A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is the first book of the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A spellbinding story of romance, adventure, and fantasy in a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Set in the world of Prythian, where humans and faeries exist in a fragile balance, one girl becomes inexplicably entangled in the world of the Fae. Feyre Archeron, a mere human girl who hunts to provide for her family, is thrust into the treacherous realm of the High Fae after accidentally killing a disguised fairy. As punishment, she is imprisoned in the manor of the beastly Lord Tamlin. She soon discovers a world of deadly beauty, ancient magic, and courtly intrigue. But beneath the glamour of the Fae realm, all is not well. A magical blight lays upon the land and Feyre may be the key to saving Prythian. This guide offers an in-depth look at the characters in ACOTAR. For a deeper exploration of the world, please visit the Ultimate ACOTAR World Guide.
NOTE: This page contains minor spoilers.
Table of Contents
Who are the main characters in ACOTAR?
Feyre Archeron
A mortal huntress who lives in the human lands, struggling to provide for her father and two older sisters after their family’s fall from wealth. Fiercely independent and determined, she is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their survival.
Tamlin
The High Lord of the Spring Court, he is able to shape shift into any form he desires and is also able to shape shift others. He is a powerful but tormented High Fae. Though he initially appears aloof and beastly, he reveals a softer side, offering Feyre comfort and safety within his court.
Lucien Vanserra
The youngest High Fae lordling of the Autumn Court, he has 6 older brothers and is uninterested in royal titles. He fled his court and found refuge in the Spring Court as Tamlin’s emissary and confidante. He bears no love for his family. Though initially wary of Feyre, his skepticism and sarcasm gradually give way to a reluctant friendship.
Who are the mortals in ACOTAR?
Mr. Archeron
Feyre’s father and once a wealthy merchant, he lost everything after a failed venture. His leg was crippled by his creditors, while his spirit was broken by his misfortunes. He has become quite forlorn and given up on life, relying on his daughters to provide for themselves.
Nesta Archeron
The eldest Archeron sister, she is proud, cold, and deeply resentful of their family’s misfortunes. She was closest to their mother, who valued Nesta for her potential marriage matches. Unlike Feyre, Nesta refuses to hunt or adapt to their poverty, maintaining an air of defiance even in the face of hardship.
Elain Archeron
The middle Archeron sister, she is gentle and kind, preferring to tend to her garden rather than dealing with reality. Although she’s the middle child, she is often protected by her sisters. She often relies on optimism and grace rather than confrontation.
Isaac Hale
The son of a wealthy farmer in Feyre’s Village, he and Feyre use to fool around with each other to break up the monotony of their dreary lives.
Tomas Mandray
The son of a poor woodcutter in Feyre’s Village, he use to fool around with Nesta and was going to ask for her hand in marriage, but she rejected him and had to fight off his advances.
Mrs. Archeron
Feyre’s mother, she died of typhus when Feyre was 8. She was strict and domineering and favored Nesta over her other daughters. However, she recognized an inner strength in Feyre and made her promise to take care of the family after her death.
Children of the Blessed
A human cult that is obsessed with worshipping the High Fae and act as servants for them. They occasionally send members across the Wall into Prythian because they believe they can live amongst the High Fae in comfort and luxury.
Mercenary
A local mercenary Feyre meets one day at the market, she bears many scars from fighting the Fae and purchases a wolf pelt from Feyre for a large sum of money. She cautions Feyre from entering the forest because Prythian has become more volatile the last 50 years.
Clare Beddor
A local village girl who was friends with Nesta Archeron.
Who is in the Spring Court in ACOTAR?
Alis
An Urisk, a species of lesser fae with bark-like skin. She is a loyal and kind servant of the Spring Court and helps Feyre adjust to life in Prythian. Though she appears stern at times, she deeply cares for her two nephews and provides vital guidance to Feyre.
Andras
A High Fae sentinel of the Spring Court and loyal to Tamlin and his court. He makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Who is Under the Mountain in ACOTAR?
High Lord of the Night Court - Rhysand
Rhysand is High Lord of the Night Court and Amarantha's unwilling consort, often referred to as ‘Amarantha’s Whore.’ A cunning and powerful figure who plays by his own rules, he appears to effortlessly maneuver through Amarantha's capricious personality.
Shadow Maid 1
A maid seemingly made of shadows that attends to Feyre while she is Under the Mountain. The shadow maids can pass through walls and Feyre is never able to see their features clearly.
Shadow Maid 2
A maid seemingly made of shadows that attends to Feyre while she is Under the Mountain. The shadow maids can pass through walls and Feyre is never able to see their features clearly.
What other fae and magical creatures are in ACOTAR?
The Suriel
A skeletal and malevolent faerie that is said to be older than the continent of Prythian itself. They are ancient and all-knowing Fae, and must answer any questions truthfully if they are ever captured. They cannot cross running water.
The Bogge
A type of lesser faerie that only becomes corporeal once a person lays eyes upon it, otherwise it remains a disembodied voice that leaves behind strange footprints. It strikes fear into its beholder and no one knows its true form.
The Puca
A type of dark faerie that belongs to the wind and has shape-shifting abilities. It preys on people’s desires and often assumes the image of the beholder’s loved one. No one knows its true appearance.
The Attor
A large grotesque, bat-like creature that serves as Amarantha’s messenger. It enjoys tormenting both humans and faeries alike, and is known to be vindictive.
The Naga
A type of dark faerie that appears to be humanoid but covered in scales and bearing serpentine features. They worship the Dark Mother and enjoy hunting and eating humans.
The Martax
A vicious and predatory species of faerie that resemble large mountain lions but with 3 rows of teeth.
The Picts
A type of lesser fae, they resemble High Fae but tend to be taller and paler. However, they are easily identifiable with their pitch black eyes and generally sharper features. They are often more capricious in nature.
The Will-o'-the-Wisps
A type of light and air sprite that appear often in the Spring Court during the Summer Solstice to mark the official start of Summer.
The Midgard Wyrm
A massive and ancient serpent-like beast that closely resembles a gigantic worm. It is known for its huge gaping mouth with rows upon rows of sharp teeth and like many underground creatures, it is blind.
Who are the holy figures in ACOTAR?
The Cauldron
An ancient and powerful artifact that is semi-sentient and believed to be the source of all life and magic in Prythian. It has immense power to create and destroy, as well as transform objects and beings into more powerful versions of themselves. These afflicted items and persons are then referred to as Made, and are imbued with great magical abilities.
The Mother
The primordial Mother and main deity, she unleashed the mysterious contents of the Cauldron by tipping it over and thereby created Prythian and the known world. She is a mythical and goddess-like figure that represents nurture, fate, and life.
Who are the antagonists in ACOTAR?
Amarantha
The cruel and tyrannical Fae ruler who holds Prythian under her grip with her court Under the Mountain. Like many of the High Fae, she despises and looks down on humans. She is originally from Hybern.
Jurian
A legendary human general from the Human Fae War 500 years ago, who helped free the humans from Fae enslavement. He incurred Amarantha’s everlasting wrath, and as punishment she tortured him and bound his soul and eye to a ring for eternity.
Clythia
Amarantha’s younger sister, once a gifted Fae military commander and strategist. She is also originally from Hybern.
Where to buy A Court of Thorns and Roses
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