A Court of Frost and Starlight Ultimate World Guide (ACOTAR Book 4)

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A Court of Frost and Starlight book cover and Prythian map

A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) is the fourth installment and the first novella in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Acting as a bridge between the first three books and setting up key character dynamics for the fifth installment, it provides a more slow and intimate look into the characters’ everyday lives. Taking place several months after the events in A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR), Feyre and her companions recuperate from the trauma and exhaustion of the war and prepare for Winter Solstice festivities in Velaris. This guide offers an in-depth look at the world in ACOFAS. For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOFAS 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 hidden gem in a beautiful mountainous region.

The Night Court is one of the seven High Fae Courts of Prythian and under the rule of High Lord Rhysand. It is also one of the three Solar Courts of Prythian, along with the Day and Dawn Courts. In terms of land size, it is the largest out of all the courts, with a vast mountainous territory stretching across the northernmost reaches of Prythian. Although it was long thought to be steeped in darkness and shadow, and home to those with a taste for cruelty and violence, that image is largely false. In truth, the Night Court is divided into two sub-courts: the public-facing Court of Nightmares, centered around the Hewn City, and the hidden Court of Dreams, home to the magnificent city of Velaris. The Night Court has historically camouflaged the Court of Dreams and instead displayed the Court of Nightmares to the outside world and deliberately fostered a fearsome reputation that protected them from outside threats and kept the other courts at bay. However, beneath all the darkness lies a city filled with beauty, art, and a fierce desire to protect itself. The Night Court’s sigil of a mountain under three stars is Mount Ramiel, one of the sacred mountains of Prythian. It holds particular significance to the Illyrians due to their annual tradition of the Blood Rite, a rite of passage for any novice warriors on their journey to becoming full-fledged warriors. Lastly, the Night Court is also home to Athelwood, a vast private estate, located far outside Velaris, that belongs to Mor as a refuge for when she wants some solitude.  

Fan art of the Night Court, a beautiful alpine city surrounded by snowy mountains and a starry sky from the ACOTAR novels by Sarah J. Maas.

The Night Court

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.

Mount Ramiel

Fan art of Athelwood from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a distant view of a luxurious manor on a sprawling green meadow with forests and a pond.

Athelwood

The northernmost region of the Night Court is also home to a territory called Illyria, that is comprised of the Illyrian Mountains and the Illyrian Steppes. Despite the harsh and severe climate, it is home to the Illyrians, a powerful race of warrior Fae whose culture is organized around autonomous war-bands that are led by a single war-lord and centered around their young men training to become powerful warriors, with the rest of their families, primarily the women, taking on a more background role. These war-bands can be belligerent at times with much infighting, but during times of war, they all unite beneath the Night Court’s command to form the formidable Illyrian Legion.

Fan art of Illyria, a plain yellow steppe surrounded by snowy mountains and grey clouds from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

The Illyrian Mountain and Steppes

Fan art of Windhaven from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a stone fortress at the base of a snowy mountain range and several tents and fireplaces around it.

The Windhaven

Fan art of Emerie's store from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a small medieval clothier with hanging clothes and bolts of leather on tables.

Emerie's Store

The Town House is Rhysand’s private residence in Velaris, located in the heart of the city and serving as a comfortable retreat for him and his Inner Circle. Though elegant and luxurious, it is designed to feel warm and lived-in rather than overly grand. Rhys has a line of credit established with essentially every shop and establishment in Velaris, allowing the household to obtain whatever they need without concern for cost. It serves as both a home and a place of quiet refuge for the Night Court Inner Circle. There is also a small rooftop garden that provides a spectacular view of Velaris. 

Fan art of Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An elegant building with purple wisteria vines climbing up the walls.

Rhysand's Town House

Fanart of Rhysand's town house foyer from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An elegant staircase with a red-carpet runner and polished wooden walls.

The Foyer

Fan art of Rhysand's town house dining room from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A long mahogany table with several wooden chairs in an elegant room.

The Dining Room

Fan art of the sitting room from Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A stylish black fireplace in a room with rich wooden walls.

The Sitting Room

Fan art of Feyre's room in Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful bed with an ornate curtained canopy and plush armchair.

Feyre's Bedroom

Fan art of Feyre's bathroom in Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A luxurious clawfoot bathtub with an ornate vanity set.

Feyre's Bathroom

Fan art of the rooftop garden on top of Rhysand's town house from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A cute small rooftop garden with many flowerbeds.

The Rooftop Garden

Velaris, the hidden City of Starlight, lies nestled deep within the western reaches of the Night Court. It is the heart of the Court of Dreams, one of the two sub-courts of the Night Court, and remained concealed from the rest of Prythian for nearly 5,000 years. Its existence was known only to a select few beyond its inhabitants. Surrounded by vast, towering mountains and warded against prying eyes to show only barren rocks, Velaris is a breathtaking city of glittering streets, bustling markets, charming shops, restaurants, and cafés. However, Velaris was eventually revealed to the rest of Prythian when High Lord Rhysand, in a gesture of good faith, disclosed its existence to the Mortal Queens in an attempt to earn their trust and demonstrate his desire for peace. The queens ultimately betrayed that trust, selling their knowledge of the city to the King of Hybern, who launched a surprise attack on the city and shattered thousands of years of peace and tranquility. Today, Velaris remains the beloved home of High Lord Rhysand and his Inner Circle, who have devoted themselves to rebuilding the city and restoring the peace it once enjoyed. Far on the outskirts of the city, atop a small grassy hill, stands a gravestone dedicated to the Archeron sisters’ father. Though he was once a distant and flawed figure, he ultimately played a crucial role in the War, bringing much-needed allies whose arrival helped turn the tide of battle in favor of the Night Court and the humans.

Fan art of Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A majestic fantasy city on a river with a crescent moon and a blue milky way in the sky.

Velaris

Fan art of the Sidra River from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful river that leads to a majestic fantasy city under a blue starry night sky.

The Sidra River

Fan art of a night street in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A bustling city street view with people walking around under a starry blue sky.

The Streets

Fan art of a restaurant in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A fancy restaurant with soft glowing candles on each table and a city view.

The Restaurants

Fan art of a bridge in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. An arched bridge over a river and underneath a sky of a thousand shining stars.

The Bridges

Fan art of a shop in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful stone storefront with vines of purple flowers growing up the side.

The Shops

Fan art of an outdoor bar in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A stunning patio with pillars, curtains, and a view of snow capped mountains.

The Bars

Fan art of canals in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. A beautiful stream flanked on both sides by stone homes with vines and purple flowers.

The Canals

Fan art of docks in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses. Gondolas tied up at the edge of a beautiful city with mountains in the distance.

The Docks

Fan art of Nesta's apartment in Velaris from ACOTAR, a cluttered studio apartment with a fireplace, clothes strewn on the ground, and a green door.

Nesta's Apartment

Fan art of Amren's apartment in Velaris. A small attic room with a sloped ceiling, a bed, a fireplace, and a wooden table set.

Amren's Apartment

Fan art of Lucien's apartment in Velaris from ACOTAR, a simple room with a bed, a desk, and a large window view of a beautiful faerie city.

Lucien's Apartment

Fan art of Rita’s pub in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a wooden storefront with golden lettering spelling “RITAS.”

Rita's

Fan art of Rita’s pub in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses, the interior of a cozy pub with sofas, candles, and a rainbow flag on the ceiling.

Inside Rita's

Fan art of Mr. Archeron's gravesite from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a tombstone atop a grassy hill full of small wildflowers.

Mr. Archeron's Gravestone

The Rainbow of Velaris is the most treasured quarter of the city, a brightly painted haven where creativity and self-expression flourish. Perched upon the hills along the banks of the Sidra River, it is home to artists and performers of every kind, from musicians, dancers, and actors to painters, sculptors, potters, and weavers. Its colorful streets are filled with galleries and studios, inviting pedestrians to stop by and visit. More than simply a district devoted to the arts, the Rainbow embodies the freedom and beauty at the heart of Velaris, offering a place where artists can create and share their work without fear.

Enchanting night market with lights and dancing couples in a magical setting

The Rainbow of Velaris

Three fairies with butterfly wings in elegant dresses dancing in a lively street with confetti in the air.

Dancers in the Rainbow

A row of green-skinned orc musicians wearing tuxedos playing cellos in a fantasy-themed concert hall.

Musicians in the Rainbow

Fantasy character carving pumpkin in magical forest setting

Woodworking Studios

An enchanting theater with a sparkling and glittering dome and a beautiful staircase leading to a river walkway.

The Theater in the Rainbow

Two red-scaled humanoid creatures performing atop a stage in a bustling market square.

Performers in the Rainbow

Fantasy characters dining in a lantern-lit village

Cafes in the Rainbow

Two nymphs with green skin and webbed hands walking through a marble sculpture garden with water fountains at sunset.

Sculpture Gardens

A fairy with purple glittering skin and white freckles, antennas, and butterfly wings making a necklace at a work bench.

Jewelry Studios

Blue-skinned people with opalescent scales and long, thin fingers making a clay pot in a ceramics studio.

Pottery Studios

Dramatic coast with stone arch lit by sunset and romantic lights

Amphitheaters

Fantasy craftsman with cat ears creating glass ornaments in candlelit workshop

Glass Studios

Fan art of Polina's studio from the Rainbow of Velaris, a painting studio with many canvases on easels and tables full of paints and paintbrushes.

Polina's Studio

The Four Market Squares of Velaris, known collectively as the Palaces, form some of the city’s busiest commercial spaces. Two lie on the southern side of the Sidra River, the Palace of Thread and Jewels, known for clothing, textiles, supplies, and jewelry, and the Palace of Bone and Salt, where food, produce, livestock, sweets, and spices can be found. Across the river on the northern side are the Palace of Hoof and Leaf, the twin to the Palace of Bone and Salt, and a fourth, unnamed palace.

Fan art of Palace of Thread and Jewel from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a jewelry market with baskets of beads, bracelets, necklaces.

The Palace of Thread and Jewel

Fan art of Palace of Bone and Salt from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a farmer's market with people milling about and many purple and magenta flowers.

The Palace of Bone and Salt

Fan art of Palace of Hoof and Leather from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a food vendor with wooden bowls of olives and jars of pickles.

The Palace of Hoof and Leaf

The House of Wind is one of High Lord Rhysand’s residences within the Night Court. It is carved directly into the largest of the red mountains overlooking Velaris, with its stone halls and terraces seemingly growing from the mountainside itself. One of the most imposing structures in the Night Court, it serves not only as a residence but also as a place for official business and gatherings of the Night Court. Within are numerous bedrooms and chambers for visiting guests or emissaries. Atop the mountain is a vast training ring open to the sky, while deep beneath the mountain lies an enormous subterranean library tended to by priestesses. Reachable by flight, winnowing, or a daunting climb of ten thousand steps from the city below, the House of Wind stands secluded above Velaris, both a fortress and a home.

Fan-art of the House of Wind, an elegant palace carved into a red stone mountain with a starry night sky in the background from the ACOTAR books.

The House of Wind

Fan-art of the House of Wind War Room, an elegant room with plush chairs and a topographical map and red stone walls from the ACOTAR books.

The War Room

Fan-art of the House of Wind dining room, an elegant room with a long red marble table, plush chairs, and red stone walls from the ACOTAR books.

The Dining Room

Fan art of Lucien's quarters in the House of Wind, a simple room with a bed, a blue round carpet and a large window view of a red mountain range.

Lucien's Old Quarters

Fanart of a luxurious kitchen in the House of Wind with a granite island and wooden bar stools in a red stone cavern from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Kitchen

Luxurious cave library with ornate desk and chandelier

Rhysand's Private Study

Beneath the House of Wind lies a vast, ancient library carved deep into the red-rock mountain, its winding tunnels and towering shelves holding centuries of Fae knowledge. Quiet priestesses spend their days reading, archiving, and caring for the Night Court’s immense collection of books and scrolls, but the library is far more than a repository of knowledge. For many of the priestesses, it has become a sanctuary, a place where they can live, work, and slowly rebuild their lives away from the outside world after enduring unspeakable trauma. Yet beneath this refuge lies something far more curious. In the library’s deepest reaches once dwelled Bryaxis, an ancient and mysterious creature whom Feyre recruited to fight alongside the Night Court during the war against Hybern. However, in the aftermath of the battle, Bryaxis was able to escape.

Fan art of the library under the House of Wind, a beautiful and vast underground library with shelves carved into a red stone cavern.

The Priestesses' Library

Fan art of the priestess' reading room from the library under the House of Wind, plush armchairs in a red-stone cavern lined with bookshelves.

The Reading Room

Fan art of the priestess' study room from the library under the House of Wind, a desk laden with books and surrounded by chairs in a red rock cavern.

The Study Room

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. Once one of Prythian’s most beautiful and prosperous courts, the Spring Court has fallen into a state of decay following the events of the War. Its once-vibrant lands have become neglected and overgrown, its villagers fled at the arrival of Hybern’s forces, and many of Tamlin’s sentries left after Feyre dismantled his authority and exposed his poor leadership. With its borders weakened and its territory left largely unattended, the Spring Court is a mere shadow of the flourishing court it once was.

Fan art of the Spring Court in ruin from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas, a run down and derelict manor overrun with plant growth, weeds, and vines.

The Spring Court

To the south of the Wall lie the Mortal Lands, the domain of humankind, which have remained largely untouched by the magic, conflicts, and politics of the Fae Courts for the last 500 years. This changed when the King of Hybern harnessed the power of the Cauldron to destroy the Wall, allowing his forces to invade the Mortal Lands. Many homes and settlements near the Wall were destroyed by Hybern’s soldiers, including the Archeron family estate, which had been gifted to them by High Lord Tamlin in exchange for taking Feyre away. Farther from the Wall lies the territory of Lord Nolan, a powerful mortal lord who harbors a deep hostility toward the Fae and who heavily fortified his lands against the possibility of their return. His precautions proved well-founded, as his holdings survived the War almost entirely unscathed. Following the conflict, Lord Nolan and his son, Graysen, gifted Jurian and Vassa an old estate of theirs as a gesture of gratitude for their contributions to the human side of the war. They are occasionally joined by Lucien Vanserra, and the trio have dubbed themselves ‘the Band of Exiles.’

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

The Wall

Abandoned mansion in ruins and decay with an overgrown and trampled garden.

The Archeron Family Estate

Fan art of Lord Nolan's estate from ACOTAR, a heavily fortified stone wall with soldiers on horses at the gate.

Lord Nolan's Estate

Fan art of the Band of Exiles Manor, a rustic stone mansion surrounded by lush greenery at sunset from ACOTAR.

The Band of Exiles Manor

The Court of Nightmares is one of the two sub-courts of the Night Court and is the dark counterpart to Velaris, the Court of Dreams. It is under the stewardship of Keir and his wife, who rule from their subterranean seat in the Hewn City, which was carved eons ago under the same mountain that houses the Moonstone Palace. The Court of Nightmares is the public face of the Night Court, and its inhabitants are ruled by ancient customs and a ruthless hierarchy, with power often enforced through intimidation and cruelty. Many refuse to recognize Rhysand as their High Lord, viewing his Illyrian heritage as inferior to that of the High Fae. Historically, the High Lords of the Night Court have ruled from the Hewn City, until one High Lord broke tradition and built and established a new court in Velaris. This High Lord staged a coup to remove the vilest of the courtiers of the Hewn City and hoped to create a better Night Court in Velaris, but over time both cities developed into their own sub-courts. Rhysand still maintains a residence in the Hewn City for appearances’ sake but his inner court lies in Velaris. Unlike Under the Mountain, the Court of Nightmares is a true underground city with proper streets and avenues that wind their way throughout the mountain. Due to the natural gases that permeate the atmosphere and the lack of sunlight, there is a perpetual green tint in the air. To outsiders, the Court of Nightmares is a place of shadows and savagery, a place to be avoided at all costs.

Fan art of the entrance to the Court of Nightmares, a huge carved gate into the base of a dark mountain flanked by two gray soldiers on each side.

Entrance to the Court of Nightmares

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares from ACOTAR, an eerie subterranean city with many stalagmite-like buildings with green-tinted lights.

The Hewn City

Fan art of the High Lord's Castle in the Court of Nightmares, a black polished stone pathway leading to a dark, gothic castle with several towers.

The High Lord's Residence

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