I love reading romantasy books, and one that got me into the genre was A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. I have read every book in that series and enjoyed each one with a smile on my face. Now, the new ACOTAR book, A Court of Splintered Harmony, is releasing this month.
I’ve seen a lot of online chatter about who people think Azriel, the last single man in the Night Court, will end up with. And since Rhysand and Cassian get together with sisters Feyre and Nesta, respectively, plenty are saying he will end up with the last one, Elain.
And I just…. I know it's likely to happen, but I don't want to see it. I think it would be the worst decision of the series so far — and here's why.
- It’s lazy writing
- I want to see the Lucien bond explored
- There are other options for Azriel — mainly Gwyn
It’s lazy writing
The first reason I need to mention is that Azriel ending up with Elain is just lazy, if we’re being truthful.
There are real reasons Cassian and Rhysand end up with Nesta and Feyre in the ACOTAR books. Beyond being true mates, they have clear chemistry, even when they don’t get along. You don’t really get that with Azriel and Elain.
Granted, we haven’t gotten many of their POVs compared to the other couples, but the few we have haven't made us believe they have intense feelings for each other. Elain stays quiet most of the time, so we don’t really know how she truly feels, only that she cares for Azriel.
Azriel, on the other hand, has shown interest, but many factors make it unlikely to work out. I’d have to see them interact a heck of a lot more before I'd believe there’s something there to work on that could even compare to what we have read so far. Right now, their relationship is bland. Pairing them feels like the easy way out, rather than the interesting route.
I want to see the Lucien bond explored
A major thing I hope the book will explore is the bond between Lucien and Elain. Lucien feels the mating bond click the moment he sees her, and over the last several books, we have seen him genuinely suffer because Elain wants nothing to do with him, even as he tries his hardest to respect that.
I’m not saying that I want Lucien and Elain to work out. I think it could happen (anything is possible in a fantasy book), but I also don’t think we should jump to the conclusion that he and Elain could never work out. I think there’s a way for it to happen. I’m not sure how, but it could. At the very least, I’d like to see them talk and figure something out instead of dancing around each other as they have been. At the very least, they could become friends instead of practically strangers.
Lucien does deserve happiness, even after everything he does in the first couple of books. He has stepped away from the Spring Court and tries to make amends in many ways. I want him to find some joy in his life too.
There are other options for Azriel — mainly Gwyn
Azriel could connect with someone else, like Gwyn.
Gwyn is one of the fae he trains along with Nesta and Emerie when they want to become Valkyries, a long-lost line of female warriors. She’s already close to him in a certain way because of that, but he also saved her a long time ago from a horrible situation, so they have a past.
A Court of Silver Flames has moments and hints that suggest he and Gwyn might share something. And you know what? He doesn’t have a mating bond with anyone. You can meet someone and not have that bond snap into place until later. That happens with Rhysand and Feyre, and it has turned out to be the best romance storyline in this series so far.
That could very well happen with these two, and because Elain already has a mate, it might play for some drama. It could be a compelling story — and one that would, at the very least, be a little more interesting than just Elain and Azriel getting together.
It’s not like I’ll be upset if they do — I’m still going to keep reading this series. But what I will say is that if it goes in another direction, I won’t be opposed to it.
Then again, the book is called A Court of Splintered Harmony, and what might lead to something like that? A forbidden romance. So... who really knows at this point?
You can read A Court of Splintered Harmony when it releases on Oct. 27, 2026.
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