Why (I think) ACOSF made it *obvious* Elain’s book is next
I know there have been a bunch of posts on this point, but I find it so interesting how I see so many posts assuming Azriel’s book is next (based mainly, I think, on his bonus chapter). I had the exact opposite reaction when I finished ACOSF and when I finished the bonus chapters. I came away thinking “the next book is 100% about Elain” and it wasn’t until I started interacting with different parts of the fandom that I realized most people were assuming Az’s book was definitely next. So I thought I would compile what made it obvious to me that the next book is Elain’s (and Azriel’s too, but that’s beside the point lol).
Elain’s Powers
We’re told there’s been no signs of Elain’s power since the war.
Elain, too, had revealed no indication of her seer’s abilities since then.
But there is quite a bit of foreshadowing that Elain still has them, which made me think we’re going to see them very soon.
All three sisters were now High Fae with considerable powers, though only Feyre’s were let loose. Even Amren had no idea whether Elain’s and Nesta’s powers remained.
“The last time we involved ourselves with the Cauldron, it abducted you,” Nesta countered, fighting her shaking. She found the words, the weapons she sought. “I thought you didn’t have powers anymore.” Elain pursed her lips. “I thought you didn’t, either.”
But Elain had confirmed it for everyone: both sisters still possessed their Cauldron-gifted powers. Whether they were as powerful as before, he had no idea.
Elain Coming Out Of Her Shell
We get several scenes showing Elain is coming out of her shell and that she’s not as weak/docile/nice as everyone seems to think she is, telling us, the readers, that there’s a lot more for us to learn about Elain. All of this to me seemed to be preparing us for Elain’s book, and telling us that her story is coming next.
Elain stiffened, but refused to balk from whatever she beheld in Nesta’s gaze. “You think I’m to blame for his death?” Challenge filled each word. Challenge—from Elain, of all people. “No one but the King of Hybern is to blame for that.” The quaver in her voice belied her firm words.
Elain remained in the doorway, her face pale but her expression harder than Nesta had ever seen it. “You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta.”
Elain said, “Then I will find it. I might require some time to … reacquaint myself with my powers, but I could start today.” “Absolutely not,” Nesta spat, fingers curling at her sides. “Absolutely not.” “Why?” Elain demanded. “Shall I tend to my little garden forever?” When Nesta flinched, Elain said, “You can’t have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do anything greater.”
Elain cut in sharply, “I am not a child to be fought over.”
But Nesta cut her off, seething at the pity about to be thrown her way. “Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.”
But Elain said, “I went into the Cauldron, too, you know. And it captured me. And yet somehow all you think of is what my trauma did to you.”
Nesta was wrong, Cassian realized, to think Elain as loyal and loving as a dog. Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why.
“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked. Elain blinked. Nesta blinked back, horror lurching through her. And then Elain burst out laughing. Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath. Nesta just stared, torn between questions and wanting to throw herself into the icy Sidra. “I— I’m so sorry—” Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. “You’ve never said such a thing to me!” She laughed again. “I think that’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
Predestiny vs. Choice
We also get several moments of how Cassian and Nesta see Elain that to me at least screamed “this is how Elain is seen, but this is not who Elain is or who Elain is going to choose to be.” These scenes to me are setting up the dichotomy between Elain’s predestiny and how everyone sees Elain, vsersus who Elain really is and chooses to be.
Lucien vs. Az (I don’t have a quote for this, but clearly this is set up as predestiny vs. choice)
It was always that way between them: Elain, sweet and oblivious, and Nesta, the snarling wolf at her side, poised to shred anyone who threatened her. Elain is pleasant to look at, her mother had once mused while Nesta sat beside her dressing table, a servant silently brushing her mother’s gold-brown hair, but she has no ambition. She does not dream beyond her garden and pretty clothes. She will be an asset on the marriage market for us one day, if that beauty holds, but it will be our own maneuverings, Nesta, not hers, that win us an advantageous match.
Elain could make her own choices. And had chosen to thoroughly shut the door on Nesta. Even as she fully embraced Feyre and her world. Nesta’s chest tightened, but she refused to think of it, acknowledge it. Elain was like a dog, loyal to whatever master kept her fed and in comfort.
Elain would love this place. So many flowers, all in bloom, so much green—the light, vibrant green of new grass—so many birds singing and such warm, buttery sunshine. Nesta felt like a storm cloud standing amid it all. But Elain … The Spring Court had been made for someone like her.
Elain in black was ridiculous. Yes, she was beautiful, but the color of her long-sleeved, modest gown leeched the brightness from her face. It wore her, rather than the other way around. And he knew the cruelty of the Hewn City troubled her. But she hadn’t hesitated to come. When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was a part of this court—and would do whatever was needed. So Elain had let her golden-brown hair down tonight, and pinned it back with twin combs of pearl. He’d never once in the two years he’d known her found Elain to be plain, but wearing black, no matter how much she claimed to be part of this court … It sucked the life from her.
We’re given signs that Elain is over Graysen.
Elain cocked her head. Didn’t dissolve into the crying mess she usually became when Graysen came up. Instead she said, “You’re angry with me.”
We got hints of #spyelain
Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.”
Elain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie’s garden. Cassian didn’t exactly know why he suspected this wasn’t true. There had been some tightness in Elain’s face as she’d said it. Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around, but the male remained in the human lands with Jurian and Vassa.
“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.
While we also got quite a bit of Azriel in this book (admittedly more than Elain) and got hints that he’s unhappy and avoiding the river house for “mysterious reasons” (that are not mysterious at all after the bonus chapter), we didn’t get the same kind of in-your-face foreshadowing about Az that we did Elain. (And to me, after the bonus, it seems like all the mysterious things that were raised about Az might revolve around Elain and his feelings for her ).
Then the bonus chapters. I don’t have physical copies of those and don’t really want to go take screenshots, so I’m going to paraphrase what about them made me think Elain’s book is certainly next (aside from the fact that she was featured prominently in both).
Feysand
We learn Elain refuses to use Lucien’s gift from solstice the previous year (and would apparently rather get cut and dirty than do so)
We learn Elain has no problem getting her hands dirty and risking pain
Feyre says that maybe Elain is not as docile as everyone thinks she is, basically foreshadowing that there’s more to Elain than meets the eye
Feyre says they should focus on helping one sister before they turn to helping the next :
Azriel
We learn both Az and Elain can read each other well
We learn they both have sexual feelings for each other
We learn Az has been avoiding family dinners because of Elain
We learn there have been lingering glances and grazing of fingers between them off the page that we haven’t seen
We know that Elain is certainly confused after their near kiss, likely feels rejected, and returns the necklace
Based on all of this, I am *convinced* that Elain’s book is next (and that one of the purposes of Az’s bonus chapter was to tell us that the next book will also be his). That is what is most obvious to me about the next book. I feel a lot more certain about the next book when I look at it from the perspective of Elain than I do Az.
Now, this isn’t really an Elriel post, but I have to add that if Elain’s book is next, I’m also *convinced* it’s Elriel. Az and Gwyn just don’t have enough connections (if any) to the overarching plot of this trilogy to be the last book. Not to mention all signs currently point to Elriel at this point (both parts of ACOSF and Az’s bonus chapter). And I think if Elucien is going to happen, it needs a book of some further development between before it can happen (for example, Elain going to the human lands during Gwynriel’s book to help with something, which allows them to get to know each other better).
And, can I just say, I for one cannot wait to finally get inside Elain’s head and learn her story❤️
Reblogging to add external evidence from Sarah and some logic for why I believe Elain’s book is next:
In the ACOWAR tour and the Catwoman tour in 2017, SJM said that she knew who the first two books of the new trilogy were about, but she was still deciding between five possible ships for the third.
At the end of ACOFAS, there is an interview with SJM in which she confirms that she’s been doing research and writing scenes for Elain’s book.
In the US tour for ACOSF, SJM confirmed that Elain is getting a book, and that she knew from when she pitched the new trilogy that both Elain and Nesta would get books.
In either the Australian or Indian ACOSF tour, SJM confirmed that everything she pitched to her editor in 2016 about the new trilogy has stayed the same, but the world has expanded.
Thus, her original plan for who the first two books would be about has not changed.
Gwyn did not exist when Sarah was drafting ACOWAR.
There are not five possible ships for Elain (especially if Azriel is removed from the equation, which he would have to be since the next book would be his and Gwyn’s if Elain’s is last).
ERGO:
If Sarah has always known Elain and Nesta were getting books, and
Sarah knew who the first two books were about in 2017 but not the third, and
Sarah’s overarching plan for the books has not changed since then,
Then Elain’s book must be the second book in the new trilogy. Meaning Elain’s book is next.
Just to add, I personally don’t see any hints in ACOSF proper that make it obvious to me that Azriel is getting his own book next separate from Elain. Sure, Azriel has secrets in ACOSF and seems to be upset, but based on the Azriel bonus chapter, all of those secrets are about Elain, and Azriel is upset because of Elain (and the fact that she’s mated to someone else and he can’t be with her).
So again, everything from ACOSF proper (and the bonus scenes) to me points to Elain’s book being next, and Azriel’s story being told in that same book.
