus chapter where Azriel admits he can’t sleep because he’s tormented over the mating bond between Elain and ginger, he stares at the headache powder she gave him on his nightstand, and then him just fully admitting he’s down so bad for her he wanted to get on his knees and eat her out without care of her mate, their family, and anyone seeing them? They don’t make sense?!?

What are yall reading?!

[offtorivendell]

I really do think you could be right, the only thing holding me back from this is that it sounds too close to golden showers, as @tswaney17 says. Otherwise it'd have my whole vote, because you know I think Elain's sight is tied to the void/shadows. Gilded gets around that, but maybe SJM will just say fuck it?

Despite the chill night, every shop was open as we walked through the city. Musicians played in the little squares, and the Palace of Thread and Jewels was packed with shoppers and performers, High Fae and lesser faeries alike. But we continued past, down to the river itself, the water so smooth that the stars and lights blended on its dark surface like a living ribbon of eternity. The five of them were unhurried as we strolled across one of the wide marble bridges spanning the Sidra, often moving forward or dropping back to chat with one another. From the ornate lanterns that lined either side of the bridge, faelight cast golden shadows on the wings of the three males, gilding the talons at the apex of each. - ACOMAF, chapter 29

You cannot tell me that the faelight here stands for anything other than the Archeron sisters.

“May the Immortal Light shine upon thee, sisters.” - ACOTAR, chapter 3

This sounds perfect for the hypothetical Elriel book bringing a three brothers x three sisters prophecy to fruition in a post crossover world.

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

Hi nonnie!

So I actually have two guesses at the title. Only problem, the acronyms are terrible. 😂

A Court of Gilded Shadows (ACOGS)

A Court of Shadowed Dreams (ACOSD)

Can’t wait for their book! 🦇🌸

#hosab spoilers #hofas spoilers #acotar 5

[offtorivendell]

↳ elizabeth bennet + roasting her way into darcy's heart

[offtorivendell]

I don't know, because Nesta was Silver Flames, so what if Elain is Gilded/Golden Shadows? If her Sight is tied to the Void, it could fit. 🤔

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

Hi nonnie!

So I actually have two guesses at the title. Only problem, the acronyms are terrible. 😂

A Court of Gilded Shadows (ACOGS)

A Court of Shadowed Dreams (ACOSD)

Can’t wait for their book! 🦇🌸

[offtorivendell]

I love all of this! Jane Eyre, for me, exists in an odd sort of place in my heart, because the story is great (it's a classic for a reason!), and Jane has her own sort of strength, but like you said, the romance doesn't really "hold up" to the standards of today.

I've had some thoughts on this topic for a while, so I hope you don't mind me adding them here, since you brought up the parallel. 💜

I absolutely agree with your analysis above, but also, what if SJM is simultaneously using Elain and Lucien to be critical of the relationship between Jane and Rochester (on Rochester's side specifically - Lucien is obviously not responsible for the Elucien bond's existence) while highlighting Elain's/Jane's strengths?

It may not be a good thing that she used the string/rib parallel between the two couples. As most of us would acknowledge, just because Rochester is Jane Eyre's endgame doesn't mean the two of them had a healthy relationship.

What if SJM is commenting on...

Rochester's entitlement to Jane being an HR version of Prythian's mating bond (where the males are seen to own the females).

The hypothetical role of the Cauldron in the Elucien bond being domineering.

The fact that Rochester tried to take TWO WIVES?! I know some hate it, but the two/true mates theory exists for a reason. Is it Azriel, with Mor and Elain, or Lucien with Jesminda and Elain? Is it Elain, with Azriel and Lucien?

I think you're right in your supposition that the link between the two instances of the rib/string quote couples is meant to be more than, well, rib deep.

I also want to add that even a couple/male love interest who do/does hold up better to modern romance standards - Jane and Bingley - were not immune from SJM using their most famous quote for a doomed relationship. Feyre said her version of "a thousand times, yes" to Tamlin, and we all know how well that worked out.

Anyway, thank you for this analysis, I love that you brought in St John as well to really round it out.

Elain Archeron & The Themes of Jane Eyre

(Debunking that quote that connects Lucien & Elain with the actual themes of Jane Eyre)

There's been a lot of discourse where Elain stating there's a 'pull on her rib' to a quote has been connected to Jane Eyre and soulmates, specifically between Jane and Rochester.

However, Lucien and Elain are more connected to Jane and St. John, whereas Azriel and Elain are more similar to Rochester and Jane.

Here's why:

To start off, I don't believe anyone's story will be a Jane Eyre retelling because this does not hold up to modern times. But the pivotal themes of Jane Eyre focus on love and desire over duty, specifically when it comes to marriage, autonomy, gender, social status, religion, etc.

Who else do we know that has struggled with this? Perhaps a young Archeron that was raised to be the perfect wife?

Jane refuses to marry St. John because she does not love him, but St. John pressures Jane to ignore her feelings and submit to his powerful conception of moral duty. ⬇️

"You are his mate. Do you even know what that means?" "It means nothing," Elain said, her voice breaking. "You belong to him." "I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you." - ACOWAR

Jane's duty is to St. John (similar to how Elain's duty is to Lucien), but it is shown that she struggles with duty and responsibility all her life and chooses love (including loving herself) and desire over this. She eventually marries Rochester, who loves her for her internal, rather than external beauty.

Lucien exists as a foil for Azriel in the same way that St. John is a foil for Rochester.

"Bronte created a heroine who wants to learn what love is and how to find it, just as she herself did. Bronte was unusually explict in placing that protagonist amid dysfunctional famiilies, perverse partnerships, and abusive caretakers." - Literary critic Sandra M. Gilbert

I love Jane Eyre - it's a book that I had read for the first time at a young age, a play that I performed in, and I've had a copy on my shelf for as long as I remember. It is certainly not an easy read, but I do feel that it's easy to quote from Jane Eyre, but another thing to actually understand the major themes that Bronte is presenting.

She's a romantic heroine - not a sword-fighting, warrior heroine, but she is still considered to be strong and powerful. (Just like Elain) 🙂

#pro elriel #elain 🤝 jane eyre #but not how you think #jane eyre spoilers #i mean it's almost two centuries old but just in case

[offtorivendell]

Azriel: *Lucien season*

Before anyone gets too upset, guys it's a joke. And Azriel didn't bring up the blood duel, Rhys did.

Elain: fuck, marry, kill - me, Cassian and Rhys.

Azriel: fuck you, marry you, kill Lucien.

Lucien: I wasn't even one of the options, what the fuck?

#elriel #elain archeron #azriel shadowsinger

[offtorivendell]

I just really like the idea of Nesta having Silver in her title, and Elain having Golden or Gilded etc. I think those tones suit them well.

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

Hi nonnie!

So I actually have two guesses at the title. Only problem, the acronyms are terrible. 😂

A Court of Gilded Shadows (ACOGS)

A Court of Shadowed Dreams (ACOSD)

Can’t wait for their book! 🦇🌸

[offtorivendell]

I'm leaning towards A Court of Gilded Dreams, Blooms, Shadows or Vines. I hadn't thought of shadowed dreams before but I love that, too!

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

Hi nonnie!

So I actually have two guesses at the title. Only problem, the acronyms are terrible. 😂

A Court of Gilded Shadows (ACOGS)

A Court of Shadowed Dreams (ACOSD)

Can’t wait for their book! 🦇🌸

[offtorivendell]

💌send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome.💌

Brb gotta send this straight back to you 💜💜💜

#otr ask

[offtorivendell]

Azriel needs someone who can handle his darkness.

"Elain had always seen every horrible part of her and decided to stick by her anyway."

Nesta, Chapter 17 in ACOSF

"She had been born wrong. Had been born with claws and fangs and had never been able to keep from using them, never been able to quell the part of her that roared at betrayal, that could hate and love more violently than anyone ever understood. Elain had been the only one who perhaps grasped it."

Nesta, Chapter 49 in ACOSF

[offtorivendell]

it freed her

when we find out Elain is a seer

Lucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, “Should we—does she need …?”

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien.

Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly.

“We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

the knowledge seems to free her

“You stole from the Cauldron,” I said to Nesta, who seemed ready to jump between all of us and Elain. “But what if the Cauldron gave something to Elain?”

Nesta’s face drained of color. “What?” Equally ashen, Lucien seemed inclined to echo Nesta’s hoarse question.

But Azriel nodded. “You knew,” he said to Elain. “About the young queen turning into a crone.”

Elain blinked and blinked, eyes clearing again. As if the understanding, our understanding…it freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in.

from a dark realm where dream and reality entwine.

#elain archeron

[offtorivendell]

I don't normally do this, but I'm literally in disbelief over the hypocrisy I've just witnessed, so here goes.

ACOTAR fandom bullshit incoming, feel free to scroll on by:

I had an interaction with a Gwynriel the other day, and they accused me of being rude for - checks notes - simply having the audacity to speak to them uninvited. It wasn't what I said (though apparently we're all "insecure" for stating our interpretation of the text lol), but the fact that I said something to them at all on a third party's OP.

Fine, whatever. I've never come across anyone with that opinion/rule for Tumblr etiquette before, but it takes all sorts. I decided to leave them be.

BUT!

It has come to my attention that someone, since then, has screenshot and shared - without invitation or permission, I would bet - a lighthearted Reddit interaction between a couple of Elain fans who were simply having fun with SJM's most recent post? Mocking them, and calling them delusional?

I'll give you three guesses.

If you know who this person is, please leave them alone. Nothing good will come of trying to get them to see where they may need to evaluate their own actions, and I don't want to see anyone getting harassed, for whatever reason. This just—wow. All corners of the fandom do this, so I'm by no means saying Elriels don't behave badly, and there are plenty of lovely Gwynriels around, too.

The double standards just made me laugh. Being rude is bad, but being nasty is okay? Sure thing. 😂

#sigh #rant

[offtorivendell]

The way I would actually die for Faramir and Eowyn.