Last updated on February 1st, 2024 at 11:46 am
Ranking ACOTAR series from least to most favourite
Diving into the Sarah J Maas universe
If you’ve been on TikTok , there’s no way you would have missed the most talked about romantic fantasy book series – ACOTAR. It’s been all over Booktok, making it SO DIFFICULT to dodge spoilers when I started reading the series this January. But boy was the effort worth it. Reading ACOTAR finally got me out of my reading slump and I’ve been unstoppable since then. This blog contains spoilers, so if you haven’t read ACOTAR why not give the series a go**?
What are the ACOTAR books?
I love seeing everyone’s opinions on which ACOTAR book is their favourite & which characters they loved out of the main 9; Feyre, Rhysand, Nesta, Cassian, Azriel, Elain, Lucien, Mor & Amren. Within this review we will discuss the following (listed in published order):
- A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
- A Court of Mist and Fury #2
- A Court of Wings and Ruin #3
- A Court of Frost and Starlight #4
- A Court of Silver Flames #5
Without further ado, here are my rankings from worst to best favourite. Obviously a few spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned!
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Cassian had named about two dozen poses for Nesta at this point. Ranging from I Will Eat Your Eyes for Breakfast to I Don't Want Cassian to Know I'm Reading Smut. The latter was his particular favorite.
The slow pace made it difficult for me to finish, I missed the action and I’m not sure I enjoyed the multiple POV’s as I was so used to it being Feyre and Rhysand.
Even so, it portrayed the atmosphere and the aftereffects of the war well and focused on the characters dealing with their traumas.
It was a nice transition from going from Feyre and Rhysand POV to Cassian and Nesta (though these are not the only POVs), because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Feyre and Rhys POV yet!
Though did anyone find Mor’s POVs so random? We learn more about Mor and Eris’s relationship, and Mor’s personal life. I don’t know if this is hinting that in the future we will get a book about Mor.
Elain gifting Azriel ‘headache’ medicine for Winter Solstice. It’s so sweet, and I love any scene where we get some emotion from Azriel. Still waiting for more Azriel POV (that exclusive chapter we got in A Court of Silver Flames was no where near enough). Are you team Azriel or Lucien?! I’m still on the fence, as I’m secretly routing for Azriel and Gwyn. People hate on Elain (which I don’t get!), but it’s too cliche for all the Archeron sisters to be mated to three best friends, no?
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.
I nearly DNF* this book, but I’m so glad I pushed through till the end. The first half of this book was like Beauty and the Beast but with Fae.
It was slow and felt like we’re constantly reminded that Feyre feels worthless and miserable and that she doesn’t deserve happiness. Okay we get it! I’m also not keen on the whole fall in love with your captor situation…
However, as soon as Feyre gets sent back to human territory, ACOTAR does a 180 and takes a massive detour from boring to ‘What the hell is going on I can’t put this book down’!
All the scenes under the mountain, and Feyre, Rhysand and Lucien’s interactions were so gripping. For me some things were predictable (Rhysand and Feyre are mates, & the answer to the poem was easy lol), however the final trial had me on the edge of my seat!!
Re-reading Feyre and Rhy’s scenes after finishing A Court of Mist and Fury will have you screaming and falling for Rhysand all over again.
All of Feyre badass moments Under the Mountain; battling a giant worm whilst making snide gestures to Rhysand (I love the banter – and he was the only Fae who didn’t underestimate her), her sacrificing her humanity by killing, she then aves everyone, dies and gets brought back to life as Fae. She really goes through hell and back, but you finally see her true fight (sucks it’s for Tamlin though lol).
A Court of Wings and Ruin
And from far away, as if it was carried on the cold wind, I heard the Suriel’s voice. Feyre Archeron, a request. Leave this world a better place than how you found it.
*Crying internally* at above quote. I felt every emotion reading this book: happiness, heartbreak, shock, sadness, excitement, kicking and screaming, crying at 3am trying to finish the book.
I can’t explain how amazing A Court of Wings and Ruin was, and it would have EASILY been second place if it wasn’t for the bargain Rhysand and Feyre made at the end of the book – ‘When it’s time to go there (death)… we go together’.
Why do authors romanticise couples dying together and joint suicide, erghhhh it really hate it. The fact it’s their choice as well, it’s so frustrating!
Even so, this is a phenomenal read from start to finish. Sarah J. Maas gives us a taste of everything: double crossing, infiltration, heist, kidnap, battle, death, politics, payback.
The High Lords meeting in the Spring court (this was f***ing crazy!!!). The tension and drama was incredible!
- Ianthe getting what she deserves (twice!!).
- Cassian & Azriel saving Feyre from Lucien’s brothers (WHY ARE THEY SO DAM HOT).
- Bryaxis library scene.I cried like a baby when Suriel died, it crushed me.
- I loved the Suriels and Feyres moments throughout the first three books, he was always there helping her and routing for her without her knowing.
- Final battle (cauldron scene why does Sarah J Mass do this to us)
Don’t hate me but either Amren or Rhysand should have stayed dead. I love both of their characters but to have them both die and then instantly be brought back felt like a bit of a cop out.
Sarah J. Mass was really having her cake and eating it. Though I’m not sure my heart could have survived Rhy dying. I feel like we needed someone significant to die during that battle, like Tamlin, I could have easily lived with that lol.
A Court of Silver Flames
I want to take the road that no one dares travel, and I want to travel it with you two.
Gywn to Nesta and Emerie
I couldn’t put A Court of Silver Flames down, a weekend of little sleep and not talking to anyone. It’s pure smut, so be prepared as it definitely takes the leap from new adult to adult. But the character development of Nesta was moving, and it was exciting to get some new interesting characters and perspectives.
We must protect Cassian at all costs! The way he helped Nesta through her trauma was so gentle (outside the bedroom) and he doesn’t expect her to move mountains.
Yes this book is about Cassian and Nesta burning chaotic romance, but it’s not all about the guy. The friendship and bonding between Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie was beautiful, and I truly believe they saved her and helped her become Nesta again.
It was refreshing to see a realistic depiction of someone dealing with depression, feeling like they don’t belong and thinking they don’t deserve a second chance at life.
I’m not warranting all of Nesta’s behaviour, but this is what happens when people are going through it, not everything is picture perfect and not everyone is a nice good character.
- Obviously, Cassian & Nesta smutty scenes.
- Nesta, Gwyn & Emerie.
- The House of Wind becomes friends with Nesta.
- Nesta’s character development and journey throughout this entire book.
- It’s refreshing seeing Cassian’s & Nestas perspectives of Rhy and Feyre, making Rhy harsher (highlighting how much he really shows Feyre his true self), and Feyre wanting to protect her sisters.
The Blood Rite – aaaaaaaa amazing. Everything about this and the fight from Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie <3!
Also we get more Azriel air time during this book which is great. I died when Nesta imagined having a threeway with him and Cassian – she’s thinking what we all are.
A Court of Mist and Fury
I fell in love with you, smartass, because you were one of us—because you weren’t afraid of me, and you decided to end your spectacular victory by throwing that piece of bone at Amarantha like a javelin. I felt Cassian’s spirit beside me in that moment, and could have sworn I heard him say, ‘If you don’t marry her, you stupid prick, I will".
A Court of Mist and Fury was a chef’s kiss. The twists and turns, betray, character development, action packed, slow burning enemies-to-lovers romance. Yes yes yes!!! If I could re-read this book for the first time I would do it forever.
I love the telekinetic mating bond, it makes everything more intimate between Feyre and Rhysand even before it’s revealed they are mates.
I think we all agree, we hate Tamlins’ guts. He literally locked her up AND THEN THE BETRAY AT THE END. Sarah J. Mass sure knows how to make us hate characters, especially that witch Ianthe.
We also finally meet more courts, the Summer and Night! The night court enters the chat: Cassian, Azriel, Amren and Mor. They add so much to these books. I enjoyed Feyre’s journey settling into her Fae body and powers, and the new family dynamic with the night court and the Archeron sisters.
Everything Rhysand does for Feyre is touching, he helped her become herself without even revealing they’re mates! Learning about Rhysand’s true nature and role in The Night Court was very well-written, you can’t help but be rooting for him the entire time.
- When Tamlin locked Feyre in the Spring Court and she cocooned herself in her magic. Then Mor and Rhysand take her to the Night Court.
- Feyre training with Cassian – the moment she broke down in Cassian’s arms </3
- Feyre and the weaver.
- Battle in Velaris, Feyre is a BADDIE.
- One bed at the inn, chapter 48 – honestly for me better spice that chapter 55.
- Suriel bomb drop – ‘he is your mate’
- Rhysand confesses everything.
- The massive plot twist, they Nesta and Elain are turned. I cried my eyes out when I thought the mating bond between Rhysand and Feyre broke.
Closing thoughts
Oh this series is so good, I can’t wait for more! What’s your favourite book? Let me know in the comments section below.
In the mean time, check out my Youtube channel, Instagram and Pinterest boards for funny memes more book recommendations and reviews!
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*MCs = Main characters, DNF = Did not finish, POVs = Point of views.
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