Yay I can finally share these! You guys are the first to know about the ACOTAR travel postcards I designed that are officially licensed by SJM! 💙
This was literally such a fun project and I started this on my cross-country road trip and I cranked them out so fast. I loved every second of this and I do have a few more ideas for other places in the ACOTAR universe too.
So
a bit of a laugh here, as the only remedy that worked to sedate my
panic earlier this month of having to wait 36 hours on the 12th floor in
a 50+ year old hotel through a tornado-prone hurricane at the start of
the first vacation I’ve had in several years is: comic relief doodling.
And
the one that has been sitting on the backest of back burners has been
to showcase one of Rhysand’s greatest and unrivaled abilities. No one
has come close to the proficiency and technique this high lord has honed
for hundreds of years, the accuracy and precision never faltering, even
while simultaneously throwing insults disguised beneath witty retorts,
or gate-crashing weddings to keep very important appointments.
Nay,
you all may fawn over the wings, the winnowing, the darkness, but I
will whip out my foam finger and clap my hands each time a spec of
invisible lint is vanquished on the page. ☝️😤
****
This
has been licensed, so disclaimer time: The art depicted on the products
listed for sale is wholly original to me and has been approved by Sarah
J. Maas for use on the products. Notwithstanding such approval, Sarah
J. Maas has not collaborated with me in any way in the creation of the
art, and the traits of any characters depicted in the art is in no way
based on any foreknowledge by me of the traits of any characters in
future books by Sarah J. Maas.
The reason why I like Gwynriel so much isn’t based upon the dislike of any other character or ship but because I think the two suit really really well together.
In their very first meeting, the two of them saw the sides that they tried to hide from the beginning.
Gwyn tries to hide the trauma and hurt that she’s been through but she doesn’t have to put a front like she’s fine around Azriel because he already knows what she’s been through, and he doesn’t coddle her. He helps her to get better and to defend herself, as well as knows the strength she has inside her.
Meanwhile Azriel tries to hide his gruesome and ruthless side and Gwyn was a witness to his brutality when he killed Hybern’s soldiers and general in seconds. Gwyn isn’t afraid of that side of him nor does she shy away from it. Instead she embraces that darkness and actually asks Azriel help and training instead of finding him too tainted.
They would undoubtedly push each other to be the best person they could possibly be physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Azriel is already training Gwyn through Illyrian fighting skills and with it being mentioned that the Illyrian’s may learn the Valkyrie fighting skills, they both will help each other become better warriors and fighters. In addition, Gwyn would not tolerate any coddling that Azriel may have and would not put up with him acting like an ass (if he ever does).
On the flip side, Azriel wouldn’t let Gwyn get into her head about whether or not she is worthy to be a Valkyrie, wear her priestess stone, etc. He would tell her how strong she is after everything she’s been through and how it relates to his own feelings of unworthiness.
Lastly, their personalities are so complimentary to each other.
They’re both incredibly competitive and their back and forth would bring out the playful yet intense sides to each of them. I can picture them sparring and tossing snide comments to one another, taunting their partner while they dance around each other in the ring. I also love how Gwyn is inquisitive and constantly firing off questions and never shying away from a conversation compared to Azriel who’s quiet and doesn’t speak much. The dynamic of character A being a chatterbox and character B being silent is one of my favourites<3 They are both fiercely loyal to their family and friends which could lead to some really angsty moments of near death situations (and we know how much I love angst).
Idk why I wrote this but I’m in my Gwynriel feels and I just love this ship so much. I can’t recall a dynamic like this by SJM and it’s refreshing. I love them together and I do hope we get to see them play out on paper💜
Roonil Wazlib 
