Novel Theories

This episode contains SPOILERS for A Court of Splintered Harmony!

Is the Night Court CURSED? Are Vassa, Elain, or Gwyn hiding something sinister? Is Rhysand slowly becoming the very thing he once fought against? And WHAT was REALLY going on in THAT SCENE?!We're going DEEPER into A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas! After devouring ACOSH and sharing our initial reactions, we're back with even MORE theories, looking closer at the key moments, hidden clues and scenes that might just change everything we thought we knew about the Maasverse.Join Nicole and Meghan as we pull apart the details, question character motivations and investigate what ACOSH could be setting up for the future of the series.

A Court of Splintered Harmony is officially here, we've inhaled every page, and our brains may never recover.

SPOILER WARNING: We're discussing the entire book, so finish reading before you hit play!

WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!

Sarah J. Maas has given us SO much to unpack, and we're diving headfirst into the chaos. The revelations, the character developments, the unanswered questions, the implications for what's coming next—we have THOUGHTS.

And in true Novel Theories fashion, Nicole comes in HOT with theories already overflowing, while Meghan needs approximately 48 more hours to process everything before returning with a cohesive puzzle snapped into place.

There's so much to discuss, and we're only scratching the surface. Consider this Part One of a much larger, deeper conversation as we begin piecing together everything Sarah has given us.

Let the theorizing begin!

With less than 48 hours until the release of A Court of Splintered Harmony, Novel Theories digs into what we might can (and hope!) to see in the newest ACOTAR installment.

We want to set the ship wars aside and look at the bigger themes, characters arcs at play, potential plot lines, and more. Join us as we look closer at the Dread Trove puzzle art (including a few very interesting placements), talk about the future of the Valkyries, and even try the Aussie Famous Tim Tam Slam!

Have your own thoughts and ideas for this upcoming book? We want to know! Sound off in the comments!

"But did it even matter? If it was fate or choice to be together?"

The eternal question: Are Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar fated or chosen mates? We dive into this heated topic in detail! In this episode we cover:

- What does Crescent City tell us about mates?

- What do the multiple definitions mean?

- Is there a physical mating bond?

- What about the scents merging?

- But, Ruhn said...

And perhaps, the most controversial argument we see: "But, Sarah said..."

So...now, we want to know what YOU say. Do you think they are fated? Chosen? And does it even matter for you?

Sound off in the comments and let us know!

Bloomsbury just casually dropped 11 new Reader's Guides, adding to the collection and giving us a guide for every currently published book. And honestly...the questions are very interesting.

Across the different guides, Bloomsbury is asking reader's to consider some concepts in new ways.

Why should you care? What even is a reading guide? What does it pose about the future of the crossover? About Bryce and Hunt? About what Gwyn and Emerie mean to Nesta?

We cover the burning questions and more! (Including Dragonkind and trying to find the d$^# blue dragon!)

Listen along, drop your comments, questions, and feedback! We want to know what you think!

In our fourth and last episode of the Great Azriel Ship War we dive deeeeeep into the Bryce and Azriel ship evidence--and go with us on this journey, because it is 2 full hours of detailed breakdowns. From the weapons as a decoy bond, to the language choices Sarah uses, to the weird ways that Azriel acts out of character in Bryce's presence.

As this wraps up the ship war -- share with us: what do you think? What do you feel like stands out the most to you? What are the top arguments? What are the weakest? And who do YOU think is going to end up as Azriel's future mate?

Sound off in the comments!

Threshing Day is here--and it did not disappoint. These 13 stories are strong, emotional, fun, insightful, informational, and simply chockful of Empyrean goodness. This could be one of Rebecca's best works yet...

SPOILERS AHEAD!

In this episode we discuss:

• What does Asher Sorrengail know?
• Are Signets determined during Threshing?
• Are there dragons who aren't who they say they are?
• Is Xaden the grandson of Sgaeyl's rider?
• Is Imogen the granddaughter of Glane's?
• Why was Liam's Threshing so different?
• Why did everyone have a tree? Except Aaric...

We cover all of this and so much more in this breakdown episode! Comment and let us know your thoughts on Threshing Day!

This week in the Great Azriel Ship War? Azris! Listen along as we uncover the evidence for Azriel and Eris and decide -- is it a Fireheart? Or does it belong Straight in the Cauldron?

(Hint: We are giving it a 50/50 Hot Cup of Suriel Tea...)

We love the Azris shippers--they showed up! The Azris fan-based is fun, passionate, and able to produce way more evidence than I think we were expecting.

If you missed part 1 on Gwynriel and part 2 on Elain, check them out! And next week, stay tuned as we head for our fourth and final movement--you guessed it: Bryceriel.

Happy shipping!

It's time for more of the most unhinged theories! In our third installment of Wild Maasverse Theories, we dig into:

• Is Rhysand related to or connected to Maeve?
• What is with all the monsters in Wendlyn--are they related to the monsters in the prison?
• Was Elain pregnant with Greyson's child when she went in the cauldron?
• Is Gwyn "Shadow-Bryce?"
• Is Hunt "Shadow-Azriel?"

We cover all of these theories and more! Sound off in the comments below - what do you think? Is it a fireheart for you? Do you want to throw it straight in cauldron?

And thank you to everyone who has embraced the Maasverse Scoring System with us! We are thrilled to drop the first MSS image in this episode on YouTube, if you want to see it in person!

For more, you can follow us at:

• Instagram: @noveltheories | @bookloveaholic | @marvelousmrsmeghan
• TikTok: @bookloveaholic | @marvelousmrsmeghan
• Reddit: u/noveltheoriespod

We are going deeper into the Great Azriel Ship War this week with part 2: Elriel! We know there are many die-hard Elriel fans out there and we wanted to investigate the evidence they bring to the table.

Honestly? Elain and Azriel fans SHOWED UP with the data. The quotes to comb through were there. But the questions isn't if they have a romantic connection...we know they do. The question is: what does it mean for the future?

Do the patterns that occur in the text prove matehood? Endgame? Where are the arguments strong? Where are they weak? And how do we feel about the entirety of the evidence?

And we want YOUR thoughts. Sound off in the comments, drop your thoughts, theories, and feedback. We want to hear from you.

Maasverse 101: The Great Azriel Ship War Debate is on. Stay tuned as we work on Azris and Bryceriel in parts 3 and 4!