Return to Velaris
Welcome to the ultimate guide to the ACOTAR book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses. This guide is a complete deep dive into the world created by Sarah J. Maas, featuring book-by-book breakdowns, character discussions, world-building, fan theories, and fun ACOTAR-related content for readers who want to get lost in the world of Prythian.
I have been a huge Sarah J. Maas fan since the release of Throne of Glass back in 2012. She is one of the few writers I have followed through their entire writing journey. I have waited patiently, pre-ordered months in advance, and counted down the days for every single one of her releases. At this point, I could read her grocery list and still give it five stars.
Even though Throne of Glass is my favorite series by her, ACOTAR is my comfort series. Every time I need an escape from the real world, I find myself returning to Velaris and these characters SJM created.
It’s a world that comforts and inspires me the most. The kind of series where reading slumps don’t apply, the city I would absolutely live in if I could, and the characters I would probably try to be best friends with (even though they are all slightly deadly). I would happily make a home in Velaris. So ACOTAR may not be perfect, but it feels perfect to me.
Now that Sarah has just announced the release ACOTAR Book 6 and ACOTAR Book 7, I couldn’t be more excited. However, the release is still months away, so I thought I am going to utilize my free will and create something fun - for me and hopefully for you.
Which is why I have decided to open a permanent portal back to the Night Court. I am calling this series 'Return to Velaris' - my complete deep dive into the world of ACOTAR for those of us who just aren't ready to leave the Court of Dreams behind. Over the next few months, as we wait, I will be doing deep dives into all the books, character discussions (yes, we will scream about our Bat Boys), and a lot of fun articles that you rarely see on blogs.
Again… purely me utilizing my free will.
Navigating the Guide
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR): Everything You Need to Know
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fae
Setting: Prythian (The Seven Courts)
Main Protagonist: Feyre Archeron (first 4 books), Nesta Archeron (book 5)
Perspective: 1st Person (Books 1-4) | 3rd Person (Book 5)
Age Rating: New Adult (Explicit content/18+)
Status: Ongoing.
✧ ACOTAR Book 6 to be published - October 27, 2026
✧ ACOTAR Book 7 to be published - January 12, 2027
✧ ACOTAR Book 8 to be published - End of 2027 (TBA)
What is ACOTAR About? (Spoiler-Free Synopsis)
A Court of Thorns and Roses (also known as ACOTAR) follows Feyre Archeron, a nineteen-year-old human girl who hunts to provide for her starving family - her father and two older sisters. Determined to keep them alive through the brutal winter, Feyre ventures into the woods in search of food. When she spots a large wolf, she kills it without hesitation.
But the wolf was no ordinary animal. It was a fae warrior in wolf form. As punishment for taking a fae life (a life for a life) a terrifying fae beast appears and drags Feyre across the wall that separates the human lands from the magical realm of Prythian.
The human and fae worlds have long been divided by this wall, erected after a fragile peace treaty meant to protect humans from the cunning, powerful, and immortal fae.
Forced into the dangerous and beautiful world of Prythian, Feyre soon discovers that her captor is not a beast at all, but Tamlin, one of the lethal High Fae who once ruled over the world. As Feyre begins to live in the enchanting Spring Court, her feelings toward Tamlin slowly shift, transforming from icy resentment into a fiery passion. But something ancient and malevolent is stirring across the fae lands. And Feyre may be the only one capable of stopping the darkness before it destroys their world forever.
The Official ACOTAR Reading Order
If you are new to the A Court of Thorns and Roses, the best way to experience the story is to read the books in publication order. Each book builds directly on the events of the previous one, expanding the world of Prythian and introducing new characters, relationships, and conflicts that shape the larger story.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR): The first book in the series introduces us to Feyre Archeron, a human huntress who is dragged into the magical Fae land of Prythian after killing a wolf in the woods. While it is widely known as a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling - where a human girl must live with a cursed beast to save his people - don’t be fooled by the fairytale. The world of the Prythian is full of lethal monsters, ancient politics, and a looming danger that threatens both the Fae and human realms. This is the foundation of the series and a must-read to understand the complex world of ACOTAR.
- A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF): The fairytale is over, and Feyre and Prythian have been irrevocably changed. While the world of the Fae is expanding, Feyre’s inner world is closing in on itself as she struggles with the trauma of her past. This is one of the most magical book of the series where we see more of this magical fae land, and learn the real meaning of love, loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice.
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR): The third book brings the conflict between kingdoms and courts to the forefront as war threatens human and fae lands. Feyre must use everything she has learned to protect those she loves and confront the forces that seek to destroy their world.
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS): This shorter novella serves as bridge between the original trilogy and the later books. This novella can be considered as an extended epilogue to the original trilogy - Feyre's story. It’s a festive, slice-of-life look at the characters healing after the war.
- A Court of Silver Flames (ACOSF): A full-length novel following the original trilogy, ACOSF marks a major shift in the series. Written in a third-person dual perspective, it is a shift from Feyre’s story in every sense. This book follows Nesta Archeron - a wildly misunderstood character in the story. Nesta is not easy to love, but this is the true strength of this book. It is a raw, emotional masterclass in character growth, overcoming trauma, and the not so glamorous journey of learning to love yourself.
- ACOTAR 6: Releasing on 27 October 2026.
- ACOTAR 7: Releasing 12 January 2027.
- ACOTAR 8: Tentative release end of 2027.
ACOTAR Book 6-8 Everything We Know So Far
As mentioned above, we only have confirmation on a few things from Sarah J. Maas so far — but what we do know is actually kind of huge.
She has shared that when she initially started writing ACOTAR Book 6, it was meant to be a single book, similar in scope to A Court of Silver Flames. However, as she continued writing, the story kept expanding, and the world grew far beyond what could fit into just one installment.
What was originally one book has now evolved into a four-part story — essentially a new arc told across multiple volumes. The first part alone reportedly reached around 400 pages, which gives you an idea of just how massive this storyline is going to be.
Because of this, instead of one book, we are now getting a back-to-back release schedule:
ACOTAR 6
- Covers: Volume 1 of the new arc
- Release Date: October 27, 2026
- Approximate Length: 352 pages
ACOTAR 7
- Covers: Volumes 2 and 3
- Release Date: January 12, 2027
- Approximate Length: 928 pages
ACOTAR 8
- Covers: Volume 4 (final part of the arc)
- Release Date: TBA (currently being written)
Main Characters & Current Theories
As of now, nothing has been officially confirmed about the main POVs — but fandom speculation is very much leaning toward Elain and Azriel.
This is partly because both characters still have significant unresolved arcs, along with Mor, whose story also feels far from complete. There are also hints (especially from Azriel’s POV in A Court of Silver Flames) that suggest a deeper storyline that could be explored further — whether that means a shared narrative or separate character journeys remains to be seen.
Sarah did mention on Elain and Lucien bond that she wanted to "explore the idea of free will" and "what happens when nature picks wrong" - a question which Azriel also echoed in his POV.
Personally, I am a Azriel × Elain truther, so I will be rooting for them to be endgame. But there is no confirmation as of yet.
Either way, we will definitely be getting into all the theories, possibilities, and chaos as we get closer to the release dates.
The ACOTAR Collection
Part of my “Return to Velaris” series - dive deep into the world of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Coming Soon!
ACOTAR: Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACOTAR appropriate for all ages?
No. Even though the ACOTAR series starts with mild explicit content, the series eventually transitions to mature themes and explicit content. The later books in the series like A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames are very heavy on the explicit content, so it is better to not gift this series to kids and young adults.
If you are looking for good age appropriate romance fantasy books like ACOTAR, I recommend Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, and The Selection by Kiera Cass.
What is the correct ACOTAR reading order?
ACOTAR is an interconnected series, you can't skip any book in the series. The best way to read the series is in publication order: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, the novella A Court of Frost and Starlight, and finally A Court of Silver Flames.
Do I have to read the novella, A Court of Frost and Starlight?
Yes! Even though A Court of Frost and Starlight is a very short novella with mostly slice of life content, the novella acts as a bridge between the original trilogy and A Court of Silver Flames.
That said, A Court of Silver Flames provides good enough context that if you don't wish to read the novella, it will still be alright. But trust me, this is such a lovely book where our favorite characters are enjoying the festivities together, sharing sweet moments and laughter - you really won’t want to miss out on reading it.
Who is the main love interest in ACOTAR?
Without giving away too many spoilers, in A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre Archeron’s primary love interest is Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court. Their relationship begins when Feyre is taken to Prythian after killing a fae wolf and gradually develops as she lives in Tamlin’s court. However, as the story continues, Feyre’s romantic arc evolves significantly, introducing another key relationship that becomes central to the later books.
I highly suggest let the story surprise you - this is the most magical part of the story.
Is the ACOTAR series finished?
No! The ACOTAR series has 5 released books with book 6, 7, and 8 releasing in October 2026, January 2027, and end of 2027, respectfully.
However, first 3 books following Feyre's story is a complete series in itself. Book 4 is a novella post the trilogy. And Book 5 is Nesta's book which is also a complete arc in itself.
While a few threads will carry forward into the upcoming ACOTAR books, the first five books feel complete on their own and don’t end on a cliffhanger. That makes the series especially enjoyable to binge, since each arc feels satisfying while still leaving room for more story.
Do I need to read Sarah J. Maas's other series first?
Not necessarily. ACOTAR can be read as a standalone series. However, if you want to enhance your reading experience you should give Throne of Glass and Crescent City a try. Even though all three series have been in separate world SJM's 'Massverse' is interconnected and threaded beautifully and subtly with one another.
Which Sarah J. Maas's series should I read first?
I have personally read SJM series in order of publishing - Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. However, a lot of readers find TOG as a daunting series to start from due to the length and epic scale of the series - therefore, I recommend starting from ACOTAR.