ACOTAR 6: Sarah J. Maas completes first drafts—Whose POV?
It’s official. Sarah J. Maas has completed the first draft(s) of A Court of Thorns and Roses Book 6, and fans across the SJM universe are collectively spiraling.
The beloved fantasy and romantasy author dropped the news via a short, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Instagram Reel posted to her stories.
ACOTAR 6-8 or ACOTAR 6-D?
In the brief clip, she holds up a chunky notebook with a barely visible title that appears to read ACOTAR 6–8. If you squint? Or does it say ACOTAR 6—D? One thing’s for sure, that handwriting is ambiguous.
Cue the fan theories and a thousand comments dissecting every frame.
“First drafts DONE,” she captioned the reel, sending the fandom into an immediate meltdown. Is she implying that she’s written multiple books? Is this the start of a new arc? A continuation of Nesta's storyline? Or something and someone completely unexpected?
Naturally, speculation is rampant.
While A Court of Silver Flames focused on Nesta and Cassian, fans are now hotly debating whose POV ACOTAR 6 will center. Popular theories include:
Azriel, the shadowsinger long teased in bonus chapters and fan headcanons, whose brooding silence speaks volumes.
Elain, the mysterious middle Archeron sister, caught in a tangled web of mating bonds, visions, and unread chapters.
Gwyn, the spirited priestess of the library who shares a spark (and swordplay sessions) with Azriel, launching a shipping war still raging years later.
Lucien, the runaway son of the heinous High Lord Beron, from the Autumn Court, after Beron tortured and killed his love Jesminda.
And perhaps the most controversial, Tamlin, the once golden boy of Spring Court turned bitter beast. Is a redemption arc brewing, or are we heading for tragedy?
ACOTAR 6 theories: Whose book will it be?
Until Sarah J. Maas confirms otherwise, speculation around ACOTAR 6 is fair game, especially when it comes to the unresolved tangle of fated mates. Some theories feel inevitable. Others, less obvious, still can’t be dismissed. Here are my top contenders.
Lucien and Elain.
Technically mates, but emotionally estranged. Lucien has been relegated to the sidelines, raising questions of whether their bond is genuine or just another plot device waiting to be unraveled.
Elain and Azriel/Elriel
The quiet yearning, the lingering glances, the tension-filled bonus scene that still hasn’t been followed up on. Fans remain divided—some see them as destined, others as doomed.
Azriel and Gwyn.
Sword partners with undeniable chemistry. Gwynriels point to the mutual respect, healing arcs, and shared trauma recovery as the foundations of a slow-burn worth rooting for.
Lucien and Vassa.
A less talked about ship, but one that shouldn’t be dismissed is Lucien and Vassa. Vassa met Lucien when he went on a quest to find her and attain her help for the war against Hybern, and hopefully help break her curse. On the journey, they became friends. Could he choose another partner in spite of being fated to Elain?
Mor and Emerie.
The groundwork has been quietly laid, and if this installment shifts focus to Mor and Emerie’s story, we might be in for a long-overdue sapphic romance wrapped in Illyrian politics, loyalty and healing.
Polyamory POV: Azriel, Elain, Gwyn.
Hear me out. Azriel, Elain, Gwyn. That is all.
But if we’re being serious, this triad actually makes emotional and narrative sense. Azriel is caught between two women who represent different versions of intimacy, healing, and choice. Elain and Gwyn, often set up as foils, each carry a quiet strength and an evolving sense of agency that challenges the idea of a "correct" romantic outcome. What if the answer isn’t choosing one path, but reimagining the shape of love entirely? In a world where bonds can be broken, rewritten, and redefined… why choose?
It all circles back to the central question: who actually gets their happy ending in ACOTAR 6, 7, 8?
In a world where fate, mating bonds, and personal choice collide, it’s hard to tell which threads Maas will pull. Will she challenge the notion of mates as destiny? Will she lean into tropes or break them wide open? Could Elain surprise us all and choose herself over any male? What about polyamory between Elain, Lucien, Azriel & Gwyn?
No official release date has been announced, nor has Maas confirmed the next POV, but one thing is certain: the battle lines are drawn, the shipping wars are fully reignited, and fans are bracing for impact.
For now, we wait, nervously clutching our Illyrian wings, teacups, and conspiracy maps. If this reel is any indication, 2026 might just be the year we return to Velaris… or somewhere far more unexpected.
