Each Sarah J. Maas epic series involves characters going through trials and tribulations that lead them to meet their fated mates – their other halves. THE Cutting thorns and roses the series is no different, and I’ve always seen this as one of the series’ most compelling concepts. Although Feyre and Nesta are already mated, their sister did not accept their mating bond or did not live a romantic history; meaning the next ACOTAR the book will revolve around Elain’s journey.
Theories about Elain’s true mating bond have been floating around since she became Fae and Lucien Vanserra claimed to be her mate immediately. However, the debate over who Elain’s true mate is has no end in sight, until Elain herself makes a choice (which will likely be a big part of the next Cutting thorns and roses book). One ACOTAR theory suggests Elain and Tamlin could actually be endgame due to the unique similarities they share, but for many reasons, including Elain’s already developed romantic histories, this theory just doesn’t hold up for me.
I hope the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book debunks this theory from companion Tamlin
It really doesn’t make sense for these two characters to end up together.
One ACOTAR the theory dives into great detail about the reasons why Elain and Tamlin might actually be mates. However, I don’t see it as a realistic theory, as the logical leap it takes to reach this conclusion is quite extreme. This theory highlights little Easter eggs throughout the series that point to this friendship; like Elain’s childhood dresser drawer with flowers. Some interesting points are made about fate and foreshadowing, but I don’t see this couple working out due to their very different temperaments and complex history.
The main argument supporting Elain and Tamlin as companions is the way in which Elain is consistently depicted with floral and spring imagery. From the first book, it was hinted (and even blatantly written a few times) that Elain would fit in perfectly with the Spring Court. This floral word choice to describe Elain’s personality suggests that Maas believes she embodies the energy of spring and the beauty of the season, not that she necessarily belongs with Tamlin. I hope the next book series and Hulu’s next film Cutting thorns and roses The TV show will likely prove this theory wrong because Tamlin would likely dim Elain’s shine.
Tamlin and Elain would not work together after the previous ACOTAR Books
Their story would be too complicated to overcome
Not long ago in the series, Tamlin and Elain had a traumatic reintroduction that left Elain emotionally scarred. Since Tamlin clearly has a lot of work to do as he strives for his own redemption arc, and Elain is traumatized… not a great setup for an epic romance. If Elain and Tamlin had met in a way that didn’t involve her human death, perhaps I could imagine her opening up to romance, but especially knowing how Tamlin treated Feyre, this coupling makes no sense. Even if Tamlin is redeemed, his anger issues remain a huge concern for me.
Key basic facts:
-
Tamlin and Feyre had a romance throughout the first book, which ended horribly with Feyre’s eventual harm and mistreatment.
-
Tamlin betrays the Inner Circle in A Court of Mist and Fury, causing Elain to turn Fae in the first place.
-
Elain inherits the power of a Seer when she is immersed in the Cauldron, which she uses throughout the series.
Tamlin may not be irredeemable; he even sacrificed himself to save Elain’s life during her escape from Hybern’s camp, but since he’s the reason Elain became Fae, portraying them as a couple would be a weird dynamic that I don’t think Maas should face. Additionally, Tamlin has a history with Elain’s sister, Feyre Archeron, whom he treated terribly and continued to harass even after their breakup. Due to this complicated history, Elain and Tamlin would have a lot to overcome if this coupling tried to rival the chemistry Lucien and Azriel already have with her.
A court of thorns and roses has already created two better love interests for Elain
Elain isn’t desperate for love interests, she already has plenty
While it might be easy to get invested in the idea of ​​Elain and Tamlin falling in love, it takes the focus away from two ongoing and promising romance stories that already exist for Elain. In my opinion, both Lucien and Azriel have a much better chance of wooing Elain: Lucien is her mate and her chemistry with Azriel is palpable. Both potential love interests would bring out a different aspect of Elain’s personality if they were chosen from the book of Elain in the Cutting thorns and roses series.
Elain may have a slightly different love story. Elain is the first main character introduced by Maas who is involved in a love triangle with her partner, suggesting that she will have to make a choice between what is expected of her and ultimately subverting expectations.
If Lucien’s romance with Elain develops, it will likely focus on their growth as characters and a healthy, slow-burn love story. If Elain chooses Azriel, her story will automatically become a rebellion against Rhys and follow a forbidden romance trope. Both options would provide Elain more opportunities to shine and develop into a fuller character than a life in the Spring Court, pacifying Tamlin, ever could. After waiting five books to learn more about Elain, pairing her with Tamlin during the most important parts of her POV would be very disappointing and repetitive.
Tamlin and Elain should defy custom by Sarah J. Maas ACOTAR Tropes
Why should any of the characters live up to expectations?
My thorough analysis of the series makes it clear that the fated companions trope has been exaggerated throughout Cutting thorns and roses. With the first few books revolving around Elain’s sisters finding their mates (Feyre and Rhysand, Nesta and Cassian), Elain may have a slightly different love story. Elain is the first main character introduced who is involved in a love triangle with her partner, suggesting that she will have to make a choice between what is expected of her and ultimately subverting expectations. Elain hasn’t historically demonstrated conviction or consistent strength, so her potential decision really intrigues me.
As for Tamlin, I think he should be alone for a while to grow up and make amends for his mistakes. Although other characters receive mating bonds, these bonds are supposedly rare in the Cutting thorns and roses series; every character doesn’t need one! Tamlin should prove his dedication to growth by doing everything he can to apologize to the Archeron sisters, not by dating them. If Maas intends to give Tamlin a future on the series, his character’s longevity will be prolonged if he truly improves his character and focuses on his redemption arc.
Based on Cutting thorns and roses fantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman drawn into the world of fairies after killing one of her kind. The series will follow his journey through the lands of Prythian and his relationship with one of his lords, Tamlin.