Truth Teller vs The Subtle Knife

If you know the story (The Subtle Knife) you might know where I am heading with this already.

But I will start at the Beginning - and that is not with a SJM book but another book series I have read…

So I was doing some sifting through websites and stuff while writing a theory - one of them about something *rolls eyes, sighs*.

And I referenced ‘His Dark Materials’ by Phillip Pullman for a parallel worlds story. And that started the cycle of thinking again….

So Let me tell you about the Subtle Knife…

Fandom wiki here - for reference.

It is …..

A knife with a double-edge, the subtle knife possessed one edge of keen steel, which could cut through any physical material. The other edge was even sharper, extending to a point so fine that the eye could not see it. This edge was able to search out gaps in the fabric of space and thus cut through the fabric of the universe and into alternative universes. No known material was able to resist the knife, although it was breakable, should a wielder attempt to use it whilst thinking about a person they loved. It was the belief of certain individuals that this was because the knife was incapable of cutting through love.

Wait what, ok that’s cool. Keep this in mind.

And it is linked to a Famous Angel called Michael and his sword from paradise lost, a sword that can…

“w ounds Satan terribly with a powerful sword that God designed to even cut through the substance of angels”

Alright - neat - The Next Step.

Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read the series “his Dark Materials” I’m going to give away some details… but I kind need this but to reach the next step. So the characters in the book use the knife to travel between worlds and have a big adventure. I’m going to highlight the parts I want to talk about.

Iorek warned Will and Lyra that the knife had purposes of its own — indicating an intelligence akin to that of the alethiometer. He also indicated these purposes might not be good. Later, the angel Xaphania explained that Dust had been leaking out of the worlds through the windows made by the knife, and that, each time the knife made a window, it drew up a Spectre from the Abyss. Thus all windows leading between worlds had to be closed by the angels, except for one. Will and Lyra initially believed this one window could be between their worlds, but then realized that they had made a promise to the shades in the world of the dead: to leave them an opening so that they can leave it and rejoin the universe, by emerging into the world of the mulefa. Thus, Will realized he had to shatter the knife. As people in the multiverse are not capable of surviving for long outside their own universes, it was also necessary that Will and Lyra each return to their own worlds.

The Subtle Knife

Has a mind of its own
Can make windows between worlds
Each time it is used it brings forth a Spectre from the Abyss
Is similar to an Alethiometer (which has a etymology to the word truth and measure - see here)
It can also only be used by the knife bearer - Will.
One more thing - a beautiful description of something more? The Subtle knife is described as “shadow coloured” in ch8.

Now Azriel has a very special Blade called Truth-Teller. We don’t know that much about it, other than its description and that Azriel lets no-one else use it. But I’m going to tell you why I think Truth-Teller is a similar blade to that of The Subtle Knife.

Firstly - Azriel does not let anyone else use truth-teller, he is the only one who uses it with one exception. He is the knife-bearer.

“I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade - Never, Rhys said… I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.” ACOWAR ch69

Azriel is a spy - and Rhysand says that he can get into places no-one else can. Azriel knows where the “holes” in the Wall are in ACOMAF. They all comment how strange it is that he cannot infiltrate the queens castle. I think this is because Azriels blade can cut through magic/the fabric of the universe. He knows where the holes in the wall are because he made them or can see them - and he uses truth-teller to cut/find them.

In The Subtle Knife - Every time the Subtle knife is used it brings forth a spectre from the abyss. Not everyone can see the spectres. Azriel is surrounded in shadows. What if he is surrounded in shadows not because of his dark past but rather the use of the blade he wields. The more he uses truth-teller, the more shadows that appear at his side. Yes he is a shadow-singer but are shadow-singers rare because being able to open holes into the world attaches “shadows” to the one who opened the windows/doors/holes. Is the real reason Azriel doesn’t share his blade to protect others from being hounded by Shadows/Spectres?

Etymology -for the word Alethiometer. A device used to “tell truth / measure truth” in The Subtle Knife and something the knife is compared to. Perhaps someone has cleverly merged these together, or there is another root source for the idea of this blade being a blade of truth. I don’t know the answer to that - i’m sure there is another root to this story.

So if you are on the same wavelength as me and my “I will jump to all conclusions!” type of thinking hasn’t scared you off… you might know what i’m going to say next… If I give truth-teller these traits based on some loose similarities… I can Explain how Elain stabbed the king of Hybern!

Elain was given the Blade by Azriel - carefully.

“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” ACOWAR ch69

Then When Elain Appears with a blade to stab in the King of Hybern neck, she steps out of a shadow.

“Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed truth-teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.” ACOWAR ch74

If Truth-teller is a similar blade to the subtle knife, then Elain has used Truth-teller to open a window and stepped out of a shadowy world and stabbed the King of Hybern. Leaving the job for Nesta to finish him.

I do not think that Elain is a shadow singer but rather she has used a shadow singers weapon to get where she needs to be. And truth-teller has found the king of Hybern not worthy and exacted justice.

want more of my theories…. go here.

rayonfrozenwings

Truth Teller vs The Subtle Knife

If you know the story (The Subtle Knife) you might know where I am heading with this already.

But I will start at the Beginning - and that is not with a SJM book but another book series I have read...

So I was doing some sifting through websites and stuff while writing a theory - one of them about something *rolls eyes, sighs*.

And I referenced ‘His Dark Materials’ by Phillip Pullman for a parallel worlds story. And that started the cycle of thinking again....

So Let me tell you about the Subtle Knife...

Fandom wiki here - for reference.

It is .....

A knife with a double-edge, the subtle knife possessed one edge of keen steel, which could cut through any physical material. The other edge was even sharper, extending to a point so fine that the eye could not see it. This edge was able to search out gaps in the fabric of space and thus cut through the fabric of the universe and into alternative universes. No known material was able to resist the knife, although it was breakable, should a wielder attempt to use it whilst thinking about a person they loved. It was the belief of certain individuals that this was because the knife was incapable of cutting through love.

Wait what, ok that’s cool. Keep this in mind.

And it is linked to a Famous Angel called Michael and his sword from paradise lost, a sword that can...

“w ounds Satan terribly with a powerful sword that God designed to even cut through the substance of angels”

Alright - neat - The Next Step.

Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read the series “his Dark Materials” I’m going to give away some details... but I kind need this but to reach the next step. So the characters in the book use the knife to travel between worlds and have a big adventure. I’m going to highlight the parts I want to talk about.

Iorek warned Will and Lyra that the knife had purposes of its own — indicating an intelligence akin to that of the alethiometer. He also indicated these purposes might not be good. Later, the angel Xaphania explained that Dust had been leaking out of the worlds through the windows made by the knife, and that, each time the knife made a window, it drew up a Spectre from the Abyss. Thus all windows leading between worlds had to be closed by the angels, except for one. Will and Lyra initially believed this one window could be between their worlds, but then realized that they had made a promise to the shades in the world of the dead: to leave them an opening so that they can leave it and rejoin the universe, by emerging into the world of the mulefa. Thus, Will realized he had to shatter the knife. As people in the multiverse are not capable of surviving for long outside their own universes, it was also necessary that Will and Lyra each return to their own worlds.

The Subtle Knife

Has a mind of its own
Can make windows between worlds
Each time it is used it brings forth a Spectre from the Abyss
Is similar to an Alethiometer (which has a etymology to the word truth and measure - see here)
It can also only be used by the knife bearer - Will.
One more thing - a beautiful description of something more? The Subtle knife is described as “shadow coloured” in ch8.

Now Azriel has a very special Blade called Truth-Teller. We don’t know that much about it, other than its description and that Azriel lets no-one else use it. But I’m going to tell you why I think Truth-Teller is a similar blade to that of The Subtle Knife.

Firstly - Azriel does not let anyone else use truth-teller, he is the only one who uses it with one exception. He is the knife-bearer.

“I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade - Never, Rhys said... I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.” ACOWAR ch69

Azriel is a spy - and Rhysand says that he can get into places no-one else can. Azriel knows where the “holes” in the Wall are in ACOMAF. They all comment how strange it is that he cannot infiltrate the queens castle. I think this is because Azriels blade can cut through magic/the fabric of the universe. He knows where the holes in the wall are because he made them or can see them - and he uses truth-teller to cut/find them.

In The Subtle Knife - Every time the Subtle knife is used it brings forth a spectre from the abyss. Not everyone can see the spectres. Azriel is surrounded in shadows. What if he is surrounded in shadows not because of his dark past but rather the use of the blade he wields. The more he uses truth-teller, the more shadows that appear at his side. Yes he is a shadow-singer but are shadow-singers rare because being able to open holes into the world attaches “shadows” to the one who opened the windows/doors/holes. Is the real reason Azriel doesn’t share his blade to protect others from being hounded by Shadows/Spectres?

Etymology -for the word Alethiometer. A device used to “tell truth / measure truth” in The Subtle Knife and something the knife is compared to. Perhaps someone has cleverly merged these together, or there is another root source for the idea of this blade being a blade of truth. I don’t know the answer to that - i’m sure there is another root to this story.

So if you are on the same wavelength as me and my “I will jump to all conclusions!” type of thinking hasn’t scared you off... you might know what i’m going to say next... If I give truth-teller these traits based on some loose similarities... I can Explain how Elain stabbed the king of Hybern!

Elain was given the Blade by Azriel - carefully.

“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” ACOWAR ch69

Then When Elain Appears with a blade to stab in the King of Hybern neck, she steps out of a shadow.

“Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed truth-teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.” ACOWAR ch74

If Truth-teller is a similar blade to the subtle knife, then Elain has used Truth-teller to open a window and stepped out of a shadowy world and stabbed the King of Hybern. Leaving the job for Nesta to finish him.

I do not think that Elain is a shadow singer but rather she has used a shadow singers weapon to get where she needs to be. And truth-teller has found the king of Hybern not worthy and exacted justice.

want more of my theories.... go here.

rayonfrozenwings reblogged

rayonfrozenwings

The Archeron Sisters as The Fates (Moirai) - Part 1

Hi, I’m Renee, and you may remember me from my posts Erilea and Starfall and the Wild hunt.

GIF by jack4frost

Ok First - Housekeeping.

Part one - has been in my head for a while, just didn’t bother writing it up, part two I rambled my way to a conclusion as I wrote it.

In my post on Starfall and the Wild hunt I mentioned that I thought Prythian was a “greek myth” based world (I’m going to say theologically as we know other stories/fairytales/folk lore is present in ACOTAR). So the next two parts have that in mind.

I’m tagging @propshophannah and @sparkleywonderful @paperbacktrash because I think that they have been trying to put their finger on something for a while and I wanted to throw my thoughts into the ring. Also Becca, thanks for working this one out with me.

Some theories of theirs that are relevant to this post and I have read on Tumblr (ones I could find)

Sparkleywonderful’s theories:

ACOMAF Demi Fae

The moment you realise - Archeron sisters as Demi-fae

Propshophannah’s theories:

Ok But Listen -

I Just want to say - I feel like you were so so so close on this one.

There are probably more theories but I can’t find them on Tumblr - either not tagged or not there. Do people post theories on AO3 or just Fanfic? I don’t go there so I don’t know.

Part 1: The Three Archeron Sisters as the 3 Fates.

WIKI source for further reading if you are interested. The article where lots of my quotes are from is called - Moirai

Keep reading

rayonfrozenwings

Damnit I need to stop thinking about this- but when the Suriel tells Feyre (in acotar) to stay with the high-lord, she stops trying to search for the answers to things. She paints, hunts and wanders the estate, but she doesn't plan. It's always an impulse. She accepts the hear and now. She doesn't worry about the past and she doesn't worry about her future- she doesn't ask questions (one of my biggest pet peeves). This is just a part of her innate nature. She is in the present- the here and now - clotho. I'm not even sure if this changes with her death UtM. When she returns to the spring court after UtM she isn't bothered. She doesn't want to plan her wedding, is a wraith. She trusts that others know what's bet for her and let's Ianthe plan her future for her.

It's not until she goes to the night court and falls in love with Rhysand that she starts asking questions and stepping out of her role as a "fate". In ACOWAR she is a different person, she plots and plans the downfall of the spring court and Tamlin. Something I think ACOTAR Feyre would be incapable of doing.

rayonfrozenwings

Renee’s Fan Theories for SJM (ACOTAR and TOG)- that she still likes...

So I’ve written a few theories and now I’m not sure I completely agree with my first thoughts for some of them. Especially as I look further into it. But I thought I would put a small list together of my current theories - the ones I still like. haha. So if you are interested in this sort of stuff it’s easier to find with Tumblr’s lovely new updates and such. I will put them in the order that I have posted them because I think you will see things change in my thinking as I have discussions with people in the fandom. For example I now think Erilea and Prythian are parallel worlds not the same world, which I initially thought in my Erilea post.

Erilea v Prythian - The same world? parallel world?

...

Starfall and the Wild Hunt

Name Origin - Aelin

...

Archeron Sisters as the Fates - Part 1

Archeron Sisters as the Fates - Part 2: Specualtion on the Archeron Mother

--

Truth Teller vs The Subtle Knife (New)

Archived - OLDER Fan Theory Posts -

This series of posts I did might still have merit - But I am not as invested as I was when I wrote them. Since seeing the crossover possibilities in My Erilea post (which came after these posts) I think the parallels are still possible, but I don’t particularly think Prythian or Erilea is based on a “bible stories” but rather other Mythologies. E.g. Prythian - Greek and Erilea a different Mythology.

However if you view another world (not Prythian or Erilea) as having a bible type of mythology - and certain characters being taken from that world aka Amren, The Bone Carver, The Weaver, and Koschei, then my theory could provide background information for these characters. Because the Bone Carver mentions that his world has most likely “turned to dust” it is a possibility that he came from a place based on the bible.

Angels 3.1: Amren, The Bone Carver, and Styrga

Angels 3.2: Highlords as Descendents of Arch-Angels

Angels 3.3: Origins of the Illyrians

- Edited/ Updated with some older posts that may or may not have merit.

rayonfrozenwings

The Archeron Sisters as The Fates (Moirai) - Part 1

Hi, I’m Renee, and you may remember me from my posts Erilea and Starfall and the Wild hunt.

GIF by jack4frost

Ok First - Housekeeping.

Part one - has been in my head for a while, just didn’t bother writing it up, part two I rambled my way to a conclusion as I wrote it.

In my post on Starfall and the Wild hunt I mentioned that I thought Prythian was a “greek myth” based world (I’m going to say theologically as we know other stories/fairytales/folk lore is present in ACOTAR). So the next two parts have that in mind.

I’m tagging @propshophannah and @sparkleywonderful @paperbacktrash because I think that they have been trying to put their finger on something for a while and I wanted to throw my thoughts into the ring. Also Becca, thanks for working this one out with me.

Some theories of theirs that are relevant to this post and I have read on Tumblr (ones I could find)

Sparkleywonderful’s theories:

ACOMAF Demi Fae

The moment you realise - Archeron sisters as Demi-fae

Propshophannah’s theories:

Ok But Listen -

I Just want to say - I feel like you were so so so close on this one.

There are probably more theories but I can’t find them on Tumblr - either not tagged or not there. Do people post theories on AO3 or just Fanfic? I don’t go there so I don’t know.

Part 1: The Three Archeron Sisters as the 3 Fates.

WIKI source for further reading if you are interested. The article where lots of my quotes are from is called - Moirai

rayonfrozenwings reblogged

rayonfrozenwings

FEYRE

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR fan theory

Part 2 : Feyre

Now that I have Made you think that perhaps Prythian could have parallels with the bible, I’m going to throw up a few other Ideas.

Some Quick Notes - On Feyre, and her relationships with others, possible links to the bible.

Keep reading

rayonfrozenwings

Origins: Illyrians

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR fan theory

Part 3:3

Angels Continued

Ready to Read About the Illyrians?

rayonfrozenwings

Angels Continued

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR fan theory

Part 3:2 Angels Continued

Below the cut my Angels theories continue...

Haven’t see those posts - check back here, the masterpost is the first one.

(Links to other parts of this theory: Masterpost, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3:1, Part 3:2, Part 3:3, Final Part)

rayonfrozenwings

ANGELS

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR Fan Theory

Part 3:1 : Angels

Again I’m Gonna Apologise If I have this wrong because I don’t study the hella long book called the bible.

But random Triva fact - Sarah J. Mass did.

rayonfrozenwings

FEYRE

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR fan theory

Part 2 : Feyre

Now that I have Made you think that perhaps Prythian could have parallels with the bible, I’m going to throw up a few other Ideas.

Some Quick Notes - On Feyre, and her relationships with others, possible links to the bible.

rayonfrozenwings

The Story of Prythian

@rayonfrozenwings ACOTAR fan theory

Part 1: The Story of Prythian

A lot of this is in reference to the mural, in the spring court, which displays the creation story of Prythian on successive panels.

Feyre describes what she sees.

rayonfrozenwings

@rayonfrozenwings (Renee’s) ACOTAR / ACOMAF / ACOWAR Fan Theory Collection [WARNING: SPOILERS]

~*~ Just some Housekeeping to Start ~*~

This does not discount other theories or parallels
We know that Sarah J Maas has used fairytales for her inspiration e.g. Beauty and the Beast, Hades and Persephone
My Theory has more to do with World Building, and Histories
I don’t know much about the Bible - and I don’t mean to Offend Anybody.
So please understand that I have looked at the bible/other bible stories “just as another story” to compare its parallels with ACOTAR, ACOMAF and ACOWAR.
I have never read or studied the Bible previously, and I have only just looked into it this week.
It is a super long book/books/compendium so I won’t have all the parallels that are possible because it is just huge! (Maybe if you do know the Bible you might see more and share with the class?).
I Feel that my Theory overlaps the stories that Sarah has “picked parts” from previously, so they work together.
I have not written this as an essay, but presented what I have in the easiest way for me. If I was at Uni I would write a beautiful essay on only one component… but I’m not. I don't have time for that, and I wanted to look at as many aspects as possible.

Remember it is just a theory - It will give you more questions than answers (it has for me). :)

Enjoy.

Also, It May Contain Spoilers for her future works (that’s part of the reason I stopped digging) if proved to be true.

___

(Feel Free to Skip to the Juicy Headers/parallels)

Masterpost of a sort, I will add links when I post. (under the Cut)

#rayonfrozenwings fan theory #rayonfrozenwings #acotar fan theory #acomaf fan theory #acowar fan theory #acotar #acomaf #acowar #the story of prythian #mixed histories #feyre and biblical influences #angels #the bone carver #styrga #koschei #masterpost #rayonfrozenwings masterpost #rayonfrozenwings fan theory masterpost