If Azriel spends half, or even a quarter, of his book pining after Elain while Gwyn just quietly supports him….I will hurl myself into the sun and never read another SJM book again.
Gwyn deserves to experience proper romance and love without being the second choice.
Azriel deserves to grow and understand love without his lust for someone else overshadowing it.
Elain deserves to be more than just the object of someone’s lust or a catalyst for other people’s romance.
Coincidentally though, cannons were often used for sinking ships. Kinda like Elriel after that bonus chapter.
Because if he’s imagining Gwyn’s smile and giving her jewelry when he doesn’t “consider her a friend” imagine what’s gonna happen now that she’s his new ribbon.
There has been a whole war going on about Gwyn looking like Elain in art commissions and unfortunately I have spent some time sorting Elriel losers on Instagram for it .
Here is a guide based on CANON on the stand out features of Gwyneth Berdara.
In the sunlight coppery brown that looked like strands of gold glinting Chapter 25 and like the molten metal Bonus chapter.
Find the references for the range of hair colours that come under copper brown .
This is different from the rich brown hair of Elain. Find the references to Elains hair as indicated by die hard Elain stans below.
Now for the eyes of Gwyneth Berdara
Large teal eyes that glowed like the sunlit sea and was a perfect match to her invoking stone . CHAPTER 25 ACOSF. What teal eye colour would cover find a reference below.
This is different from Elains brown eyes. Brown eye palette below for reference.
Skin
Gwyn is described to having freckles . This can vary based on the attire being represented . Make up exists so just because you don’t see freckles doesn’t automatically mean its not Gwyn , use your brain and your eyes look for eye colour and hair colour or invoking stone . Just common sense basically.
Elain most certainly does not have freckles.
Now, the whole idea behind this post is to shed some light on how Gwyn is represented in art commissions, please keep in mind the artist is allowed to choose from a wide variation of colours that come under the umbrella of copper brown and teal but none of them spell rich brown and brown eyes.
Have some basic decency and respect for art . I mean I understand certain people in this fandom don’t have any kind of decency right to their basic gene type but behaving with a certain amount dignity and class shouldn’t be that hard.
This art has been done for a while and was originally meant for a personal project one of my friends is doing from April to June where you pair an art with a story (hence why it is clearly depicting a scene that should be in the middle of a writing piece), however we decided against it when we realized it could look like we’re infringing on another fandom even currently taking place.
Either way, I am blow away by how amazing this art looks! When I first imagined Gwyn saving Azriel in the middle of battle I was reluctant to commission the idea because it was rather specific, but everything from the pegasus, the expressions, to the background are so gorgeous and I’m beyond happy with how the final product came out!
A huge thanks to @mostwantedpotato404 for taking on this commission and bringing it to life!
I think elriels forget that SJM sets up her love interest as equals. In ACOMAF when Feyre is learning that Rhys is her mate she asks the suriel how they could possibly be mates. And then she thinks “mates were equals—matched, at least in some ways” ….after thinking this to herself the suriel knows her thoughts and explains how they’re equally matched. The suriel states that Rhys is the most powerful High Lord to walk the Earth and Feyre is new…made from all 7 High Lords and unlike anything to ever walk the Earth. Plus shes extremely powerful herself.
Now elriels might say that they’re hoping for Elain to reject her bond with Lucien and be with Az and that because they aren’t mates they don’t need to be “equally matched”. Well all of Sarah’s couples that end up together are, in some way, equally matched (regardless of mate status). Elain and Az will never been on equal ground. And I’m not saying this because I “hate” Elain. That’s not the case at all. I’m simply stating facts. They just aren’t equally matched.
Now Elain and Lucien, they are equally matched. Both extremely underestimated and both actually quite powerful on their own. Both have been in serious relationships/ been in love before and had it end badly. Both are surprisingly sarcastic and sassy when they want to be.
Next, Az and Gwyn, they also are equally matched. Both are trained fighters and warriors. Both have participated in the Blood Rite and became Carynthian. Both feel they are undeserving of things (shown by Az hating his scarred hands and by Gwyn not wearing her invoking stone). And yeah I’m going to say it, both like to sing.
All of SJM couples are equally matched. Even without the mate bond, Lucien & Elain would still be equally matched and Az & Gwyn would still be equally matched. That’s just the way it is.
PS- Mates aren’t just random. They’re selected at birth. Which means the Mother always knew they would be equally matched even before they became equals.
“Something sparked in Azriel’s chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn’s teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason…he could see it. But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty” -ACOSF, Az bonus chapter. Sarah J Maas
I’m so excited to drop this Gwyn commission! Thank you to the lovely artist Yasmin who made this gorgeous Gwyn piece for me! It was such a pleasure to work with Yasmin ❤️
I want to talk about the pliant bones thing, especially since the argument is typically weaponized against Gwynriel shippers, stating that we are reducing the worth of these female characters to their capability to bear children.
I thought about reblogging @mistresspotatoskull after her statement earlier today. But I wanted to get my thoughts out here on their own.
Sarah J Maas, whether you like/appreciate her writing or not, is very intentional about what she says. Thereaders have not made the capability to carry and birth an Illyrian baby a focus. SJM made it a huge thing in ACOSF. She also mentioned that Nesta had adjusted her own and Feyre’s anatomy, leaving out Elain. In addition, we have the intentional mention of Gwyn having pliable bones due to her nymph heritage.
Here’s the thing:
ItIS WRONG to say that you believe Gwyn and Azriel SHOULD be mates based on her ability to have a winged child, because the ability or desire to bear a child is not fundamental to personality or worth. No relationship should be based on that one thing.
ItIS NOT WRONG to see SJM’s statements and utilize them as evidence in an argument. It is a canonical statement that lends credence to the ability to procreate as a couple, which theAUTHOR has made important through her plot choices. It IS NOT WRONG to say that you believe Gwyn and Azriel WILL be mates based on textual evidence, which includes the fact that Gwyn’s anatomy might lend itself to her ability to have a winged child and it makes sense based on how SJM has been writing/saying in interviews. It is simply a piece of evidence used to support an argument.
The distinction is VERY important.
I don’t see a lot of Gwynriels saying that Elain shouldn’t be with Az because she can’t bear his children. And if they do, that’s shitty. Every Gwynriel I have seen or interacted with has a whole slew of reasons why they believe Az and Elain don’t fit, and those reasons are all about personality and growth. We just don’t think they make sense together, and that’s fine.
In conclusion:
Is it wrong to exclude someone from a ship solely because of their ability or inability to potentially birth a child?YES
Will I continue to use SJM’s text and plot devices as evidence to support a theory of which ship I think will be endgame? Also Yes
So I never post my WIPs on here anymore, rather I post them on my Patreon! HOWEVER, I decided to do this re-draw of one of my oldest gwynriel illustrations! LIKE HELLO, 9 months difference??? I think I’ve done well for myself so here’s a snippet of all the gwynriel theories I love and adore! ❣️
I can’t believe how much I’ve improved, and to show that improvement with you guys!! Just…W O W.
Gwynriel as a ship was one of the main ones that made me get back on my feet and draw, like I used to before I went through a 3 YEAR long burn out. And if any of you remember the illustration that I re drew, it was of Azriel holding Gwyn.
I got inspired by the amazing @elizianna.the.one and @artywings (ON INSTAGRAM) and their chibi designs! I’m absolutely in LOVE with their art work, and I tried making my own chibi designs!
Im working on the rest of the ACOTAR characters, and I’m planning on making these into stickers for my Etsy shop! I’ll also be making chibi characters from other fandoms I’m apart of—so that’s fun!
