lib — ᨳଓ .

My post-Splintered Harmony theory: I think SJM intentionally “splintered” everyone into their smaller found-family groups for Movements II/III before they all reunite for the final war. Feyre/Rhys/Amren → diplomacy + building alliances Nesta/Cassian/Gwyn/Emerie → Valkyries, priestesses/Bryaxis + Prison/Made objects, with Gwyn healing from the Blood Rite and her past traumas as well as repairing her friendships (could eventually see this moving into her training new women to become Valkyries to teach them how to protect themselves) Lucien/Vassa/Jurian → Koschei + human lands/Autumn/Day, Lucien working through his own grief for Jesminda that he stills carries, Lucien’s parentage and realizing he isn’t actually alone, trying to break Vassa’s curse Elain/Azriel/Mor/Nuala/Cerridwen + their wraith/spy network → Vallahan and finding the Made object, Elain discovering who she is outside everyone’s expectations, Azriel confronting his self-loathing + finally resolving 500 years of history with Mor, and Elriel figuring out what they actually want from each other It feels almost like nostalgia bait tbh, putting everyone back with the people who helped them become who they are for the emotional middle movements, before bringing the sisters, brothers, Valkyries, etc. all back together for Movement IV. I also feel like it’s then obviously priming Elain and Azriel for their own story to finally be told. I absolutely think Elain/Azriel’s healing and romantic arcs will be intertwined with them learning that light and darkness can coexist within the same person, and loving each other not despite those contradictions, but as whole people. I do believe they are endgame after reading what is part one of a massive singular story told across three volumes.