Are ‘ACOTAR’s Azriel & Gwyn Mates? Our ‘Forgotten Melody’ Theory
What To Know
- During A Court of Splintered Harmony, Azriel formed a connection with Elain.
- Lucien has been revealed to be Elain’s mate.
- Ahead of A Court of Forgotten Melody, Sarah J. Maas has dropped clues that Gwyn is Azriel’s mate.
While Azriel and Elain may have gotten the spotlight in Sarah J. Maas‘ A Court of Splintered Harmony, fans are convinced that a different endgame awaits the (currently very emo) shadowsinger.
Right now, the biggest ship war in the Maasverse is Elriel versus Gwynriel, a heated debate over who Azriel should end up with: Elain or Gwyn. While Azriel has made it clear that he believes Elain should be his mate, as her sisters have both mated with his “brothers,” Elain has already been revealed to be Lucien’s mate. Of course, she detests Lucien, but she hasn’t turned down the bond just yet. (Girl, get on it!) Maas has mentioned that it is possible to have more than one mate, so fate could have other plans for Azriel and Elain. But right now, it seems clear that Maas is going in a different direction.
While Azriel may not see it, readers are convinced he is destined to be with a different one of Nesta’s “sisters,” her fellow Valkyrie Gwyn. After all, this is the Valkyrie Cycle, not the Archeron Cycle. Sorry, Elain! Below, we’re breaking down all the clues Maas has dropped about Azriel and Gwyn’s connection so far, and how their love story could take center stage during A Court of Forgotten Melody.
Who is Gwyn?
Gwyneth Berdara is a priestess at the library under the House of Wind, who crossed paths with Nesta during her training in A Court of Silver Flames. She is part river-nymph and part High fae, with ties to the Autumn Court. She was born with a twin sister, Catrin, who was beheaded when they were 26 during the Hybern invasion of the Sangravah Temple. Ultimately, Azriel and Mor saved her from the attack and brought her to the House of Wind.
When Gwyn met Nesta, they became close friends. They later joined forces with Emerie, an Illyrian, to train under Cassian to become Valkyries.
Are Azriel and Gwyn mates?
While Azriel currently seems to be pursuing Elain, his shadows clearly prefer a different potential mate. After first saving Gwyn from the Hybern invasion, Azriel crosses paths with the priestess again during a bonus chapter from A Court of Silver Flames, which was later included in A Court of Splintered Harmony. During the chapter where Azriel almost shares his first kiss with Elain, his shadows “skitter” away. However, later in the scene, when he runs into Gwyn, his shadows “calm.” During Splintered Harmony, Azriel runs into Gwyn once more the second things go south with Elain, after Lucien walks in on their intimate moment.
On a meta level, Maas has a clear formula for her main romances. Like Aelin dating Chaol before mating with Rowan, Feyre dating Tamlin before mating with Rhys, and even Nesta’s Illyrian hookups before mating with Cassian, her love stories always start with a different romance that needs to end before the main event can begin. Continuing this pattern, we jumped straight into the action with Azriel and Elain, something Maas has never done for any of her fated mates. At the same time, a slow-burn between Azriel and Gwyn is clearly underway.
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What is A Court of Forgotten Melody about?
Right now, the plot for A Court of Forgotten Melody remains vague. However, Maas teases, “As the Night Court’s Inner Circle disperses far and wide, desperate for any advantage against Koschei and his mighty allies, peace hangs by a fragile thread. But hope can be spun from the darkest of shadows, and the Night Court has its own part to play in the looming crescendo.” If you ask us, all these music references also point towards a shadowsinger/nymph romance.
Reader’s Warehouse also listed the romance tropes for the novel on the pre-order page, revealing that the romantasy will focus on “Enemies-to-Lovers, Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Grumpy Sunshine & Opposites Attract.” While enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity seem like a nod towards Elain and Lucien, grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract scream Azriel and Gwyn.
Do you think Azriel and Gwyn are mates? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
A Court of Forgotten Melody by Sarah J. Maas will soar onto shelves on January 12, 2027.
