A Reader’s Guide to the ACOTAR Series by Sarah J. Maas
Of all of Sarah J. Maas’ books, the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series (AKA: ACOTAR) is perhaps the most popular. Chances are, if you’ve ever dabbled in bookstagram or booktok, you’ll have seen the various brightly adorned covers alongside varying levels of lifelike ACOTAR fan art. I had seen A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas all over TikTok for some time. So, when I came across it at a local bookstore, I decided to give it a shot. And wow…I can see why it’s so popular.
Here, I’ll be sharing some information on the series’ characters and general plot, the ACOTAR series order, some thoughts I had on each book in the ACOTAR series, and, finally, some reader FAQ on Sarah J. Maas’ books! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter for the latest ACOTAR news and other great fantasy book recommendations!
What You’ll Find in This ACOTAR Reading Guide:
New Releases & Updates on ACOTAR 6 & 7:
After dropping the release dates for the sixth and seventh book in the ACOTAR saga, fans of the series (myself included) are eagerly awaiting any and all details we can get our hands on!
Trust me, I’m just as obsessed as you are, so you can believe that I’ll update you the moment cover art, titles, or plot details drop! Join my newsletter and I’ll be your ACOTAR bestie:
ACOTAR Characters & Plot
Please note: These sections have some light spoilers for the series.
And while I’m here, this series is rather mature – definitely adult in themes of violence and sex – so bear that in mind.
Feyre is a huntress. She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price…
– Sarah J. Maas
In the simplest of terms, the ACOTAR series follows Feyre Archeron as she leaves her mortal home behind and enters into the far lands of Prythian.
The series starts out with Feyre, a nineteen-year-old mortal woman, hunting to provide for her impoverished family and killing a wolf in the woods.
The wolf in question was actually a faerie, and a terrifying monster soon after arrives at Feyre’s family’s home to demand retribution. Feyre goes with him, crossing over the boundary from the mortal, human realm to that of the Fae, and the story takes off from there.
Pythian Map & Locations of the Courts in ACOTAR
Image Credit: Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses Characters in the Series
As far as A Court of Thorns and Roses series characters, there are a handful of the main names you’ll see throughout the series.
Please note, there are far more ACOTAR characters than those listed here. However, these are the ten names you’ll see again and again.
If you want more details than I listed here (for fear of too many big spoilers), this website has a huge database of the ACOTAR series characters.
Main Characters in ACOTAR
- Feyre (Fay-Ruh) Archeron – a mortal-turned-High Fae woman who originally lives in the Spring Court. She later becomes High Lady of the Night Court at Velaris alongside Rhysand.
- Tamlin – the High Lord of the Spring Court, Tamlin is Feyre’s original love interest.
- Lucien Vanserra – an emissary of the Spring Court and friend of Tamlin’s, Lucien is one of Feyre’s first High Fae friends (though the term is used loosely).
- Nesta Archeron – Feyre’s eldest human sister who is turned into a High Fae and struggles to adjust to her change in circumstance.
- Elain Archeron – Feyre’s second-eldest human sister who is made into a High Fae at the same time as Nesta and comes to live in Velaris with Feyre.
- Rhysand – ruler of the Night Court and the most powerful High Lord in the ACOTAR universe’s history. Rhysand starts out as a small character but should not be overlooked.
- Cassian – close friend of Rhysand, Cassian is a member of the Night Court’s Inner Circle and General Commander of the Night Court’s armies.
- Azriel – the spymaster of the Night Court and shadow singer of Rhysand, Azriel is another member of Rhysand’s Inner Circle.
- Morrigan (AKA: Mor) – the Night Court’s third-in-command. Mor manages the dynamics between the Court of Nightmares and the Court of Dreams, two centers of Rhysand’s Night Court.
- Amren – Rhysand’s second-in-command at the Night Court, Amren is a dangerously powerful creature of “unknown” origins.
Themed Merch and ACOTAR Inspired Finds
A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series in Order
There are five books in the ACOTAR series, starting with the eponymous A Court of Thorns and Roses. A six and seventh book are set to release in October 27, 2026 and January 12, 2027.
The books in order are as follows:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- A Court of Mist and Fury
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight
- A Court of Silver Flames
- Unnamed ACOTAR Book 6
- Unnamed ACOTAR Book 7
Without giving much away, the first and the last books in the series are quite different from the bulk of the story. That is, with the hindsight of having finished the series, they are solid bookends around Feyre’s story.
The first is a sort of Beauty-and-the-Beast retelling. The three in the middle serve as the bulk of Feyre’s tale in the Night Court with Rhysand and his inner circle. The fifth novel in the series is quite different, in that it is told not in first person, but from Nesta’s viewpoint (Feyre’s Fae-Made sister).
Shop the ACOTAR Book Series
1: A Court of Thorns and Roses
With engrossing world building and a fantastical mythology, this novel blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore in almost equal parts. While I found myself confused at some of the lore once the main character travels to the faerie world, I found the logic of it all came together for me in the last third of the novel.
Having since finished the series, I think this one would definitely be worth a re-read. A lot of the characters and world characteristics make more sense knowing where the story goes.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.
2: A Court of Mist and Fury
Book two of five in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas follows Feyre’s transformation from human to High Fae in book one. She’s back with Tamlin, having saved him during her tormented time Under the Mountain, but something isn’t the same….
Basically, this novel tears apart the Beauty-and-the-Beast trope from the first novel. It shows Tamlin to be an overbearing and destructive partner for Feyre. However, lucky for Feyre, there’s another High Lord to rescue her as she settles into the misunderstood Night Court.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.
3: A Court of Wings and Ruin
Book three of five in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas opens with Feyre back at the Spring Court, working undercover to spy on Tamlin and his possible ties to an existential threat.
While I enjoyed Feyre’s double crossing Tamlin, I was relieved that the whole book wasn’t spent with her in the Spring Court. Feyre’s time in the Night Court and Velaris with Rhysand and their inner circle make for very compelling reading. This is especially the case while they navigate the complex politics of the High Lords they need on their side in the coming war….
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.
4: A Court of Frost and Starlight
A shorter novel — a novella in light of the other books in the series — A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas is basically a Christmas episode for the ACOTAR cast. Sometimes it’s referenced as book 3.5 in the series, though I am listing it here as book 4 for convenience sake.
Feyre, Rhysand, and their inner circle celebrate the Winter Solstice, Feyre’s first as High Lady. The novel follows the emotions and traumas facing the cast of characters after the dramatic conflict in book three. It also sets the stage for the final book in the series, which focuses on Nesta.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.
5: A Court of Silver Flames
The fifth book in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Silver Flames is Nesta Archeron’s story. The moody, prickly-proud sister of the High Lady of the Night Court, Nesta finds herself the center of an intervention. After giving in to her trauma and temper one too many times, Nesta is exiled, more or less, to train with Cassian, her would-be mate. Essentially, she is sent away to get her life in order.
This book is pretty different from the others in this series because it is fully Nesta’s story. Therefore, there are definitely mixed feelings in the ACOTAR fandom about this one, both in style and in regard to its protagonist. Nesta is a bit of a divisive figure; it seems that people ether love her or hate her.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I would think about that, but, in the end, I think it might be my favorite!
Nesta is a complicated character and, in many ways, I think the most realistic of the cast. She is flawed, yes, but she grows in a way that is consistent with her character. Basically, by the end of this one, I was fully team Nesta.
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.
6: A Court of Thorns and Roses 6
The sixth installment of the ACOTAR series was announced in March of 2026 to be released on October 27, 2026.
The sixth book in the ACOTAR series is available for pre-order from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
7: A Court of Thorns and Roses 7
The seventh installment of the ACOTAR series was announced in March of 2026 to be released on January 12, 2027.
The seventh book in the ACOTAR series is available for pre-order from Bookshop.org here and Amazon here.
Coffee with a side of ACOTAR ✨☕️
Themed finds based on the Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, including graphic tees, glass coffee travel mugs, home decor, wall art, bookmarks, and more gifts for readers.
See my continuously curated list of ACOTAR themed finds for readers here!
ACOTAR FAQ
- Who wrote the A Court of Thorns and Roses series? – Sarah J. Maas wrote the series, along with a number of other adult fantasy novels, including the popular Throne of Glass series and Crescent City series (I have more info on the Crescent City series here and you’ll find the Throne of Glass series in my fantasy reading list here).
- How many books are in the ACOTAR series? – There are 5 total books currently, with a 6th and 7th to be released in October 2026 and January 2027. Sarah J. Maas has said she is not finished the ACOTAR series, so we will still get more books from this series beyond these even. There is speculation that the book will focus on Elaine, the third Archeron sister, but that has not been confirmed.
- When was the series published? – The first book in the ACOTAR series was published in 2015, with book two coming out in 2016, book three in 2017, and book four in 2018. The fifth book in the ACOTAR series came out in 2021. Books six and seven are set to come out in late 2026 and early 2027.
- Will ACOTAR be made into a show or movie? – Hulu has optioned the series for a TV series to be developed by Ronald D. Moore, who is renowned for his work on Outlander. There are doubts about whether this project will pan out, though. Time will tell. (Update: SJM has apparently regained production rights to movie and tv adaptations, so it is unclear what the future of these projects will hold. As of March 2026, the author is focusing on writing the rest of the series).
What to Read After ACOTAR:
Already a fan of the ACOTAR books?
Click here for 10 more fantasy books and series to dive into next!
This post is a part of my What to Read series, where I share themed reading lists and book guides based on genre, time period, theme, or author.
You can peruse more of my What to Read reading guides here!
*This post was originally published in May 2023. It was most recently updated on April 6, 2026.
