A Court of Silver Flames Ultimate World Guide (ACOTAR Book 5)

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A Court of Silver Flames book cover and Prythian map

A Court of Silver Flames (ACOSF) is the fifth book in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Picking up several months after A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) and a year after the War against the King of Hybern in A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR), stubborn and proud Nesta deals with the horrors of war by pushing away her loved ones and drowning herself in self-destructive habits. She resents being Made into a High Fae, feeling like an outsider in a world she never wanted to join, and refuses to adapt to life in the Night Court. Forced into training with Cassian, a battle-hardened Illyrian warrior, she must confront the wounds of her past and break the walls she has built around herself. As tensions spark between them, their tumultuous journey is threatened by a looming danger from their past. Amidst the shadows of war and guilt, Nesta finds healing through empowering others and builds friendships in unexpected places. This guide offers an in-depth look at the world of Prythian in ACOSF.

For a deeper exploration of the characters, please visit the Ultimate ACOSF Character Guide. 

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

Table of Contents

Fantasy map of Prythian and the Continent showing various courts and realms with detailed illustrations
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.

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

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

Fan-art of the Illyrian War Camps, a scattering of bonfires and tents on a meadow under a starry night sky, from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Illyrian War Camps

Fan art of Illyrian fire pits, a large bonfire with a circular stone ring around it and large tents in the background.

The Fire Pits

Fan art of Enalius' passage, a narrow mountain passage from ACOTAR leading to a mountain summit.

The Passage of Enalius

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

Mr. Archeron's Gravestone

In the aftermath of the attack from Hybern, many inhabitants fled the destruction in Velaris and either abandoned or sold their homes. Rhysand found one such property along the Sidra and secretly purchased the land as a Solstice gift for Feyre, asking her to design a new home for them and their friends. Every arch, room, and sun-lit terrace is her design, a home she envisioned with the entire Inner Circle in mind. It contains private studies, a vast library, a painting studio, a garden, a training ring, a nursery for their future family, and numerous comfortable spaces where their friends and family can gather. The walls are also lined with paintings done by Feyre. The River House now serves as the primary home of Feyre and Rhysand in Velaris.

Fan art of the River House from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a sophisticated stone town house at the edge of a river under a blue starry sky.

The River House

Luxurious grand staircase with a chandelier in an opulent sandstone hall. There is a painting of a mountain under 3 stars against a purple starry sky.

The Foyer

Luxurious home gym with elegant decor and exercise equipment surrounded by large windows

The Training Ring

Luxurious living room with chandeliers, blue sofas, and large windows overlooking a garden

The Sitting Room

Luxurious library with spiral staircase, blue decor, and chandelier

Rhysand's Study

Art studio with angelic paintings and large ornate windows

Feyre's Painting Studio

Luxurious palace library with blue velvet sofas, a grand chandelier, an entire wall filled with books and a rolling ladder.

The Library

Luxury baroque bedroom with chandelier and ornate decor

The Master Bedroom

Elegant nursery with a mountain mural under 3 stars against a blue night sky, there is also cradle, a dresser, and a rocking chair in the corner.

The Nursery

Although Rhysand no longer resides in the Town House as his primary residence after moving to the River House, he continues to maintain it as a gathering place for the Night Court. Located in the heart of Velaris, the Town House serves as a comfortable retreat and meeting place for Rhys and his Inner Circle. Elegant and luxurious without feeling overly grand, the house is designed to be warm, welcoming, and lived-in. Rhys maintains a line of credit with virtually every shop and establishment in Velaris, allowing the household to obtain whatever they need without concern for cost. 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

Nesta’s life in Velaris has become increasingly chaotic and self-destructive. She lives alone in a run-down apartment in one of the city’s less desirable neighborhoods, where her apartment has fallen into disarray and is often littered with discarded clothes, empty bottles, and other remnants of her increasingly reckless lifestyle. Much of her time is spent drinking in bars and pubs, where she seeks distraction and company while distancing herself from the people who care about her.

Fan art of a seedy tavern in Velaris from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a dimly lit pub with stools lined up at the bar and rows of bottles in the back

Seedy Taverns

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 Nesta's bedroom from Velaris, a messy bed with clothes and books strewn across the floor. Pale curtains drape around the bed.

Nesta's Bedroom

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 10,000 steps to the House of Wind, a long and narrow staircase carved into the side of a red stone mountain.

The 10,0000 Steps

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

Fanart of a luxurious living room in the House of Wind with a mountain view and starry night sky from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Living Room

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

Fan art of the House of Wind balcony, a red stone balcony with patio furniture and a view of a starry night sky from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Balcony

Fan art of Nesta's bedroom in the House of Wind, a bed and end table in a luxurious stone room with a balcony view of the moon and blue night sky.

Nesta's Bedroom

Fan art of Nesta's bathroom in the House of Wind, a stone bathtub with a gaping view of the night sky. The walls are hewn from a red stone cavern.

Nesta's Bathroom

Fan art of the training ring atop the House of Wind, a circular fenced area on the top of a flat mountain with a mountain range in the background.

The Training Ring

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

Fan art of the priestess' prayer room from the library under the House of Wind, a circular carpet with cushions and candles around the perimeter.

The Prayer Room

Fan art of the priestess' archive room from the library under the House of Wind, a stone staircase leads to a room lined with bookshelves.

The Archives

Fan art of the priestess' sanctum from the library under the House of Wind, rows of church pews leading to a platform in a red rock cavern.

The Inner Hall

Fan art of the priestess' bedchamber from the House of Wind, rows of simple beds with pillows and basic comforters lined against red-stone walls.

The Dormitories

Fan art of the priestess' kitchen from the House of Wind in ACOTAR, a rustic kitchen with wooden stools carved into a red-stone mountain.

The Communal Kitchen

Fan art of the priestess' bathing chamber from the House of Wind in ACOTAR, an underground natural stream in a red-stone cavern.

The Bathing Chamber

The Bog of Oorid is a dark, ancient territory within the Middle. Once a sacred burial ground where warriors were laid to rest, it has since become a desolate and dangerous place inhabited by some of Prythian’s most feared creatures. Shrouded in an eerie stillness, the Bog seems almost untouched by the passage of time. Not even the buzz of insects can be heard among its stagnant waters and tangled grasses, leaving an unsettling silence. Few outsiders willingly venture into its murky depths, where ancient graves and forgotten threats lie hidden beneath the surface.

Fan art of the Bog of Oorid from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a murky green bog filled with algae and lime green sludge.

The Bog of Oorid

Misty, eerie swamp with thin black spindly trees covered in moss and algae sprouting from dark waters.

The Dead Forest

Sword sticking out of a mossy mound in a swampy forest clearing with morning light.

Warrior Burial Ground

The Moonstone Palace is the official residence of the High Lord of the Night Court, serving as its formal seat of power and a symbol of the court’s wealth and lethal nature. Perched high atop the same mountain in which the Hewn City is built under, the palace is built from gleaming alabaster moonstone and marble, with open air halls, balconies, and terraces that expose its inhabitants to the brilliant night sky. As Rhysand’s official seat of power, the palace is closed off to the general public; the only person who may reside here is his cousin Mor, who prefers to stay away from her family in the Hewn City. Although the palace is a thing of beauty and magnificence, it exudes an aura of power, standing as a reminder of the High Lord’s authority over the fearsome corners of the Night Court. 

Fanart of the Moonstone Palace of the Night Court, a Grecian-style illuminated palace against a blue starry night sky from A Court of Thorns and Roses

The Moonstone Palace

Fan-art of the Moonstone Palace balcony, a white marble balcony with candles on the floor, from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Balconies

Fan-art of the Moonstone Palace dining room, a luxurious white marble room with a mountain view and purple curtains, from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Dining Room

Luxurious bedroom with mountain views under starry sky and opulent decor

Nesta's Bedroom

Majestic bathtub in a white-pillared temple that hangs over a mountain, against a blue starry night sky.

Nesta's Bathroom

Fan-art of the Moonstone Palace hallway, an elegant white marble hallway with archways open to the starry night sky from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Hallways

Fan-art of the Moonstone Palace kitchen, an elegant white marble kitchen with an island and many pots on a stovetop from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The Kitchen

Fanart of the Moonstone Palace veranda from ACOTAR. An enchanting white marble veranda with a platform surrounded by pillars and purple curtains.

The Veranda

Fan-art of the Moonstone Palace lounge, a pale marble living room with plush sofas and an open ceiling to the starry night sky from the ACOTAR novels.

The Lounge

Fan art of the Moon Stone Palace library from the ACOTAR books. A luxurious white marble library with enclaves filled with bookshelves and novels.

The Library

Fan art of the Moon Stone Palace terrace from the ACOTAR books. A gorgeous white marble balcony with a view of a pink sunset and a vast milky way.

The Terrace

Fan art of a Moon Stone Palace meeting chamber from the ACOTAR books. A white marble room with a circular table and several chairs.

The Meeting Chamber

Built into one of Prythian’s Sacred Mountains and located on a remote island in the Western Isles lies the Prison, an ancient stronghold that contains the most dangerous creatures of Prythian. Surrounded by bitter winds, sheer cliffs, and violent waves, the island is as inhospitable as it is difficult to reach. The Prison is said to predate the High Lords and rumored to be among the oldest places in all of Prythian, its depths holding not only some of the most dangerous and powerful beings ever known, but also some of the oldest, with some having near-legendary status. Powerful wards prevent anyone from winnowing or flying directly to its entrance, forcing visitors to make the arduous journey on foot before reaching its towering gates. Once inside, darkness consumes the mountain, where ancient magic and wards keep its inhabitants confined. Though it falls under the domain of the Night Court, the Prison is regarded as a jurisdiction unto itself, a silent, ancient fortress under its own law and from which only one prisoner has ever escaped, Amren.

Fan art of the prison gates from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. Tall pale gates made of bleached bones leading to a dark, cavernous pit.

The Prison Gates

Fan art of inside the prison from ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas. Rough hewn steps in a dark cave with indigo blue tinted lighting.

The Prison Interior

Fan art of a prison door within the prison from ACOTAR. A stone door with intricate patterns and motifs carved into it and around it.

The Prison Cells

Fan art of a hallway from the prison in ACOTAR, a dark stone tunnel in a dark cavern with uneven stones on the floor.

The Prison Hallways

Fan art of an iron door from the prison in ACOTAR, a single ornately wrought iron door in a stone cavern with roughly hewn stone walls.

The Iron Doors

Fan art of the prison's secret chamber from A Court of Silver Flames, a large stone chamber with a small pedestal in the middle. The air has a red hue

The Inner Chamber

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 Archeron sisters lived in a small, impoverished village after their father lost the family fortune. Tucked away in the far south of Prythian, within the Mortal Lands, the village lay only a short distance from the Wall. On the outskirts stood the family’s weatherworn cottage, where the three sisters shared a single, cramped room. Behind the cottage, Elain once tended a modest garden of wildflowers, offering a rare touch of beauty amid the bleakness of their lives.

 
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.

Nesta's Cottage

Cozy rustic bedroom with wooden beams and floral bedding

The Archeron Sisters' Room

Rustic fireplace mantel with carved bear figurine and rose figurine in a shabby cottage.

The Mantel Figurines

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 an avenue in the Court of Nightmares, a victorian style street with ornate street lamps in a dark cave with green-tinted lighting.

The Avenues

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

The Archways

Fan art of the High Lord's Castle entrance in the Court of Nightmares, symmetrical black serpent gates covered in green vines with small white flowers

The Gates to the High Lord's Residence

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

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares chamber from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a polished black marble hallway with a crystal chandelier.

The Chambers from the High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares throne room, a majestic black marble room with a dark throne and large black pillars with serpentine structures.

The Throne Room from the High Lord's Residence

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares cityscape, an exquisite underground city with bridges, arches, walkways, and green-tinted lighting in a cave.

The Cityscape

Fan art of a promenade from the Court of Nightmares, an underground city with elaborate architecture, walkways and green-tinted lighting.

The Promenade

Fan art of a temple from the Court of Nightmares, a gothic cathedral in a dark cavern with many stalactites and green-tinted lighting.

The Temples

Fan art of a fountain from the Court of Nightmares, a stone water fountain in an underground cavern with green-tinted lighting.

The Fountains

Fan art of the Court of Nightmares council chamber, an obsidian table with black chairs in a luxurious black marble room with serpentine pillars.

The Council Chamber

A tall, ornate, art-nouveau style spiral staircase and handrail in a dark green-tinted room with some ice and snow.

The Winding Staircase

Fan art of the Ouroboros mirror in the Court of Nightmares, a large oval mirror with a snake frame bordering the mirror.

The Mirror Room

Fan art of the ballroom from the Court of Nightmares, an elegant black marble ballroom with people in exquisite gowns standing and dancing.

The Ballroom

Fan art of a fireplace from the Court of Nightmares, a black marble fireplace with tall dark candles on the mantle and a Christmas wreath at the top.

The Winding Staircase

Fan art of the ballroom dining table from the Court of Nightmares, a long and elegant table covered in a black cloth and filled with delicious food.

The Dining Area

Fan art of the dungeon entrance from the Court of Nightmares, a tall series of ornate, arched iron-wrought gates that lead to a black abyss.

The Dungeon Entrance

Fan art of the dungeons from the Court of Nightmares, a dimly lit subterranean stone corridor with eerie green-tinted lighting.

The Dungeons

Fan art of the torture room from the Court of Nightmares, a chair at the edge of a round grate in a dimly lit stone room with green-tinted lighting.

The Torture Room

Prythian is home to three Sacred Mountains, each steeped in ancient magic and history. The first lies in the Middle, the neutral territory within Prythian. Amarantha established her mock court, Under the Mountain beneath the first Sacred Mountain. She deliberately chose one of the holiest sites in Prythian to assert her dominance over the Fae and desecrate a place of deep spiritual significance. The second Sacred Mountain lies in the Western Isles in the Night Court and houses the ancient Prison, its entrance and vast depths carved into the mountain itself millennia ago. The Prison exists largely as a law unto itself, separate from the courts and their authority. The final Sacred Mountain is Mount Ramiel in the Night Court, which is also the inspiration for their court sigil of a mountain under three stars. Mount Ramiel also holds particular significance for the Illyrians, who gather there each year for the Blood Rite, a brutal rite of passage that marks a novice warrior’s journey toward becoming a full-fledged warriors.

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 in the Middle

Fan art of the mountain the prison is built into from ACOTAR. A dark mountainous island in the middle of a tumultuous ocean with gray storm clouds.

The Sacred Mountain of the Prison

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 Sacred Mountain Mount Ramiel

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

The Continent is the vast landmass east of Prythian, home to both mortal kingdoms and Fae territories, divided similarly by a Wall that separates the mortal and Fae realms. It is home to the Mortal Queens, whose palace lies along the Continent’s coast, and further inland lies Koschei’s frozen lake, an ancient and mysterious body of water where the death lord Koschei has been bound for centuries. The lake is also tied to the curse of Queen Vassa, who is condemned to return to its waters.

Fan art of the Queen's Castle from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a stone castle with many towers and spires at the top of a forested mountain.

The Mortal Queens' Castle

Fan art of Koschei's lake from A Court of Thorns and Roses, a frozen lake surrounded by a pine forest and a forlorn shack in the distance.

Koschei's Lake

Where to buy A Court of Silver Flames

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