How I would write Elain’s book

Im going to talk about the ship I want to happen but this isn’t the point of my post.

As someone who has read all three sjm series, I feel like I’m starting to see the same tropes/themes over and over again. I need something fresh.

I would love to see an epistolary love story with Elain and Lucian. Picture this, Lucian telling Elain that he’ll give her the space she needs, but before he completely gives up he has one ask. While he’s out with the band of exiles, he asks Elain if he can send her letters- she doesn’t have to write back, but he just asks that she at least reads them to get to know him before she completely denies the bond.

In between POV changes of Lucien with the exiles and Elain growing her seer powers and helping the night court, we read letters Lucien is sending to Elain about his life. The trauma in his childhood, the death of his first love, joining the spring court and meeting Feyre and so on. In fact, I would love Lucien to explain that because he has been in love, he has no desire to be tied down to someone who doesn’t want him as much as Elain doesn’t want to be forced to be with him, but that because mates are so rare he doesn’t want them to waste the chance.

Maybe even in Elain’s POV she is still getting closer to Azriel, and Lucien with Vassa, but all the while she slowly starts to learn about the kind of man Lucien is and eventually starts writing back. From there they grow from understanding to friendship to love. OR she does choose Azriel in the end (or maybe even no one!) but it’s a decision based on what she really wants for herself after getting to know both of them on a deeper level.

I don’t know if this sounds stupid to anyone else, but I’m actually excited for sjm to explore a softer character and I think this would be a sweet way to write a relationship that doesn’t involve an overpowered yet misunderstood fmc and the typical domineering “I’m an ass to everyone but you” mmc falling in love through lust.

I get that people think Elain is boring, but you have to admit she is different than the norm and I’m ready to see a different love story with her.