A Court of Thorns and Roses Ultimate World Guide (ACOTAR Book 1)

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A Court of Thorns and Roses book cover with Prythian map

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is the first book of the eponymous ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A spellbinding story of romance and fantasy, it is loosely based on the 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 Fae. As punishment, she is imprisoned in the manor of the beastly Lord Tamlin, where 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 world of Prythian. For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOTAR Character Guide. 

NOTE: Major spoilers ahead for the earlier installment and for the current book.

Table of Contents

A black and white map of Prythian from A Court of Thorns and Roses created by Sarah J. Maas.
Map of Prythian from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. All rights belong to the original creators.

The ACOTAR series takes place in Prythian, a continent divided into seven Fae Courts each with its own High Lord, unique landscape, and local culture. At the center of Prythian lies the Middle, an empty territory under no court’s jurisdiction that acts as a neutral meeting place for all the courts. The Middle also divides the northern Solar Courts from the southern Seasonal Courts. The Solar Courts are the Night Court, the Day Court, and the Dawn Court; these courts follow the natural cycle of day and night, and also experience all four seasons. Whereas the Seasonal Courts of the Spring Court, the Summer Court, the Autumn Court, and the Winter Court are eternally immersed in their respective seasons. At the bottom of Prythian lies a giant invisible Wall, an ancient barrier that has separated the Human and Fae lands for 500 years. The Wall was erected as part of a treaty between six mortal queens and the High Fae after a bloody war. This ancient magical barrier stretches from west to east across Prythian and the Continent, decreeing that the Fae are free to roam north of the Wall, while the humans are relegated to the smaller strip of land south of the Wall. Humans cannot see or pass through the Wall, though from certain angles, they may catch glimpses of a faint webbing of light. The Fae, however, can sense the barrier and perceive the small cracks that have formed within it. Beyond Prythian’s western shores lies the domain of Hybern, a militaristic Fae kingdom steeped in old magic and under the rule of the King of Hybern. He seeks to restore the Fae to their position of power as the dominant race in Prythian and to once again, have all mortals enslaved. To the east of Prythian lies the Continent, a large mass of land ruled by a group of Mortal Queens and similarly divided with the Wall to separate the Fae from the humans. Such is the world of Prythian, a realm where mortals and Fae coexist in a delicate and uneasy balance.

  • The Spring Court is a land of eternal spring, filled with meadows and lush forests.
  • The Summer Court boasts turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches.
  • The Autumn Court is a fiery realm of crisp leaves and red and orange harvest colors.
  • The Winter Court is a frozen land of icy white snow and blue frozen lakes.
  • The Dawn Court is a place of soft light and healing, nestled high amongst the clouds.
  • The Day Court features expansive golden deserts and vast libraries.
  • The Night Court is a dark and dangerous mountain territory far to the north.

Feyre’s village is a small, impoverished settlement in the Mortal Lands, where bitter winters and scarce resources make survival a daily struggle. Tucked away to the far south of Prythian, the village lies only a short distance from the Wall. Beyond the settlement stretches a vast, untamed forest, leaving the villagers isolated from the wider world and perilously close to the lands of the Fae. Feyre and her family live in a small, weatherworn cottage on the outskirts of the village, where the three sisters share a single cramped room. Behind the cottage, Elain tends a modest garden of wildflowers, providing a rare touch of beauty amid the bleakness of their lives. Nearby, the forest stretches northward toward the Wall. Most villagers avoid its depths, wary of encountering errant Fae, but Feyre regularly ventures into the woods to hunt. She brings whatever game she can catch back to the village market to barter or sell, doing whatever she can to keep her family fed.

Fan art of Feyre’s village from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass. A poor dilapidated village in winter.

Feyre's Village

Fan art of Feyre's winter forest with a wolf in the middle from the series A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Village Forest

Fan art of Feyre's village market from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A small medieval market in wintertime with poor peasants selling merchandise.

The Village Market

Fan art of Feyre Archeron's cottage in winter from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A poor ram shackled, stone cottage surrounded by snow.

Feyre's Cottage

Fan art of Feyre’s room in her cottage with her painted dresser from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas. The dresser has flames, flowers, and stars.

The Archeron Sisters' Room

Fan art of Elain’s garden of wildflowers at her village cottage from the ACOTAR books. Red, blue, and pink flowers around a stone shack.

Elain's Garden

The Spring Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian, ruled by High Lord Tamlin. Situated directly north of the Wall and the Mortal Lands, it is the closest Fae Court to the humans and consequently sees the greatest degree of interaction between humans and Fae. The court is a land of eternal spring, where lush forests, blooming flowers, and vibrant gardens flourish throughout the year. At its heart stands Tamlin’s luxurious manor, an elegant estate surrounded by sprawling grounds with a large lake and a magnificent rose garden, reflecting the beauty and abundance of the court. The Spring Court appears peaceful and picturesque and in the depth of the court lies a pool of starlight, rumored to give anyone who drinks from its waters happiness until their final breath.

Fan art of the Spring Court with beautiful meadows, magenta flowers, and a peaceful lake from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Spring Court

Fan art of Tamlin's Manor, a Spanish style manor covered in vines and pink and red flowers from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas.

Tamlin's Manor

Fan art of the library in the Spring Court from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. An opulent library with wooden walls and a chandelier.

The Library

Fan art of Feyre's bedroom in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A beautiful paradise room with orchids and flowers and streaming sunlight.

Feyre's Bedroom

Fanart of Feyre's bathroom in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A pristine bathtub in a Moroccan style bathroom with flowers.

Feyre's Bathroom

Fan art of a rose garden in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. A series of luscious hedges with red roses.

The Garden

Fan art of a hallway in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR series. A luxurious wooden hallway with pink and purple flowers and vines.

The Hallways

Fan art of the art gallery in Tamlin’s manor in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR books. A beautiful gallery with paintings and flowers on the walls.

The Art Gallery

Fan art of a mossy stone bridge over a lake in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR books. A single white goose floats in the lake.

The Lake Bridge

A lush Mediterranean courtyard with a domed pavilion, vine-covered arches, purple flowers, palms, and lanterns surrounding a grassy lawn.

The Courtyard

Fan art of the Pool of Starlight in the Spring Court from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas. A mystical pond in a forest with a starry blue sky.

The Pool of Starlight

A semi-invisible holographic wall of white light in a green forest.

The Wall

The Night Court is another one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian. It is the largest of the seven courts and the most treacherous. It is a vast mountainous territory stretching across the northernmost reaches of Prythian and steeped in darkness and shadow, home to fearsome and vile Fae. It is widely feared as a court for those with a taste for cruelty and violence, few dare to venture into its midst. The Night Court is often symbolized by a mountain under three shining stars.

Fan art of Mount Ramiel from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a snowy mountain peak against a dark blue starry sky with three bright stars at the top.

The Night Court Sigil

Under the Mountain is an oppressive, subterranean stronghold beneath the Sacred Mountain in the Middle of Prythian, where Amarantha has established her twisted imitation of a Fae Court. It is a place of darkness and suffocation, a realm of stone, shadow, and fear. At its heart is a mock court where the Fae are bound for Amarantha’s entertainment, while winding hallways, chambers, tunnels, and ancient caverns stretch throughout the mountain. Despite its grandeur, everything from Under the Mountain feels cold and threatening, with Amarantha’s presence hanging over the entire court.

Fan art of the sacred mountain from ACOTAR. A majestic mountain with snow at the top and green forests at the bottom. Golden clouds swirl in the sky.

The Sacred Mountain

Fan art of the entrance to Under the Mountain from the ACOTAR books. A massive stone gate carved into a dark mountain base.

The Entrance Gates

Fanart of an underground foyer to enter Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Huge pillars carved into a dark cavern.

The Foyer

Fanart of the prison Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses books by Sarah J. Maas. A dark iron wrought gate in a stone wall.

The Prison

Fanart of a courtyard Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A polished black marble circular courtyard carved into an underground cave.

The Courtyard

Fan art of a chamber Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas. A simple black vanity set and an ornate mirror.

The Chamber

Fanart of the Fae Court from Under the Mountain in ACOTAR. A crowd of fae dressed in finery and meandering in a dark stone ballroom.

The Fae Court

Fan art of a staircase Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. A series of stairs inside a damp cave with a green tint.

The Staircases

Fan art of the Midgard Wyrm's tunnel Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A cavernous hole with mossy overgrowth on the walls.

The Tunnels

Fanart of a hallway Under the Mountain from the A Court of Thorns and Roses novels by Sarah J. Maas. A long and dark cavern hallway lit by flames.

The Hallways

Fanart of a luxurious black marble bathing chamber Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Bathing Chamber

Fanart of an opulent dance floor in a cave with green lighting from Under the Mountain in ACOTAR.

The Ballroom

Fan art of Amarantha's throne Under the Mountain from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A glooming throne atop a dais in a cavern with a blue green tint.

Amarantha's Throne

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