ACOTAR Review: A Series That Sets the Bar on Fantasy Romance

I picked up A Court of Thorns and Roses (better known by fans as ACOTAR) in December of 2022. Little did I know that this book would become my “gateway” book into the high fantasy genre.

This series sets the bar for romantasy and two years later, it remains one of my favorites, with the 2nd book in series making my top 10 reads of all time. Although you can expect a mostly glowing ACOTAR review from me, it does have it’s drawbacks and it’s definitely not a series for everyone.

Read on for the full breakdown.

(Read this series already? Here’s my list of books to read next if you loved ACOTAR!)

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ACOTAR Overview

Read If You Like

• Swoony romance that will make your heart pound

• Fantasy worlds with magic and mythical creatures? Yes! The fae world here is so cool to read about

• If you love political machinations and power struggles you’ll devour all the intrigue

• Lovable, well-developed characters

• Epic high fantasy with fae

• Mysterious creatures l

Pass If You Have a Problem With

• Spicy books – there are a number of spicy scenes especially in the later books

• YA-style writing

• Romance heavy-plots

• Violence or dark themes – it’s not as bad as some books I’ve read but worth noting

• Minor plot holes that might affect the logic of the story

What is ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas?

ACOTAR stands for A Court of Thorns and Roses, which is the first novel, but is an acronym also used to refer to the entire series. It’s a high fantasy romance series by Sarah J. Maas featuring fae. The first book is billed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and although you will definitely find some similar plot elements, it is definitely much more than that.

The plot follows Feyre Archeron, a huntress who lives in poverty with her father and two sisters. One day when she’s out hunting for food, she comes across a large wolf that she kills with an arrow.

But the wolf turns out to be a fae, and next thing our heroine knows, her door is being beaten down by a beastly fae demanding retribution She is taken captive and brought to the fae realm of Prythian.

From there, she meets all manner of people and mysterious creatures, and quickly learns there are some troubling things going on in the fae realm that humans had not been privy to.

I can’t say much more than that without ruining it – it is a series best going in with as little info as possible and just experiencing it for yourself.

Reading Order

If you’re new to ACOTAR here’s the order I recommend:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses

2. A Court of Mist and Fury

3. A Court of Wings and Ruin

4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (novella)

5. A Court of Silver Flames

Start with the first three books which are the main trilogy. They introduce you to the world and characters. The novella comes next and bridges the gap to the spin-off novel.

A Court of Silver Flames is about a different main character and expands the universe even more. This book isn’t as important to read and honestly isn’t one of my favorites. But the first three books are solid.

Is ACOTAR Worth The Hype? My Review

I have to admit, ACOTAR lives up to the hype as a fantasy romance, but it takes some time to get going. The first book was a bit hard to get into, and I contemplated quitting after finishing it. But then I picked up A Court of Mist and Fury and I tore through the next four books after that. This is definitely a good series if you need to get out of a reading slump and get back to loving to read!

Here’s what you’ll enjoy about these books:

Top Shelf Romance

The romance in ACOTAR is swoon-worthy. I was giggling like a teenager, especially during A Court of Mist and Fury. The chemistry between Feyre and her love interests is off the charts.

I liked how the relationships developed naturally with banter and emotional growth.

World-Building

The different courts of Prythian are well described and each has its own culture and magic system.

I loved learning about the history and politics of this world. The author doesn’t info dump but instead reveals details through the story. The Night Court and Velaris is a key location, with its mysterious and beautifully described realm associated with Rhysand, and plays a big part in the story. You feel like you’ve been there by the time you finish reading the series.

The magic in ACOTAR is not as complex as in other high fantasy books but is solid. From shapeshifting to elemental powers, you get to learn more about the magic of Prythian and the fae as you read through the books.

Plot

What makes the romance aspect of the books work so well is the plot. This is refreshing for me because usually these kind of books are so focused on the romance that the plot is practically non-existent. That’s not so with this series!

What starts as a Beauty and the Beast retelling quickly becomes something much more and multiple characters with their own development and dynamics add depth to the story.

There are plenty of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going Maas would throw in a curveball.

The pacing is pretty good with a balance of action, intrigue, and quiet character moments.

Characters

ACOTAR’s characters are another reason why so many people love this series. Feyre’s growth over the books is amazing to see. You feel her struggles and cheer for her wins.

The supporting cast is just as great. From broody Rhysand to his colorful Inner Circle the characters feel fully fleshed out with their own goals and motivations. The Spring Court also has its complex character dynamics, highlighting the differences between Tamlin and the other courts.

I loved the found family aspect of the series. The relationships between the characters are one of the best things about the book.

Who Should Not Read ACOTAR? What are the Downsides?

As much as I enjoyed ACOTAR, I definitely wouldn’t expect everyone to enjoy the series as there are a few downsides that might make it not for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re debating starting this series.

It’s Spicy and Not for Younger Readers

ACOTAR contains several love scenes that aren’t appropriate for younger teens or kids to read.

Some adults might also find the spicy scenes uncomfortable or unnecessary. The first book is pretty tame, but the later books take it up a notch, especially the fifth book in particular, which I found to be a bit over the top. So if you prefer your fantasy without spice, you will definitely want to look elsewhere.

The books also contain instances of strong language and violence.

The Writing Style is Very YA

Despite the mature subject matter, the book reads like YA. In particular, the first-person narration can feel a bit juvenile at times. Feyre and the other characters often use modern slang that will pull you out of the fantasy world. (To be fair, this pet peeve of mine is something I find afflicts a lot of contemporary fantasy books, particularly in the YA category.)

So if you’re used to more traditional fantasy or literary fiction this tone might be jarring. The characters sometimes talk like they’re in a high school drama rather than a fantasy world.

The First Book is a Bit Slow

I found the first ACOTAR book to be slow at times. It takes a while for the main plot to get going. Some readers might lose interest before the good stuff.

Feyre spends a lot of time adjusting to her new life in Prythian, which might test your patience at times. But stick with it the pace picks up big time in the later books.

Which Is The Best ACOTAR Book?

Here’s my ranking:

1. A Court of Mist and Fury

2. A Court of Wings and Ruin

3. A Court of Silver Flames

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses

5. A Court of Frost and Starlight

In my opinion, A Court of Mist and Fury is by far the best ACOTAR book. It’s a real page-turner with an amazing romance that had me hooked from start to finish.

A Court of Wings and Ruin is a close second. The plot is super engaging and I loved how it expanded the world and got into politics.

A Court of Silver Flames was a fun read, Feyre’s sister Nesta. The plot wasn’t as strong as the previous books but it was still entertaining.

The original A Court of Thorns and Roses is a bit slow but it sets up the series. It’s pretty “mid” (as the kids say) for a fantasy book, but it’s worth it for what comes after.

A Court of Frost and Starlight is more of a fun holiday novella. It doesn’t have a lot of plot but I enjoyed the extra character development.

Final Thoughts And Rating

I give the ACOTAR series 4 stars.

ACOMAF is the crown jewel and gets 5 stars. The character development and plot twists in this book are amazing.

I’m glad there’s a sixth book coming. I’ll be first in line when it’s released!

It’s not perfect but it’s definitely worth the read if you enjoy high fantasy romance. The world building is complex and the characters grow on you with each page.

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