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What Is ACOTAR? Everything to Know Before Reading A Court of Thorns and Roses
You've seen the books. You've heard people talking about the Night Court. You've probably encountered the name Rhysand somewhere on BookTok. But what actually is ACOTAR, and is it a book series you'd enjoy?
ACOTAR is short for A Court of Thorns and Roses, the bestselling romantic fantasy book series by Sarah J. Maas. The series combines fantasy, romance, magic, faeries, dangerous courts, action and increasingly high-stakes relationships in the world of Prythian.
If you like romantasy, enemies-to-lovers tension, powerful fae, immersive fantasy worlds, found family and plenty of romance, there's a good chance ACOTAR belongs on your reading list.
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What Does ACOTAR Mean?
ACOTAR stands for A Court of Thorns and Roses, the title of the first book in Sarah J. Maas's fantasy romance series.
Fans commonly use ACOTAR as the name for the entire series, rather than saying A Court of Thorns and Roses every time. You'll also see similar abbreviations used for individual books in the series, including ACOMAF for A Court of Mist and Fury and ACOWAR for A Court of Wings and Ruin.
What Is the ACOTAR Book Series About?
The ACOTAR series begins with Feyre Archeron, a nineteen-year-old huntress whose family depends on her to survive.
After Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives demanding retribution. She is taken across the border separating the mortal lands from the magical world of the fae and brought into the mysterious land of Prythian.
There, Feyre discovers that her captor, Tamlin, is not simply the beast she first believed him to be. He's one of the powerful immortal faeries who inhabit this dangerous world.
What begins with a fairy-tale-like premise gradually develops into a much larger romantic fantasy story involving different faerie courts, political rivalries, powerful enemies, friendships, war, magic and complicated relationships.
And that's about as much as you should know before starting. ACOTAR is a series that's particularly easy to spoil, so discovering the characters, relationships and different courts as Feyre does is part of the fun.
Is ACOTAR Fantasy or Romance?
ACOTAR is both fantasy and romance, and is one of the best-known examples of the genre commonly called romantasy.
The fantasy side includes faeries, magic, different courts, dangerous creatures, political conflicts and an expanding fantasy world. At the same time, romantic relationships are a major part of the story and become increasingly important as the series continues.
So if you usually read romance but want to try fantasy, ACOTAR can be an accessible place to start. Likewise, fantasy readers who enjoy strong romantic storylines may find plenty to like here.
Would I Like ACOTAR?
Wondering whether A Court of Thorns and Roses is actually for you? Your usual reading tastes are a pretty good guide.
You might like ACOTAR if you enjoy:
- Fantasy worlds that become bigger as a series progresses
- Romance as a major part of the plot
- Enemies-to-lovers and complicated relationship dynamics
- Powerful fae and magical characters
- Found-family dynamics
- Strong friendships alongside romance
- Dangerous fantasy courts and political rivalries
- Action, adventure and high-stakes conflict
- Character-focused stories
- Long series you can become completely immersed in
If you prefer fantasy with almost no romance, ACOTAR may not be the best match. Relationships are not a small subplot here; they're a major part of what drives the series.
Is ACOTAR Spicy?
Yes, the ACOTAR series contains sexual content, although the level changes across the series.
The first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, contains romance and some sexual content, but later books become more explicit. In particular, A Court of Silver Flames contains considerably more mature romantic and sexual content than the beginning of the series.
So while ACOTAR is often discovered through fantasy and BookTok recommendations, readers looking for a completely clean or closed-door fantasy romance should be aware that the series becomes more adult as it progresses.
What Order Should You Read the ACOTAR Books?
The best way to read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is in publication order. The story and character relationships build from one book to the next, so this isn't a series we'd recommend reading out of order.
- 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
- A Court of Splintered Harmony
- A Court of Forgotten Melody
A Court of Frost and Starlight is a companion story that takes place between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames. Don't be tempted to skip it just because it's shorter: it bridges the story between those parts of the series.
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How Many ACOTAR Books Are There?
There are currently five published ACOTAR books, with two more books joining the series: A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody.
A Court of Splintered Harmony is due for release on 27 October 2026, followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody on 12 January 2027.
That means now is a particularly good time to start ACOTAR if you've been wondering what all the fuss is about: you can catch up on the existing series before the next books arrive.
Do You Have to Read A Court of Frost and Starlight?
We'd recommend it. A Court of Frost and Starlight is shorter than the main ACOTAR novels, but it acts as a bridge between A Court of Wings and Ruin and the books that follow.
It gives you more time with the characters after the events of the first three books and sets up developments that matter as the series moves forward.
Is ACOTAR Finished?
No, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is not finished. Sarah J. Maas is continuing the series, with A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody expanding the ACOTAR world beyond the five books already published.
Is ACOTAR Worth Reading?
If you like fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, ACOTAR is absolutely worth trying. There's a reason the series has become such a major part of the romantasy and BookTok conversation.
One thing worth knowing before you begin is that you shouldn't necessarily judge the entire series by the opening chapters of the first book.
A Court of Thorns and Roses begins with a relatively contained story, but the world, characters, relationships and stakes expand considerably as the series progresses. For many readers, that's a big part of its appeal: what initially looks like one kind of fantasy romance gradually becomes something much larger.
Who Is ACOTAR For?
ACOTAR is particularly well suited to readers who want their fantasy to be character-driven, romantic and easy to get emotionally invested in.
It's also an obvious series to try if you've been seeing romantasy recommendations everywhere but haven't known where to start. You don't need to have read Sarah J. Maas's other series before beginning ACOTAR.
You can start with A Court of Thorns and Roses without reading Throne of Glass or Crescent City first.
ACOTAR Frequently Asked Questions
What does ACOTAR stand for?
ACOTAR stands for A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book and the commonly used name for Sarah J. Maas's romantic fantasy series.
What is ACOTAR about?
ACOTAR begins with a young huntress named Feyre Archeron being taken from the human world into the magical faerie realm of Prythian. What starts as a fairy-tale-inspired fantasy develops into a larger story involving romance, magic, faerie courts, friendship, political conflict and war.
Is ACOTAR a romance?
Yes. ACOTAR combines fantasy and romance and is commonly described as romantasy. Romantic relationships are a significant part of the series rather than a minor subplot.
Is ACOTAR for adults?
ACOTAR contains violence, mature themes, romance and sexual content, with the level of explicit content increasing in later books. Readers looking for the series because of its fantasy setting should be aware that romance and mature content are important parts of the books.
Do I need to read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR?
No. Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses are separate Sarah J. Maas series, so you can begin ACOTAR with A Court of Thorns and Roses without reading Throne of Glass first.
What is the first ACOTAR book?
The first ACOTAR book is A Court of Thorns and Roses. Start there before continuing with A Court of Mist and Fury and the rest of the series in publication order.
Should I read ACOTAR if I don't normally read fantasy?
ACOTAR can be a good introduction to fantasy for readers who already enjoy romance. The series places considerable emphasis on characters and relationships alongside its magic, faerie courts and fantasy world-building.
Ready to Start ACOTAR?
If the combination of romance, fantasy, faeries, dangerous courts, found family and characters you can become seriously invested in sounds like your kind of read, it's time to find out what all the ACOTAR talk is about.
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, then work your way through the series in order before the next chapters of Sarah J. Maas's fantasy world arrive.
