Reading order
| # | Title | Year | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | 2015 | Buy |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | 2016 | Buy |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | 2017 | Buy |
| 3.1 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | 2018 | Buy |
| 4 | A Court of Silver Flames | 2021 | Buy |
A Court of Thorns and Roses begins as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Feyre, a mortal huntress, kills a wolf that turns out to be a faerie in disguise. As punishment, she’s taken to the faerie realm of Prythian by Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court. What starts as captivity becomes something more complicated.
Sarah J. Maas has built her career on romantasy, fantasy novels where the romantic subplot is as central as the worldbuilding. Her Fae courts are lush, dangerous, and populated by immortals with centuries of grudges. The magic system is tied to the seven courts, each associated with different seasons, times of day, or elemental powers.
The series shifts focus as it progresses. The first book is intimate, focused on Feyre and Tamlin. Book two, A Court of Mist and Fury, expands the world dramatically and introduces Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court, who becomes central to the series. The books are known for their “plot twists” in relationships and alliances.
Maas writes with intensity. The romance is explicit, the emotions are heightened, and the stakes escalate with each installment. A Court of Silver Flames focuses on Feyre’s sister Nesta, giving a supporting character her own arc of healing and growth.
The series has become a phenomenon on BookTok, where readers share favorite quotes, fan art, and heated debates about character choices. The aesthetic of the Fae courts, particularly the Night Court, has inspired merchandise, tattoos, and themed events.