Warning: This list contains spoilers for Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses books.

The plot of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is based on the key themes of romance, betrayal, defiance, and self-determination, resulting in certain things that happen in every book. A Court of Thorns and Roses and its sequels depict human-turned-Fae huntress Feyre Archeron as she falls in love (more than once), defies one enemy after another, and encounters new magical beings and places in the Fae country of Prythian. New elements of Pyrthian are introduced in every book, and the world progressively gets bigger.

Other major characters, such as Feyre’s partner Rhysand and her eldest sister Nesta, can be depended upon to do certain things characteristic of their personas in every book. Additionally, other undercurrent themes constitute at least one major recurring scene in every installment, representative of the things the main characters value. With the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book coming soon, readers can be sure that particular events will repeat themselves as the story continues.

10

Every ACOTAR Book Starts A New Romantic Subplot

At least one new romantic pairing becomes a possibility in every ACOTAR book.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses is a deeply romantic series, even more so than Maas’ debut fantasy series, the Throne of Glass books. The outcome of the conflict in the first book is dependent upon Feyre falling in love with the Tamlin, the Fae High Lord of the Spring Court. Tensions between her and Rhysand “Rhys,” the High Lord of the Night Court, are also apparent; Feyre then leaves Tamlin and later begins a relationship with Rhys in A Court of Mist and Fury. Additionally, with the many new characters introduced in this sequel, more romantic possibilities appear.

For instance, Rhys’ adoptive brother Cassian and Nesta have a tense but electric dynamic. Feyre’s other sister Elain is completely faithful to her betrothed in the second book, but the possibility of her having a romance with Rhys’ other brother Azriel, or Feyre’s friend Lucien, comes later. When Nesta meets her two best friends Emerie and Gwyn in A Court of Silver Flames, they also become possible love interests to members of Rhys and Feyre’s inner circle. Other couples from across Prythian are introduced throughout the series. Ultimately, Maas loves writing romance, and her fans love reading it.

9

Tamlin Proves That He Is A Terrible Partner

It is always clear that Feyre made the right decision to leave Tamlin.

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Feyre and Tamlin’s relationship is problematic but sadly not untypical of the young adult supernatural romance genre, making it a big surprise when Feyre leaves him after their relationship deteriorates in the second book. Tamlin does some bad things to Feyre in the first book that she dismisses at the time, such as attacking her after Calanmai and seducing her steps away from Amanratha’s court. After the relationship ends, Tamlin regularly reinforces that Feyre made the right choice.

In the second book, Tamlin becomes increasingly possessive of Feyre and refuses to let her go anywhere without guards, despite the negative effect it has on her mental health. He then refuses to believe that she would leave him of her own free will and tries to bring her back to the Spring Court by force. Once he is forced to accept the truth, he insults her in front of the other High Lords. In the later books, Tamlin neglects to govern his territory at all, living in reclusive misery over having lost Feyre.

8

More Of Prythian’s History Is Revealed

There is always more to be uncovered about Prythian’s history.

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Each new A Court of Thorns and Roses book builds upon what has been previously established about the world’s history. Tamlin and Lucien tell Feyre in the first book the basics of their world’s creation myth, while she learns about the evil queen Amarantha and her history with the human lovers Jurian and Miriam from Alis. Rhys and his court change Feyre’s perspective on these events and the previous war when they tell her that Miriam actually left Jurian and married the Fae Prince Drakon.

The series continues to add to the lore surrounding the Cauldron and the worlds outside the one Prythian exists in, primarily through the research done by Amren, Rhys’ second-in-command. A Court of Silver Flames introduces the completely new concept of the Dread Trove, a collection of magical artifacts that will play a major role in the books to come. It is all demonstrative of how this fantasy universe is an interconnected world that is always expanding, with new rules and new histories revealed.

7

Nest Is Brutal To Her Family & Her Enemies

Nesta is not the nicest friend, but she is a deadly enemy.

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Casting Nesta for the A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show is going to be a monumental challenge due to the complicated nature of Nesta’s character. Nesta is perennially angry about a lot of the things that have happened in her life and she can be difficult for her sisters to deal with. Each A Court of Thorns and Roses book includes Nesta saying or doing something objectively horrible to Feyre, Elain, or one of the other main characters out of spite.

However, Netsa’s best qualities are her iron will, ferociousness, and protectiveness. Being her friend might be difficult, but being her enemy is infinitely worse. Throughout the books, she promises revenge, undermines Fae lords who are supposedly far more powerful than her, and brutally destroys her enemies. Readers who enjoy the revenge storylines of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass are likely Nesta’s biggest fans.

6

The Characters Visit A New Part Of Prythian

The main characters see most of Prythian’s courts and other specific locations.

The first A Court of Thorns and Roses books establishes Prythian’s seven courts, which are gradually explored throughout the series. Feyre spends the entire first book in Spring, relocates to Night and visits Summer in the second book, and passes through Winter, Autumn, and Dawn in the third book. There are also some locations in Prythian that aren’t claimed by any particular court, such as the mountain where Amarantha holds her court and the forest the Weaver inhabits.

A Court of Frost and Starlight also depicts characters traveling to some previously unseen areas within the Night Court. The books have yet to properly show the Day Court, as well as some of the territories beyond Prythian. However, given the Night Court’s friendship with Helion, the High Lord of the Day Court, and Morrigan “Mor’s” work as an ambassador, it is likely readers will experience these places in in the future.

5

Rhysand Drops Another Iconic Line

Rhys’ flirtatious quotes constitute fan-favorite moments of the ACOTAR books.

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Some of the best lines from A Court of Thorns and Roses are said by Rhys, who is arrogant, witty, and sensual in most scenes he is in. He drops some surprising words of wisdom in the first book where he serves as a kind of frenemy to Feyre. He flirts a lot with Feyre, to her annoyance, at the beginning of the second book, resulting in iconic phrases like “Hello, Feyre darling.”

After that, it is pretty much guaranteed that Rhys will say something sassy and flirtatious to Feyre in every book that will come to be quoted by the fans. After A Court of Wings and Ruin, the story has largely moved beyond Rhys and Feyre’s relationship, and all scenes from their perspective are pure domestic bliss. With whole scenes that are about nothing but the couple’s banter, there are always some delightful lines.

4

A Main ACOTAR Character Wears An Amazing Dress

The ladies of Prythian wear amazing dresses that have various meanings.

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An epic moment of the main heroine walking in wearing a showstopping dress is also a staple of SJM’s books, which all explore empowerment through femininity. The moment has less significance in the first A Court of Thorns and Roses book, but it can be seen as Feyre returning to her family with her new wealth. However, beginning in the second book, Rhys gives Feyre several dresses his mother made before her death as a gift for his future wife. Each dress is symbolic of Feyre’s newfound purpose as the High Lady of the Night Court and the power that comes with it.

Feyre’s glittering Starfall dress comes back several times at key moments in the books. She also wears a darker dress when meeting with the High Lords in A Court of Wings and Ruins which symbolizes how she has become a threatening peer to them. Meanwhile, Nesta also has a grand moment of arriving in the Court of Nightmares in A Court of Silver Flames with an equally stunning wardrobe.

3

The Characters Meet A New Prythian Monster

ACOTAR features many surprisingly complex so-called monsters.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses also features some amazing monsters, who are not always what they initially appear to be. Feyre meets the Suriel in book one, who is an apparently neutral faerie playing by simple rules: Anyone who can catch them gets truthful answers to their questions. It is revealed later that they have more hopes for Prythian’s future than Feyre had thought. Feyre meets the Weaver in the Wood and the Bone Carver in book two, malevolent twin monsters.

Despite their long history of destroying anyone who crosses their paths, the heroes bargain with the Weaver and Bone Carver to secure their aid in the final battle in the third book. A Court of Wings and Ruin also introduces Bryaxis, a creature that was imprisoned in the library of Velaris but is also freed to help with the battle. The Night Court meets more nightmarish beings in years to come, but each one likely holds secrets of its own.

2

Every ACOTAR Book’s Story Celebrates The Arts

The arts are important to ACOTAR’s character arcs and settings.

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All the A Court of Thorns and Roses books showcase the place of the arts in the characters’ lives, particularly concerning their mental health. Feyre takes comfort in painting while she and her family are living in poverty, and she is their sole source of support. After the trauma of being killed by Amarantha (and resurrected), Feyre becomes too depressed to paint for some time. However, she has some beautifully cathartic moments later where she paints a star on Rhys’ hand using stardust and then paints the walls of his cabin when left alone there for a few days.

All the books after the second one also emphasize the setting of Velaris and its artistic community. Feyre starts a painting class to help children work through trauma from the war in the novella, while Nesta relieves anxiety by reading and can make sense of her emotions by listening to music. It is a very poignant part of these books that results in some of its best scenes, which capture a real coping mechanism of people managing stress and PTSD.

1

Feyre Defies Death

The SJM books are always led by a fearless heroine.

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Like most SJM heroines, Feyre constantly finds herself in the face of death, usually against an adversary far more powerful than her. Also characteristic of Feyre (and of Aelin, her Throne of Glass counterpart) is to stare down that enemy, terrify them with her own resolve, and miraculously come out victorious. In the first book, surviving each trial Amanrantha throws at Feyre is a deadly challenge — but she still makes a show out of her victory, like when she throws down a makeshift spear after killing the Middengard Wyrm.

Feyre then repeatedly says defiant things to Tamlin, Lucien, the King of Hybern, and Ianthe to let them know she is not to be trifled with. She doesn’t face a true enemy in A Court of Silver Flames but narrowly survives a dangerous childbirth thanks to Nesta. The steely heroines are a hallmark of A Court of Thorns and Roses and its sister series, meaning that scenes like these are bound to happen in every book.