All 5 ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ Books, Ranked From Worst to Best
Sarah J. Maas hasn’t released a new A Court of Thorns and Roses book since 2021, so we’ve had quite a lot of time to think about the best installment in the franchise — so far. That’s not to say there are any bad books in the series. We’ve been transfixed by Feyre and the rest of the Prythian gang for over a decade. (Not to flex, but yes, we have been on the ACOTAR train for that long.)
As we impatiently wait for news about ACOTAR 6 — which we have high hopes for — we thought we’d take a look back at what we’re already working with. Which book reigns supreme over all of the others? Where does Nesta and Cassian’s story fall in relation to Feyre and Rhys’ books? Read on for every ACOTAR book, ranked from worst to best. Scroll all the way down to the comments to let us know if you agree or disagree with our order!
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Sarah J. Maas
We don’t have much to say about ACOFAS, though we totally understand the novella’s purpose. It’s a bridge between ACOWAR and Nesta’s book, letting us know that she had withdrawn into herself after becoming High Fae. But for the most part, it’s a Feysand holiday special. It’s pure fluff. And we’re not complaining! We’ll never say no to Feysand fluff. The novella is just not that memorable compared to all of the other books, is why we have to put it last.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
We struggled to get through ACOWAR compared to the other books in the series. Maybe it’s because the romance was put on the back burner in favor of creating a fast-paced ending that tied up the loose ends. We aren’t saying we didn’t appreciate all of the action scenes, but at times, it felt like it was hurdling too fast toward the conclusion. That final battle? A mess. The character development? Pretty much nonexistent.
At this point, the world got a little too large and dense, and we would’ve appreciated a few breaks every now and again to focus on the characters’ dynamics — especially Rhys and Feyre’s. (Let’s be real, they are what most of us are still reading the series for.) Still, ACOWAR‘s plot twists are fun, and we weren’t completely disappointed by how the series’ first arc came to an end. (Again, we have to reiterate that there’s no bad book in the ACOTAR series, at least in our eyes.)
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
We have to give props to the book that started it all. ACOTAR and its Beauty and the Beast-esque premise is what got us hooked so many years ago, even if it mostly revolved around Feyre and Tamlin’s romance. To be fair, we did ship Feyre and Tamlin at the start, even though things started to change toward the end during Amarantha’s trials. Speaking of, the book was pretty slow going until it got to that point, even if the mystery surrounding the masks and the realm’s magical blight piqued our interest.
The trials are when we actually started liking Feyre as a character, and we have to admit, it’s one of the most iconic parts of the series as a whole. (That, and Calanmai. Rhys’ introduction will always hold a special place in our hearts.) The first book is a stepping stone more than anything else, but it did make the romantic switch-up in the next book all the more satisfying. It deserves to be in the middle of the list.
A Court of Silver Flames
Sarah J. Maas
This choice might be a little controversial, but we actually loved that Maas switched from Feyre’s POV to her prickly sister. Admittedly, we had doubts going into ACOSF. Would we enjoy it, considering how much we disliked Nesta in the first three books? Unlike Feyre, Nesta contributed nothing to ensuring her family’s survival when they became destitute, and she gave her youngest sister an unnecessarily hard time. Nesta got her heroic turn in A Court of Wings and Ruin, but we still weren’t buying it completely.
However, in the end, that’s exactly what made Nesta’s journey so satisfying in ACOSF. She’s still a complicated character, but after getting a look into her head, she was much more interesting and layered compared to Feyre. (No offense, Feyre.) While she healed from her trauma and came into her new powers, we found ourselves rooting for her. It took hundreds of pages, but it happened. Plus, we loved her friendship with Gwyn and Emerie. Honestly, solid female friendships were something that the first three books were lacking, so ACOSF was a nice change in pace.
Of course, we can’t forget the romance. Nesta and Cassian’s love isn’t quite as epic as Rhys and Feyre’s, and it left a little to be desired. Still, we enjoyed getting his POV, which is something that Maas didn’t do in the first three. Their emotional connection was a little lacking compared to their physical one, which was seriously hot. Maybe their romance will develop more in further books, especially now that Nesta’s stopped pushing people away. We still think they have potential.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
We’re not going to rile readers up and say ACOMAF isn’t deserving of the top slot. There’s a reason you always see people talking about the second book, and it’s not just because it has the best spicy scene in the entire series. (We’re looking at you, Chapter 55.)
How do we love thee, ACOMAF? Let us count the ways. First, it flips everything we thought we knew about the fictional world on its head. We’re introduced to the Night Court’s secret, magical city of Velaris for the first time, as well as Rhys’ lovable Inner Circle. As Feyre learns that the Night Court isn’t what she thought it was, she also finds out that Rhysand isn’t the villain that Tamlin and the Spring Court made him out to be.
The tension and slow buildup between Feyre and Rhys over the course of the story is just absolutely delicious. The book focuses more on their romance than moving the plot forward, but you won’t see us complaining about it. All of the seeds Maas planted between them in the first book pay off. Most importantly, though, Feyre comes into her own and becomes a much more likable character.
All in all, we seriously doubt that any other book in the series can top ACOMAF, but we’ll have to wait and see!
